While glimpses of Warsaw were seen in the first episode of ABC’s “The Bachelor” Jan. 4, Monday’s episode will give the city its biggest national exposure on the show as Ben Higgins has “hometown” dates. Higgins, a 2008 Warsaw Community High School graduate, is this season’s “Bachelor.” In late October, Higgins filmed an episode of “The Bachelor” for several days in the community. On Oct. 23, Higgins and Lauren B. had a date at Rex’s Rendezvous. The bar is planning a “Bachelor” viewing party Monday night. The show airs at 8 p.m. on ABC. On Oct. 25, the show built a carnival in downtown Warsaw for part of Higgins’ date with Amanda. During the week, Higgins also volunteered with his date at Baker Youth Club, with special guests from the Indiana Pacers, and went to see the Chicago Cubs, among other activities. A press release from Disney ABC on Monday’s episode states, “Ben’s hometown of Warsaw will roll out the red carpet for him and the remaining six women. This visit will give the ladies a little insight into who Ben is and what a future with the Bachelor might be like. “A special one-on-one date with Lauren B. is based at the youth center where Ben volunteered as a teenager. Surprise guests, including Indiana Pacers superstar George Paul, make this a memorable date for the kids and the bachelorette. Then, it’s off to Chicago with JoJo to legendary Wrigley Field, home of Ben’s favorite team, the Chicago Cubs, where the couple has the whole stadium to themselves. “A high stakes group date pits three women against one another, with the rose winner automatically getting a hometown date. Emily gets a huge surprise when her date with Ben includes a visit to his parents. Ben faces his most difficult decision yet as he decides which bachelorettes’ hometowns he will visit.”
