Mel Owens tanked his season of The Golden Bachelor before it began. The Season 2 lead went viral earlier this summer for the comments he made about dating senior women on reality TV. The premiere episode had dismal ratings after fans went through with their vow to boycott.
Now, Mel Owens is begging fans to watch. Why does he think Bachelor Nation fans should tune in?
Golden Bachelor Season 2 Has Shocking Ratings
The first season of The Golden Bachelor premiered to rave reviews in 2023. ABC cast Gerry Turner, a widower, to lead the show. The senior citizen spinoff of the popular dating show was praised for revitalizing the tired franchise.
But the bloom quickly fell off the golden rose. Gerry Turner found love with Theresa Nist. He even married her. But their marriage was over three months after millions tuned in to watch the TV wedding.
Despite the failed happy ending, the network gave the show another chance with former NFL player Mel Owens. He was previously married for nearly twenty years before divorcing in 2020. He seemed like the prime choice – handsome, successful, and ready to find love.
He seemed great. Until his first interview after ABC announced him as the next Golden Bachelor. The former NFL player returned to his alma mater, the University of Michigan, for the interview on the school’s podcast.
When discussing his casting, he said that he told producers that he was only interested in women between 45 and 60. He vowed to send home any contestant over 60 years old. The backlash was immediate. Fans vowed to boycott.
Mel Owens explained his comments to Glamour magazine in August. “He chalked his comments up to not being familiar with the show. I didn’t know the age range because I wasn’t watching it. I’m thinking, to me, the age range was 45 to 60. That’s my age range,” Mel Owens explained.
Was it enough of an apology for viewers to tune in? If the ratings for the premiere episode are any indication: no. According to The TV Ratings Guide, the second Golden Bachelor premiere saw a shocking 65% decrease in viewership compared to the first season.
Mel Owens Breaks Silence, Gives Reason To Watch Show
Twenty-three women flew to Los Angeles, California, this summer to pursue a relationship with Mel Owens. Despite his demands, the women are between the ages of 58 and 77. Ten women were sent home in the first episode.
The remaining women continue on their journey toward love, but will viewers go with them? Mel Owens spoke to Us Weekly about the season premiere. He asked what he would say to Bachelor Nation fans who refused to watch The Golden Bachelor.
The former Los Angeles Rams linebacker gave one reason why people should watch: the women. He didn’t hold back when praising the contestants from his season. He called the women “feisty and smart” and said they carried the show.
Mel Owens encouraged people to watch The Golden Bachelor to see “a lot of good things.”
Did he convince you to give the show a chance?
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
