Blast From the Past
During season 16 of The Bachelor in 2012, winemaker Ben Flajnik began his search for love with a cocktail party. What came next was an unforgettable season of television.
First Impressions
While there were plenty of grand entrances on night one, there was one woman that stood out from the rest. "Lindzi Cox on the horse was a pretty memorable one," Ben told E! News. "That one was tough to forget. That would probably be the biggest entry." She would end up making the final two.
All Eyes on the Prize
Fans quickly formed an opinion on front-runner Courtney Robertson because of her aggressive but playful spirit.
Familiar Face
Before she starred on Married at First Sight and found her husband Doug Hehner, Jamie Otis was one of the ladies hoping to receive a final rose from Ben.
Unforgettable Date Nights
There were "so many" lavish dates, but Ben shared some of his absolute favorites. "Jumping out of a helicopter with Lindzi in Belize was pretty crazy," he said. "Scaling the Bay Bridge is still the scariest thing I've ever done. That was with Emily O'Brien."
More Than a Host
Host Chris Harrison, who left the franchise in June 2021 after controversial racial remarks, made a lasting impression on Ben. According to the Bachelor, Chris was nothing but classy and supportive. "I looked to him as a friend and we're still friends. We chat every once in a while," he said. "Chris was very supportive and I'll never forget time off camera and having dinner with him and some of the production and just kind of relating on a different level, finding a little bit of help in decision making along the way."
Hometown Dates
When traveling to Arizona to meet Courtney's family, Ben was met with some skepticism from his possible future mother-in-law. Ultimately, the chemistry between Ben and Courtney proved to be strong enough for a finale moment.
Fairy-Tale Proposal
Even though Ben's romantic relationship with Courtney didn't survive after the show, he's still grateful for the show and experience. "I'm happy. I'm at peace," he told E! News. "We've got a growing family. My sister just had her second kid and we're all in very close proximity. We're focused on family and work and community. That's really all I'm after at this point." And yes, he's currently single.