It turns out Mayim Bialik had quite a few burning questions when she was introduced to The Bachelor for the first time. During her appearance on The Viall Files podcast, the actress and neuroscientist admitted that she wasn’t familiar with the popular reality dating show.
Host Nick Viall, a former contestant on The Bachelor, asked for Bialik’s thoughts on the upcoming season’s contestants. But before she could answer, The Big Bang Theory star needed some clarification on the show’s premise.
Viall broke it down for her, explaining that The Bachelor typically starts with 25 to 30 women competing for one man’s heart. He described the grand first-night entrances, noting that while some contestants make simple introductions, others opt for over-the-top stunts like hang gliding or parachuting in to make a memorable first impression.
Reflecting on his own experience, Viall recalled that producers had asked him how he wanted to make his entrance. When he suggested a straightforward introduction, they were skeptical, asking if he wanted to do something more dramatic—like skydiving into the scene.
Viall went on to explain that the first night is all about making an instant connection, often within just a few seconds to a couple of minutes. He also described the significance of the “first impression rose,” which ensures a contestant’s safety for at least another round. Those who don’t receive a rose are eliminated.
Natalie Joy, Viall’s wife, chimed in to summarize the show’s ultimate goal: by the end of the season, The Bachelor proposes to one finalist, and they leave the show engaged. Viall added that before the proposal, contestants go through “Hometown Week” (where they introduce the lead to their families) and “Fantasy Suite Week,” which allows them private, off-camera time together before the final decision.
That’s when Bialik asked a question that had been on her mind: “What if someone gets pregnant?”
Viall, amused, responded that producers probably “hope” for such a twist, joking that it would make for an incredibly dramatic moment. He also recalled that during his season, tabloids speculated that he might have gotten a contestant pregnant—a rumor that, of course, turned out to be false.
Bialik’s curiosity about The Bachelor was a reminder that not everyone keeps up with reality TV, but even for a neuroscientist, the concept can be endlessly fascinating!