NEW YORK — This episode of the “Golden Bachelor” started with a preview of Robin telling Mel that some women there are “self-serving” and not there for the right reasons.

Back at the “Bachelor Mansion” we’re down to our final nine. A date card arrived and it read, “Peg, let’s get down tonight.” Wow! Peg got a one-on-one! Nicolle said that she doesn’t see the chemistry or think that they go together well, so I guess we’ll see!

Gina: Oooh, are the claws coming out on “The Golden Bachelor?” We’re not really used to seeing the Golden ladies get a little catty, and so early in an episode!

Peg’s One-on-One Date

Peg met up with Mel at the OC Fair. Mel said he used to come to the fair all the time when he played for the Rams. Peg is still healing from her divorce, she was cheated on, but she was looking forward to making a connection with Mel. Peg brought her competitive spirit when it came to the carnival games. Mel said she was a “bad ass,” and Peg thought he was a breath of fresh air! They really seemed to connect. They had a 10/10 day! Peg was happy that he got to see her fun side, but then she was ready to show her serious side when they had time to talk.

Peg told Mel about her past with the FBI and fire department. Peg revealed to Mel that she divorced in 2003 and that infidelity happened. Mel talked about his divorce and said that his ex is getting married. He even joked that he asked his sons to ask their mother if he could come to the wedding. Mel said she just found somebody else. Peg’s ex is also married and she feels that they all deserve to be happy. She talked about how she fully focused on raising her daughter because she was so young when she got divorced. Peg and her daughter got sign tattoos for each other in the same spot, it was sweet. Peg joked that they could talk about tattoo locations in the fantasy suite and he said, “Cheers to that!” Ha! Maybe we have a final three contender here!

Mel revealed to Peg that there was a big surprise and it was KC and the Sunshine Band performing! Peg saw them perform when she was 18! It was so fun to hear their hits and see Mel and Peg have such a great time dancing and connecting. They are sweet together! It was adorable because the band even brought them out on stage, and that’s when Mel gave her the rose and the crowd went wild! Wow, I love them together!

Gina: Was I singing along to the KC and the Sunshine Band songs? Yes. Yes, I was. Do not judge. I loved everything about this date. Peg is energetic, fun and confident. I like that she had no qualms about opening up about her life. I like that she beat Mel in a couple of games he thought he had in the bag. And I like her joking that she’ll talk about her other tattoo in the fantasy suite. While I have high hopes for Peg, I have to wonder if his energy matches hers and if they’d be a good fit long term. He is a little hard to read sometimes, so those were my initial thoughts after watching the day play out.

Future “Housewives?”

Meantime, back at the mansion, it was going to be time for the group date. As they waited around Nicolle admitted that she was “dating America” and “getting exposure.” Carol hated hearing all that. Nicolle said that they would have “Housewives” status. Hm. She also said that the last cast wasn’t “so great looking.” Ouch. Gina, we’re going to have to ask her about that comment at some point.

Robin and Cindy talked about how much they didn’t like hearing what Nicolle said. Robin said that they should say something, but Cindy said she would have a hard time doing that.

Gina: Have no fear, Jen. I will definitely be asking her about this if I see her at Women Tell All! This episode is definitely giving us our first taste of drama and you can tell it’s making the other ladies uncomfortable. They’re not here for drama, they’re here for love! I get that Nicolle thought it was a safe space to be able to talk about what she really thinks, but I guess she thought it was so safe, the cameras weren’t rolling? Cindy is already feeling a type of way about the other connections Mel has with the ladies, so I get why she doesn’t want to say anything. But I also get Robin’s point of wanting to tell him.

Group Date

The remaining eight women met up with Mel on the beach. A photographer and the Editor-at-Large Janine Rubenstein from People Magazine were there to feature them in a section called “Sexy at Any Age.” The women got to dress up in bathing suits and coverups. Gerri said she hadn’t done a photo shoot in 30 years, at her wedding. Debbie had a romantic wedding gown like beachy dress. She was so excited and said it meant a lot to her. AHEM – if Mel doesn’t choose her can we PLEASE make her the next “Golden Bachelorette?” This lady looks too good in a wedding gown! Mel had a great time taking pictures with her and they looked amazing together.

Gina: Totally agree with the Debbie-for-Golden-Bachelorette plea!

Robin and Roxanne did a pin-up girls shoot with Mel. It was cute! Gerri and Cheryl were dressed as lifeguards. It was giving “Baywatch.” Carol was left with a towel. For real. Cindy, Carol, and Nicolle were all in beachy white shower type wear. They all looked great together. Cindy hoped that he saw her sexy. Mel kissed her with the other two right there! They all looked amazing!

The photographer selected Cindy and Mel to do “one last shoot!” Wow! I always thought they were great together. WOW, they started making out, and rolling around together on the beach! That was really rough for the other women to see.

Gina: One of them mentioned that it was like a scene from a movie. And the movie they’re thinking of is “From Here To Eternity,” which has a scene similar to what was playing out in Malibu. Yeah, it must not have been great to witness, but it was interesting to note that the photographer saw chemistry between Mel and Cindy and that’s why he picked her.

Carol pulled Mel aside and she was struggling with the fact that she had to compete for him. She told Mel the story about how she once skinny dipped. She’s reserved but she does have a wild side. He thinks she is awesome and Carol went in for the kiss! He seemed into it. You go girl!

Gina: I LOVE how comfortable Carol felt this week (besides the initial towel trauma), from the conversation to the kiss.

Cindy and Mel continued making out and talked about how they are just getting started. Debbie told Mel that she was in Berry Gordy’s wedding and they had a connection from their past. That was fun to learn. Gerri said that she’s not ashamed of her age and Mel said she definitely showed that off! They also kissed. It’s rough because there are some big feelings involved now. Cue the date rose just sitting there on the table. Nicolle said that she didn’t flirt too big with Mel in front of the other girls, but that she was feeling the chemistry and they did some kissing. Robin asked the other women if she should tell Mel about what Nicolle said…they said yes.

Robin Talks to Mel

Robin tells Mel that there is someone who is there for the wrong reasons. But, she never named a name. Mel said he didn’t think it was true in this group. Robin was like, ok then, kissed Mel, and walked away.

Gina: I think we’ll all be keeping an eye out for Mel’s reaction when it does come out that it’s Nicolle.

In the end, the group date rose went to Carol! Was it just me, or did he seem to drift a bit from Cheryl? I guess we’ll see if she continues on or if maybe he’s starting to connect with others more.

Gina: I think the attention on the show has shifted this week, but I do still think that Cheryl is a contender.

Tailgate Party

The women made lemon bars for Mel because he loves lemon desserts. They were all working together and Nicolle was like let me help and then she went and sat in the hot tub with a face mask on. When the women went outside they found beer pong and a keg! Mel was worried going into the rose ceremony because he didn’t want to let anyone down because they all deserve love. They started with some cornhole, then beer pong, with prune juice haha.

Later, Cheryl said that her feelings were growing and she tried to make up for lost time with a chat with Mel. She said, “You turned me into a princess and you are my prince right now.” Aw! She told Mel that she wanted to take that journey with him and he said, “That’s so wonderful to hear.” He’s keeping his cards close to his vest.

Gina: Yeah, I do think she is still intriguing to him, so we’ll see how it plays out.

The women and Mel grilled some burgers (where is Jack when you need him!) and they were all fighting for time. When Nicolle got her time to talk to Mel, she brought him the lemon bars, revealed that she went to culinary school, and Mel did too! And she gave him the lemon bars even though she had very little to do with them. He said they were solid. There’s something so primal about being the one to give Mel the food that you made him. They always say, a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach! Mel said he likes that he knows Nicolle is all there for him.

Gina: You read my mind about Jack! I was kind of hoping he’d pop out and man the grill, since we know he is the grill master. Also, I am not surprised at all that Mel likes that Nicolle is “all about him.” She knows this and is playing to this strength for sure. It’s not how anyone else is operating, so it makes her stand out.

Rose Ceremony

Enter Jesse… where have you been?!

Gina: Right? I have to say I’m surprised that we haven’t seen any sit-downs with Jesse and Mel so far this season. It seems like they’d have a lot to talk about.

• 5) Cheryl (she’s still in it! Also, love her gown)

And that’s it! Can you believe it?! Mel eliminated three women tonight: Robin, Gerri, and Roxanne. Those are some power hitters there, not to mention a first-impression rose woman, eliminated. Mel, in a classy move, walked Gerri out. He told her that he feels like other relationships were progressing faster, yet he said he would give her that first impression rose all over again. She has a special place in his heart. Aw! That was a tough one. Love her! Ok, let’s add her to the short list for “Golden Bachelorette” as well. The surviving women were so happy they all jumped in the pool.

Gina: I love that Gerri said this experience empowered her. It’s exactly the things we love to hear from the Golden folks. And yes, she could be a fun Golden Bachelorette as well.

Next Week

It looks like Mel gets a special date with Nicolle and also with Cindy…Peg continues to connect with him as well. A black SUV shows up, but someone leaves! What?! Who is it, could it be Cindy? She said, “I wanted to fall in love but, what if he doesn’t catch me?”

Gina: I am hoping that what we’re seeing is not a Cindy crash-out (continued), but the signs seem to be pointing that way. Can’t wait for next week!

Follow us now and never miss an episode!

Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Click here to subscribe on Spotify

Click here to subscribe on iHeart

Discover more podcasts from abc7NY here

Watch “Playing the Field” in the above player, on YouTube, or listen to it wherever you get your podcasts.