On September 28, the Golden Bachelor premiered on ABC. A spin-off of the well known reality tv series, the Bachelor/Bachelorette, this show features a “golden-aged” bachelor/bachelorette looking for love. For the first season, the show’s bachelor is 70 year old Gerry Turner, who has been single since his wife died in 2017. The contestants competing for his heart are older as well, ranging from ages 60-75. The show, though only three episodes in, has reached more than 11 million viewers and left audiences emotional and moved, leading to the desire to tune in every Thursday.
The majority of the views have come from younger audiences who are fans of the original shows. Different from the regular series, this spinoff gives perspective into the rarely talked about lovelife of the older generation, and thus impacts younger audiences in a unique way.
“My friends and I were talking about how it’s cool for people this age to be able to get the chance to get another chance at love,” says NDB Alumni Kyle Goldstein, age 30. “ It’s nice to watch it without any dumb drama.”
The Golden Bachelor provides a nice change from the normal drama that surrounds the well-known original, the Bachelor/Bachelorette. It provides older viewers with comedic relief and insight into how other people their age live, and provides younger viewers some ideas regarding the love life of older people.
“I think the show makes older people watching feel hopeful about getting back out into the dating world, and finding a significant other,” said senior Karly Bordin. “There are some contestants who have kids and talk about their grandkids, and others who you can tell have taken a different path, but they’re all very sweet and act kindly towards each other. It’s cute.”
Regardless of age, anyone who is looking for a heartful reality show filled with people who have genuine reasons to find love should watch this show, not only for the comedic relief and aww-moments, but to learn of the reality to find love for those older in age.
