'Bachelorette' Rejectee Will Try Again

By Rick Porter, Zap2It.com | August 20, 2008

Jason Mesnick of 'The Bachelor'

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Jason Mesnick is your new 'Bachelor'

DeAnna Pappas got another shot at televised love after being jilted on "The Bachelor," and now the show is returning the favor to the last guy she rejected.

ABC announced Wednesday that Jason Mesnick, a fan favorite from the most recent season of "The Bachelorette," will be at the center of the 13th edition of "The Bachelor," which is set to premiere in January. He's also the sixth person to get a second shot via the "Bachelor"/"Bachelorette" franchise -- all four Bachelorettes and Bachelor No. 4 Bob Guiney were rejectees before getting their own seasons.

Mesnick, 32, is an estate planner from Seattle with a 3-year-old son. He appeared on "The Bachelorette" in hopes of starting another family (he divorced a couple years ago). He quickly became a favorite among the show's fans, many of whom were up in arms after Pappas chose snowboarder Jesse Csincsak over him in the finale.

As ABC puts it, "Jason's female fans flocked to support him, helping him heal from his very public dismissal." The network also notes that "fans rushed to e-mail him in droves, in total sympathy to his plight."

Speculation that Mesnick would be the next Bachelor has been swirling pretty much since "The Bachelorette" concluded its season in early July. Women interested in trying to win Mesnick's heart can apply at ABC.com.