'The Bachelor' Recap: Ben Goes on His First Dates
— -- Ben Higgins continued his quest for love on Monday night's episode of "The Bachelor," going on his first dates of the season.
It all started with Higgins inviting 10 women on a group date, which entailed a trip to a Los Angeles high school. There, they were greeted by host Chris Harrison, who was dressed in preppy clothing. He explained to the bachelorettes that there would be a competition to be crowned homecoming queen. It involved creating a volcano eruption as a science experiment; locating Higgins' native Indiana on a map; shooting hoops in a gym; and hurdling on an outdoor track. In the end, the winner was Mandi, a dentist from Portland, Oregon.
Lace -- who on last week's season premiere complained that Higgins didn't make enough eye contact with her -- continued to drive a wedge between herself and the other women by claiming she wasn't getting enough time with him. It probably didn't help that Higgins was off kissing a few of the ladies, including Jubilee and JoJo. JoJo received the group date rose.
Caila, a software sales representative, earned a one-on-one date. It was a star-studded outing, with "Ride Along 2" actors Kevin Hart and Ice Cube tagging along to offer advice to Higgins on how to have an inexpensive date. They took a drive and at one point pulled over to the side of the road to make a purchase from a guy selling flowers. Later, Ben and Caila enjoyed alone time in a hot tub -- after a naked Hart got out.
After Higgins presented Caila with a rose, they were treated to a private concert by Amos Lee.
For the second group date, six women headed to Los Angeles’ The Love Lab, where they underwent tests to determine which one of them had the strongest connection with Higgins. Olivia, the news anchor who was awarded the first impression rose last week, earned the highest score.
Later on in the date, Amanda revealed to Higgins that she has two children. He expressed interest in learning about them.
The group date ended with Olivia getting another rose, but she decided to spend more time with him during the cocktail party, to the dismay of some of the other bachelorettes.
Amanda felt good about her standing with Higgins when he suggested to her that they make rose barrettes for her children.
At the rose ceremony, Lauren, a.k.a. “LB,” surprised her fellow contestants by quitting. She pulled Higgins aside and told him, "It's really hard for me to be here."
Mandi was among those who were eliminated.
Seventeen women now remain in the competition. "The Bachelor" resumes next Monday night on ABC.
