Though the show’s inaugural season ended in a devastating divorce, I’m increasingly convinced that Gerry Turner should beThe Golden Bacheloragain. I know it may sound strange, but I strongly believe that the retired restaurateur who recently celebrated his 73rd birthday is the only one who could save the show. It’s hard to imagine that Gerry wasn’t in the public eye until theBachelorfranchise had the brilliant idea of producing a version of the dating show focused on the love lives of the elderly. From the moment audiences caught a glimpse of the telegenic Gerry, they were hooked.
The Golden Bachelorseason 1premiered in September 2023 and was an instant hit as ABC’s highest-rated unscripted series debut in two years. The show alsoearned a permanent place in history as the first reality series about seniors. When Gerry was announced as theBachelorspin-off’s first lead, widowers and divorcees from all over the country flooded ABC casting offices with applications. In the end, Gerry gave his final rose to Theresa Nist, and the two were married, but they divorced three months later. Over time, I’ve grown increasingly convinced that Gerry should beThe Golden Bacheloragain.
Gerry Has Star Power
The Man Is A National Treasure
After his split from Theresa,Gerry took the brunt of the blame. Bachelor Nation fans went from loving Gerry to turning on him at lightning speed. ThoughI strongly believe that the level of vitriol towards Gerry was misplaced, he didn’t do himself any favors. Not only was it revealed that he lied about his love life before appearing onThe Golden Bachelorseason 1, he also bragged about his romantic options after his relationship with Theresa had ended.
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An almost infinite amount of ink has been spilled detailing the ins and outs of Gerry’s questionable behavior, but no one can ever accuse the man of not being entertaining enough. Love him or hate him,Gerry has star power, which is why I’m still writing about him months afterThe Golden Bachelorseason 1 aired its final rose ceremony in November 2023. I strongly feel that the show needs Gerry, because no one can possibly be as entertaining as he is.
Gerry Deserves A Second Chance
He Learned A Lot From His First Go Around
Long before Gerry joined thecast ofThe Golden Bachelorseason 1, he lived a quiet life, and this was not his first brush with love. He wasmarried to Toni Turner for 43 years before she passed away in 2017, after a brief illness. The fact that Gerry was able to sustain a loving marriage for 43 years says a lot about the man.
I know Gerry hasn’t always made the best choices, but I really believe that the father of two and grandfather of two deserves a second chance.
I’m sure that Gerry learned a lot from his first time asThe Golden Bachelor,which would help him to make better choices this time around. For example, he won’t tell a woman that she’s “the one,” then turn around and give his final rose to someone else, like he did to 65-year-old Leslie Fhima. Also,theBachelorfranchise has never recast a lead, so not only would it make history, I think this could be a fascinating experiment.
Who Else Could Be The Golden Bachelor?
No One Can Touch Gerry
One of the reasons that I think Gerry is the only person out there who could doThe Golden Bachelorseason 2 justice is that I can’t imagine who else ABC could cast who would excite audiences in the same way. While watching a recent episode ofThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1, which is currently airing on ABC, I sawan ad asking women to apply to be onThe Golden Bachelorseason 2. Since a second season is all but guaranteed, the producers must already be considering who the next lead will be, and I just hope they don’t overlook Gerry.
If Gerry isn’t cast asThe Golden Bacheloragain, I’m almost positive that producers will cast one of the men that Joan Vassos rejects duringThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1.
A clear front-runner is58-year-old Mark Anderson, who made his television debut duringThe Bachelor28, when his daughter, Kelsey Anderson, chose Joe Graziadei for a hometown date. If producers don’t come to their senses long enough to cast Gerry asThe Golden Bacheloragain, Mark would be an adequate plan B.Mark would make a good enoughGoldenlead, but he’ll never be as charismatic and interesting as the great Gerry Turner.
73 years old
Retired restaurateur
58 years old
