Dudes Rock: The Golden Bachelor, Ex-NFL Linebacker Mel Owens, Immediately Told Producers if They Give Him Any Women Older Than 60 He's Cutting Them On The Spot
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A.V. Club – This is according to Deadline, one of several outlets that picked up today on an interview Owens gave back at the start of June to the MGoBlue Podcasts With Jon Jansen, in which the retired player and lawyer talked about the long and arduous process of being selected for the show. After having finally gotten the gig, producers on the series asked Owens—who, we’d like to reiterate, is 66 years old—what his “preferences” for candidates would be, and he made it clear he was looking to TV-date women between 45 and 60. (“Just being honest.”) Owens said he later doubled down on this stance in conversations with the show’s executive producers, despite reassurances that all the women selected for him would be “hot.” “I”—the “I” in question being Mel Owens, a man 66 years of age—”said, ‘If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them.'”
Owens, 66, said producers did push back against this take, reminding him, “This is not The Silver Bachelor, it’s The Golden Bachelor.” (They also apparently weren’t wild about him using football terminology like “cut” to describe sending his fellow sexagenarians home.) Talking in the interview, Owens went on to describe his ideal woman, saying she’s a “lifetime learner” (aw!) and then about five different ways of saying she should be good-looking and in shape. (The phrase “stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs” is deployed.) So, yeah: Mel Owens, our new Golden Bachelor, saying the quiet part extremely loud. (We shouldn’t judge; the man is, after all, 66.)
That's right, Mel Owens. You're in the position of power here. ABC has hired YOU, and only you, to be this year's coveted Golden Bachelor. At the ripe of 66-years old, you're still a God damn catch. You make damn sure the women are hot. You know full well there's an NFL roster's worth of gold digging bombshells who would give their left ovary for a spot on their premier reality show spin-off. Women wouldn't think twice about marrying a man 20 to 40 year's their senior if it gives them a platform to launch that line of eco-friendly sugar scrubs she's always dreamed about. You tell those ABC producers to get out there and find those hussies. You're not here for a distinguished, age appropriate partner who relates to you in life experience and wisdom. You're here lineup of trim that'll give you 5-10 years of mind-blowing sex before inevitably giving you heart attack in bed and riding off into the sunset after snaking away your life savings from your two adult sons.
I don't know what ABC expected to happen. They didn't cast some 70-year old real estate agent who's living single and retired on the back of a slightly above average 401k. They cast an ex-NFL player turned successful attorney. Mel Owens doesn't need the Golden Bachelor to find himself a hot wife. From where I'm sitting, Mel Owens is doing ABC a favor by providing them with a somewhat interesting casting choice for their reality dating competition. If ABC wants Mel Owens to put asses in seats, then they're going to have to meet the standards of a 9-year NFL veteran.
Honestly, I'm surprised he didn't demand younger than 45-60. "So here's the thing Disney. I know I may have implied I was a little more open-minded to your premise before you announced to the world that Mel Owens was your Golden Bachelor. But I saw the old hags you cast in this thing last season. Mel Owens doesn't do Golden Girls. But I saw a preview for your Bachelor In Paradise series the other day. If you'll just go ahead and draw from that list that'll be great. Looking forward to working with you."
You're gonna do great Mel. The young, hot, under 60 ladies are going to love you.