The Golden Bachelor

First off, the whole Bachelor series should've been canceled a long time ago. It's been coming on since I was 9-years-old. It doesn't have its spark anymore. It's cringey, monotonous, idiotic, and most likely staged. People finding a spouse this way is bizarre. You have to allow yourself to be vulnerable to a certain point when you date, but this show is just insane. As if it wasn't bad enough to have people in their 20s vying for the attention of and humiliating themselves for some person of the opposite sex by playing games, as well as feeling up on/making out with each other, now they have a man, 70 years of age, who's in the market for a new wife. Yes, I used the word market, because it's like he's shopping.

And by the way - society really needs to stop promoting the idea that men become more and more attractive as they age. I remember this woman on QVC selling some kind of anti-aging serum, and she said the bags under her husband's eyes made him look distinguished. Boo, nobody looks distinguished with bags under their eyes. They look tired and nothing else. Aging is a natural process. Your body and face changes. No man's sexiness increases once he reaches his 60s or 70s... Even if he started out handsome. Take Roger Moore, for example. He was dreamy in his younger days. However, beyond his 50s, he no longer looked the same. He was a caring and funny person up until his last day on this earth, but his looks had faded. That's just how life goes.

Don't get me wrong, I feel sorry for the Golden Bachelor. He lost his wife, so I do hope he finds love. But this show has worn out its welcome. Switching it up by having it be some kind of a senior citizen theme is just an opportunity for the network executives to cash in.

I was hoping for a mature approach to this show. Instead, it's mature-aged people (in my age range) acting like they are 20-year-olds. How embarrassing! I've seen a few of the shows in the past with younger people who acted giddy, backstabbing and unrealistically stupid. I chalked that up to pressure to perform in front of cameras on a "reality show".

But as we age, learning life's stupid lessons kicks in and we have less patience for the ridiculous and more wisdom in our choices. Or so I thought... I haven't seen one honest conversation so far (we're pretty much past the games by now) and women supporting women (we invented the term "sisterhood"). And we don't automatically kiss a stranger, despite what someone else says (read: director). With age comes wisdom, not ignorance.

First off, this is WAY better than traditional bachelor. The women are so great and positive and supportive! It is much more fun to watch than a bunch of cutthroat woman hating ladies fighting over some dude. They are mature and they have been through life, they are not petty and mean. Gary is delightful! He is such a sweetheart and you can't help but root for him and his path to find love. There are always some "villains" but they are still decent people with depth. I love this version of the bachelor and hope they have many more seasons! I just hope the producers don't ruin it by stirring up unnecessary drama and by picking lame cast members. IF they keep it real, this will be the best series in the franchise in my opinion!

The best of the Bachelorette bachelor series. This is reality, the closest to real characters. Gerry is handsome and has aged like a fine wine. Extremely compassionate. He connects with each woman. The women are of different races, are different sizes, and vastly different personalities. I love respect they have for each other..not at all like the caddy crap that goes on in the junior versions. There is more enjoyment and anticipation in this series...and the women that are let go are let down softly. This show will catch on and the next will probably be The Golden Bachelorette! But...I've only watched the first three episodes. The show could turn on a dime, however, I am glued already. Now could we get The Golden Bachelors/Bachelorettes in Paradise. That show needs some help!

This will be a very painful show to watch if the women aren't actresses cast in the roles of contestants. They are putting themselves out there to be judged by viewers, manipulated by producers and ultimately rejected while the world witnesses the palpable disappointment on their faces - unless the show is completely scripted.

The difference between the original Bachelor show contenders and the golden beauties is that these successful women don't need to humiliate themselves to prove they have value to offer. They have already proven their worth by living lives as independent women.

The consensus in our household is that the women should ditch the prospect of dating a man in his early 70s and instead go for a much younger guy.

With that said, Gerry seems like a nice guy - who regularly cries showing that his emotions run deep just below the surface- so hoping he can handle what the show is about to throw at him and not make him wish he chose a dating app instead.