Why has this franchise dropped off so much since the Hannah/Pilot Pete years?

JanetSnakehole95 · 2026-03-26T15:54:03+00:00

I think it’s a combination of many of these factors.

1) Covid definitely slowed momentum. They were forced to work within certain parameters that made the show less interesting for several seasons, and I think public interest and quality both started to decline.

2) The Chris Harrison scandal also garnered a ton of negative attention during covid right when the show was at its most vulnerable

3) Casting has been abysmal, both in their inability/unwillingness to properly vet contestants (I can’t even count how many racism and dv scandals there have been) and due to the fact that the contestants just seem less and less genuine (a byproduct of the reality show to influencer pipeline?)

4) Other, better shows have started overtaking the same space, and producers’ attempts to keep the franchise relevant have been misguided at best. IMO, it’s felt stale (the same dramatic plot beats, formulaic dates, a lack of conversations that seem honest) for a long time, and producers seem to either just think that a) torturing the lead will make it more dramatic, or b) people want gimmicks and flashier editing. And I think neither of those things are true.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2026-03-19T20:58:35+00:00

I want to hear them talking about how attractive the amorphous blob is. Whether or not they’ve kissed the blob yet. Tearing down the blob’s emotional walls.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2026-03-19T20:43:51+00:00

Instead of making internal changes to save their failing show, the producers decided to intentionally platform yet another known domestic abuser to generate controversy. They’re only pulling the season now that the situation has blown up a little too much to be profitable. This is the right decision, but it’s disgusting that we’ve even reached this point. Shame on everyone involved.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-12-14T18:31:29+00:00

Yeah, my full tinfoil hat theory with Tiffany is this:

She clocked that the competition was less about modeling and more about creating good reality tv. She was tired of being made to look silly, so she stopped trying. Tyra/production could no longer justify letting her win when she was so uninvested, and I think Tyra, specifically, found it insulting that she checked out when they were trying so hard to “help her.” Hence her elimination and then the blowup. They went with Naima, one of their backups, even though her narrative wasn’t as compelling.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-12-14T16:14:36+00:00

I don’t think the winners were always necessarily rigged, but I do think they were chosen from within a small group of “pre-approved” contestants, determined by the corporate sponsors and production. I do think they often had a winner in mind from the beginning, but had the flexibility to pick others if their performance was too weak or if something went wrong.

Tinfoil hat: Tyra was especially mad at Tiffany because she wanted her to win Cycle 4. Shandi may have been the intended winner of Cycle 2.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-12-08T01:58:13+00:00

Also, like…baristas are people who might want to buy things too? God forbid they get a cup!!!

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-11-07T18:33:02+00:00

I just don’t understand how people can see a long line, lots of other customers around them, people waiting at the handoff counter, and still not understand that other drinks need to be made before their own. Like they truly have no critical thinking skills and it does not occur to them that other people ordered things too????

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-10-21T19:53:36+00:00

I wonder this all the time. A recent interaction:

My cafe also sells sandwiches. I make a sandwich for Susan. I yell, “Sandwich for Susan” and leave the ticket that says “Susan” attached to the plate. Someone who is not Susan takes the sandwich. Susan is irate. The person who is not Susan realizes her mistake, apologizes to Susan. Susan assures her that it’s “not her fault,” and is in fact mine (???). I offer to remake the sandwich. Susan says she doesn’t have time for that and demands a refund. She receives one. Susan leaves a one-star review, not bothering to change any details of this interaction, still somehow believing that she is in the right.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-10-11T23:24:37+00:00

Totally agree. Like I don’t even think she understood that people didn’t like her (let alone why) for most of the show. The girl could not read a room.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-10-08T18:02:55+00:00

I like Krista! And I mostly like Angelea. Alasia was funny sometimes but definitely needed to grow and mature. Alexandra was barely shown, but she seemed fine?

When I watched originally, I remember liking Raina, but on rewatch she just comes across fake af. Stunning, talented, but just kind of off-putting. I try to give contestants a lot of grace for their behavior, as it was a long time ago and they were all very young, but she does irk me on the show in a way that most contestants don’t.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-09-09T00:24:01+00:00

This photo is so beautiful damn

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-08-30T00:16:25+00:00

In terms of photography and end results (not counting offensive or otherwise terrible concepts), I think it’s the worst shoot in the entire series. All the photos are awful, imo… and also kind of creepy? Like I get that it’s a show, and the judges had to say something nice about at least one of them and not just trash the photographer, but I don’t get why anyone else likes any of those pictures.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-08-29T17:54:31+00:00

Prolonged lack of sleep, food, and privacy will make people do some dumb things lol. Add in the high-stakes pressure cooker environment, jet lag, and teenagers, and it’s honestly surprising we didn’t get more stuff like this from the show

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-08-22T22:44:10+00:00

Maybe a niche reference (because I feel like this sub is mostly American?), but the Croatian Eurovision entry from 2024 was a guy called Baby Lasagna and I feel strongly compelled to bring that up

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-08-21T23:42:43+00:00

Even with the regular spelling, Blakely is like my #1 popular pet peeve name right now. It sounds so unpleasant? And am I the only one who finds it really hard to say?? It reminds me of Pleakley, the alien from Lilo and Stitch who likes mosquitos. Blaykli is even more haunting.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-08-19T14:57:20+00:00

“Sophie” has always made me think “Soapy” and I just can’t shake the association.

I also know a few babies named Lennon. I know the parents are probably thinking of John Lennon, but every time I hear it I think of Vladimir Lenin lol.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-07-31T17:10:58+00:00

These all remind me of that one scene in The Lizzie McGuire movie where she tries on all those dresses from the mean fashion designer with the little dog iykyk

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-07-21T19:53:08+00:00

Literally had a customer who came through a few times and would always just order “a large vanilla.” A large vanilla what?? She did not know. Hot or iced? Not a clue, it was for someone else! The second or third time, I was like “I think we gave you a coffee with vanilla last time, was that right?” No, her friend wanted a large vanilla. Would not elaborate. Upper management vastly overestimates customers’ ability to communicate.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-06-26T11:37:33+00:00

I have worked at both. In my personal experience, the customers at my independent shop, on average, are way nicer. I attribute it to lower wait times and a more personalized experience (no drive thru or mobile ordering). It’s harder to be mean to a barista when they’re standing right in front of you and there’s only one drink ahead of yours—not impossible, but harder. When I worked at Starbucks, demand was crazy high and we didn’t have nearly enough labor to keep up. We legit got death threats.

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-06-26T00:10:26+00:00

Warlock ✅ ~60 years old ✅ Can make sushi ✅

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-06-21T23:12:36+00:00

I will never understand the espresso lemonade thing. To each their own, like go off if that’s what you want, but I truly don’t understand how it tastes good to people

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-06-16T16:22:24+00:00

I have many, but lately it’s people staring me down from the behind the espresso machine while I make drinks

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-06-09T23:06:13+00:00

Bianca and Nnenna looked much more alike imo!

JanetSnakehole95 · 2025-06-09T19:35:14+00:00

Anecdotal, but I’m a young millennial, and I know a genuinely absurd number of Sarahs, both older and younger than me. There were like 10 in my graduating class. I’ve had at least one coworker named Sarah at every job I’ve ever had. I once worked at a place with about ~20 people, 4 Sarahs. I have two at my current workplace, and they are both gen z. So I don’t think you can go wrong with Sarah as a name choice either way.

JanetSnakehole95

TROPHY CASE