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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, January 28, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 11, 2005 Will a Medford man be the bachelorette’s pick? Ryan Sheaffer is trying for Jennifer Schefft’s hand on the popular reality TV program By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune As this television season’s "Bachelorette," Jennifer Schefft has it all — great looks, a charming personality and her own television reality show where the world will watch her choose a husband this season. But Barbara Sheaffer of Medford isn’t convinced yet that she’s good enough for her son, Ryan. "It seems like she’s OK," Barbara Sheaffer says. "I’ll have to watch the way she acts on TV." Millions of viewers on Monday watched Schefft meet Ryan Sheaffer. The Medford native is one of the bachelors in ABC’s fourth season of "The Bachelorette," which opened with a two- hour special Monday. Barbara Sheaffer is keeping an open mind while watching her 28-year-old son on one of television’s hottest shows. Advertisement "Moms always want to protect their own," Ryan Sheaffer laughed Monday. "But I’ve looked at this as nothing but upside." In "The Bachelorette," Sheaffer is one of 25 bachelors vying for Schefft’s affection as the boys take turns romancing her around New York City. The bachelors all try to impress Schefft on weekly episodes. Each episode culminates when she hands roses to the bachelors who remain in contention. For those tuned into the world of reality TV, Schefft already is a star. She was the winner in the third season of "The Bachelor" in 2003 and eventually accepted the marriage proposal of that show’s leading man, Andrew Firestone. With the cameras off, their romance fizzled and they eventually broke up without getting married. But Schefft remained in the public eye, and that’s where she caught Sheaffer’s attention. Living in Manhattan Beach, Calif., Sheaffer taught middle school and has dabbled in television, working as everything from production assistant to acting bit parts on shows like "Scrubs" and "Las Vegas." He occasionally spotted her, and liked what he saw. "I always thought she was a very attractive, cute girl," Sheaffer said. A producer friend tipped off Sheaffer that Schefft was returning as this fall’s Bachelorette. So the 1994 South Medford High School grad entered the bachelor-to-be fray late last summer as a way to meet her. "It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing," Sheaffer said. "After an open casting call, one thing led to another and the next thing I knew I was off to New York for the show." The shows were taped between mid-October and Thanksgiving. Confidentiality agreements forbid anyone involved from revealing any details. "All I can say is, it was a great experience," Ryan Sheaffer said. "I just looked at it as one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities." It also created a first-in-their-lifetimes reason for Barbara and Scott Sheaffer, who own and operate the Medford Montessori School, to view a reality show. They had a half-dozen teen friends of 15-year-old McKenzie — the youngest of four Sheaffer kids — over to their east Medford home to watch’s Monday night’s episode. "We’ve never watched one of these reality shows, but we’re getting kind of caught up in it," Barbara Sheaffer said. "I just don’t know why (Schefft) would want to be on a reality show twice," she said. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers