November 30, 2023 | ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | By Brett LeVan
I have never been one to watch entire seasons of “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette,” nor any of the other Bachelor franchise spinoffs such as “Bachelor in Paradise” and “Bachelor Pad.” Yet, ABC’s new series, “The Golden Bachelor,” described as “the senior citizen spinoff of ‘The Bachelor,’” is one I truly cannot get enough of.
Prior to the pandemic, ABC called for a casting of “seniors looking for love.” This initial teaser was followed with much anticipation, and finally this past May, ABC announced the release of “The Golden Bachelor.” Airing Sept. 28, on ABC, “The Golden Bachelor” follows Gerry Turner, a 72-year-old widowed man from Indiana whose wife passed away in 2017 after suddenly becoming ill.
Turner married his high school sweetheart, Toni, in 1974. The two lived a full and loving life until Toni’s passing. The first episode of “The Golden Bachelor” has a tender feeling of love and loss, with interviews from Turner and his daughters reminiscing about his wife and the love the two shared; But also hope, as Turner feels optimistic about finding love again. That is what draws me to this show so much, the hope and excitement of new love, as well as the emotion and tears from Turner during each rose ceremony when women are sent home.
Rather than casting Gen-Z and Millennials like in “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” “The Golden Bachelor” follows 22 senior women looking for love. Throughout the show the women go on one-on-one dates as well as group dates with Turner who, at the end of each episode, gives out a handful of roses. All 22 of the women are at least 60 years old or older, many of them divorced or widows.
Like many reality TV shows, there is plenty of drama and tears in “The Golden Bachelor.” Many of the women do all they can to get closer to Turner. One of the funnier moments is in episode four around the six-minute mark during a group date where the contestants are playing pickleball. April Kirkwood fell to the ground and says she thinks she broke her ankle; she calls for Turner to help her and encourages the other women to go back to playing.
The camera then turns to one of Kirkwood’s behind the scene interviews where she said, “Actually,” then turns and winks at the camera, “I am totally fine.” I won’t spoil anymore, but this is one scene among many others that upholds the joy and tenderness but also the quirky drama of “The Golden Bachelor” that isn’t necessarily replicated by younger contestants in the other Bachelor shows.
Rob Mills, when talking about casting for “The Golden Bachelor,” said in an interview with Variety, “Some of the casting interviews…were just so touching…these people are just at a totally different place in their lives. There is an interesting thing about people who have hit the other end of the spectrum, who’ve lived their lives, they’ve raised their kids, some have been widowed or divorced and maybe some have never been in love. We thought that would be an interesting dynamic through the ‘Bachelor’ prism.”
When casting for “The Golden Bachelor” and perhaps any new show, the first season is pertinent to encapsulating what the show is all about – with the right cast, the show can be a bigger hit.
Turner and the 22 women made the show what it is; the dynamics of love are vastly different from the other Bachelor franchise shows and the life experience the senior cast brought was all admirable. The tenderness of watching the older women not necessarily fall in love with Turner, but rather find platonic love with each other, as well as a newfound confidence within themselves was my favorite part.
In a behind the scenes interview posted by the “The Golden Bachelor” TikTok account, a few contestants had heartwarming reflections about their experience.
“There’s a confidence in me, I’ve never had before,” said Pamala Bruns.
“I remembered my worth, my individuality, and people liked me, they really liked me, and I was like, I’m okay…that’s meant the world to me, I’m okay,” Kirkwood said.
When sitting with a group of four of the other women, Kathy Swarts said, “none of us fell in love with Gerry, didn’t work for us, but we fell in love with each other and that’s what…gives everyone hope.”
Lastly, episode seven, titled “The Women Tell All,” included a cast interview with 20 of the women who did not receive roses, as well as Turner. Even if you decide not to watch the whole season, I encourage you to watch episode seven, it was truly so empowering and tender. The love the women felt for each other after spending time on the show together was just as enjoyable to watch as the premise of Turner finding his future wife.
There is so much more I could say about the show, but ultimately, I will let you watch for yourself.