The Bachelor: Season 13 (2009)

Single dad Jason Mesnick, spurned by DeAnna Pappas in the 2008 edition of "The Bachelorette," does the choosing this time as he searches for a mate from among 25 young women in the dating contest's 13th edition. In the opener, Jason greets them at the L.A. mansion where he and DeAnna first met and hosts the introductory cocktail party. In a new wrinkle, the bachelorettes get to vote for a competitor they'd like to see leave, but Jason has the final say. At evening's end, only 15 remain.

Jason and the 15 survivors of the opening cocktail party enjoy a pool party at the mansion before he escorts one to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for a private performance by Robin Thicke (and the season's first kiss). Jason escorts another bachelorette to Malibu Beach, a third on a ride in a blimp, and eight others to a Hollywood boutique and another pool party (this one above Sunset Strip) before one contestant eliminates herself and two others are sent packing at the rose ceremony.

Twelve candidates remain, 10 of whom get dates with Jason. For eight, it's a group visit to the Keep-a-Breast Foundation, and two others get one-on-one dates. (One, a single mom, takes her child along on a trip to Legoland; for the other, it's a helicopter ride over the Hoover Dam and a private Kate Voegele concert). One of the dates ends badly for a bachelorette, while another runs out at the very dishy rose ceremony. Eventually, the field is reduced to nine.

The nine remaining bachelorettes vie in a singing contest for a one-on-one date with Jason, who also accompanies six of the contestants to the set of "General Hospital," where they meet cast members Bradford Anderson and Kirsten Storms (and one earns a rose). And he takes two others, clad in evening gowns and riding in a Bentley, for a romantic night of dining and dancing. One gets a rose; the other doesn't, and three others turn into pumpkins at the rose ceremony.

Jason invites the five remaining bachelorettes home to Seattle. He spends an evening on a houseboat with one, takes another on a seaplane ride (and a romantic fondue dinner), and the other three on a ferry ride. Some also spend an afternoon spilling secrets in a radio interview, and Jason gets marriage pointers from the station's morning DJs, married couple Jackie and Bender. At the rose ceremony, one is sent home while the final four prepare to take Jason to their hometowns.

Jason accompanies the final four to their hometowns to meet the folks, but at one stop must settle for the bachelorette's best friends instead. At other stops, Jason learns a secret; meets a quirky and conservative family very unlike his own; and runs into skepticism from a dad. Back at the L.A. mansion, the roseless contestant heads home in tears.

Jason and the final three bachelorettes visit New Zealand for sightseeing (in a helicopter and a boat) and bungee jumping on overnight dates, in which the Fantasy Suite is an option and the L-word (as in "love") is dropped. Then comes the rose ceremony, where the fantasy ends for one of the three.

Fifteen roseless bachelorettes, including second runner-up Jillian, return to dish with---and about---each other and Jason, and weigh in on the Melissa-Molly finals. There are also hot-seat sessions for Jason and some of the bachelorettes; profiles of Melissa and Molly; a preview of the season finale; and updates on Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter, who married in 2003 after meeting on "The Bachelorette"; and 2005 "Bachelor" Charlie O'Connell and Sarah Brice, the woman he chose.

Season 13 finale: It's down to Melissa and Molly as Jason bestows his final rose. But first, he has final dates with the two in New Zealand and meets a woman from his past---2008 Bachelorette DeAnna Pappas. The candidates also meet Jason's son, Ty, and face pointed questions from other members of Jason's family. At the rose ceremony, a $68,000 engagement ring is also at stake.