Jef Holm and Emily Maynard's dis-engagement arrives pretty much on schedule

Fool the viewers once, shame on "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette."

Fool the viewers 22 out of 24 times, shame on the viewers.

The news that Utahn Jef Holm and recurring bachelorette Emily Maynard have broken up comes as far less than a surprise. It should be obvious by now, but you don't find true love and a happy marriage on this TV reality franchise.

Duh.

To date, "The Bachelor" has married the girl he proposed to in the season finale (if he proposed at all) exactly never. That's a big fat zero in sixteen seasons.

To date, one of of eight "Bachelorette" seasons has ended in marriage. A second "Bachelorette," Ashley Hebert, is scheduled to marry J.P. Rosenbaum, but they haven't walked down the aisle yet.

The premise of these shows is ridiculous. If you're watching for goofy, phony fun, that's fine.

But if anyone takes them in the least bit seriously, you're confused.

What you're seeing has been set up by the producers, then edited. A number of ontestants have admitted they've been coached.

Heck, Holm admitted what he said on air was looped - his words edited out while other words were edited into his mouth - during his season of "The Bachelorette." Without his knowledge.

Maybe he went into this really looking for love. Maybe Maynard did, too, although she appears to be in love with nothing so much as being on TV.

But, c'mon, you can't be surprised that they broke up. This show is about faux drama, it's not about actual relationships.

It's TV. It's not real.

Duh.