It’s down to Cindy and Peg. But apparently, one of them “was difficult to get to know.”
And then there were two. The Golden Bachelor Mel Owens concludes his season on Wednesday, November 12, but we still have to see what happened on those all-important overnight dates in Antigua first. While in the Caribbean, he spent one-on-one time without cameras with Cindy, 60, a retired biomedical engineer from Austin, and Peg, 62, a retired firefighter and bomb tech from Las Vegas. Both are avid football fans, the most important detail for Mel.
When the episode airs, we’ll see the requisite daytime beach adventures. However, a romantic dinner between Mel and one of the women takes an unexpected turn that will change everything heading into the finale.
But if you think you know which way Mel is leaning, then you’re smarter than me. The guy doesn’t let on to anything. He seemed super into Cindy until her hometown date; something was off, and it was as if the last few weeks had never happened. He clearly loves spending time with Peg, but it often feels as though he can’t keep up with her boundless energy. Of course, if you ask Nicolle, she’ll tell you who she thinks is right for him. In the end, time will tell.
There’s also the question of whether or not Mel even got engaged. And if so, is he still with the person he chose? All will be revealed soon enough. Until then, Mel got refreshingly honest with Glamour about why even he was surprised that Peg made it this far and why next week’s finale is filled with so many “twists and turns.”
Okay, Mel, you and I go way back now, so spill: Are you engaged?
Mel Owens: [Silence]
Oh, come on! Are you in love?
I’m always in love.
I can’t with you. Are you happy with the way things turned out?
Things have a way of working themselves out. It just does.
I don’t even know what that means, but would you say you’re happier now than when you began the season?
You know, I’m happy with the show. But there’s drama, where it could derail, and things can go off the rails.
Okay, let’s talk about things you can discuss. [Laughs.] What did you think when you heard and saw how Nicolle behaved in the house?
Everybody has their own strategy or their own feeling coming into it, and that was hers, right? But it’s like anything else: When you have a strategy, some things don’t go like you planned. So you’ve got to pivot, make different decisions, make adjustments. It was sort of like, “Wow, she said those things,” but…
Did you say, “Join the club, Nicolle. I’ve been there”? [Laughs]
Good one. [Laughs.] I wouldn’t say that to her, but I did say, “Wow,” when I heard it. And again, I know what it sort of feels like. People go, “Oh my gosh, oh my God,” but let her be her. She handled it pretty well. She got checked by Debbie. But people are human beings, and they make mistakes. Or maybe she stands by it, I don’t know.
I have to say, you have me puzzled going into this finale. I don’t know what you’re thinking.
Well, I tried to leave it to my gut and my instincts, right? You’ve got to like the person before you love them. Because you can love your crazy uncle, right? But if you don’t like him…. You’ve got to like the guy or the gal, right? So I have to really like you first. And then we can get to the other stages. It doesn’t mean that we can’t get there. And maybe sometimes, you’re in love, and you don’t know it. You can’t define it.
What was missing for you with Debbie?
That decision was very, very tough. Because in retrospect, you see Debbie with her sincerity and just her loveliness, right? She was all in. There was no hesitation. When I spoke to her family, they knew that she’s in. And I’m in, right? It was a tough decision. I really loved being around Debbie. She made me feel very lovely, and she was warm and honest and sincere. She’s in it. She was like, “I want to find my guy.” I think that she would make a real loving companion. She had that heart, but it was tough. God, it was tough.
We know she’s ready for marriage, and she’s an amazing woman, but do you think, in this accelerated environment, it might have almost scared you and been a case of too much, too soon?
No, because let’s say that I had chosen her, and she was the final one, right? I think she wouldn’t have pushed me to be like, “Okay, now we’re going to get engaged, and then we’re going to get married.” I don’t think she would have accelerated things. I don’t.
I know you didn’t watch the show before. Did you know what the Fantasy Suites were when that was presented to you?
Yes.
Were you excited for them?
Yeah, but I was excited because you get a nice suite with no cameras, no mics. As you’re in the show, and it’s getting down to the last two, it’s time to talk about some important things off camera. So it’s not like it says “fantasy,” and you think, “All these things are going to happen.” It’s really like adult time.
So it wasn’t a fantasy then?
No, it’s always a fantasy. This whole thing’s a fantasy. Right?
I love playing with you, Mel.
I know you do. And I like it too. It’s all a fantasy. So then you really get to know each other a lot deeper, and then you can go from there. Some things people just don’t want to say on camera.
I’m glad that you took that time to have the nonfantasy talks, then. So let’s look ahead to the finale. Give me your best tease that you haven’t told anyone else.
The fireworks aren’t what you think they are.
I could take that a lot of ways.
That’s right, and it applies three different ways. They’re not what you think they are. You’re going to be amazed. There are so many twists and turns, you’re going to go, “What was that all about? How did we get from here to there?”
Interesting. How have you changed since you started this journey?
I have more clarity. This has opened up my thought process, and I’m a lot clearer about my own life. I’ve had a great life. I’ve had a fantasy life. But being on this journey and with these women has really opened up my mind. I’ve always had an open mind, but this is really…it’s clarity.
Well, I’m proud of you, Mel. I see you’ve grown.
Are we going to have another interview, when we’re done?
We better have another interview when we’re done, because we’re going to have a lot to talk about based on what you’ve told me.
Yeah, yeah. I want to know what you think. I would like to know that.
I will. Because I feel like I’ve been with you on this since the beginning.
You have.
So tell me then, when you and I first sat down at the end of July, you were barely 10 days into filming. Did you know then which women might be your final two?
No. Because, you remember, the final two is Cindy and Peg. Cindy was more open, as you can see, during the season. And Peg was sort of closed off and really a difficult person to get to know. Cindy’s affectionate and smart. I like Peg because she’s high-energy, but she was really not that affectionate in the beginning. I mean, she’s just really not an affectionate person. I just wanted a little more affection from Peg that I just couldn’t get.
Wow. Did that make it more challenging for you, in a way that excited you?
Not really, but I knew that she had something special about her. So slowly but surely, but still, the lack of affection didn’t help that much in the beginning.
Well, it kind of worked in the end because she’s in the final two.
Yeah, we’re there. And at this point [going into the fantasy suites], we’re still working on stuff.
A new episode of The Golden Bachelor airs tonight, Wednesday, November 5, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT, and streams the next day on Hulu. The finale and “After the Final Rose” special airs Wednesday, November 12.
