I Used To Think Gerry Turner Saved The Bachelor Franchise, But I’ve Changed My Mind

I used to think that The Golden Bachelor leading man Gerry Turner saved the Bachelor franchise, but now I've changed my mind and realized that it was actually the Golden Bachelor women who were its saving grace. Gerry was introduced as a 72-year-old retired restaurateur, who'd suddenly lost his wife, Toni, to a bacterial infection six years before the show. They were together for 43 years and had two children and two grandchildren.

With a sweet smile and a twinkle in his eye, Gerry began his Golden Bachelor season 1 journey with 22 women over the age of 60. As Gerry fell in love with Theresa Nist and proposed to her, the show gave hope to people of all ages that anyone could find love at any point in their lives, no matter their circumstances. The tired Bachelor franchise was revitalized, and I gave credit to Gerry for saving it. However, when scandal ruined Gerry's reputation, I realized that it was actually his contestants who breathed new life into Bachelor Nation.

Gerry Turner Was Allegedly Not Who He Appeared To Be

The Golden Bachelor Divorce Was A Disaster Too

During The Golden Bachelor, I was shocked when The Hollywood Reporter published an exposé about Gerry that alleged that he'd lied about his past, including his career and dating history. The report alleged that, according to Gerry's LinkedIn page, he hadn't owned a restaurant since 1985. The article also stated that Gerry wasn't completely retired and had been working as handyman before the show. I didn't think that this was too much of a red flag, since many retired people have jobs after they retire from their main career.

However, I was concerned when I read that Gerry allegedly lied about not having a dating history before The Golden Bachelor. He was accused of dating a woman for an extended period of time before the show, and later breaking up with her because she'd gained weight before his reunion. It didn't bother me that Gerry might have dated this woman after his wife passed away, but it was strange that it wasn't mentioned on the show. It was more of a lie of omission than an outright falsehood, but it definitely made me see him in a different light.

Gerry's innocent widower image was tarnished. To me, he now seemed like every other Bachelor franchise lead who went on the show more to gain fame than love. The way he blindsided runner-up Leslie Fhima by making her think that he was going to choose her also ruined his reputation. The final straw was Gerry's divorce from Theresa, just three months after the Golden Wedding, which made me realize that Gerry couldn't possibly live up to the high expectations that were created for him. However, I still loved the show, and now I know that it's because the women saved the franchise, not Gerry.

The Golden Bachelor Contestants Are Exceptional Women

The Women Saved The Bachelor Franchise

Although I first thought that it was Gerry who brought the Bachelor franchise back to life, I now know that The Golden Bachelor would have been nothing without the amazing women who appeared on the show. Some of the standouts were Theresa, who's a strong, capable woman with a thriving career at age 70, and Leslie, who, at 65 years old, is still teaching dance classes and motivating people to achieve their goals. Faith Martin, 61, is a multi-talented singer and musician, who's still playing live shows and entertaining audiences.

At 75, Sandra Mason is as vibrant as ever, making people laugh with her incredible sense of humor. Best friends Susan Noles, 67, and Kathy Swarts, 71, are the hosts of the Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour podcast, and have been imparting their wisdom with their unique brand of kindness and humor. And the wonderful Joan Vassos, 61, is about to begin her journey as the first-ever star of The Golden Bachelorette.

I believe that these women, along with Ellen Goltzer, April Kirkwood, Nancy Hulkower, Christina Kemption, Edith Aguirre, Jeanie Howard, Natascha Hardee, Peggy Dercole, Marina Perera, Anna Zalk, Maria Trice, Pamela Burns, Patty James, Renee Halverson Wright, and Sylvia Robledo, were the ones who saved the Bachelor franchise, not Gerry. Their inspiring stories and beautiful friendships were the highlight of The Golden Bachelor. These women deserve the credit for breathing new life into the Bachelor franchise.