The Golden Bachelor: A New Version of the Bachelor TV Show Coming Soon

Source: Reality Blurred

The very first bachelor was a man named Alex Michel. The woman he chose at the end was not the fan favorite, and the audience was not happy with his choice. As a result, the network got a lot of mail from disgruntled people saying that he should have chosen the runner up, Trista Rehn (now Trista Sutter). As a result, the network decided to make her the first bachelorette in 2003.

In the decades that have come and gone, there have been many bachelors and bachelorettes that have been in and out of the bachelor mansion. But one thing always remained the same – they were all in their 20s and early 30s. 

That is, up until 2023.

As we mentioned above, the fans have been asking for an older bachelor or bachelorette. Many of the audience members have grown tired of seeing young 20-somethings not take it seriously (they were there “for the wrong reasons”). Some people think that the contestants just go on the shows so they can be social media influencers and make a lot of money without having to work a traditional job.

Enter the first senior citizen bachelor. For the first time in 21 years, the show will have a much older leading man, and the fans are excited about it.

The Golden Bachelor: Who is he? 

Source: People

The first Golden Bachelor is a gentleman named Gerry Turner. He is a 71-year-old widower from Indiana, and he is ready to find the new love of his life.

In July 2023, ABC announced the new show. According to the network, Gerry is a “hopeless romantic” who is looking for someone to share the rest of his golden years with.

On the TV show, Good Morning America, Gerry told the hosts that he thinks it’s never too late to all in love again. He said he’s not giving up because there are always endless possibilities.

According to Gerry, his two daughters encouraged him to apply to the show after their mother passed away. He took their advice, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Although ABC hasn’t revealed the names or photos of the women who will be trying to capture Gerry’s heart, he says that he is hoping to find a woman with high energy. He would like to be able to play pickle ball or golf with her.

While ABC has yet to reveal the women that will be vying for Turner’s heart, the new leading man said he is looking for someone “high energy.”

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Here are some more facts about Gerry Turner:

• He is a retired restauranteur with many hobbies

Before becoming the first Golden Bachelor, Gerry had a career in the restaurant industry. Now that he is retired, he has a lot of hobbies that keep him busy on a daily basis. He often hosts barbecues, goes four-wheeling, spends time with friends and family, and loves to watch Chicago sports teams. 

• He’s a widower

Gerry was married for 43 years to his high school sweetheart, Toni, until she passed way in 2017 - six weeks after she retired and got sick. They were happily married, and they lived a full and happy life. During his appearance on Good Morning America, he said, "She got robbed. Every day that goes by, that's the thought that I have. I have her picture on a dresser in my closet. Every morning I give her a nod, 'So what do you think about this?' For a while it was like, I was having a hard time figuring out if she would be okay. But we always told each other when one of us goes, we want the other to be happy. She's up there rooting [for me]. She's saying, 'Yeah, Gerry. Do this.' "

• He has two daughters and two granddaughters

Gerry and his wife Toni raised two daughters, Angie and Jenny. And his two granddaughters’ names are Charlee and Payton. His daughters are the ones who encouraged him to apply for the Golden Bachelor. Bachelor’s host, Jesse Palmer, told Gerry that he was the first Golden Bachelor in a video call. Both of his daughters and his granddaughters were on the call with him, and everyone started screaming for joy when he got the news.

Counting down the days until the premier date

While this is about all we know about the first Golden Bachelor at the moment, we’re sure to learn a lot more once the TV show premiers this fall. 

Many people are anxiously awaiting its debut because Gerry brings a whole new twist to the bachelor story. No longer will we be watching two young 20-or-30-somethings in the prime of their lives searching for a spouse and longing to settle down, have a family, and start their lives.

Instead, we have a handsome man who has already lived most of his life and is in a very different season of life. This comes with a lot of different expectations in a partner and some new, exciting things for the audience to watch along the way.

In a world where most people value youth just a little too much, it’s very refreshing that ABC has taken on the challenge of making a reality TV show that celebrates becoming older and wiser. Hopefully the audience will learn a lot from Gerry’s wisdom and will become better people for watching it.