The Golden Bachelorette's Mark Anderson recently confirmed that he'd be open to being The Golden Bachelor, but I think that would be a big mistake. It's not surprising many fans want to see Mark be The Bachelor spin-off's next male lead. The 58-year-old retired Army veteran has been popular from the moment he appeared onscreen briefly on The Bachelor season 28. His daughter, Kelsey Anderson, was a contestant on Joey Graziadei's season. After making it to the final four, she took Joey to Louisiana during hometown dates and introduced him to her father.
Fans fell in love with Mark, and a star was born. He was announced as a contestant on The Golden Bachelorette, as one of the 24 single men who'd be dating 61-year-old Joan Vassos. Joan and Mark gave it a shot, but it didn't work out between them, and Joan sent Mark home right before her hometown visits. Even before Mark's elimination, speculation about Mark's future ran rampant online, as many assumed he'd be the next The Golden Bachelor. Mark recently expressed interest in the possibility, but I think it's a terrible idea.
Why Mark Didn't Win Joan Vassos' Heart
They Had No Chemistry
Hopes were high for Mark when he joined the cast of The Golden Bachelorette season 1. I assumed he'd easily swoop in and steal Joan's heart before any of the other men had a chance. I simply couldn't imagine a reality in which Joan wouldn't immediately fall head over heels in love with the widowed father of five, but she didn't. Though Joan liked Mark, she preferred other men, like 60-year-old Chock Chapple and 66-year-old Guy Gansert.
After a painfully awkward solo date on a luxury yacht, Joan went to The Bachelor mansion the next morning and pulled Mark aside to talk. She told him she'd been up all night thinking about their relationship. She said she loved him, but there was "something missing" between them. In a scene posted to YouTube by Bachelor Nation, Joan sends Mark home. I found it interesting that Joan didn't make Mark go to rose ceremony that night.
Mark Says He's Open To Being The Golden Bachelor
Never Say Never
During a recent interview with The Wrap, Mark was asked if he'd be interested in replacing 72-year-old Gerry Turner as The Golden Bachelor. “I’d definitely consider it," Mark said. "It’s been a fantastic experience for me.” During the interview, Mark pointed out he had watched his daughter, Kelsey, find the love of her life on The Bachelor season 28, so he feels confident the process can work. I think it's great that being on The Golden Bachelorette was a good experience for Mark, but it doesn't mean he should be The Golden Bachelor.
Will Mark Be The Golden Bachelor?
He's Open To The Possibility
At this point, ABC hasn't announced the identity of the next The Golden Bachelor, but I hope they cast someone other than Mark. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like Mark. He appears to be a very nice person who deserves to find true love again. I just don't think he'd make a very good Bachelor lead for several reasons. For starters, Mark is a quiet, soft-spoken person, and a lead needs to be a better communicator. During his solo date with Joan, the two sat in complete silence for long periods.
Joan and Mark had nothing to say to each other unless they were talking about their late spouses.
Joan was married to John Vassos for 32 years before he passed away in 2021, while Mark had been married to the love of his life, Denise Anderson, for 18 years until she died in 2018. It became clear early on in The Golden Bachelorette that Mark wasn't over the loss of his late wife, and he wasn't ready to be dating again, at least not in such a public manner. I worry Mark's lack of readiness would stifle the success of The Golden Bachelor season 2.
