The Golden Bachelor 2’s Future Now Feels Uncertain — Could This Spinoff Be The Shakeup The Franchise Desperately Needs?

The Golden Bachelor season 2 is on the horizon, but there are already signs that the highly anticipated second season will be going down in flames. The new lead, Mel Owens, recently confessed that, though he himself is 66, he had no intention of dating a woman his own age. He's really more interested in being a silver bachelor.

The first season of the Bachelor spin-off show was a big hit with audiences. The idea of seniors getting a second chance at love in their golden years made for good storytelling. Sadly, the first season of the unscripted dating show ended in tears, and it appears as if The Golden Bachelor season 2 isn't going to deliver on true love either.

Who Is Mel Owens?

The Bachelor Lead Is New To Bachelor Nation

Many Bachelor shows choose their leads from past Bachelor contestants. For example, Joan Vassos was a contestant on The Golden Bachelor season 1 before she came to lead The Golden Bachelorette season 1. Though several of Joan's contestants were fan favorites to lead The Golden Bachelor season 2, like Mark Anderson and Charles Ling, the producers plucked someone from outside the franchise.

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Mel Tyrae Owens was born on December 7, 1958, which makes him 66 years old and a Sagittarius. The Golden Bachelor season 2 won't be Mel's first brush with fame. He played professional football for the Los Angeles Rams from 1981-1989. After retiring from the NFL, Mel worked as a financial advisor briefly before going to law school.

After law school, Mel eventually opened his own firm. He still continues to work at his firm today, where he specializes in workers' compensation, sports law, sports injuries, and disability benefits​​​​​​. Unlike some of his predecessors, The Golden Bachelor season 2 will be Mel's first time on a Bachelor show.

Mel Was A Terrible Choice For The Golden Bachelor

He Doesn't Even Want To Date Women His Own Age

The Golden Bachelor's producers opted for a younger lead for their second season, replacing The Golden Bachelor's Gerry Turner with 66-year-old Mel. This decision may reflect a strategic shift to appeal to a slightly younger demographic while maintaining the show’s focus on mature romance. Owens brings fresh energy to the role, but he also brings unrealistic expectations.

Mel recently appeared on the MGoBlue Podcasts with Jon Jansen, where he made some shocking comments about the kinds of women he would and wouldn't date during The Golden Bachelor season 2. He says that when the producers asked him about the age of the women he'd like to date, he told them, “45 to 60, just being honest.”

“If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them,” Mel said, taking his earlier comments even further.

The new Golden Bachelor's comments sparked a backlash among fans outraged by Mel's ageism. It's a reminder that Mel is a divorced single dad who was married to a woman 20 years his junior. Producers should have known he'd be uninterested in women his own age.

Mel met his ex-wife, Fabiana Pimentel, while working as a lawyer in Orange County. He described her as his first love, although he was in his 40s when they met. Hollywood Life reports Fabiana initiated divorce proceedings in February 2020. They were married for 25 years. Unlike Mel, Gerry was a widower, as was The Golden Bachelorette season 1's Joan.

The Golden Bachelor Season 1 Ended Badly Too

Though The Golden Bachelorette Season 1 Ended On A Happy Note

The Golden Bachelor season 1 ended with Gerry giving his final rose to Theresa Nist, 70. Both had lost their long-term spouses and bonded over shared grief. Their connection sparked on premiere night, with a kiss and deepened during a memorable first date. Their romance blossomed, culminating in Gerry’s proposal in Costa Rica during the November 2023 finale.

"This is not The Silver Bachelor, this is The Golden Bachelor.”

Gerry and Theresa's whirlwind love story led to a televised wedding in January 2024, attended by 150 guests, including Bachelor alumni. Theresa, in a Badgley Mischka gown, and Gerry exchanged vows promising lifelong joy. They planned a honeymoon in Italy, but divorced after only three months of marriage. The couple parted on good terms, but The Golden Bachelor brand took a hit.

The Golden Bachelorette season 1 delivered a much happier ending. Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple got engaged during the November 2024 season finale, and they're still happy together. They’re navigating a long-distance engagement, planning a New York move, and sharing joyful milestones along the way. Joan and Chock prove that the dating experiment can still lead to lasting loving relationships.

"This Is The Golden Bachelor, Not The Silver Bachelor"

A New Bachelor Spin-Off Opportunity?

According to Mel, the show's producers weren't happy about The Golden Bachelor 2 star's request, with one producer even pointing out that "This is not The Silver Bachelor, this is The Golden Bachelor.” Though this was just a throwaway comment, maybe there's a great show idea in there. Instead of casting senior citizens, maybe the show could focus on middle-aged love stories instead.

Producers of The Golden Bachelor should consider making The Silver Bachelor as well. They could cast a single man in his 50s who would date women in their 40s and 50s. The world is full of middle-aged divorcees looking for love, and the Bachelor franchise should at least think about capitalizing on the huge dating pool and potential audience.

The Golden Bachelor season 1 can be streamed on Hulu.