'The Bachelor' to Celebrate 20th Season With Gloriously Gaudy Rose Parade Float
For the second year in a row, the world’s most romantic and/or dubious reality TV enterprise, The Bachelor, will delight viewers with an over-the-top float in the annual Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. And when I say over-the-top, I am not exaggerating, rose lovers. As you see from the rendering below, Team Bachelor is taking the parade’s theme, “Find your adventure,” to heart by turning the float into a flower-festooned diorama of one of the show’s patented “exotic dates.”
Yes, those are (fake) dolphins. Yes, that is a (real) hot tub. Yes, new Bachelor Ben Higgins will be sitting in the lifeguard chair, waving benevolently to his adoring subjects. Yes, those are creepy Tiki statues that will remind everyone of The Brady Bunch’s classic two-part adventure in Hawaii. No, ABC will not confirm that someone will actually be IN the hot tub as opposed to just perching on the edge of it like last year. For a larger image of the rendering, click here. And if you think the technicolor vision above is a thing of extreme beauty, check out the truly breathtaking description of the float from ABC’s official press release:
This time, fan favorite Ben Higgins, who will search for love when the 20th season of “The Bachelor” premieres in January 2016, will take the spotlight, sitting on a lifeguard stand surrounded by spectacular visions of crashing floral waves, lush white sand beaches, floral-perfume trade winds and swaying palm trees — the perfect fantasy adventure setting for “The Bachelor.” An actual working hot tub, one of the quintessential Bachelor symbols — complete with heated water — is at the front of the float. Dolphins bob up and down as they surf in the floral waves with intricately decorated sea-life completing the ocean setting. A stylized glowing sun is the backdrop for the 55-foot long by 22-foot high float. A magnificent treasure chest, cascading with red roses, holds the custom-designed wedding rings. Carved tiki figures, sculptured Cattleya orchids and colorful yellow hibiscus frame this phenomenal tropical setting.
In other words, it’s the perfect thing to watch on TV while you’re struggling to emerge from your New Year’s Eve hangover haze.
The 20th season of The Bachelor premieres in January 2016 on ABC.