NEW YORK — The long-awaited premiere of the “Golden Bachelor” is here and we finally get to meet Mel Owens. He said that he’s only been in love once and he would “give anything” to feel that again. However, will the comments he made on a podcast a few months ago could stand between him and his ability to find love? He had said he was looking for someone 45-60 without an artificial hip or wig. He says he regrets it and he is sorry. Mel said that does not represent who he is. The women were definitely offended and not looking to waste their time, but seemed to be in a forgiving mood. They showed up!

Mel has two sons and he loves them more than anything. Lucas and Andre are his pride and joy. Mel was born in Detroit in 1958 and his dad was a teacher and a coach. He said he started playing football at age 7 and he played for the University of Michigan, and then from there he was drafted by the LA Rams. His father passed away in 2020, and then his wife filed for divorce after finding someone new. He said it was unexpected. Mel said that since the divorce he hasn’t dated, but his boys would like for him to find someone to be happy with. He’s been single for five years and is lonely. Mel said he’s ready to find love.

Listen and watch our podcast “Playing the Field: A Bachelor Podcast” for a complete recap on this week’s episode and to catch up on everything going on in Bachelor Nation!

Jesse welcomes Mel who is wearing some comfy shoes, good for him! He’s ready to meet the amazing women! He’s full of hope and anticipation.

Limos Arrive

1) Cindy is a 60-year-old retired biomedical engineer from Austin, Texas. She told Mel to make their first hug a good one. She said her name is Cindy like Cinderella and she’s been looking for her prince charming for a long time. Mel said, “It might be me!” He asked for a second hug and said he was ready to call it right then and there and the show could be over!
2) Carol is 63 and a Freeman Family Manager from Villa Park, California. Mel said wow and she told him to think fast as she threw a baseball at him. And he caught it and she said she heard he was a good catch and that she hoped to hit it out of the park with him. She works for Brady Freeman – he plays for the Dodgers! He’s her nephew. She was married but is now divorce.
3) Diane is a 71-year-old librarian from Wasilla, Alaska. She played women’s hockey! She asked him, “What the puck was that interview out on the podcast?!” Mel told her it was “unfair, and unkind, and he hoped she would give him a second chance.” She told him to stick with her and she’d “keep him out of the penalty box.” Catch her on ice skates! She’s incredibly active. She was married for 30 years but then her husband had a stroke and it has been four years since he passed.
4) Terri is 71 and a cosmetic dentist from Houston, Texas. She brought a puppet with her that slapped him for what he had said. He found her funny.
5) Carla is 62 and a former model from Los Angeles, California. She said that she is there to break all of his stereotypes about women over 60.
6) Alexandra, 67, sells luxury yachts in Miami, Florida. She asked Mel if he can handle her and she gave him a little kiss.
7) Debbie is a 65-year-old fitness professional from Denver, Colorado. She said that she hopes he chooses her as his most valuable player. She created Slim in 6 through Beach Body. She has fitness videos! She’s also never been married.
8) Peg, 62, is a retired firefighter and bomb tech from Las Vegas, Nevada. She came out in full gear holding a bomb! It had a tiny little spark and explosion but didn’t go off! Someone came in and fixed it and they told her to do it again…the second time it did a tiny little bottle rocket, ha! Peg is funny! Mel was like, maybe we should just hug it out instead. “Hey Mel, no fake hips here!” she said in her intro video.
9) Gerri is 64 and a home care agency CEO from Rockville, Maryland. She started the company with her husband when her husband died of an aortic aneurism at the age of 47. She raised their three children on her own. 18 years after his death, she’s ready to find love again and told Mel that she can care for all his needs. Ha!
10) Lisa, 66, is a state park employee from Marion, Ohio. She hugged Mel and told him that he is “so handsome!” She stumbled and asked if she could do it over again. Mel liked her!
11) Maia is 58 and a college sports consultant from Malibu, California. She fits in his age group and lives near him as well. Hm!
12) Nicolle, 64, is a yoga instructor from Miami Beach, Florida. She threw a football at Mel and told him that it might be the most important pass he ever caught.
13) Monica P. is a 60-year-old cosmetic dentist from Birmingham, Alabama. She brought him a golden toothbrush.
14) Robin is a 63-year-old vineyard owner from Napa Valley, California. She brought him a bottle of her wine, and said she hoped they could age together like a fine wine.
15) OH SNAP – It’s Sandra! Mel recognized her right away. She’s 77 and from the Golden Bachelor Season 1! OH WHAT – she’s not there for herself, she’s brought her twin sister Andra! She’s a retired federal worker from Los Angeles, California. Mel said twins are great!
16) Next up, another set of young twins known for their social media presence, held a banner up that said #1 draft pick. Their mom couldn’t get through and called for Mel’s help. Amy, 63, from Short Hills, New Jersey is a full time mom. She hugged Mel as he finally rescued her from the paper. Her daughters told Mel, “We’ll see you at hometowns and also, no givebacks!”
17) Susie is 62 and a realtor from Del Mar, California. She gave him a compass to find her.
18) Tracy, 62, loves hats and is an interior designer from Lafayette, Louisiana. She also brought Mel a very handsome hat.
19) Monica B. is 62 and she is a flight attendant from Huntsville, Alabama. She told Mel she could take him around the world and back again.
20) Roxanne, 62, is a longevity nurse from Austin, Texas who says she’s a Texarican. She brought him a cowboy hat.
21) Lily is 72 and from Pacific Palisades, California. She is a retired elementary school teacher. She brought him a bouquet of lilies.
22) Mylene, 61, is a casino VIP host from Las Vegas, Nevada. That’s an interesting job! She brought him a golden bottle of champagne so they could share a toast.
23) Then a motorcycle pulled up and it was Cheryl. She’s a 66 year old retired US Treasury worker from Lakewood, Colorado. She said she’s his girl if he wants a wild ride. She goes dirt bike riding and said she grew up a tomboy. She’s from a big Greek family. Her family is so excited for her!

Mel Gets to Know the Women

Mel gives a toast to all the women and tells them that they have exceeded his expectations. He started right off the bat by telling all of them that he was sorry for what he said on the podcast. He said it’s a privilege for him to be the “Golden Bachelor” and he hopes they let him earn their trust back. The women all loved his apology. He toasted to love, happiness and fun!

Mel remembered Cindy right away and it seemed like they had an instant love at first sight connection. Cindy has three daughters, one son, and a soon-to-be son in law. Mel said that he has a son who just graduated high school and a younger one still in high school. He said children aren’t hard work but they take a lot of love work. Cindy found him to be a good dad. Cindy’s daughter is getting married in Italy. She said that in their family you can’t bring a plus one to a wedding unless you are engaged or married. So she said if Mel asks her to marry him, he can come to the wedding in Italy!

Carol revealed to Mel that she’s Freddie Freeman’s aunt. She told Mel that she used to go to all the Rams games in the 80s but admitted that she didn’t really watch the games.

Robin explained how her vineyard works and they enjoyed drinking some of her wine. Alexandra showed him her phone and how she had him saved as her screensaver.

Gerri listened to Mel’s heart and told him that it has been probably 10 years since she did something for herself. She said her husband passed 18 years ago and she raised her kids alone. Mel said that he also wanted to do something for himself. Gerri showed him her journal and the letters her children wrote to her. He said his time with her was very special.

Monica B. and Susie shared a conversation with him and they seemed to have fun. Nicolle and Mel discovered their dads both taught near each other. Debbie got a limbo going and Mel had a great time! He said the process is working!

Jesse entered the room to drop off the First Impression Rose! You could feel the tension rise! Cheryl told Mel how she raced motorcross, but then asked him to play would I rather. He shared a kiss with her when one card said kiss now or kiss later. WOO! First kiss!

Diane and Mel played some hockey as the sun appeared to be coming up. They have to be getting very tired! Peg spoke with Mel and they talked about how they were holding up. Peg said that she wants a real connection and she thinks that she fits all of Mel’s criteria in what he wants out of a partner. When she asked him what he was looking for he said, “You.” Ha ha! There are some real contenders here!

Mel picked up the First Impression rose and asked to talk to Gerri! He said that the story of her family and her not putting herself first for so long really touched him and he wanted to give her the rose! They shared a kiss! Gerri said that this was like winning the super bowl and he said he never won one but he’s heard about it! Ha!

Rose Ceremony

1) Gerri (First Impression Rose)
2) Peg
3) Carla
4) Terri
5) Cheryl
6) Nicolle
7) Cindy
8) Amy
9) Alexandra
10) Monica P.
11) Mylene
12) Carol
13) Roxanne
14) Monica B.
15) Robin
16) Diane
17) Debbie

The next day the remaining 17 women moved into Bachelor Mansion! The women were all pumped to be there together. Diane is a champion arm wrestler, she seems like a lot of fun. Jesse welcomed the women to the house and he explained that there would be a one-on-one date and a group date this week.

1-on-1 Date with Cheryl

The first date card read, “Cheryl, I am looking for a timeless love. Head to the other room for a surprise.” The other women were jealous that she was getting a dream date. There were gowns, shoes and jewelry filling the room. Cheryl modeled the dresses for the other women and they helped her choose a beautiful red gown with a rose on it. Mel pulled up in a beautiful old fashioned limo and he looked dapper in a tux! Nicolle wouldn’t stop kissing him as he waited for Cheryl to make her big entrance. She looked stunning!

They drove to the Queen Mary cruise ship for a private dinner as a string trio played for them. Mel told Cheryl that she had the best introduction of the whole night. She talked about her competitive racing career and that she had more than 50 trophies at the end of it all. She has a 93-year-old mother that she has been taking care of for five years. Mel talked about his own unique relationship with his father and how hard it was to not be with him when he got ill and passed away due to COVID restrictions. Cheryl has a son who is in his 40’s. She was married but then his father didn’t show up at the hospital to be with them. They moved in with her parents and her husband returned when her son was a year old. But when he returned he ran off with him for about a week. When she finally got her son back, Cheryl divorced from her husband. They got to know each other and travel together, but her ex did pass away several years ago. He was amazed at her ability to forgive and just how kind and strong she is.

Mel offered Cheryl the date rose and they kissed as the band played and fireworks went off in the sky. It really was like a fairytale! This is a relationship we’ll want to watch! She seems like she could be around for a long time!

Group Date

Mel met the rest of the women at a football field with Jesse Palmer. Alexandra said that Mel looked even younger in his uniform. They were at the original home of the Los Angeles Rams. They weren’t there to play football, they were there to learn how to be cheerleaders. Cindy was excited because she used to be a pro cheerleader, 30 years ago. Paula Abdul joined them to help instruct them on how to become cheerleaders along with the Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders. They were split into two squads and would be putting on a show. The winning squad would get to spend the evening with Mel.

The yellow Mel’s Angels who danced to “Straight Up” by Paula Abdul. The blue Mel’s GB Squad danced to “Opposites Attract.” In the end it was Mel’s GB Squad that won! He told them all that they made it look easy out there! There is a group date rose sitting on a table. Monica P. shared her story of her divorce, remarriage and death of her spouse during COVID. She’s terribly lonely now and really hoping to find love.

Debbie talked about an early love that didn’t work out at age 45, and how she had almost given up but she still wants to find love. Mel finds all of the women to be really loving. Cindy talked about how she misses her three daughters, and Mel played a video for her of her kids! She was at the Hollywood Bowl to dance with Diana Ross! Mel should take her on a date there! It made Cindy cry she was so happy. They spent a lot of time together and did a lot of kissing. Woo!

In the end, Mel decided to give the date rose to Cindy! It was tough for him to decide because they all shared so much with him. Cindy feels like she’s already beginning to fall in love!

Pool Party

When Mel arrived at Bachelor Mansion, he was swarmed by women. Mel took off his shirt by the pool and they were stunned by his amazing abs. Although the thing that was the craziest is that he jumped in the pool. Mel told Peg that he is still working and he plans on working forever. She wants someone who has time to do some fun things. She said, “It’s go time!” Diana read him a poem she wrote. Do you think she could be a match for Captain Kim? I would love to see an all Golden Paradise this summer!
The women and Mel danced to some 80s hits by the pool and he did his best to give everyone attention. He said it was the most fun he had in years. Nicolle jumped in the pool and climbed on top of him and was kissing him and putting her arms around him in front of everyone. It was very awkward. It was great that there was a water gun by the pool because a few quirts with that by Gerri cooled Nicolle down!

Rose Ceremony #2

1) Cheryl (1-on-1 date)
2) Cindy (group date rose)
3) Roxanne
4) Debbie
5) Gerri
6) Monica P.
7) Monica B.
8) Carol
9) Peg
10) Nicolle
11) Robin
12) Amy
13) Terri
That meant that Diane, Alexandra, Mylene, and Carla were eliminated. Diane is a gem, I’m so glad that the journey gave her hope!

Preview of this Season

Peg, Debbie, Gerri, Cheryl, and Cindy all seem to have a big connection with Mel! Nicolle also continues smooching Mel in front of everyone. He also has a lot of hard goodbyes in front of him. One woman leaves but he chases after her. “I wish it was you,” he says at some point. He also takes out a big ring at the finale location! So it looks like we’ll be getting a proposal this season! Let’s hope so!