Jesse Palmer Reveals That the 1st Rose Ceremony on ‘The Bachelor’ Is the Longest Night on Television: He Fuels Up With Snacks

Jesse Palmer has spent several years performing hosting duties for Bachelor Nation. Fans will watch him perform those duties again on the premiere episode of The Bachelor season 29. He is set to introduce Grant Ellis to 30 eligible bachelorettes on Jan. 27. While Palmer seems to love his job, he insists there are some challenging moments, too.

In a recent sitdown, Palmer revealed that the first rose ceremony of the season is the longest night on television. He gets through The Bachelor and The Bachelorette‘s first rose ceremony with plenty of snacks.

The first rose ceremony for ‘The Bachelor’ takes an entire evening to film

On the first night in the Bachelor Mansion, the lead must meet each contestant as they enter the house. From there, depending on the iteration, he or she gets to know their contestants. After a cocktail party and one-on-one chats, the lead must make tough cuts during the first rose ceremony. While most Bachelor Nation fans assumed the process took hours, Jesse Palmer recently revealed how many hours it takes. The host told Eating Well that the first rose ceremony is the longest night in television. He said filming can start at 8 pm and doesn’t wrap up until 8 am the next morning.

Over the years, several contestants and leads have discussed the lengthy and emotional process of the first night in the mansion. Some contestants have said the first evening in the mansion, from arrival to dismissal, took upwards of 16 hours. In 2016, Ken Fuchs, one of The Bachelor’s directors, opened up about the filming process and the first rose ceremony.

Fuch told The Hollywood Reporter that the first night of the dating competition took forever for logistical reasons. Not only does the lead have to meet each contestant as they arrive but the cocktail party and one-on-one interactions also stretch on for hours. The goal is for the lead to get a good idea of their contestants before they make any cuts. By the time they get to the rose ceremony, most contestants have been filming through the night, with roses handed out in the wee hours of the morning.

Jesse Palmer stays fueled for the marathon with tons of snacks

While Palmer admits that filming the ceremony can be difficult, he’s found a way to keep himself awake and active during the extended schedule. In a chat with Eating Well, Palmer said he keeps himself going during long filming days, like The Bachelor‘s first rose ceremony, with plenty of snacks. His go-to options are fruit, protein shakes, yogurt, and trail mix. During the first rose ceremony, he also relies on an “espresso or two” to keep himself sharp.

Greek yogurt with granola is his go-to meal, even if filming days aren’t particularly long. The TV personality told the publication that he often eats Greek yogurt with granola and honey when the cast travels for filming, relying on it for breakfast, lunch, and even a late-night snack on some days. He says it is quick and filling enough to keep him fueled for the day without interfering with his work commitments. While Palmer keeps it healthy most of the time, he does admit to enjoying a slice of pizza when he can. Dark chocolate and berries also help fuel him through more challenging days.