The Bachelor's Terrible Track Record: A History of Failed Romances

As the next installment of ABC's hit dating show stars premieres with a returning Bachelor looking for a second shot at love, we've got to wonder: Why would anyone want to go back to a show that has such a poor track record when it comes to couples who stay together? Is it possible that TV isn't the best place to look for love? We decided to take a look back -- at both The Bachelorand The Bachelorette -- to see where all the contestants are now.

The Bachelor

Season 1: Alex Michelchose Amanda Marshover Trista Rehn.
Outcome: They dated about a year before breaking up (while Trista went on to become the first Bachelorette.) Alex is now a spokesperson for Princess Cruises, with the title of "Romance and Proposal Expert."

Season 2: Aaron Buergeproposed to Helene Eksterowicz.
Outcome: They broke up weeks after the finale aired. Aaron is married to Angye McIntosh, whom he met through an ex-flame, and Helene went on to pen the book Nobody's Perfect: What to Do When You've Fallen for a Jerk But You Want to Make It Work with fellow rejectee Gwen Gioia.

Season 3: Andrew Firestonepopped the question to Jen Schefft.
Outcome: The two were engaged for a bit, but soon broke up. Andrew married actress-model Ivana Bozilovic in July 2008, and they have two children. Jen, who wasn't any more lucky in love on The Bachelorette, also wrote a book titled Better Single Than Sorry: A No-Regrets Guide to Loving Yourself and Never Settling. These days, though, Jen's no bachelorette (see below).

Season 4: Bob Guiney picked Estella Gardinier, giving her a promise ring.
Outcome: Despitegiving her a promise ring, Bob ended his relationship with Estella weeks after the finale aired. Bob met his future wife, soap star Rebecca Budig, on Bachelor XYZ, an ABC Family recap show, but the two announced their divorce in April 2010.

Season 5: Jesse Palmer gave Jessica Bowlin a one-way ticket to join him in New York, but no proposal.
Outcome: The former NFL player broke it off with Jessica just a few weeks later.

Season 6: Byron Velvick proposed to Mary Delgado.
Outcome: One of the longer-lasting couples to have come from the series, Byron and Mary ended their somewhat rocky six-year relationship in December 2009.

Season 7: Charlie O'Connell gave a promise ring to Sarah Brice.
Outcome: They continued to date, broke up in 2007, reunited in 2008, but separated again in 2010.

Season 8 (Paris): Travis Stork gave Sarah Stone a ring on a necklace in the finale.
Outcome: They have since parted ways, and Travis can now be seen on The Doctors. In 2012, he wed pediatrician Dr. Charlotte Brown.

Season 9 (Rome): Lorenzo Borghese chose Jennifer Wilson.
Outcome: When Jennifer and the prince broke up, he dated runner-up Sadie Murray, but that relationship fizzled as well.

Season 10 (Officer and a Gentleman): Andy Baldwin proposed to Tessa Horst.
Outcome: They remained together after breaking off their engagement, but eventually went their separate ways. Andy was linked to Marla Maples in April 2008.

Season 11: Brad Womack rejected both DeAnna Pappas and Jenni Croft, a Bachelor first.
Outcome: Brad got a lot of heat for not handing out a final rose, but he decided to come back for more in 2011 (see outcome below). DeAnna and Jenni, meanwhile, both went on to find love and are each happily married.

Season 12 (London Calling): Matt Grant proposed to actress Shayne Lamas (aka Lorenzo Lamas' daughter).
Outcome: The pair confirmed their break-up in July 2008. Shayne went on to star with her family in the reality show Leave it to Lamas.

Season 13: Jason Mesnick proposed to Melissa Rycroft.
Outcome: After Jason asked Melissa to marry him in the finale, and she ecstatically accepted, he dumped her weeks later during the taping of After the Final Rose. Realizing he made the wrong choice, Jason asked runner-up Molly Malaney if she was still interested, and she was. The two are now a happily married couple. But don't cry for Melissa. After becoming a fan favorite on Dancing with the Stars, she scored a gig as a correspondent for Good Morning America and married Tye Strickland, with whom she has a baby girl.

Season 14: Jake Pavelka proposed to Vienna Girardi.
Outcome: The engagement lasted through Pavelka's stint on Dancing with the Stars, but the two split in June 2010. Jake has stayed active in the reality television scene, appearing on Famous Food, Bachelor Pad and H8R.

Season 15: Brad Womack proposed to Emily Maynard.
Outcome: She said yes, but the two remained quiet about their status until they confirmed their breakup in June 2011. Emily became the next Bachelorette.

Season 16: Ben Flajnik proposed to Courtney Robertson.
Outcome: Although the choice wasn't a fan favorite, the two stayed together for a few months before calling it quits.

Season 17: Sean Lowe proposed to Catherine Giudici.
Outcome: Sean, who then competed on Dancing with the Stars, wed Catherine in a televised ABC special.

Season 18: Juan Pablo Galavisgave the final rose to Nikki Ferrell, but did not propose - or say "I love you."
Outcome: After a contentious "After the Final Rose" special, Juan Pablo and Nikki remained together and appeared on VH1's Couples Therapy. Soon after, they broke up.

Season 19:Chris Soules proposed to Whitney Bischoff.
Outcome: Chris competed on Dancing with the Stars and the couple announced their breakup a week after the finale.

The Bachelorette

Season 1: Trista Rehn gave the final rose to Ryan Sutter, who then proposed; she accepted.
Outcome: Their wedding was televised on ABC. They have a son named Max and a daughter named Blakesley Grace.

Season 2: Meredith Phillips, who was rejected by Bob Guiney in The Bachelor's fourth season, became the second Bachelorette.
Outcome: She chose Ian McKee, who proposed, but they eventually broke up.

Season 3: Jen Schefft became the Bachelorette after her breakup from Andrew Firestone. She rejected proposals from both Jerry Ferris and John Paul Merritt, but chose Jerry as her final suitor.
Outcome: They broke up soon after, but in 2009, Jen married Joe Waterman, with whom she had a baby in 2010.

Season 4: DeAnna Pappas left broken-hearted after Bachelor Brad Womack rejected her, but then went on to become the next Bachelorette.
Outcome: She chose Jesse Csincsak over Jason Mesnick, but the two soon went their separate ways. Pappas is now married to Stephen Stagliano, the twin brother of Bachelorette Season 5 contestant Michael Stagliano.

Season 5: Jillian Harrischose Ed Swiderski, who then proposed to her.
Outcome: The pair remained engaged for a year, but then split in July 2010. Jillian became a regular on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Season 6: Ali Fedotowsky, a contestant from Jake's season, pulled a show first by only asking one man, Roberto, to join her in the finale and accept her final rose.
Outcome: The couple lived together in San Diego, but after an 18-month engagement, they split.

Season 7: Ashley Hebert chose New Yorker J.P. Rosenbaum who then proposed.
Outcome: The couple wed in front of cameras for the ABC special, The Bachelorette: Ashley and JP's Wedding and welcomed their son Fordham Rhys in September.

Season 8: Emily Maynard chose Jef Holm, who then got down on one knee.
Outcome: The couple confirmed their breakup less than three months after the finale aired and Emily is married to management consultant (and non-reality star!) Tyler Johnson.

Season 9: Desiree Hartsock chose Chris Siegfried, who proposed to Des. She said yes.
Outcome: At the "After the Final Rose" special, the new couple revealed they are moving in together.

Season 10: Andi Dorfman gave her final rose to Josh Murray, who got down on one knee.
Outcome: The couple ended their engagement after just a few months.