Bachelor in Paradise? Hell yeah.

So yes, I'm watching Bachelor Pad, I mean, Bachelor in Paradise. Who can resist a hot mess that makes you feel so much better about your life and relationships? What are the odds that such a group of physically attractive people cannot sustain a relationship longer than a mosquito sting?

Anyway!

The second episode began with the sorry tale of Michelle K who left the show because of an illicit fling with one of the handlers. Hasn't this been done before? Didn't a twerp leave one of the Bachelors because of such a fling? I'd research it, but I don't care enough; but what does it say about these shows that the handlers are getting more action than the actual cast?

Anyway!

The dude obviously has more looks than brain cause she jumped off the second story balcony, breaking both his legs. What a putz. Wait! That's his name. And people say names don't predetermine the course of one's life. He winds up in the hospital, Michelle in the limo, suggesting that she found someone.

Anyway!

Love is in the air?

AshLee still has Graham in her clutches but I'm not sure how much longer this relationship will last. She might be planning their wedding; but he's planning his escape.

Lacey and Marcus paw each other in front of a scorned Robert's eyes, as he wonders what went wrong. Marcus jumped the rose line and won her attentions, dude.

Elise and Dylan seemed to hit it off, until her incessant babbling prompted him to invite her to date other peeps. When she lip-locked with the newly-arrived Chris, after his date with Clare, it sent Dylan into a full-out pout mode. Despite Elise's pleading to forgive her, he invited Sarah on a date. It didn't help him though. He refused Elise's rose and was tossed when Sarah gave hers to Robert.

Anyway!

When Marcus "accidentally" found Ben's love letter and confronted him about the woman who wrote it, Ben was forced to admit he was into her. This prompted a Michelle Money meltdown, bemoaning the unfairness of of it all, that she left her daughter and was cheated from a possible hook-up.

Anyway! Ben dramatically walked off the show. I won't be crying in my popcorn.

Speaking of Michelle M, she gave Marquel a rose despite the fact that he pretty much told her she's an alcoholic and had a list of issues about her, instead of Robert with whom she hit it off. And then they wonder why they can't make a relationship work.

Clare stopped talking to the wildlife when Zack walked onto the scene. His appearance revived Clare's hopes as she ran to be the first to greet him, latching onto him like a Bachelor lifesaver.

Anyway! Sarah and Robert are floating with a sea of drama surrounding them.

And I'm loving it.

X for Expression

Rain + baseball = X Factor FAIL, but if you know where to look, you can find spoilers. Looking through several sources online including Wetpaint, MLive and Gossip and Gab the final 16 are:

Ages 12-16: Britney Spears chose: Arin Ray, Beatrice Miller, Carly Rose Sonenclar and Diamond White
Ages 17-24: Demi Lovato chose: Cece Frey, Jennel Garcia, Paige Thomas and Willie Jones
Ages 25 and over: L.A. Reid chose: Jason Brock, David Correy, Tate Stevens and Vino Alan
Groups: Simon Cowell chose:  Emblem3,  Lyric 145 (One4Five + Lyric Da Queen), Sister C and LYLAS.

It's going to be a hard battle this season with a lot of favorites already. As the voters tend towards the younger and the female, a trend has developed for shows like this. Based on that, Spears' and Lovato's teams have the best chances of making it to the finals even before the show begins. Here are my predictions:

From Britney's group, although all four are very talented, it will be a neck-to-neck battle between Carly Rose and Diamond; but I have a feeling Carly Rose will prevail because she appears less polished and rehearsed in her expressions and mannerisms than Diamond. This group will probably last the longest in the competition because they're closer to the voters' age group or they have the Cute Factor.

From Demi's group, Cece Frey will probably be the first to go because her on-screen personality is highly unlikable; and although Page is very talented, she too can come off as a bit abrasive. It will probably come down to Willie and Jennel. The latter two are not only talented but are very sympathetic on camera. Their voices and performance styles are very surprising and engaging. This team's chances are good to last a bit longer than Reid's or Cowell's.

L.A.'s and Simon's protegees will probably not fare as well with the voting public, getting decimated early in the season. The voting public's age profile will make it difficult to connect with the over 25s; and the groups have not done well on this show. From those teams, Tate and Vino have the best chances of making it farther because of their stories. Talent only marginally plays a role in voting as the playing field is level on that front. Simon will find defeat a bitter pill to swallow with Lyric 145 and Playback making it the farthest but probably not to the finals.

Despite Reid's and Cowell's "reactions" to getting those teams, it more than likely was a production decision to give Spears and Lovato the two groups that have the greatest chances right out of the gate. Why? To sweeten the pot. They probably want these two to stay with the show longer; and what better way to do so than to give them a taste of success?

Be that as it may, it's shaping up to be a great season of X Factor, given the caliber of talent, human interest stories and personalities that the contestants bring to the table. Couple that with the thrill of tuning just to watch this:

How can FOX lose?

Stay tuned! :)