Credits: M6.
M6 probably thought it could revolutionize reality TV by launching The Golden Bachelor, a show where bodybuilt thirtysomethings are swapped out for gray-haired sexagenarians. A breath of fresh air in a world saturated with young, oiled-up muscles and pointless arguments? Uh… no. In reality, it’s more of a sigh of fatigue. Landry, 60, widowed and a gentleman (we swear), is looking for love among twenty candidates of a respectable age. It promised romance, racing hearts… In the end, boredom was what knocked on the door, drawing in few viewers.
So, get ready for the big innovation: a luxury villa, sequined dresses, glasses of champagne… Oh no, wait. That’s the usual. But don’t worry, we did innovate a little. They’re older! There. That’s the twist. No more young people, replaced by seniors. With this revolutionary idea, M6 was probably hoping to shake up the rules of reality TV and attract a more mature audience. Spoiler: it failed.
From the first few minutes, the suspense is unbearable. Who will be the first contestant to compare Landry to a famous actor? Ah, there she is. Raquel, 60, says, "He looks like Pierce Brosnan." And why not? Landry, Pierce, same fight. Or almost. Between entrances on a motorcycle, on horseback, and even a little magic trick (to make the audience disappear?). In the end, we no longer know whether we’re watching a senior talent competition or a dating show. We’re leaning toward the first option.
And yet the premise of the show seems simple: Landry, the charming widower, must choose his future other half from among women vying with one another to catch his eye. Well, "vying with one another" is putting it generously. Some prefer to sing Mon mec à moi by Patricia Kaas, in a slightly awkward atmosphere. We’d rather see the real Patou back on TF1 on The Voice… But wait, there’s drama too. Lovely Carole desperately tries to have a conversation with Landry. But another contestant, quicker on the draw, steals the spotlight. Can you feel the excitement building? No? Us neither.
Even so, Landry remains impeccable, a gentleman to the last rose. When one contestant forgot her glasses to read her love declaration, Landry smiles and says, "I don’t have my glasses either." What a TV moment! But really, it may be the only one that brought a (forced) smile to our faces. The rest of the show boils down to stolen kisses, hesitant dancing, and rose ceremonies that, as Thierry Le Luron might say, are a little "annoying."
M6, which we like anyway, was probably banking on a runaway hit. You’d think they forgot to ask the audience first. With fewer than a million viewers for the first episode, it seems most French people preferred to go to bed early. Or switch to something more exciting. Maybe a documentary on the evolution of gemstones?
In the United States, the Golden Bachelor concept was a huge hit, ending in a wedding (quickly followed by a divorce, naturally, old habits die hard). In France, we’re already a long way from that happy ending. The only unions we’re likely to see are viewers and their remote controls. Because let’s be honest, it takes a little courage to stick around until the end.
So, what lesson should we take from this first episode? Maybe that love isn’t really a game, and even less so when you put twenty seniors in a villa and have them chase after one man. Landry, despite all his good intentions, hasn’t found the rare gem yet. Neither have we, for that matter. We’re hoping the rest of the show can surprise some brave souls. If they still have the energy to watch…
A tip for the production team: next time, maybe replace the roses with lemon balm tea. At least that would match the vibe.