'The Bachelorette' recap: JoJo Fletcher sends six guys packing in Season 12 premiere

The Bachelorette star JoJo Fletcher eliminated her first six bachelor suitors during Monday night's premiere broadcast of the ABC reality dating series' twelfth season.


Colin "Coley" Knust, a 27-year-old real estate consultant from Chicago, IL; Jake, a 26-year-old landscape architect from Playa Vista, CA; Jonathan Hamilton, a 29-year-old technical sales representative from Vancouver, B.C., Canada; Nick S., a 26-year-old software salesman from San Francisco, CA; Peter, a 26-year-old staffing agency manager from Chicago, IL; and Sal DeJulio, a 28-year-old operations manager from Fort Lauderdale, FL, all failed to receive a rose from the 25-year-old real estate developer from Dallas, TX.

The Bachelorette's Season 12 premiere began with JoJo sitting down with former Bachelorettes Desiree Hartsock, Kaitlyn Bristowe and Ali Fedotowsky. The three girls advised JoJo to kiss on Night 1 as long as she's "feeling it" and warned her that initial attraction can easily turn into lust and not real love.

To ensure JoJo gives all the guys a fair chance and to avoid clouded judgment, the former Bachelorettes told her to put the guy she has the most chemistry with the first night on the back-burner for the first week or so. JoJo also revealed she was going to be hesitant to say "I love you" since Ben Higgins totally blindsided her with her elimination.

JoJo confirmed she's ready to get engaged, and Desiree noted the process will be one of the "hardest" yet "most rewarding" things she'll ever do.


A series of short packages then aired to introduce America to a handful of this season's hopefuls.

Grant Kemp, a 28-year-old firefighter from San Francisco, CA, is a firefighter who loves helping people and thinks JoJo is "drop dead gorgeous." He also complimented her attitude.

Jordan Rodgers, a 27-year-old former pro quarterback from Chico, CA, is a former pro quarterback and the little brother of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Jordan explained how his involvement in sports had taken a toll on his previous long-term relationship, as he didn't commit enough time to the girl he loved and therefore lost her.

Alex Woytkiw, a 26-year-old U.S. Marine from Oceanside, CA, admitted it's been years since he's had a girlfriend. James S., a 27-year-old Bachelor Super Fan from Phoenix, AZ, admitted it's a "dream come true" to compete on the show.

Evan Bass, a 33-year-old erectile dysfunction specialist from Nashville, TN, revealed it's his job to "pump up" guys and make them feel good about themselves. Ali, a 27-year-old bartender from Santa Monica, CA, moved to the United States from Iran, surfs and has a really cute miniature poodle.


Christian Bishop, a 26-year-old telecom consultant from Los Angeles, CA, grew up biracial with a white father and a black mother. Christian has an amazing story in that his father's dad is allegedly racist and therefore he and his brothers aren't really welcome in that side of the family. Christian takes care of his two brothers and tries to set a good example for them.

And last but not least, Luke Pell, a 31-year-old war veteran from Burnet, TX, is a country boy and small-town guy. He served in the military for nine years and was a platoon leader in Afghanistan.

JoJo then waited for her first limo to arrive at The Bachelor mansion.

The first guy out of the limo was Jordan, whom JoJo seemed smitten with right away. She repeated how he looked "so good" about four times. He was then followed by Robert "Robby" Hayes, a 27-year-old former competitive swimmer from Jacksonville, FL, who had JoJo chug a bottle of wine like her mother during Ben's season; and Jonathan, who greeted her in a kilt to show off how he's half Chinese and half Scottish.

Nick Benvenutti, a 33-year-old electrical engineer from Fort Lauderdale, FL, later came out of a limo dressed as Santa Clause and gave JoJo a gift; Wells Adams, a 31-year-old radio DJ from Nashville, TN, had the group All For One serenade JoJo; Christian arrived on a motorcycle; and finally, Luke rode in on a white horse he dressed up as a unicorn.


"There's a lot of good looking guys here. If I was gay, I'd be in paradise," said Daniel Maguire, a 31-year-old Canadian from Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

A few guys "got me going," JoJo admitted to Chris Harrison, later admitting there was "so much hotness" in the mansion.

During the cocktail party, Alex got made fun of for being short and trying to impress JoJo with push-ups. JoJo had trouble securing an instant connection with anybody because the men were so tense and nervous. She began worrying if this process was going to work for her at all.

However, JoJo had a very relaxed conversation with Jordan, calling him confident and sexy. Jordan agreed it felt natural with JoJo, and while he wanted to kiss her, he chickened out and instantly regretted it. 

As the night progressed, JoJo developed more connections with guys that "felt right." William "Will" Haduch, a 26-year-old civil engineer from Jersey City, NJ, played a game with JoJo that resulted in a very awkward and forced peck on the lips.


After JoJo complained the little kiss didn't happen organically, Jordan stole her away for the first real kiss of the season. She complimented his butt and had to catch her breath afterwards.

The mood in the house changed once the First Impression Rose was left on a table.

JoJo talked to Chad Johnson, a 28-year-old luxury real estate agent from Tulsa, OK, and thought he was surprisingly vulnerable and soft yet rugged and tough. There was something about Chad that JoJo found "mysterious" and "sexy."

"I'm the more manly, more rugged version of Ben. He's just a supple, smooth, friendly guy," Chad told the cameras in a confessional.

Meanwhile, Daniel got so drunk he took off his clothes and jumped in the pool. Evan complained that Daniel repeatedly poked his belly button, which was really annoying and weird. Two other guys got really drunk as well, including Vincent "Vinny" Ventiera, a 28-year-old barber from Delray Beach, FL.


JoJo confessed that she was uncomfortable and exhausted due to the fact so many guys were "hammered" and out of control.

After Ali played the piano for JoJo, the Bachelorette discovered James Taylor, a 29-year-old singer/songwriter from Katy, TX, was a total gentleman and sweetheart with a kind soul. She called him funny and smart -- a guy whom she'd love to spend every day with.

Similarly, Luke gave JoJo some cowboy boots and she found instant chemistry with him, calling him "so attractive." JoJo told the cameras that Luke had a "silent, sexy confidence" about him, and she was really feeling it.

In the end, JoJo decided to go with her gut and give the First Impression Rose to Jordan, whom she had felt the most connected with that night. She couldn't stop thinking about the time they spent together, and the couple sealed the deal with another little kiss.

Right as the Rose Ceremony was about to commence, a limo pulled up with former Bachelor Jake Pavelka inside. He came, however, just to offer his longtime friend some advice. JoJo even said Jake was like a brother to her because he had been friends with her brothers for a while.

Jake advised JoJo to go with her gut, don't zero-in on anyone this early on, and don't throw her walls up at any point.


It then became time for the Rose Ceremony. JoJo handed out roses in the following order: Luke; Wells; James Taylor; Grant; Derek Peth, a 29-year-old commercial banker from Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- whom Chad had said blended in with the walls because no one noticed him -- Christian; Chase McNary, a 27-year-old medical sale representative from Highlands Ranch, CO; Alex; Robby; Brandon Howell, a 28-year-old hipster from Los Angeles, CA; James Fuertes, a 34-year-old boxing club owner from Nashville, TN; Ali; Nick "Saint Nick" B; Will; James S; Vinny; Evan; and finally Daniel.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski