Watching Kelce: A Recap of “Catching Kelce” Episode 2

Last week brought us the premiere of Catching Kelce, a new reality dating show starring former Bearcats standout (and current Kansas City Chiefs tight end) Travis Kelce. Episode 1 was full of the types of shenanigans reality TV lovers have come to expect from these shows, and I wrote that I (shamefully) enjoyed it. I’m interested to see where Episode 2 takes us, when they’re not packing 90 minutes of television with drama and plot twists.

As always, I’m just going to hit the bullet points on this one and throw my weekly rankings at the end. Let’s go:

• This barbecue pool party is making me miss summer already. Not cool, Catching Kelce. Not cool. The Kelce brothers getting some hardcore cornhole on is a taste of Cincinnati on the west coast.
• V Rich is my new least favorite contestant after Connecticut’s elimination last week. She is unbearable and got on my nerves throughout this episode.
• #JasonKelceBellyFlops — I think I said this after Episode 1, but I really hope he’s a regular for the whole season, because he adds a lot.
• Travis got cheated on his junior and senior years at UC. Reveal yourself, vile woman.
• West Virginia mentioned she hasn’t gotten much time with Travis and hopes he noticed her. I don’t think I’ve noticed her. Was she on here last week? UPDATE: She survives. Barely.
• The “invite one girl on a date and she gets to pick five others” is an exciting concept because it adds some strategy. I almost feel like you should pick the five girls who are either shy or annoying and can make yourself look better, right? But then it also probably makes good sense to get some contestants on your side who can return the favor in the future. Oh, dating show drama.
• I like inviting Maya on the date because she’s a strong candidate who we don’t know much about. No sense inviting a girl like Victoria who has already stepped out in front of the pack. UPDATE: Maya has shown herself to be annoying. I guess it’s good she was picked for the date, because I wouldn’t have known, otherwise.
• For the date, Maya picked her best friend along with four girls to sabotage. She accidentally picked maybe the three most athletic girls on the show… and they’re shooting a fitness video. Oops.
• Travis going Richard Simmons is too good.
• hahaha “group fitness”
• Lola is a total weirdo in this episode. I’m happy Travis loves the elliptical, but he should’ve told her. She has a weird hang-up about it and I’d like to see her double down on making it a dealbreaker, like she claims it is. UPDATE: Haha he sent her home.
• I love how Maya is upset now that her sabotage plan has backfired. First these girls were no threat, now they’re kissing Travis on the date and you’re angry? Pick a side, lady. Don’t be mad. You’re the one who invited her.
• Jenny seems cool. Most girls would not have gone out of their way to help another contestant, but Jenny delivered Anika’s letter to Travis. That being said, it totally came at her own cost. You can’t waste one-on-one time with Travis by talking about another girl. UPDATE: Nooooo he sent her home. Poor Jenny.
• I still like Anika. I can’t take her seriously as a contestant, but as a member of the show, she’s fantastic. She’s getting under the skin of all of my least favorite girls, and it’s beautiful to watch. Why on earth does she have an air horn??
• Veronica was the perfect VIP date choice. I think the winner of this show is going to be the one that can be confident and also avoid confrontation with other girls. Veronica, Lauren, and Avery fit that mold. I think Victoria is my leader, but she’s making way too much noise and it’s only a matter of time before it bites her.
• Jessica is the most attractive girl he’s sent home so far. RIP to Jessica’s Catching Kelce career. Not sure why she was cut instead of the other two she was left with at the end. She’s made more of an effort, is more attractive, and is far less obnoxoius. Oh well. Dating shows are unpredictable, folks.

Official OhVarsity! Catching Kelce Top 5 (Week 1)

1. Rhode Island (Victoria) [8 total points]
2. New Jersey (Veronica) [9 total points]
3. Missouri (Lauren) [3 total points]
4. Colorado (Avery) [6 total points]
5. Minnesota (Anika) [2 total points]

Watching Kelce: A Recap of “Catching Kelce” Episode 1

Former Bearcats tight end Travis Kelce left Clifton as the latest in a line of great Cincinnati tight ends. He landed with the Kansas City Chiefs, where his career has exploded. Now his public persona is following suit.

I’ve never personally met Travis, but I get the sense that he’s not putting on much of a show here. He’s the bursting-with-energy type of guy, and it only makes sense that he’s fulfilling his destiny as one of the sport’s greatest personalities.

Somehow, E! gave him his own reality dating competition featuring 50 women. It is going to be awesome, and I’ll be delivering hard-hitting analysis to you every week. Rather than turn every Watching Kelce recap into a 3,000-word essay, I’ll just hit the bullet points. Let’s roll.

Catching Kelce — Episode 1 Analysis & Observations:

• Right off the bat, it’s still goofy that a kid I used to walk past on campus has one of these ridiculous reality dating shows. Follow your dreams, people.
• Is the Travis singing thing supposed to be a joke? I can’t tell, because he’s kind of a good singer. He even did this Lonely Girl bit during his time at UC.
• Shooting this in LA is a major cop-out. Anyone would be willing to spend the summer in Los Angeles. Get these ladies out to Kansas City and let’s see what they’re really made of.
• Connecticut is already creepy. You didn’t have an “instant connection.” Slow down. Your general disposition does not lend itself well to a 60-second elimination challenge.
• Minnesota is a very aloof runner: Minus points. Evidently in love with her cat: Minus points. Cat’s name is Kevin: Plus points. Wasting your whole 60 seconds talking about a cat: Go home. Travis: “That was a little unfortunate. Got caught up in the ole cat story.” LOOOOOL.
• Travis is a genuinely funny dude. This show doesn’t deserve someone this funny.
• Pennsylvania is weird and also nearly dropped dead from nerves. I like it. Hopefully Travis keeps her around. Update: Or not.
• Oh, South Carolina. Hello.
• Oh, and Nevada. Hello.
• Not sure why New Jersey has a southern twang, but I’m here for it. Update: She can cook. Oooooooooh boy.
• Ugh, Connecticut gets to stay? #TeamAntiCT
• Ohio gets eliminated and is heading for an insightful comment before announcing her goal to date a professional baseball player. Classic. I respect the hustle. Look out, Joey Votto.
• I love Michigan so much at this point. Easily the most charming of the contestants.
• Wow. The red suit. It’s great and awful.
• I hope Jason Kelce is a regular on this show. He’s a good addition to balance things out.
• Okay, jokes aside, Connecticut is out of her mind. “If a girl cheated on you, would you ever go back? I don’t believe you.” Why would you call out somebody you just met?
• Not really feeling Minnesota, but I respect her. Not afraid to be super uncomfortable and awkward. She’s like a bull in a china shop with this group.
• Colorado, I love you.
• Minnesota is seriously outrageous and I can’t tell if I love it or hate it. She’ll never win the competition, but she’s incredibly entertaining. Also, I don’t think she knows how to pronounce “Kelce.”
• Georgia’s white dress for elimination is the absolute worst.
• Travis genuinely looks miserable sending these girls home.
• I really dislike Connecticut, but Michigan throwing her under the bus is a bad look. I think it nearly cost Miss MI a spot on the show. Thankfully she made the cut. I like her.
• Connecticut getting sent home is incredibly satisfying, especially considering that Travis went out of his way to say that he didn’t see the connection… after Miss CT spend the whole episode talking about it.
• WOOOOOOW RHODE ISLAND RESPONDED TO THE FRIEND ZONE THING BY GOING STRAIGHT FOR AN INTENSE KISS WHOOOOAH. IT’S ON, BOYS AND GIRLS.
• Rhode Island barely making the cut feels like a college football team narrowly avoiding upset to start the season before rumbling towards a national championship appearance. She was the last girl through, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her make a run deep into the competition.
• Semi-ashamed to admit that I genuinely enjoyed this show. I came because Travis is a Bearcat, but I’ll be staying because he’s hilarious and this show is wildly entertaining.
• I feel like I could easily knock this competition down to three people right now. There’s a clearly-cut Top 3, in my eyes.

Official OhVarsity! Catching Kelce Top 5 (Week 1)

1. New Jersey (Veronica) [5 total points]
2. Colorado (Avery) [4 total points]
3. Rhode Island (Victoria) [3 total points]
4. Michigan (Ceecee) [2 total points]
5. Minnesota (Anika) [1 total point]