The Golden Bachelor has officially been renewed for a second season at ABC, and the network has already revealed its next leading man.
Mel Owens, a 66-year-old NFL veteran-turned-lawyer, will be the latest golden man looking for love on this iteration of the expansive franchise. Born and raised in Detroit, Owens attended the University of Michigan before being drafted to the L.A. Rams in 1981.
Upon retirement, Owens moved to Orange Country, CA, to practice law. He has two sons from his first marriage and, “while life took an unexpected turn with the passing of his father and the end of his marriage,” he’s ready to open his heart again.
A premiere date for Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor has not been announced, though it’s likely to air in the fall again. Last year, ABC launched The Golden Bachelorette in the slot previously occupied by The Golden Bachelor, and the network appears to be alternating between the two each year.
Owens follows in the footsteps of the inaugural Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner, who stole audience’s hearts and drew big ratings when the series debuted in 2023. The first season averaged 10.4 million viewers per episode after 35 days across platforms, making it ABC’s strongest unscripted viewership in years.
The news of The Golden Bachelor renewal comes after Deadline previously revealed that ABC is skipping over The Bachelorette this year. Instead, Bachelor in Paradise is returning this summer after taking a hiatus last year. In January, The Bachelor aired as usual with Season 29 leading man Grant Ellis.
The Golden Bachelor is produced by Warner Bros Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon.
