Yes, he is charming and handsome in a boyish way for a 72-year-old man.

No, I would not go on national television to try to win his heart.

But 22 single senior women had a different take.

From as far east as New Jersey, as far south as Florida and as close to home as Sierra Madre and Downey, these women stepped up to stake their claim on the first-ever Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner, star of ABC’s new addition to their reality dating franchise.

A widower after a 43-year marriage, the retired restaurateur from Hudson Indiana, melts our hearts with his vulnerability as he talks about missing his wife and hopes for finding love again.

I admit to being skeptical about the show while holding out hope that it would give a realistic view of later-life romance that might eschew the stereotypes. The debut episode began with Gerry putting in his hearing aids as he gets ready to meet the women vying for his attention.

When two of these women, who were obviously deeply interested in Gerry, left the show because of family situations at home we have a peek into the complications of dating when you have children and grandchildren.

Two things surprised me as I watched the stories unfold. First how quickly the women admitted to falling in love with the golden boy and how kindly he responded to them. The man has manners. And heart.

Several times he dissolved into tears when he felt he had hurt someone’s feelings by not giving them a rose, which signals their exclusion from the show. A few women are eliminated each week.

Granted, the audience has no idea how much is real and how much is scripted. But Gerry made us believe him. Surprise number two was his rags-to-riches assertion that he is in love with more than one of his suitors. All this in just a matter of weeks.

The show has a huge following with people rooting for their favorite lady to be the one the bachelor chooses. Assuming that he can get it down to one.

Romance in the over-60 crowd seems to be alive and well as long as you don’t mind sharing it with millions of viewers.

Email patriciabunin@sbcglobal.net. Follow her on X @patriciabunin and patriciabunin.com