Ep 7. The Bachelor

Jim's sister-in-law, Dana, sets up a blind date for Jim with her friend, Denise. Jim is reluctant to go on the date as he has a lot of work to do, but eventually agrees after much pushing from his wife Cheryl and his brother-in-law, Andy. Denise turns out to be a beautiful, intelligent woman who shares many of Jim's interests. Jim is immediately smitten with her and they hit it off almost immediately.

However, things take an unexpected turn when Jim discovers that Denise is actually a contestant on the reality dating show, The Bachelor. Jim is devastated and feels betrayed, as he had been under the impression that Denise was genuinely interested in him. Denise tries to explain that she genuinely likes Jim, but is contractually obligated to continue appearing on the show.

Jim is torn between his feelings for Denise and his pride. He ultimately decides to end things with her, feeling that he deserves better than to be a pawn in a TV show. Meanwhile, Andy and Dana decide to audition for the show themselves, hoping to find love and fame in the process.

As the episode progresses, Jim becomes increasingly frustrated with Denise's continued involvement in The Bachelor. He feels like he's been tricked and manipulated, and he can't shake the feeling that Denise was just using him to further her own career. Denise, on the other hand, insists that she genuinely likes Jim and hopes that they can continue seeing each other even though she's still on the show.

The tension between Jim and Denise eventually boils over, resulting in a heated argument. Jim accuses Denise of being a fake and a phony, and Denise storms out in tears. Jim is left feeling confused and hurt, wondering if he made the right decision in ending things with Denise.

Meanwhile, Andy and Dana's audition for The Bachelor doesn't go quite as planned. They're both rejected by the producers, who tell them they're "not quite what they're looking for." Andy and Dana are disappointed, but they vow to keep searching for love in their own way.

In the end, Jim and Denise are able to clear the air and reach a mutual understanding. Jim apologizes for his harsh words and Denise admits that she was wrong to keep secrets from him. They agree to take things slow and see where their relationship goes, regardless of the pressures and restrictions imposed by the reality TV show.

Overall, "The Bachelor" is a poignant and often funny episode that explores the complexities of modern dating and the pressures of reality TV stardom. With its nuanced characters and sharp writing, According to Jim continues to be one of the most beloved sitcoms of the early 2000s.