We’re only two episodes into The Golden Bachelorette, but alas, Joan Vassos has already bid farewell to a fan-favorite contestant: Jack Lencioni.
The 68-year-old caterer from Chicago, Illinois stole the hearts of Joan, members of Bachelor Nation, and fellow Golden Bachelorette contestants alike on Night 1 when he hopped out of the limo wearing a pink suit jacket and belting Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” in the driveway of the Bachelor Mansion. Sadly, Jack’s time on the show was cut short during Episode 2, but Vassos assured Decider that he was just as lovable IRL as he appeared on-screen.
“He has such a gigantic personality and he just says whatever is on his mind. He was a mansion favorite. He was a me favorite,” the 61-year-old Golden Bachelorette lead told Decider during a Zoom interview. “I’ve never been serenaded in my life. So his entrance was hilarious and so cute.”
On Night 1, Jack also memorably whipped up a First Date Feast of tenderloin medallions with a bordelaise sauce, asparagus with hollandaise, and rice with shallots and mushrooms for his golden girl. “He is an undeniably amazing chef. That meal — I know I only got a couple of bites because I had to continue and meet other men that night — but I could have sat there and ate that entire meal with him. It was that delicious,” Vassos confirmed.
Other Night 1 Jack highlights included him excitedly exploring (and later giving a tour of) the Bachelor Mansion, calling Joan’s dress “freaking hot,” and giving hilarious commentary on his fellow contestants and their entrances.
Vassos assured Decider, “He’s as great as you see him in the first episode,” and if you need more proof, look no further than these memorable Jack one-liners:
In Episode 2, Jack performed a hilarious sock puppet show in the talent competition, which was described as “a car wreck in the best possible way.” Perhaps if he sang or cooked he would have won, but the loss didn’t stop him from chatting with Vassos at the pre-rose ceremony barbecue or repeatedly doing canon balls into the pool.
Sadly, the chef was sent home at the end of the September 25 episode, but on the bright side, the father and grandfather had one of the most epic exits the Bachelor franchise has ever seen.
All the men clapped and cheered for Jack on his way out, and Joan told the early fan-favorite, “You’re so much darn fun and the guys I can tell are gonna miss you as much as me.”
When Jack walked outside, he told cameras, “I have no complaints at all. I had a ball in this place and it was a beautiful thing. I did my cannon balls in the pool today. I had a couple cocktails, and you know what?” Before he left, Jack brought things full circle and belted “My Way,” just like he did Night 1. (We’re not crying, you are!)
“Take care guys, twas a slice!” Jack said on his way out. “A slice of pie, it’s like good.”
A Bachelor Nation legend if we’ve ever seen one. Fingers crossed he’ll be back for The Golden Bachelorette‘s Men Tell All special.
The following men were also sent home during The Golden Bachelorette Episode 2, and you can read a detailed breakdown in our Golden Bachelorette Episode 2 recap:
New episodes of The Golden Bachelorette premiere Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC with next-day streaming. Be sure to read Decider’s interview with Joan Vassos and our extensive Golden Bachelorette coverage for more behind-the-scenes insights.