'Bachelor' recap: Nick Viall meets 30 women

Editor's note: Waukesha native Nick Viall is searching for love during his fourth appearance on a "Bachelor"-franchise show. Will he find it? Our reporters will keep you in the loop with weekly updates.

What happened: In one of the larger castings for "The Bachelor," 30 women introduced themselves to Waukesha native Nick Viall in the season premiere Monday night. That meant 30 opportunities for awkward and inappropriate first impressions.

Jasmine G. brought along Neil Lane, the show's jeweler, to show Viall what type of ring she wants. Aspiring dolphin trainer Alexis, 23, wears wore a shark costume and said, “I dolphinitely can’t wait to talk to you more inside.” Lacey rode up the Bachelor mansion driveway on a camel. Once stopped, she said, “I hear you like a good hump, and so do I.” Susannah, a 26-year-old account manager, gave Viall a quick beard massage.

Many women played off Viall’s previous rejections. Michelle used the played-out line, “I’ve heard your past relationships have been lemons, but let’s see if we can make lemonade.” She goes home. “You have some balls and so do I,” Jaimi said revealing a nose ring. 

Josephine, a 24-year-old nurse from California, may have crossed the pun line. “I just wanted to let you know that you’re a wiener in my book,” she said as she opened up a book cover to show a hot dog. “Do you want to like 'Lady and the Tramp' it?,” she asked. Yup, the pair shared a hot dog. “That’s super not delicious,” Viall said, looking nauseated. “I haven’t had an uncooked hot dog since I was six 6."

Liz — the woman met Viall before filming began — tried to see if he would recognize her after their meeting at Jade and Tanner’s wedding where she was the maid of honor. Viall remembered her and the pair had an awkward interaction. Viall had asked for her number after the wedding and she said no. Now, he questions if she was on the show for the “right reasons.”

Corinne, a 24-year-old with a personal nanny, was at the first to kiss Viall. With that target on her back, it looks like she becomes the season’s villain.

At the end of the first rose ceremony, Viall narrowed the pool of contestants to 22, eliminating 8 women.

Number of mentions of Wisconsin: 3

How it came up: In the opening sequence, Viall went home to Waukesha (with the city sign making a cameo). His family sorted through his old pictures, commenting on his vampire and Justin BeiberBieber-esque looks in prom photos. Viall’s youngest sister, Bella, doled out expert advice, telling her brother to pick up dates in “cool rides,” look them in the eyes, stop mumbling and remember his family loves him.

Rachel Lindsay, a 31-year-old lawyer from Dallas, revealed that she went to law school in Milwaukee during her one-on-one time with Viall. Lindsay graduated from Marquette University Law School in 2011. The two compared NFL associations (Lindsay roots for the Cowboys) and Viall made his first Packers mention of the season. She made her first impression out of the limo by telling Viall she finished setting up her fantasy teams before leaving for the show but “the only plays I want to make this season are for your heart.”

Viall was quite taken with Lindsay and gave her the first impression rose, the first rose of the evening. “I was really taken by your aura, your presence,” Viall told Lindsay while giving away his first rose. “It was so easy to talk to you.” This means Lindsay knew she would stick around another week prior to the rose ceremony. She got the second kiss of the season and was the first black contestant to receive a first impression rose on "The Bachelor."

Danielle Maltby made her first impression by coming out of the limo with a bottle of her father’s maple syrup. Maltby, who grew up in Germantown and now lives in Nashville, brags that she makes the best french toast. She connected with Viall about their Wisconsin upbringings during her one-on-one time with him. The 31-year-old said, “He has this strong confidence about him that I find really attractive.” Viall seemed intrigued by his fellow cheesehead, asking several follow-up questions about her work as a neonatal nurse.  

What we learned about Nick: Not much. Even on Sunday night during what ABC billed as an “in-depth look” at Viall, we learned little about him. He did have a self-aware moment where he shared what he's learned about himself (outside of his love life) during his time on the show. He makes poor eye contact, he mumbles and he can be long-winded.

Best quote of the night: After Corinne snags the first kiss, word spreads quickly. Astrid, unlike the other contestants, was chill.

“Last time I dated someone, I didn’t know he was dating other people; at least this time I know,” she said. 

Viall met with three previous bachelors -- Sean Lowe, Chris Soules and Ben Higgins -- before starting his time in the mansion.

“He’s like that choo choo train we all read about in school,” Higgins said about Viall's love life. “He just keeps chugging along.”

Women remaining: 22

Olivia, Angela, Briana, Ida Marie, Jasmine B., Lauren, Michelle and Susannah all left the Bachelor mansion.

Coming up next: With the whole season ahead of us, we got a four-minute preview. It’s the reason I watch each week.

“Everything has led to this moment,” we hear Viall say as he walks alone through a snowy tundra. “So that I can prove to America that if you don’t give up on love that eventually you’ll find it.” Let’s hope that mission statement carries him through what’s sure to be an emotional journey.

As always, there’s helicopters, yachts, sea planes — everything that helps people fall in love. While we see a lot of Viall dancing (including with the Backstreet Boys), it looks like he has highs and lows throughout the season.

The classic drama emerges as the women grow frustrated with sharing their “boyfriend.” Snore.

But then Liz breaks the news to some of the other contestants that she previously met and spent the night with Viall. Tears ensue. In a sequence of crying women, we hear one say, “I’m so fed up with him and the stupid decisions he makes.”

Corinne sneaks to Viall’s room with explicit intentions. Then we see a crying, distraught Viall gazing out from his hotel room balcony before going to talk to the women. He says he’s worried that the process won’t work for him. “I really want this to work out but I want this to be real and I want this to be right,” he tells them. “Right now I just feel terrified that it’s not going to happen.”

At the end, we hear Viall say, “I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with her.

"If I’m rejected again, I’ll be heartbroken, so I hope she says yes.” Fourth time really could be the charm. Or could it?