The final rose has withered, and this time, there won’t be another season to bloom. In a move that has sent shockwaves through Bachelor Nation, ABC has officially pulled the plug on The Golden Bachelor. What was once the network’s shining hope for a “senior romance” renaissance has ended in a pile of broken contracts and dismal Nielsen numbers following the disastrous run of Season 2 lead, Mel Owens.
Insiders at the network say the decision was a “mercy killing” after a season plagued by controversy, a lack of chemistry, and a lead who managed to alienate the very audience the show was built for.
The Ratings Freefall
When Gerry Turner launched the franchise, he brought in a staggering 4.4 million viewers for his premiere. In contrast, the former NFL linebacker Mel Owens saw the audience cut nearly in half, with viewership dipping as low as 1.9 million by the midpoint of his season.
“The novelty is dead,” a production source spilled. “Executives were looking at the data in real-time and realized the ‘Golden’ magic had evaporated. Fans didn’t just stop watching; they actively revolted.”
The Premiere Slump: Mel’s debut failed to capture even 60% of the previous season’s audience.
The “Boring” Factor: Social media was flooded with complaints that the 66-year-old lawyer lacked the charisma needed to carry the two-hour time slot.
The Exit: Sponsors began quietly pulling back after the third week of declining numbers.
The “Fit” Fiasco and Fan Backlash
The season was behind the eight-ball before the first limo even arrived. Mel Owens sparked a national firestorm after his appearance on the In the Trenches podcast, where he made “ageist” demands that producers avoid casting women with “artificial hips and wigs,” stating he would “cut anyone over 60.”
While Mel eventually issued a public apology, the damage was done. Longtime fans of the franchise felt the show’s original message of “love at any age” had been tainted by a lead who seemed more interested in a “fitness partner” than a soulmate.
“He wasn’t looking for a wife; he was looking for a co-captain for his workout routine,” one disgruntled contestant reportedly told friends after filming. “The women were incredible, but the match was a total mismatch.”
A Finale That Broke the Franchise
The final nail in the coffin was the “cringe-worthy” season finale. After an agonizing choice between Cindy Cullers and Peg Munson, Mel’s “fear of commitment” became the season’s true star. His refusal to offer a traditional proposal—opting instead for a “promise ring” and a request to “date for two more years”—left viewers outraged and the studio audience in stunned silence.
“Why sign up to be the Golden Bachelor if you’re not ready for the ‘Golden’ years commitment?” questioned one viral post on X. “ABC wasted our time and these women’s lives.”
Network heads are reportedly shifting their focus back to the flagship Bachelor and Bachelorette series, leaving the future of the entire “Golden” spinoff brand—including the once-popular Golden Bachelorette—in a state of permanent “indefinite hiatus.”
As one Bravo insider put it: “They tried to recreate lightning in a bottle, but they forgot that you need more than just a famous name and a suit. You need heart. And this season, the heart just wasn’t there.”