The Bachelor bachelorette Lauren Bushnell admits there's one major reason why Season 20 has been so catty thus far.
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"It's weird because I feel like it's so early on and so many people do feel like they have connections with [Ben Higgins] and there's feelings involved already. So I think that leads to some drama and more emotion earlier on than normal," Bushnell told E! News while on a group date in Las Vegas, which will be featured on Monday night's episode.
"I think they picked pretty much the most perfect Bachelor you could have picked. He really is the full package. He's everything that you -- or at least that I -- would want in a husband. He's just so easy to be around, he's easy to talk to, and he makes everyone feel comfortable in what can sometimes be a very uncomfortable and weird situation. He's very understanding and just real and genuine. So I think Ben is doing an awesome job at being the Bachelor."
The Bachelor franchise creator and executive producer Mike Fleiss apparently agrees with Bushnell on the subject.
"What happened on this season is [Ben] is such a catch that the girls competed harder for him than any other season. I think eight or nine girls said they were in love with him. That's a record number. That's where the drama came from. The girls provided the drama this season because they were competing for him. A lot of girls want to marry this guy," Fleiss explained.
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"I feel like every day I wake up and just ask myself, like, 'Where am I? What am I doing? Is this real? Is this real life? It's been crazy," Bushnell told the website of her experience on the show.
"I never, in a million years, would've imagined myself being here nor did I feel like I actively sought out being here. It all just happened and I'm still just kind of trying to let it all sink in and live in the moment I guess. Because it's just surreal. That's really the only way I can describe this whole experience."
For the Las Vegas group date, the women performed in a talent show at The Mirage in front of 1,200 people. In tonight's broadcast, they'll serve as the opening act for former America's Got Talent winner Terry Fator, a famous ventriloquist and comedian.
"I personally don't have a lot of talents so I kind of just tried to whip something together and I am going to attempt to juggle. So I hope Ben is impressed by my juggling skills. I don't know if that's going to happen," Bushnell said.
"It's crazy," bachelorette Leah Block added of the group date. "My talent is I'm going to be in a clown costume, jumping on a pogo stick, telling a couple of jokes and having M&Ms thrown in my mouth -- and hopefully catching a couple of them."
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Block also commented on how all the girls got along.
"What is The Bachelor without some drama? There are some wonderful women in the house, but we all have different personalities, and when you spend most of your time with those women, it gets a little crazy. But it's been a lot of fun and it's been so amazing getting to know Ben and I just love this experience and I feel very blessed to be here," said Block, whom viewers haven't seen much of this season.
"I am hopeful. I've kind of been in the shadows a little bit. I haven't had as many dates as some of the women, but I'm patient and I'll do what I have to do to get my time, and yeah, I think I'm going to be a great match for Ben and I feel the same way about him."
Higgins admitted to E! News he didn't think he'd ever get used to dating multiple women at once and the process certainly "stretched" him. He also insisted dating in Las Vegas was "incredible" because it was "romantic" and there was "a lot of energy."
At this point in the season, Higgins was sure his wife was in the bunch of remaining bachelorettes.
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"How incredible is it that I get to share this experience with someone whom I'm going to spend forever with? I'm hopeful, I'm excited, but we still have a long way to go," Higgins noted.
The Bachelor airs every Monday night at 8PM ET/PT on ABC followed by the Bachelor Live talk show hosted by Chris Harrison.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski