The inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor was an undeniable phenomenon, a heartwarming story that resonated deeply with audiences everywhere. Now, as the sun sets on Gerry Turner's journey, a new chapter is set to begin, promising another season of finding love in life’s later stages. But with a new bachelor, Mel Owens, at the helm and a swirling controversy already making waves, one burning question remains: Will the beloved show find a new home, and will The Golden Bachelor land on Netflix?

The search for a new love story continues, and with a fresh face at the center of it all, a familiar journey is about to begin.

The second season of the hit ABC reality dating series, The Golden Bachelor, premieres on Wednesday evening and will follow Mel Owens, a 66-year-old former NFL player, in his search for love. The new season is set to premiere on September 24, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with new episodes streaming the following day on Hulu, and not on Netflix.

Mel Owens is the new lead for The Golden Bachelor season two. A native of Detroit, Owens played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1981 to 1989 before retiring and becoming a workers' compensation attorney in Orange County, California. Owens was married to his first love, Fabiana Pimentel, from 2002 to 2020. They share two sons, Lucas and Andre. Despite controversy over his pre-show comments, ABC is sticking with Owens as he hopes to find lasting love.

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While ABC may have decided to go ahead with Owens, the heat still remains as hot.

The controversy surrounding Mel Owens began in June when he appeared on the MGoBlue podcast for his alma mater, the University of Michigan. During this conversation, Owens specified what he wanted in a partner and how old he wanted her to be. He mentioned that he would cut contestants over 60, and also made comments about his ideal partner's physical attributes, saying he wanted women who were into fitness and who did not have any artificial body parts.

Mel Owens has since addressed the controversy publicly, apologizing for his comments. He told Entertainment Tonight that his words were "unfair and insensitive." Owens also revealed to Glamour that he apologized to the women at the start of filming, and they seemed receptive to his apology. He claims he was not aware of the show's typical age range for contestants before joining. Though it will not be available on the streaming giant, Netflix has an alternative platter for viewers.

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Are you waiting for the 24 hours to end soon, and the screens feature The Golden Bachelor Season 2? Let us know in the comments below.