The Golden Bachelor has found its next leading man.
Following the success of ABC’s inaugural senior-aged spinoff of The Bachelor in 2023, season two of The Golden Bachelor has been officially renewed, and a new star has been selected to hand out roses.
Mel Owens, a 66-year-old former NFL player-turned-lawyer, is the second Golden Bachelor.
A premiere date, along with the rest of the cast cast, will be announced later.
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Owens, who was born in Detroit and played college football for the University of Michigan Wolverines, had a nine-year NFL career as a linebacker with the Los Angeles Rams. Owens retired in 1991 following an injury.
Here’s his bio from ABC: “Born and raised in a close-knit Midwestern family in Detroit, Owens’ athleticism shone through from an early age. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft by the L.A. Rams. Following his retirement from football, Owens transitioned into a career in law and moved to Orange County, California, dedicating himself to helping others, particularly those seeking justice for sports-related injuries. It was during this time that he met his first love, and together they had two sons. While life took an unexpected turn with the passing of his father and the end of his marriage, Owens channeled his energy into being the best father he could be, focusing on raising his sons and coaching their extracurricular sports teams.
“Now, after several years as a devoted dad, Owens is ready to rediscover a love rooted in the simple joys of companionship — sharing life’s everyday moments, making plans for the future and growing stronger together as a couple. As the Golden Bachelor, he’s eager to meet someone who shares this vision and finally find that perfect teammate he’s been waiting for in his golden years.”
The Golden Bachelor renewal comes amid leadership changes at the top of the franchise following the exits of Bachelor co-showrunners Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner, along with co-executive producers Michael Margolis and Keely Booth, amid allegations of a toxic set. The Bachelorette has also been put on pause for its 22nd season, with no news about when the female-led series will return.
The first season of The Golden Bachelor starred Gerry Turner in the lead role. The spinoff was a hit out of the gate, with the show’s launch marking a three-year high in total viewers for any The Bachelor show and reinvigorating buzz around the veteran Warner Bros. and ABC reality TV franchise.
Turner, 72, found love on his season with Theresa Nist, whom he married in a televised wedding on ABC in January 2024. Just three months after their vows, however, the couple announced they were divorcing in a joint interview on Good Morning America. Nearly a year later, Turner revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer, which complicated their relationship.
Still, Turner’s debut season nabbed the Golden Bachelor the best franchise ratings since the 2020 finale of Matt James’ The Bachelor. Following its success, ABC launched the Golden Bachelorette with Golden Bachelor alum Joan Vassos, who got engaged to Chock Chapple during her 2024 season finale.
Contestants from both previous seasons of Golden Bachelor and Golden Bachelorette will be appearing on this summer’s milestone 10th season of Bachelor in Paradise, which will be hosted by Jesse Palmer, with franchise stars Wells Adams and Hannah Brown serving as bartenders on the Costa Rica-set spinoff.
Along with The Golden Bachelor‘s Leslie Fhima and The Golden Bachelorette‘s Gary Levingston, Zoe McGrady (The Bachelor season 29), Hakeem Moulton (The Bachelorette season 21) and Jonathon Johnson (The Bachelorette season 21) have so far been announced for the BIP season 10 cast.
The Golden Bachelor is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon.
