The Golden Bachelorette's breakout star, Charles Ling, is the only hope for saving The Golden Bachelor franchise after Gerry Turner's player ways has caused the franchise to fail. Charles was one of 24 single Golden men who were vying for Joan Vassos' heart in The Golden Bachelorette season 1. 61-year-old Joan was on 72-year-old Gerry's pilot season of The Golden Bachelor. She and 21 other Golden women competed for Gerry's heart. Joan was a frontrunner for Gerry after securing a coveted one-on-one date, but she exited the show early to be there for her daughter.
66-year-old Charles came onto The Golden Bachelorette a widower like Joan. He lost his wife of 36 years six years prior to entering the show. Charles' daughters nominated their dad for the show, and he was an instant hit. Charles is originally from rural China, and came to America with $20 in his pocket. He calls Philadelphia home, and is a retired Financial Analyst. Charles is much different from Gerry, and he would be able to save the franchise after fans lost trust in the show due to Gerry's drama.
Charles' The Golden Bachelorette Journey
Charles' Journey Had Several Layers
Bachelor Nation was swept up by Charles from night one when he came out of the limousine to meet Joan for the first time in front of the Bachelor mansion. Charles gently walked up to Joan and the two hugged before he let Joan know, "Charles not in charge," and that Joan was in charge. Charles quickly made close friends among all the Golden men, and while he did not receive a one-on-one date with Joan throughout the process, he had several personal talks with her.
In those talks, Charles and Joan were able to discuss their shared grief over the loss of their spouses, and Charles' kind and positive nature shined through. Charles was eliminated in week 4 of The Golden Bachelorette, but not before Joan expressed that she loved him. He got a warm send-off from the remaining men. At "The Men Tell All," more of Charles' comical and fun personality was shown through a never-before-seen video of Charles exploring the Bachelor mansion.
At the "Tell All," it was also very apparent how much love from his fellow contestants Charles earned from his time on the show. Charles made a huge impression by winning a kickball game for his team, after never having played the sport before. Moreover, The Golden Bachelorette offered Charles the opportunity to work through his grief and gain more clarity on his wife's passing.
How The Golden Bachelor Franchise Is Failing
Bachelor Fans Have Been Disappointed By Outcomes
Charles would be a huge light in The Golden Bachelor franchise were he to be selected for the role after Gerry marred the franchise. Gerry initially stole The Golden Bachelor fans' hearts with his good looks, charisma, empathy, and what seemed like a genuine desire to find the woman he couldn't live without. His reputation was positive up until he sent Leslie Fhima, one of his two final choices, home after making her believe wholeheartedly that she was going to be his choice
The blindside of Leslie was a bad look for Gerry, and his perception, as well as the show's, went down hill from there. Once the finale aired, Gerry, and his ultimate choice, Theresa Nist, announced that they would have a Golden Wedding after only five months of dating. The pair were married January 4, 2024, and ABC footed the bill for the couple's lavish Italian honeymoon. However, just three months later, Gerry and Theresa announced their divorce. They cited not being able to agree on a place to live as the reason for their split.
However, Theresa recently revealed that she felt their relationship was rushed and that they didn't have the proper time to get to know each other because there was pressure to move their relationship along. After that, Gerry's ex-girlfriend made allegations about Gerry having a callous personality after he kept her a secret, kicked her out of his house when he was injured, and was allegedly an overall jerk. Now, Gerry is showing his clout chasing intentions as he rubs shoulders with the Kardashian clan and made an unnecessary appearance on The Golden Bachelorette.
Given the backdrop of Gerry's damaged reputation and the show's major loss of credibility of fan-adoration, Charles could turn things around.
Viewers felt fooled by Gerry's charm and are looking for a more authentic lead, and they could have that in Charles. What's more, The Bachelorette's Jenn Tran's season ended in heartbreak, and The Bachelor's Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson are wallowing in drama, so Charles' chilled nature and desire for love in his twilight years could bring the entire franchise back.
Charles Is A Fan Favorite
Charles Is The Internet's Boyfriend
Bachelor Nation has coined Charles "the internet's boyfriend." On his Instagram account, @charles_ling, Charles now boasts 44,800 followers. He received an outporuing of support and love from Bachelor franchise fans, and he has responded in kind, thanking everyone for their admiration.
"Wow! Thank you for all of your enthusiasm and support. I am thrilled that you all love me in this program. Just like the bachelor mansion fireplace, your cheerful and delightful messages warmed my heart. I hope I won’t disappoint you all on the show."
At the "Tell All," a fan in the crowd said Charles should be the next Golden Bachelor, and Charles seemed delighted by the suggestion and the love.
"I’m kind of thrilled, [it’s] something probably I never expected. Honestly, this is a surprise, I would say a big surprise — I never thought I’d be loved to that extent, it’s kind of a phenomenon. I’m just grateful … and I thank those fans."
Whether Charles will be the next lead in the Golden franchise is still unknown, but the extreme interest in that idea is there.
Charles Has Healed Himself
Charles Got Answers About His Wife's Death
Charles is ready to find love, and doing so as the next Golden Bachelor would suit him. On The Golden Bachelorette, it was clear that Charles was still wrapped up in his grief, but he was able to overcome a lot of the lingering sadness on the show. Contestant and E.R. doctor, Guy Gansert, answered Charles' medical questions about his wife's death, and Charles felt relieved from the conversation and came away with a sense of resolve and peace
Charles' has done the healing work to be able to take on The Golden Bachelor lead.
Charles Personality Would Revitalize The Bachelor Franchise
His Calming & Funny Traits Would Translate Well
The Golden Bachelor fans would like to forget about Gerry's blight on the franchise and move forward watching someone they love as the next lead. Charles has proven he is well-loved, has an amazing support system, and he would be perfect for the role. His calming personality, quick wit, and overall captivating presence would do wonders for viewership, The Golden Bachelor's renewed perception, and for Charles' own heart.
