The JTrain Podcast: Rose Rehash – Carnival Dates and Mel Drama

Host: Jared Freid
Episode Date: October 9, 2025
Episode Recap: Golden Bachelor Ep. 3

Overview:

Jared Freid recaps episode three of The Golden Bachelor spin-off with his signature comedic, insightful, and slightly frazzled style. Broadcasting from a hotel room after a late night, Jared dives into the episode’s highlights: carnival dates, Mel’s growing narcissism, drama around “being there for the right reasons,” and the unique un-self-awareness of the cast. He deconstructs the week’s reality TV shenanigans, from viral moments to cringeworthy confessionals, with a combination of affection, skepticism, and laugh-out-loud exasperation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Thoughts: Reality Show "Legs" and Cast Vibes

• Jared worries at first if the show and cast have staying power, especially after his own episode as a guest, wondering:

  “Does this show have the legs? Is Mel fun enough to keep this going? Are the women as enthusiastic?” (00:40)

• Quickly realizes this was a “really fun episode,” praising its “batshit loony craziness” and the cast's lack of social media/media savvy, making them both endearing and unpredictable.
• Notes:
  • The older contestants aren’t “in tune” with reality TV tropes or the Internet’s potential venom, making them more authentic (01:30).

2. Peg & Mel’s Carnival Date (03:00–09:30)

• Peg gets the coveted one-on-one, and her “just rolled out of bed” vibe and honest energy win Jared over:

  “Every time they show her, she looks like she’s checking to see if there’s a robber in the house.” (03:45)

• Both Peg and Mel have nostalgic connections to the carnival:
  • Peg claims, “I love this carnival. I’m here all the time.”
  • Mel boasts, “I’m very, very, very good at carnival games.” (05:30)
• Jared roasts Mel’s confidence:

  “For someone to say they’re very, very, very good, as if they’re training in the off season ... that’s a crazy statement.” (05:38)

• On the dynamic:
  • Peg, a former cop and firefighter, beats Mel at games; Mel only respects those who beat him, a “University of Michigan” energy—“if you’re not doing it my way, I can’t see how another way could be done” (06:15)
• Vulnerability moment:
  • Peg opens up about her divorce due to infidelity, shows her tattoos with her daughter; Mel evades explaining his own divorce, glossing over the details.

  “Mel, none of that story is deep enough for me ... this narcissist won’t tell us why he got a divorce.” (08:50)

• Date ends with a wild KC and the Sunshine Band cameo and Peg’s “epic” dancing:

  “Peg is dancing so hard I thought her hips were going to become dislodged from her waist.” (09:20)

3. Nicole’s “Here for the Wrong Reasons” Drama (10:15–15:30)

• Nicole, a frontrunner, lets slip that she’s not “just dating Mel, she’s dating America,” musing openly about influencer fame.

  “We kind of felt ... we had aged out of influencer aspirations. And what we find out is that the want to be famous ... is ageless.” (10:50)

• Jared’s take:
  • Nicole’s openness is “delusional”; her attitude about fame and comparing themselves to Housewives is totally tone-deaf.

  “I don’t think Nicole gets it. You don’t just go on TV and get a following ... likability is kind of an important thing.” (14:00)

4. The People Magazine Photo Shoot Group Date (15:30–21:00)

• Themed “You can be beautiful at any age,” Jared finds the branding patronizing:

  “When you name it, you kind of take away from the fun of it ... it’s almost insulting.” (15:50)

• Carol’s “awkward in a towel” storyline: beautiful but performing insecurity for the cameras.

  “This is another moment where you go, do they know this is a trope we make fun of?” (18:20)

• Scene-stealers:
  • Carol, Nicole, and Cindy all aggressively vie for the spotlight, with Cindy head over heels and Carol awkwardly in the mix.
  • Prize for best photo chemistry: Cindy and Mel win a “private” make-out shoot in front of everyone.

  “Your prize is to tape a porno ... you two can roll around in the sand and have the seagulls watch you have sex on the beach.” (20:10)

5. Post-Date Mistakes: “Not Here for the Right Reasons” Messenger Flops (21:00–23:00)

• Robin falls into the classic pitfall, delivering the “someone’s not here for the right reasons” spiel to Mel but fails to give a name.

  “Robin makes the classic reality TV show dating mistake ... if you're going to shoot for the king, you'd better not miss.” (21:35)

• Mel, egotistical as ever, dismisses the warning:

  “Mel, confident Mel, hears Robin and goes, thanks, but no thanks. I don’t believe you because I’m smart enough to realize if I’m being lied to.” (22:30)

6. Group Date Rose, Debbie’s Humiliation, and Producer Ruthlessness (23:00–25:00)

• Carol gets the rose for her open “awkwardness.”
• Debbie, the 65-year-old who’s never been married and clearly has real feelings, is made to do a “beach bride” shoot, wearing a wedding dress, and is visibly crushed when she doesn’t get the rose.

  “They put her in a wedding dress ... these producers are ruthless.” (24:15)
  “Debbie, I hope you do okay from all of this.” (24:44)

7. Tailgate Cocktail Hour: Lemon Squares, Culinary One-Upmanship, and Beer Pong with Prune Juice (25:00–32:30)

• The women make Mel his “favorite”—lemon bars—Nicole takes credit.
• Mel critiques the dessert:

  “He takes a bite and he eats it and he goes, ‘Solid.’ That is the craziest response to someone making you a homemade lemon square that I’ve ever heard.” (30:30)

• Mel reveals he went to culinary school but only specialized in “sauces and soups.”

  “I majored in liquids ... I only do icings, but I ain’t doing the cake. This is a crate to me.” (30:00)

• Nicole claims she also went to culinary school—“we already know her dream is a health food Instagram.”
• They play beer pong with prune juice:

  “The prune juice for old people thing is ... so old ... that’s like Nick at Nite shit.” (32:13)

8. Rose Ceremony Exits and Pool Party Finish (32:30–34:30)

• Eliminated: Robin (Golden Girls' Bea Arthur vibe), Jerry (moving story about late husband and their company), Roxanne (007 of pickleball outfits).
• Mel gives a special goodbye to Jerry, visibly heartfelt.
• Peg leads a spontaneous pool jump, showing her signature “no cares, living life” attitude:

  “Peg, who has a beer and doesn’t care about where her jeans come from … she goes, let’s jump in the pool!” (33:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jared on Mel’s Self-Confidence:

  “Mel loves himself some Mel.” (04:53)
  “There’s a confidence that can come off badly and very ‘I am king of the world’ type of energy.” (05:15)

• On Nicole’s Influencer Aspirations:

  “Nicole’s saying I want to be an influencer on a dating show is really not likable.” (13:30)

• On the Unselfconscious Cast:

  “Do they know this is a trope we make fun of?” (18:20)

• On Mel’s Lemon Bar Review:

  “That is the craziest response to someone making you a homemade lemon square that I’ve ever heard.” (30:35)

Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:40 | Jared questions series' staying power | | 03:00–09:30 | Peg & Mel's Carnival Date, Mel's confidence analyzed | | 10:15–15:30 | Nicole’s influencer drama and delusions | | 15:30–21:00 | People Magazine photo shoot, Carol’s towel trope | | 21:00–23:00 | Robin tries, and fails, to warn Mel about “wrong reasons” | | 23:00–25:00 | Debbie’s heartbreak in the “beach bride” shoot | | 25:00–32:30 | Tailgate party: Lemon squares, culinary one up, prune pong| | 32:30–34:30 | Rose ceremony, goodbye to Robin, Jerry, Roxanne; pool jump|

Podcast Tone & Language

Jared mixes affectionate mockery with genuine empathy for the contestants, especially highlighting generational divides in media savvy. His style is rapid-fire, self-aware, and irreverent, balancing skepticism about reality TV manipulations with appreciation for the cast’s authentic moments.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• Episode 3 is a highlight of wild reality TV hijinks—carnival nostalgia, unfiltered egos, delusional influencer dreams, and old-school group-date weirdness.
• Front runners (Nicole, Carol, Cindy, Peg) emerge not just for Mel, but for reality TV drama.
• Mel comes off as increasingly narcissistic and cryptic about his past.
• The older cast's lack of media awareness offers both hilarious and refreshingly honest television.
• Notably, there's a strong blend of fun, cringe, and heart—a rollercoaster for Golden Bachelor fans!

Summary by The JTrain Podcast Recap Genie