Reality shows have so much competition these days that they’re forced to come up with a number of gimmicks to keep things fresh and interesting. That’s why you see things like “Celebrity Apprentice” instead of the original or “Big Loser Couples” instead of just one person. Without new content, these shows stagnate since their the same thing over and over and over ad nauseum. Even powerhouses like American Idol are forced to update and shake up their format if they don’t want to shed viewers.

The Bachelor, for it’s part, managed to do something viewers neither expected not liked in many cases. The Bachelor himself, Jason Mesnick, proposed to Melissa but then eventually changed his mind and went for Molly instead:

“I followed my heart, I followed my head, and even though I had to hurt people along the way, I feel I did it with integrity,” Jason said. “I did what I felt was right and I stand by that decision.”

Many fans were outraged, and some went so far as to call the whole thing staged. This is a valid thought, given that the lasting relationships of previous Bachelor marriages…well they don’t last. The whole thing at this point seems pretty disingenuous, but I doubt that’ll stop viewers from tuning into following iterations of the show.