The Golden Bachelor: 8 Signs Mark Anderson Would Not Make A Good Lead Choice (Including His Flirtation With A Golden Bachelor Alum)

The Golden Bachelorette's Mark Anderson is a fan favorite, but there are eight good reasons why he shouldn't be the next The Golden Bachelor. 58-year-old Mark is basically Bachelor Nation royalty. He made his television debut on The Bachelor season 28, when his daughter, Kelsey Anderson, took Joey Graziadei home for his hometown visits episode. Though the retired Army veteran wasn't onscreen for very long, he left an impression. Fans wanted to know more about the tall widower, and there was already speculation that he could be the Bachelor spin-off's next male lead. The excitement was palpable when it was announced that he'd be competing for the heart of 61-year-old Joan Vassos on The Golden Bachelorette season 1. He was expected to swoop in and win Joan's final rose with relative ease, but that's not how things went for the widowed father of five.

The Golden Bachelorette season 1 opened with Joan standing outside the iconic Bachelor mansion, greeting a fleet of limousines carrying the 24 Golden Bachelorette single men, whom she would choose from. Joan and Mark seemed to share an initial spark, but it fizzled quickly. Several episodes went by without Mark getting much one-on-one time with Joan. Just when it started to look like it would never happen, Joan gave Mark a highly coveted solo date, but it didn't go well, and she ended up sending Mark home before her hometown dates. Since then, online speculation has run amok about Mark's future with the Bachelor franchise. He's a fan favorite to be the next The Golden Bachelor, but here are the reasons why Mark shouldn't be The Golden Bachelor.

8Mark Is Not Over His Late Wife

He's Not Ready For Love

Long before appearing on The Bachelor season 28, Mark was a widowed father of five living a life of relative obscurity in Leesville, Louisiana. Mark is no stranger to true love. He was married to Denise Anderson for 18 years, until she was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, and passed away two months later. According to Mark, he hadn't really dated anyone since his wife died, so agreeing to be on The Golden Bachelorette season 1 was a big step for him.

Like Mark, Denise was also an Army veteran, and Mark met her while they were both overseas serving their country. Mark's enduring love for his late wife was on display during The Bachelor season 28, when he gifted Kelsey and Joey a photo album of pictures of him and his late wife. He wanted to give them a glimpse into his love life, and it was a beautiful moment that really illustrated the fact that Mark was still deeply in love with his late spouse. He's not ready to find love again, and therefore, he can't be The Golden Bachelor.

7Mark's Personality Did Not Shine Through In The Golden Bachelorette

He Can't Carry A Show

Mark seemed like a genuinely nice guy, but his personality just didn't shine through when he was with Joan on The Golden Bachelorette season 1. He had his fun moments while hanging out with the other men, like when he danced around the pool in a dolphin costume. His fun, outgoing side didn't come out when he was with Joan, and it may be because he was nervous. It's also possible that he wasn't very interested in Joan, and was therefore not bringing his A-game. Whatever the reason, a Bachelor lead needs to be an outgoing extrovert, and that just isn't Mark's style. He's more of the strong, silent type and would therefore be better suited to appear in a potential season of Golden Bachelor In Paradise.

6Mark Is Too Young To Be The Golden Bachelor

The Midlife Bachelor

At 58 years old, Mark is way too young to be the next Golden Bachelor. Think back to The Golden Bachelor season 1. Gerry Turner was 72 years old when the spin-off began filming, which was the perfect age. With Mark being in his late 50s, some of his potential bachelorettes could be as young as their late 40s. Casting middle-aged women would be a complete betrayal of a show that promised to center on the love lives of people in their golden years.

It may seem unfair because Mark is only a few years younger than the 61-year-old Joan, but Joan is dating older men, while Mark would likely be dating younger women. That may not be very fair, but Bachelor casting generally features men who are older than the women they date. Though nothing is stopping The Golden Bachelor season 2 from upending expectations, it would be a different show.

5Mark Should Date Leslie Fhima

A Bachelor Nation Match

Bachelor Nation contestants sometimes end up dating contestants from other seasons, which could happen for Mark. In September, Mark posted a photo of himself at a football game on Instagram, with a caption that reads, "SKOL VIKINGS!!!!" In a surprising turn of events, 65-year-old Leslie Fhima from The Golden Bachelor responded to his post, writing, "Yay Vikes!!💜" The contact and the heart emoji were not lost on Bachelor Nation fans, who took to the comment section to register their approval of a potential connection between the two fan favorite contestants. As one fan wrote, "I been saying: you and @lesliefhima need a Vikings date!" Mark's post has 5.1K likes. The photo was posted before Mark was eliminated from The Golden Bachelorette. Mark and Leslie may make a good couple, as Leslie's soft-spoken warmth could match well with Mark's quiet strength.

4Mark Lacks Star Quality

He Just Doesn't Have "It"

Most people aren't cut out to be celebrities, and The Golden Bachelorette season 1's Mark may be no exception. A lot has been said about Gerry Turner, but no one ever accused him of being boring. Despite the fact that he made an initial splash when he appeared on The Bachelor season 28, he wasn't able to sustain it. Though Mark exudes warmth and kindness, he lacks the charm and charisma necessary to be a good Bachelor Nation lead.

If he were to be The Golden Bachelor, he'd need to be able to open up and express himself, while getting others to open up and express themselves. The quiet and introspective Mark doesn't appear to be able to do that. Mark doesn't seem to enjoy being the center of attention, and he's probably the happiest surrounded by his five children. Casting Mark as The Golden Bachelor could be a major mistake.

3Kelsey Anderson May Have Put Her Dad Up To Everything

It Was All Her Doing

Being a fan favorite doesn't mean that Mark should be The Golden Bachelor. It's possible that the only reason Mark's on the show is because of his famous daughter. If not for Kelsey, the odds of Mark being cast in The Golden Bachelorette would be very low. Also, without that connection, he probably wouldn't get a shot at being The Golden Bachelor.

Though it was an entertaining moment, it solidified his image as a man who needs his daughter to be relevant. In retrospect, Mark should have shown up on his own, without needing to lean on Kelsey's celebrity to make a name for himself. If Mark wants to be The Golden Bachelor, he's going to have to prove that he can stand on his own two feet.

2There Are Better Golden Bachelor Lead Choices

Mark Has Lots Of Competition

While Mark is a fan favorite who may someday become The Golden Bachelor, there are plenty of other great options from among the men Joan rejected. Several of the men of The Golden Bachelorette season 1 could do a great job as the Bachelor lead. 66-year-old Charles Ling, who Joan recently eliminated, would be a great option. 69-year-old salon owner Pascal Ibgui recently self-eliminated from the show, but the stylish Frenchman would make a highly entertaining Bachelor lead.

Though Mark is a fan favorite and very likable, there are many reasons why The Golden Bachelorette season 1 contestant shouldn't be cast in The Golden Bachelor season 2. Choosing someone other than Mark would surely surprise and disappoint a lot of people, but Bachelor franchise producers should ignore the chatter and do what's right for the show. They have to remember that their job isn't to be the best matchmakers, it's to make the most entertaining show.

1Mark May Already Be In A Relationship

Cinderella & Prince Charming

Mark was devastated when Joan sent him home from The Golden Bachelorette season 1, but he wasn't down for long. Mark was recently hanging out with Barbara Alyn Woods, an actress best known for her work on One Tree Hill. With Halloween in full swing, Barbara posted a photo on her Instagram account that got a lot of attention. In the photo, Barbara is dressed as Cinderella and Mark is dressed as Prince Charming. Fans of The Golden Bachelorette and One Tree Hill lost their collective minds upon seeing the photo. The post has 4.7K likes and Barbara's caption reads, "When Cinderella and Prince Charming have a baby..."

Recent episodes of The Golden Bachelorette season 1 have featured ads inviting women to apply for The Golden Bachelor season 2, though the identity of the show's lead remains unclear. Mark was a fan favorite, but if he had already started seeing a new woman, he might be out of the running.

The Golden Bachelor season 1 can be streamed on Hulu.