‘GOLDEN BACHELOR’ RECAP: IOWAN REMEMBERS LATE WIFE, HAS SURPRISE PARTY Winners, losers and what’s to come with Iowa’s ‘Golden Bachelor’ Gerry Turner
“The Golden Bachelor” is one episode older, but the ABC dating spinoff is freshening up the franchise.
The rosy reality dating show for suitors in their golden years features Gerry Turner, a Missouriborn Iowan who now lives in Indiana.
“I am from Iowa, but I currently live on a beautiful lake in Indiana,” the retiree told the official franchise website BachelorNation.com in July.
As the franchise rerouted to focus on Turner’s love story, the series has become a ratings boon. According to a report by Variety, the series premiere delivered an audience of 4.36 million total viewers, the best performance for a “Bachelor Nation” episode since 2021. The episode also was the most-watched premiere on Hulu ever.
The show’s second episode Thursday night featured a one-on-one with one faulty headlight, first impression rose recipient Faith losing a little hope and Gerry questioning one of the women. During the episode, the widower also remembered his high school sweetheart and late wife of 43 years, Toni, who died in 2017 after a battle with a bacterial infection.
Gerry also said goodbye to a few more women from his crop of 22 lucky ladies.
Later in the episode, Gerry wears his birthday suit — in this case, a yellow long sleeve button up shirt and khakis, for a surprise birthday party at the Mansion.
And while he seems like a standup guy, one woman wants to sit down. “Do the rose ceremony in the chairs. They have chair yoga, they have chair exercise, they have chair aerobics. Chair rose ceremony!,” Natascha said at the episode’s end.
Five memorable one-liners (without context) from ‘Golden Bachelor’
“You’re a really sexy woman,” Turner said.
“I’m kind of like a lava cake,” Leslie said. “Even though the day started out poorly, it turned out to be a really good one,” Nancy said. “Where is everybody?’ Turner said.
“I drink from a house,” Faith said.
Winner of the week: “Don’t Stop Believin’” by
Journey
Loser of the week: Leather jackets
Spoiler alert: A fan favorite’s “Golden” future hits the fan. What’s to come: A tear-filled episode from Gerry. Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.