NBC: All About Love...

I have received tons of emails about this week's debut show, Age of Love (Produced by 3 Ball Productions for NBC).

If you have not seen the show, it's basically the Bachelor (ABC) revisited with a 'twist'. According to the NBC press release:

The eight-episode series will follow Mark Philippoussis, a 31-year-old professional tennis player from Melbourne, Australia, who will serve as the object of affection for Age of Love's bachelorette suitors.

Referring to Mark P. as an "object" is fascinating side note and of course, the alleged twist: Philippoussis will attempt to find true love among a group of 13 women ranging in age from 21- to 48-years-old and the groups are divided into the 20 somethings (aka the "Kittens") and the 40 somethings (aka the "Cougars").

Love Gone Wild

Granted the labels may be a bit over the top "Object", "Cougars" and "Kittens" or simply the over active imagination of a creative department, apparently, the star of the show (aka the "Object") was not aware of the evil, I mean creative deception. If you are on a show called "Age of Love" would you not think it had something to do with oh I don't know...AGE!

Sometimes The Obvious Is Not So Obvious

When I first saw the trailer at the upfronts last spring - I just remember tag line, "Will he choose the kitten or the cougar?" The premise seemed fairly predictable - or is it?

You will notice a clear trend with Network reality television - it attempts to teach you a moral lesson and challenge meager stereotypes. Or, as I refer to it as "Feel Good Television". Perhaps, that should be the objective of every television show - after watching dramatic grotesque and violence, leave it to your friendly reality show to make you feel better...

More Than Just Brains vs. Nothing More Than Beauty?

Aside from the obvious, the show presents a much more interesting social commentary and poses the question of just how important is age in a relationship? Quite frankly, I think the contestant's age was disclosed to early in the show - for an accurate test, there should have been a little more suspense.

Furthermore, I could get into the whole 40 versus 20 - but, considering I am not in either group, I will save that debate for another post.

Two Parts Water - 1 Bachelor

On a side note, there is another special treat: Next week NBC will premiere "The Science of Love" (Also produced by 3 Ball Productions for NBC) following next week's Age of Love.

The Science of Love follows Adam Johnson, a former NFL player and current member of a popular dating website, as he attempts to prove if a panel of relationship experts with a computer can create a more successful match than natural chemistry.

Are we feeling good yet or confused? While reps over at NBC are quick to mention that Science of Love is "separate" from Age of Love - the shows do have similarities. Of course, having the word "Love" within the title of show and the whole DATING thing would certainly be the most noticeable.

I am suddenly now busy pitching a reality show where an accomplished bachelorette in her 30's attempts to find true love among a group of 13 men ranging in age from 21- to 48-years-old. Think it will sell?