After years of waning chemistry and behind-the-scenes drama, The Bachelor franchise has been struggling to find authentic cast members in recent seasons, but The Golden Bachelor injected new energy into the franchise. The seniors-only spin-off became a surprise hit, thanks to its heartfelt romance and unexpectedly fun cast. As Bachelor in Paradise gears up for its return, Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich is teasing a fresh twist: Golden-era fan favorites joining the sun-soaked party — and stealing the spotlight. The franchise’s oldest stars may just be its wildest.
The Goldens Are Partying Hard on ‘Bachelor in Paradise’
Erwich recently assured The Hollywood Reporter that the “uber Bachelor machinery” was moving briskly forward at ABC. He was excited to share that the upcoming season will be the first time that The Golden Bachelor alums will co-mingle with the more youthful returning stars in the Bachelor in Paradise episodes airing this summer. In fact, he claimed to have recently spoken with Disney’s head of unscripted TV, Rob Mills, who said that the Golden alums were giving the more youthful Bachelor reality stars a run for their money, staying up later to keep the party going.
The cast members who have more life experience have proven to be the more interesting ones to watch. In recent years, younger Bachelor contestants have seemed more focused on building their social media brands than finding lasting love—a shift that’s left longtime fans bored and disillusioned with the show’s original premise. Whereas the Golden cast seems more interested in sharing openly in their quest for romance on the series, and blending their lives once the season has wrapped.
Problems on ‘The Bachelor’ Will Be Fixed By The Right People
The recent perception that the flagship Bachelor franchise is in a tail-spin didn’t arise during Erwich’s interview, and rumors of a toxic work environment, and declining ratings were not addressed. But these issues continue to shadow the series as it struggles to find relatable, unproblematic romantic hopes to feature. “The Bachelor is no different than any other show,” Erwich said. “You have to have the exact right casting. You have to have the exact right people. We’re taking tremendous care with a very singular and beloved franchise, and we’ll continue to roll those out as they’re ready.”
Erwich noted the “very singular and beloved franchise” will continue to roll out new shows as they find the right cast, and, perhaps, the right showrunners. So, if viewers see shifts in the programming line-up, that isn’t necessarily evidence of a loss of faith in the main series. Rather, it could be a signal that Disney and ABC are applying the same technique to their unscripted programs that they have with their scripted series, which is to invest deeply in their existing programming and taking the time to make sure they get it right, with the exact right people in place. The Bachelor doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and other dating series have also struggled with casting issues. But Erwich seems to have a hopeful plan to correct the recent dip in ratings when it comes to their flagship dating show.
