Update 7/28: Ratings were so good they are replaying the finale tonight before the ATFR show. I’m glad my predictions below turned out to be correct. Jillian seems so happy with her choice, I feel badly I can’t share her enthusiasm about Ed, but if anyone’s to blame, it’s ABC for the way they edited him and scripted the season.

7/27: 6:42pm MT:

Final spoilers and my prediction: Jillian will choose Ed at the end of the Final Rose Ceremony during the last five minutes of tonight’s Bachelorette finale and is now engaged to him.

Reid, the realtor from Philly who attracted quite a fan base in recent weeks, even before he was eliminated in Maui, and who comes back during the FRC to tell Jillian he really does love her, is rejected. Ed, the Microsoft salesman from Chicago, who bowed out mid-series purportedly for work and then returned a few episodes later, who is widely rumored to have had two girlfriends when he went on the show, who thinks passing gas is so funny he posted a you tube video about it (his only video), whose idea of a good time is to go to a karaoke bar, who is the only guy who had performance problems with Jillian when they had their overnight date, and who in one episode is so drunk he can’t even form a sentence, is the guy she picks.

Go figure. It’s true Jillian was a bit intimidated by Kiptyn’s family (not their fault), and while he is quite attractive and sensible, he was not Mr. Personality. It’s also true that Reid and she have different cultural backgrounds and it might be that no bridge could close the gap. But, after seeing her swoon every time Wes sang a lyric, it’s not hard to see where her head is. She’s not as interested in finding a life-long partner as she is someone to goof around with. She likes potty humor, from her repeated references to how she laughs so hard she almost pees in her pants to her thinking Michael and Ed passing gas on the show is about the funniest thing she’s ever seen. She describes herself as a liberal Canadian, which in Canada, has nothing to do with politics.

It’s hard to see how she could choose Ed. But, she’s only 29, let her have some fun while it lasts. At least she got a boatload of cute outfits out of the experience. She can now giggle and squeal her way back to Canada where she’s announced she’s opening her own design business (no word about how that fits in with an engagement to a guy who lives in Chicago) … or maybe she’ll land a design-related tv gig .

Did you expect more from Jillian? Why? Who goes on a show, signs away every privacy right under the sun and agrees to let a show edit your words in a way that is 180 degrees from what you actually said, so you come off looking like a pervert, a master manipulator or a psycho with anger management issues in the first place? I guess people who want an escape from their lives and think that the show will be a step up.

No matter what happens with Jillian and Ed, I think Jillian will do well and the show was a good move for her. She was third choice for the starring role, because Number 1 last season (Melissa Rycroft, who had both beauty and talent) turned it down after she got demoted to number 2 when simpleton Jason Mesnick, whose primary means of communicating was leaning over a railing and bawling buckets of tears, switched to Molly. (Molly was second choice but she turned it down as well.) Melissa turned the Jason fiasco into a positive experience, moving on to Dancing with Stars where she went all to the way to the finals and came in third. No small accomplishment. Now she’s engaged to someone else and has a reporting gig at Good Morning America. Way to to go Melissa. Her life is infinitely better than had she stayed with mopey Jason. And probably better than had she not gone on the show.

Will Jillian and Ed find happiness? I’ll refrain from making predictions they won’t last six months, and instead say I hope so — but I also hope that tomorrow night’s After the Final Rose Show is the last we see of them as a couple on TV.

I do think contestants can find happiness after the Bachelorette. Wes will do great with his concerts and recordings, notwithstanding that ABC tried to not only throw him under the bus but then drive over him. Reid and Kip will go back to their successful lives, inundated with offers from females to date them and one is likely to be the next Bachelor. Deanna Pappas is doing well. She has her own show on an Atlanta cable station where she gives wedding advice, lives in L.A. and acts appropriately for a 30 year old who wants to have fun and become famous. Jesse, my favorite from her season, whom she chose and then dumped, has been building a fan base, appearing on tv, from sports shows to helping John Walsh solve a crime on America’s Most Wanted, and, he’s a professional snowboarder who puts in major hours doing non-profit and community stuff. He’ll do great. Holly Durst from a prior season, who dated Jesse after his and Deanna’s breakup, is now best friends with Deanna and as of this weekend, madly in love with cute breakdancer Michael Stagliano (from this season with Jillian) and he’s madly in love with her. He even changed his FaceBook status to “in a relationship” today. I think they make an adorable couple.

The Bachelorette is not a bad show. It’s fun to watch. But the best part is trying to figure out who gets sent home and who wins in the end before they air it. This year, because they played the scripted revolving door trick so much, with Ed leaving and then coming back,and then holy-roller Jake’s ridiculous return to warn Jillian that Wes had a girlfriend which wasn’t true, it became more difficult for the sleuthers. So to producer Michael Fleiss, I’ll say nice job, although you played a little fast and loose with the traditional show rules this season.

The finale starts here in 30 minutes, we’ll see how close I came to the ending. I’m glad it’s over tonight as the show hasn’t been as much fun since Wes left. As for Reid not winning, millions of women watching tonight will be disappointed but not for long: Jillian’s loss may be America’s gain, if he decides to accept the offer of becoming the next Bachelor. If I knew Reid in real life, I’d tell him to run for the hills. As a fan of the show, I hope he agrees so we get to see lots more of him.

ABC has gone from telling us Reid Rosenthal’s return at the Bachelorette Finale next Monday makes Jillian question everything, to Reid’s return changes everything. (Text of both below.) Jillian says she recently started her own interior design business in Vancouver, Jillian Harris Designs. Sounds like we’re down to just a few possibilities and the most likely one is Reid’s return made her change her mind about accepting a proposal from either Kip or Ed, and she rejected or deferred all proposals at the FRC. She’s back home in Vancouver, on her own, but happy.

If that’s the case, what we’ll find out at the ATFR (After the Final Rose) is whether, in the intervening two months between when the finale filmed on May 24th, and when the ATFR is filmed (tomorrow), she continued to see one of them and, whether it’s either going great or it’s over. The other possibilities:

• Jillian decides on Ed, sends Kip home at F2, Reid returns, Jillian freaks out, she rejects Ed as F1 and rejects Reid. She ends up alone. But that’s a score for Reid, he changed her mind about Ed.
• Jillian decides on Ed, sends Kip home at F2, Reid returns, Jillian freaks out, she rejects Reid and proceeds with accepts Ed’s proposal.
• Jillian decides on Ed, sends Kip home at F2, Reid returns, Jillian freaks out, she rejects Ed and then accepts Reid’s proposal.

What about Kip as F1? It’s just not in the cards that they’ve shown us.

A new description from ABC today:

In this gripping special conclusion, Jillian, the vivacious restaurant designer who began her search for love with 30 bachelors, has survived a dramatic, rocky road and found herself falling in love with two wonderful men, Ed and Kiptyn. As she prepares to make one of the most difficult decisions of her life, she invites the two remaining bachelors to the Big Island of Hawaii to meet her family. Then the men have one last chance to lay their hearts on the line, each trying to guarantee that he will be the one to get Jillian’s final rose. But in the most dramatic and emotional conclusion in “Bachelorette” history, there is an unexpected confession that changes everything. Will Jillian find her soul mate? It’s a decision that will change her life forever.

From ABC earlier:

Jillian continues her amorous adventures on the Big Island of Hawaii where her mom, dad, grandma and cousin arrive to assist her with one of the toughest decisions of her life. Not wanting to see her heartbroken again, her family grills both Ed and Kiptyn about their intentions and their feelings for Jillian. After her family weighs in on her options, Jillian takes Ed on a panoramic helicopter ride above the Big Island’s bubbling lava pits. Jillian is falling for this sensitive bachelor, but time is running out for her to make sure she has real chemistry with him. Landing in a lush jungle, the two enjoy a private lunch and a romantic dip in a private lagoon, but Ed must convince Jillian that they are compatible.

Next, Jillian takes Kiptyn on a romantic boat ride to a secluded beach, where the couple share a picnic lunch and frolic in the water. Their physical attraction is undeniable, but Jillian still needs to make sure that Kiptyn is prepared for a future with her. Will he finally share the depth of his feelings for her?

As the moment of decision approaches, Jillian is torn. She is in love with both men and knows she would have an incredible life with either one. A tearful Jillian wrestles with her emotions and is ready to make her ultimate decision, but at the very last minute one man’s shocking change of heart makes Jillian question everything. Does she find her best friend, soul mate and future husband? The two remaining men are: Ed, 29, technology consultant from Chicago, IL.; Kiptyn, 31, business developer from Encinitas, CA.

Jillian held a teleconference call with reporters yesterday. Here’s the transcript.

Who gets what date on the season finale of The Bachelorette, filmed on Hawaii’s Big Island, and where did filming take place? Here are some scoops. Going further, KapohoKine Adventures says on their website they took Jillian and one of the F2 bachelors on this date:

Tune in and watch Jillian and one of the two final bachelors relax in style at one of the many breathtaking private locations available only to KapohoKine Adventures’ guests. After being flown over hot lava by private helicopter, then landing alongside a stunning, secluded waterfall for a gourmet Hawaiian barbecue followed by kayaking, champagne and frolicking with her man, Jillian allowed the magic of Hawaii and the aloha spirit to relax her soul and guide her heart in her quest for true love.

The second date was arranged by Captain Zodiac Adventures. Here’s their press release about the date (pdf):

An exhilarating, high speed ocean rafting ride on Captain Zodiac will take Jillian and her date along the Gold Coast of the Big Island, bringing them to a virtually inaccessible and remote, black sand beach. There, the adventurous Bachelorette, Jillian, and her companion will enjoy the extremely popular sport of paddle boarding, followed by a romantic beach picnic for two.

Since we have screencaps of Kip paddling and on a beach picnic, Ed gets the first date, Kiptyn the second.

The hotels: The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, the Mauna Kea and the Fairmont Orchid (Jillian and host Chris Harrison) and a private residence in the Bluffs Estates (near both hotels) for the FRC. Which does Kip stay at and which does Ed stay at? And, where’s Reid? Maybe at the Hilton Waikola Village with the production crew. The Fairmont Orchid has a press release on the event:

The resort’s cameo is set to appear on Monday, July 27. Crews spent time at the 32-acre oceanfront resort filming the reality show including the 3,736 square foot Fairmont Gold Presidential Suite; the ultimate romantic Hawaiian date also featured the delectable offerings of Sushi Chef Norio Yamamoto who personally prepared items such as tuna tataki and spicy tuna roll for their private dinner.

Usually, the one the show knows Jillian will pick as her F1 gets the better hotel. There’s screencaps of a guy looking like Ed in room 327 at the Mauna Kea. The shot of him getting dressed for the finale matches the interior of a Mauna Kea room. But Kip’s room seems to match the Mauna Kea as well. The prices? Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel—rates start at $415; Mauna Kea Beach Hotel—rates start at $700.

Here’s the Hawaii Vistor Bureau’s Press Release:

Jillian and the final two bachelors – Ed Swiderski and Kiptyn Locke – find themselves on incredible final dates that take them across the Big Island highlighted by an aerial tour of Kïlauea volcano’s active lava flows with Sunshine Helicopters, landing beside a secluded Hilo waterfall for a private barbecue with KapohoKine Adventures, and discovering a remote black sand beach with Captain Zodiac Rafting Adventures.

After exploring the diversity of the island, the couples continue their dates with dinner and alone time at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel and The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii resorts on the legendary Kohala Coast, the sun-soaked northwest side of the island that was once a popular retreat for Hawaiian royalty.

A private oceanfront estate on the Kohala Coast provides the setting for what could be a life changing moment for Jillian as she makes her final decision. As the largest of all of the main Hawaiian Islands combined and home to Maunakea, the world’s tallest mountain, Hawai‘i’s Big Island is a perfect symbol of the enormous decision to be made there.

Tonight is Jillian Harris’ “Men Tell All Episode” on The Bachelorette. Everybody knows Reid, Ed and Kiptyn won’t be there and neither will Wes. You’ll see lots of Dave, Jake, Tanner and Juan, more talk about “man codes” and more gratuitous Wes Hayden bashing. And Dave talking about how he thought Melissa was going to be the Bachelorette and how he was being considered for the Bachelor over Jason. Plus, an update with Jason and Molly.

Why watch? For the preview of next week’s finale. The latest sneak peek commercial talks about a bachelor coming back to propose, which of course is Reid. But, in the episode description of tonight’s show, ABC writes:

It’s the bachelors like you’ve never seen them before! The show includes a special sneak peek at the season finale and the final two bachelors, Ed and Kiptyn.

They’ll show Ed and Kip but not Reid? Would that be true if he were her final choice? Uh-Oh, Reid.

Back to Wes. If you read Claudia Grisales’ interview with Wes Hayden and want more, here are some additional excerpts from their conversation. He explains why he’s not at the “Men Tell All.”

Why didn’t you attend the taping of the “Men Tell All” episode?

I had talks with them and I told them that I wasn’t going to come on the show. I didn’t trust how they were going to edit me.And then when I saw the very last episode (I was on), I realized that I had to go back to defend myself. I called them and … their words to me — they were kind of abrasive — were “Oh, so now you want to come on the show?” They were pretty rude. I said, “I’ve got to defend myself.”

Their exact words to me were “You can’t come on the show and say the things you have been saying on all these other interviews,” basically the truth. And I said, “You mean I can’t come on the show and defend myself?” That’s not right. What do you expect me to do? To go in there and say I have a girlfriend when I don’t have a girlfriend? I’m on there for my career when clearly there were several different reasons why I was on the show? … They said, “OK, we’ll call you back.” And my manager talked to them on (July 10) and the “Men Tell All” was the next day … and they said, “Look, we don’t think it’s a good idea that Wes come.”

But, will they give Wes an opportunity to say something at the end? There’s been rumors of an end-of-show appearance, not filmed when the rest of show taped last weekend, so stay tuned for in case that happens. More likely it will just be another undeserved Wes-bashing.

Jillian did two interviews at the MTA taping, one with Mario from EXTRA and one with Kristen from Entertainment Tonight. Here’s Kristen’s:

Want to get a better sense of Ed? Here’s here’s a video Ed posted of himself and a friend on You Tube 9 months ago — toilet humor, frat boy stuff (from a just-turned 30 year old.)

The tricky editing continues. Thanks to the sleuthers at FORT, next week we’ll see one guy visit Jillian in her room at the Fairmont Orchid before she leaves for the Final Rose Ceremony, which takes place nearby at a private residence. We’ll see Kip arrive first and Ed second. Which means, Kip for sure is being rejected.

Now, the tricky part. Jillian says the last five minutes provide her happy ending. So, does Reid arrive to propose between Kip and Ed and get turned down again, leaving Ed as the final one standing? Or, does she turn Ed down after Kip leaves and then Reid arrives to propose and save the day? And, will be get a resolution at the finale or a cliffhanger where we’ll have to wait until the next night’s “After the Final Rose?” The jury is still out on that one.

Last item for now: Jillian will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live tomorrow night.

Hayden was portrayed as a ruthless player who wasn’t on the show to find love, but instead had a secret girlfriend and a larger motive to promote his singing career. Now Hayden says he’s on a mission to clear his name. He is denying that he had a girlfriend while taping the show, and he says he’s a victim of creative editing.

“I signed a contract with them, so I knew they could portray my character any way they saw fit,” Hayden said. “But they have totally slandered me and taken my words and put them out of context. They cut, they paste, they left vital sentences out.”

Sounds like Wes has lawyered up and a battle may be brewing. I’ll bet it’s good for both Wes and the show. Jillian Harris may have moved on to Ed, Kip or Reid (yes, he may return, remember it’s the revolving door season) but Wes is between a rock and a hard place. Either he stays silent and endures hate mail and concert cancellations due to the allegedly phony editing, or he plays David to Goliath and fights back against ABC.

He’s got a growing following on Facebook, My Space and Twitter. And, he’s ramping up his media interviews.

Hayden has booked interviews in recent weeks with People magazine, the New York Daily News and others. He said he will continue telling his side of his story. “The gloves are off,” Hayden said.

From his Facebook page today:

Saturday Night! I need every fan I have (if any! lol) in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to come to the show at Spencers Corner in Fort Worth this Saturday night! Let’s show Fort Worth that there ARE people in Fort Worth that understand that this was a “TV” show for ratings. I need fan support on the Fort Worth show! Try to make it!

Most likely scenario: Reid comes back to “confess” his love and propose. What happens? ABC gives us a cliffhanger, where there’s no resolution at the end of the Final Rose Ceremony, and we have to wait until the next night’s After the Final Rose Show. It’s called a ratings draw.

And poor Kiptyn…he’s about to go from never having his heart broken to having it broken on national TV. This is the revolving door season. Why anyone agrees to go on this show becomes more of a mystery each season. It’s just one train wreck after another.

With one of the guys, the romance just wasn’t there. The date didn’t go exactly as planned.

Which date went awry in the bedroom? They want us to think it’s Ed.

Here’s Ed and Jillian in the fantasy suite at the Sheraton Maui:

Here’s Kip and Jillian in their Maui Sheraton Fantasy Suite:

Here’s Reid and Jillian in the Fantasy Suite at the Westin Maui:

Ed seems the odd man out, both in the Fantasy Suite photos with him on the terrace and Jillian alone in the room, and in his attire and expression at the rose ceremony. But, we know Jillian takes the guy with the fantasy suite issue aside to talk to him. Perhaps he reassures her and she cuts one of the others instead.

From what they have shown us, it should be Ed leaving, it could be Kip, and Reid should be solid. Which means, don’t be surprised to see Reid go home. And if he does, look for him to come back at the finale. This is, after all, the season of the revolving door. When they need to ramp up the drama, they send a guy home only to bring him back. They’ve already done it with Ed and Jake. Maybe it’s Reid’s turn now.

This is the ABC short preview, followed by an extended preview of Jillian and Kip, Reid and Ed in Maui. Ed’s surprise: He flew his parents out to meet her. (Kip and Reid’s parents met Jillian on the home town dates.)

Here’s the picture of the Maui rose ceremony at the Olowalu Plantation House. Who sticks out like a sore thumb?

The newest preview from ABC is below:

Update (7/9): Don’t miss Reality Steve’s interview of Wes Hayden (podcast link here) .

Via The Examiner: Wes Hayden gave an interview today to Bobby Bones on KVET radio about what really happened between him and Jillian and the other guys. Editing is a b*tch, and he’s right, people should think twice before going on these shows. You can listen for yourself here (part1) and here (part 2.)

Did you have a girlfriend when the show was going on?

Wes: I had a girlfriend last summer. She’s still a very good friend of mine. Every now and then we’ll go out and do lunch or something like that. I mean, I did some work for her mom, I’m good friends with her family. They used her name on the show. And I just called them two weeks ago and was like, ‘Look. I don’t care what y’all do to me. You can say I’m the worst guy in the world and I’m here for my publicity, I’ve got a girlfriend. But don’t mention anybody’s name. Because as soon as you mention her name, people in Austin are going to know her, because we dated for a long time. Sure enough, they mentioned her name the very next day. The very next day, People Magazine called. She gave a great article.

Jillian…the end of our date that we had, it didn’t end like you saw it on TV. It was actually a very good date that we had.

It looked like it was all fighting, by the way.

Wes: Exactly. It wasn’t like that at all. We sat down and had dinner for about an hour and a half. And we chatted, we laughed. We BS-ed each other. And when I left, I remember telling Jillian, ‘We’re buds, right?’ She said, ‘Oh yeah. We’re more than that, Wes.’ And I said okay, because that’s the most important thing to me is our friendship, and that we’re honest with each other. I told her I didn’t have a girlfriend. The actual conversation was based around was I here for my career or not.

I think everybody needs to remember that this is a TV show, and it’s here for ratings. If this thing is true, I want to see somebody get married at the end of it. If there’s a marriage at the end of this thing, I’m a total liar and this thing is built around love. I mean, you can get one girl to make out with 30 different guys for two months and then whiddle this thing down to ‘let’s get married.’ I’m just saying, I’d like to see it.

Wes, when you’re in the limo last night, and you say it’s pieced together, how exactly do they get a clip of you saying, ‘I’m the only guy in Bachelor history who’s made it to the top four with a girlfriend.’ How do they get that clip?

Wes: They don’t play what I say after that. I said, ‘I’m the only guy in Bachelorette history to make it to the top four with a girlfriend. Get real, dude. If I had a girlfriend, I’d be home with her right now, and I wouldn’t be putting up with this. They said stuff like that all the way through. They can take whatever they want and just play what they want. It’s not rocket science. I promise you. I do have a career. I’ve been a musician for 14 years and I would never go on national TV and sink myself.

What did you mean by ‘My acting days are over?

Wes: I was in the limo and I was just tired of the whole thing. There were two to three different times on that show where I was ready to go home. Trust me, it’s not what you think. If anybody wants to go on any kind of reality show they really need to consider what could happen to them, and think about it long and hard. And if you do go on, don’t say a whole lot, because they can pretty much do what they want. If I went on there and said, ‘I don’t hit women,’ they could take the don’t out and say, ‘I hit women.’

Look, there had to be drama. There had to be ratings. They picked me for it. And if not, the show would have been boring.

Is Jillian hot in person?

Wes: Jillian’s a cute girl. She really is. But what makes her so cool is that she’s got a really good personality. She’s kind of like the kind of girl who you could go out and have three or four beers with and hang out with the guys.

Was it really necessary to talk trash about the guys who were left?

Wes: Here’s the deal. All the guys talked trash about me for 8 episodes. As soon as I stepped out of the limo, they were already accusing me of things and saying, ‘Wes is a snake. He’s here for the wrong reasons.’ But to be perfectly honest with you, I’ve got in my phone about 30 text messages from the guys. We were all really good friends. None of us didn’t like each other at all. We call each other almost daily. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to Reid, if any, but hypothetically, I could have spoken to him a few times.

The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain …Wes reaches the end of the road. Kip, Reid and Ed go on to Hawaii.

Translation in my view: Wes puts the brakes on his affection, so Jillian has a reason to send him home. I think the producers knew he was leaving at F4, which is why they staged the whole “comeback” scene with Ed and the drama in Austin with Jake. Hawaii is where it will get interesting, when Jillian makes the F3/F2 cut on Maui.

But for now, let’s enjoy Madrid, Seville and Barcelona, and watch ABC continue to unfairly shred Wes’ character so it can keep the illusion that Jillian is torn between 3 men she has feelings for. ABC’s full description of Episode 8:

Episode 508″ – As Jillian gets closer to her final decision, she sweeps the remaining four men – Ed, Kiptyn, Reid and Wes – on a grand romantic journey to Spain. As excited as she is to be with these four particular men as they explore the amazing sites and cuisine of Madrid, Sevilla and Barcelona, Jillian knows that she faces a very difficult decision to send one these bachelors home. At the end of each evening, the Bachelorette will present the man with an invitation to spend the night in a “fantasy suite,” with the hope that he will accept. But will he? And will Jillian choose to stay the night, on “The Bachelorette,” MONDAY, JULY 6 (8:00-10:02 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

The first fabulous day in Madrid is planned for Kiptyn, the guy who gave Jillian butterflies from the start. After the two meet in the central park in Madrid, the talk turns serious about the possibility of marriage. Then Jillian surprises him with a series of activities designed to take him out of his comfort zone: Flamenco dancing lessons, a wild moped ride through the streets of the city and a fancy dinner complete with Spanish delicacies. Over dinner they discuss their possible future together and the compromises they both would have to make. An intimate visit to a fantasy suite ends the night, but Jillian needs to decide if she will take the relationship to the next level and stay the night.

The charming southern city of Sevilla hosts Jillian and Reid. They stroll through the streets looking to shop for the ingredients for a perfect picnic. This lovable bachelor’s quick wit makes the day breezy and fun for the couple. But things heat up during a romantic riverside dinner where Jillian peppers him with questions about how ready he is for a life with her. Once again, Jillian faces a very personal decision about whether she will stay the night in the fantasy suite with him.

The next day in Sevilla, as Jillian and Ed snuggle in a horse drawn carriage for a ride around the romantic streets of the city, she discovers that her feelings are growing stronger for him. When Jillian brings up her concerns about them being together, he wins her over with his sincerity and tenderness. Another fantasy suite card arrives and, like the other bachelors, Jillian must decide whether she is ready to mcision about whether she will stay the night in the fantasy suite with him.

The next day in Sevilla, as Jillian and Edove on her feelings and spend the night.

It’s on to Barcelona for the last date. Jillian meets up with Wes, who she finds irresistible, and they bicycle through the city. However, a chill falls on the romantic day when Jillian becomes worried about his inability to show real affection for her. She challenges him at dinner to try and get some real answers to her lingering questions and tearfully confronts him with her worst fears.

In a dramatic rose ceremony, Jillian faces her toughest decision yet. In the end, she reluctantly listens to her heart and says good-by to the man she has been falling for early on. Then she invites the final three men to join her in Hawaii for their final romantic adventures as she attempts to make her fairytale ending come true.

ABC is making me angrier every week with its splicing and dicing country music singer Wes Hayden’s edit. Don’t believe it for a minute. At least, I predict, he will survive the Home Town Date tonight despite mayonaise-y Jake’s pathetic attempt to crash Wes’ hometown date and tell her he has a girlfriend. As the picture above shows, Wes makes it on to Spain next week. (But he’s unlikely to be the final one (F1). I think he gets cut in Spain. ) I hope he shows up in Hawaii during the last episode to sing for Jillian and whomever she chooses as her F1.

It’s about to start, so I’ll just tell you who gets cut when techie Ed returns to muck things up during the rose ceremony: Vintner Jesse and Break-Dancer Michael won’t make the cut.

Update 7:10 pm: Reid’s hometown date goes well. He’ll go further, to Spain and Hawaii, but will he be the F1? Unknown right now.

Update: 7:20 pm: Michael’s date goes well, he’s adorable and head over heels for Jillian, but the chemistry isn’t there. He’s going home tonight with a broken heart.

Update: 7:35pm: Kip’s HTD was way too intense. Jillian is insecure about his family, Kip tells his sister proposing in a month may be premature, and their hot tub scene lacked spark. She will keep him on, to Spain and Hawaii, and I think he gets to the final two, but he won’t be the final one.

Update: 7:45 pm: Jesse’s HTD was the most moving so far. He really came out of his shell. Even his cynical brother came around. The winery was beautiful and of course I loved them all playing together like a rock band at the end. It will be sad to see him go home tonight. I wish Jillian would tell Ed to take a hike instead when he comes back. But, it’s unlikely. (Ed’s going on to Spain and Hawaii.)

Update 7:56 pm: Jake is such a snake. If you eliminate the voice-overs, you’re left with the fact that Wes is really into Jillian and ready to keep going.

Update 8:30 pm: Good for Jillian not falling for wimpo Jake’s shenanigans and continuing with the date to meet his family. I really liked Wes’ stepmom, mom and sisters — and how they put Jillian’s fears to rest. She’s going to give him another rose tonight. You can tell ABC set this up (how would he even know where Jillian was staying if the producers didn’t tell him…and did you see how she didn’t even have to look up the number to call him to come back over and confront him? )ABC is milking this for all it’s worth — Wes’ HTD was three segments compared to two for the other guys.

And now here comes Ed. Another ABC manipulation. Since when does a bachelor get to leave and come back? He’s acting. There’s no sincerity in his voice. He can barely keep from laughing. Completely scripted. If I were Jillian, I’d be angry at ABC for setting her up for this. One good thing: when Ed moves in for a kiss, she gives him a hug. Too bad she’s going to agree and let him back in at the rose ceremony. Jesse and Michael lose their shot due to Ed.

Update: 9:00 pm: My predictions were correct. Jesse and Michael got the boot. Michael could not have been more gracious. Jesse seems like a nice guy, but he really lagged in the commitment department. Reid and Kip are great choices, and Wes deserves to continue on. Ed? I don’t trust him at all. He’s also the most traditional and unexceptional of the bunch. Unfortunately, the preview for next week gave us no new clues for what happens after Spain when (I predict) Reid, Kip and Ed go on to Hawaii.

Last word on Wes: I think he decides to opt out next week in Spain, but of course, ABC won’t show us that, any more than they showed us Graham opting out during Deanna’s season. They’ll make it seem like it was all Jillian’s decision. The final rose when all is said and done, as it’s looking to me tonight, will be either Reid or Ed, with Kiptyn coming in second to one of them.

For Wes, who I’m sure will bounce back even after the terrible edit. His tour starts soon. Here’s his song for Jillian.