C.J.: Courtney Robertson seems to tell all about herself, "Bachelor"

Courtney Robertson thinks ABC's "Bachelorette" Andi Dorfman may pick Josh Murray, the ex-baseball player.

Josh is geographically desirable; he lives in Georgia, too. But Andi seems so beguiled by Nick Viall, it makes me think the assistant prosecutor doesn't have a smarmy-meter.

But is Josh or Nick the first name called in the rose ceremonies? Humm.

In Robertson's book "I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends: Confessions of a Reality Show Villain," the woman "Bachelor" Ben Flajnik picked — but apparently wasn't interested in long-term — claims that the first name called may be a clue about who's leading the love pack.

Robertson's book — part auto-bio and part behind-the-scenes look at this TV franchise — is very racy.

But during my startribune.com/video at the Mall of America before her recent book signing, she didn't speak a single word that I couldn't get into the newspaper — unlike that spicy book, which recounts a celebrity dating history that she said included Adrian Grenier, of "Entourage," Jesse Metcalf, of "Desperate Housewives," and race car driver Arie Luyendyk, Jr., one of "Bachelorette" Emily Maynard's runners-up.

Q: Well, aren't you courageous to write this book?

Q: Who are you trying to help, people who want to go on the "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette"?

A: It's the whole story of my life, my heartbreaks and all my breakups, my early modeling years. (She counts work for Target, in a career that has seen her book many print ads and commercials.) I think they'll get a little fun, inside dish. I wanted to give them the scoop. [On] the show, I was America's most hated, getting death threats. It was crazy. And I had this public breakup [with Ben]. I just wanted to share the whole story, 'cause I showed America [me] falling in love.

Q: Which were you more surprised that you had to endure to be on "The Bachelor": a visit with the private investigator, the STD test or the psychological test?

A: It was the psychological test. The thousand questions. Multiple choice: If you were standing on a ledge. Apparently I passed. [Somebody who went over the test remarked:] You said you made bad decisions, when you were drunk once? Haven't we all?

Q: I am guessing that an IQ test is not among the tests given to "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" contestants?

Q: That's because you're smart.

A: [She smiled.]

Q: What was so appealing about Ben? He was radiating self-absorbed, selfish, jerk to me all the way.

A: Some of my friends said to me, Courtney he's getting a lot of bad press, too. I was like, "Really?" I thought it was because of me, it looked like he was falling for me. I, from night one, almost backed out of the show. I said, 'Go night one, meet him, if you don't like him, you can leave' and I was like OK. I got there and I saw him. I really felt drawn to him. I know it sounds crazy. Then I talked to him and we had this chemistry. I really fell for him.

Q: In retrospect, didn't you see the red flags?

Q: It appeared, based on what magazines were writing, that he wasn't into you fairly soon after he selected you.

A: Yeah. I was shocked, too. Shocked as everybody else. I was like, I'm going to stand by him, protect him. My mom called and said, Courtney do you realize he was a cheater? No, I don't.

Q: I don't know why you were on this TV show. You're a very pretty woman and you are not having trouble meeting men, based on what is written in your book.

A: I never really have. A couple of my serious relationships, the guys didn't want marriage. My parents have been married 34 years and I believe in marriage. I was raised more traditional and in L.A. it's tough. I'm thinking of moving back to Arizona.

Q: On TV you seemed to embrace your unlikability. That comes from a place of security, clearly.

Q: Did you know you had an air of unlikability on the show?

A: When I was filming, I thought we were going to have this fairy tale story. I knew I said some sassy things. I didn't realize that was going to be all of it — that that's what they were going to air — all of that. But it was also that I knew the girls were saying things about me. That was hard. I wish they [had] shown more of me, talking about Ben, my feelings. The love stuff, but they just didn't.

Q: I assume you had your own condoms since you noted not seeing any in the TV show's Fantasy Suite.

A: I didn't see any; it didn't come up.

Q: You had unprotected sex?

Q: I assume future stars of the franchise will be told not to give the first rose to the eventual winner, because you kind of busted the code.

A: Yeah. Ben was saying to me: I don't want you to be uncomfortable. You are there; so much anxiety. He would give me the rose [first] as much as he could. I noticed Juan Pablo [Galavis] doing it. Juan Pablo gave it to Nikki [Ferrell] almost every rose ceremony. I was: That's who he's picking. There are certain things they can do.

Q: You're not angling to be the next "Bachelorette"?

A: No, I'm not. That would never happen. I want to meet someone the organic way. I would be open to trying match.com

Q: You haven't lived long enough to be married.

Q: Do the producers really think viewers are so stupid we need Chris Harrison to come out and announce: This is your final rose tonight?

A: I know. It's so dramatic.

Q: Would you be willing to start a campaign to get the words "journey" and "amazing" banned from the franchises? Or at the very least, get those words bleeped like one of Jimmy Kimmel's "Unnecessary Censorship" bits?

A: The journey or the process. It is kind of a journey, though. But you're right, that should be a drinking game. Every time somebody says journey, somebody takes a sip.

Q: Why do people on these shows start behaving as though this is a normal dating situation instead of a game show?

Q: What did you think of Andi castoff Marquel Martin?

A: Love Marquel. I think Marquel should be the next "Bachelor." I really do. He was so likable and funny. Some people's personality doesn't come across. Obviously mine came across in one very specific way. Did you like him?

Q: I don't think, and this is just my hunch, Marquel is into black women. I think it will be weirdly entertaining — to say nothing of creating unusual racial issues for ABC — if the black "Bachelor" only had white women contending or he sent all the black chicks home right away.

A: Really. It would have to be mixed.

Q: Is that on the questionnaire: Would you be open to an interracial relationship? I didn't think the assistant prosecutor from Georgia was going to pick a black guy. And I say this as someone who has said my next husband will be a white guy.

Interviews are edited. To contact C.J. try cj@startribune.com and to see her watch Fox 9's "Buzz."