A Reality Check With ... Jodie Fisher (NBC's "Age Of Love")

Jodie is a successful businesswoman who used to work on the committee of Narcotics Abuse and Control for the government and now she feels that her responsibilities to her son make her not the ideal catch. But as long as a man is confident, takes care of himself, and isn't hung up on age (Jodie once dated a man who was 22!), she is ready to find a new partner who is as spontaneous and wild as she is. Unfortunately, that dream didn't become reality as she was the first eliminated on last week's "Age Of Love".

RC: Can you remind the readers how old you are?
Jodie: Must I? (laughs) I'm 46.

RC: Why did you want to do a show like "Age Of Love"?
Jodie: I'm beginning to wonder! I wanted to do it for the adventure of it. I had gotten emails from friends simultaneously saying, "This show would be perfect for you!" I had dated a younger man before.

RC: Yes, I see you dated a man who was 22 years old. Tell me how the relationship worked for you & how it didn't.
Jodie: He's still in my life, I've known him for a few years. He's a great guy & the relationship is very lighthearted. He said that he loves that there's no drama with me.

RC: What was your first impression of Mark when you saw him?
Jodie: Well, when I first saw Mark, he had his hands in front of him & he looked so nervous. I said to myself, "I'm going to be as sweet & as as nice as I can be." But on the video, the part that was so endearing was when he was playing with his puppy.

RC: Would you say the show picked stereotypical things to show - for example, the women in their 40s doing needlepoint while the women in their 20s played with hula hoops?
Jodie: Oh for sure! They slanted it that way & wanted to polarize the two groups.

RC: Speaking of the women in their 20s, they arrived after you left. When did you actually find out that twist?
Jodie: I found out 3 days later when I went to a publicity photo shoot for NBC. Someone called me & said, "Oh by the way, there's going to be 6 women in their 20s there!"

RC: Would you rather have gone out first or later in the game?
Jodie: I think I'm lucky because I came out relatively unscathed. I was relieved when I was eliminated but I wish I could have stayed longer. I loved hanging out with the other 40 year olds. My feelings definitely would've been hurt if I stayed longer but I talked to him less than 2 minutes so I can't really take it personally.

RC: Would you say the show was looking for party girls in their 20s? I'm in my 20s & I definitely do NOT act like that!
Jodie: That's a great question. I have a 21-year-old stepdaughter. She's beautiful & has a great spark about her. She is nothing at all like those women. I think they were looking for edgy quality, for lack of a better word. They just have no awareness that in a few years, they're going to be 40!

RC: Do you think that the fact that you have young children may have affected Mark's decision to eliminate you first?
Jodie: I would love to know the answer to that. I did say something quickly about having an 8-year-old and maybe that was too much for him but I'm not interested in someone who's not interested in my kids.

RC: Who's going to take it here - the women in their 40s or the women in their 20s?
Jodie: In the promos, he does say that he misses the older women as he begins to spend time with the 20s. Ultimately, though, he's a guy who wants to get married & have kids. I think he'll go with someone younger.

RC: You're 46 & look amazing! What's your secret?
Jodie: I'm young at heart & my parents are the same way. I have a son who keeps me young - we go pogosticking & play all kinds of sports. I wish I could say I ate well & exercised but it's just not true!

RC: Good! I'd like to think that I can continue eating junk food & not exercising & look that good in my 40s!
Jodie: (laughs) Yes!

RC: So you're back to your life in California now?
Jodie: Yes, I'm actually getting ready to go on a cruise to the Caribbean. I'm leaving in an hour! There's 28 of us going, my whole family.

A new episode of Age Of Love airs tonight on NBC at 9pm EST.

Get your Age Of Love links at sirlinksalot.net