The Golden Bachelor is giving seniors another shot at love, following one hopeless romantic in search of a partner to share their sunset years with. Promising to “showcase a whole new kind of love story,” the show carving space for women who have a lifetime of experience, living through love, loss and laughter, and hoping for a spark that ignites a future full of endless possibilities. In the end, will our Golden man find his happily ever after? We certainly hope so.
On September 28th, 2023, The Golden Bachelor premiered, featuring completely unexpected moments and a surprise guest that completely caught returning viewers and novice watchers alike off guard.
Who's the first Golden Bachelor?
71 year-old Gerry Turner is the first leading man on the upcoming spin-off series. Describing himself as "71 years young," the Indiana-based widower, father of two, grandfather and retired restauranteur is of the belief that it's "never too late to fall in love again."
Gerry was previously married to his high school sweetheart, Toni, who died in 2017 after becoming ill just six weeks after she retired. Gerry says that he has spoken to his late wife about his TV opportunity, saying on Good Morning America, "For a while, I was having a hard time figuring out if she was OK...but we always told each other, when one of us goes, we want the other to be happy. She's up there rooting. She's saying, 'Yeah, Gerry, do this!'"
Angie and Jenny, Gerry's two daughters, are reportedly "very excited" for their dad's new role. When asked about what he's looking for in a future Mrs. Turner, he says he's looking for someone with "high energy," who might play pickleball and golf.
We don't know about you, but we can't wait to watch Gerry (hopefully) find love later this year.
When and where can we watch "The Golden Bachelor" ?
The spinoff series premiered September 28, 2023 at 10 p.m. EST, following Dancing with the Stars. You can tune into ABC on-air nights or opt to view on streaming services like Hulu if you want to watch on your own time.
How many women are a part of "The Golden Bachelor?"
The Golden Bachelor features 22 women who are 60+ years of age. We love that the series is intentional about featuring a cast who's near the age group as Gerry. And get this - one of the women, Patty, is former Bachelor star Matt James' mom!
Watch the full introduction to The Golden Bachelor's lovely cast:
Which contestants stood out the most?
Every season, there’s always a handful of contestants who make unforgettable first impressions and this time was no different. Some of the most noteworthy ladies of the night included Sandra, a 75-year-old retired executive assistant from Doraville, Georgia. The most seasoned of the bunch began her first interaction with Gerry off with a sensual meditation session where she proclaimed her love for the “F” and “S” words. Same girl, same.
Theresa, a 70-year-old financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey, bared it all on her first meeting with Gerry. It was her cake day after all, and we figured there was no better time show to show off the birthday suit.
Faith, a 60-year-old high school teacher from Benton City, Washington exuded OG cool girl energy with her head-turning energy. Riding in on a motorcycle with hair whipping, and even shocking audiences with a guitar solo, there’s no surprise that she walked away with a little kiss and the first impression rose.
One of our favorite step-outs of the night was Leslie, 64, who stepped out of the limo in a gray wig, a muumuu nightgown, and a walker to boot. But after pulling off the guise to reveal a show-stopping sparklingly dress, the retired dancer proved that she’s anything but geriatric. And also, apparently Prince ( yes, THE Prince) wrong a song about her?? Talk about “it girl”.
Which contestants got a rose?
Other than the standouts of the night Sandra, Theresa, Faith, and April, 11 other lucky ladies received a rose to return for next week’s show.
- Joan, 60, a private school administrator from Rockland, Maryland.
- Christina, 73, a retired purchasing manager from Sierra Madre, California.
- Susan, 66, a hair and make-up artist from Aston, Pennsylvania.
- Nancy, 60, a retired interior designer from Alexandria, Virginia.
- Peggy, 69, a dental hygienist from East Haven, Connecticut.
- Marina, 60, an educator from Los Angeles, California.
- Jeanie, 65, a retired project manager from Estill Springs, Tennessee.
- Kathy, 70, a retired educational consultant from Austin, Texas.
- Natascha, 60, a pro-aging coach and midlife speaker, from NYC, NY.
- Ellen, 71, a retired teacher from Delray Beach, Florida.
- Edith, 60, a retired realtor from Downey, California.
Who did Gerry seem to connect with the most during his first dates?
Episode 2 of The Golden Bachelor proved to be no less emotional than the premiere. Viewers followed Gerry as he got a chance to spend one-on-one time with the remaining ladies and it was beautiful to see how excited everyone was. His first date with Theresa was like watching two giddy souls who have an insane crush on each other.
They bonded at a gorgeous diner - something Gerry was intentional about given the beginning of his career in the food industry - and shared stories about losing their spouses. What stood out the most about their date is how calm and peaceful he felt with Theresa. The tears started flowing when Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" began playing at the end of their conversation about looking forward to each day. It was the perfect way to end a date IMO. Needless to say, Theresa got another rose
Who's not returning for next week's episode?
Unfortunately, three of our shining ladies were sent home and it wasn't easy for Gerry to make his decision.
- Natascha, 60, a pro-aging coach and midlife speaker, from NYC, NY.
- Jeanie, 65, a retired project manager from Estill Springs, Tennessee
- Peggy, 69, a dental hygienist from East Haven, Connecticut
- Marina, 60, an educator from Los Angeles, CA (wasn't cut but isn't on the show anymore as of this week)
How long has "The Golden Bachelor" been in the works?
The Golden Bachelor has been in the works for several years, with ABC first floating the idea during Season 24 of The Bachelor. During a commercial break, viewers saw a graphic directing “seniors looking for love” to the show’s casting site. Since then, similar graphics were seen on screen during all current franchise shows.
We don't know about you, but we can’t wait to watch some much-deserving people find love after so many years.
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Photo courtesy of ABC/Brian Bowen Smith.
This post has been updated.
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