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LOS ANGELES: Mark Philippoussis' dating experiment with a bunch of desperately single 40-somethings made its debut on US TV this week.
The Australian playboy and former Wimbledon tennis finalist agreed to star in the new reality show because he wanted to find true love.
However, the producers of Age of Love did not tell him seven of the 13 women competing for his heart were over 40. The oldest is 48.
"She could be my mum," the 30-year-old Philippoussis said at one point during the show.
The older women, most who were married previously and some with children not much younger than Philippoussis, did not mind the age difference.
"He's my son's age but I can see myself falling in love with him," said Jen, an assistant to the owner of the LA Lakers basketball franchise.
The producers introduced Philippoussis to the older women first, making him think they were the only contestants. Just when he appeared comfortable, they then dropped the six other women, aged in their 20s, into the mix.
Age of Love has been promoted as a battle between the older women, nicknamed "cougars", and the younger women "kittens".
Each week Philippoussis will eliminate a woman until he finds his true love. NBC has billed it as "the ultimate social experiment".
- AAP
