Gerry Turner said he had already socialized with some of the women on Wednesday’s season premiere of “The Golden Bachelor” on ABC, but he ended up sending home six women, including Patty, the mother of “The Bachelor” star Matt James .
Gerry Turner, 72, from Hudson, Indiana, was looking forward to meeting the 22 hopefuls who came to the Bachelor mansion in hopes of winning his heart. Gerry said his daughters and granddaughters encouraged him to come on the show years after his wife, his high school sweetheart, tragically died after contracting a bacterial infection.
“I took my wife to the emergency room on July 7th and she died on July 15th,” Gerry said, crying in a confessional.
Gerry said it would now be six years since his wife Toni died before he would meet all 22 women… plus a special cameo from Jimmy Kimmel’s Aunt Chippy.
After meeting all 22 women vying for his heart, he finally sent Anna Zalk, 61, a retired nutritionist from Summit, New Jersey; Pamela Burns, 75, a retired salon owner from Aurora, Illinois; Patty James, 70, a retired real estate professional from Raleigh, North Carolina; Renee Halvorson, 67, an author from Middleton, Wisconsin; Maria Trice, 60, a health and wellness director from Teaneck, New Jersey, and Sylvia Robledo, 64, a public affairs consultant from Los Angeles, didn’t get roses and went home.
Hopeful: Gerry Turner, 72, from Hudson, Indiana, was looking forward to meeting the 22 hopefuls who came to the Bachelor mansion in hopes of winning his heart. Gerry said his daughters and granddaughters encouraged him to come on the show years after his wife, his high school sweetheart, tragically died after contracting a bacterial infection
Sent home: Gerry Turner said he had already socialized with some of the women on Wednesday’s season premiere of “The Golden Bachelor” on ABC, but he ended up sending six women home, including Patty, “The Bachelor’s” mother. -star Matt James
Crying: “I took my wife to the emergency room on July 7th and she died on July 15th,” Gerry said crying in a confessional
Cameo: Gerry said it would now be six years since his wife Toni died before he would meet all 22 women…plus a special cameo from Jimmy Kimmel’s Aunt Chippy
Sent home: After meeting all 22 women vying for his heart, he finally sent away Anna Zalk, 61, a retired nutritionist from Summit, New Jersey
Sent Home: Patty James, 70, a retired real estate professional from Raleigh, North Carolina, was sent home from the premiere of “The Golden Bachelor.”
“No one will ever replace Toni,” Gerry said, adding he made the decision to go on the show and give love a second try.
“I’m 71 and your first Golden Bachelor,” said Gerry. “If I find someone now to spend the rest of my life with, I couldn’t be happier, couldn’t be happier.”
Gerry told host Jesse Palmer, 44, that he was nervous just before the first limo arrived and each of the women were keen to make a lasting impression. Edith Aguirre, 60, a retired real estate agent from Downey, Calif., in an off-the-shoulder gold dress, was the first woman to arrive, and in celebration she gave him a gold confetti can that exploded.
As Ellen Goltzer, 71, a retired teacher from Delray Beach, Florida, got out of the car, she called out the name of her friend Roberta, who had cancer.
Sandra Mason, 75, a retired executive assistant from Doraville, Georgia, had Gerry do a Zen exercise in which they both shouted “f***.”
Leslie Fhima, 64, a fitness instructor from Golden Valley, Minnesota, got out of the car wearing a gray wig, an old-fashioned nightgown and a walker in front of her.
‘Do you need help?’ Gerry asked.
Leslie then ripped off the wig and nightgown, revealing her black strapless short dress.
Gerry and Jesse: Gerry told host Jesse Palmer, 44, that he was nervous just before the first limo arrived and that each of the women were keen to make a lasting impression
Edith: Edith Aguirre, 60, a retired real estate agent from Downey, California, in an off-the-shoulder gold dress, was the first woman to arrive, and in celebration she gave him a gold confetti can that exploded
Ellen: As Ellen Goltzer, 71, a retired teacher from Delray Beach, Florida, got out of the car, she called out the name of her friend Roberta, who was suffering from cancer
Sandra: Sandra Mason, 75, a retired executive assistant from Doraville, Georgia, had Gerry do a Zen exercise in which they both screamed “f***.”
Leslie: Then Leslie ripped off the wig and nightgown, revealing her black strapless short dress
“Do I look like I need help?” Leslie said.
Gerry laughed. In a confessional, Leslie shared that she dated Prince when she was younger and he wrote the song “Sexy Dancer” about her.
Theresa List, 70, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey, told Gerry it was her birthday and decided to show up in her birthday suit. She opened her dress and Gerry’s mouth dropped open. But then she revealed that she was actually wearing a skin-colored bodysuit underneath.
“I couldn’t do that because I have six grandchildren,” Theresa said.
April Kirkwood, 65, a therapist from Port St. Lucie, got out of the car with a basket of eggs and said she grew up on a chicken farm and also clucked like a chicken, and Gerry laughed.
Renee Halverson-Wright, 67, an author from Middleton, Wisconsin, cheered from the car with pompoms.
Susan Noles, 66, a wedding officiant from Aston, Pennsylvania, showed him her heels and emphasized, “I’m very comfortable with six inches.”
“I want you to know that I think this can work because my son was the Bachelor Matt and fell in love,” said Patty James, 70, a retired real estate professional from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Theresa: Theresa List, 70, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey, told Gerry it was her birthday and decided to show up in her birthday suit. She opened her dress and Gerry’s mouth dropped open. But then she revealed that she was actually wearing a skin-colored bodysuit underneath
Susan: Susan Noles, 66, a wedding officiant from Aston, Pennsylvania, showed him her heels and emphasized, “I feel very comfortable with six inches.”
Patty: “I want you to know that I think this can work because my son was the Bachelor Matt and fell in love,” said Patty James, 70, a retired real estate professional from Raleigh, North Carolina
Concetta “Chippy”, 84, asked Gerry if he was the “unhappiest guy in the world” as she hugged him. Chippy said she told her nephew Gerry he was like one in a million and wanted to get to know him.
“Who is your nephew?” asked Gerry. “Jimmy Kimmel,” Aunt Chippy said as Gerry hugged her.
“I’m Aunt Chippy,” she said in a confessional. “I’m Jimmy Kimmel’s aunt.” I said I’d like to meet the Bachelor. And he seems very friendly.’
Chippy walked into the house, looked around at the other women and said, “This is certainly not an 80-year-old club.”
Faith Martin, 61, a high school teacher from Benton City, Washington, drove up on a motorcycle.
“I am proof that you can live fast and not die young,” Faith said. “And if you leave here with me, it will be the ride of your life.”
Gerry told Jesse that his life became much better after meeting the women.
“They were pretty great ladies,” Gerry said.
Bad luck: Concetta “Chippy”, 84, asked Gerry if he was the “unluckiest guy in the world” while she hugged him. Chippy said she told her nephew Gerry he was like one in a million and wanted to get to know him
Nephew: “Who is your nephew?” asked Gerry. “Jimmy Kimmel,” Aunt Chippy said as Gerry hugged her
Friendly: “I’m Aunt Chippy,” she said in the confessional. “I’m Jimmy Kimmel’s aunt.” I said I’d like to meet the Bachelor. And he seems very friendly.
Not a club: Chippy walked into the house, looked around at the other women and said, “This is certainly not an 80-year-old club.”
Faith: Faith Martin, 61, a high school teacher from Benton City, Washington, drove up on a motorcycle
Gerry and Jesse: Gerry told Jesse that his life became much better after meeting the women
Gerry went in and clinked glasses with the other women.
“There is beauty, balance and intellect in this room,” Gerry said. “You really inspired me.”
April was the first to take Gerry aside to chat. She showed him a calendar of hers where every month was April.
“I hope he felt a spark talking to me,” April said, later crossing her fingers.
Ellen told Gerry that she believed in finding love.
“It really makes me feel good because one of the things I want to talk about is never giving up,” Gerry said.
“I think we’re capable of it at this age, and I think everyone at this age has the right to love and be loved,” Ellen said.
“You’re pretty passionate about it,” Gerry said. ‘You have my attention.’
Toasted: Gerry went in and toasted with the other women
Ellen later said that she felt dizzy and excited after talking to him.
“It’s the best day of my life in a long time,” Ellen said in a confessional. “It’s amazing that Roberta sees this now and lives with me. ‘Roberta, he’s a hunk!’
“Gerry is in great shape,” Natascha Hardee, a pro-aging trainer from New York City, explained after speaking with him. “I won’t have to revive him if we have an intimate moment.”
“Gerry looks so good,” Susan said. “I examined every inch of him. He has a beautiful smile. He’s just perfect.’
Faith sang for Gerry and played him a song. He told her that she was very attractive and that she had had him “from the beginning.”
Gerry then began dancing with all the women. Some of the women were nervous because they didn’t have enough time to talk to Gerry. Gerry gave Theresa a cupcake with 70’s candles on it because it was her birthday and asked if she would help him with the frosting if he got some on his lips. He took a bite and she reached out and kissed him.
“It’s been ages since I last kissed a man and it felt incredible,” Theresa said in a confessional.
Gerry then noticed the first impression, climbed up, went outside and found Faith.
Gerry and Natascha: “Gerry is in great shape,” explained Natascha Hardee, a pro-aging trainer from New York City, after speaking with him. “I don’t have to revive him when we have an intimate moment”
Dancing: Gerry then started dancing with all the women. Some of the women were nervous because they didn’t have enough time to talk to Gerry. Gerry gave Theresa a cupcake with 70’s candles on it because it was her birthday and asked if she would help him with the frosting if he got some on his lips. He took a bite and she reached out and kissed him
“You made that impression, not because you were riding on the motorcycle, not even because you have a beautiful voice and sang me a song, but because of what you were doing,” Gerry said. “You make me feel so special.”
Faith hugged him. The two then kissed while the other women watched nervously. Except Jimmy Kimmel’s Aunt Chippy, who was sleeping on the sofa.
“To me, this rose symbolizes the hope that we can create something beautiful together, and this is the beginning,” Faith said in a confessional.
At the final rose ceremony, Gerry told all the women how grateful he was to be there and that he already felt connected to some of the women.
Gerry handed out roses to Ellen; There is a; Joan Vassos, 60, private school administrator; Natascha Hardee, 60, a pro-aging trainer and midlife speaker from New York City; Leslie; Christina Kempton, 73, a retired purchasing manager from Sierra Madre, Calif.; Edith Aguirre, 60, a retired real estate agent from Downey, Calif.; Nancy Hulkower, 60, a retired interior designer from Alexandria, Virginia; April Kirkwood, 65, a therapist from Port St. Lucie; Sandra Mason, 75, a retired executive assistant from Doraville, Georgia; Jeanie Howard, 65, a retired project manager from Estill Springs, Tennessee; Kathy; Marina Perera, 60, an educator from Los Angeles; Peggy Percale, 69, a dental hygienist from East Haven, Connecticut; and Susan.
Anna Zalk, 61, a retired nutritionist from Summit, New Jersey; Pamela Burns, 75, a retired salon owner from Aurora, Illinois; Patty James, 70, a retired real estate professional from Raleigh, North Carolina; Renee Halvorson, 67, an author from Middleton, Wisconsin; Maria Trice, 60, a health and wellness director from Teaneck, New Jersey, and Sylvia Robledo, 64, a public affairs consultant from Los Angeles, didn’t get roses and went home.
“The rose ceremonies are getting more and more difficult,” Gerry said. “But I can’t wait for the next chapter of this journey to unfold.”
After the rose ceremony, Jesse went to Aunt Chippy and woke her up.
First impression: “You made this impression, not because you rode on the motorcycle, not even because you have a beautiful voice and sang me a song, but because of what you were doing,” Gerry said. “You make me feel very special”
Faith: Faith hugged him. The two then kissed while the other women watched nervously
Evolve: “The rose ceremonies are getting more and more difficult,” said Gerry. “But I can’t wait for the next chapter of this journey to unfold.”
Waking up: After the rose ceremony, Jesse went to Aunt Chippy and woke her up
Sorry: “All the stems, all the petals were spread out,” Jesse said. ‘I am so sorry’
“Did I get a rose?” Chippy asked.
“No, you slept through the rose ceremony,” Jesse said. “Unfortunately you didn’t get one.”
“Did I at least get one petal?” Chippy asked.
“All the stems, all the petals were distributed,” Jesse said. ‘I am so sorry.’
“All right,” said Chippy. ‘I will go.’
After the show ended, the caption said that the season was dedicated to Ellen’s late friend Roberta Zaktzer.
The Golden Bachelor will return next Wednesday on ABC.