The Bachelor — Season 8

The fading reality hit seeks to reinvent itself in a new locale: the City of Light. But the format is the same: one guy and 25 gals out to snag him. The bachelor: Dr. Travis Stork. No, he's not an obstetrician (he's an ER doctor in Nashville), but one of the ladies he meets, in a 14th-century chateau, does mention "reproduction." Whether she'll get the final rose remains to be seen, but Dr. Stork has work to do in the opener: He must say au revoir to 13 of the hopefuls.

Four ladies drop off Dr. Stork's chart, but first he takes all 12 on a group date. It's dinner at the top of the Arc de Triomphe, but Mother Nature sees to it that it's a washout. Then there's the first one-on-one date: dinner during a cruise on the Seine. A rose or a trip home is at stake. And finally, another group date---a tour of Champagne. A rose is up for grabs here, too, and the competition bubbles over.

Three dates lead to au revoir for two of the eight remaining ladies. First, Travis and a companion get lost on an auto trip into town. Then the bachelor and five wannabe brides spend a night on a yacht on the Riviera. And finally, a camping trip for three.

In addition to a day of cycling in the countryside with the six remaining ladies, there's a picnic for two at the Eiffel Tower and an evening for two in Montmartre. The twist: The date participants are selected by contestants Travis eliminated. The bachelor also shows up unannounced at the women's villa and learns a secret. In the end, the field is reduced to four.

Travis and the bachelorettes bid adieu temporarily to Paris and head back across the Atlantic for dates in the gals' hometowns. That means it's time to meet the folks. It also means that the tables are turned somewhat, and one dad gives Travis a grilling. Also: highlights of past hometown dates on "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette."

It's down to three---and dates in Venice (with Moana), Vienna (Sarah S.) and the French Alps (Susan). One woman bares her soul, another her fangs. Also: reflections on overnight dates from past participants Aaron Buerge, Andrew Firestone, Shannon Oliver and Trish Schneider; and updates on "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" couples Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter, Byron Velvick and Mary Delgado, and Charlie O'Connell and Sarah Brice.

Rejected ladies confront Travis---and each other---in an hour that also includes outtakes from previous episodes.

Travis chooses either Moana or Sarah S. to be his mate in the season finale. But first, his parents, sister and two nieces arrive in Paris to meet the two remaining ladies and help him make his decision. The finalists' mothers are also in town to offer their support, but they can't accompany their daughters when each goes on one last date with Travis.