One To Watch(29)
“Great!” Lauren handed the list over to Bea with a smile. “See? I told you this would be easy.”
“Sure.” Bea nodded. “Easy.”
Back onstage, the guys assembled on their risers, descending one by one as Bea read out the names of the men she’d “decided” to keep. She kissed their cheeks, breathed in the smell of whiskey and overdone cologne. When she called Luc’s name, he walked toward her deliberately, his eyes fixed on hers.
“Will you stay, Luc?” she asked him, just as she’d asked each of the men before.
“Of course I will stay. I will go anywhere you ask.”
When she kissed his cheek, she tasted salt and smelled something herbaceous, like soap and thyme. He put a hand on her waist, and she felt Ray pressed against her, his weight on top of her, his mouth hot on her skin. He was gone. This was nothing. Bea smiled for the camera and called out the next stranger’s name.
EPISODE 2
“BARE”
(18 men left)
Shot on location in Malibu, California
MAIN SQUEEZE SEES UPTICK IN SPRING PREMIERE
by Emmy Benson, variety.com
The new season of Main Squeeze has been swathed in controversy—but it seems to be proving that all publicity is good publicity, with ABS easily winning the 8pm and 9pm hours last night. The premiere averaged a gargantuan 4.2 rating among adults 18–49, with 12.8 million viewers overall. That’s a sizable increase from the reality staple’s last premiere, and just a hair shy of its best opener ever when former fighter pilot Jack Stanwell was discovered to have been sleeping with a major pop star just days before his season premiered.
The premiere came with its own batch of turmoil: Response online was fast and furious after it was revealed that only one of the men competing for plus-size blogger Bea Schumacher’s affections was plus-size himself. The hashtag #BrawnIsBeautiful trended for several hours—a reference to the burgeoning “brawn” modeling industry for larger men. Several prominent writers even called for a boycott of the show, and of Schumacher herself. It remains to be seen whether the show’s more morally questionable tactics will backfire, but for the time being, ABS has to be very happy with the numbers they’re seeing—the question is whether they’ll hold up.
TRANSCRIPT OF CHAT FROM #SQUEEZE-MAINIACS SLACK CHANNEL
Beth.Malone: Hey guys, just a friendly reminder that the deadline is TONIGHT at 8pm to submit your picks for your brackets!
Colin7784: Wait, there’s a deadline tonight? I didn’t know—did you send an email about this??
Beth.Malone:
Colin7784: Jkjkjk I SUBMITTED MINE BETH GOD
KeyboardCat: Who did everyone pick?? Wyatt and Luc are the obvious choices, but idk, I kind of liked that Asher guy?
NickiG: Seriously, Cat? He was barely onscreen! I think the champ is losing her touch.
Beth.Malone: Guys, we really shouldn’t be discussing our picks until everyone’s brackets are in.
Colin7784: Sure, wouldn’t want to impugn the integrity of our Main Squeeze pool. Hasn’t the fabric of our society been torn enough?
Beth.Malone:
Colin7784: You’re going to kick me out of the league, aren’t you?
Beth.Malone: I’m strongly considering it.
Enna-Jay: This is a weird question, but do you have to pick someone? Like is there an option where she chooses none of these guys?
KeyboardCat: Since you’re new to this show, I can see where you’d think “wow, every single one of these guys is terrible,” but don’t worry—halfway through the season you always change to, like, NO HOW CAN SHE CUT ANY OF THESE MEN THEIR LOVE IS ALL SO PURE!
NickiG: Is it size-ist to pick Jefferson? Should I not assume she’s going to pick the chubbiest dude?
Enna-Jay: How can their love be pure when the couples always break up?
KeyboardCat: Not always!!!! That firefighter in Oregon!
Beth.Malone: Colorado
KeyboardCat: RIGHT
Colin7784: Is it weird that I feel stressed about what’s gonna happen tonight? What’s gonna happen tonight????
NickiG: Bea’s going to go on a group date, she’s going to get her first kiss, and there’s going to be D-R-A-M-A!
Colin7784: Wow that’s a very specific prediction.
NickiG: I know. I’m psychic. (And that’s what always happens during week 2.)
Beth.Malone: Seriously guys, you have six minutes left to turn in your brackets.
“Well!” Lauren clapped her hands. “I think that went great.”
“I don’t understand how that could possibly be your takeaway.” Bea pulled on a robe and mumbled through her pre-caffeinated haze. Lauren had burst into her bedroom at 8 A.M. bearing the overnight ratings report—but no coffee.
“Four point two in the demo!” Lauren exclaimed. “Our last finale was a two point nine. Do you even know how big a difference that is?”
“One point three?” Bea ventured, wishing this talk of high ratings and outperforming expectations would soothe the knot currently forming in her chest. She’d hoped that, after the premiere, her nerves would settle and this would get easier—after all, that was the last time she’d have to appear on live television until the reunion show, after the whole thing was done and she was already engaged. The rest of the season would be filmed in advance and edited together each weekend before the episodes aired on Monday nights—that had to be less stressful, right? If something went wrong, they could always take it again.