Mel Owens' Dating Rules Shake Up The Golden Bachelor

Retired NFL linebacker Mel Owens takes no prisoners in the romance stakes as he allows his feelings to do the talking in this drama-packed episode of The Golden Bachelor Season 2 in more ways than one. Owens, 66, is demonstrating that just because you're senior doesn't mean you're subtle, particularly where love is concerned.

In a revealing conversation with MGoBlue Podcasts With Jon Jansen, Owens keeps it honest about his dating criteria for the next season, and well, let's just say he gives it to us straight up. He told the producers, "45 to 60, just being honest," he said, drawing a pretty firm line when it comes to age. "If they're 60 or over, I'm cutting them," Owens added, unapologetically alluding to his football days. "That's an NFL term," he said after being advised to, perhaps, clean up the language some.

But age is just one of numerous metrics Owens is cherishing. Fitness is non-negotiable. "They've got to be fit," he continued. "Because I stay in shape and workout and stuff." Clearly focused on health and vitality, Owens emphasized that he seeks a partner who shares his active lifestyle.

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And then perhaps the most head-scratching qualifier: no "artificial hips and the wigs." Owens reportedly requested that producers "stay away" from women who have undergone significant joint surgeries or who regularly depend on their hairpieces. While his comments are certainly blunt and may rub some people the wrong way, they reflect his insistence on being the kind of genuine and physically fit that works best for him.

Fairytales and second chances are the currency of the realm in a franchise that trades in them, but Owens' ad-hoc sensibility is sure to prompt a little conversation. Is it ageist or just honest? Is he a breath of fresh air or a hopeless perfectionist? It remains to be seen what the public response will be. Mel Owens doesn't play by anyone else's rules. As the over-50 version of The Bachelor prepares to search for love in the golden years, Owens' experience will likely stir as much drama as romance. Love him or hate him, this season is anything but mundane.