ABC on Wednesday announced premiere dates for its fall lineup, including “The Golden Bachelorette,” which stars Maryland school administrator Joan Vassos as a woman of a certain age looking for love.
The reality TV show, a first from ABC’s popular “Bachelor” franchise, will make its debut Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 8 p.m. The show will stream the next day on Hulu.
Vassos, a 61-year-old resident of Rockville and University of Maryland graduate, is a mother of four and a grandmother. She first appeared on the network’s inaugural season of “The Golden Bachelor,” where she competed alongside 22 women to win the affection of widower Gerry Turner. However, Vassos had to depart the series earlier than expected after an illness in her immediate family.
She was named the first-ever “Golden Bachelorette” in May and left Maryland in mid-June to film the series at “The Bachelor” mansion in Malibu, California.
“Excited, nervous, and overpacked … but, mostly ready to get this golden journey started,” Vassos posted on her Instagram on June 12. “I’m not sure what this journey holds, but if it’s anything like my suitcase, it’s sure to be FULL of surprises! Here I go…”