The JB Tour: Where they are now

From the Austin Statesman newspaper, Tues Aug 11, 2009

Five contestants from the last season of “The Bachelorette” reunited Monday night at Ranch 616 in Austin to talk with fans about the show and what’s happened in their lives since filming wrapped.

Mike Stagliano: The former break-dance instructor, says he was heartbroken for more than two months after he was booted from the show before reaching the final four men fighting to win Harris in the end.

Then, at a wrap party following the show’s “Men Tell All” episode, Stagliano says he met his true love: “Bachelor” alum Holly Durst.
“I’m gonna marry her,” the 25-year old says with a smile on his face.
Stagliano said Durst, who appeared on “The Bachelor” as a potential suitor for Matt Grant, has met his parents and they love her.

For now, the two are commuting to see each other, Durst from her Los Angeles area home and Stagliano from his home in Queens.
Stagliano, who is a children’s book author as well, says sales for his “Wesley’s Stories: Afterschool Adventures,” have picked up since his appearance on the show. He’s now working on his second book.
“I’m so thankful,” Stagliano said.

Jesse Kovacs: Kovacs, who comes from a winemaking family, says life has stayed busy since he left the show’s filming, and hasn’t slept in the same bed for more than three days.
His family received 75 wine orders the day after an episode showing Kovacs booted from the show aired.

The Carmel Valley, Calif. resident says that for now he’s spreading himself thin doing appearances and traveling, because he knows this won’t last forever.
He’s also doing his part to promote Kovacs Brothers wine, offering samples at Ranch 616 last night.
“It’s been crazy since the show ended,” he said.

David Good: Much like Austinite Wes Hayden, Good, 33 has been on his own mission to clean up his name, after he was portrayed as angry and often drunk on the show.
Good says he and Hayden had something in common: They were raw with their comments, which made for good television.

“People can hate on Wes and I, but we tell it like it is,” he said.
Good said he’s also working on a book about the “man code,” a heavily discussed topic on this past season’s “Men Tell All” episode.
At one point, Good told host Chris Harrison not to mention the phrase anymore after a debate on whether it was appropriate to let Harris in on details about other men possibly having girlfriends.

But now, Good claims that there’s a lot more to the “man code,” and it’s about doing what’s right “for your family, your country and your friends.”
But Good still takes time out to bash some of his former castmates from the show, including Jake Pavelka, who came across as a squeaky-clean pilot from Dallas.
“Jake is a complete fake person,” he said. “People don’t like you (referring to Jake), because you’re a nerd!”

Tanner Pope: Pope has left his contract position as a project manager for a financial firm in Dallas and has hired a publicist to look into doing television work or endorsement deals. Fans might wonder if that means becoming a nail-polish spokesman. After all, Pope was portrayed as the foot-fetish fiend on the past season of “The Bachelorette.”

The Dallas native, however, says there is more to him than a foot obsession, however. Pope says he’s 30, and he’s ready to find true love. Pope said he got off on the ‘wrong foot’ with Harris, talking to her about other men on the show. Pope is nephew of Austin developer Tom Stacey.
Stacey bought Pope a classy, Versace-laden wardrobe from Austin store Keepers for his appearance on the show, Pope said.

He said that after a scene with Pope stripping down to his undies in front of the other men and Harris, he got an offer to do porn, which he turned down.
For now, he’s enjoying the attention he gets.
“I get recognized now,” he said. “So it’s cool.”

Wes Hayden: Weeks after Hayden launched his own public-relations fight to save his name, the Austinite says all has gotten better for him.
Hayden was portrayed as the ultimate villain on this season’s “The Bachelorette,” and he and the show went their separate ways after he began publicly criticizing his treatment on the show.
He use to receive hundreds of hate-mail messages, which have now all but ceased, he said.
He’s also resumed his music career with his band, and run into little trouble, especially since tales of Swiderski dating other women surfaced.

“Everything is really good,” he said. “I’m happy, music is great, and everything has changed.”
Hayden, however, won’t hesitate to take another shot at the show. Referring to Swiderski’s situation, he said “that just goes to show you the show is bull(expletive).”