The Golden Bachelor - General Discussion

[Hip-to-be-Square]

2 minutes ago, libgirl2 said:

I was never much of a Poison fan but I can appreciate that he is a nice looking guy. He also seems like his a really nice guy overall. 

He really is a very nice guy- totally worth the tinnitus after the concert! 😄

[DEL901]

4 hours ago, Hip-to-be-Square said:

I was obsessed with "Rock of Love" as a teen- that show was so trashy and fun to watch 😄!  I always wanted to meet Bret and flash forward to age 34 and I got myself a VIP Poison concert ticket last year and I got to meet Bret Michaels!  Bret called me over and pulled me in for a full body hug by saying, "Get over here, beautiful!'" The hug was HOT, and his back is super ripped for a slender guy. I told him my quick story of being partially deaf and how this was my first concert ever in my life since I wanted to preserve my good hearing in my left ear.  Bret held my hands as I was talking to him and looked into my eyes the whole time and then told me I was beautiful inside and out and genuinely thanked me for choosing him and Poison as my first concert.   I totally get why women made out with him like crazy on Rock of Love- the man has game, rocks his looks and is a genuinely fun and nice guy! 

Such a great post 😄!! Faith reminded me of Rodeo from Rock of Love! Remember her? The intense stare, the guitar- even the caramel highlights! 

I remember him on Celebrity Apprentice and they had that gym challenge.  A shy woman in her 50s came up to him and said she was a fan…he was so thrilled to meet HER.   He made her feel special.   He appreciates his fans and seems like a very hard worker, especially dealing with type 1 diabetes.   I’d love to see a Golden Rock of Love if he and his wife ever split.  

Edited October 3, 2023 by DEL901

[Sweet-tea]

On 9/28/2023 at 8:37 PM, archer1267 said:

I haven't watched the Bachelor/ette in years, and this was refreshing. I took umbrage at a local news show doing a segment about a watch party at a nursing home (!) - I'm 55 and I bet there are a lot of people watching this season. These older women were a hella lot more physically active than I am! 

Chicken Lady was odd and it's a...bold move to give a guy a calendar of yourself. I didn't understand what the deal with the track suit was. Faith (guitar) reminded me a bit of Juliette Lewis with a couple of decades behind her.

When Gerry started crying over his late wife I thought uh oh, how's he going to deal with being on this show? But damn if he didn't get frosting on his lips and get Teresa (?) to lick it off. 

I really liked this! It was a nice change from the usual bunch of drama with the younger contestants. It had a more romanic feel to me, going back to the first two or three episodes when I think people actually went on the show to find love. I believe many of these women want to find the right man for them as opposed to being fame whores and getting Instagram followers. The women were nicer to each other and no one got drunk obnoxious. 

Gerry is handsome, charming and seems sincere. He has a way of looking right at the women and truly seeming to listen to them. So far I think he's most interested in Faith and Teresa, the two women he kissed. I like both of them too. He seemed especially taken with Faith. 

I don't think April is for him. I think she is a little aggressive for him from what I can tell. 

I know it's just one episode, so we'll see if it devolves. 

I wish they'd do a middle-aged Bachelor--maybe a guy in his 40s or early 50s with the women the same age. I like that on this show the women are all age-appropriate. I was afraid they'd have women who were 20 years younger. 

[Sweet-tea]

On 9/30/2023 at 12:56 AM, Hip-to-be-Square said:

This episode was so much fun that I didn't even care about having to sit through Bengay and Shingles vaccine commercials 😄!  These women blow 20 something Bachelor contestants out of the water in terms of elegance, confidence, looks and the ability to speak without saying "like" every other word.  Gerry has some swagger and a good sense of humor- and that cupcake kiss was something else.  He's smiling like he's on a never-ending Cialis commercial.  Get it, Grandzaddy Gerry!! 😉🔥🧓🌹! 

Totally agree! It was refreshing. 

I think Gerry looks younger than 71. I thought he was maybe mid 60s. 

[Sweet-tea]

17 hours ago, deSchenke said:

Loneliness can be debilitating. The GB and contestants are of the age that it can be quite a factor in their lives. Loneliness is why romance scams are so prevalent against the aged.

That's why I think many of the contestants are here.

The sexual innuendo, I'm a bit surprised about. Maybe I shouldn't be. Unfortunately, about 2 years after menopause, my libido tanked. But I'm surprised some of the women are leading with that. I would think they want a relationship for the long term, and not just based on physical attraction - regardless if their libido survived menopause or not.

I hear you. Mine tanked during menopause and hasn't come back. 

I think some of the women are trying to be hip and "young" so they're over-emphasizing sex. They're probably also being coached by producers. 

Edited October 3, 2023 by Sweet-tea
Sorry for the multiple posts. Other times they've automatically combined

[libgirl2]

5 minutes ago, Sweet-tea said:

I hear you. Mine tanked during menopause and hasn't come back. 

I think some of the women are trying to be hip and "young" so they're over-emphasizing sex. They're probably also being coached by producers. 

Yea, I'm trying to get mine back. I don't know if it will happen though. Honestly, I would rather read a good book. 

Edited October 3, 2023 by libgirl2

[Hip-to-be-Square]

53 minutes ago, DEL901 said:

I remember him on Celebrity Apprentice and they had that gym challenge.  A shy woman in her 50s came up to him and said she was a fan…he was so thrilled to meet HER.   He made her feel special.   He appreciates his fans and seems like a very hard worker, especially dealing with type 1 diabetes.   I’d love to see a Golden Rock of Love if he and his wife ever split.  

Bret Michaels was so great on the Celebrity Apprentice; he really does genuinely enjoy getting to meet fans and he's really nice! Golden Rock of Love is such a great idea!! 😃

22 minutes ago, Sweet-tea said:

Totally agree! It was refreshing. 

I think Gerry looks younger than 71. I thought he was maybe mid 60s. 

It really is so refreshing to watch The Golden Bachelor.  A lot of my gal pals are senior citizens and they're thrilled to watch the show.  Gerry looks a lot younger than his age and he's really fit too- he's definitely handsome and I like his eyes and feathered haircut.  🙂  

[LennieBriscoe]

I love the moniker Grandzaddy Gerry!  It combines his age, family status, and romantic viability.

And I have to backtrack on my thinking of him as more or less vanilla---because I forgot about that Vanilla Icing Smooch! 

[nlkm9]

So last year after being a day one watcher of bachelor, ette, bachelor pad, paradise i just stopped. Bip went to such great lengths to humiliate contestants and the ladies on the bachelor gradually became very jaded, nasty , etc i was done.

im shocked that i enjoyed the golden so much. Yes a few were cringeworthy but the women really stood out with their beauty and most classy!

im still done with the rest of the shows but i really liked this!!

[Crashcourse]

Teresa looks like she's had work done on her face.  Too bad, because she looks scary.

[dleighg]

one thing I was interested at was that most of them had much longer hair than "ladies of a certain age" (as I am) tend to wear (including Gerry's late wife). I wonder if that was a newish thing for them to be on the show. They looked great though! I particularly thought Edith with her flowing gray tresses was beautiful.

[Ria]

4 hours ago, Sweet-tea said:

I hear you. Mine tanked during menopause and hasn't come back. 

I think some of the women are trying to be hip and "young" so they're over-emphasizing sex. They're probably also being coached by producers. 

Why? My friends and I are over 60 and as sexual as we were in our 20s and 30s. Why do people assume older women are less interested in sex despite all evidence to the contrary? It’s offensive. The ones who prefer a book are likely not the ones out dating, let alone being on a show like this. No reason to believe these women aren’t genuine. 

Edited October 4, 2023 by Ria

[deSchenke]

1 hour ago, Ria said:

Why? My friends and I are over 60 and as sexual as we were in our 20s and 30s. Why do people assume older women are less interested in sex despite all evidence to the contrary? It’s offensive. The ones who prefer a book are likely not the ones out dating, let alone being on a show like this. No reason to believe these women aren’t genuine. 

Why isn't it acknowledged that menopause affects libido in many of us? I can't find any study stating how many or what percentage. But interestingly, when I casually bring it up, there are others who echo my experience.

If I lost my husband and had sufficient time to mourn his loss. I think I would date.  It wouldn't be for a sexual partner, it would be for companionship.

My husband and I still show affection and intimacy for one another. I wish I was "into it" for intercourse, but I'm not. And believe me when I say we did it almost daily before menopause and I was somewhat "into it" for another two years after menopause. Now it's more about love and appreciation for one another. I'm very glad to have the man I do who is so understanding.

I'm glad you and your friends are sexual. Please acknowledge that there are some of us who aren't, but would still desire companionship. And I think a good many of the women there (on the Golden Bachelor) are in our camp. 

If you don't want to acknowledge it, then I find that offensive. Just like how severe cramps can vary from individual to individual, or how emotions are affected during peri-menopause, or hot flashes vary. This varies too.

 

[Dehumidifier]

As a lifelong eyeglass wearer I am rooting for Sandra!

[libgirl2]

10 hours ago, deSchenke said:

Why isn't it acknowledged that menopause affects libido in many of us? I can't find any study stating how many or what percentage. But interestingly, when I casually bring it up, there are others who echo my experience.

If I lost my husband and had sufficient time to mourn his loss. I think I would date.  It wouldn't be for a sexual partner, it would be for companionship.

My husband and I still show affection and intimacy for one another. I wish I was "into it" for intercourse, but I'm not. And believe me when I say we did it almost daily before menopause and I was somewhat "into it" for another two years after menopause. Now it's more about love and appreciation for one another. I'm very glad to have the man I do who is so understanding.

I'm glad you and your friends are sexual. Please acknowledge that there are some of us who aren't, but would still desire companionship. And I think a good many of the women there (on the Golden Bachelor) are in our camp. 

If you don't want to acknowledge it, then I find that offensive. Just like how severe cramps can vary from individual to individual, or how emotions are affected during peri-menopause, or hot flashes vary. This varies too.

 

We are all different. Thank you for explaining it out. Like you, it is  more of an expression of intimacy then "getting off". If I may be so blunt. 

[athousandclowns]

Can’t seem to quote the post about long hair on these contestants . I got a look at a Marlo Thomas photo yesterday and was shocked about her face but she’s got long dyed hair and she’s 85. That being said my hair is short and after lockdown paid someone $500 and 7 hours to color correct by removing all color from hair and leaving me with my grandmas white hair and not the. Never adjusted so recently went back with old highlighted. I do believe long hair can drag a face down. 
I agree with the poster who feels Gerry is going to find it difficult to dismiss ladies. I know I wouldn’t want to move across country away from my limited family and friends ,so that will be interesting. 

[tennisgurl]

I thought this was shockingly good, I don't even know how to handle a Bachelor where everyone seems pleasant and classy and no one is already screaming at each other or giving petty side eye. Gerry seems really sincere as do most of the ladies, you can really see that increase of maturity and the real desire to find love. These are people who have already been married, kids, grandkids, serious relationships, I hope that it means we don't spend all season on silly games that we normally get.

Gerry seems like a nice guy, and while I cant say I personally find him too attractive as he's older than my dad, he certainly looks great! I was really moved when he talked about losing his wife, what an awful thing to happen so quickly and so soon after they finished their dream home. 

Most of the women seem like Right Reasons, probably because most of them aren't trying to make it as influencers, but Faith concerns me with her guitar. It might just be giving me Jed from Hannah's season flashbacks, but she seems like the one person who's here for the fame first. 

[dleighg]

18 minutes ago, tennisgurl said:

I hope that it means we don't spend all season on silly games that we normally get

Oh dear, what a visual. Volleyball on the beach in bikinis. Please no. Trying to think what would be more appropriate. Is Gerry into food? Maybe a cookoff LOL. Trying to think about how we "older ladies" compete.

[DisneyBoy]

On 10/2/2023 at 9:08 PM, realityplease said:

Why should seeking "true love" be cut off or end at some pre-determined age? 

It shouldn't.

I said this show has never been about finding true love.

That's why I went on to describe the types of people who participate in it. All of whom break up and get spinoffs and more meaningless attention.

This dude should just go on a singles cruise or tinder or heck, ask a plastic surgeon if he knows any available women in their 70s. Same result - less humiliating TV exposure!

(Spoilers - 70 year olds can also be narcissistic and want fame, apparently). Sad.

[Sweet-tea]

4 hours ago, DisneyBoy said:

It shouldn't.

I said this show has never been about finding true love.

That's why I went on to describe the types of people who participate in it. All of whom break up and get spinoffs and more meaningless attention.

This dude should just go on a singles cruise or tinder or heck, ask a plastic surgeon if he knows any available women in their 70s. Same result - less humiliating TV exposure!

(Spoilers - 70 year olds can also be narcissistic and want fame, apparently). Sad.

Actually, I think there were some people on the first two seasons who seemed like they really wanted to find love, like Trista. I also liked Andrew Firestone's season. It slowly devolved from there, especially when social media took off. Now everyone wants to be an influencer and get Instagram followers. 

The Golden Bachelor has a retro feeling to it for me. I hope it stays more romantic and classier than the original. I enjoy watching older contestants who are classier and aren't swearing and saying "like" every 10 words. Gerry seems like a sweetheart. 

[HerkyJerky]

11 hours ago, Sweet-tea said:

and saying "like" every 10 words

Sweet-tea, do you watch love is blind? Because if you do, Milton is a real nice guy, and he seems to be the nicest most mature person in the whole group, but if we had a nickel for every time, he said the word like, everybody on this board could retire!

[JenE4]

They’re going to make 70-year-old women climb up into a bunk bed?!? This isn’t going to end well.

[dizzyd]

It’s funny and refreshing watching these ladies take on the mansion and having to adjust to a dorm setup after they’ve been independent and had their own space compared to the younger bunch who dig the sorority atmosphere. Also they had no clue what to do with the date card lol.

Of course we have ads for AARP, skin rejuvenation, menopause, incontinence.

Edited October 6, 2023 by dizzyd

[JenE4]

Theresa and Gerry! I don’t think I’m emotionally prepared to handle another date.

[LakeGal]

I am more emotional watching this season than the regular ones.  

[JenE4]

I see how this is going. All widows are going to get a rose as soon as they share how their husbands died. At this point, it might be easier to just holler out all divorcees and old maids, please take a step to your left. Well, at least these “sob stories” actually are building some commonality and understanding between them unlike the usual childhood trauma that the contestants reveal in attempts to be “vulnerable.”

[Crashcourse]

I feel kind of sad listening to these women and Gerry talking about their dead spouses--and bored because there's nothing to snark on.

From now on, I'll check in the last 10 minutes for the rose ceremony, but that's all. 

Edited October 6, 2023 by Crashcourse

[LennieBriscoe]

Damn you, Gerry! I'm currently sick, and it hurts to smile and cry simultaneously! 🤧 🥰 😭

"Don't Stop Believin'"!

Mes  amis, I love Gerry. Whatever negatives I said before, fuhgeddaboutit!

The car, the diner, the flash mob, the dancing...!👏👏👏👍👍👍😎

 

 

[JenE4]

Ellen, take it down a notch. Gerry didn’t personally go (via time machine) to the local Photomat and then head over to the framing department at Michael’s. “Gerry personally took time out of his day to memorialize our relationship so far.” You were the only one who got a 1:1 photo…because the other bride was busy crying about her deceased husband.

[dizzyd]

8 minutes ago, Crashcourse said:

 

I feel kind of sad listening to these women and Gerry talking about their dead spouses--and bored because there's nothing to snark on.

 

Lol, can’t watch this one for wrong reasons. 
Lol, chair rose ceremony 👍

[JenE4]

Uh-oh, Gerry said, “I love you, Natascha” while sending her home. If he’s an “I tell my friends I love them” kind of person, this does not bode well. He’ll probably throw around friendly “I love yous” to multiple women—and they will all take that as a genuine declaration and think they’re the one. Just a prediction of how things could go terribly awry.

[archer1267]

Did anyone else wonder about the non-working headlights on the convertible?? I'm hoping Production had nothing to do with that (here, let's throw Gerry off his game!) That could have gone very wrong.

After Teresa I wondered if this would be a Bachelor who makes his choice early on and no one else stands a chance. But no, he seems to genuinely love everyone!

I thought April was intense last week but that woman in the neon lime green dress rattling off all the Italian dishes she started cooking at 7:30 am was a lot. But I can't blame her for trying to tempt him thru his stomach. 

 

 

[LennieBriscoe]

I get the sense that Gerry is on two missions: Find a new love, of course; but also do as much as he can to make each woman feel not just special to him, but to realize they are viable, vibrant, and vital women who deserve romantic love, with him or someone else.  

[endure]

Isn't it kind of shocking Gerry hasn't already hooked up with someone since his wife passed?

I never thought I would tear up on a Bachelor show.  I didn't think I would like Theresa but she seems special (so far) and I hope she doesn't get hurt in the process.  I think I like the one who did her hair too.

[Quickbeam]

The car without headlights was a strange tangent. Who puts 70 year olds in a car at night? Give them a driver! 
 

I really disliked the stupid costume grab game which I’ve seen on other Bachelor manifestations. The photographer is kind of creepy but I did laugh when he said “Blue Steel!” to Gerry. 
 

Chairs for the win! 🏆

[dizzyd]

23 minutes ago, Quickbeam said:

I really disliked the stupid costume grab game which I’ve seen on other Bachelor manifestations.

Yes the photo shoot was bad, the supposed Fabio wig was atrocious. If they make these women do jello wrestling or something of that nature, I’m switching channels. 

[archer1267]

Quote

Yes the photo shoot was bad

The wedding gowns were especially a bad idea. I guess the prop people were hoping for some emotional responses, since these ladies aren't the type to get wasted and scream at each other. They got it. I felt terrible for Nancy. I believe she said she's been a widow for 12 years? 48 is really young to lose the person you thought you had another 30ish years with.

[DEL901]

During the rose ceremony when Gerry was getting so emotional, I really liked how Jesse came out and comforted him.  Jesse has a warmth and sincerity.   

[SHD]

I like how the mature women who get cut are very “Oh, well…that didn’t work out but it made me see that there’s hope for love…” as opposed to the 25 year olds on the regular show who cry their eyes out and scream “THIS JUST PROVES I’M UNLOVABLE! I WILL NEVER BE HAPPY!”

[endure]

33 minutes ago, DEL901 said:

During the rose ceremony when Gerry was getting so emotional, I really liked how Jesse came out and comforted him.  Jesse has a warmth and sincerity.   

Of course these women might not come away with the guy but they are definitely going to gain some awesome women friends and that is just as special.  

[Irlandesa]

17 hours ago, Sweet-tea said:

Actually, I think there were some people on the first two seasons who seemed like they really wanted to find love, like Trista. I also liked Andrew Firestone's season. It slowly devolved from there, especially when social media took off. Now everyone wants to be an influencer and get Instagram followers.

I think they took extra care in casting for the early seasons of The Bachelor/Bachelorette because they knew rooting value mattered in making it into a hit. Plus, they weren't competing with as many similar shows for cast members.

I think they took extra care in casting for the Golden Bachelor because rootable people is important in turning this into a hit.

4 hours ago, dizzyd said:

It’s funny and refreshing watching these ladies take on the mansion and having to adjust to a dorm setup after they’ve been independent and had their own space compared to the younger bunch who dig the sorority atmosphere. Also they had no clue what to do with the date card lol.

Yes.  I laughed how they discussed needing to get up and pee, their bad knees and other things. 

I am curious about the possible success of the relationship after this series.  As difficult as it is for relationships with people in different cities when they're younger, building a new life in another city is a bit easier with work and the connections made when people have kids in school.

But I imagine many of these women are ESTABLISHED in their towns.  Kids, grandkids, lifelong friendships...

1 hour ago, SHD said:

I like how the mature women who get cut are very “Oh, well…that didn’t work out but it made me see that there’s hope for love…” as opposed to the 25 year olds on the regular show who cry their eyes out and scream “THIS JUST PROVES I’M UNLOVABLE! I WILL NEVER BE HAPPY!”

Oooh, it's early.

[Irish Mermaid]

Did they say why Faith didn’t participate in the group date/photo shoot? 

[EllenB]

4 hours ago, Quickbeam said:

The car without headlights was a strange tangent. Who puts 70 year olds in a car at night? Give them a driver! 
 

Puh-leeze! I'm in my 70s and everyone I know still drives. You must have confused 70s with 90s - but come to think of it, my mother drove everywhere, even in her late 90s.

[LennieBriscoe]

I thought it was stranger to show Theresa (?) get her hair all done, and then have it destroyed by the wind! But we saw no negative reaction. Instead, we saw her calm him down (if he really needed it, wink, wink) by rubbing his shoulder. 

Indeed, Gerry is an astute observer, and I suspect certain women are being "tested," as it were. 

(I hope they didn't have to drive themselves back to the mansion!) 

[LakeGal]

I enjoy just watching the women together.  I heard Gerry in an interview saying that the women are already planning reunions for the women to get together.  He loved that they were friendly with each other.  

[JudyObscure]

I would be terrified to drive in traffic like that and it would be twice as bad in that little toy car.  I thought I saw fear on Gerry's face and misery on Theresa's over the hair everywhere.  I never got the appeal of convertibles.

Gerry seems to be looking for the right things in his choices. Just based on looks Theresa would have been my last choice, not that she isn't cute, but in a sea of women with obvious face lifts, hers looks the most drastic.  It's probably new and the jawline will relax a little in time.  Yet, she turned out to be really great, she took the hair disaster with grace, was thinking of Gerry's stress instead of herself, and danced and looked happy with the flash mob.

Was that Joan who was rattling on about her cooking skills?  She was my early pick to win just based on the cast photos, but Gerry doesn't seem that interested and maybe there's a reason.  

I'm not surprised Gerry thought the one in the short dress with the tan and the whitish lipstick was "sexy."  My husband likes that type , too and he's just the same age as Gerry.  I read somewhere that men forever admire the look that was in when they were in high school/college.

 

[dleighg]

can someone more expert on all things Bachelor fill me in? At the beginning when they were walking up to THE MANSION and making a big deal about it-- is that a different place than where they had the meet and greet in last week's episode? I always thought THAT was the mansion. So where did they all sleep the night before this episode?

[JenE4]

 

32 minutes ago, dleighg said:

can someone more expert on all things Bachelor fill me in? At the beginning when they were walking up to THE MANSION and making a big deal about it-- is that a different place than where they had the meet and greet in last week's episode? I always thought THAT was the mansion. So where did they all sleep the night before this episode?

Yes, it was all in The Mansion. They were there all night filming the show, but maybe in the wee hours of the morning they schelpped them back over to the hotel they were presumably in to get ready for the limos to bring them to the mansion. It’s odd that they make them ooh and ahh over the front entryway. I can understand that they didn’t see upstairs yet—but that’s the worst part with the bunk beds. 

[cinsays]

11 hours ago, LennieBriscoe said:

Damn you, Gerry! I'm currently sick, and it hurts to smile and cry simultaneously! 🤧 🥰 😭

"Don't Stop Believin'"!

Mes  amis, I love Gerry. Whatever negatives I said before, fuhgeddaboutit!

The car, the diner, the flash mob, the dancing...!👏👏👏👍👍👍😎

 

 

the headlights not working and no seatbelts, how fun

[dleighg]

27 minutes ago, cinsays said:

the headlights not working

what exactly was going on with that? Were they blinking on and off? And why the HELL didn't he pull over? That's dangerous!