The shine might be fading from The Golden Bachelor. As Mel Owens’ season inches toward its finale, the glow that once surrounded ABC’s senior spinoff is starting to dim — and the numbers make that painfully clear.
According to a report from The Sun, viewership for Owens’ season has plummeted to nearly half of what the show’s debut season drew under fan favorite Gerry Turner. An insider described the situation bluntly: “At this point, it’s just outright embarrassing.”
The source added that executives are now questioning whether Owens was the right choice to lead the franchise’s second chapter. “He wasn’t the right pick and they see that now, but didn’t see it until it was too late,” the insider said. “That mixed with overall interest in the franchise dropping and you have the dismal numbers that the show is left with.”
A Rocky Road After a Golden Start
When The Golden Bachelor premiered with Gerry Turner, it was heralded as a refreshing take on love — and a ratings hit.
The first episode attracted more than four million viewers, and Turner’s televised wedding to Theresa Nist pulled in over six million. But when that fairy tale ended in divorce just months later, the backlash was swift. Many wondered if ABC would even continue with the concept.
Still, the network doubled down, choosing former NFL player Mel Owens as the next “Golden” lead. It seemed like a bold, if risky, move — one that’s now backfiring.
The premiere of Owens’ season pulled only half the audience of Turner’s, with fans expressing disappointment long before the first rose was handed out.
Some critics pointed to Owens’ controversial summer remarks, when he said he preferred dating women between the ages of 45 and 60 despite being 66 himself. That comment didn’t sit well with many in Bachelor Nation — and the online reaction was brutal.
Fans Saw It Coming
Social media users wasted no time in reminding ABC that they’d seen this coming.
“Maybe they should’ve cast someone with an ounce of charisma, or recast him when he said he didn’t want to date women in that age range,” one viewer posted.
Another added, “Mel is SO BORING!!!!!!”
Others lamented missed opportunities: “It should’ve been Charles. ABC did us a real disservice by not giving us Charles.”
More cutting remarks followed:
“Trash lead gets trash ratings.”
“We told them plenty before it was too late, and they chose not to listen when we said we wouldn’t watch that misogynistic, ageist, PIG.”
“Maybe it is time to call it quits.”
The sentiment was loud and clear: the viewers had warned ABC, and now they’re watching the fallout unfold in real time.
Behind the Scenes, ABC Is in Panic Mode
The insider who spoke to The Sun painted a picture of growing concern inside ABC. “They are doing everything they can to revive this franchise from the dead,” the source said. “It might be time to put it to bed for good.”
That sense of urgency has led to some drastic attempts at reinvention. Over the summer, Bachelor in Paradise tried to spice things up by turning its traditional love quest into a cash-prize competition.
Now, the network reportedly hopes that casting The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul could breathe new life into the faltering franchise.
“They are putting pressure on [Taylor] to be the saving grace of the entire franchise because without her season being a success, there’s a good chance it will get moved to streaming,” the insider claimed. “And there’s always a chance it could get canceled altogether.”
A Franchise at a Crossroads
With ratings slipping, fan enthusiasm waning, and internal confidence shaken, The Golden Bachelor finds itself at a defining moment. Whether ABC chooses to give the show one last shot or quietly retire it remains to be seen.
For now, Mel Owens’ journey continues toward the hometown dates and fantasy suites — but for the once-beloved Bachelor empire, the fantasy may already be fading fast.
