The Golden Bachelor Season 2 will premiere Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC, the network confirmed. The senior installment of the Bachelor franchise returns with Mel Owens, 66, as its lead seeking a late-in-life romance with a cast of 23 contestants.
Owens, a former NFL veteran turned lawyer, drew headlines earlier this year after remarks made on MGoBlue’s In the Trenches podcast in June prompted backlash from viewers and members of Bachelor Nation. Reports of his comments — including that he preferred women between 45 and 60 and the remark, “If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them,” along with a reference to avoiding “the artificial hips and the wigs” — prompted calls for ABC to replace him. Owens remained the lead and issued an apology in an August interview with Glamour, calling his words "unfair, insensitive," and later apologized directly to the women cast on his season, telling producers he was surprised by how "brilliant" they are.
The Golden Bachelor is the franchise’s senior-focused spin-off that debuted with Gerry Turner as its first lead; Turner's season concluded without lasting marriage but delivered strong ratings, as did Joan Vassos’ season of the Golden Bachelorette. ABC and the franchise are continuing the format with a new lead this fall.
Producers announced that Season 2 will feature 23 women vying for Owens’ affection. The network and production have emphasized that a majority of the cast are over 60, a point highlighted by Owens in his follow-up interviews. The series will follow the established format of group dates, single dates, hometown visits and the rose ceremony eliminations familiar to Bachelor viewers.
Viewers can watch the premiere live on ABC via a cable or satellite subscription that includes the network, by streaming ABC live on ABC.com or the ABC app with a cable login, or through live TV streaming services that carry ABC such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV. Episodes will be available the day after airing on Hulu, which offers a 30-day free trial for new subscribers on its basic, ad-supported tier; current pricing for Hulu and bundle options varies.
The season follows Owens’ public apology and the studio’s decision to keep him as lead after the June controversy. Producers have said Owens addressed the cast directly about the incident; he described being surprised by the depth and intelligence of the women when he later met them.
ABC and the production company have not released additional scheduling details beyond the premiere date and time. Further information about the contestants, episode order and special guests is expected as the season unfolds. Coverage and recaps will continue across entertainment outlets as audiences watch Owens’ search for companionship on national television.
The Golden Bachelor Season 2 joins a broader bachelor franchise slate that includes upcoming seasons of The Bachelorette and other franchise entries slated across ABC’s schedule through 2026. The senior spin-off’s return follows the franchise’s strategy of expanding formats and audiences while retaining the franchise’s core structure and appointment-viewing model.