Viewers couldn't get enough of Charles L. upon his memorable arrival and first meeting with star Joan Vassos on Wednesday night's The Golden Bachelorette season premiere on ABC.
Charles — a retired from financial analyst from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — was in absolute awe of the iconic Bachelor Mansion, where Joan's 24 age-appropriate suitors will stay for the duration of the dating show.
He was greatly impressed by the kitchen's luxurious carved wood refrigerator as well as the massive fireplace in the living area.
Bachelor Nation fans were instantly taken by Charles' sweet demeanor as they flocked to social media to gush over the 'precious' 66-year-old.
'i need to see so much more charles on my screen, he's everything,' one viewer reacted on X (formerly Twitter).
Viewers couldn't get enough of Charles L. as he met The Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos for the first time during Wednesday night's season premiere on ABC
Charles — a retired from financial analyst from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — was in absolute awe of the iconic Bachelor Mansion, where's Joan's 24 single suitors will stay for the duration of the dating show
Another wrote that Charles 'must be protected at all costs.'
Viewers loved how 'soft spoken and gentle' the Pennsylvania native seemed.
'Everyone can go home Charles is the cutest!' penned another Bachelor Nation fan.
Fans got a major kick out of his impromptu mansion tour, which saw him checking out the pricey Le Creuset cookware in the kitchen and soaking up the iconic abode's overall opulence.
'I could watch 2 hours straight of charles exploring the bachelor mansion,' one viewer confessed.
Another wrote that they loved seeing 'Charles L. admiring the orange Le Creuset'
He was one of the lucky 18 men to receive a rose during the dramatic first rose ceremony with host Jesse Palmer having to coach an emotional Joan as she sent six men home.
If he and Joan don't work out, fans are already campaigning for Charles to be the next Golden Bachelor.
'O my heart. Charles for the first Asian #GoldenBachelor, please!!!' one viewer pleaded on X.
Joan made her debut as the star of The Golden Bachelorette on Wednesday during the series premiere of the spin-off on ABC — three years after her husband John died of pancreatic.
She stood outside the iconic Bachelor Mansion looking stunning in a sparkling gown as the 24 men vying for her heart pulled up.
Joan — who was previously a contestant on The Golden Bachelor featuring Gerry Turner, but left the show to help her daughter who needed her — told host Jesse Palmer that she felt like Cinderella to be back at the mansion in Malibu.
Charles L. said he came on the show because he was lonely after his wife died.
Bachelor Nation fans were instantly taken by Charles' sweet demeanor as they flocked to social media to gush over the 'precious' 66-year-old
'She was my first and only love,' Charles said. 'My daughters want to see a happy dad and I really feel like it's time for me to move on.'
Each of the men attempted to make their first introduction to Joan memorable. One man showed up with homemade chicken soup, another wearing a blindfold, another danced with her, one gave her a sand dollar and another gave her prune juice to keep things 'regular.' Jack Lencioni, 68, a caterer from Chicago, serenaded Joan with the song My Way.
Pascal Ibgui, 69, a salon owner from Chicago was the first of 24 men to meet Joan. He asked her how she felt to be the first Golden Bachelorette.
'I feel like the luckiest person in the world,' Joan said.
Kim Buike, 69, a retired Navy captain from Seattle, also a widower, showed up in his uniform. He saluted Joan
'I do love a man in uniform,' Joan said.
David Huff, 68, a rancher from Austin, showed up on a horse but when he turned around the horse ran off. Keith Gordon, 62, from San Jose, California, drove up on an old station wagon with luggage tied to the top. When the last limo pulled up, Bachelor season 28 winner Kelsey Anderson who got engaged to Joey Graziadei got out. The men in the house were confused when they saw her.
'You know my dad he's been by himself, for a couple years now, and I think that, you'll maybe get along,' Kelsey said. 'I have someone I would like to introduce you to.'
Kelsey's father Mark Anderson, 57, from Leesville, Louisiana got out of the car. He shared that his wife died in 2018.
'I had a perfect partner,' Mark said. 'She filled my heart completely.'
Mark told Joan that he was taking a chance to find love again.
'He's cute,' Joan said to Kelsey.
Joan walked into the mansion.
'I can't wait to get this journey started,' Joan said.
Joan Vassos enjoys family time in The Golden Bachelorette promo
Viewers loved how 'soft spoken and gentle' the Pennsylvania native seemed
Fans got a major kick out of his impromptu mansion tour
He eagerly checked out the pricey Le Creuset cookware in the kitchen while soaking up the iconic abode's overall opulence
Pascal immediately pulled Joan aside. He was originally from Paris, France but lived in Chicago. He told her he was extremely successful and owns a beauty salon.
'When I found out it was you, I was a 100% in,' Pascal said.
'I'm glad you came,' Joan said.
'I've been wooed tonight by a Frenchman,' Joan said to the camera. 'Maybe there is some amour in our future.'
The men inside the house bonded.
'We're all here for a second chance at love with Joan,' said Jonathan, 61, a shipping consultant from Oakland, Iowa.
Dan Roemer, 64, a private investor from Naples, Florida, told Joan that his daughters signed him up for the show. He told her she was a 'girl dad.'
'I've been a single dad for 14 years and they are mentors to me,' Dan said, almost crying in a confessional. 'They are my world.'
The men were taken with Joan from the start.
'Talking to Joan is so special,' said Gary Levingston, 65, a retired finance executive from Palm Desert, California. 'Her eyes have a way of pulling you in. I'm just speechless.'
Jordan started playing pickleball with Joan to make up for his 'disastorous entrance. Suddenly all the rest of the men came out of the house and picked up paddles and joined them.
'Everybody grabbed rackets and there were balls flying everywhere,' Joan said. 'It was total chaos.'
The balls whizzed past Joan's face.
'That is not how you get a rose,' Joan said.
Kim said he liked how she put family first and said he was thrilled to meet her in person.
'She really deserves this opportunity, and I hope with all my heart that she does find, among the many frogs in the mansion, her prince,' Kim said. 'Who knows maybe her prince might be a captain.'
He was one of the lucky 18 men to receive a rose during the dramatic first rose ceremony with host Jesse Palmer having to coach an emotional Joan as she sent six men home
Charles L. said he came on the show because he was lonely after his wife died
Bob Kilroy, 66, a chiropractor from Marina del Rey, California, told Joan that he was struck by a bolt of lightning and almost died. Jack Lencioni, 68, a caterer from Schererville, Indiana, decided to cook Joan dinner of tenderloin medallions with a Bordelaise sauce and asparagus with hollandaise and rice with shallots and mushrooms.
'It looks delicious,' Joan said. 'It's wonderful.'
Joan played corn hole with Keith, 62, and said he was fun. She said like he was a person she could introduce to her friends.
'Joan is so easy to talk to,' Keith said in a confessional. 'She's just beautiful.'
Joan picked up the first impression rose and gave it to Keith.
'I loved it when you came in the big old stupid station wagon that reminded me of my childhood,' Joan said. 'When you got out. This is super scary to me, this journey is scary, and you just made me feel safe. This calm voice. You are like this big teddy bear kind of guy. It felt good to me. It felt easy.'
'You are so sweet,' Keith said.
Keith reached over and kissed her.
'Keith makes me feel safe and it's something I haven't felt since John passed away,' Joan said in a confessional. 'He just makes me feel comfortable.'
The men applauded him and congratulated him when returned to the room.
'I am stoked,' Keith said.
Joan told the men she had a surprise for them. Jesse rolled in a TV and some of the children had taped messages for their fathers sharing that they were proud of them. The messages brought some of the men to tears.
But things took an even more emotional turn as Joan shockingly walked during her first rose ceremony, upset that she had to send six of the men home.
'I really don't want to hurt people's feelings,' Joan said. ' It's going to be awful sending any one of these guys home.'
The 61-year-old widow and a private school administrator from Rockville, Maryland, ended up walking out of the room in the middle of the rose ceremony.
Things took an even more emotional turn as Joan shockingly walked during her first rose ceremony, upset that she had to send six of the men home
Joan told the men she let go that they should be proud of being brave enough to come on the show and that it would be a turning point and would help them find love in their own lives
ABC introduces the first ever Golden Bachelorette, Joan
'Take your time, you are doing great,' Host Jesse Palmer said consoling her.
'I'm sorry,' Joan said when she returned to the men. 'It's harder than I thought it would be. I know that it was a lot to leave your friends and family at home and come here and pause your life.'
Joan told the men she let go that they should be proud of being brave enough to come on the show and that it would be a turning point and would help them find love in their own lives.
'If you leave you have already won,' Joan told them. 'If you leave, you have shown the world that you have heard and you have a sense of adventure and that you are looking for love and that you're doing it in your golden years.'
Joan gave out roses to Charles, Kim, Pascal, Jack Dan, Gary, Mark, Bob, Jordan; Jonathan Tone, 61, a sales manager from Riverwoods, Illinois; Guy Gansert, 66, an ER doctor from Reno; Gil Ramirez, 60, an educator from Mission Viejo, California; Charles 'Chock' Chapple, 60, an insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas; Christopher Stallworth, 64, a contractor from West Babylon, New York; Gregg Lassen, 64, a retired university vice president from Longboat Key, Florida; Charles Long, 66, a retired financial analyst from Philadelphia; and Michael Stevens, 65, a retired banking CEO from Denver. The rest of the men were sent home.
The Golden Bachelorette will return next Wednesday on ABC.
