The estrogen levels were off the charts at the Mary Winspear Centre, and the bachelorettes hadn't even shown up yet.
Three hundred female fans cheered, applauded and, at times, booed and hissed in the Charlie White Theatre during back-to-back tapings of two studio audience shows for Bachelor sa国际传媒 that will air Nov. 14 and 28 on Citytv.
Women Tell All could have been called Bachelorettes Big Reunion, judging by the bubbly interaction among 16 bachelorettes who are contractually obligated to avoid contact with each other until after the series ends.
"What surprised me was seeing how friendly they are with each other," said Jennifer Merritt, who flew in from Calgary to accompany her sister, Western Living magazine editor Anicka Quinn, to the secret marathon tapings.
Viewers had to sign nondisclosure agreements before watching the women reflect on their experiences and confront bachelor Brad Smith again for the first time since Bachelor sa国际传媒 wrapped two months of shooting at a luxury home on Bear Mountain.
Bachelor sa国际传媒 is hosted by Canadian-born New York resident Tyler Harcott. The After the Final Rose segment focuses on the aftermath of Brad's romantic fate to be disclosed Nov. 21.
Suffice it to say, you can expect to see hugging hot-ties, surprise revelations, laughter, exchanges and tears so explosive one audience member could be overheard chanting, "Jerry! Jerry!," in reference to The Jerry Springer Show.
The multi-camera shoot was so slick you felt like you were at a studio taping in New York or Los Angeles.
It took place on a shiny black stage bookended by dramatic arches and featuring a circular white platform, its edges dotted with lit candles, where Harcott quizzed guests on white leather chairs. The bachelorettes faced the affable host from two rows of high white leather stools on a set that, with its mauve lighting and candles, seemed altar-like.
Four large stationary cameras, a roving mobile camera and a gliding crane camera captured the action. And, of course, there was a teleprompter, the butt of Harcott's humour when he occasionally flubbed his delivery.
The audience provided its own entertainment, as when some yelled, "We love you!" to a colourful bachelorette, and when some hungry and annoyed women, lobbying for a break, laughingly yelled "Hangry!" while attacking at a snack tray.
"Hmmm. I wonder if this lipstick is edible," said one.
The crowd responded enthusiastically when floor manager Stewart Lake signalled for reaction.
To cue a standing ovation, he invoked memories of Sidney Crosby scoring Team sa国际传媒's gold medal-winning goal.
"We can now move on to the 'shocked gasp,' " he deadpanned, before asking viewers to put hands to mouths.
"It's totally natural, right?" he said, smiling. "Welcome to reality TV."
Bachelor Brad said nervousness eclipsed his "feelings of d脙漏j脙聽 vu" being back in Victoria.
"I just wanted to go through the entire day to get to the zone of good vibes because, walking out for the girls this morning, I've never been that nervous," Smith admitted.
Bachelorette Ana, from Ottawa, says she feels at home in Victoria now.
"We visited that airport at all hours," she laughed.
"People feel they know you. I had a mom and her kid come up to me."
Kara, the softball-loving Delta grad student, had mixed emotions about coming back.
"I think a lot of the girls were a little worried about what was going to happen today but more excited to see each other," she said, smiling at Gabrielle, the no-nonsense Oakville, Ont., law student she befriended.
"You make friendships and these people are the closest to you. You're spending more time with them than with Brad," said Gabrielle. "You don't see that because you only see bits and pieces on the show because of the time."
Kara concurred. "I wasn't in love with Brad as much as I think they'd like to suggest," she said, grinning.
Chantelle, the virgin pastor from Sylvan Lake, Alta., said she looks forward to soon reconnecting with her new friends.
"We're on tight reins," said the fan favourite who was under tight security in her own hotel room.
Executive producer John Ritchie said it was a necessary condition to preserve the show's integrity.
"You don't want them all meeting and talking and having conversations you want to shoot," said Ritchie, adding a third of his 217 hires in sa国际传媒 were from Victoria, with about 3,500 local hotel room nights booked.
Edmonton-based Laura B said she was happy she got to watch TV while in Sidney - in contrast to Bear Mountain, where they were denied access to television, computers, cellphones and communication with the outside world.
"We weren't even told what was going to happen today," she said.
Britany, the registered nurse from Swift Current, Sask., said all the girls knew that going in.
"You signed up for it," she said. "It's not a typical dating situation. It's like public online dating."
Harcott said he felt lucky to be able to catch the last flight out last week before Hurricane Sandy hit.
The lobby in his Battery Park apartment, rendered uninhabitable for a month, was flooded with contaminated water, and its electricity, heating and elevators didn't work.
"I'll figure something out. That's what New Yorkers do," said Harcott, who had plenty to distract him.
"It was weird coming back, knowing this journey is coming full circle," he said.
"It's a celebration but also a wake in a way.
There's a joy to it but also profound sadness. We'll never do a Season 1 of Bachelor sa国际传媒 again.
That magic's in the can." Online: bachelorcanada.ca
