Next ‘Golden Bachelor’ Star Revealed by ABC

The Golden Bachelor has found its next leading man.

After the hit debut of ABC’s senior-focused version of The Bachelor in 2023, titled The Golden Bachelor, has proven successful, they have decided to bring it back for a second season! A new leading man has been chosen to continue the tradition of giving out roses.

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Following the overwhelming success of ABC’s first senior-oriented adaptation of The Bachelor in 2023 called The Golden Bachelor, the show is coming back for another round! A fresh face will be stepping up to continue the cherished rose-giving tradition.

Mel Owens, a 66-year-old former NFL player-turned-lawyer, is the second Golden Bachelor.

A premiere date, along with the rest of the cast cast, will be announced later.

Born in Detroit and having represented the University of Michigan Wolverines on the football field, Owens spent nine years as a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL. He hung up his cleats in 1991 due to an injury-related retirement.

Born and raised in a tight-knit Midwestern family based in Detroit, athletic abilities were evident in Owens from his early years. Upon graduating from the University of Michigan, he was chosen as the ninth overall pick by the L.A. Rams in the 1981 NFL Draft. Post his football career, he switched to a legal profession and relocated to Orange County, California, using his efforts to assist others, especially those dealing with sports-related injuries seeking justice. It was during this phase of his life that he encountered his first romance, resulting in two sons. Life took an unforeseen turn with the loss of his father and the end of his marriage. However, Owens redirected his energy towards being the best father possible, concentrating on nurturing his sons and coaching their extracurricular sports teams.

After spending several years devoted to fatherhood, Owens is now prepared to rekindle a love based on the delight of shared experiences – enjoying daily life, making future plans, and growing more intertwined as a couple. As the Golden Bachelor, he’s excited to encounter someone who holds similar aspirations and ultimately find the ideal partner he’s been longing for in his golden years.

The revival of “Golden Bachelor” occurs following significant shifts in leadership at the franchise’s helm, as a result of departures by showrunners Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner, along with co-executive producers Michael Margolis and Keely Booth, amidst accusations of an unhealthy work environment. Meanwhile, the 22nd season of “The Bachelorette” has been temporarily halted, without any updates regarding its resumption.

In the premiere of “The Golden Bachelor,” Gerry Turner took center stage. The debut of this spinoff was a massive success, setting a three-year viewership record for any version of “The Bachelor” series on both Warner Bros. and ABC. This victory also sparked renewed excitement in the long-running reality TV franchise from these networks.

The first installment of “The Golden Bachelor,” starring Gerry Turner, was a smash hit when it debuted. With its launch, it reached a three-year peak in total viewers for any “The Bachelor” production, and revitalized interest in the well-established Warner Bros. and ABC reality TV series franchise.

As a gamer, I found an unexpected twist in my life at the age of 72 when I met Theresa Nist during my reality TV stint. We tied the knot live on ABC in January 2024, but three short months later, we announced our separation in a joint interview on Good Morning America. Fast forward nearly a year, and I disclosed that I had been diagnosed with cancer, which added more complexities to our relationship.

Even so, Turner’s first season as the Golden Bachelor earned the highest franchise ratings for this series since the final episode of Matt James’ The Bachelor in 2020. Following this achievement, ABC introduced the Golden Bachelorette featuring Joan Vassos, a former contestant on the Golden Bachelor, who got engaged to Chock Chapple during her season finale in 2024.

Participants from past seasons of “Golden Bachelor” and “Golden Bachelorette” are set to appear on this summer’s historic 10th season of “Bachelor in Paradise”. The show will be hosted by Jesse Palmer, while franchise veterans Wells Adams and Hannah Brown will serve as bartenders for the Costa Rica-based spinoff.

Besides Leslie Fhima from “The Golden Bachelor” and Gary Levingston from “The Golden Bachelorette”, Zoe McGrady (season 29 of “The Bachelor”), Hakeem Moulton (season 21 of “The Bachelorette”), and Jonathon Johnson (also from season 21 of “The Bachelorette”) have been confirmed for the cast of “Bachelor in Paradise” season 10.

The Golden Bachelor is created jointly by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television and Warner Horizon.

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2025-04-23 02:54