Behind the Glam: How The Golden Bachelor Quietly Tackled Ageism on TV

Defying TV’s Youth-Obsessed Norms
From its earliest promos, The Golden Bachelor carried a quiet promise: that older adults could take center stage. And it delivered. Viewers were treated to ballroom dances, lakeside picnics, and vulnerable conversations—all featuring people in their 60s and 70s. But beyond the romance, the show served as a masterclass in normalizing aging.

Gerry, a widower, wasn’t depicted as tragic or desperate. He was thoughtful, funny, still learning about himself. The women? Stylish, spirited, and unafraid to talk about everything from intimacy to loss. It was groundbreaking—and it was subtle.

Representation Done Right

Too often, older characters on TV are cast as comic relief, meddling parents, or lonely retirees. The Golden Bachelor flipped that script. These weren’t side characters—they were the story. And the audience responded. Ratings soared, and more importantly, so did online discussions about dating after 60, remarriage, and the right to still want things later in life.

The Cultural Ripple Effect
Perhaps most exciting is what this season might spark. Spin-offs? A Golden Bachelorette? More shows featuring older casts? The success of The Golden Bachelor proved that audiences aren’t tired of love stories—they’re just tired of the same love stories. And this one, grounded in wisdom and wrinkles, was long overdue.