SEASON PREMIERE

FAN FAVORITE JAKE PAVELKA BEGINS HIS OWN SEARCH FOR LOVE, FACING ONE BOMBSHELL AFTER ANOTHER, WHEN "THE BACHELOR: ON THE WINGS OF LOVE" PREMIERES, MONDAY, JANUARY 4

Jillian Harris and Her Fiance, Ed Swiderski, Return to Offer Advice to Jake and to Make a Special Announcement

This Season's Highlights Include a Private Concert by Rock Superstar Group Chicago, a Glamorous InStyle Magazine Photo Shoot and a Spectacular Trip to St. Lucia for the Seductive Overnight Dates and the Emotional Finale

Jake Pavelka is out to prove that nice guys don't always finish last in love. The handsome commercial pilot from Dallas -- and America's most hopeful romantic -- begins his own bid for true love, choosing from among 25 beautiful bachelorettes, when "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love" premieres MONDAY, JANUARY 4 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. This will be the 14th edition of ABC's hit romance reality series.

Ever since Jake, 31, shared a magical one-on-one date with Bachelorette Jillian Harris to see Martina McBride, millions of women have had their "Top Gun" fantasies about him. A fan favorite for his sincerity, charm and his dream of finding true love � not to mention his hunky good looks -- viewers were stunned when Jillian rejected Jake right before the hometown dates on last season's "The Bachelorette." Jake's fairytale-like experience falling for Jillian made him confident that he can find the love of his life on "The Bachelor." Now it's his time. Jake knows himself well enough to know that he's not made to live alone. He just needs to find the right woman -- his best friend and soul mate � and that's whom he'll marry. Searching for a woman who is intelligent, confident, energetic and spontaneous, he admits that he can't wait for fatherhood.

In this season's premiere, "Episode 1401," Jake returns to the Malibu mansion where he first met Jillian. Tonight his life will start to change forever as 25 gorgeous bachelorettes have traveled across the U.S. to meet him -- and they'll do anything to become his wife and share a life with him.

Jake is blown away by a stunning model, who is the first woman out of the limo. A bold, fast-talking bachelorette wastes no time, asking the handsome Bachelor whether she can touch his impressive abs, and a sexy blonde also isn't afraid to come on strong, literally falling into Jake's arms. Inside, the party takes off quickly as the women swoon when Jake makes the rounds and greets each bachelorette. One charming woman confesses her fear of flying, and an alluring teacher causes a stir when she dons a revealing flight attendant's uniform and steals Jake away from an unsuspecting single mom. After an athletic hottie grabs Jake to play touch football, it's blondes vs. brunettes in the first sexy, barefoot-in-eveningwear football scrimmage in Bachelor history!

However, once Chris Harrison interrupts the cocktail party to bring out the "first impression" rose, the competition intensifies. The pressure is too much for one teary-eyed beauty, who breaks down when she doesn't get enough time with Jake. Just as the women think it's time for the Bachelor to hand out the coveted first impression rose, Chris announces a twist: the ladies not only must impress Jake, but also last season's happy couple � Jillian and Ed. The women cheer as the former Bachelorette and her fianc� join Jake to help him with his tough decision, hoping that he will find a love like theirs. And then the happy couple will share a special announcement with Jake. The Bachelor bestows his first impression rose on a surprised and grateful woman. Finally, Jake must eliminate ten of the 25 women the first night, leaving 15 to compete for his affections, and in the end, his heart.

A list of the bachelorettes will be released shortly.

Romantic and adventurous dates will reach new heights this season, testing the ladies' perseverance in pursuing their romantic objective, along with fun, exciting and exotic dates that will elicit real and raw passions. Jake invites six bachelorettes on a glamorous photo shoot for InStyle Magazine's February issue, out in mid-January, where they get to pose with him. The Bachelor whisks away one lucky woman, piloting her in a private plane to a glamorous Palm Springs getaway and a private concert by the rock superstar group Chicago. Exciting exploits await Jake and the women at Six Flags Magic Mountain, where they have the amusement park all to themselves. On one heart-pounding date, Jake and one bachelorette bungee jump off the infamous Bridge to Nowhere in the San Gabriel Mountains. Laughs abound when Jake takes eight women to the famous Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, but who will get the last laugh when the ladies find out they are the ones performing? A surprise road trip up California's panoramic coast makes for close quarters for the bachelorettes and some of most romantic dates ever, including an intimate date for Jake and two women at the Castillo di Amorosa in Napa Valley and a dream visit to San Francisco, culminating in a romantic dinner for two at the top of Coit Tower. The three final women are treated to a breathtaking trip to the magical island paradise of St. Lucia for sexy overnight dates, as well as the thrilling finale. But Jake is in for a wild ride as he faces one bombshell after another on this journey of a lifetime. Secrets are revealed, emotions run deep and one bachelorette crosses a line that should never be crossed, with devastating results. Will Jake finally find the special woman who is right for him or will this nice guy's dream of love end in heartbreak?

As in the past, women will continue to be eliminated each week, but if at any point along the way a woman should decide that she's no longer interested in the Bachelor, she can reject his invitation to continue dating. Some lucky women will meet his family, and he will visit their hometowns for a slice of their life in an effort to determine the woman with whom he is most compatible.

Hosted by Chris Harrison, "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love" is a production of Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are the executive producers.

This episode of "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love" will be available on ABC.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online.

"The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with stereo sound and Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. This is the first time the series will be broadcast in HDTV. A TV-parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.

For more information on "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love" please visit ABC.com.

BIOGRAPHY

JAKE PAVELKA

The ABC Television Network's "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love"

Jake Pavelka, 31, is out to prove that nice guys don't always finish last in love. The handsome commercial pilot from Dallas -- and America's most hopeful romantic -- will star in his own bid for true love, choosing from among 25 bachelorettes, when ABC's highly-rated popular romance reality series premieres for its 14th edition on January 4, 2010.

Ever since Jake shared a magical one-on-one date with Bachelorette Jillian Harris to see Martina McBride, millions of women have had their "Top Gun" fantasies about him. A fan favorite for his reputation as an honest guy with an open heart � not to mention his good looks -- viewers were stunned when Jillian rejected Jake right before the hometown dates on last season's "The Bachelorette." But women were drawn to him even more when Jake returned of his own accord in the next episode to protect Jillian from men who were not there for the right reasons. Jake � who already knew Jillian would not take him back -- freely shared and showed his emotions, and that's when the requests for Jake to be the next Bachelor started to pour in.

Jake's fairytale-like experience falling for Jillian made him confident that he can find the love of his life on "The Bachelor." Now, it's his time. Jake knows himself well enough to know that he's not made to live alone. He just needs to find the right woman -- his best friend and soul mate � and that's whom he'll marry. Searching for a woman who is intelligent, confident, energetic and spontaneous, he admits that he can't wait for fatherhood.

Fortunate to discover his passion at a young age, Jake started taking flying lessons at age 12. An accomplished pilot, he became an airline captain flight instructor at 23. On his days off, he has fun flying acrobatic planes, taking dance lessons and woodworking at the home he owns near Dallas. His parents have had a long and happy marriage, and it seems to run in the family, as Jake also has two happily married brothers � older brother Jason and younger brother Matt � and two nieces.

Jake grew up in Denton, Texas and attended University of North Texas and Embry Engineering University for Aerospace Science.