“FANTASY FAIL”: Golden Bachelor Producers ‘EMBARRASSED’ by Plummeting Ratings, Admit Casting ‘BORING’ Mel Owens as Lead Was a Huge Mistake, Sparking Behind-the-Scenes Chaos and Panic Over the Show’s Future

GOLDEN Bachelor producers have been left feeling ‘embarrassed’ by ratings for the current season and even appear to regret casting Mel Owens as the lead, The U.S. Sun has learned.

Less than half the viewers who tuned into Gerry Turner’s journey to find love last year have returned to watch Mel’s season.

The Golden Bachelor, retired NFL linebacker Mel Owens is pictured making a stop at Rite Aid in Orange County on April 24, 2025Credit: Rafael Fontoura for The U.S. Sun

Mel Owens enjoys a date during his season of The Golden BachelorCredit: Getty
According to Nielsen ratings, the ABC premiere of Mel’s season of The Golden Bachelor brought in just 2.5 million viewers.

To compare, the first episode of Gerry’s season, which aired in 2024, raked in 4.4 million.

The second episode of Mel’s season dropped to 1.9 million, which is far lower than the 4.3 million who tuned into Gerry’s sophomore episode.

Mel’s third episode saw another drop, bringing in around 1.8 million, while Gerry, 74, had a steady 4 million tuning in to his week three.

While it’s too early to see how the big season finale will impact Mel’s ratings, for Gerry, it only skyrocketed the numbers.

Gerry’s season finale brought in 5.3 million viewers, while his televised wedding to ex-wife Theresa Nist raked in a whopping 6.1 million fans.

According to a show insider, the studio is “past the point of being upset” by the “ratings drop and decline of interest.”

“At this point, it’s just outright embarrassing. Like… they are doing everything they can to revive this franchise from the dead.

Gerry Turner hands out a rose on The Golden Bachelor’s first seasonCredit: ABC

Mel Owens begins his journey for love with 23 women embodying elegance and strengthCredit: Getty
“It might be time to put it to bed for good. But it could get a big revival with [future Bachelorette] Taylor Frankie Paul, 31.”

The source added that producers think the “failure” to deliver this season was do to “miscasting” its lead, Mel, 66.

“He wasn’t the right pick and they see that now but didn’t see it until it was too late.

“That mixed with overall interest in the franchise dropping and you have the dismal numbers that the show is left with,” the insider added.

Former NFL star, Mel, made his debut as The Golden Bachelor on Monday night’s Season 2 premiere.

WELCOME TO SHOWBIZ!

Despite landing the same role as his predecessor, Gerry, production supposedly had very different experiences working with both men.

In September, an insider exclusively revealed to The U.S. Sun that the athlete wasn’t as “go with the flow” as Gerry and was more vocal with his needs than the former bachelor.

“Mel was more difficult to work with than Gerry; slightly more difficult,” the source shared.

“It’s not that Mel himself was extremely difficult, but producers were spoiled with Gerry, who was so easy-going and grateful for every little thing that he just went along with all of it.

“Mel has been more outspoken with his demands. Nothing too outrageous, but he isn’t as go with the flow or happy-go-lucky as Gerry,” the insider explained.

Mel Owens poses with all of the ladies vying for his love on season 2 of The Golden BachelorCredit: ABC

Gerry Turner poses with The Golden Bachelor contestants on his first seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist walk down the aisle during The Golden Wedding before their divorceCredit: Getty
They also noted that production kept a “close eye” on Mel following his ill-received comments about women before filming began.

FUMBLED THE BALL

In June, the ex-professional linebacker, who is in his 60s, told the In the Trenches podcast that he planned to “cut” any of the show’s female contestants who were 60 years or older.

He has since apologized after backlash ensued on social media, including during the first episode, where he addressed his remark to the ladies.

Twenty-three women are competing for Mel’s heart in the series’ latest season, all but one of whom are over 60 years of age.

Although the attorney admitted he was “scared” about how viewers would perceive him during an appearance on Good Morning America, Mel plunged forward and said he had a “great” time on the show.

However, many viewers claim it’s “apparent” that Mel is not attracted to the women and lacks chemistry with the cast.

Golden Bachelor airs on Wednesdays at 8 pm EST on ABC and is available to stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.