“The Golden Bachelor” is living up to the hype.
For years now, ABC and the “Bachelor” creators have been teasing this new iteration of the franchise – instead of two dozen 20-somethings vying for love, this time, a certified senior citizen would take the lead role on a journey to find the one. At first, I’ll admit, the fanbase was skeptical; it sounded like a silly idea, and we were in the midst of Pilot Pete Weber’s rollercoaster season (we all remember Barb). It also didn’t help that the first teasers went out in January 2020 – I don’t need to tell you all what happened three months later.
But this past July, widowed restaurateur Gerry Turner was announced as the very first Golden Bachelor…and America ate that sh*t up.
Sure, there was a ton of makeup and good TV lighting involved to make the now-72-year-old shine, but upon meeting him, Gerry was everything that the age of social media and influencer culture has taken from Bachelor Nation: genuine, heartfelt and undoubtedly here for the right reasons.
Because why wouldn’t he be? Turner, who lost his wife in 2017, is happily retired from what he tells us was a successful career, lives on a lakefront property and is blessed with two daughters, granddaughters and a sweet pickleball serve. This man doesn’t need brand deals! If nothing else, “The Golden Bachelor” is a breath of fresh air from the soul-selling that most Bachelor contestants are wont to getting sucked into.
Which leads me to another endearing piece of “The Golden Bachelor:” the true candor of the cast. It’s almost fourth wall-breaking – in aging coach Natascha’s case, it actually was, with her speaking directly to the camera begging for seated rose ceremonies after getting booted on episode 2. Rose ceremony #1 is interspersed with interviews of the women complaining about how tired they are – something that the 20-somethings always try to hide, even as the viewer can visibly see the sun coming up. And they weren’t shy in talking about how starstruck they were by the Bachelor Mansion; conversely, if any of the youngins’ would dare to say such a thing, they’d be immediately branded as Here for the Wrong Reasons™.
All “Bachelor” casts end up befriending each other on a legitimate level, and while we can’t yet say if the ladies from “The Golden Bachelor” will start sending each other Christmas cards, it’s almost as if a new brand of sisterhood is brewing. Take Susan doing Theresa’s hair before her one-on-one date – it’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen friendly footage like that. Or how they showed up to their group date hand-in-hand! These are grown-*ss ladies who have lived some life, weathered ex-boyfriends and even ex-husbands, and are actually interested in being nice to one another – what a concept!*
It’s the combination of both Gerry and the women’s attitudes that ultimately makes “The Golden Bachelor” a raging success (and it’s not just me saying that – check out any other outlet’s reviews). It comes down to the basis of this new show – that simply comes with age! They’re settled in who they are and what they have to offer, with no other motive than to see if sparks fly. They’re honest and mature with each other, and, even though nearly every scene is adorably awkward, it’s so refreshing to watch people enjoy each other’s company without even a whiff of false pretenses.
And there’s something really special about watching what the rest of us have to look forward to. Hearing Gerry and women like Theresa and Nancy share stories of their late spouses is devastating…but also hopeful. We all want to live a full life with a true partner by our sides, but we can’t say how that love will feel 30, 40 years after saying, “I do.” On “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” the leads talk about the dream of finding someone to grow old with, their hope that love can last forever; on “The Golden Bachelor,” we see proof that it does.
Don’t get me wrong – watching the elderly slip tongue in HD is…uncomfy, but then we get moments like Leslie revealing her hearing aids and Gerry making delightful jokes about whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
Even though the format of the show hasn’t changed, the heart that it’s suddenly been imbued with has done wonders for the watchability.
Stay golden, Gerry.
Other observations:
- The 1-hour format is more than enough and, frankly, I could do with the rest of the franchise following suit.
- They get to eat real food on their dates! What a world!
- The bunk beds are a crime against humanity that the showrunners will someday be forced to reckon with. These chicks have had double knee replacements, you heathens!!!
- PLEASE let there be a Golden Bachelorette next. And let it be Edith.
- It’s not often that a primetime show featuring a cast full of folks over the age of, say, 40 would be proposed, and here it is thriving. Could we be on the cusp of an entertainment revolution?
- We know Faith is winning, right?
*I say this with the understanding, and even expectation, that drama and cattiness is likely inevitable at any age.