With the premiere of the 12th season of The Bachelor only one week away, ABC introduced their latest eligible man to America today in a telephone press conference.  Matt Grant spoke to everyone from OK magazine to Access Hollywood to BuddyTV about what fans can expect this season.  In today's call, he addressed the track record of the show, his knowledge of previous seasons of The Bachelor, and what he finds so darn irresistable about American women.  Charming, polite, and funny, Grant made a great first impression with the media.  Read on for more details about today's conference call with the latest bachelor!

In the call, Grant admitted that he never watched a season of The Bachelor, even when the ABC casting department gave him DVDs to check out.  "I didn't watch it, I didn't want to," admitted Grant.  "I'm really pleased that it didn't.  It gave me an open perspective."  Though he hasn't seen any episodes, he was more than aware of the show's track record with relationships but, he says, it didn't bother him.  "If you wanted to go by track records, then life would be pretty dull," said Grant.  "It's great about Trista and Ryan and I know there's another couple that's still together.  That's better than nothing.  It didn't bother me in the slightest."

According to Grant, the women are much different in America than back home in England.  In order not to offend the women of his country, he decided to refer to them as a collective group: European women.  "American women have more confidence, the good confidence," he observed.  His string of previous relationships with European women haven't worked out "for different reasons," he said.  "I had good experiences but some bad as well."

BuddyTV was fortunate enough to grab a few minutes with the latest bachelor, who said that he could understand how the women would feel a certain pressure to mold themselves into what he wanted them to be. However, the same cannot be said for Grant.  "I was just myself," he promised.  "I was fortunate that I got to choose [who stayed and who went home]."  On a television dating show, it can be hard to determine who is there for the right reasons and who is not.  "I was more worried before we started," he told BuddyTV.  "Everyone seemed to be having so much fun.  That's the most important thing.  It went well."

Viewers don't need to worry about experiencing a moment like that of Brad Womack's final rose ceremony last season.  "I definitely found love and the women lived up to my expectations," he told the press.  "I'm still buzzing from it now."  Will he and his new woman set up residence here in the states or across the pond?  "We'll discuss it," he said.  "Either country is great!"

Tonight, The Bachelor will air a "Where Are They Now?" special, letting viewers catch up with their favorite former bachelors and the women who competed for their attention and affection.  Then, the show airs the premiere of the 12th season one week later, on March 17th at 9:30pm ET!


- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of ABC)