PHOENIX, Jan. 15, 2003 -- Meredith Phillips, 30, of Portland, Ore., was sent home by Bachelor Bob on the latest season of "The Bachelor" in large part because he felt that the connection he felt with her was because they grieved the death of her grandmother together on their individual date. Meredith, who learned of the death of her grandmother just hours before going on the date, feels that for many reasons, she was unable to put herself out there and show Bob the person she really is.

Kayte thinks that the competition could get intense this season. Barry Gossage WNBAE/Getty Images

As she said tonight, she feels that being the Bachelorette "suits her [because now] the true Meredith" is going to show. I wouldn't doubt that. There is nothing better to give you a true gut-check in the self-confidence area than being surrounded by twenty-four other beautiful women all competing for the same man. On the other hand, there is no doubt you've got to feel like the most gorgeous woman in the world when you have twenty five men gawking at you like they have never seen a woman before in their lives.

The twenty five men tonight were completely taken with Meredith. I must say myself, there is something about Meredith, a presence you could say, that draws people to her. She isn't a hard-bodied Trista, or a guy's gal like Kelly Jo. As Marcus, a 27-year-old personal trainer, put it, she is classy and timeless. Meredith has a beautiful smile and the ability to draw attention to herself with her personality not just her looks. This is what I think is going to make this season of "The Bachelorette" interesting; these men are completely taken with Meredith and I feel like more than a couple are really going to fall and fall hard, causing an extremely tense environment in the men's house.

So let's meet the fifteen men that made it through tonight's episode. Matthew is a 28-year-old in pharmaceutical sales who has the look of a cartoon character with his strong square jaw and flawless good looks. Rick, a 29-year-old business owner, stuck out in Meredith's mind above all other men being that she offered him a white rose at the end of the rose ceremony automatically giving him the first individual date. Why did he stick out to her? Easy, he gave her slippers from his slipper company that look like high top tennies! What woman wouldn't love that? Lanny is a 27-year-old horse trainer from Texas who Meredith could sit and talk to all night just to hear his accent. Then there was Damon, a 29-year-old arena football player who thinks Meredith is "hot" and wants a woman to throw the football around the arena with after his games. I don't know if Meredith can live up to such high expectations!

Marcus, mentioned earlier, was completely taken by Meredith from the very beginning, forgetting to give his name during the introductions. The second professional athlete to make the final fifteen tonight was Harold, a 29-year-old NHL player. Then there was Brad (29) and Chad (32), both in pharmaceutical sales, followed by Robert, 29 in technological development. Oh, but we're not finished yet, folks. Yes, there is more and more and more. There was Sean (31), Ryan R. (29), Todd (36), Eliot (25), Ryan M. (30) and last but not least Ian (29). The question is with all of these great guys, who really sticks out and why?

In my highly advanced reality TV analyst mind, I think that Matthew, who had the terrible job of being the first man out of the limo, is at an advantage. I'm not positive, but I am pretty sure that Meredith thinks this man is a hottie. But she does have a pulse, so this is of no surprise to me if you know what I mean! Rick brought the girl slippers. Forget Tiffany bracelets and wind-up monkeys the man brought her something she can wear with her p.j.s. He knows what he's doing, people. He no longer has amateur status; he is now a professional womanizer. Harold, the NHL player, stuck out to me. The man came on the show because he wants a wife and kids and he's going after it. You gotta like that quality in a man. And, finally, Ian seems like he is going to be there for the long-run to me. He is an investment banker who has spent a lot of time traveling the world and wants and outdoorsy type of woman. There is a sweetness about him that I think will draw Meredith to him.

Just one episode into this season of "The Bachelorette," it's hard to be able to tell just exactly who is going to be there until the end. However, judging by the clips of the upcoming episodes, this group of guys is going to be a bit more competitive than the group Trista was dealing with. There is going to be some cattiness in the future, and I have a feeling it is going to be a bit more intense than what you'll see come from any woman.

Until next time...