There are signs that The Golden Bachelor season 2 is making a huge mistake with casting, as a recent update raises questions. The Golden Bachelor season 1 saw lead Gerry Turner date 22 Golden women before he ended up getting engaged and then married to Theresa Nist. The show highlights what dating is like for seniors got a massively positive reception, and paved the way for a successful pilot season of The Golden Bachelorette. Joan Vassos, one of the women dating Gerry, was chosen as the lead, and she dated 24 Golden men before getting engaged to Chock Chapple.
The last two years the latest editions to The Bachelor franchise have been around, there has been very high viewer engagement and positive reception of both shows. This means the sky is the limit. Despite Gerry not working out with Theresa, and Joan and Chock struggling to figure out their long-distance logistics, there is still a lot of hope as viewers are drawn to the senior dating premise. However, The Golden Bachelor season 2’s casting is taking a shocking turn, and breaking from the norm, which could spell trouble, especially considering a certain factor.
The Golden Bachelor’s Lead Will Be Announced Soon
The Golden Franchise Follows A Schedule
The Golden franchise follows a schedule. The Golden Bachelor season 1 was filmed in August 2023, and aired in Fall 2023. Joan was chosen as The Golden Bachelorette season 1 lead in May 2024, and the show was filmed in July 2024, and aired in Fall 2024. That means the next Golden Bachelor will be chosen in the very near future. While Gerry was cast from a casting call and subsequent interviews and determination, Joan was selected from the pool of Golden Bachelor season 1 women.
The Bachelor franchise’s trend has always been to cast the next lead from the previous counterpart season. Meaning, the next Golden Bachelor should trendily be cast from The Golden Bachelorette season 1 contestants. Gerry was chosen because it was a new show at the time, and there has been no reasoning to indicate the need to go outside of the franchise for The Golden Bachelor season 2 lead, but that’s what’s potentially happening.
Bachelor Production Is Casting Outside The Franchise
Which Is Not Normal For Bachelor Nation
In late March 2024, it was announced (via @zacharyreality) and other outlets that The Golden Bachelor was having an open casting call for season 2. Fans of the franchise were invited to nominate their family member, friend, co-worker, etc, to apply to be the lead for the upcoming season. The casting call means that the Golden network is searching outside of The Golden Bachelorette season 2 men for a lead.
The casting application window has already been closed, so production is likely narrowing down their decision as to who will be the next lead. Since the official announcement of the lead choice hasn’t been made yet, it’s unclear whether Golden production actually plans on casting outside the network for the next lead, but it is a sign that that is very likely. Having a casting call when there are eligible and popular singles from the previous season is concerning, as it’s breaking from the traditional casting approach of the show.
The Golden Bachelor Should Have Cast The Lead From The Golden Bachelorette
Charles Ling Is The Golden Bachelorette Fan Favorite
It would be a mistake to start casting leads from outside the network, because fans have counted on the mystery surrounding who would be chosen as the lead from the previous season. Moreover, there are solid choices among The Golden Bachelorette season 1 men for the lead choice. Namely, Charles Ling. Chinese-born Charles stole the show with his humor, relatability, and charisma. During the men’s tell all, Charles was nominated by the crowd to be the next Golden Bachelor, and his cast mates and online fans have echoed that sentiment.
Charles will be the right choice for the next lead, as fans are already fully engaged with him and want to see him succeed in love.
By opening up casting to the public, The Golden Bachelor season 2 will likely have an unknown to the franchise face, which isn’t the smartest move since Charles has won the internet. There could be potential resentment from fans over Charles not being chosen, and fans could have a hard time connecting with a new person over the fan-favorite.
