“The Golden Bachelor” started with a lot of excitement. Fans of Bachelor Nation were eager to watch the search for love as Gerry Turner was introduced as the Golden Bachelor. Gerry seemed like the typical bachelor, being tall, fit, and blonde, but with the difference of being 72 years old.
Critics believed that his age and life experience would make for a genuine love story. However, fans were disappointed when Gerry did not live up to their expectations. Instead of the heartfelt story of a widowed man finding love again, Gerry ended up surprising everyone.
His relationship with Theresa Nist, the finalist of The Golden Bachelor, ended in less than five months, leaving many viewers upset.
Despite the letdown with Gerry, Bachelor Nation was determined to offer a new chance at love. They moved forward with “The Golden Bachelorette,” this time with 61-year-old Joan Vassos as the lead.
Joan, a widow, had left The Golden Bachelor due to a family emergency, which involved supporting her daughter through postpartum depression.
This act of prioritizing family won her a lot of fans, making her the perfect choice for The Golden Bachelorette. Fans who were disappointed with Gerry’s season now pinned their hopes on Joan, eagerly awaiting her journey to find love.
A Rough Start for “The Golden Bachelorette”
When the show premiered, 2.8 million viewers tuned in to watch Joan meet 24 senior bachelors, all hoping to win her heart or at least the competition. However, instead of mature behavior, many of the men displayed the same antics typical of younger contestants.
One man tried to charm Joan with his Parisian accent, another showed off his navy uniform, and yet another got down on the ground to do push-ups. One contestant, Chuck, even gave Joan a bowl of Chuck-o-noodle soup.
The night continued with more surprises, including Gary from Palm Desert, California, who turned out to be the godson of the famous singer Tina Turner. Joey Graziadei’s fiancée, Kelsey Anderson, also managed to get her father added to the list of suitors.
Sadly, the show hit a snag early on when rumors began circulating about one of the contestants, 60-year-old Gil Ramirez. A woman claimed that Gil had harassed her over the summer, sending unwanted messages and showing up at her work and other places where he thought she would be.
Although the show’s producers claimed they only found out about the issue after the background check was completed, fans were understandably upset. The show decided to limit Gil’s screen time to calm the outrage.
Joan’s Surprising Choices
Joan’s decision-making also raised eyebrows. In the first episode, she sent home Pablo, a 63-year-old retired UN agency director who lived in Cambridge, Maryland. This decision puzzled viewers because Joan lives in Rockville, Maryland, and being close to family had been important to her in the past.
Pablo, who loved romantic comedies, seemed like a good match for Joan based on proximity. Choosing to eliminate Pablo could hurt Joan’s chances of finding a lasting relationship, especially since long-distance relationships have often caused problems for contestants on the show. For example, the distance between Gerry and Theresa was one of the reasons their relationship didn’t last.
Will Joan Find Love?
Fans who want to see Joan find love are concerned about the drama that has already surrounded this season. The issue with Gil Ramirez has left a sour taste, and many worry there could be more problems with the other contestants. Only time will tell if Joan can be the first Golden Bachelorette to find a strong and lasting relationship.
The Golden Bachelorette airs weekly on ABC and is available for streaming on Hulu.
