Dumped! Betrayed! Humiliated! For a week now, the reality TV universe has been obsessed with The Bachelor, and an “After The Final Rose” special that many perceived to be little more than an act of public humiliation. While the show’s season finale and the reunion special were shown back-to-back on March 2, six weeks had actually elapsed between the finale, when Bachelor Jason Mesnick chose Melissa Rycroft to be his bride, and the special, during which he announced that he had changed his mind and professed feelings instead for runner-up Molly Malaney. With more than 17 million viewers watching, Rycroft arrived at the “After the Rose” special holding — not wearing — her ring, and Mesnick confirmed the suspicions that the engagement was off.
