Grant Ellis’s season of The Bachelor came to a dramatic end during last night’s finale. Still, I can’t stop thinking about the unrelated announcement that host Jesse Palmer made during the After the Final Rose special.
Last night, Palmer announced that The Bachelor franchise is expanding to include a brand-new spin-off: Golden Bachelor in Paradise. The TV show will be identical to Bachelor in Paradise, but instead of only following twenty-something singles, it will also feature the lovely men and women from The Golden Bachelor and The Golden Bachelorette.
I gotta admit, I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I totally agree that the Golden casts should get together in a Bachelor in Paradise-style setting where they can mingle and meet other eligible singles who are looking for a second shot at love. However, I don’t believe a beach in Mexico is the place to do it.
Bachelor in Paradise was designed for the twenty-something age range, and the show thrives on desperate singles getting drunk, hooking up and fighting over the other singles for entertainment.
I can’t picture the Golden Bachelors and Bachelorettes doing this, let alone sitting on the beach in swimsuits all day and drinking alcohol. Not to mention, the weather during this time of year is hot and humid. The contestants are always sweaty, since there is no A/C in the bungalow-style residence. I doubt that’s appealing to a 70-something bachelor.
I can’t help but wonder if ABC made a mistake by modeling the new show after BIP. Perhaps this get-together among the Golden casts would be better in a mansion setting, similar to the now-defunct Bachelor Pad. That way, the seniors could get to know each other in a neutral setting that doesn’t encourage day drinking and minimal clothing. Just a thought.
