MPNC / AKM-GSI, Gabriel Grams/WireImageThere's no denying it—The Bachelor is TV phenomenon and no one is immune to it.
Jimmy Kimmel is obsessed, often discussing it openly on his late night-talk show host, and Donnie Wahlberg is a huge fan. Often tweeting about it, Wahlberg has made his passion for the reality TV dating show known, even letting his wife, Jenny McCarthy, post hilarious videos of him crying while tuning in.
It seems that many were wondering why the New Kids on the Block singer was so into the show, so he penned an essay for the Chicago Sun Times Splash section explaining how his passion came to be. Titled When Boy Band Karma Meets The Bachelor, Wahlberg writes it's his penchant for sappy shows combined with karma that led him to loving the Chris Harrison-hosted show.
"This has to be some kind of karmic retribution. A turning of the tables for all of those husbands out there who had to put up with their wives wanting to go see the New Kids on The Block reunion concerts," he begins his essay. "Sweet revenge for the nice-guy hubbies who had to put up with their wives talking about how hunky Jordan was, cute Joey still is or how much of a 'bad boy' Donnie was, during his Public Enemy T-shirt-wearing rebellious phase."
But it's not just his past singing career that he thinks has him loving the dating show so much; Wahlberg also thinks his making young girls swoon with his band's music has something to do with it. "It's karma, isn't it?" he asks.
"What other explanation can there be for the fact that I know all these Bachelor guys on a first-name and character-description basis, the same way that so many husbands had to get to know Donnie, Jordan, Danny, Jon and Joe?"
Wahlberg goes through many of The Bachelor's leading men, describing what they're best known for—"Chris (the farm boy)." There's no doubt the NKOTB singer knows his stuff, but why he gets so emotional while watching the show is a fact that Wahlberg still debates to this day. Obviously, he had to do some "soul searching."
"I've simply always been a sucker for sentimental TV shows," he reveals, recalling how he used to sneak into his parents' bedroom and watch Davey and Goliath in the early morning.
"Something about that TV, those shows and those times, still resonates with me. I think, somehow, this Bachelor stuff all comes from there. With nine kids in the house, we didn't always get a lot of alone time—nevermind any TV time. We also didn't get attention from our parents (much like a male contestant on The Bachelorette). But on those mornings, in their bedroom, even when they were sleeping—I felt close to my parents. Safe. That was my time to dream. To laugh. To cry. To imagine another life. One with fewer struggles. One with a whole lot of happy."
He adds, "I've cried watching TV ever since."
Who knew The Bachelor could bring to light such intense memories? Choose wisely, Ben Higgins. Donnie Wahlberg is watching!