If you were watching ABC on Monday nights back in late 2006, you probably remember the hype. It was a different era of reality television. Before Instagram influencers and TikTok "clout-chasing" became the norm, we had a literal Prince. The Bachelor Season 9 was subtitled The Bachelor: Rome, and it felt like the franchise was trying to pivot into something high-class and European. It didn't quite stick the landing.
Most people remember Prince Lorenzo Borghese as the guy with the fancy title, but the actual season was a chaotic mix of old-school romance and some of the most baffling production choices in the show's history.
The Prince Who Wasn't Exactly "Royal"
Let’s get the title thing out of the way because it was the biggest talking point of the season. Lorenzo Borghese wasn't a "Your Highness" type of royal. He was a cosmetics entrepreneur living in New York who happened to have a noble lineage. His father was Prince Francesco Marco Luigi Costanzo Borghese.
Despite the title, he was basically an American guy with a faint accent and a business selling high-end pet shampoo. Honestly, the "Prince" thing felt more like a marketing gimmick than a lifestyle.
He was 34 at the time, which, by today's Bachelor standards, is practically ancient. Most of the 25 women (plus two "local" Italian ladies brought in later to spice things up) were significantly younger. It created a weird dynamic where everyone was trying to act "regal" to impress a guy who just wanted to find a girlfriend while filming in Italy.
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Why The Bachelor Season 9 Still Matters
It was the first time the show went international for an entire season. This wasn't just a two-episode vacation; they lived in Rome. The backdrop was stunning. You had the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and those narrow cobblestone streets. It set the template for the "travel porn" that the franchise eventually became famous for.
But beneath the scenery, the ratings were actually struggling.
The show was in a bit of a slump. After the initial craze of the early 2000s, people were starting to get bored. Season 9 was ABC's attempt to "re-class" the brand. Did it work? Kinda. It kept the lights on, but it didn't reach the cultural heights of the Trista and Ryan days.
The Final Two: Jennifer vs. Sadie
By the time we got to the finale, it was down to two very different women:
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- Jennifer Wilson: A 24-year-old teacher from Florida. She was the "girl next door," sweet and approachable.
- Sadie Murray: A 23-year-old publicist from California. She was vibrant, funny, and arguably a fan favorite.
Here is the thing about the ending: it was a total dud for anyone hoping for a fairytale. Lorenzo did not propose. He gave Jennifer the final rose and a promise ring (which is basically the "let's grab coffee" of the jewelry world). They decided to "pursue a relationship," which is the kiss of death in this franchise.
The Messy Aftermath Nobody Talks About
If you think the drama ends when the cameras stop, you haven't been paying attention to Bachelor Nation history. Lorenzo and Jennifer broke up barely two months after the finale aired.
Then it got weird.
Shortly after the split, Lorenzo started dating his runner-up, Sadie Murray. This was the original "switcheroo" before Arie Luyendyk Jr. or Jason Mesnick made it a whole thing. It didn't last either. They were done by March 2007.
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Jennifer Wilson, for her part, ended up being at the center of a tabloid scandal. Reports from The National Enquirer (take that with a grain of salt) suggested she was already seeing someone else—a fellow teacher—while the show was still airing. Whether that's true or not, the "royal" romance was effectively dead on arrival.
Realities of the 2006 Production
- The Wine Limit: Unlike today's strict "two drinks per hour" rule, the early seasons were a bit more... liquid.
- No Stylists: Back then, the women did their own hair and makeup. You can see it. The 2006 blue eyeshadow was out in full force.
- Isolation: No phones, no music, no books. It's why they all seem so crazy; they have nothing to do but talk about the Bachelor.
What’s Lorenzo Up To Now?
It took him a long time to actually settle down. In fact, he became a bit of a reality TV journeyman, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother UK and some Dutch dating shows. But finally, in 2024, at age 52, he got engaged to model Dasha Melgarejo.
He didn't use a Bachelor producer to plan it, either. He proposed in Bora Bora on a private boat.
Looking back, The Bachelor Season 9 was a bridge between the "innocent" early days of TV and the over-produced spectacle we have now. It proved that even a Prince couldn't guarantee a "Happily Ever After," especially when the "Happily Ever After" was sponsored by a pet care line and a broadcast network.
If you want to revisit the era, you can still find clips on YouTube. It’s worth it just to see the 2006 fashion. It’s a trip.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Manage Expectations: If the lead doesn't propose at the end of a season, the stats say the relationship will fail within 90 days.
- Background Checks: Always remember that "titles" on reality TV are usually 90% branding.
- Watch the Runners-Up: As seen with Sadie Murray, the person who "loses" often ends up having a much more interesting post-show life than the winner.