Bachelor Alums Weigh In on Newest Star Juan Pablo

The next season of The Bachelor has just begun filming, so what better time to check in with former castmates to get their thoughts on the newest star, Juan Pablo Galavis.

Galavis, 32, competed for Desiree Hartsock's heart on the most recent season of The Bachelorette. Although the former professional soccer player from Venezuela exited the season midway, he was a clear fan favorite. Galavis also has a 4-year-old daughter, making him the third single parent to star in the franchise after Jason Mesnick and Emily Maynard.

"I've never seen another person get the reaction that he got," Graham Bunn told TVGuide.com at 46nyc's fourth annual Alex's Lemonade Stand benefitting pediatric cancer research. "We don't know too much about him, other then he's very charismatic and girls love his accent, and he seems to be a loving father and that's a recipe for women swooning everywhere."

Former Bachelor Bob Guiney also agreed with the choice. "Every season has been so white-bread, vanilla, milquetoast and they finally got someone with a little spice," he said. "They're deviating from their usual Bachelor choice, which I think will open it up to a whole new audience."

Season 15 alum Michelle Money admitted that she's more excited to see which women will get cast. "The show is actually really good about casting according to the Bachelor or Bachelorette, so it'll be interesting to see the type of women that end up on his season because of his cultural differences and being a single dad," she said. "It'll definitely be a sexy season that's either going to work really well or bomb really badly."

William Holman (Season 7) also thinks that the season could fail with Galavis at the helm. "I don't think America is going to get what they're looking for with Juan Pablo," he said. "He has the draw of the accent, but I think it'll get a little boring after a while. It's not going to go well. But it'll probably be one if the best first episodes of any season."

Will you tune in for Season 18 when it returns to ABC in January?