“Bachelor Gold” Jerry Turner is unapologetic about his hearing aids
Jerry Turner, ABC’s first “Golden Bachelor,” talks with USA TODAY’s Brian Alexander about the upcoming season and deciding to pursue the opportunity.
Entertain This!, USA Today
Yes, there was drama and connivance on the first night of “The Golden Bachelor.”
For those who feared behind-the-back intrigue, the melodrama and downright weirdness of past seasons were completely off the mark as 22 candidates, aged between 60 and 75, met the first-ever Bachelor Senior Nationals.
Widower Gerry Turner, 72, brought laughter, dance moves and blown kisses on the first night despite promising his grandchildren he would not do so.
Mostly, though, what’s happened on “Golden Bachelor” is that the contestants are relishing the possibilities of new love after years of fearing that those days might be behind them.
As Faith, a self-proclaimed “fun promoter” who wowed Turner as he approached the Bachelor mansion on a motorcycle, said: “We may not be skinny or in shape. But I’m not dead yet.”
Let’s go through some of the highlights of ‘The Golden Bachelor’:
The women of ‘The Golden Bachelor’ are here Meet the contestants on Jerry Turner’s season.
April is gearing up for some “Golden Bachelor” welcome.
April came to “The Golden Bachelor” like a lion. The 65-year-old chicken-loving handler from Port St. Lucie, Florida, immediately grabbed Jerry’s hand and snatched the tanned treasure away for a private time, much to the shock and dismay of the crew’s cackle behind him. As she approached him, April presented an illustrated calendar containing every month of—wait for it—April.
“I’m a flirt,” she said. “It’s been 20 years for me. I need to get back on my game.”
Oh, she has a game, and really high expectations. “If this hen doesn’t get the rose, there’s going to be a lot of hell in the chicken coop,” she vowed. (Of course, I got one.)
Teresa showed off her birthday suit and got a cake kiss
Showing off her “birthday suit” when meeting Jerry on her 70th birthday must have been annoying. But it worked for Teresa, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Jerry returned the favor while the two were alone by smearing her birthday cupcake on his lips, expecting her to clean it off with a kiss. That worked too. “That was the best gift ever,” Teresa said after the first kiss as her love rivals looked on. Teresa was confident the dessert would make her first impression. That didn’t happen, but she took a rose, anyway, to make it to next week.
How to watch: The premiere of “The Golden Bachelor” is almost here
Faith was a believer in the “Golden Bachelor.”
Faith, 60, hit Geri with the motorcycle chute and rocked her hair impressively after removing her helmet. The high school teacher from Benton, Washington followed up with an impressive guitar solo. It was hard to overcome that first impression, which led to him being kissed in full view of the startled crew. Naturally, I took the first impression rose.
Sandra got Fs, as in downright brilliant
Sandra, 75 years old, worked magic in her entrance, noting that she needed to take a deep breath to remain calm. In a calmer voice, the retired executive assistant from Doraville, Georgia, let out a slew of expletives. That moment was burned into Jerry’s mind. “I like the F words and the S words; that’s just how I am,” she later said. Sandra loves R words too, as in rose, which she received.
Leslie dropped her Prince ‘Sexy Dancer’ connection, but she’s moving on very well
Leslie, 64, beat Gerry in a slow entrance using a walker. The Minneapolis fitness trainer then tossed off her gray wig and threw up at the walker. If that wasn’t shocking enough, her discovery that she had dated Prince, who she claimed wrote his 1979 song “Sexy Dancer” about her, was like a mic drop. We won’t even validate this, because it has to be true.
The only problem with this filter is that Leslie keeps making Jerry dance, and that’s not something we need to see every time they get together. Prince will definitely have another Jerry dancing title.
We will never forget Jimmy Kimmel’s aunt Chibi
Can ‘The Golden Bachelor’ continue without Aunt Chippy? Jimmy Kimmel’s beautiful, bustling 83-year-old aunt stepped out of the limo and lit up the Bachelor Mansion in the greatest “Golden Bachelor” scene-show sneak peek.
“This isn’t an 80-year-old club, let me tell you,” Aunt Chippy announced, gauging the impressive competition. “I’m in the wrong place.”
Later, Aunt Chippy fell asleep on the couch, snoring through the rose ceremony and any chance of success.
“Did you get a rose?” Aunt Chippy asked when she was woken up by host Jesse Palmer. “Did you at least get a petal?” Unfortunately no. But it had an impact and a hell of a nap. “I want to take the couch home with me,” she said.
Who got roses from “The Golden Bachelor” Jerry Turner?
In addition to April, Teresa, Sandra and Faith, 11 other contestants received Rod Turner to appear the following week.
- Christina, 73, is a retired purchasing manager from Sierra Madre, California.
- Edith, 60, is a retired real estate broker from Downey, California.
- Ellen, 71, is a retired teacher from Delray Beach, Florida.
- Jenny, a retired project manager from Estill Springs, Tennessee.
- Joan, 60, is a private school principal from Rockland, Maryland.
- Kathy, 70, is a retired educational consultant from Austin, Texas.
- Marina, 60, is a teacher from Los Angeles, California.
- Nancy, 60, is a retired interior designer from Alexandria, Virginia.
- Natasha, 60, is a pro-aging coach and midlife speaker from New York City, New York.
- Peggy, 69, is a dental hygienist from East Haven, Connecticut.
- Susan, 66, is a hair and makeup artist from Aston, Pennsylvania.
“Golden Bachelor” is set for tears and more drama
Auntie Chibi wasn’t the only one who needed sleep. Check-in night ended at 7:30 a.m. “Ladies, do you realize this is the last night I’ve ever stayed up in my entire life?” exclaimed Turner.
Sixteen candidates ended the night with roses. And from the preview for future episodes – which feature a tearful, loving and hugging Turner – there is the promise of more drama to come.
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