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Will There Be a Golden Bachelorette? ‘Nothing Would Make Us Happier,’ Show Producers Say
‘It would be hard not to’ pick a contestant who vied for Gerry Turner's love, they say
Eight of the women from "The Golden Bachelor" sitting in the live studio audience during the season finale episode.
John Fleenor/Disney
Fans of the Golden Bachelor may not have to wait long for new romance.
The hit reality TV series that warmed the hearts of viewers nationwide with its authentic portrayal of love, intimacy and relationships over 50 may be back sooner than you think, according to producers of the show.
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The golden couple and the show’s producers reflected on the past season and hinted at upcoming plans for the Bachelor franchise in a panel held Monday evening at the Times Center in New York City, featuring Gerry Turner, 72, his fiancé, Theresa Nist, 70, and showrunners Bennett Graebner, Claire Freeland and Jason Ehrlich.
Here are some highlights from the evening.
The women of "The Golden Bachelor."
Craig Sjodin/ABC
A Golden Bachelorette show may be in the works and will likely star one of the women from Turner’s season
The producers teased the possibility of a Golden Bachelorette. “Nothing would make us happier,” said Ehrlich, advising fans to “stay tuned.”
As the crowd yelled out their hopes for next season’s star (“Susan!”, “Leslie!”), the producers remained tight-lipped about their casting preferences. But they suggested the leading woman would be chosen from Turner’s season, as per Bachelor tradition. “There are so many incredible women from this season that it would be hard not to pick one of them,” said Ehrlich.
Turner dished out advice for the next season’s lead as she navigates her second chance at love: “It sounds trite, but be yourself, even in the face of someone trying to convince you to do something different. Insist on being yourself, because that way, you can get to the end of the journey knowing that you’ve done the very best you can.”
Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist speaking at the New York screening of “The Golden Bachelor” at the Times Center in New York City.
Anthony Behar/PictureGroup for Disney Entertainment Television
Watching the show was emotional for both Turner and Nist
Watching Turner date the other women and break their hearts wasn’t easy for Nist. “Gerry and I were talking on the phone all the time. He prepared me for things but there are things he couldn’t prepare me for,” she said. “It’s a little hard sometimes, because I loved all of these women and still do.”
During the panel, she admitted that she cried over certain parts, and Turner described the “soul crushing” rose ceremonies as particularly unbearable to watch. Even the rewatch backstage during Monday evening’s screening proved difficult for Turner. “When it got to the rose ceremony, you were sitting there and you stood up and visibly were like ‘I can’t watch this,’" said Ehrlich. “Still to this day, it affects you.”
Though it is uncomfortable to make these tough choices, Turner admits, it’s an inevitable part of the job. “Bear in mind, that’s what we signed up for and there’s no other way to do it,” he said.
Gerry and Theresa during his proposal in "The Golden Bachelor" season finale.
John Fleenor/Disney
Televising Turner and Nist’s wedding wasn’t always the plan
The couple’s wedding will air live on Jan. 4, but Nist revealed that televising their wedding wasn’t always the plan. “We really thought hard about it,” she said. “But we felt a responsibility as the season wore on and we realized there were so many people connecting with our journey … who find hope in what we’ve done.”
Turner and Nist are proud that the show celebrated aging
Nist, who made her memorable debut on the show sporting a “birthday suit” to commemorate her 70th birthday, said that the women on the show taught her to approach growing old with a newfound appreciation. “Seeing all these women embracing getting old made me less afraid of it,” she shared.
The contestants, whose ages ranged from their early 60s to 70s, displayed a youthful energy balanced with a refreshing maturity and respect for one another, something that's often missing among the younger contestants on the Bachelor.
The producers echoed Nist’s sentiment that the women on the show helped redefine what it means to be mature — not just for them, but for the millions of Americans watching.
(Left to right) "The Golden Bachelor" Executive Producer Jason Ehrlich, Gerry Turner, Theresa Nist, Executive Producers Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner
Anthony Behar/PictureGroup for Disney Entertainment Television
Producers credit the success of the season to its testimony that love can be found at any age
The Nov. 30 finale of the show was the most watched finale of any recent Bachelor season, according to the producers. They attribute the success of the show to its messaging that love knows no age. And the season’s emotional ending — complete with a diamond ring, a proposal and the first-ever golden rose — offers real-life proof.
“People have been asking for this for a long time,” said Freeland. “Normalizing dating and being sexual at any age … is a big part of why I think [the show] was so successful. People are responding to it, and I think it’s brilliant and I think it’s real.”
“As storytellers, we talk a lot about first acts, second acts and third acts. The third act of the show can be wonderful,” said Graebner. “And [the golden couple] has shown me that. And shown that to everyone.”
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