Do producers tell The Bachelor who to choose?

Like a scene from UnREAL, a former Bachelor producer gave a tell-all interview to Fox FM’s Fifi, Fev and Byron yesterday which made for juicy insight into the show’s trade secrets.

News Corp generously provided a transcript. Here are 2 key questions:

How much input do producers have on who gets eliminated?

[The Bachelor]’s not told, but he’s guided towards decisions. I think the Bachelor keeps certain people in because it takes the weight off his shoulders. He knows for the show to do well it’s got to be interesting, but it’s hard for him to be interesting the whole time. If he keeps the crazies in, that’s a great show. Let’s keep it entertaining, let’s work together.

So the Bach is encouraged to keep lively characters around?

He’s being encouraged, and he’s seeing the merit in it, because then he doesn’t have to be this outrageous entertaining character the whole time; she can carry a bit of the workload.

We had a problem on Tim’s season because he fell madly in love with Anna quite quickly. “Who do you want to go on a date with?” “Anna.” “OK, and who next?” “Anna.” He had to work with us a little bit.

You can read much more at News Corp.