The Golden Bachelor: Episode 1 Critique
In Summary: It Didn't Totally Suck!
First, let’s be real. Reality TV is hardly that. But, like soap operas of days gone by, it can be addictive.
And I (like millions of people today) get sucked-in.
Plus, as a writer about people >50 (and soon-to-be podcaster), I’m kinda obligated to have a point of view.
My last two posts about the show were somewhat cynical. But I am changing my tune.
The Positives:
Speaking of tunes, the music was great. The classics were a nice touch.
It was mercifully short.
The women were actually pretty natural-looking. Loved that! They were also supportive of each other, which is always great to see.
Gerry seems to be a great kisser. In the trailer for the upcoming episodes, he was sucking a lot of face, and he did the whole “hand on the cheek” thing, which is always a panty-dropper.
The ads were balanced. In fact, the AARP and VMS commercials didn’t run until “Bachelor in Paradise,” which was either a production error or a deliberate decision.
One of the contestants was named Nancy (and she wasn’t sent home yet).
The Less-Than-Positives (See! I’m trying to be Less Judgy!):
Lots of tear-jerky moments. I get it. It’s great for ratings.
Some of the gowns looked like they were better suited for a Bar Mitzvah than fashion-forward TV. Just because we’re over 50, we don’t have to dress like Aunt Sadie.
The hearing aid joke (“ear candy”) was cute and destigmatized auditory appliances, but I thought it was a little unnecessary. What next? Depends?
When Jessie Palmer declared to Gerry, “Glad you found the place!” I cringed a little. Did he think he would be wandering around Los Angeles aimlessly in his tuxedo, forgetting he was the Golden Bachelor?
So, I’m hooked. Not just because it’s great blog fodder but because I want to see how many women The Golden Bachelor ultimately swaps spit with and what happens in the Fantasy Suites. A few of the women actually seem pretty cool, too!
And I’m still holding out hope that I can be the Golden Bachelorette!