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Diamonds Are the Bachelor's Best FriendAugust, 2002 THE WASHINGTON POST called it "trainwreck television" and the TV critic for the GSB Reporter called it just plain "boring," but 10 million Americans watched the School's most famous bachelor winnow 25 wannabe wives down to one winner on ABC's six-week series The Bachelor last spring. Alex Michel, MBA '98, played the role of Mr. Right, planning everything from sushi dates to horseback riding with each of the women who agreed to move into a Malibu house and compete for his attention before TV cameras. Michel's classmate David DiDomenico said his friend was the perfect choice for the role: "He's an incredibly brilliant guy, and he has a level of charisma that is Clintonesque." The serious financiers among Michel's GSB classmates and current MBA students participated in betting pools that were organized like basketball elimination tournaments around the show. (During each episode, Michel chose which women would be permitted to compete for his attention the following week. In one case, a rejected woman hyperventilated and an ambulance was called.) "Can I short one woman?" one MBA student asked student pool organizer Dan Ho. "We do not allow shorting," he responded in an email, because "it would hurt her feelings if she found out. But if you really must, set up a side bet with someone else." One group of Michel's friends reportedly were trading options on various contestants in a $1,200 pool that included conference calls, the New York Times reported. During the hoopla period, Michel came back to campus to attend a conference of media executives and agents hosted by the MBA Arts, Media, and Entertainment club. First-year student Sanam Lari tracked him down for the Reporter to ask if he had any dating wisdom for "GSB boys." His reply was quick and simple: "Having a diamond necklace on hand never hurts." |
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Previous Spreadsheet
Diamonds
Are the Bachelor’s Best Friend
