The Golden Bachelor season 2 hasn't announced its lead yet, but the show has already put out a casting call amid concern that the producers won't fix their mistakes, including casting plants and people who've had restraining orders taken out against them. The Golden Bachelor season 2 follows season 1, during which Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist got engaged. They were married shortly after in a live, televised event called the Golden Wedding, but they shocked Bachelor Nation when they announced their divorce just three months later, citing logistics as the main reason for their split.
The Golden Bachelor season 2 lead is expected to come from Joan Vassos' Golden Bachelorette season, following the pattern of the leads coming from previous seasons. Joan herself was a contestant on Gerry's season, but she had to leave early due to a family emergency. As casting and production for The Golden Bachelor season 2 gets underway, there is much concern that it'll be a repeat of all of the failed seasons of Bachelor franchise shows before it, because the producers keep making the same mistakes.
When Will The Golden Bachelor Season 2 Begin Filming?
The Cast Application Form Gives Some Crucial Information
Bachelor Nation has shared the Golden Bachelor season 2 cast application form, which reveals that the show will film from June-August 2025. The application asks potential contestants two questions that prove the filming schedule: "Do you have any conflicts during June-August 2025?" and "Do you have a passport that is valid until August 2025? Please explain."
The Bachelor Franchise Producers Have Had Major Problems With Casting
Several Contestants Have Had Restraining Orders Filed Against Them
The Bachelor franchise producers have had a disastrous vetting process throughout the past few years, which has resulted in some very controversial contestants being cast on the shows. The Golden Bachelor season 1 star Gerry's image was tarnished when it was revealed that he wasn't the innocent widower who hadn't dated much since the sudden loss of his wife six years earlier, but instead allegedly had a live-in girlfriend whom he'd dated for about three years.
However, Gerry's past relationship revelation was nothing compared to what came to light about The Bachelorette season 21 winner Devin Strader and The Golden Bachelorette contestant Gil Ramirez and runner-up Guy Gansert, all of whom had restraining orders filed against them by their exes. Although the restraining orders were eventually dropped, the fact that the show missed these red flags during casting is very concerning. Hopefully, the producers will do a better job of vetting the Golden Bachelor season 2 contestants and find people without questionable pasts for the lead to fall in love with.
The Bachelor Franchise Producers Have Been Accused Of Casting Plants
Producer Plants Have Been A Problem For Years
Whenever outrageous villains emerge on Bachelor franchise shows, fans begin to wonder if they're nothing more than producer plants, cast to stir up drama on the seasons. This has been going on for years, but has been especially evident in the past few seasons. Aaron Erb, who conveniently self-eliminated from Jenn Tran's Bachelorette season to go to flight training, was a prime example of this. He was Bachelor in Paradise alum Noah Erb's twin brother, which was already suspicious, but then he proceeded to create drama whenever he could in a way that simply didn't seem real.
During The Golden Bachelorette, fan favorite Mark Anderson seemed to be a producer plant for a very different reason: he was just too good to be true. He was introduced to Bachelor Nation during Joey Graziadei's Bachelor season because he's winner Kelsey Anderson's dad. Fans fell in love with Mark as he shared his story of losing his wife, Denise, six years earlier. It was no surprise when he became one of Joan's contestants. However, many fans felt that Mark's appearance was just a set-up for him to become the next Golden Bachelor.
If The Golden Bachelor season 2 has any chance of becoming a success, then the producers must do a much better job of casting the show. There can't be any surprises in the lead or contestants' pasts, and the producers should avoid casting obvious plants who take away from the contestants who truly want to find love. If the producers do the right thing, then The Golden Bachelor season 2 could be a true love story.