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What went down this week 📺
It’s Week 2, and Joan has taken her men out for a dance, a talent show, and, in one lucky guy’s case, a one-on-one date to Disneyland. Here are the episode highlights and the best social reactions.
The first group date: To use a golden turn of phrase, Joan’s prom was “outta sight.” The men wore sparkly suits, Taylor Dayne sang “Tell It to My Heart,” and Jonathan took home the date rose after telling Joan a heartbreaking story about getting dumped before his prom. If only we all got a do-over. [Entertainment Weekly]
The first one-on-one: Chock’s chicken noodle soup must’ve been great last week, because he and Joan went to Disneyland and shared their first kiss. (Eventual Golden Bachelor winner Theresa Nist got the first one-on-one last year. Will history repeat itself for Chock and Joan?) [Glamour/Yahoo Entertainment]
Who went home: Bob, Michael, Christopher and Jack all said goodbye, and yes, Jack and Chris sang “My Way” one more time on the way out. Could a world tour be next? [People]
Senior superlatives 🏆
1️⃣ Mr. Congeniality: Charles L.
He might’ve lost Prom King, but he stole our hearts. At this week’s dance, Charles L. opened up about losing his wife, tore up the dance floor and slam-dunked a round of (arcade) basketball. You go, Charles. [TheWrap]
2️⃣ Most Likely to Go Into Plumbing: Kim
Kim not only wrote and sang his own song at the talent show but also found the time to fix the Bachelor Mansion garbage disposal. O (retired) captain! My captain! [Today]
3️⃣ Best Dressed: Charles K.
Charles K., aka “CK,” stunned this week by pairing a cerulean jacket with a salmon polo and a yin-yang pendant. Something tells me you’ll never catch Mr. Martial Arts in some basic cargo shorts. [Deadline]
4️⃣ Most High-Maintenance: Pascal
This isn’t an insult; Pascal calls himself high-maintenance. His wardrobe’s full of Gucci, and he paid Gregg $100 to do his laundry because he doesn’t know how to do it himself. Pascal, if you ever need more laundry help, my email is… [Entertainment Weekly]
5️⃣ Most Likely to Work for the CIA: Gary
Shout-out to my guy Gary for confirming that he’s Tina Turner’s godson while telling us nothing beyond that she’s different IRL than she is onstage. Duh, Gary, give us some real gossip! [Yahoo Entertainment]
Golden visibility moment ✨
Just like Gerry Turner openly discussed his hearing aids on Golden Bachelor, Joan and her men are normalizing their aging journeys. In this week’s episode, these moments of visibility included that iconic “To 401K’s, to Medicare, to Joan!” toast, and the men divvying up the beds based on whose knees could handle climbing to the top bunks.
My favorite, though, was when Dan owned the talent show with a ribbon dance while cracking jokes about his hand tremors. He later opened up to Joan about his diabetes during their date. These moments left all of Bachelor Nation misty-eyed — myself included! [Yahoo Life/Us Weekly]
Can I steal you for a second? 💬
A one-on-one with Jessica Radloff
This week’s featured Bachelor expert Jessica Radloff, the senior West Coast editor at Glamour, who has covered the franchise for a decade, brought precious intel: She was actually present for Joan’s date with Chock. Naturally, I was eager to trade gossip.
Laura: How did it feel to be Joan and Chock’s third wheel on the Disneyland date?
Jessica: It was fascinating to be at Disneyland for Joan’s first one-on-one date — until it came time to watch her and Chock share their first kiss. I was 10 feet away, standing behind a tree, when I wanted to give them privacy for that moment. You just feel bad — like you’re spying on something you shouldn’t be!
Laura What do we think about Disneyland as a first-date locale?
Jessica: It was really cool. Being there really allowed Joan and Chock’s inner childlike enthusiasm to come out, which was exactly what Joan wanted. But for the life of me, I don’t know why Joan decided to wear slip-on sandals. Where were her sneakers?! Disneyland is a lot of walking!
Laura: You also interviewed Joan after the kiss. Where’s her head at coming out of this week?
Jessica: I interviewed Gerry during his first group date for The Golden Bachelor, and he was like a kid in a candy store. Joan seems more measured. She had a blast with Chock and really liked all the guys who were back at the mansion, but she was not afraid to admit to me that she’s not interested in all of them romantically. There’s an openness to her that I really admire.
Golden masculinity moment 👴
It has been scientifically proven that by the time a man reaches his 60s or 70s, he’s convinced that he alone knows how to properly grill a burger. To press the patty, or not to press? That is the question to which every man at this week’s pool party thought he had the right answer. [Entertainment Weekly]
😢 This week’s cry counter: We had only one crying session this week, when Kim told Joan about giving his granddaughter a letter from his late wife to read — a necessary reprieve after last week’s whopping 10.
