New season of “The Bachelorette” is worth a look

When it comes to actual matchmaking, the ABC reality shows “The Bachelor” and “The… When it comes to actual matchmaking, the ABC reality shows “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” always seem to fall short of their true-love expectations. Trista Rehn, the first Bachelorette, was the only “contestant” who reached the show’s hyped goal: She married the man who received the last rose of the season — Ryan Sutter.

However, this season of “The Bachelorette” has all the promise of a happy ending — with an enjoyable ride along the way.

Jennifer Schefft, the woman who won the heart of Andrew Firestone in the third installment of “The Bachelor,” is back. Though she and Firestone dated for months after the show, their relationship, like every other begun by the series, eventually ended. Now ABC has given Schefft the chance to find the real man of her dreams. And this time, I have a feeling that she just might do it.

Maybe it’s her attitude — sweet optimism mixed with the rational understanding that she can’t force one of the men (of whom there are now eight left) into being one she could marry. Maybe it’s the men she’s chosen to keep on the show thus far — several of them seem to be quite kind and genuinely interested in getting to know and love her. Or maybe it’s just her smile — that (literally) ear-to-ear grin could be blinding my judgment.

Whatever the case, and whether or not Schefft and “the last man standing” (as the show’s narrator has dubbed her eventual choice) go on to have a big, pink, Trista-like wedding, this season is going to be a good one.

As usual, there are some new twists to keep viewers interested. They’re not the groaners that we’ve witnessed in the past: The show didn’t start out with two “Bachelorette” contestants between which the 25 original men were able to choose — as was done in the previous season of “The Bachelor.”

This time, our bachelorette was permitted to help the show’s executives choose her bachelors. Though we’re not told how much Schefft’s opinion was weighed against those of the producers, we are told she ensured that she began with 25 men who were there for “the right reasons.”

Also, the show is set in New York City! The series has finally said goodbye to the palatial houses and hot-tub parties of Southern California and moved into a beautiful and spacious city apartment. There will likely be no beach scenes in this season, but the proximity of night life and endless cultural outlets should more than make up for it.

Think it takes more than the “Sex and the City” backdrop to make this reality series pop? Well, if the first two episodes are any indication of how entertaining the series will be, then we’re in for an amusing time.

In the season opener, Chris C., a hairstylist with an extremely thick Kentucky accent, got obnoxiously intoxicated at the cocktail party designed to let the men mingle with Schefft. Eric H. was caught hitting on the party’s wait staff. David couldn’t handle the pressure of the rose ceremony and passed out just before Schefft began to name her keepers. None of these three were chosen to stay.

In the second episode, tension arose between Fabrice, the show’s only foreign participant (he’s French), and some of the other men because of Fabrice’s outspoken feelings about whom he felt should and should not receive a rose. The cops showed up to stop an exchange between the men of the show and what appeared to be a random New Yorker who realized that he’d stumbled upon where “The Bachelorette” was being filmed. Some of the guys came on too strong, too fast, and were sent home for what Schefft called “creepiness.”

The following weeks promise to be similarly entertaining. There will be lots of tears from an overly emotional Schefft who realizes, just like all other bachelors and bachelorettes have, that it’s incredibly difficult to choose between people with whom you’re simultaneously building relationships. Fists will be thrown when the guys play a game of hoops to decide who gets the next dates with Schefft. And, as always, some men will be sent home empty-handed.

So whether Schefft finds love or not, this season of “The Bachelorette” is well worth watching.