The Golden Bachelor season 1's Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist recently settled their divorce, and though the split seems to be amicable, the couple should never have gotten married in the first place. Like many bad life decisions, this one was driven by romantic notions, societal pressure, and reality television. Reality shows about dating aren't a new thing, having been a mainstay of the genre since The Bachelor season 1 premiered in 2003, but this was the first time that a dating show centered around the love lives of baby boomers.
The Golden Bachelor season 1 was a surprise hit for ABC, instantly capturing the attention of a fickle television audience. Gerry dated 22 amazing older women and gave his final rose to Theresa. The two were married in January, and though hopes were high for the septuagenarian newlyweds, Theresa and Gerry announced their divorce in April. As much as everyone wanted to believe in their love story, Gerry and Theresa shouldn't have been married.
20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now
Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.
Gerry & Theresa's Marriage Cheapens Their First Marriages
Golden Widowers
Long before Gerry was The Golden Bachelor, he was married to the love of his life, Toni Turner, for 43 years. They had two children and two grandchildren together, and after many years of hard work, the couple finally built their dream home on a lakeside in Indiana. Sadly, it wasn't long after they moved into their dream home that Gerry's wife got sick and passed away after a brief illness in 2017.
Like Gerry, Theresa was also a widower before joining the cast of The Golden Bachelor season 1. Theresa met William Nast when they were teens, and she married him when she was only 18 years old and he was 20. He was the love of her life, but after 42 years of marriage and two children, William passed away in 2014.
After enjoying long, healthy marriages with the loves of their lives, entering into a hasty marriage that failed quickly was a mistake.
Gerry & Theresa Barely Knew Each Other
It Was A Ratings Grab
The Golden Bachelor season 1 was filmed in the summer of 2023 and didn't finish airing until December, so Gerry and Theresa had to keep their relationship secret that whole time. This made it harder to get to know each other because they had to keep it under wraps. TheGolden Bachelor's final rose ceremony aired in December, and the wedding was planned for January 4, just a few short weeks after going public with their relationship.
This simply wasn't enough time for Gerry and Theresa to get to know each other, but ratings for the show were great, and fans were clamoring for a wedding.
Gerry & Theresa Weren't Committed
They Should Have Tried Harder
It's disappointing that Gerry and Theresa gave up on marriage after only three months. Though there's something to be said for ripping the band-aid off quickly, marriage is a serious institution that shouldn't be entered into lightly or walked away from without a fight. By breaking up after only three months, The Golden Bachelor couple confirmed that they never took the marriage very seriously.
