Bachelor makes wise choice

Bachelor makes wise choice -- Chicago's Jen

May 19, 2003

BY PAIGE WISER Staff Reporter Advertisement




So the boy's got some sense, after all.

In the end, the Bachelor did the right thing--the only thing--and chose Chicagoan Jen Schefft, 26, as the love of his life.

Or the reality-show equivalent.

On Sunday night's season finale of 'The Bachelor' on ABC, Andrew Firestone got down on one knee and asked Jen to marry him. 'Yes. Yes, I will,' said Jen, reaching for the oval-cut diamond ring and then stopping herself. 'Oh, you do it. Sorry.'

This, of course, means that Andrew did not choose Kirsten Buschbacher, 24. Because it's not enough for us that Jen should find love; it was also imperative that Kirsten be sent home, weeping, in a limo.

But our joy in the final decision was somewhat tainted; as always, the Bachelor insisted that he didn't make up his mind until the very last minute.

'I could definitely see myself proposing to Jen,' he said at one point in the episode.

'I could definitely see [Kirsten] as my wife,' he said at another.

Just what every girl wants to hear before her proposal.

And then, it seemed that Jen might have won by default. At the last minute, there was controversy over whether Kirsten had actually broken up with her last boyfriend, Bill. In her mind, they'd broken up, you see; she just wasn't sure he knew about it.

So with Kirsten pretty much disgraced in front of the Firestone family (not to mention a national viewing audience), the choice was a bit easier. But hey--when it comes to true love, why quibble?

In the seven weeks of group-date courting, it looked as though Andrew was falling in lust with Kirsten. Still, there were clues that Jen had a shot. She made the often-nervous Bachelor relax; she made him laugh; his smile was just a little bit bigger when she was near. He even found it charming that she was a lousy bowler.

It's been obvious to just about everybody that Jen is classier, sweeter and blonder than Kirsten. Even Andrew's mom agreed: 'She's natural, warm . . . and absolutely adorable.'

(Kirsten had a slightly different reaction. Interviewed after the dumping, speculating that Andrew was about to propose to Jen, she said, 'It makes me want to throw up.')

Of course, the real winner is Andrew, who now has an excuse to spend more time in Chicago.

The finale was taped in February, and since then Andrew and Jen have kept their distance. Jen continued working as an account executive for Getty Images, seeing Andrew just once, to cook pasta together. He reportedly ran up a $950 cell phone bill last month calling her.

Next up for Jen: A glowing appearance on 'The Bachelor: After the Final Rose,' which airs on ABC Wednesday at 8 p.m. Let the victory tour begin!

Then: A vacation. Andrew told Us magazine that he and his chosen one would go waterskiing on California's Lake Naciemento, and then sailing in the British Virgin Islands. Then, Jen will temporarily move into Andrew's two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco. 'We're going to figure out what we're doing after that,' said Andrew.

Interesting
I wonder why she just didnt move to CA right away? Its not like he cant afford to take care of her LOL

because they were not allowed until the show was over....otherwise it would have given it away who he picked...(ie: if she quit her job and moved away)

I don't think that the show let her move until it was over because otherwise everyone would know that she won. But I guess we will find out more on Wednesday night when they do the update show.

It's funny. I wondered last night why they didn't show more of Kirsten in the limo after Andrew dumped her. I went to ABC's website for the show and there is a video of Kirsten. Ohhhhhhh she was so nasty. She said that Jen wasn't good enough for Andrew and that she hopes they don't work out. She also said that she was so mad that he didn't pick her that she didn't want him to even touch her. She said that what she really wanted to do was slap him! My goodness. Can we say sour grapes!!

Here is the link Poor Kirsten . You have to click on Post Rose Ceremony video too see it.

Can you imagine getting that ring... and NOT BEING ABLE TO WEAR IT???
I would go nuts!

holy crap wendy...that video is hardcore!! it just proves that it was a competition and not love...

I would be SOOO relived if I was Andrew!! I don't think any of the other rejected acted this way!!

Erica I agree with you 100%. I think he was so caught up in her looks that he didn't see anything else. Other girls tried to tell him but he thought they were being catty. I wish I could interview Andrew and find out if he was just keeping her around for the show's benefit or if he really thought she might be the one. I think he made up his mind to pick Jen after the bowling date. It was the first time in the last few shows that he gave Jen a rose first and not Kirsten. Good heavens you would think I know these people. I have to get a life !

she is weird
what did she say after a part of her hopes it doesnt work out for jen and andrew? I couldnt hear the last sentence?? Did anyone

How psychotic did Kirsten look when Andrew confronted the whole ex-boyfriend thing in the kitchen...she looked like she would kill him when she said I hope this doesn't become your deciding factor!!! She bothered my anyway, her voice, they way she flipped her hair, and her tone of her voice...