The Bachelor alum Nick Viall believes ABC is giving Joe "Grocery Store Joe" Amabile a flattering edit that could put him on the path to becoming the next The Bachelor star.
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Joe, 35, made a big impression on Bachelor in Paradise viewers during the show's seventh-season premiere on Monday night because he was nervous and emotional and wore his heart on his sleeve.
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Joe went through the motions of second-guessing his decision to appear on the spinoff and potentially wanting to quit Paradise due to his memories with ex-girlfriend Kendall Long on the same beach in Mexico.
During Monday's episode of "The Viall Files" podcast, Nick reasoned how ABC may be positioning Joe to star on The Bachelor's upcoming 26th season in 2022.
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"[Bachelor in Paradise bartender Wells Adams] was on here recapping, and he mentioned that he thought someone could get a Bachelor edit from Paradise," Nick, 40, recalled.
"I'm almost certain that must be 'Grocery Store Joe' from what we're seeing in Episode 1."
Wells, 37, appeared on Nick's podcast earlier this month and revealed how there's a real gem on Bachelor in Paradise this summer.
After Nick pointed out how The Bachelorette bachelors Michael Allio, Andrew Spencer or Greg Grippo will likely become the next Bachelor, Wells chimed in, "Or someone from Paradise."
"Do you think, without naming names, someone from Paradise this season has a chance of being the next Bachelor?" Nick asked for clarification.
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Wells responded, "I think that everyone should wait for Paradise to air before we anoint anyone the next Bachelor. You remember how important [that is to wait]. It happened for you."
Wells was referring to how Nick had looked for love on Bachelor in Paradise's third season before being named The Bachelor star for Season 21, which filmed in late 2016 and aired in early 2017.
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"I think that there is one particular person that everyone is going to want to be the Bachelor," Wells continued, "and whether or not they are even available to be the next Bachelor at the end of it remains to be seen."
Wells went on to confirm Paradise has a Bachelor candidate by adding, "There is a big star in Paradise this year."
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And Nick apparently agrees.
"I loved Joe this episode," Nick said on Monday. "I thought there's a real honesty and earnestness."
Joe seemed to spend hours on the beach by himself just contemplating whether he should proceed on the show or go home. He felt a little out of place and wondered if he fit in.
A couple of cast members, for instance, poked fun at Joe's outfit of choice, with Kelsey Weier joking about how Joe should be nicknamed "Gym Joe" because it looked like he just came from the gym in his plain T-shirt.
"You could see him really struggling. I think it's very relatable," Nick explained.
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"I had feelings like that when I went back on Paradise for my [third stint on reality TV]. I was thinking, 'This is probably a stupid idea.'"
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Nick -- who also competed on two The Bachelorette editions -- suggested Joe is a genuine and authentic guy who actually speaks what's on his mind and is "very comfortable with himself."
"He's probably one of the best people at owning his awkwardness and leaning into it and not pretending he's not being awkward," Nick added, "and that comes across very charming."
Joe attempted to find love in Mexico once before on Bachelor in Paradise's fifth season in 2018. He fell in love with Kendall but the couple split in January 2020.
Joe and Kendall lived together and had been talking about marriage and kids prior to their breakup.
When Joe entered Paradise, he had his eye on Serena Pitt, 23, but she was a hot commodity and the pair had a bit of an awkward but playful exchange.
"You wanna know the truth? My conversation with Serena P. was like talking to Kendall," Joe admitted in tears. "I think I thought this was going to be fun. I did it before, but now I don't know if I want to do this. It's weird. I probably shouldn't have come back."
But just as Joe was about to quit, Serena P. sat down with Joe for another conversation because she had initially felt "fiesta flutters" for the bumbling bachelor.
Joe shared with Serena P. how his breakup with Kendall was mutual because they couldn't agree on a city in which to live long-term.
"We were also growing apart with certain things," Joe revealed.
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Joe and Serena P. shared a sweet kiss on a daybed on the beach, and then Joe's mindset seemed to shift to a happy and optimistic one.
"I'm starting to develop feelings for Serena. It does make me want to stay. Yeah, I'm happy I'm here," Joe said with a big smile.
Joe previously teased on his "Click Bait with Bachelor Nation" podcast that this summer of Bachelor in Paradise is "a wild ride" and "insane."
"It's almost was like every day got more and more intense. But we can't really break everything down," Joe said, adding how his second stint in Paradise was "a lot different than [his] first."
Prior to appearing on his first Bachelor in Paradise season, Joe was eliminated early from Becca Kufrin's season of The Bachelorette.
Bachelor in Paradise's next two episodes are set to air on Monday, August 23 and Tuesday August 24 on ABC.
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