'The Bachelorette' premiere ends with Ryan M. going home and guys voting for Britt Nilsson or Kaitlyn Bristowe

The Bachelorette's eleventh season premiered with two girls, 25 guys, crazy antics, one guy going home, and votes being cast for either Britt Nilsson or Kaitlyn Bristowe to star on the show during Monday night's broadcast on ABC.


After being introduced to memories of the witty Kaitlyn and the charming Britt from Chris Soules' The Bachelor season, fans saw glimpses into the lives of some of this season's suitors.

Jonathan, a 33-year-old automotive spokesman from Detroit, MI, has a five-year-old son Sky and said he's interested in dating Britt because she's gorgeous and bubbly.

Josh, a 27-year-old law student and exotic dancer from Chicago, IL, said he's currently studying for the bar exam and loves the rush dancing for women gives him.

Joe, a 28-year-old insurance agent from Columbia, KY, is a small-town boy and Southern gentleman. He noted Kaitlyn has a great personality and beautiful smile.


Brady, a 33-year-old singer and songwriter from Nashville, TN, showed off his singing skills and admitted he's been looking for true love. He said he's more focused on winning Britt's heart because she's beautiful and has a contagious charisma.

Joshua, a 31-year-old industrial welder from Kuna, ID, is a country boy who explained Kaitlyn is just as awesome on the outside as she is on the inside.

Ian, a 28-year-old executive recruiter from Los Angeles, CA, revealed he ran track at Princeton University and was a great athlete until the day he was hit by a car and left for dead. Doctors told Ian he would never run again, but he underwent many surgeries and worked hard in physical therapy to defy the odds. He's into Kaitlyn because she's genuine and thoughtful.

Jared, a 26-year-old restaurant manager from Warwick, RI, is looking for chemistry and a true connection first and foremost. He said he wants to spend the rest of his life with one girl and called himself a "Love Man" superhero. He liked Kaitlyn because she's hysterical and he knew he could laugh with her.

Tony, a 35-year-old healer from St. Louis, MO, explained he loves to meditate and his job is in flexibility therapy. Tony talked to plants and dubbed himself sensitive, anti-social and unique.


Ben Z., a 26-year-old fitness coach from San Jose, CA, is an athlete and once had an NFL tryout. He said his mother passed away when he was only 14-years-old and he never really moved on. Ben Z. was upset his mother missed so many milestones in his life. He told the cameras his mother had advised him never to settle in a relationship until finding "the one." 

Going into the first night, Britt was so excited about the opportunity despite confessing that might have been naive of her. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn was just nervous and uncomfortable. She was grateful for the chance to find love but was dealing with mixed emotions.

When the guys started stepping out of the limos and introducing themselves to the two Bachelorettes, it became clear the first group of guys were all there for Britt, which made Kaitlyn feel insecure and question her role on the show.

Ben H., a 26-year-old software salesman from Denver, CO, said he lost his words talking to Britt and looking at her smile. He noted he'd be lucky to have her.

Jonathan; Clint, a 27-year-old architectural engineer from Chicago, IL; Jared; Brady; Ryan B., a 32-year-old realtor from Wellington, FL; and Kupah, a 32-year-old entrepreneur from Boston, MA, went straight up to Britt and basically ignored Kaitlyn.


Kaitlyn became upset that she had to share the situation with someone else. She tried to be positive but broke down into tears because she didn't think the guys were giving her a fair chance opportunity. Kaitlyn told the cameras she felt worthy to be the Bachelorette and wanted to show the guys what she had to offer.

Britt, on the other hand, felt bad because she was so excited when Kaitlyn was a ball of nerves. Kaitlyn seemed a little jealous that Britt was so warm, engaging and sincere in her first impressions.

But then Ian came along and told Kaitlyn he was there just for her, which raised her confidence. The guys who favored her then followed: JJ, a 32-year-old former investment banker from Denver, CO, who gave Kaitlyn a hockey puck and said the joke, "I want to puck you;" and Joe gave Kaitlyn some moonshine.

More guys ended up bringing gifts for Kaitlyn, except Tanner, a 28-year-old auto finance manager from Kansas City, MO, who brought Britt tissues. Britt thought it was a cute gesture but also a little annoying how it was a reminded she was the "crier" from Chris Soules' season.

Shawn B., a 28-year-old personal trainer from Windsor Locks, CT, approached Britt first and she seemed smitten with him, calling him "gold." She said he really made her feel something. And then Shawn B. talked with Kaitlyn and she swooned a little bit. She was looking for that feeling the whole time. 


Turns out Shawn B. was invested in a relationship with Kaitlyn, which deflated Britt's ego a little bit.

While limos kept arriving, Kaitlyn took a short break and ran inside the mansion to talk with the men who had entered the scene thus far. Britt felt it was "cheating," but Kaitlyn just told the men they were "handsome" and "killing it." Britt still thought it was disrespectful and wanted to play by the rules.

David, a 28-year-old real estate agent from Orlando, FL, revealed he was team Kaitlyn. Tony gave Britt a sweet line but then fed the same one to Kaitlyn. He liked Britt at first but changed his mind later on.

Meanwhile, Ryan M., a 28-year-old junkyard specialist from Kansas City, MO, was getting really drunk, yelling things out inside the mansion like, "I'm all horned up." He also made dumb comments about wanting to date both women because he's selfish.

When Shawn E., a 31-year-old amateur sex coach from Ontario, Canada, pulled up in a hot tub car, Ryan M. yelled loudly from the bushes that the car sucked. Kaitlyn confessed Ryan M. would've received the "worst impression rose" because she loved Shawn E's entrance. Chris followed the act and trumped it, however, by showing up in a vehicle shaped as a cupcake.


Once Kaitlyn and Britt met all the guys, Kaitlyn told the cameras her expectations had been blown. One guy in the crowd mentioned that Britt would be "a trophy wife" while Kaitlyn would be "a natural wife."

Britt and Kaitlyn then walked into the mansion together and addressed the 25 suitors. Kaitlyn made a knock, knock joke to poke fun at the fact the show had two stars, and then Kaitlyn gave a genuine speech about wanting to find her husband and a partner for adventures in life. Britt said it showed the difference in her personalities, that Kaitlyn took that time to "do stand-up."

Conversations began to unfold. The men fought for both Kaitlyn and Britt's attention, while the ladies fought for the men's affection due to the fact they'd eventually be voting on which person would become the official Bachelorette.

Kaitlyn said Shawn B. was the closest she's come to "love at first sight." It became clear some guys were open to dating both girls while there were also separate "Team Kaitlyn" and "Team Britt" camps.

Strategy soon got involved. The men started wondering whether they should vote for the girl who really liked them instead of voting for the girl they really liked. How to vote was a topic of discussion throughout the entire night.

Chris Harrison then announced the voting room would be open and they each had to put a rose into either Britt or Kaitlyn's ballot box. The women to receive the most roses would become the Bachelorette, while the other girl must go home.


Some guys worried about voting for the girl whom they had an initial attraction to but then potentially missing out on something great with the other girl that could grow within a week or two.

Kaitlyn got along well with Ben H., who said he found a conversation with her very easy. He asked her what her bird tattoos symbolized, and Kaitlyn loved the fact he asked because Chris Soules never had. Kaitlyn explained they represented how she'll always fly home no matter how much she travels or how many times she moves.

Shawn E. then confronted Ryan M. about blowing up his hot tub entrance. Ryan had forgotten all about it, but Shawn E. was still furious.

Ryan M.'s behavior grew increasingly worse as the night progressed. He grabbed Britt's hair aggressively when talking to her and subsequently slapped Kaitlyn's butt, which she found rude and offensive. He later stripped down into a Speedo and went swimming alone in the pool.

Chris Harrison finally asked Ryan M. to leave, saying he wasn't there for either girl nor was he trying to compete on the show for the right reasons. Ryan M. quietly accepted Chris' request and left.

After things settled down again, Kaitlyn insisted she had "butterflies" around Shawn B., who gave her a drawing his nephew had made for her. Kaitlyn said in a confessional she went from wanting to be the Bachelorette to having to be the Bachelorette. She felt those were her guys.


As for Britt, she was beginning to develop a deep connection with Brady. She thought the guys were so cool.

Only some of the votes were shown being cast for either woman. Tony and Jonathan voted for Britt, while Ian, Ben H. and Corey voted for Kaitlyn.

The episode concluded with Chris Harrison tallying the 24 votes after Ryan M. left. Both women were "all in" and wanted to continue on as the Bachelorette more than anything. Britt said she'd be the happiest person on the planet if she got selected, while Kaitlyn confessed it would be the best moment of her life.

Both Kaitlyn and Britt also admitted they'd be devastated to go home and getting rejected again would be the worst thing in the world.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski