advertisement

Bartlett man makes 'Bachelorette' final four

Chris Bukowski was pretty upset when he didn't receive the group date rose from Emily Maynard on ABC's reality dating show “The Bachelorette” Monday night.

But he ended a week in Prague with the blonde beauty — and five other bachelors — with an even better prize.

The 25-year-old Bukowski, originally from Bartlett, was picked to be one of the final four contestants on the show, meaning he gets a chance to take Maynard to his hometown to meet his family.

The honor didn't come easily for Bukowski, though. Throughout the two-hour episode he said he was nervous, angry and stressed while waiting as the five other bachelors got time alone with Maynard, a 26-year-old single mom from North Carolina.

“If I don't get a hometown date, I'll be scared for anyone around me,” he said at one point.

Eventually, Bukowski was chosen to take part in a group date at a castle with two other bachelors. He was the last person to have a private chat with Maynard. Instead of trying to woo Maynard in their few minutes together, Bukowski honestly explained how frustrated he felt having limited opportunities to spend time with her. She told him she appreciated how he always makes the best out of everything, but Bukowski was still worried.

“I'm not ready for this to be over between me and her,” he said with tears in his eyes before the final rose ceremony. Bachelors who receive a rose during the show get to return for the next week's episode.

The first rose went to Arie Luyendyk Jr., 30, of Scottsdale, Ariz., followed by Jef Holm, 27, of Salt Lake City. Doug Clerget, 33, of Seattle, was sent home earlier in the show, and Sean Lowe, 28, of Dallas, already was assured a spot in the final four because he received that group date rose.

As Maynard went to hand out her last rose a shaking Bukowski interrupted the tension and asked if he could talk with her. In a room away from the other men he told Maynard he was “dying inside” and apologized for the way he acted when she didn't give him the group date rose.

“I'm ready to be the man you deserve,” he said, adding that he had “unbelievable” feelings for her. “I really do believe in me and you.”

Maynard ultimately gave Bukowski the last rose over John Wolfner, 30, of St. Louis.

“I'm seriously the happiest man in the world right now,” Bukowski said after the ceremony.

The next Bachelorette episode airs on ABC at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 2.

Bartlett resident Chris Bukowski and “Bachelorette” star Emily Maynard made it to the round of final four, and he will be getting a hometown date. Courtesy of ABC
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.