Local Women Laugh With (and at) 'The Bachelorette'

Every Monday at 8 p.m., the snark is let loose.

Women from Odenton, Crofton and other spots in Anne Arundel County gather on Facebook for a two-hour indulgence in their favorite guilty pleasure: the popular ABC show The Bachelorette.

Like cats waiting to pounce, they watch intently as young men vie for the affections of Ashley Hebert, the petite and perky dental student. Then they comment, sarcastically and often without mercy.

“What is wrong with her???” writes Melissa Llewellyn, of Crofton. “I think if I was one of the guys I'd start running.” 

And that’s one of the kinder comments.

Llewellyn is one of more than 50 members of a Facebook group known as “Megan’s Bachelor Monday Night Mayhem,” which serves as a virtual meeting place for fans of The Bachelorette and its partner show, The Bachelor. The group carries the namesake of Megan Arts Evans, a Piney Orchard resident who began watching the show several seasons ago and found it fertile ground for sarcasm and wit. She and friend Lia Bernstein created the Facebook page three seasons ago.

“It’s like watching a train wreck,” Evans says. “I don’t necessarily feel any camaraderie with these people on the show. I just think it’s amazing that people go through this.”

Evans met several group members about five years ago during birthing classes for her first child. The women stayed in touch, and even organized a house party for the finale of a recent season of the show. The fun of that event has now transferred online, where there is a friendly game of one-upmanship when it comes to humor.

“It’s catty!” Evans acknowledges. “People try to be as funny as possible. I don’t think anybody takes it seriously.”

There are a handful of men in the group, and no one is excluded. But you better bring your “A-Game” when it comes to snark and pith.

“Following the comments makes it even more fun, because even though we’re not in the same room, it’s like a social thing,” Llewellyn says.

The most recent season of the The Bachelorette has centered on Ashley’s fascination with the devious Bentley Williams, who exited the show abruptly, taking her heart along with him. This week’s episode suggests that Bentley will return, setting up a dramatic and emotional confrontation in Hong Kong. Or so the show's producers want viewers to believe.

“Oh Bentley, Bentley, Bentley. She's such a dope!” Llewyellyn wrote bluntly to the group.

Some other comments include:

-“Nice tie-clip Constantine.” –referring to contestant’s choice of neckwear.

-“She is so transparently clueless, she needs a life coach, something, someone!”

-"strong and independent? ashley? try insecure and clingy.”

Nicole O’Brien, a Pasadena resident and president of an employment placement service, said she will organize her life around Monday nights, often working to ensure her children are in bed before The Bachelorette begins. If she is delayed, she will record the show but fast-forward through the commercials in order to catch up with the Facebook commentary.  

“It’s a fun show where you can just and relax and enjoy it and not think about much,” O’ Brien said. “We all look forward to our Monday evenings together.”

Most group members said they have little affection for the cast of this season, but believe that J.P. Rosenbaum, a crew-cutted manager from New York, has the inside track.

But their level of true emotional involvement only extends to what they can laugh at. 

“Life is so serious … there’s always money to worry about, kids to worry about, paying the bills,” Llewellyn said. “This is just something that’s truly feel-good and for two hours you can go ‘ah, life is silly.’”