This season on "The Bachelor Pad" a new twist was added. In addition to the 15 former "Bachelor"/"Bachelorette" contestants, the producers brought six super fans of the franchise into the house. Of course these outsiders immediately had a target on their backs when it came down to voting people out of the game. A game that is not only played for the hope of finding true love but also for a chance of walking off with $125,000.
In the first episode as couples were asked to pair off to compete in the first challenge. Fans David Mallet and twins Brittany and Erica Talos (who count as one person) found themselves unable to hook up with any of the vets and were left as a team to compete together. Shocking everyone, they won the challenge and immunity from the first elimination. In a recent conference call interview, Mallet discussed his strategy from the moment he stepped in the house.
Mallet didn't let them know he was starstruck
As a fan of the franchise, Mallet was a bit in awe, seeing some of his TV favorites. But he knew that would work against him. He came into the house observing the words and actions of his idols. He recalled, "I was trying to pick up not just on how they were talking to us but then how they were acting. We definitely got the impression right off the bat that we were the outsiders. I might've been the only one that wasn't so starstruck to not be able to notice it."
Mallet approached the vets independently
But Mallet made big waves when viewers saw him reveal his entire strategy to Erica Rose. He came out and told her directly to her face that he and the other fans were voting for her to go home. But there was something the fans didn't see. Before Rose confronted him, he had already spoken to the vets on the sly to feel out who was on Rose's side and who was not. He started with Rachel, Reid and Kalon, who had paired up with fans for the first challenge. He thought this made them slightly more open to the idea of keeping fans in the game.
Laying it all out on the line with Erica Rose
But this tact didn't yield enough results so Mallet took a more risky approach. He soon found out that some of the vets he revealed his plan to in confidence, had gone right back to Rose and divulged his intentions. He admitted, "My strategy to say my plan to Erica probably seemed ridiculous. But there was no way for us to get a feel for who would be willing to keep us in the house and who would be willing to side with us."
Mallet figured that by letting everyone in the house know his scheme, he could judge by their reactions who might join his side and who might not. He began listening to conversations, watching who was speaking to whom and looking at people's body language to determine who was scrambling to save Rose. He said, "Erica puts a bad taste in people's mouth, so I was hoping that some of the veterans had something against Erica, and by me putting it out there, they would come to me and say, 'Listen. I'm not a fan of Erica, and I'm willing to go with you guys.'"
Tune in to see if Mallet's scheme pays off and he can keep Rose and the other vets at bay. "Bachelor Pad" airs on Monday nights at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. Central on ABC.
More From This Contributor:
'The Bachelorette': Who Will Be Next to Fall - Arie or Ryan?
The 'Glee Project's' Latest Castoff, Nellie Veitenheimer, Stepped Outsider Her Comfort Zone
