| I crawled into bed at 4:21 AM – bleary eyed, exhausted and berating myself for staying up so late. Around 11:00 PM, I had been restlessly searching for something to binge watch. I came across The Golden Bachelor. I NEVER WATCH REALITY TV but something about the premise caught my attention: finding love for a golden-aged, widowed bachelor with 60 to 75-year-old contestants. Having so many friends who are widowed, divorced or never married, I was curious to see what people experience when looking for “the perfect match” later in life and The Golden Bachelor seemed like it would deliver. I was drawn into the drama immediately. Apparently I wasn’t the only one intrigued by the concept of senior citizens finding lasting love and marriage. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 139 million viewers tuned in. Here’s Gerry….  ABC News The Golden Bachelor features a cast of 20 very attractive and well-preserved women vying for Gerry’s attention and ultimately his proposal of marriage. Premiering in September, it concluded in November with The Bachelor, Gerry Turner, choosing Theresa Nist to marry, which will be televised on January 4 on ABC TV. Here’s the happy couple….  Disney/John Fleenor I watched the first five of nine episodes in one night, thus the late bedtime. I witnessed genuine tears. I witnessed heartfelt emotions and shared confidences about past loves and losses. And I witnessed in-fighting among the women when feelings began to intensify for Gerry. Gerry Turner, a handsome, fit man, wooed each woman passionately – causing me to marvel at his ability to do so. And the entire time, I wondered how I would cope with the situation of bonding with other women – strangers – who I was also avidly competing against. That’s a tall order. I’m not so sure I’m that secure. Before I could finish the last few episodes, controversy surfaced on social media over Gerry Turner’s lack of transparency. He had related to Entertainment Tonight that he hadn’t dated in 45 years and hadn’t been kissed in six years. Whoa Gerry! But as Parade previously reported, a shocking Hollywood Reporter article revealed the claims of a former girlfriend, who said Gerry romanced her just one month after his wife Toni’s sudden death. They allegedly lived together for more than a year and then split up after Gerry expressed his displeasure over her 10-pound weight gain before his high school reunion. For the more lurid details, click on this link: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a44565012/the-golden-bachelor-gerry-turner/ After that revelation, I lost interest in the show and never watched the last couple of episodes – until, that is, I read about how gut wrenching The Golden Bachelor finale proved for all concerned. I couldn’t resist. What did I learn from watching and reading about this reality show? Two things: Next time those involved in the production should check-out their candidates’ backgrounds more thoroughly. The basic premise of the show remains intact: both men and women have a need for connection. As Theresa said, “You can’t put an age limit on love.” Interested in auditioning for The Golden Bachelor Season 2? If so, you can apply online at www.goldenbachelorcasting.com Be prepared to answer lots of questions and submit at least two photos. BTW, bachelorettes don’t get paid and can accrue considerable styling costs. Happy hunting, keep preserving your bloom, and let us know if you make the cut.  |
