The Bachelor Insider

The Bachelorette Just Misses the Disastrous Eruption of Iceland's Volcano While Filming There

from the ABC bachelorette press release

Ali Fedotowsky, the beautiful, energetic and charismatic career-oriented woman from San Francisco is back. She has re-prioritized her life - and now is ready to find her soul mate. Ali will have her own opportunity to find true love, as the sixth edition of "The Bachelorette," the female version of ABC's hit romance reality series, premieres MONDAY, MAY 24 (9:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Ali, 25, has been a fan favorite from the moment she stepped out of the limo to meet Jake Pavelka on the last season of "The Bachelor." She became the front-runner for Jake's heart, but in a shocking turn of events, she was forced to make a heartbreaking choice between her dream job and continuing her relationship with Jake. Ali surprisingly chose her career - a decision she still regrets. But it's not too late for Ali now. She's left her home, her job, her stability behind - letting go of everything this time -- to really make a life-changing commitment to put her heart first and take a second chance at finding true love.

This season's premiere, "Episode 601," begins with 25 eligible men arriving from all over the country to try and win Ali's heart, including a real estate investor, a lawyer, a TV weatherman and even a professional wrestler. Each is more handsome than the next, with standout personalities. Tonight, as she returns to the mansion, nothing can prepare Ali for the lengths the guys will go to for her attention: one outdoorsman literally tries to reel her in, a hunky skier does a death-defying back flip off the limo and a one man even gets down on one knee and proposes.

Inside, the men are blown away about how incredibly gorgeous Ali looks in her slinky black dress - and the battle of the bachelors begins, as each tries to make the best first impression on the stunning Bachelorette. An aspiring writer is the first to snag some alone time with Ali, sharing his very inspiring story. One man scores some points with a sentimental scrapbook he made for her, but one clever guy steals the show and Ali's attention with a heart-felt, hilarious song, accompanying himself on a ukulele.

The competition heats up when Chris Harrison brings out the first impression rose. A sexy Latin bachelor seizes the moment to take Ali outside and teach her some salsa steps. Another handsome suitor rips his shirt open to reveal his professional wrestler alter ego, and a rugged country guy gives Ali a beautiful hand-crafted wood necklace to make his point.

But Ali grows concerned when one of the men uses his one-on-one time to warn her - already - that there may be some men here for reasons other than love. Chris comes to the rescue as he brings in a ballot box and instructs the men to each write down the name of a guy they feel isn't here for the right reasons. Tensions rise and tempers clash as the men size each other up and call each other out. As the men battle, Ali scoops up the first impression rose and offers it to someone who swept her off her feet. When the votes are tallied, one bachelor gets an overwhelming number of votes. But even though he is a marked man, Ali gives him some private time to convince her that his intentions are sincere. But will he have done enough to get a rose?

By the end of the evening, Ali, having the time of her life, is optimistic that the man of her dreams is among this group of bachelors. She must eliminate eight of the 25 men the first night, leaving 17 to compete for her affections and, in the end, her heart.

Ali's hunt for Mr. Right will take place during some of the most romantic and adventurous dates ever, with exciting surprises in store for her bachelors as they travel around the globe for intimate dates in Hollywood, Las Vegas, New York, Iceland, Istanbul, Lisbon and Tahiti. Ali and one lucky man sneak up to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, enjoying the city lights below. She whisks away one fortunate bachelor on a private jet to an exciting date at a new Las Vegas resort, which ends with a private performance by popular English jazz-pop singer Jamie Cullum. Nine guys are surprised when they get to shoot a music video with the Barenaked Ladies. Ali's Manhattan adventure starts with a glamorous photo shoot and make-over for InStyle magazine's July issue, out in mid-June. And the lights of Broadway are not far behind, as Ali auditions seven men to try and sing and dance their way into her heart with the hopes of being chosen to be featured with her in that night's performance of the landmark Tony Award-winning musical, "The Lion King." Ali and one of the lucky bachelors are surprised by a private concert from one of the Bachelorette's favorites, singer-songwriter Joshua Radin and the Harlem Boys Choir.

Traveling half way around the world, Ali and the remaining men visit the beautiful and exotic country of Iceland. The intrepid group transverse a frigid mountain plateau to a cave where they go spelunking. Then they enjoy a dip in the famous geothermal hot springs, Blue Lagoon. Ali takes two anxious men on a breathtaking helicopter ride over the active Eyjafjallajokull Volcano shortly before its eruption caused massive travel tremors around the world. The incredible outing leads to a huge glacier and a spectacular and romantic ice cave. But things steam up when Ali and the men move on to Istanbul, Turkey. The fun is just starting, as some of the bachelors must compete for Ali's time and attention, grappling with gargantuan Turkish olive oil wrestlers in a slippery throw-down. Lisbon, Portugal is the location for magical dates in romantic medieval settings at the Castle Sao Jorge and the town of Obidos, where Ali and two of the men don historic garments and are joined by local villagers in a dance. Finally, three lucky men travel with Ali to the island paradise of Tahiti for some of the most exotic and sensual overnight dates ever.

As in the past, men will continue to be eliminated each week, but if at any point along the way a bachelor should decide that he's no longer interested in the Bachelorette, he can reject her invitation to continue dating. Two lucky men will meet her family, and she will visit the final bachelors' hometowns for a slice of their lives in an effort to determine the man with whom she is most compatible -- but there are surprises in store for Ali that shake her world. At the end of the journey, the Bachelorette may quite possibly have found true love. But the big question is: After all of this, will he pop the question, and will she say yes?