It looks like Demar won't be the only man not taking Tayshia home to meet his family after Tuesday night's Bachelorette episode. Of course, he won't be doing it because he failed to get a rose; the other remaining gentlemen won't be doing it because it's a pandemic. Tayshia's Bachelorette hometown dates are coming up, but they won't be the hometowns Bachelor Nation is used to cringing through.
Instead of romantic trips to Everytown, USA, filled with awkward tourist attractions and the mandatory family dinner, Tayshia and her remaining suitors will be going to... La Quinta resort in Palm Springs! Now, I know what you're thinking: "Hey, isn't that where they already are?" Yes! Yes, it is.
Coronavirus didn't just force The Bachelorette to forgo glamorous trips abroad, it also made traditional hometown visits impossible. So, instead of Tayshia going to visit the men's hometowns, producers are bringing hometowns to Tayshia. "Surprise, surprise. The families will be coming to me," the Bachelorette confirmed during an appearance on The Ellen Show on Wednesday.
According to Reality Steve, Bachelorette producers brought out select friends and family to La Quinta, where "they are being quarantined and tested before appearing." It's not clear how long they will have quarantined before meeting Tayshia, but I'm thinking it will probably be less than two weeks. After all, Bachelorette films super quickly, and, even though she still has three guys to send packing before hometown dates can actually begin, there isn't a ton of time behind the scenes. Which leads me to my next question: does this mean that some of these men who will be sent home have their family members already quarantining at the resort? Awkward...
On the one hand, this could be a great opportunity for Tayshia and her final four. Assuming the family members and friends allowed on set have to be limited for safety reasons, that could cut down significantly on the drama that often comes with hometown visits. There's no chance for a surprise encounter with an ex who tells you the woman you're dating can't be trusted when you're in a contained environment miles away from home. And that's a good thing. The more Tayshia and her suitors can focus on getting to know each other and their families, the better.
On the other hand, forcing your family to fly out to Palm Springs to meet a girl you've only known for like a month is risky. Time and time again on Bachelorette, we've seen parents be resistant to the idea of falling in love on a dating show, and resentful that they have to participate in it, too. Imagine already being skeptical and then having to disrupt your entire life to go to Palm Springs for 2 weeks of quarantine to meet a woman who might dump your son the next day. Talk about a recipe for disaster.
We're going to need more wine.
Image: ABC/Craig Sjodin