We’ve told you before that we have sworn off the Golden Bachelor forever. And it is a good thing too, since the Bachelors are not exactly representing older men very well. The current edition is fronted by 65-year-old Mel Owens, a former NFL linebacker, who is now on an apology tour for saying that he is only interested in women ages 45-60 and that if the women are over 60, he is “cutting them.” It’s an unusual position to be taking for the lead bachelor on a dating show featuring all women over the age of 60, but that’s show business. Not to be outdone, Gerry Turner, the first Golden Bachelor, is soon out with a tell-all book where he promises to shove a knife in the back of his on-air love and now ex-wife Theresa Nist. Frankly, if you’re looking for a good read, we have some other recommendations for you.
But not all reality shows are representing older men quite so poorly. Witness this year’s Dancing with the Stars. The show is populated by younger celebrities including Whitney Leavitt, Alix Earle, and Hilaria Baldwin, several of whom have the distinct advantage of having professional dance backgrounds. Yet, the breakout star of the season is 58-year-old Andy Richter - American actor, comedian, writer, and talk show announcer – who has won over the audience with his good humor, humility, and determination. Despite being noticeably less proficient than his competitors – he regularly receives among the lowest marks from the expert judges – Richter has stayed afloat in the competition because he is beloved by the audience – and fan voting plays a large component in the final scoring. Even in the alternative universe of reality tv shows, sometimes good guys finish first.