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Golden Bachelorette: Men Tell All recap: Charles rocks, Pascal talks

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When we last saw Joan Vassos, the glamorous Golden Bachelorette was lost at sea in Tahiti, emotionally devastated by Pascal's dramatic self-destruction on a cruise ship.

But if you were expecting bitter tears, tantrums or confrontations between Joan and Pascal — or Joan and any member of the senior society of roseless outcasts — during Wednesday's episode of ABC's “Men Tell All,” you'll have to get your grudges from cable news .

Because “Golden Bachelorette” felt so good when the men hugged 61-year-old Joan and gave each other warm “Sensitive Man Hugs.” There were tears, but more from joy than from Joan, whose biggest drama was the right choice of her daring Cult Gaia dress.

Even Pascal, 69, the once-bearded barber from Chicago, had a happy smile on his clean-shaven face when he wasn't sitting in the slightly hot seat to talk to host Jesse Palmer.

Here are the warm and cozy highlights:

“Golden Bachelorette” drama at sea Pascal and Joan find themselves in rough water on the Fantasy Suites cruise ship

Charles rocks Bachelor Nation as Stan demands “Golden Bachelor” status

A big surprise is the declaration of love to Charles L., 66, the retired data analyst from Philadelphia. We knew he was a fan favorite, but that's rock star admiration from the studio audience, which includes a seemingly spontaneous Stan moment from a lovestruck audience member who didn't seem to be a plant.

“You’re so sweet, so considerate,” the woman says to Charles. “On behalf of Bachelor Nation, we believe you should be the next Golden Bachelor.”

She doesn't speak out of line. The supportive applause is strong enough to be felt by ABC executives. Then the woman breaks the rhythm of the cheering and adds: “But if not, my mother is single.”

Charles' priceless laugh reflects his infectious magnetism. Not only does he show great empathy towards everyone, but he's also quirky and hilarious – like when he tells Jesse that he didn't know who he was when he arrived at the Bachelor mansion.

“Jesse, if you don’t mind, I didn’t even know your name,” Charles admits seriously. Even Jesse has to laugh.

Charles has an unpredictability and sweet naivety about him that is refreshing. It's funny to watch Jesse question how Charles' hair turned pure jet black when salt was reunited with a pinch of pepper. Apparently asking Charles directly if he dyes his hair violates a Just For Men policy of silence that applies to reality shows. But Palmer wants the good, so he circles around the topic. Finally he ends up with a vague gesture towards Charles' head and the certain question: “What are we doing here?”

Charles admirably attributes his black-backed hair to “the food I ate while I was away.”

His beautiful daughter Sophia has also clearly captured the imagination of the show's producers, with the encouraging offspring getting more camera time than “Golden” contestants like the just-fired Jordan, 61, the Chicago sales manager.

Sophia even has a moment after the show to talk about her father's “newfound confidence.” Her father was a dancing machine at a family wedding after the former dancer got his motor running at the prom in the second episode of this season.

“We were at a wedding in London recently and when the dance floor opened he was right in the middle of it,” Sophia says, as video shows Charles goofing around working on it. A season with Charles would be fantastic. The fans demand it.

Pascal gets away with running away from Joan on “Men Tell All.”

Just a week ago on TV, Pascal broke Joan's heart by quitting the show after being frightened on Fantasy Suites. And after Mark's departure in Episode 5, that's now becoming a reality. The rest of the boys – and there are only two of you – stop eliminating yourselves! Joan will develop a complex that will really upset the natural order of things.

But Pascal contritely says to Jesse, “I hope I didn’t hurt her; That wasn't my intention.” Joan doesn't even push for an offense against Pascal when she shows up for the best Jesse show.

“I just want the best for Pascal,” Joan tells USA TODAY after the taping. “It was hurtful and I was surprised. I admit that. But he wasn't where he was supposed to be. And in the end he did the right thing.”

Pascal tells us: “I feel very confident that I was 'the chosen one' and wasn't in the place where she needed me. I realized there was no reason for me to continue.”

As for the outrageous reunion look, it wasn't a disguise for the bearded heartthrob. “I shaved because I’m the oldest of them all,” he says. “I thought I might look the youngest.”

'Golden Bachelorette' secrets revealed, including lost golden pants

“Men Tell All” reveals the raunchy fourth episode of the season, in which the “Golden” seniors gave it their all in the stripping competition for Joan.

Jonathan, 61, the shipping consultant from Oakland, Iowa, who showed off his full suite of stripping skills, “claims to at least have experience in the stripping world.” He wasn't a complete novice, even if he wasn't “professional “I danced,” he says.

Jonathan then tells USA TODAY that when he was in his mid-20s, he tried out for a show in Kansas City. “I thought I did a good job,” he says. “But I didn’t get the job.”

As for the small but memorable gold pants he donned to dance for Joan? “I actually gave this to Joan,” says Jonathan. “If she wanted to auction them off for Stand Up To Cancer, she can do that.” (Credit card only, no cash accepted.)

Who is left on “Golden Bachelorette”?

Notably, the two remaining men were absent from “Men Tell All”: Guy, 66, an emergency room physician from Reno, Nevada, and Chock, 60, an insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas.

The drama certainly isn't over yet: “There's a twist in every 'Bachelor' ending,” Joan tells USA TODAY. “There are a lot of tears and emotions. But in the long run there are also tears of joy.”

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