‘The Bachelor’ with Old People is in the Works – and People Are Tickled
There’s one theme connecting all of “The Bachelor” seasons together, aside from love – they’re all young and gorgeous. Now,
Tristan Green
There’s one theme connecting all of “The Bachelor” seasons together, aside from love – they’re all young and gorgeous.
Now, though, the Bachelor nation will be bringing in another spin-off, and this time they’re focused on senior citizens.
Yes, “The Bachelor” is introduced “The Golden Bachelor.”
“The Golden Bachelor” kicks off this Fall, and it will focus on one older gentleman with his selection of age-appropriate women companions.
Variety reports, “The new series will be called ‘The Golden Bachelor.’ The leading man has yet to be announced, and his cast of female suitors will be announced at a late date.
ABC describes the new series as showcasing a ‘whole new kind of love story — one for the golden years.’ The network’s synopsis says a ‘hopeless romantic is given a second chance at love in the search for a partner with whom to share the sunset years of life. The women arriving at the mansion have a lifetime of experience, living through love, loss and laughter, hoping for a spark that ignites a future full of endless possibilities. In the end, will our Golden man turn the page to start a new chapter with the woman of his dreams?’”
Casting calls have been going out for a senior citizen version of “The Bachelor” for years, so fans knew that it was likely eventually going to hit the air.
‘The Bachelor’ announces senior citizen spin-off titled ‘The Golden Bachelor.’
The reality series is described as a “whole new kind of love story — one for the golden years.” pic.twitter.com/mQVb0IJmQL
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 16, 2023
Disney’s biggest unscripted television executive Rob Mills once told Variety, “Some of the casting interviews we got, they were just so touching. It’s such a different way of doing ‘The Bachelor’ because these people are just at a totally different place in their lives. There is an interesting thing about people who have hit the other end of the spectrum, who’ve lived their lives, they’ve raised their kids, some have been widowed or divorced and maybe some have never been in love. We thought that would be an interesting dynamic through the ‘Bachelor’ prism.”
One of the big changes for an older lead could involve the contestants bringing the suitor home to meet their children rather than their parents.
The decision to launch a show that focuses on love among older people comes as senior citizens re-define what it means to be old and/or retired.
Senior citizens are almost exclusively running the United States, with Congresspeople and Presidential candidates getting older with every election cycle.
And retirement age is pushing back every few years too – meaning that people remain active and involved much longer than they used to.
Instead of retiring to a nursing home in your early 70’s, people are now seizing their retirement and graceful aging to spend time on things they’ve always longed to do, like pursuing hobbies, improving fitness and traveling the world.
The pandemic put a damper on exploration for senior citizens as they were hit particularly hard as a demographic by COVID-19.
But now that the pandemic is over, vaccines exist and the world is open again – they’re ready to get out there and enjoy their golden years. And now, they’ll be able to see themselves reflected on TV in a pursuit for love in Bachelor nation.
70 is the new 40, after all.