Second Chance at Love – 7 Takeaways From The Golden Bachelorette Premiere [Spoiler]

Finally, the anticipated spin-off, The Golden Bachelorette, premiered on ABC, and if you missed watching the debut, and is now streaming on Hulu.

The first-ever The Golden Bachelorette sets the scene for vibrant, attractive, successful singles, mostly in their 60s in their quest to find a second chance at love on or off the show.

The Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos, is a sexagenarian (those aged in their 60s) All-American girl next door. Widowed in 2021, she opens up to say she doesn’t know if she can have two great loves in a lifetime, but she’s hoping. This gives hope to single men that age-appropriate women with open hearts exist and to women who suffered a great loss that they can start all over again to find another love at any age.

The 24 male suitors, mostly in their 60s, sans one in his 50s, lined up with the hopes of capturing her heart, or at least a first episode rose.

Only 18 of the 24 desirable men were bestowed a rose, sending six nervous guys packing their bags to go home. More on that later.

1. Men of All Ages Love Competition

There’s nothing like a man vying for a woman’s attention in an auction. The competition was steep as Pascual, the 64-year French man from Chicago, charmed Joan with his accent. At the same time, Kim, the 69-year-old retired Navy Captain from Seattle, showed up in uniform, and Chock, the 60-year-old insurance agent from Wichita, brought Joan his “chock-en” chicken soup. Jack, the 68-year-old caterer from Chicago, serenaded Joan with his rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” All four were rose recipients, so their creativity and charm paid off.

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2. Women in their 60s Are Attractive (60 is the new 40)

Joan Vassos provides that class and charm will make any senior partner feel younger than his years. Her natural beauty and warmth made each competitor hope they’d receive their coveted rose, while the decision-making process was difficult for Joan.

3. Pickleball Makes a Great Date Idea

An evening of informal pickleball suggested by one contestant turned into the Golden Bachelorette version of Pickleball 2.0, adding a lively and fun aspect to the country’s fastest-growing sport for seniors. So did a fun game of corn hole.

Since so many dating profiles include playing pickleball, it makes it a good date idea. If you haven’t taken the leap, there are plenty of free indoor and outdoor classes to sign up for. Plus, Pickleball makes a great date idea.

4. Distance and Zip codes Aren’t Barriers to Finding Love

Other rose recipients included Bob from Marina del Rey, CA; Charles K. from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; Charles L. from Malvern, PA; Christopher from Babylon, NY; Dan from Naples, FL; Gary from Palm Desert, CA; Gil from Mission Viejo, CA; Gregg from Longboat Key, FL; Guy from Reno, NV; Jonathan from Oakland, IA; Jordan from Chicago, IL; Keith from San Jose, CA (with the first impression rose); Mark from Leesville, LA; and Michael from Charlotte, NC.

With attractive men (many retired) covering eight states throughout the country, it’s a message to single daters in their 50s, 60s, and 70s to change their zip code, and expand their search outside their hometown. I’ve always said distance and zip codes aren’t barriers to finding love.

5. The Golden State is Filled With Desirable Golden Men

With five of the 24 hopeful men residing in California, single women in the Golden State will know they can find a hunky, kind, open-hearted relationship-oriented man in a state that has a bad rap for being superficial.

6. Men Love Their Families and Get Emotional, Too

A highlight of the show, was the heartfelt ending, where the selected bachelors sat together and watched the emotional pre-recorded videos of their children and family members cheering them on. A few tears were shed, and the message was clear. These selected men, and many more at home, have hearts of gold and their families mean the world to them.

7. Rose-Less Men Will Be in Demand

The six contestants who left the first episode without roses included Bill, David, Ken, Pablo, R.J., and Thomas. But will all be lost on the six roseless men? Hardly, as the build-up to the TV appearance has garnished a lot of publicity. Plus, their date cards, I am sure, will be full upon their return home proving the desire for love doesn’t have an expiration date in the 60s. Local singles in their 50s-70s will be waiting for them with open arms with the hope they too can have a second chance at love.

As each episode unfolds, more men will be sent home, and I suspect won’t be single for too long.

What this series clearly does is give the large population of single baby boomers at home the hope that love might just be a click away.

The Golden Bachelorette series will continue on Wednesdays at 8 pm/ET (7 pm/CT), where you can watch Joan’s journeys in more intimate situations with her perspective love interests.,