Why the Pandemic Made Bachelorette Clare Crawley’s Lineup of Men So Much Better

Despite what sounds like a season far different than any other, Clare Crawley is looking on the bright side.

Not only has Chris Harrison teased an “explosive” first few episodes of The Bachelorette season 16, but the reality hit will also look different in that it was filmed at the La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs, Calif., not Villa de la Vina. And though production was delayed by a few months (from March to June) because of the coronavirus pandemic, it sounds like more good than bad came from the shakeup. 

Speaking with People, Clare, 39, opened up about having to wait a little longer to meet her suitors. “There were definitely a lot of emotions,” she said. “It was stressful. But there were honestly so many pros to it getting shut down.” 

What were the pros? An updated roster of men she’d absolutely hit it off with.

“Producers were able to recast some of the guys and get some that were more appropriate for what I was looking for,” she said. “I wanted a guy who was genuinely there for me. There was a lot of talk about, ‘Oh, I’m the older Bachelorette, are these guys too young?’ But it was also about: Am I too old for them? It went both ways. So we were able to hone in on what everybody was looking for.”

Reflecting on her experience, she said she was looking for “the ones that wanted to be there after the hoops they had to jump through.”

Yes, the early days of production may have been rosy (“It really was magical!” she said of the first night), but the rest of the season is about to blow up. In August, multiple sources confirmed to E! News that Clare will be replaced midseason by Bachelor in Paradise alum Tayshia Adams. 

How? Why? During which episode? That’s to be determined.

For now, we suggest looking at our own bright side: The Bachelorette premieres in less than a week. 

Scroll down to see Clare’s updated roster of men.

AJ, 28, is from Irvine, California. He literally makes a “big impression” on Clare night one, “so much so it hurts,” Chris Harrison said. 

Ben Smith, 29, is from Indianapolis, Indiana. He’s a big talker and a long talker. 

Bennett Jordan is 37 and from Atlanta. Chris Harrison says he’s “50 percent Wall Street, 50 percent Greenwich, CT.” 

Blake Monar, 31, is from Rockport, Indiana. He’s a male grooming specialist and he has incredible hair. 

Blake Moynes, 29, is from Burlington, Ontario, Canada. He’s a wildlife manager and owns a falcon. He makes some bold moves and “pushes the envelope.” 

Brandon Goss, 28, is from Cleveland, Ohio. He’s a real estate agent. He says something to Clare with good intentions but she might not take it that way. 

He is 30 and from Milford, Massachusetts. He’s a “lovable roofer from Boston,” Chris Harrison says. 

He’s a 31-year-old IT account executive and from Walnut Creek, California. He’s ready to fight for the love of his life and Chris Harrison means that literally.

Chris Conran, 27, is from St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a landscape design salesman and he’s a great chef. 

Dale Moss, 31, is from Brandon, South Dakota. He’s a former football player, and Chris Harrison says, “It’s safe to say Dale really leaves his mark early on this season. It’s safe to say I’ve never seen someone leave a bigger impression.” 

Demar Jackson, 26, is from San Diego, California. Chris seems to be a huge fan of this energetic spin cycling instructor. “He will be a Bachelor Nation fan favorite.” 

Eazy, whose real name is Uzoma Nwachukwu, 29, is from Dallas, Texas. He’s a sport marketing agent. “He’s easy to get along with, he’s easy on the eyes, easy to talk to, easy to get along with,” Chris says. “He came in hot on night one and he just never stopped.” 

Ed Waisbrot is 36 and from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He’s a healthcare salesman, and Chris says we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. 

Garin Flowers, 34, is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He’s a professor of journalism at USC who’s not afraid to bare his soul “and everything else.” 

Ivan Hall, 28, is from Dallas, Texas. He’s an aeronautical engineer who’s quiet, soft spoken and known as “Sweet Ivan.” 

Jason Foster is a 31-year-old from Rutland, Vermont. He’s a former football player who is a “big lovable teddy bear” with a laugh like Seth Rogen. 

Jay Smith is 39 and from Langhorne, Pennsylvania. He’s a fitness director who starts out on a “crazy note” on night one and pulls off a Bachelor first. 

Jeremy Higgins is 40 and from Virginia Beach, Virginia. He’s a banker with “great perspective.” 

Joe Park is 36 and from North Woodmere, New York. He’s an anesthesiologist who is very sweet and is loved by everybody, but found himself up against some huge obstacles. 

Jordan Chapman, 26, is from Southington, Connecticut. He’s a software account executive who apparently seems way older than 26. 

Jordan Manier is a 30-year-old from Deerborn, Michigan. He’s a cyber security engineer who is six foot eight! He describes himself as a tall nerd. 

Kenny Braasch, 39, is from Oaklawn, Illinois. He’s a boy band manager who apparently likes to take his clothes off a lot and has no tan lines. 

Mike Tobin, 38, is from Calgary in Alberta, Canada. He’s a digital media adviser. “He may be the nicest guy we’ve ever had,” Chris says, describing his limo entrance as “one of the most thoughtful ever.” 

Page Pressley is 37 and from Santa Fe, New Mexico. He’s a chef with a five-year-old son. 

Riley Christian, 30, is from Long Island City, New York. He’s an attorney who takes a while to show off his smile. 

Robby, 31, hails from St. Pete Beach, Florida. He’s an insurance broker recommended by Nick Viall. 

Tyler Cottrill, 27, is from Gassaway, West Virginia. He’s a lawyer who comes in on night one with dirt on one of the other guys, and he’s ready to use it. 

This 36-year-old is from Dallas, Texas. He’s a super country music manager whose brother is singer Granger Smith.

Yosef Aborady is 29 and from Mobile, Alabama. He’s a medical device salesman who has a daughter and who isn’t afraid of controversy. Chris says he has no filter and he’ll say anything on his mind. 

Zac Clark is 36 and from Haddonfield, Pennsylvania. He’s an addiction specialist with a heart of gold and a very heartfelt story to tell. 

Season 16 of The Bachelorette premieres on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.