November 6, 2025 • 36 mins
Golden Bachelor season 1 fan favorite, Nancy Hulkower, joins Ben to recap this week's episode and give an update on her love life after Bachelor in Paradise!
Nancy shares how she really feels about Mel as a lead, and she has a theory on why this season seems a bit slow. As we gear up for the finale, Ben and Nancy make their predictions of who they think gets Mel’s final rose.
Plus, Nancy gives her honest reaction to the mudslinging and wild headlines coming from Golden Bachelor alums Gerry and Theresa!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
It's Almost Famous podcast, and I'm here today for another
Golden Bachelor recap, and this time I'm joined by someone
we got to know and love on season one of
The Golden Bachelor, and she was on the most season
of Bachelor in Paradise. Nancy. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Hi've Ben, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Nancy. You've been up to some fun stuff recently. We
were talking about the fomo we experienced watching your recent
Girls Weekend with Joan, Kathy and Susan.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Well done.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Tell us about this. I mean, I don't even know
what question I ask, because we got to see bits
and pieces of it, but it looked incredibly fun.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It was like summer camp all over. We went to
see Kathy in Austin, Texas, and she had everything arranged.
We cooked, we went out one night, we cooked in
one night, actually ended up having dinner for breakfast the
next day, and truly just hung out with each other,
(01:10):
went out on a boat with one of Kathy's friends,
and then went to this really cute Austin, Texas sort
of flagship place to drink and eat in the afternoon
and we had a ball, but truly we and I
know you've heard me say this before, as probably others
(01:32):
have that this because of Bachelor Nation and because of
what we all went through, it's a forever friendship. We fight,
we call each other out, I tell people to stop interrupting.
That hasn't helped yet, But just saying.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I was going to say, with Kathy and Susan, I
feel like that is uh, yeah, I don't know if
that would work, but we do.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
We're it's like we're sisters because we like, like I said,
we fight, we give each other advice, all of that.
But that's the true blessing that came out of Golden
Bachelor Season one.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I was going to ask if you think, looking back now,
that the friendships and the bonds that you have from
that show is the best part for you.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
It is for me absolutely without a doubt.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
And obviously we saw you on Paradise. Fans want to
know if there's anything going on in your love life
since Paradise. Oh goodness, perhaps we're getting quiet.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Perhaps I don't want to say too much because it's
very new. Yeah, we've been talking and we're going to
see each other in a couple of weeks. That's all
I can say because I haven't met him in person. Sure,
you chat on the phone every day.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I mean, that's just fun. It is fun. It's just like,
think the first person you've chatted with since the show.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Not chatted with But truly, I had one date in
the last five years, okay, because you know, been very
busy with Bachelor Nation since our season. I you know,
I didn't know I didn't date. So this would be
the first one that I've really wanted to And so
I'm hoping for the future. And Ben Higgins, you know,
(03:26):
you would be the first one I would tell if
anything happens again. So I'll call you and I could
come on again.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, you can come on again. That'd be good. I'd
like that. So just give us I want to dig
in here. But how did you two connect? Can you
tell us that? Or is that given too much away?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I cannot tell you that?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Okay, fair enough, All right, well we'll just have to
we'll just stay tuned.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Oh, I said, you'll be the first one to know.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Thank you. Make sure you let us know. Don't let
anybody else know. You couldn't come on here today. We're
obviously going to break down the most recent episode of
The Golden Bachelor. It's Fantasy Suite week and we got
Cindy and Peg and Melt together for this week. But
we can't have you on without asking about the recent
headlines that have come across everything here in the last
(04:12):
twenty four hours. It's Gary and Teresa and the mud
slinging between them. I mean, I don't want to say
crazy things are being said because that makes the you know,
one of them being crazy. I don't know this, but
there's outrageous things being said, like things that like will
make you stop in your tracks and be like, wait,
what was what are they claiming? What are they talking about?
(04:36):
So I guess my first question to you was is
this shock? Is this a shocker to you that this
is happening.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
It's not a shocker. I first of all, regarding the
two of them, I feel like they did Bachelor Nation
a disservice, both of them together collectively, and I feel
like they could have each gotten out of it. They
(05:03):
could have left or broken up before the marriage. All
of that and the other thing I have to say,
because it's come out. Many things have come out, as
you know, but Teresa told me verbatim that she read
a book on how to win the Bachelor.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
M I remember this means so yeah, And.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
She has said, you know, I feel like the truth
is sort of careless that arena, and you know, they
both the mudsling is bad. I mean they're both. They're
both I guess guilty or whatever. I'm not the judge,
but you know what I mean, the mudsling should sup
(05:51):
but I think she's really a lot harder on him.
He has some good points, but I think they should
both sort of stop because it sides.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Today. I don't know if you saw this, but you know,
the back and forth is it is what it is.
I agree it should stop. It's he's moved on, and
I'm hoping she has as well. But today E News
released a picture and this is a quote from Teresa
(06:26):
uh and she says, he said, do you see that
shed up there? And Teresa responded with I said yeah,
he said, well that's going where I'm going to hide
your body after i'd kill you and chop you up.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
No, I did not see that.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Today it's out there in E News, so you can
go look. Yeah, it's it's very I mean, this is
one where I stopped and said, what is happening here?
You know, fans have wondered if he was like kidding
in that moment. I feel like maybe he does have
a dark sense of humor. This is very dark if
(07:04):
it was said. I also, I'm curious why this was
never brought up before. I feel like this would be
a pretty easy reason for a breakup or divorce. If
you're like, hey, this person that I got married to
is joking about chopping me up. It would have come
out a year.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Ago totally and again, she could have exited, she could
have enough. Can't do this. I'm getting red flags she didn't.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
I mean, this is a big claim, like a huge claim, Nancy.
She's saying that her at the time. I don't know
if they were married, engaged, I don't know what the
timeline was for this quote. But she's saying that the
person that she was with romantically at the time, no
matter when they were, what their you know, status was,
was joking about chopping her up. I don't want to
(07:52):
say it's going too far, but I feel like that
is like, if goodness gracious, I don't It's like, like
I said, it makes your jaw drop. Has he responded,
I haven't heard yet. Well, have to look at it
just came out a few minutes ago, right before we
got on here. Yeah, it's nasty. It's getting nastier. Gary's
book obviously came out here recently, and that's why this
(08:12):
stuff's kind of picking up steam. And I mean, I
don't know if anybody on our team's read the book
yet or not. He came on here just a few
weeks ago to talk through the book with us. After
Ashley and myself have read and gone through it. There's,
you know, obviously some very vulnerable admittance to their relationship
(08:35):
in this book. Also, Gary's story is told in this book.
So I mean, it could just be the weekly news
cycle where these headlines will come back and forth about
what they're saying about each other. But it's not pretty
by any means, and it's not it doesn't look healthy.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
No, And I'm not sure anybody would joke about that,
you know what I mean, you could make light of it.
I'm sure maybe he will make light of it, but
we'll see.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Right, Yeah, I can't imagine joking about that. That feels well,
it feels very odd. Well, thanks for talking about obviously,
you're somebody that would be close to the situation or
at least has been a part of their relationship for
a long time. We have moved on to season two
of The Golden Bachelor. Before we kick off the breakdown
(09:25):
of this episode, I would love our fans to kind
of understand where you're coming from coming into this. What
have been your thoughts so far in this season on
Mel as a lead on the contestants. Just kind of
get us caught up on where you're coming into.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
This at I think obviously I've watched it and I
feel like it's been slow. I feel like Mel. It's
hard for Mel, and this may be just the way
he is his personality. It's hard to extract information from him.
There's a lot of one word answers, and again it's
(10:00):
I know it's not a criticism, it's just a fact.
But on TV, I sit there watching thinking, come on,
there's no one in there, come on, give it up
a little bit. What do you really feel like? And
it's really hard to get to know him, and I
haven't seen him. The other thing I wanted to say
(10:20):
about him was I haven't seen him be vulnerable. I
haven't seen him like get emotional. I think he did once,
but not I just can't get in. I can't. I
don't feel like I know him, And without knowing him,
it's hard to root for somebody that you're not getting
to know and who's not opening up. And I kept
(10:42):
thinking after the first one, maybe next week will be better.
So you know, we'll see. But I think the women
are lovely. I know there was drama with Nicole and
things like that. I think it's sad to see. You
know that some people may want to be influencers, but
I think that's just the part of the deal when
(11:05):
people come on. Yeah, I think what happens a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
It does happen a lot. I was hoping The Golden
Show would kind of stay away from that, and I
still think for the most part, it will. And this
was just kind of a one off moment. The show
tried to bring somebody on that they thought could spark controversy.
It didn't really work for him. I don't think fans
reacted positively to the drama existing on the Golden Show.
(11:32):
I hear you, and we've agreed during this podcast that
we don't know mel so we can't like criticize or
judge him as a human because we don't know him.
He hasn't done anything wrong. He just really hasn't done anything.
And so I see this and I watch this and
I'm with you where I'm like, I'm waiting for that
(11:53):
moment of vulnerability. And this episode had and we'll talk
about it, moments where this could have easily happened. Hometowns
had moments where it could have easily happened. Yet he
still stays in this same kind of dry, one word answer,
direct to the point, but not really ever getting to
a point. Responses that's not on him. I know many
(12:15):
people like that. It's on the show for casting him
as their lead. Did they think they were going to
get something different out of this guy? Why was he
the one where they're like, yes.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Or maybe they could get it out of him, or
maybe the producers thought they could get it out of him.
But he's not given anything. And I think, you know,
he appears to be a man of few words, so
he may need to be you know, pushed a little
bit or you know, help produce a little bit more.
(12:45):
But I think he is who he is. Not nothing
wrong with not with being a man of few words.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
You probably shouldn't be on the show.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
I wouldn't think so. And I think it's also and
I don't know this, I'm saying this for my opinion.
I think it's really hard to find good quality men
who are in their sixties and above who want to
date women in the same age. And you've apologize for
(13:15):
all that, but I think in real life, I've experienced
that all of us Golden Bachelor women from the first
season have experienced that they really do want to be
with arm candy and you know, somebody to make them
feel young and all of that.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
We are at Overnight, so we're at Fantasy Suite week
for the Golden Show. We do have Cindy and Peg left.
The episode opens up with a teaser for something that
we see in a conversation with Cindy later on in
the episode. Mel does it at the very beginning of
this episode that it's possible he could be engaged in
(14:05):
a week. That's kind of his sentiment through this whole
episode is it's possible. Things have to happen or grow
or progress, but it's possible. Sure, you signed up for
a show that, yes, it is very possible in a
week you could be engaged. It's also possible you could
be engaged in a week. Nancy, we never know.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yes, I agree, and he I guess Peg was his
first date. I mean, do you want to talk? Should
we talk about her? There?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yeah, let's talk about Peg. You know, the beginning of
this episode really just falls into this first date. He's
talking about, you know, a little bit with Jesse on
why the love word is not used. I think that's
fair and fine. What I think Jesse's actually trying to
do there is pretty much get this guy to open
up about any of his feelings towards anything so far,
(14:54):
good or bad or indifferent. We just want to get
to know where he's at and we have no clue.
But yes, let's talk about the first date. It is
with Peg. And he pulls up in a dune buggy. Nancy,
I'll let you take it from here. What was your thoughts? Feelings?
Break this date down?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
He pulls up in a doom buggy. She is effusive,
she's excited, she's very energetic. And I don't mean this
in a bad way at all, But Mel doesn't have
to work for anything. She's on she's pulling the wagon.
He can sit back in the dune Buggy or somewhere
(15:29):
else and let her be yay, let's go do this yay.
Isn't this beautiful? He really doesn't have to work for her,
like work to entertain her or work to he doesn't
give back what she's giving. It's not it didn't feel
even to me.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
What do you think that's just the case, though? Is
somebody that is a man of few words that you,
especially in this environment, you would have to chase because
you never know where you're at, And you're like, this
guy doesn't a word, He's not telling.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
You where you're at, so you sort of have to
go with you.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
You got to do it yourself.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
What.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Yeah, I mean that's what I think.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
So then she drives and it's even faster and better
than when he was. And I think I think Peg
was easy for him because of what I just said.
But also Peg said something like she wasn't certain they're
going to grow into this. She wasn't. She wasn't saying
(16:32):
I could marry you tomorrow. And I think my opinion
is when I was watching it, he liked that. He
liked that about her.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
I agree. I mean, I think you can't have an
episode of Fantasy Suite week without comparing contrasting the different relationships.
And I think Peg and her mindset towards this relationship
is very much in line with his mindset towards this relationship,
and that's why I felt like they clicked. You know,
they go dinner that night, and they do have some
(17:03):
really great conversations, but the conversations are kind of leading
up to this. We'll see where this goes. Mentality like
this is great. I like you, I missed you. It's
good being around you, but we're not making any big
commitments to each other right now. And she even jokes
that he would have to get a prenup if they
(17:23):
did get married. It just felt like it was in line.
And then they both seem very excited for the fantasy suite.
I say that because later on it felt like there
wasn't an excitement for a fantasy suite, but this one
felt like it was very much like, Hey, this could
be a lot of fun. I enjoy being around you.
(17:43):
Let's make this.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Thing happen exactly exactly. And I think it's in the morning.
I didn't get a fuzzy, warm feeling, though, but I
don't think he's fuzzy and warm.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
No, and I don't think he's comfortable with the cameras.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
I agreat so we shouldn't. I guess against him that
he's a man of few words, and he you know,
isn't as effusive. But I was hoping that he'd get
a little more warm and fuzzy made perhaps after the overnight.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Yeah, you would think like, hey, this has been a
wonderful night, let's cuddle up, let's talk, let's spooch and chat.
Get that we didn't get that the only thing here
And I'm with you. I again, this is not a
criticism for him personally. He is a man of few words.
He is who he is, and he stayed firm in
what he thinks is right through this whole process, and
(18:38):
we give him credit for that. You're just on the
wrong show, though, Like you can't be the lead of
the Bachelor and not show us anything. Like they have
to choose people who they know we can invest into
as an audience. I also feel like the show has
done him a little bit of a disservice. They've aired
(18:58):
many moments where he's ell closed off, cold, brash, and
then this episode they really showed him if it was
true or not to be boring, like he's driving the
doom buggy really slow putting around. They make sure to
air that, right, They don't just air the fun times
(19:18):
they're having, And then they make sure to make a
big deal of him swimming with stingrays and his lack
of desire to do that.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I'm not sure why they did that, are you no?
Speaker 2 (19:30):
I mean, usually they protect the lead. It feels like
the last few weeks of this season they've really kind
of thrown Melt to the wind where they're like, Hey,
we're going to show him during Hometowns not answer anybody's
questions and really not engage any of the families in
a meaningful way. We're going to show him now during
Fantasy Suite week be completely closed off, cold, and also
(19:54):
not invest into any of these experiences that they're getting
you that they're able to have, and they're not helping
his matter of the likability from the public or just
a public being like, oh, look at mel, he's really
having a good time here. This episode makes him look
miserable for half of it.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Yes, it was awkward. He was awkward, and I don't
mean he's an awkward person, but in those situations he
was awkward. And I'm surprised they showed it like that.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
I'm surprised as well. I don't remember many seasons where
the lead has been so exposed in a negative way
so often. We talked about Mel and Peg waking up
the next morning. Comparatively, they do seem a lot warmer
with each other than what we see later on in
the episode. So I will say, if we're looking at
(20:47):
a comparison, because that's the only thing we can do,
it feels like Peg and Mel at least enjoy their
time with each other, and it does feel more fun
and lighthearted than what we see with Cindy. We do
have Cindy's one on what date coming up next?
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Do you feel that way? Because Peg is so excited
and there's more, you know, she's all over, she's joyful,
and she's you know, like I said, he's just like
sitting there. But as far as TV like, it's all
happy and energetic. Do you feel that? I mean, I
(21:25):
don't know that that he his responses to her are like, yeah, okay,
this is great.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
I mean I think that if we look at it, yes,
Peg is more energetic, she's more lighthearted, She's not putting
any pressure on this dude, So I think he feels
completely relaxed in this relationship. Cindy comes in and says,
I like you, mel I want to progress this thing forward.
I'm excited and committed to potentially spending the rest of
(21:53):
my life with you. And I think in the back
of his mind he is thinking, I never came on
this show thinking this would happen, and I'm not about
to let it happen now.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
I agree. I agree.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
So there is distance between them, and we don't really
see it until later on the date because the date
starts out with him going to swim with Stingrays. He
seems excited about it when he brings it up to her.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Well, and you know what I noticed, tell me if
you agree. I noticed when they were on the boat
and before they got to the Stingray City, he was
smiling at her. I was trying to look at details, like, okay,
a little any little clue where he is. He was
smiling at Cindy more than he was smiling at Peg
(22:40):
on the date, So.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
His body language was very positive and he.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Was yes, of course it was positive, and he was
saying the same things I like you, I like you, you know, yeah,
And then yes, Stingray City didn't work well for him,
but I thought Cindy was very sweet about it and
was trying to get him like it's okay, honey, you know,
come on work. They won't hurt you. And it was
I mean, he that part. Actually he was vulnerable.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
He was, but also just an odd date for the
show to set up. I mean, as as a lead.
At one time, they would have asked me, Hey, we're
gonna swim with Stingrays today. Are you nervous about this?
And I could say yes, I'm very nervous, and they say, okay,
you know this is a big week, like how can
we make it so that you have a good time?
(23:29):
Like those were always conversations that had or they would
show me saying in an interview I'm nervous about this,
to at least give perspective into why I am not
jumping in with the Stingrays. Mel just pretty much like
stands off to the side and makes things very awkward
for everybody involved, including the people leading the tour, who
(23:52):
are like they were, hey, like you get this once
in a lifetime chance, And.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
It looked like they people leading the tour obviously they
have food, but they over twenty feet away, so that
so the stingrays wouldn't get near him. Now, we don't
know what happened off camera, but we know that he
was not comfortable and I think he was like, don't
get them near me.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
It was just a kind of a blow date. So
we'll say that the day ended and it looks like
Cindy had a great time and Mel was miserable, and
they get out of the water is and they start
having this conversation about the future. It's where things kind
of get closed off. There's nothing. Cindy is kind of
laying her heart out there to Mel, talking about the
(24:37):
show and what it means to come on the show
and what a future can look like between them, and
he is has a wall up that is bigger than
any wall I've ever seen on the show. It's fantasy
sweet week. It's really where we start to see emotions
take over. He has no emotion towards it other than
pretty much telling her, I'm not going to make you
(24:59):
any promises. Is because there's somebody else involved here. He's
not even skipping over and trying to make this easier
for her. He's just pretty much telling her. I think
she should pretty much in this moment, ask like, if
I'm going home next week, let me go home now
because I've got people I want to see.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Ye.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
It felt again, it just felt awkward. It felt like
their chemistry was really bad in this moment.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
And I mean, I do think, I do think she
asked all the right questions. You would ask the same questions, right,
we all would in her situation.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
She asked all the right questions. He just didn't really
answer any.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Of them correct And what does that tell you?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah? I mean, I think the only thing we could
have seen out of her was for her to push
that one step further and been like, you haven't answered anything, man, Like,
I've asked you everything. I've given you every opportunity to
reassure me. You don't have to tell me we're going
to get married or then I'm going to even be
the one. I haven't asked that of you. But I'm
just asking what you see in a future together and
(26:07):
what you like about our relationship and those types of things.
And you can't give me anything, mel Do you even
want me? Here? Would be the question I would ask, correct, like,
put it back on him, because she didn't ask anything offensive.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
No, and she wasn't saying, you know, my drop dead
date is this to get married? You know, it's not
like they're having kids. It's not like she's putting pressure
on him other than the pressure he's feeling. By asking
how do you feel about it? Is? That's a dating question?
Where are we? What do you want to do? I
(26:44):
don't know?
Speaker 2 (26:45):
She even asks, like, do you want to get married again?
He says, I don't know, well, okay, and she her
response is insightful, which I think at this point she's
very annoyed and very concerned that this relationship will be ending.
But again, that's a very fair question to ask while
you're on a show about a proposal at the end,
(27:08):
is mel, I'm not even saying me, do you ever
want to get married again?
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Like?
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Ever?
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Like?
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Is that even something that intrigues you?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Right? Come on? I just felt I felt that I
do this because this is how I felt watching the show.
And I assume and I know that some people were
feeling the same way. It's like, give us something, tell
us about you. We want to root for you, Mel,
And I'm sure he's a lovely guy. It's just on
the show and you're the lead we're not getting anything.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
We want to root for him.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Absolutely, we don't.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Come on this show to like ruin people's lives. That's
not fun for anybody. It's not sustained for anybody. We
want to root for you, but it's hard to when
you give us nothing. And they've really focused on like
one topic that I, for whatever reason the producers think
is very interesting. But he talks to both well really Cindy,
(28:15):
and he compliments her on how spiritual she is. Again cool,
but there's nothing else to that. What does that mean?
Like when you say she's spiritual? This shit else? Right,
there's no backing to that is is she spiritual? So
you appreciate her generosity? Do you appreciate her faith? Do
you appreciate her resilience? Like, we don't know anything more
(28:38):
than that she's spiritual, which means nothing to anybody other
than that. Right, right, we're not getting anything.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
We're not getting anything. And she could tell she wasn't
getting anything. At the end of the show, I thought,
I mean you could see it. She's like, Okay, thank
you for you know, answering my questions, which really he didn't.
I'm anxious to see what happens with their overnight.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
I'm interested to see if it even happens. I mean,
Cindy asks, where do we go from here? Could have
been a great moment for Mel to say, let's go
to the fantasy suite and actually have a real conversation
about stuff that actually matters, and said he said, if
there's a will, there's a way. Goodness, gracious man. Him
as a lead again is like very confusing because it
just feels like he doesn't want to be there. Even
(29:27):
from the interviews that he did before the show even started,
it felt like this wasn't a show for him specifically
why they went through it and said, no, this is
our guy, this is who's going to bring us this
kind of rebound season. I'm confused by to this day,
I've yet to see it. I hope we get some
vulnerability next week. We do have a preview of the finale,
(29:49):
which is two hours long. Cindy says that she and
Mel are very well suited for each other. I guess
I'll pause here and ask you, Nancy, you've been a
part of this show. After this conversation, we just saw
the way he communicated with her, why do you think
she still thinks they're very well suited for you.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
I have no idea fair enough? How could you say that?
How could she? And you know what I have to say,
I don't think she really believes that. I think she's
trying to put the right face on it, like Okay,
let's go, it's a show or at the end. And
I love, I love, I think they're both lovely women.
But I would wouldn't you be running for the hills
(30:32):
If he can't say anything else. That's a red flag,
and I think she is the red flag.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
I think it's going to be a wake up call.
At some point. We do see the end of this preview,
Mel talking to Peg telling her he had an overnight
with Cindy and he wants to be transparent with her.
Is this a moment where he overshares that he doesn't
actually need overshare? Is this a moment where he's just
(31:01):
telling her, Hey, after my overnight, I realize it's you
and you only what do you think happens here?
Speaker 3 (31:07):
I would have thought personally that he would have chosen Cindy,
But after his lack of communication and his feelings and
how he feels, which we know he's not sure what
he feels, I'm not sure that he will end up
(31:31):
with Cindy. I don't know, obviously, I'm guessing. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
It will be the most dramatic moment of this season, really,
that conversation, I think so. I mean, I think anytime
you're talking about having an overnight with somebody else on
a day that you might be proposing to the other person,
I think that's dramatic and awkward and weird. Respect him
for being honest. I don't think it's necessarily ever necessary
(32:00):
to do this. We've seen it happen in the past.
It never goes overwell. I feel like this is a
conversation that should happen post show. You two are hanging
out and you're like, hey, just let you know. I
want to be clear. This is what happened that you
didn't see. This is why we're sitting here today. But
doing it with a camera in your face, it just
(32:21):
feels like it could get weird fast. I know, I agree, Nancy.
Do you think he's going to get engaged with in
to this?
Speaker 3 (32:29):
I can't see how he can. I can't see what
he's given us, how he could get engaged and feel
good about it when he's just said I'm not really sure.
He's vascillating and I he's been truthful, which is good.
I admire that, but he hasn't given anything. And I
(32:51):
just don't see how you can then having acted on,
you know, been on the show this way, and then
get engaged. So I would vote no. He doesn't get engaged, I.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Would vote no as well. I don't see it happening.
I don't know. I know headlines are hinting that he
does and that he said he did, but I would
be shocked if he actually does. I feel like that's
the show trying to throw us in a different direction.
Any final thoughts when it comes to this episode or
this season so far, Nancy.
Speaker 3 (33:27):
This season, I was hope, you know the goal. Obviously,
I was on the Golden Bachelor first one. I'm so invested.
I love Bachelor Nation. I love the show. I feel
like it's going a different direction. I feel like, like
(33:48):
I thought a difference with this new show. The Golden
Bachelor two was everybody kind of looks similarly. It was
a different group obviously than my season. But I feel like,
like I said earlier, you know, there's half of them
(34:08):
wanted to be influencers. They wanted to like there was
more to it, and I felt like our season we
really most of us. I would say when in open
eyed hopefully we're going to meet the guy, Yay, this
is going to be great, and this one didn't feel
that way. But I don't know if it's because also
(34:30):
Mel didn't give back enough. You know, Gary had.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
A lot to say well, and we're seeing that now
even today as we started this show out, Gary has
the ability to, at least good, bad, or indifferent, speak
openly about where he's at and what he's feeling, which
is one of the reasons why I think America endeared
their self to him and so many of you cast
(34:55):
members because they felt like they were in it with you.
And this season had felt distant, and I think that
comes from the lead and moves down to thin the cast.
It does feel distant, but we're still hopeful. That we
have one more week left of the season two of
The Golden Bachelor again, it's a two hour finale where
(35:18):
we will see who Mel might possibly choose between Peg
and Cindy. My vote is he chooses Peg, and your
vote you said he chooses Cindy.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Right, he would be the one I would pick, but
I really don't think he's going to choose either one.
That's my I don't know how he could having said
the things he said and acted the way he has.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
That's very fair. Nancy. Thanks for joining us today, Thanks
for breaking this episode down. Best of luck in the
upcoming weeks as you at least maybe have a little
fun with this new mystery person and come on our
show when you're ready to tell us all about it.
Always look forward to having you.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. Good to
see you.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Good to see you too, Nancy. We'll be back this
week with more Bachelor Nation news, from headlines to interviews,
to breaking down the Golden Bachelor to everything happening behind
the scenes. So until next time, I've been Ben and
we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast on
iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
It's Almost Famous podcast, and I'm here today for another
Golden Bachelor recap, and this time I'm joined by someone
we got to know and love on season one of
The Golden Bachelor, and she was on the most season
of Bachelor in Paradise. Nancy. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Hi've Ben, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Nancy. You've been up to some fun stuff recently. We
were talking about the fomo we experienced watching your recent
Girls Weekend with Joan, Kathy and Susan.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Well done.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Tell us about this. I mean, I don't even know
what question I ask, because we got to see bits
and pieces of it, but it looked incredibly fun.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It was like summer camp all over. We went to
see Kathy in Austin, Texas, and she had everything arranged.
We cooked, we went out one night, we cooked in
one night, actually ended up having dinner for breakfast the
next day, and truly just hung out with each other,
(01:10):
went out on a boat with one of Kathy's friends,
and then went to this really cute Austin, Texas sort
of flagship place to drink and eat in the afternoon
and we had a ball, but truly we and I
know you've heard me say this before, as probably others
(01:32):
have that this because of Bachelor Nation and because of
what we all went through, it's a forever friendship. We fight,
we call each other out, I tell people to stop interrupting.
That hasn't helped yet, But just saying.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I was going to say, with Kathy and Susan, I
feel like that is uh, yeah, I don't know if
that would work, but we do.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
We're it's like we're sisters because we like, like I said,
we fight, we give each other advice, all of that.
But that's the true blessing that came out of Golden
Bachelor Season one.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I was going to ask if you think, looking back now,
that the friendships and the bonds that you have from
that show is the best part for you.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
It is for me absolutely without a doubt.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
And obviously we saw you on Paradise. Fans want to
know if there's anything going on in your love life
since Paradise. Oh goodness, perhaps we're getting quiet.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Perhaps I don't want to say too much because it's
very new. Yeah, we've been talking and we're going to
see each other in a couple of weeks. That's all
I can say because I haven't met him in person. Sure,
you chat on the phone every day.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I mean, that's just fun. It is fun. It's just like,
think the first person you've chatted with since the show.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Not chatted with But truly, I had one date in
the last five years, okay, because you know, been very
busy with Bachelor Nation since our season. I you know,
I didn't know I didn't date. So this would be
the first one that I've really wanted to And so
I'm hoping for the future. And Ben Higgins, you know,
(03:26):
you would be the first one I would tell if
anything happens again. So I'll call you and I could
come on again.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, you can come on again. That'd be good. I'd
like that. So just give us I want to dig
in here. But how did you two connect? Can you
tell us that? Or is that given too much away?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I cannot tell you that?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Okay, fair enough, All right, well we'll just have to
we'll just stay tuned.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Oh, I said, you'll be the first one to know.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Thank you. Make sure you let us know. Don't let
anybody else know. You couldn't come on here today. We're
obviously going to break down the most recent episode of
The Golden Bachelor. It's Fantasy Suite week and we got
Cindy and Peg and Melt together for this week. But
we can't have you on without asking about the recent
headlines that have come across everything here in the last
(04:12):
twenty four hours. It's Gary and Teresa and the mud
slinging between them. I mean, I don't want to say
crazy things are being said because that makes the you know,
one of them being crazy. I don't know this, but
there's outrageous things being said, like things that like will
make you stop in your tracks and be like, wait,
what was what are they claiming? What are they talking about?
(04:36):
So I guess my first question to you was is
this shock? Is this a shocker to you that this
is happening.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
It's not a shocker. I first of all, regarding the
two of them, I feel like they did Bachelor Nation
a disservice, both of them together collectively, and I feel
like they could have each gotten out of it. They
(05:03):
could have left or broken up before the marriage. All
of that and the other thing I have to say,
because it's come out. Many things have come out, as
you know, but Teresa told me verbatim that she read
a book on how to win the Bachelor.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
M I remember this means so yeah, And.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
She has said, you know, I feel like the truth
is sort of careless that arena, and you know, they
both the mudsling is bad. I mean they're both. They're
both I guess guilty or whatever. I'm not the judge,
but you know what I mean, the mudsling should sup
(05:51):
but I think she's really a lot harder on him.
He has some good points, but I think they should
both sort of stop because it sides.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Today. I don't know if you saw this, but you know,
the back and forth is it is what it is.
I agree it should stop. It's he's moved on, and
I'm hoping she has as well. But today E News
released a picture and this is a quote from Teresa
(06:26):
uh and she says, he said, do you see that
shed up there? And Teresa responded with I said yeah,
he said, well that's going where I'm going to hide
your body after i'd kill you and chop you up.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
No, I did not see that.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Today it's out there in E News, so you can
go look. Yeah, it's it's very I mean, this is
one where I stopped and said, what is happening here?
You know, fans have wondered if he was like kidding
in that moment. I feel like maybe he does have
a dark sense of humor. This is very dark if
(07:04):
it was said. I also, I'm curious why this was
never brought up before. I feel like this would be
a pretty easy reason for a breakup or divorce. If
you're like, hey, this person that I got married to
is joking about chopping me up. It would have come
out a year.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Ago totally and again, she could have exited, she could
have enough. Can't do this. I'm getting red flags she didn't.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
I mean, this is a big claim, like a huge claim, Nancy.
She's saying that her at the time. I don't know
if they were married, engaged, I don't know what the
timeline was for this quote. But she's saying that the
person that she was with romantically at the time, no
matter when they were, what their you know, status was,
was joking about chopping her up. I don't want to
(07:52):
say it's going too far, but I feel like that
is like, if goodness gracious, I don't It's like, like
I said, it makes your jaw drop. Has he responded,
I haven't heard yet. Well, have to look at it
just came out a few minutes ago, right before we
got on here. Yeah, it's nasty. It's getting nastier. Gary's
book obviously came out here recently, and that's why this
(08:12):
stuff's kind of picking up steam. And I mean, I
don't know if anybody on our team's read the book
yet or not. He came on here just a few
weeks ago to talk through the book with us. After
Ashley and myself have read and gone through it. There's,
you know, obviously some very vulnerable admittance to their relationship
(08:35):
in this book. Also, Gary's story is told in this book.
So I mean, it could just be the weekly news
cycle where these headlines will come back and forth about
what they're saying about each other. But it's not pretty
by any means, and it's not it doesn't look healthy.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
No, And I'm not sure anybody would joke about that,
you know what I mean, you could make light of it.
I'm sure maybe he will make light of it, but
we'll see.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Right, Yeah, I can't imagine joking about that. That feels well,
it feels very odd. Well, thanks for talking about obviously,
you're somebody that would be close to the situation or
at least has been a part of their relationship for
a long time. We have moved on to season two
of The Golden Bachelor. Before we kick off the breakdown
(09:25):
of this episode, I would love our fans to kind
of understand where you're coming from coming into this. What
have been your thoughts so far in this season on
Mel as a lead on the contestants. Just kind of
get us caught up on where you're coming into.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
This at I think obviously I've watched it and I
feel like it's been slow. I feel like Mel. It's
hard for Mel, and this may be just the way
he is his personality. It's hard to extract information from him.
There's a lot of one word answers, and again it's
(10:00):
I know it's not a criticism, it's just a fact.
But on TV, I sit there watching thinking, come on,
there's no one in there, come on, give it up
a little bit. What do you really feel like? And
it's really hard to get to know him, and I
haven't seen him. The other thing I wanted to say
(10:20):
about him was I haven't seen him be vulnerable. I
haven't seen him like get emotional. I think he did once,
but not I just can't get in. I can't. I
don't feel like I know him, And without knowing him,
it's hard to root for somebody that you're not getting
to know and who's not opening up. And I kept
(10:42):
thinking after the first one, maybe next week will be better.
So you know, we'll see. But I think the women
are lovely. I know there was drama with Nicole and
things like that. I think it's sad to see. You
know that some people may want to be influencers, but
I think that's just the part of the deal when
(11:05):
people come on. Yeah, I think what happens a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
It does happen a lot. I was hoping The Golden
Show would kind of stay away from that, and I
still think for the most part, it will. And this
was just kind of a one off moment. The show
tried to bring somebody on that they thought could spark controversy.
It didn't really work for him. I don't think fans
reacted positively to the drama existing on the Golden Show.
(11:32):
I hear you, and we've agreed during this podcast that
we don't know mel so we can't like criticize or
judge him as a human because we don't know him.
He hasn't done anything wrong. He just really hasn't done anything.
And so I see this and I watch this and
I'm with you where I'm like, I'm waiting for that
(11:53):
moment of vulnerability. And this episode had and we'll talk
about it, moments where this could have easily happened. Hometowns
had moments where it could have easily happened. Yet he
still stays in this same kind of dry, one word answer,
direct to the point, but not really ever getting to
a point. Responses that's not on him. I know many
(12:15):
people like that. It's on the show for casting him
as their lead. Did they think they were going to
get something different out of this guy? Why was he
the one where they're like, yes.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Or maybe they could get it out of him, or
maybe the producers thought they could get it out of him.
But he's not given anything. And I think, you know,
he appears to be a man of few words, so
he may need to be you know, pushed a little
bit or you know, help produce a little bit more.
(12:45):
But I think he is who he is. Not nothing
wrong with not with being a man of few words.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
You probably shouldn't be on the show.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
I wouldn't think so. And I think it's also and
I don't know this, I'm saying this for my opinion.
I think it's really hard to find good quality men
who are in their sixties and above who want to
date women in the same age. And you've apologize for
(13:15):
all that, but I think in real life, I've experienced
that all of us Golden Bachelor women from the first
season have experienced that they really do want to be
with arm candy and you know, somebody to make them
feel young and all of that.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
We are at Overnight, so we're at Fantasy Suite week
for the Golden Show. We do have Cindy and Peg left.
The episode opens up with a teaser for something that
we see in a conversation with Cindy later on in
the episode. Mel does it at the very beginning of
this episode that it's possible he could be engaged in
(14:05):
a week. That's kind of his sentiment through this whole
episode is it's possible. Things have to happen or grow
or progress, but it's possible. Sure, you signed up for
a show that, yes, it is very possible in a
week you could be engaged. It's also possible you could
be engaged in a week. Nancy, we never know.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yes, I agree, and he I guess Peg was his
first date. I mean, do you want to talk? Should
we talk about her? There?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yeah, let's talk about Peg. You know, the beginning of
this episode really just falls into this first date. He's
talking about, you know, a little bit with Jesse on
why the love word is not used. I think that's
fair and fine. What I think Jesse's actually trying to
do there is pretty much get this guy to open
up about any of his feelings towards anything so far,
(14:54):
good or bad or indifferent. We just want to get
to know where he's at and we have no clue.
But yes, let's talk about the first date. It is
with Peg. And he pulls up in a dune buggy. Nancy,
I'll let you take it from here. What was your thoughts? Feelings?
Break this date down?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
He pulls up in a doom buggy. She is effusive,
she's excited, she's very energetic. And I don't mean this
in a bad way at all, But Mel doesn't have
to work for anything. She's on she's pulling the wagon.
He can sit back in the dune Buggy or somewhere
(15:29):
else and let her be yay, let's go do this yay.
Isn't this beautiful? He really doesn't have to work for her,
like work to entertain her or work to he doesn't
give back what she's giving. It's not it didn't feel
even to me.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
What do you think that's just the case, though? Is
somebody that is a man of few words that you,
especially in this environment, you would have to chase because
you never know where you're at, And you're like, this
guy doesn't a word, He's not telling.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
You where you're at, so you sort of have to
go with you.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
You got to do it yourself.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
What.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Yeah, I mean that's what I think.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
So then she drives and it's even faster and better
than when he was. And I think I think Peg
was easy for him because of what I just said.
But also Peg said something like she wasn't certain they're
going to grow into this. She wasn't. She wasn't saying
(16:32):
I could marry you tomorrow. And I think my opinion
is when I was watching it, he liked that. He
liked that about her.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
I agree. I mean, I think you can't have an
episode of Fantasy Suite week without comparing contrasting the different relationships.
And I think Peg and her mindset towards this relationship
is very much in line with his mindset towards this relationship,
and that's why I felt like they clicked. You know,
they go dinner that night, and they do have some
(17:03):
really great conversations, but the conversations are kind of leading
up to this. We'll see where this goes. Mentality like
this is great. I like you, I missed you. It's
good being around you, but we're not making any big
commitments to each other right now. And she even jokes
that he would have to get a prenup if they
(17:23):
did get married. It just felt like it was in line.
And then they both seem very excited for the fantasy suite.
I say that because later on it felt like there
wasn't an excitement for a fantasy suite, but this one
felt like it was very much like, Hey, this could
be a lot of fun. I enjoy being around you.
(17:43):
Let's make this.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Thing happen exactly exactly. And I think it's in the morning.
I didn't get a fuzzy, warm feeling, though, but I
don't think he's fuzzy and warm.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
No, and I don't think he's comfortable with the cameras.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
I agreat so we shouldn't. I guess against him that
he's a man of few words, and he you know,
isn't as effusive. But I was hoping that he'd get
a little more warm and fuzzy made perhaps after the overnight.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Yeah, you would think like, hey, this has been a
wonderful night, let's cuddle up, let's talk, let's spooch and chat.
Get that we didn't get that the only thing here
And I'm with you. I again, this is not a
criticism for him personally. He is a man of few words.
He is who he is, and he stayed firm in
what he thinks is right through this whole process, and
(18:38):
we give him credit for that. You're just on the
wrong show, though, Like you can't be the lead of
the Bachelor and not show us anything. Like they have
to choose people who they know we can invest into
as an audience. I also feel like the show has
done him a little bit of a disservice. They've aired
(18:58):
many moments where he's ell closed off, cold, brash, and
then this episode they really showed him if it was
true or not to be boring, like he's driving the
doom buggy really slow putting around. They make sure to
air that, right, They don't just air the fun times
(19:18):
they're having, And then they make sure to make a
big deal of him swimming with stingrays and his lack
of desire to do that.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I'm not sure why they did that, are you no?
Speaker 2 (19:30):
I mean, usually they protect the lead. It feels like
the last few weeks of this season they've really kind
of thrown Melt to the wind where they're like, Hey,
we're going to show him during Hometowns not answer anybody's
questions and really not engage any of the families in
a meaningful way. We're going to show him now during
Fantasy Suite week be completely closed off, cold, and also
(19:54):
not invest into any of these experiences that they're getting
you that they're able to have, and they're not helping
his matter of the likability from the public or just
a public being like, oh, look at mel, he's really
having a good time here. This episode makes him look
miserable for half of it.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Yes, it was awkward. He was awkward, and I don't
mean he's an awkward person, but in those situations he
was awkward. And I'm surprised they showed it like that.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
I'm surprised as well. I don't remember many seasons where
the lead has been so exposed in a negative way
so often. We talked about Mel and Peg waking up
the next morning. Comparatively, they do seem a lot warmer
with each other than what we see later on in
the episode. So I will say, if we're looking at
(20:47):
a comparison, because that's the only thing we can do,
it feels like Peg and Mel at least enjoy their
time with each other, and it does feel more fun
and lighthearted than what we see with Cindy. We do
have Cindy's one on what date coming up next?
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Do you feel that way? Because Peg is so excited
and there's more, you know, she's all over, she's joyful,
and she's you know, like I said, he's just like
sitting there. But as far as TV like, it's all
happy and energetic. Do you feel that? I mean, I
(21:25):
don't know that that he his responses to her are like, yeah, okay,
this is great.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
I mean I think that if we look at it, yes,
Peg is more energetic, she's more lighthearted, She's not putting
any pressure on this dude, So I think he feels
completely relaxed in this relationship. Cindy comes in and says,
I like you, mel I want to progress this thing forward.
I'm excited and committed to potentially spending the rest of
(21:53):
my life with you. And I think in the back
of his mind he is thinking, I never came on
this show thinking this would happen, and I'm not about
to let it happen now.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
I agree. I agree.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
So there is distance between them, and we don't really
see it until later on the date because the date
starts out with him going to swim with Stingrays. He
seems excited about it when he brings it up to her.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Well, and you know what I noticed, tell me if
you agree. I noticed when they were on the boat
and before they got to the Stingray City, he was
smiling at her. I was trying to look at details, like, okay,
a little any little clue where he is. He was
smiling at Cindy more than he was smiling at Peg
(22:40):
on the date, So.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
His body language was very positive and he.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Was yes, of course it was positive, and he was
saying the same things I like you, I like you, you know, yeah,
And then yes, Stingray City didn't work well for him,
but I thought Cindy was very sweet about it and
was trying to get him like it's okay, honey, you know,
come on work. They won't hurt you. And it was
I mean, he that part. Actually he was vulnerable.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
He was, but also just an odd date for the
show to set up. I mean, as as a lead.
At one time, they would have asked me, Hey, we're
gonna swim with Stingrays today. Are you nervous about this?
And I could say yes, I'm very nervous, and they say, okay,
you know this is a big week, like how can
we make it so that you have a good time?
(23:29):
Like those were always conversations that had or they would
show me saying in an interview I'm nervous about this,
to at least give perspective into why I am not
jumping in with the Stingrays. Mel just pretty much like
stands off to the side and makes things very awkward
for everybody involved, including the people leading the tour, who
(23:52):
are like they were, hey, like you get this once
in a lifetime chance, And.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
It looked like they people leading the tour obviously they
have food, but they over twenty feet away, so that
so the stingrays wouldn't get near him. Now, we don't
know what happened off camera, but we know that he
was not comfortable and I think he was like, don't
get them near me.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
It was just a kind of a blow date. So
we'll say that the day ended and it looks like
Cindy had a great time and Mel was miserable, and
they get out of the water is and they start
having this conversation about the future. It's where things kind
of get closed off. There's nothing. Cindy is kind of
laying her heart out there to Mel, talking about the
(24:37):
show and what it means to come on the show
and what a future can look like between them, and
he is has a wall up that is bigger than
any wall I've ever seen on the show. It's fantasy
sweet week. It's really where we start to see emotions
take over. He has no emotion towards it other than
pretty much telling her, I'm not going to make you
(24:59):
any promises. Is because there's somebody else involved here. He's
not even skipping over and trying to make this easier
for her. He's just pretty much telling her. I think
she should pretty much in this moment, ask like, if
I'm going home next week, let me go home now
because I've got people I want to see.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Ye.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
It felt again, it just felt awkward. It felt like
their chemistry was really bad in this moment.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
And I mean, I do think, I do think she
asked all the right questions. You would ask the same questions, right,
we all would in her situation.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
She asked all the right questions. He just didn't really
answer any.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Of them correct And what does that tell you?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah? I mean, I think the only thing we could
have seen out of her was for her to push
that one step further and been like, you haven't answered anything, man, Like,
I've asked you everything. I've given you every opportunity to
reassure me. You don't have to tell me we're going
to get married or then I'm going to even be
the one. I haven't asked that of you. But I'm
just asking what you see in a future together and
(26:07):
what you like about our relationship and those types of things.
And you can't give me anything, mel Do you even
want me? Here? Would be the question I would ask, correct, like,
put it back on him, because she didn't ask anything offensive.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
No, and she wasn't saying, you know, my drop dead
date is this to get married? You know, it's not
like they're having kids. It's not like she's putting pressure
on him other than the pressure he's feeling. By asking
how do you feel about it? Is? That's a dating question?
Where are we? What do you want to do? I
(26:44):
don't know?
Speaker 2 (26:45):
She even asks, like, do you want to get married again?
He says, I don't know, well, okay, and she her
response is insightful, which I think at this point she's
very annoyed and very concerned that this relationship will be ending.
But again, that's a very fair question to ask while
you're on a show about a proposal at the end,
(27:08):
is mel, I'm not even saying me, do you ever
want to get married again?
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Like?
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Ever?
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Like?
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Is that even something that intrigues you?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Right? Come on? I just felt I felt that I
do this because this is how I felt watching the show.
And I assume and I know that some people were
feeling the same way. It's like, give us something, tell
us about you. We want to root for you, Mel,
And I'm sure he's a lovely guy. It's just on
the show and you're the lead we're not getting anything.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
We want to root for him.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Absolutely, we don't.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Come on this show to like ruin people's lives. That's
not fun for anybody. It's not sustained for anybody. We
want to root for you, but it's hard to when
you give us nothing. And they've really focused on like
one topic that I, for whatever reason the producers think
is very interesting. But he talks to both well really Cindy,
(28:15):
and he compliments her on how spiritual she is. Again cool,
but there's nothing else to that. What does that mean?
Like when you say she's spiritual? This shit else? Right,
there's no backing to that is is she spiritual? So
you appreciate her generosity? Do you appreciate her faith? Do
you appreciate her resilience? Like, we don't know anything more
(28:38):
than that she's spiritual, which means nothing to anybody other
than that. Right, right, we're not getting anything.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
We're not getting anything. And she could tell she wasn't
getting anything. At the end of the show, I thought,
I mean you could see it. She's like, Okay, thank
you for you know, answering my questions, which really he didn't.
I'm anxious to see what happens with their overnight.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
I'm interested to see if it even happens. I mean,
Cindy asks, where do we go from here? Could have
been a great moment for Mel to say, let's go
to the fantasy suite and actually have a real conversation
about stuff that actually matters, and said he said, if
there's a will, there's a way. Goodness, gracious man. Him
as a lead again is like very confusing because it
just feels like he doesn't want to be there. Even
(29:27):
from the interviews that he did before the show even started,
it felt like this wasn't a show for him specifically
why they went through it and said, no, this is
our guy, this is who's going to bring us this
kind of rebound season. I'm confused by to this day,
I've yet to see it. I hope we get some
vulnerability next week. We do have a preview of the finale,
(29:49):
which is two hours long. Cindy says that she and
Mel are very well suited for each other. I guess
I'll pause here and ask you, Nancy, you've been a
part of this show. After this conversation, we just saw
the way he communicated with her, why do you think
she still thinks they're very well suited for you.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
I have no idea fair enough? How could you say that?
How could she? And you know what I have to say,
I don't think she really believes that. I think she's
trying to put the right face on it, like Okay,
let's go, it's a show or at the end. And
I love, I love, I think they're both lovely women.
But I would wouldn't you be running for the hills
(30:32):
If he can't say anything else. That's a red flag,
and I think she is the red flag.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
I think it's going to be a wake up call.
At some point. We do see the end of this preview,
Mel talking to Peg telling her he had an overnight
with Cindy and he wants to be transparent with her.
Is this a moment where he overshares that he doesn't
actually need overshare? Is this a moment where he's just
(31:01):
telling her, Hey, after my overnight, I realize it's you
and you only what do you think happens here?
Speaker 3 (31:07):
I would have thought personally that he would have chosen Cindy,
But after his lack of communication and his feelings and
how he feels, which we know he's not sure what
he feels, I'm not sure that he will end up
(31:31):
with Cindy. I don't know, obviously, I'm guessing. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
It will be the most dramatic moment of this season, really,
that conversation, I think so. I mean, I think anytime
you're talking about having an overnight with somebody else on
a day that you might be proposing to the other person,
I think that's dramatic and awkward and weird. Respect him
for being honest. I don't think it's necessarily ever necessary
(32:00):
to do this. We've seen it happen in the past.
It never goes overwell. I feel like this is a
conversation that should happen post show. You two are hanging
out and you're like, hey, just let you know. I
want to be clear. This is what happened that you
didn't see. This is why we're sitting here today. But
doing it with a camera in your face, it just
(32:21):
feels like it could get weird fast. I know, I agree, Nancy.
Do you think he's going to get engaged with in
to this?
Speaker 3 (32:29):
I can't see how he can. I can't see what
he's given us, how he could get engaged and feel
good about it when he's just said I'm not really sure.
He's vascillating and I he's been truthful, which is good.
I admire that, but he hasn't given anything. And I
(32:51):
just don't see how you can then having acted on,
you know, been on the show this way, and then
get engaged. So I would vote no. He doesn't get engaged, I.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Would vote no as well. I don't see it happening.
I don't know. I know headlines are hinting that he
does and that he said he did, but I would
be shocked if he actually does. I feel like that's
the show trying to throw us in a different direction.
Any final thoughts when it comes to this episode or
this season so far, Nancy.
Speaker 3 (33:27):
This season, I was hope, you know the goal. Obviously,
I was on the Golden Bachelor first one. I'm so invested.
I love Bachelor Nation. I love the show. I feel
like it's going a different direction. I feel like, like
(33:48):
I thought a difference with this new show. The Golden
Bachelor two was everybody kind of looks similarly. It was
a different group obviously than my season. But I feel like,
like I said earlier, you know, there's half of them
(34:08):
wanted to be influencers. They wanted to like there was
more to it, and I felt like our season we
really most of us. I would say when in open
eyed hopefully we're going to meet the guy, Yay, this
is going to be great, and this one didn't feel
that way. But I don't know if it's because also
(34:30):
Mel didn't give back enough. You know, Gary had.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
A lot to say well, and we're seeing that now
even today as we started this show out, Gary has
the ability to, at least good, bad, or indifferent, speak
openly about where he's at and what he's feeling, which
is one of the reasons why I think America endeared
their self to him and so many of you cast
(34:55):
members because they felt like they were in it with you.
And this season had felt distant, and I think that
comes from the lead and moves down to thin the cast.
It does feel distant, but we're still hopeful. That we
have one more week left of the season two of
The Golden Bachelor again, it's a two hour finale where
(35:18):
we will see who Mel might possibly choose between Peg
and Cindy. My vote is he chooses Peg, and your
vote you said he chooses Cindy.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Right, he would be the one I would pick, but
I really don't think he's going to choose either one.
That's my I don't know how he could having said
the things he said and acted the way he has.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
That's very fair. Nancy. Thanks for joining us today, Thanks
for breaking this episode down. Best of luck in the
upcoming weeks as you at least maybe have a little
fun with this new mystery person and come on our
show when you're ready to tell us all about it.
Always look forward to having you.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. Good to
see you.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Good to see you too, Nancy. We'll be back this
week with more Bachelor Nation news, from headlines to interviews,
to breaking down the Golden Bachelor to everything happening behind
the scenes. So until next time, I've been Ben and
we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast on
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Hosts And Creators
Ben Higgins
Ashley Iaconetti
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