Golden Bachelorette Reveals Leading Lady Ahead of Fall Premiere
Originally appeared on E! Online
This golden girl is about to take center stage.
In fact, The Golden Bachelorette will premiere this fall with lead Joan Vassos. After exiting The Golden Bachelor early due to a family emergency, ABC confirmed that the private school administrator will return for another shot at finding love.
"The Golden Bachelorette joins the Wednesday night lineup," ABC announced in a May 14 press release. "Where one radiant woman in her golden years will have a second chance at finding love."
And Bachelor Nation is already getting a glimpse of Joan in all her golden glory in a promo shared to social media, where she grabs a golden rose and waves to the camera, before declaring, "I'm Joan, and I'll be your first Golden Bachelorette."
The 60-year-old, who vyed for the heart of inaugural Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner, left the dating series abruptly in episode three due to her daughter giving birth, and subsequent battle with postpartum depression.
Bachelor & Bachelorette Status Check: Find Out Who's Still Together
More from E! Online
Sophie Turner Breaks Silence on "Shocking" Aftermath of Joe Jonas Divorce
Kate Gosselin Shares Rare Photo of 4 of Her and Jon's Sextuplets at Their 20th Birthday Celebration
Joan previously admitted to wanting to return to The Bachelor Mansion as soon as she left.
"I wanted to come back very, very badly," she explained to E! News in November. "I think Gerry and I had a good connection. And we didn't have closure, like we had unfinished business."
However, Jane wanted to be there for her daughter, and ultimately decided to rule out love for the season. As she put it, "I couldn't do it."
The Golden Bachelor ultimately saw Gerry Turner, 72, find love with 70-year-old Theresa Nist—with the two even marrying in a televised special—but the pair announced they were parting ways after three months of marriage in April.
Still, the former couple, who cited their dedication to each living close to their respective families in different states, don't regret their time on the ABC reality series, nor do they want their breakup to shadow the positive effects of the show.
"We have received so much love and support from so many people who watched The Golden Bachelor, and I don't think we can tell you how many people told us that it gave them so much hope," Theresa told Good Morning America in a joint interview with Gerry. "We want none of that to change for anybody."
And The Golden Bachelorette is already glittering, as Joan will get a second chance at love this fall.
In the meantime, keep reading to see every show premiering in 2024—including ones you can binge right now.
Bridgerton (Netflix) - May 16
From Shondaland and new showrunner, Jess Brownell, Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he’s disheartened to realize that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season. But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly. Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise (Claudia Jessie), who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope’s growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.
Don't Forget the Lyrics (Fox) - May 16
Hosted by Emmy Award-winner Niecy Nash, Don’t Forget The Lyrics challenges contestants’ musical memory as they get one song closer to winning $1 million.
I Can See Your Voice (Fox) - May 16
I Can See Your Voice host Ken Jeong is joined by Emmy Award-nominated actress Cheryl Hines and Daytime Emmy Award-winning television host and vocalist Adrienne Bailon-Houghton along with a rotating panel of celebrity detectives to help one contestant tell the difference between good and bad singers…without ever hearing them sing a note.
Race to Survive New Zealand (USA) - May 20
In the most harrowing outdoor adventure competition yet, challengers must rely on a combination of endurance racing, survival skills and intuition as they navigate 150 miles of New Zealand’s harshest terrain. From the depths of ancient caves to frigid alpine summits, every step and every calorie is hard-earned. However, strength and speed alone won’t be enough to win $500,000. Rather, only those with the strongest will to survive can claim this life-changing prize.
Weakest Link (NBC) - May 20
Hosted by Emmy Award winner Jane Lynch, the iconic British import and international game show phenomenon returns with a new batch of episodes, including a special veteran-themed show saluting the troops.
Gordon Ramsey's Food Stars (Fox) - May 22
Culinary titan Gordan Ramsay welcomes famed hospitality industry leader and TV personality Lisa Vanderpump in the all-new season of the hit competition series.
The Kardashians (Hulu) - May 23
Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian Barker, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner return for season five this spring.
Gaga Chromatica Ball (HBO) - May 25
In front of a sold-out crowd of 52,000 people, 13-time Grammy and Academy Award winner Lady Gaga delivers a career-defining performance at Los Angeles’s Dodger Stadium during her 2022 Chromatica Ball Tour.
Beat Shazam (Fox) - May 28
Jamie Foxx and Corinne Fox return for a new season of the interactive game show.
America's Got Talent (NBC) - May 28
The 19th season of America’s Got Talent returns with a new set of aspiring performers looking to compete for the ultimate $1 million prize. Executive producer Simon Cowell returns to the star-studded judging panel with Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara.
Masterchef (Fox) - May 29
Gordon Ramsay, acclaimed chef Aarón Sánchez and renowned restaurateur Joe Bastianich return for the ultimate cook-off, as the top home cooks from four different generations, inclusive of Gen Z, Millenials, Gen X and Baby Boomers, battle it out.
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter (MTV) - May 30
Catelynn Baltierra, Jade Cline, Cheyenne Davis, Briana DeJesus, Ashley Jones, Maci McKinney, Leah Messer and Amber Portwood return for the new season. The moms are stepping into new territory, some of them giving driving lessons to their adolescents and others weighing their desire to have more children. In the midst of it all, they are juggling their relationships, prioritizing time for their significant others and navigating personal discoveries.
We Are Lady Parts (Peacock) - May 30
Season two of We Are Lady Parts sees the band return with a renewed artistic mission after the high of their first U.K. tour, only to find a rival band threatens their delicate status quo. As the reality of chasing success sets in, Lady Parts embark on recording their first album, juggling personal ambitions and deciding whether "making it big" is really what they wanted.
We Are Lady Parts (Peacock) - May 30
Season two of We Are Lady Parts sees the band return with a renewed artistic mission after the high of their first U.K. tour, only to find a rival band threatens their delicate status quo. As the reality of chasing success sets in, Lady Parts embark on recording their first album, juggling personal ambitions and deciding whether ‘making it big’ is really what they wanted.
The Real Housewives of Dubai (Bravo) - June 2
Season two of the reality series debuts this summer.
Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up (Lifetime) - June 3
On the heels of the buzzed about documentary The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard where Gypsy Rose Blanchard told her story in her own words, Lifetime's new eight episode docuseries, Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up picks up immediately from the days before her release from prison on Dec. 28 of last year. The series follows Gypsy as she experiences life as a free woman, including reconnecting with family and finally living with her husband Ryan Anderson for the first time.
Name That Tune (Fox) - June 3
Hosted by Jane Krakowski and band leader Randy Jackson, contestants' musical knowledge will be tested for a chance to win over $100,000.
Below Deck Mediterranean (Bravo ) - June 3
The azure waters and ancient ruins of Athens, Greece set the scene as Capt. Sandy Yawn returns to steer her team through a season brimming with fresh and formidable challenges. Between eccentric guests, an abundance of late-night demands that require intervention and a never-before-seen mechanical issue that orders all hands on deck, the crew faces tumultuous waves from the start.
Clipped (Hulu) - June 4
Clipped takes you behind the scenes of a notorious NBA owner’s racist remarks, captured on a tape heard around the world. Based on the hit ESPN 30 for 30 podcast The Sterling Affairs, this limited series charts the collision between a dysfunctional basketball organization and even less functional marriage, and the precipitating tape’s impact on an ensemble of characters striving to win against the backdrop of the most cursed team in the league.
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld (Hulu) - June 7
In 1972, Karl Lagerfeld (Daniel Brühl) is 38 and not yet wearing his iconic hairstyle. He is a ready-to-wear designer, unknown to the general public. While he meets and falls in love with the sultry Jacques de Bascher (Théodore Pellerin), an ambitious and troubling young dandy, the most mysterious of fashion designers dares to take on his friend (and rival) Yves Saint Laurent (Arnaud Valois), a genius of haute couture backed by the redoubtable businessman Pierre Bergé (Alex Lutz).
Perfect Match (Netflix) - June 7
In the second season of Perfect Match, 22 new singles from across Netflix’s unscripted series are back in the search for love. They will couple up and test their romantic relationships through compatibility challenges. Winning couples gain power in the game to bring in new singles to match with their castmates – setting up potential love matches or stirring trouble in paradise as they compete to be the strongest couple at the villa, crowned the Perfect Match.
The Boys (Prime) - June 13
In Season Four, the world is on the brink. Victoria Neuman is closer than ever to the Oval Office and under the muscly thumb of Homelander, who is consolidating his power. Butcher, with only months to live, has lost Becca’s son and his job as The Boys’ leader. The rest of the team are fed up with his lies. With the stakes higher than ever, they have to find a way to work together and save the world before it’s too late.
House of the Dragon (HBO) - June 16
Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke and Matt Smith return in the for the HBO series' second season, which sees the Targaryen families at war over the Iron Throne.
Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge (Hulu) - June 25
An unprecedented look at the non-stop life of a cultural luminary. At a time when gender equality and women’s issues are at the forefront, Diane von Furstenberg’s life exemplifies empowerment, resilience, entrepreneurship, and style. She is an inspiration to women with her unapologetic demeanor. Diane never saw herself as a victim of sexism; rather, she embraced her femininity in a strong and profound way, forging a path for her daughter and the next generation of women to follow.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
