When “The Golden Bachelor” premiered on ABC in 2023, viewers applauded the spinoff of the long-running “Bachelor” franchise for its focus on older people, and recognizing that they too can be looking for love.
Unfortunately, that rosy reception wilted a bit. Everything looked romantic when Gerry Turner, who had won fans’ hearts as an eligible widower, proposed to Theresa Nist. The two had a splashy televised wedding, in a special not surprisingly called “The Golden Wedding.”
But the fairy tale fizzled when Turner and Nist got divorced a few months later. Despite the fallout, ABC is plowing ahead with “The Golden Bachelorette,” which, like “The Bachelorette,” will see its star dating a group of men who hope they’ll be the one she ultimately picks.
“The Golden Bachelorette” stars Joan Vassos, a 61-year-old grandmother and school administrator from Rockville, Maryland. Vassos, a widow, has become the first “Golden Bachelorette” after she departed from “The Golden Bachelor” early, telling Turner that she needed to be home with her daughter, who was experiencing postpartum depression.
This morning, ABC announced the “24 distinguished men in their golden era” who will try to find “an everlasting love” with Vassos when “The Golden Bachelorette” premieres, Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Among the men is a Portlander, described in the press material as William “Bill,” 68, a retired videographer from Portland.
According to social media, Bill is Bill Hernandez, whose resume includes working as a video producer at Nike.
His bio on the show’s website says that Bill “is an outgoing, charismatic man who is ready to meet the one! The retired video producer is a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic who says, ‘I am Latin; romance is in my blood!’ Bill loves the retired life but wants to meet someone to enjoy his golden years with. He shares two daughters with his ex-wife, and they are all extremely supportive of him going on this journey and hopefully finding love again. Bill says he has tried every dating site and hasn’t had any luck in his local singles’ scene. When he isn’t spending time with family, Bill loves playing guitar, public speaking and rocking out to the Beatles. He’s hoping meeting Joan will be the end of the search for his future wife … Fingers crossed!”
Added “fun facts” about Bill include that he’s a member of two Toastmasters clubs; that he would love to own a coffee shop and name it Billy Beans; and that he’s currently watching his way through the list of every Academy Award Best Picture winner.”
Here are the other men appearing — at least at the beginning — on “The Golden Bachelorette”:
Robert “Bob,” 66, a chiropractor from Marina Del Ray, California
Charles K., 62, a portfolio manager from Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Charles L., 66, a retired financial analyst from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Charles “Chock,” 60, an insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas
Christopher, 64, a contractor from West Babylon, New York
Daniel “Dan,” 64, a private investor from Naples, Florida
David, 68, a rancher from Austin, Texas
Gary, 65, a retired finance executive from Palm Desert, California
Gil, 60, an educator from Mission Viejo, California
Gregg, 64, a retired university VP from Longboat Key, Florida
Guy, 66, an ER doctor from Reno, Nevada
John “Jack,” 68, a caterer from Chicago, Illinois
Jonathan, 61, a shipping consultant from Oakland, Iowa
Jordan, 61, a sales manager from Chicago, Illinois
Keith, 62, a girl dad from San Jose, California
Kenneth “Ken,” 60, a property management treasurer from Peabody, Massachusetts
Kim, 69, a retired navy captain from Seattle, Washington
Mark, 57, an army veteran from Leesville, Louisiana
Michael, 65, a retired banking CEO from Denver, North Carolina
Pablo, 63, a retired UN agency director from Cambridge, Maryland
Pascal, 69, a salon owner from Chicago, Illinois
Ralph “RJ,” 66, a financial advisor from Irvine, California
Thomas, 62, a fire department chief from New York, New York
