Reality TV News
Mel Owens hasn’t graced TV screens yet as the next golden bachelor, but fans already hate him. ABC isn’t giving him what he wants, though, and that should make most people happy.
If ABC has truly decided to stick with Mel Owens as the lead of The Golden Bachelor season 2, he is likely to be disappointed. Owens made waves last month when he appeared on a podcast claiming he would cut any woman over the age of 60. He went on to make additional offensive remarks. The ageist attitude had fans calling for his dismissal. It hasn’t arrived yet, but the network also didn’t accommodate his special age requirements. ABC has given fans a sneak peek of the contestants for season 2 of The Golden Bachelor. Almost all are over the age of 60, and none of them are in their 40s, much to the relief of fans.
‘The Golden Bachelor’ season 2 won’t encourage a massive age gap relationship
Mel Owens might have been looking to use reality TV to find an age-gap relationship. That doesn’t mean it will work. ABC doesn’t seem particularly interested in helping him make that happen. While Owens insisted he wanted all of the women in his cast to be under the age of 60, the production team said no way. A recent cast sneak peek offered by ABC shows off the ladies who might compete for Owens. We couldn’t help but notice that the youngest woman in the lineup is 58 years old. The oldest potential contestant who could get in front of Owens is 77. They are a full 10 years older than Owens.
The youngest woman in the lineup is Maia, who lives in Malibu. Based on Owens’ criteria and her proximity to him, she would likely be a shoo-in if the network keeps him around as the lead. The oldest woman on the list is Andra. She’s 77 and resides in San Francisco.
How old was the cast for season 1 of ‘The Golden Bachelor’?
Mel Owens’ commentary really bothered fans of the series for one major reason. Owens’ comments contradict the very purpose of the show. The network insisted the series was created to demonstrate that individuals entering their golden years can find love again. Season 1 was mindful of the age issue. While Gerry Turner, the season 1 lead, came with plenty of flaws of his own, ageism was not one of them. Turner dated women of various ages, and one of the women closer to his own age actually won the season.
Turner was 71 when he agreed to appear as the lead of the show’s premiere season. His pool of contestants ranged in age from 60 to 75. Turner’s runnerup, Leslie Fhima, was 64 at the time of filming. The show’s winner, Theresa Nist, was 70 when she accepted Turner’s proposal. While Turner and Nist did marry, they called off their union three months after tying the knot.
Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor, with or without Mel Owens, is set to premiere on September 24.
