This ‘Golden Bachelor’ Contestant Elimination Was A Complete Shocker

The long-awaited senior Bachelor Nation spin-off, The Golden Bachelor, is finally here—and episode 4 just aired last night. The show premiered on Thursday, September 28, and it seems like fans are already hooked on 72-year old lead Gerry Turner‘s search for love.

Bonus: There are new spoilers for Gerry’s season. Sounds like it’s sure to be golden, indeed.

Dedicated members of Bachelor Nation will know that the original Bachelor season debuted in 2002 and that this momentous occasion has been in the works since 2020—so it’s been a long time coming!

ABC’s official description of the show reads that “one hopeless romantic is given a second chance at love,” searching for a partner “to share the sunset years of life.” Personally, I can’t think of any other concept that will give Bachelor Nation a revival other than adding senior citizens to its roster.

In case you missed it, ABC officially introduced 72-year-old Gerry (pronounced like “Gary”) during the Bachelorette Men Tell All episode for Charity Lawson‘s season, and fans totally freaked out.

Gerry said he really wants to “fall in love,” and “[wants] to find [his] person who can put me in my place when I need it and make me smile at it. The person who can lay down beside [me] at night, not have to say anything, and you feel it. That’s love. That’s what I want, and I know that person’s out there.” Aww!

The show also notes that the contestants “have a lifetime of experience, living through love, loss, and laughter, hoping for a spark that ignites a future full of endless possibilities.” It seems like The Golden Bachelor is already the most wholesome of spin-offs.

Here’s everything to know about the boomer Bachelor and what’s to come throughout the season:

Who is in the new cast?

There are 22 lucky ladies try their luck at finding love this time around.

Last year, ABC put out a casting call for “active and outgoing” senior women and men, the outlet wrote. As for who Gerry is hoping for, the Golden Bachelor said he hopes actress Helen Mirren makes an appearance. Unfortunately, I don’t see and “Helen”s on the list below.

This batch is filled with all kinds of impressive women, including one woman who has three master’s degrees, accountants, wedding officiants, and even a former Chicago Honey Bear cheerleader.

As previously mentioned, all the women on this show are 60+. The list includes:

• Anna, 61
• April, 65
• Christina, 73
• Edith, 60
• Ellen, 71
• Faith Martin, 60
• Jeanie, 65
• Joan, 60
• Kathy, 70
• Leslie Fhima, 64
• Maria, 60
• Marina, 60
• Nancy, 60
• Natascha, 60
• Pamela, 75
• Patty James, 70 (if she looks familiar, it’s because she’s Bachelor Matt James’ mom!)
• Peggy, 69
• Renee, 67
• Sandra, 75
• Susan, 66
• Sylvia, 64
• Theresa Nist, 69

With such a long list of ladies, it looks like Gerry is going to have his hands full! Luckily, Reality Steve has already come in hot with the latest spoilers for Gerry’s season.

The series’ cast has a lot of potential to bring new life into the franchise. A lot of the recent Bachelor and Bachelorette seasons have been geared toward a digital age—which has been a big criticism. Many contestants seem to go on the show just to boost their social media following, which tends to make the show itself a bit…predictable and boring (sorry, Zach).

Variety

Still, here’s a bit of promising info: Rob Mills told in 2020 that some of their casting interviews were very “touching,” he said. “It’s such a different way of doing ‘The Bachelor’ because these people are just at a totally different place in their lives. There is an interesting thing about people who have hit the other end of the spectrum, who’ve lived their lives, they’ve raised their kids, some have been widowed or divorced and maybe some have never been in love.”

What happens during episode one?

In case you missed it, Golden Bachelor kicked off to be everything fans had hoped for. During episode one, the new contestants proved they were ready to bring their A-game to win Gerry’s heart.

After being greeted by host Jesse Palmer, Gerry was ready to meet the ladies. First to arrive was Edith who stunned in a golden gown (very on brand!). He also chatted with Ellen, who gave a shoutout to her late friend Roberta, who was battling cancer at the time of filming. The two of them bonded over the idea that it’s never too late to fall in love.

From there, he met several other women who showcased their humor, talent, and cursing-I mean meditation skills. A few of them also didn’t shy away from the occasional innuendo. By the sound of it, things were off to a great start. “My life got a lot brighter in the last hour or two,” Gerry confessed to Jesse.

Following introductions, April was the first to pull Gerry aside. They talked for a bit before she gifted him with a calendar of…well…herself. From that point, it was pretty clear that the women were still committed to showing off what they could bring to the table. Natascha and Gerry did yoga during their time together, Nancy got him to play basketball, and Faith played the guitar and sang him a song.

Who got the first impression rose?

While it seemed like Gerry hit it off really well with a few contestants, it was Faith who won the first impression rose. To make matters cuter, Faith revealed that she had just learned about the first impression rose.

“I want you to know that you made this impression not because you rode in on a motorcycle, not even because you have a beautiful voice and you sang a song to me, but because of what you’re doing right now,” Gerry told her. “You’re making me feel very special.”

In her confessional, Faith said the rose gave her hope for a potential future together and the two even shared a kiss at the end.

Gerry also hit it off with Leslie and Theresa.

Two other contestants that caught Gerry’s eye throughout episode one were Leslie and Theresa.

Leslie made a big first impression when she arrived out of the limousine pushing a walker while wearing a nightgown and gray wig, only to tear it all off to reveal a stunning black dress. Watch it here:

By the looks of it, Leslie’s sense of humor went a long way. The 64-year-old dancer and fitness instructor revealed that she once dated Prince. And later in the episode, she danced with Gerry, which turned into a mini dance party with the other women.

Theresa, on the other hand, made the most out of a special occasion. She showed up in a black robe, telling Gerry it was her 70th birthday. She joked that she wore her “birthday suit,” but it was actually a nude dress underneath.

The two laughed it off, and during their one-on-one chat at the mansion, Gerry gave her a birthday cupcake. In cheesy, but truly adorable fashion, he took a bite, and Leslie helped him get rid of the extra frosting on his face with a kiss.

Who gets sent home week one?

Despite all the romance in the air, some of the women weren’t able to secure their spot past the first rose ceremony. After a teary-eyed elimination, Gerry decided to send home six women, including:

• Anna
• Pamela
• Maria
• Renee
• Sylvia
• Patty (major Bach Nation shocker, I know.)

Who makes it to hometowns?

Three lucky women make it to hometowns, according to Reality Steve. They include: Theresa, Leslie, and Faith.

Faith’s hometown episode went first, and it was filmed on August 19, per Steve. Next up was Leslie on August 21, and finally Theresa on August 23. Unfortunately, Faith gets eliminated during this round which leaves…

Who makes it to the final 2?

Leslie and Theresa!

While the show was still filming, there was a tip that, “Each woman is meeting Gerry’s family this week in Costa Rica, and that’s where potential overnight dates may happen,” Reality Steve reported.

What else do we know about this season?

Well, it’s obvious that Gerry heads off to Costa Rica for some dates, so those are sure to be action-packed. And when it comes to other date spoilers, one of Gerry’s one-on-ones apparently includes some ATV action. You can’t tell who the woman on the back of the ATV is, but based on their body language, these two are having a blast.

Reality Steve has also said that some of the filming is taking place in Minneapolis at the Stone Arch Bridge, but he’s not sure if that’s for a date, a hometown, or something else. Stay tuned!

What to know about Gerry

Gerry Turner hails all the way from Indiana. He previously worked as a restauranteur, according to his ABC bio. He also apparently “lives in his dream house on a beautiful lake,” and spends time “hosting barbecues, playing pickleball, cheering on his favorite Chicago sports teams, four-wheeling, and spending time with friends and family at restaurants and local haunts.”

Rob Mills, Walt Disney Television executive VP unscripted and alternative, revealed that the hardest part of getting the show off the ground was finding the right lead.

“For us, the most important thing is that we get the exact right person, whether it’s a Bachelor or Bachelorette, and it’s somebody that everyone wants to see us tell their story and that everyone gets invested in seeing them find love,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.

When did The Golden Bachelor start filming?

On August 5, Jesse Palmer, who returned for his hosting duties, took to Instagram to announce that Gerry’s season was in full swing.

“It’s finally happening! 🚨 Gerry, our first-ever Golden Bachelor, has begun his historic journey to find love!!! 🌹 So excited and honored to be along for the ride!!!” he wrote.

The Golden Bachelor was in the works for a while.

If you remember, ABC first started floating the idea back in January 2020, dropping casting commercials during Peter Weber’s 24th Bachelor season, Parade reported. The show was supposed to air in the fall of 2020, but it was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, per Variety.

Who was Gerry’s wife?

The 72-year-old is a father of two, and a grandfather who married his high school sweetheart, the late Toni Turner, in 1974. They had two daughters, Angie and Jenny, and their granddaughters are Charlee and Payton. After 43 years together, Toni got a bacterial infection and passed away in 2017, per his ABC bio.

“If there’s one thing I would tell [anyone about love],” Gerry said of his successful marriage during the Bachelorette’s Men Tell All episode. “It’s to look at your spouse every day and tell them that you love them. The day comes too soon for one of you that you can’t do that.”

Gerry went on to say that he isn’t looking for a relationship to replace what he had with Toni. “I am looking for a person who can make me whole again. I don’t think it will look like what I had with Toni. I don’t think it would be right to do it that way,” he said.

Charlee explains more about her grandfather and grandmother’s love story in a new clip from ABC:

What is Gerry Turner’s net worth?

It’s unclear at the moment what exactly Gerry is worth. He’s currently retired, but he worked for many years as a restauranteur.

The average income for the owner of a single restaurant in Indiana is around $32,372, according to the Economic Research Institute. It seems likely Gerry owned or operated a franchise, which is closer to an annual salary of $100,000.

Gerry also owns a lakeside home in Indiana that is valued at around $675,000, per The U.S. Sun. Some sources estimate Gerry’s net worth at around $1.5 million.

Will hometowns be different?

As of right now, the only thing known to be different about the show is how hometowns will work. Instead of Gerry meeting his contestants’ parents, he’ll be meeting their children and other family members, per Parade.

During the Charity’s Men Tell All episode, Gerry also hinted that there will be overnight dates, but they might look different than the typical Bachelor/Bachelorette set up. The new leading man of Bachelor Nation also seems pretty serious about finding his person.

“I think what I’m most looking for that night is for one of those women, or several of those women, to just have that look in their eye like, oh gosh, okay I found my own grandzaddy,” Gerry joked to Jesse Palmer during the Bachelorette‘s Men Tell All episode.

When do the next episodes air?

You can catch the rest of the season every Thursday at 8 pm EST, followed by season 9 of Bachelor in Paradise at 9 pm. You’ll also be able to watch it on Hulu the following day.

The episodes will (as usual) run for about an hour. So, it might be time to start scheduling your siestas.

ICYDK, Charity’s season of The Bachelorette is now finished after premiering on June 26, and Joey Graziadei’s new Bachelor season doesn’t begin til 2024. So, there’s plenty of time for this Golden Bachelor to take over.

Is there a trailer?

Yep, if you want a preview of what’s in store this season, there’s a trailer out now that is pretty hilarious (and says things like “he’s sliding in your DMs with postage” and “posts thirst traps in a leather-bound album”).

Here it is:

There was also a brief teaser released set to “This Magic Moment,” but it didn’t really provide any more details.

Watch this space, though. WH will add all the updates as they come. In the meantime, I will be looking through this new cast of lovely ladies.