The Golden Bachelorette's Mark Anderson is a fan favorite, but there are signs that he's a producer plant who shouldn't be The Golden Bachelor. Mark is a 58-year-old retired Army general who became a fan sensation during The Bachelor season 28. He made his television debut when his daughter, 26-year-old Kelsey Anderson, brought her boyfriend, Joey Graziadei, home to meet her father. Fans fell in love with Mark's warmth and his quiet strength. The widowed father of five buried his beloved wife, Denise Anderson, in 2018, after 18 years of marriage. The single father doesn't seem to have dated much since his wife's passing, but he was given another chance to find love when he was cast in The Golden Bachelorette season 1.
The Golden Bachelorette season 1 is in full swing, and night one began with 61-year-old Joan Vassos greeting a fleet of limousines delivering the 24 men competing for her heart. Joan made her television debut during The Golden Bachelor season 1. She had to leave Gerry Turner's season early, due to a family emergency, but she left enough of an impression that she was ultimately cast as the Bachelor spin-off's first female lead. On night one, Joan looked shocked when the limousine door opened, and Kelsey stepped out, followed by Mark. Kelsey had come along to introduce her to her father. Joan seemed excited about meeting Mark, but, so far, he hasn't stood out as one of her favorites. If he doesn't win her heart, Mark shouldn't be cast as The Golden Bachelor.
8 Mark Is Not Over His Late Wife
He's Not Ready
Long before appearing on The Bachelor season 28, Mark was a widowed father of five living a life of relative obscurity in Leesville, Louisiana. Mark is no stranger to true love, having been married to Denise Anderson for 18 years, until she died of cancer in 2018. According to Kelsey, her mother passed away just two months after receiving her diagnosis, and left behind a devastated family.
Like Mark, Denise was also an Army veteran, and the two had met while they were both off serving the country. Mark's enduring love for his late wife was on display when he gifted Joey and Kelsey a photo album of pictures of him and his late wife. He gave them a glimpse into his love life, and it was a beautiful moment that really illustrated the fact that Mark was still deeply in love with his late spouse. He's not ready to be The Golden Bachelor.
7 Mark Seems Like He's On The Golden Bachelorette For Fun
He's Not Serious
One of the most entertaining things about The Golden Bachelorette season 1 is how much fun the men are having together. Though they're there to date Joan, they all genuinely seem to enjoy each other's company, and appear to be having a great time together. Between hanging out at the pool and fooling around with the other men, it's possible that Mark is more interested in having fun than in looking for love.
Mark hadn't had much one-on-one time with Joan.
The one time Mark pulled her aside at the Bachelor mansion, he gave her a German lesson, explaining that he had learned German while serving in the military. He cleverly taught her to ask for a kiss, then kissed her. It was a cute moment, but Mark and Joan didn't really connect. If Mark's in it for the fun of it, he definitely shouldn't be The Golden Bachelor.
6 Mark's Only On The Show Because Of His Daughter Kelsey Anderson
Riding Her Coattails
Mark is a fan favorite, but that doesn't mean that Mark should be The Golden Bachelor. It's possible that the only reason Mark's on the show is because of his famous daughter. The odds of Mark being cast on The Golden Bachelorette if he wasn't Kelsey's dad are slim to nil. Also, without that connection, he probably wouldn't get a shot at being The Golden Bachelor.
At this point, it's unclear if Mark is even capable of carrying a show.
He even had Kelsey come with him on the first night of the season, to introduce him to Joan. Though it was an entertaining moment, it solidified his image as a man who needs his daughter to be relevant. In retrospect, Mark should have shown up on his own, without needing to lean on Kelsey's celebrity to make a name for himself. If Mark wants to be The Golden Bachelor, he's going to have to prove that he can stand on his own two feet.
5 Mark Tries Too Hard With Joan
It Can Be A Turn-Off
While Joan was initially excited to learn that Mark would be a contestant on The Golden Bachelorette season 1, the two didn't really hit it off. Though Joan seems to like Mark, she's more interested in some of the other men, like 60-year-old Chock Chapple and 62-year-old Keith Gordon. Part of the problem may be that Mark is just trying too hard.
It's basic human psychology for a person to want what they can't have, and Mark may be making himself way too available to Joan.
Joan has yet to give Mark a one-on-one date, while he tries to pull her aside all the time. Though she kissed him during their impromptu German lesson, the whole thing was his idea, and she was never the one reaching out to him. If Mark tries this hard with Joan, he may try too hard on The Golden Bachelor too, which could turn the women off.
4 Mark Seems To Like The Spotlight
Similar To Gerry Turner
The Golden Bachelor season 1 ended with Gerry giving his final rose to 69-year-old Theresa Nist, and the two were married quickly. Though hopes were high for the septuagenarian newlyweds, they announced their divorce after only three months of marriage. There has been some speculation that the marriage failed because Gerry was more interested in being famous than in being married to Theresa.
Gerry displayed many red flags during his journey, and there were already signs that Mark might be too interested in fame too.
Since appearing on Bachelor Nation shows, Mark has diligently been working to grow his social media following. Mark often posts on Instagram and even appears regularly on Kelsey's TikTok posts. Kelsey left behind her job as a junior project manager to be a prominent social media influencer, and Mark could be trying to follow in his famous daughter's footsteps.
3 Mark's Boring, Unlike Jerry (Joan May Think Mark Is Dull)
He May Not Be Joan's Dream Man
A lot can be said about Gerry Turner, but no one can accuse him of being boring. The Golden Bachelor season 1 was a massive hit for multiple reasons, but one of the reasons behind its success was the fact that Gerry is an endlessly entertaining person. Because he doesn't always make the best choices, drama ends up following Gerry everywhere he goes.
Though it may not be conducive to finding true love, it makes for great television. Unlike Gerry, Mark doesn't get involved in any drama. He appears to have better judgment, so there's not a lot of trouble he can get into. The widowed father of five appears to get along with everyone, and it's hard to imagine he'd bring more drama to The Golden Bachelor season 2. Without drama, reality TV is very bland fare.
2 Mark Doesn't Have It
He Lacks Star Quality
Most people aren't cut out to be celebrities, and that may be true of Mark. Gerry has star quality - that special something that separates charismatic people from those who don't shine as brightly. Though Mark exudes warmth and kindness, he lacks the charm necessary to be a good Bachelor Nation lead.
One of the problems is that Mark doesn't appear to be a great communicator.
If he were to be The Golden Bachelor, he'd need to be able to get others to open up and express themselves - Mark seems to be too quiet and introspective to accomplish that. Mark is probably the happiest surrounded by his five children, and he may not enjoy being the center of attention. While Mark could make a great addition to a potential Golden Bachelor In Paradise season, he shouldn't be The Golden Bachelor.
1 There Are Other Options For The Golden Bachelor
Mark Has Competition
While Mark is a fan favorite who may become The Golden Bachelor, there are plenty of other great options. Several of the men of The Golden Bachelorette season 1 could do a great job as the Bachelor lead. If 66-year-old ER doctor Guy Gansert doesn't win Joan's final rose, he should be considered as The Golden Bachelor, as should 66-year-old Charles Ling, who Joan recently eliminated. 69-year-old salon owner Pascal Ibgui isn't often mentioned as a good option, but the stylish Frenchman would make a highly entertaining Bachelor lead.
Pascal is funny, charming, and has a unique personality, as well as a sexy French accent.
Though Mark is a fan favorite and infinitely likable, there are many reasons why The Golden Bachelorette season 1 contestant shouldn't be cast in The Golden Bachelor season 2. Choosing someone other than Mark would surely surprise and disappoint a lot of people, but Bachelor franchise producers ignore the chatter and do what's right for the show.
The Golden Bachelorette season 1 airs on Wednesday nights at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.
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