Many Bachelor Nation fans are counting on Mark Anderson being cast as the nextThe Golden Bachelor, but it would be a mistake for him to accept the role. 58-year-old Mark made his television debut duringThe Bachelorseason 28, when his daughter, Kelsey Anderson, decided to apply to be on Joey Graziadei’s season of the unscripted dating show. That fateful decision would not only change Kelsey’s life, it would also change Mark’s. When Kelsey took Joey home during the season’s hometown dates episode and introduced him to her widowed father, a Bachelorfranchise star was born.
Fans fell in love with Mark’s quiet strength and his enduring love for his late wife, immediately clamoring to see more of the retired Army veteran. A great deal of ink was spilled about Mark’s future with the franchise, and especially about him being the nextThe Golden Bachelor.When ABC announced that Mark would be a contestant onThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1, many speculated that he was only being groomed to lead his own season. After Joan Vassos eliminated Mark,many assumed he’d be theBachelorspin-off’s next male lead, but that could be a major casting mistake.
Mark Said He Was Open To The Role
Doesn’t Sound Like He Wants It
In a recent interview,The WrapaskedMark if he’d be interested in replacing72-year-old Gerry TurnerasThe 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 onThe Bachelorseason 28, sohe feels confident the process can work. Though Mark thinks that being onThe Golden Bachelorettewas a good experience, that doesn’t mean he should agree to beThe Golden Bachelor.
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Mark’s noncommittal response suggests he’s ambivalent about being the nextThe Golden Bachelor.Competing on Joan’s season gave him a preview of what it’s like to have your love life in the harsh glare of the spotlight. Gettinga taste of what it’s like to be under constant scrutiny should give Mark pauseabout signing up for more. If he thinks being a Bachelor contestant is hard, he’s sure to find being a lead even harder. Being on twoBachelorshows has given him plenty of notoriety, and he should easily be able to find true love in real life.
Mark Is Still Mourning His Late Wife
He’s Not Ready To Move On
Mark found true love once before, and never thought he’d have to start dating again. Long before appearing onThe Bachelorseason 28 andThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1,Mark was married to Denise Andersonfor 18 years before she passed away in 2018. Like Mark, Denise was also in the Army, and the pair met while they were overseas serving the country. They went on to have five children, and had expected to enjoy their later years together. Sadly,Denise was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, and died two months later. Mark was understandably devastated by the loss.
Denise was the love of Mark’s life, and he wasn’t ready to let go of his beloved soulmate.
When Kelsey took Joey home duringThe Bachelorseason 28, Mark gifted the couple a photo album filled with photographs of his marriage throughout the years. He wanted to give Joey and Kelsey a glimpse into his love story. Throughout his time onThe Golden Bachelorette,Mark talked about his wife often, and it was clear that he wasn’t ready to move on. Accepting the role ofThe Golden Bachelorwould be a big mistake, because he’s not truly open to finding love again.
Mark Doesn’t Shine On Television
It’s Not His Ideal Milieu
Mark once told Joan that he hadn’t dated much since the death of his beloved late wife, and it showed. He was often awkward around Joan. He was extremely quiet, and lacked any semblance of “game.” It was clear that Mark was out of practice with women, sohe wasn’t able to let his personality shine through when Joan was around. In contrast, Mark was fun and outgoing when it was just him and the other men around. He once dressed as a dolphin and danced around theBachelormansion to entertain the other men.
Mark was out of dating practice, so he was never able to let Joan see his fun, outgoing side.
Mark’s last episode ofThe Golden Bacheloretteseason 1 started off so well. He received a highly coveted one-on-one date with Joan. She picked him up in a sports car, and drove him to the coast, where they boarded a luxury yacht and set sail. What should have been a romantic voyage was anything but.The couple sat in long periods of painfully awkward silence, broken only by conversation about their late spouses.
Like Mark, Joan was also a widower, but their shared sense of loss wasn’t enough to build and sustain a romantic relationship.
In a scene posted to YouTube byBachelor Nation,Joan came over the next day and pulled Mark aside. She told Mark that she loved him, but that there was “something missing” between them. Joan sent Mark home before that night’s rose ceremony. The fact thatshe didn’t make him go through an official rose ceremony added fuel to the theorythat Mark was being groomed to beThe Golden Bachelor.
Mark Isn’t Old Enough Yet
He’s Only 58 Years Old
The concept ofThe Golden Bachelorwas groundbreaking, as it was the first dating show about the love lives of senior citizens.Mark’s only 58 years old, which is far from being a senior citizen. If he’s cast as the spin-off’s next lead, the women he’d date would likely be even younger. Since the show’s calledThe Golden Bachelor, casting people who aren’t in their golden years would be a complete betrayal of the premise. If producers offer Mark the role, he should turn it down or risk disappointing the show’s fan base.
58 years old
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The Golden Bachelor
Cast
The Bachelor returns to TV with The Golden Bachelor, a romantic reality competition series created for ABC. The show will focus on an older generation of hopefuls, with one senior male hoping to court and win the heart of one of several older female contestants.
