Age of Love: The Town Crier Is Asked To Leave (7/16/107)

Bachelor Mark Philippoussis is now dating six beautiful women in their 20s and their 40s. Host Mark Consuelos lets Bachelor Mark know that he must choose three women to spend a day at the beach with. Mark will get the opportunity to take the women to do the things he likes – one of those things is surfing. He chooses Megan, Maria, and Mary to join him. Amanda was immediately jealous and disappointed she wasn’t invited.

None of the girls are any good at surfing, especially Megan, who gets smacked in the head a bunch of times with the board. Meanwhile, Amanda stresses & paces the apartment, trying to keep her mind off the date. She’s also feels alienated from the remaining women in the apartment, Jen & Jayanna. Jayanna says that she feels Amanda’s feelings are much stronger than Mark’s and she’s probably right.

When Megan is chosen for a private walk with Mark, Mary then becomes jealous. Maria tries to ease her nerves but Mary’s emotions (as usual) get the best of her. Maria feels at this stage in her life, she doesn’t need to chase a man so she takes a secondary role. While Mary continues to try to get Mark’s attention, he rudely doesn’t pay attention & interrupts as her has during each interaction they’ve had.

Amanda is chosen to go on the 2nd date along with Jayanna. Mark takes the two women to a movie night with him but before the movie starts, he pulls Jayanna for a drink alone. You know Amanda does not like that! During the movie, Jaynna felt Mark’s body language was directed towards her, not Amanda. Amanda doesn’t take it lying down, and holds Mark’s hand under the blanket. Looks like Mark is caught between two women!

Finally, Mark gets one woman all to himself – Jen. He shows up at the apartment to take Jen on a motorcycle ride and jealousy rules the house. What a surprise, Mary is crying. The 40s don’t seem to mind as much as the 20s do that Mark is dating so many women. Maybe they’re more secure with themselves. Jen has a romantic date with Mark while Mary cries the day away.

The elimination moves from the apartment back to outside by the pool. Mark calls down Jen first, saying he had an incredible time & asks her to stay. He also asks Megan, Jayanna, and Amanda to stay. When he calls Maria down, she calls him out saying that he didn’t take the opportunity to get to know her better. Once again, Maria had told the women she was going and once again, Maria decides to stay. This leaves Mary to take the fall and she is sent home.

Stay tuned as I’ll be talking to Mary this week on RealityCheckByGina

Age of Love airs Mondays at 9pm EST on NBC

Get your Age of Love links on sirlinksalot.net

A Reality Check With ... Tessa Walker (NBC's "Age of Love")

23-year-old Tessa Walker doesn't care what people think of her. She can't stand pushover guys and because of her headstrong attitude she insists she won't get along with anyone in the house. An executive assistant from Peoria, AZ, Tessa enjoys being pretty and well kept, but knows that she is more than just a pretty face. She sits down with RealityCheckByGina to talk about why she wanted out of Age of Love.

RC: How would you describe yourself?

Tessa: I would say I’m an intelligent, fun woman.

RC: What made you want to be part of Age of Love?

Tessa: It was an exciting new concept. I thought it would be an opportunity to meet someone I wouldn’t normally get to meet. I was very excited about meeting Mark – he was society standard.

RC: Were you in the dark as much as the women in their 40s about the twists?

Tessa: Yeah, we didn’t even know about the 40s until elimination night. We were told for a whole week that we were the only ones there for him. We were shocked & pissed off actually. The 40s had extra time with him. We only had 5 minutes before the first elimination.

RC: Some of the older women I interviewed from the show felt you 20s got a bad rap. Do you agree?

Tessa: They absolutely stereotyped it to make it interesting. They asked us ahead of time, “Are you going to be upset if we make you look bad?” It’s to be expected, though. It’s reality tv.

RC: Your bio states that you didn’t expect to get along with any of the women. What did you mean by that?

Tessa: What I actually said was that I don’t get along with women. I don’t care about gossip and I don’t have time for drama. The women that were in the house were amazing, though, and I was really fortunate to meet them. If I was stuck with typical 20-year-olds, I would’ve pulled my hair out! I formed good relationships with all the women in their 20s. We could not listen to music, we could not go out the front door, so there was forced interaction with these women.

RC: Did you form bonds with any of the women in their 40s?
Tessa: I had the most in common with Jen. We had the same outlooks, values, and morals. Kelli was my roommate & she was just a breath of fresh air. It took me a little while to get to know Maria but she has a lot of depth and really listens to people when they talk. Jayanna was just classless & tactless the way she was against the 20s but she later apologized.

RC: I heard that you were saying you wanted to leave on the night you were eliminated. What happened?

Tessa: I told him on the date how I felt & I compared my feelings to his connection with Amanda. He understood what I was saying. There wasn’t any romantic connection but we had a lot in common & he’s a great guy.

RC: Do you have any regrets or are you glad you did the show?

Tessa: No, I’m glad I did it. It was a great opportunity & I left with five great girlfriends.

RC: Are you planning on staying in the entertainment industry or are you back to your life in Arizona?

Tessa: I’m in Arizona now. I was contacted by my agent to do the show so there’s definitely interest there. But it nothing comes my way, I’m happy with my life & my career.

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

Get your Age of Love links at sirlinksalot.net

A Reality Check With ... Kelli Brook (NBC's "Age of Love")

On the last episode of NBC's Age of Love, bachelor Mark Philippoussis eliminated one kitten and one cougar. That one cougar was 40-year-old Kelli Brook, a former Los Angeles Raiderette. She sits down with RealityCheckByGina to talk about her tumultuous ride on Age of Love.

RC: Can you remind the readers how old you are?

Kelli: Yes, I’m Kelli & I’m 40.

RC: Do you feel your age? You certainly don’t look it!

Kelli: I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel. When I was a kid, I thought you should be doing certain things by the time you were 40 but no. I feel young, energetic, I’m outside all the time, I’m athletic. I’m not ready to hang up my hat yet.

RC: What was your first impression when you met Mark?

Kelli: Of course he was gorgeous: tall, dark, and handsome. I didn’t know he had never dated an older woman. He was shy & obviously a little shocked. I felt bad for him!

RC: Were there real feelings there for him?

Kelli: He’s a sweet guy, he’s a real gentleman. When we were all together, he never tried to show favoritism. Yeah, you start to feel like, “This guy is really great & I would love to date him”. I was not head over heels but I wanted to see where it would go.

RC: Did you mind all the unexpected twists that came your way during your time on the show?

Kelli: I predicted every single thing that came. The producers kept saying, “Kelli, I know you know what’s going on & figured things out but that’s not good television”! I predicted the 20 year olds would be coming. NBC is not stupid. They set him up dating an older woman he’s not used to dating. They want him to fall for SOMEONE. I was saying, “Yeah those 20-somethings are coming!”

RC: Did you feel like the 20s were portrayed very one-dimensional?
Kelli: Who knows what they were told before they met us? That’s one thing that comes with maturity. Some of the thing that the producers caught them saying, they didn’t catch us saying. We’re older, wiser. I feel bad for them, they’re being portrayed negatively.

RC: Have you talked to the other women or can you not speak to each other until the show is over?
Kelli: We can’t talk until we’re eliminated. I talked to Lynn, I talked to Angela. I’m dying to talk to Maria.

RC: The women in their 40s seem really close.
Kelli: We were, we definitely were, especially when we were put in this position of the underdog. We were set up to possibly fail. I like the idea that Mark opened up to us. He really had fun with us.

RC: What was it like to watch yourself back on tv & what did your family & friends think?

Kelli: There were some moments that I was like, “Ooh God, I smiled way too big!” and you can see my wrinkles. I made the mistake of going on NBC’s website & reading the posts about me. Most were nice, but some were just cruel. I think I came across well, I was honest & I was true. My friends, of course, are giving me glowing reviews. I had fun being on there and I had no regrets!

RC: Were you surprised how forward everyone was? Mark got a lot of kisses on the last episode!
Kelli: I wasn’t surprised. The show was all about making twists, turns and changes. That outside elimination was really impersonal. It was hard because you end up standing out there and it was really cold. Some of those reaction shots were just of us freezing. I like the apartment elimination way better, it was more intimate. I wish I had said a few more things, though.

RC: You seemed surprised at the fact that you were eliminated. Did you feel someone else would go instead of you?

Kelli: Yeah, I don’t know specifically who. I jut wasn’t ready for it to be me. I can’t say who I thought it would be because I love all those other girls. Tessa said she wanted to go, she was sick of being there, and didn’t feel a connection with Mark. So we all knew Tessa was going. We didn’t think it would be Jen because he had a connection with her so I guess I thought it would be between Jayanna & Maria. Jayanna felt he had no connection with her and was more into Amanda when they were on the boat.

RC: What are your future plans now that the ride is over?

Kelli: Who knows what the show will lead to? I used to do acting & modeling so those feelings come back up. Who knows? I would love to get back into some kind of entertainment thing. I’m testing the waters.

Age of Love airs Mondays on NBC at 9pm EST

Get your Age of Love links at sirlinksalot.net!

A Reality Check With ... Lynn Borges (NBC's "Age of Love")

Lynn Borges grew up in Hawaii, but has yet to catch a wave into the right man's heart. When it comes to dating, Lynn takes things much slower the older she gets. She often dates men who are ten years younger than her, though her last relationship only lasted for three months. Pickup lines are a major turnoff, which is no surprise coming from a gal who is a bit of a homemaker who loves to cook and bake. Lynn was surprisingly eliminated on Monday night's episode of "Age of Love". She's here to talk to RealityCheckByGina & dishes on why she's glad she got out when she did!

RC: Can you reminder the readers how old you are?

Lynn: I’m 40.

RC: What made you want to participate in “Age of Love”?

Lynn: It came at the right time. I happened to be on Craig’s List & came across an ad that said, “Are you in your 40s & haven’t found Mr. Right yet?” I thought, “Yeah, that’s me.” I did the audition tape & I never thought I would get as far as I did!

RC: What was your first impression of Mark when you first met him?
Lynn: He’s very quiet! I think everyone would agree with that. I’m quiet too so it was really hard trying to get to know him. He’s very attractive though, very sweet, polite.

RC: How did you adjust to the twists in the game such as you’d be competing against a group of 20-year-olds?

Lynn: That one was a little tough because, actually, before I even left for Nashville, I asked if there were going to be 20 year olds because I said I didn’t want to do it if that was the case. When they were thrown in, I was definitely shocked. Then I thought, “It is what it is. I’ll keep going being myself.” If Mark is going to be attracted to a 20-year-old, there’s nothing I could have done.

RC: Are you glad you got out before both groups of women moved in together?
Lynn: Yes, I felt like I had some guardian angels on that one. I was definitely relieved that I got eliminated when I did. It was a situation I never wanted to be in. I wanted to make sure I stayed true to myself, staying mature.

RC: What has the reaction been by your friends & family since being on the show?
Lynn: My mom loved it & had all her friends watch. She said, “You look so good, I’m so proud of you,” so that was a really good feeling. I was really cautious about how some of the things I might’ve said. I always wanted to make sure that my family & friends would be proud of.

RC: Were you bothered that Maria said she was going to walk and then decided to stay once she got to the elimination?
Lynn: Well, I was shocked because Maria & I were in separate bedrooms so I had no idea she was even planning that. I didn’t even know ‘til I watched the show last night. I was like, “What?! I had no idea she was planning on walking.” I couldn’t even hear at the elimination when they were talking by the pool. I was wondering why she was down there so long. I had no idea.

RC: Did you understand why you were eliminated?

Lynn: As far as understanding, it’s because we probably didn’t have a connection. We never had time to talk to each other. I think he was finding that the other girls were more fun & upbeat, crazy & wild.

RC: Do the 40s offer something the 20s can’t?

Lynn: Absolutely! From watching the episodes too, Mark has more interaction with the 40-year-olds. They can keep his attention a little more. I hope Mark does choose one of the 40 year olds.

RC: Have you ever dated a younger man? What worked about it & what didn’t?
Lynn: My last boyfriend was 29. Well, what didn’t work was the timing. He was going through a divorce & he needed space. What worked was that we met through my best friend who is his sister. We had this common bond, already knew each other, and it was very comfortable.

RC: Do you have a favorite memory or friendship from your time on “Age of Love”?
Lynn: All the girls in the 40s group really did bond & we had a great time. My favorite experience was repelling down the side of the building. That’s something I never would’ve dreamed of doing! Out of all the girls, I probably got closest to Angela so when she left, I was feeling sad. I was worried about being the outsider.

RC: What’s the secret to looking so good at 40?
Lynn: I think a positive attitude. That came through all my experiences in my 20s & 30s. You go through a bad experience or traumatic experience, you grow from it & it makes you stronger. You put things in perspective & you let little things go. I used to stress over everything in my 20s. Everything was huge & dramatic! Now, in my 40s, I say, “Is it really worth it?” You choose your battles. As far as maintaining looks, it’s just health. Exercise, eating right – taking care of yourself, stuff that everyone knows about. I’m really trying to take care of myself.

RC: Did the show change your perspective on dating?
Lynn: The show was a really positive thing for me. I came back thinking, “Wow, there is so much to do.” I’m a lot more active. I spend more time with my friends, taking ballroom dancing lessons, going to church more regularly, a lot of great things. I haven’t dated since I got back from the show. I don’t need to be dating. I’m really happy with how things are & if it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen.

Age of Love airs Mondays on NBC at 9pm EST

Get your Age of Love links at sirlinksalot.net

Age Of Love: The Surprises Keep On Comin'! (7/2/07)

On the 40th floor, the women still can't believe they're competing against women half their age for Mark’s heart. Meanwhile, the 20-year-olds try to figure out what Mark would want with women older than their mothers. Speaking of Mark, he needs to decide who he’s going to spend more time with and he chooses Kelli & Amanda. He’ll be having lunch with both. What Kelli & Amanda don’t know is that they’ll both be joining him on the date and what Mark doesn’t know is that they’ll be sitting at two different tables across the restaurant. Nothing like awkward surprises to set the mood…

Mark has an hour with each of the women & he can choose to spend that time as he wants. When the hour is up, he must have dessert with the woman whose table he is sitting at. Kelli takes control, making sure that Mark ends the date at her table. Mark, however, was trying to get back with Amanda. When he walks her out of the restaurant, he shares a first kiss with her and it seems that, perhaps, the Kittens will prevail.

Back at the hotel, the remaining women receive a text message to meet host Mark Consuelos at the pool. They learn that they’ll get the opportunity to create the perfect date … for each other. The 20-year-olds will decide where the 40-year-olds will go with Mark & vice versa. Both groups take the opportunity to have a little fun with the other. The Cougars first send the Kittens to play with 20 children at a birthday party. Standing out in the crowd is Adelaide, who seems generally comfortable & happy around the children. At the other end of the spectrum is Mary, who makes such a little impression that he walks away in mid-conversation. Oof. Mark takes Adelaide home in the limo & she also gets a kiss with him.

The Kittens get their revenge sending the Cougars to a water aerobics class … for the elderly. They take the whole thing in stride & have fun with it. Mark focuses more on their bodies than on the aerobics class. On the way home, he chooses Maria to come in the limo & up to his room to get to know her a little better. The connection wasn’t there, and Maria started to worry she was wasting her time. Before the elimination, she told the other women she was thinking of walking.

The women arrive at the elimination, all nervous about what Mark is looking for & who he will send home. Of the 20-year-olds, Tessa, Amanda, Mary, and Megan are asked to stay. Surprisingly, Mark sends Adelaide home, saying he didn’t feel anything when he kissed her. When it’s time to eliminate one of the women in their 40s, Maria goes back on her word & decides to stay after Mark puts himself out there for her. This doesn’t sit well with other women, as it means now one of them has to go. Jen, Jayanna, and Kelli are asked to stay and Mark pulls another surprise, asking Lynn to leave.

Before the women can head up to their rooms, Mark Consuelos has just one more twist: the women will now all be living together. This show just keeps getting better! I’ll be talking to Lynn & Adelaide tomorrow, so check back to hear what they have to say.

Age of Love airs Mondays at NBC at 9pm EST
Get your Age of Love links at sirlinksalot.net

A Reality Check With ... Lauren Bryant (NBC's "Age Of Love")

27 year old Lauren Bryant is a lighting consultant from Studio City, CA. She loves to win and is always trying to improve herself; in fact, she once traveled in Cost Rica all alone for a month! One of her favorite things to do is indoor rock climbing so a potential mate would also have be into adventurous activities. Age doesn't really matter to her. Sometimes, she dates men who are 17 years older then herself. Lauren was eliminated on Monday's episode of Age of Love but she's got her sights set on bigger things.

RC: How would you describe yourself?
Lauren: I would describe myself as a very well rounded young lady. I’m silly, I like to go out with my friends, I like to travel… I really like to try new things.

RC: What made you want to do “Age of Love”?
Lauren: There were multiple reasons. I just came out here to California. I drove across the country from CT. I wanted to get my feet wet in entertainment industry. One of the many things I submitted myself to was this show. They made the guy seem like he was a really nice, interesting person we’d want to meet.

RC: So your goal is to get into acting?

Lauren: I want to get into commercials. I’m looking for a commercial agent and taking some classes. That’s what I’m focused on.

RC: How did you feel when you found out you would be competing against a group of women in their 40s?
Lauren: It really wasn’t such an issue. I can be competitive person but I’ve gotta be given a good reason, otherwise it’s not worth it. It didn’t really occur to me that there would be a problem.

RC: Did you feel bad the Cougars were deceived into thinking they were the only ones there to compete for Mark’s heart?

Lauren: We didn’t know either. Neither group knew that there was another group but I felt like they should’ve had an inclination. He’s 30 & they’re in their 40s. He has always dated younger women so they probably should have been a little afraid.

RC: What can a 20 offer over a 40?
Lauren: I think just a positive, fresh attitude. You know, the more you live your life, the more jaded you become. You have more baggage. Having youth on our side, we’re able to see things for the first time in a fresh new light. It’s like when you’re a kid & you do something for the first time & it’s amazing! I’m not saying the other ladies didn’t have that but most of them had already been married & it’s not as exciting the second time around. He’s looking to start a family and there’s something to be said for doing it the first time around.

RC: Did you think that the 20 year olds were portrayed accurately?
Lauren: I would say there was a bit of editing. I haven’t played with a hula hoop … I can’t even tell you! I was one of the girls who was hula hooping but it’s not something I would do on a Saturday night.

RC: What was your first impression of Mark?

Lauren: We all really loved the video of Mark. He came across as really sincere. When I met him the first time at the pool, quick introduction, he seemed like a nice guy.

RC: If you could choose, what age group do you think Mark should be dating?
Lauren: That’s a hard question because I don’t know the 40 year olds. I know the 20 year olds have a lot going for them. I can think of one girl in particular who’s in school, who has a career, a house of her own, all of these ambitions & dreams. Just because she’s young doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a plan for your life. I would say the 20 year olds have a lot to offer. We are new, we are young. The 40 year olds had their chance to have a plan & live their life.

RC: Did it hurt when Mark said he couldn’t feel a romantic connection with you?
Lauren: Oh absolutely not! In this instance, I did not take it personally & I wasn’t surprised. There just wasn’t that spark.

RC: What kind of guy would you normally go for?
Lauren: Well … let’s see … you know, it’s hard for me to pick a specific type of guy. I like a nice guy who doesn’t wanna play around. I don’t want a whole song & dance. I want someone who wants to spend time with me, do things, add to my life. I’m looking for someone to have a mutual exchange with … someone who’s going to bring me up & vice versa.

RC: What was the reaction like from your family & friends?
Lauren: Well, let’s just say that everyone was not happy. My personality did not come across – time didn’t allow to show everything & it wasn’t part of the story. I had a lot of fun while I was there for the week & it just wasn’t shown. I’m very bubbly & always trying to make everyone feel good, and it just didn’t come across.

RC: Are you glad you got out before the drama ensued?
Lauren: You better believe it! I’m happy for the time I had there, it was a good experience, but I’m glad that I did get out when I did. Editing’s a bitch, let’s just say that.

A new episode of Age of Love airs Monday night on NBC at 9pm EST

Get your Age of Love links at sirlinksalot.net

Age Of Love: Things Gets Interesting (6/25/07)

We pick up where last week’s premiere left off, with the news that Mark will now have a wider variety to choose from. Thus, we are introduced to the Kittens, a group of women in their 20s. Mark seems pretty excited to get to know them, as one by one they come off the elevator to introduce themselves. Adelaide forms a quick connection, as not only is she good looking, but she & Mark are both natives of Australia. We don’t see much panic on Mark’s face throughout these introduction, as we saw when he first met the Cougars. In fact, he can barely maintain eye contact with the woman … up here, Mark! Look up here!

Mark enjoys a barbecue with the Kittens, giving him a chance to get to know them each a little better. First up is Tessa, who says her personality is just like her dog, a maltipoo (maltese & mini poodle mix). Jealous, the other girls convince Mark to get away from Tessa & get in the pool with them. It seems exciting to get in the pool with 6 beautiful girls in their 20s until they realize they all have absolutely nothing to talk about, leaving Mark wondering with the 40 year olds are doing. This leaves Mark to desperately ask, “Does someone wanna pull me aside & talk to me?” The girls agree and Mark ends up finding out that none of the girls have any solid career paths or goals – none of them seem to know what they want. Thankfully, there’s down to earth Adelaide, who is able to maintain a conversation with Mark, even if it was all flirtation and no substance.

It’s time for host Mark Consuelos to break up the party. He lets bachelor Mark head back to his room while the girls are informed that only some of them will go on dates while the rest won’t see Mark until the elimination. First, though, the women in their 40s will get a group date with Mark roller skating. Mark is immediately happy to see them – they’re enthusiastic & full of life! The 40 year olds lack something that the 20s have plenty of: drama. Back on the 20th floor, Mary can’t stop crying over what she felt was a bad first impression with Mark. No tears at the roller rink, though. A limbo contest has ensued & the winner gets some 1-on-1 time with Mark. Angela wins but her time is cut short when Jen jumps in. All seems to be going well between Jen & Mark until Jen talks about her 25-year-old son … who is 5 years younger than Mark. He went a little pale upon learning that!

Back at the hotel, Mark gives the Kittens a call to invite Megan, Amanda, and Adelaide over to his place to get to know them better. When they get there, they find Dance Dance Revolution set up to play. No one is very good at the game but they at least get to show off their sexy dances. Afterwards, Adelaide pulls Mark aside to speak to him alone and confess that (yes, already) she has feelings for him. He’s willing to take that journey & we probably don’t have to worry about her going anywhere anytime soon. Leading up to the elimination, the claws come out on the 20th floor as they mercilessly make fun of the women in their 40s … who they haven’t even met yet.

It’s time for the two groups of women to come face to face at the elimination. The 40s stand below as the 20s descend from the elevator to meet their competition. Not surprisingly, the Cougars are upset. Lynn expresses that this is not what she signed up for & perhaps, she should be sent home. Host Mark Consuelos explains to both groups of women that they’re here to see if age really does play a factor when it comes to falling in love. Kitten Tessa is called forward first by bachelor Mark, who asks her to come out of her shell a little more but still wants to get to know her. Mark keeps around fellow Kittens Mary, Amanda, Megan, and Adelaide as well as Cougars Maria, Jayana, Lynn, Kelli, and Angela. 40-year-old Angela & 27-year old Lauren are asked to leave, as Mark doesn’t feel the romantic connection with either of them. While Lauren takes the news well, Angela is particularly hurt by the rejection.

I’ll be talking to the eliminated women this week so make sure you check back!

You can read Mark’s exclusive thoughts on his blog HERE.

Get your Age of Love links on sirlinksalot.net!

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

A Reality Check With ... JD Roth (NBC's "Age Of Love")

JD Roth’s career began as an actor at the age of 10. Throughout his childhood and early teens, he reached millions of viewers in more than 250 national on-camera and voiceover commercials. At 19, Roth became the youngest game show host in television history on the hit syndicated show, Fun House. Roth founded 3 Ball Productions with partners John Foy and Todd Nelson in March of 2002. In his career, Roth has been directly involved and responsible for over 1,000 episodes of reality television. In the past few years alone, his successes include NBC’s For Love or Money & Discovery Kids’ Endurance. Tonight, his unveils his latest project, NBC’s Age of Love, which he executive produces. JD sits down with RealityCheckByGina to discuss his television career & dish on his hot new show.

RC: You are a television veteran. When did your career begin?
JD: This is almost my 30th year in showbiz. It’s all I know how to do. I have no fall back plan & I think that’s the way to be successful. I have no plan to do anything else.

RC: When did you start to make the transition from game show host to reality tv producer?
JD: It was luck really! The first show I pitched was bought. I had no idea it would turn into the monster that it is. I’ve produced shows like Biggest Loser and Beauty & The Geek. I’m grateful that it has turned out the way it has. All I wanted was to make shows I liked & would watch.

RC: Your latest project, Age of Love, premieres tonight on NBC. Tell us a little about how you came up with the concept.
JD: Coming up with the concept was interesting. You know if you have kids, you get one weekend night out with the other couples. The men would sit on one side of the table talking & the women would sit on the other. I usually sat with the women, which my wife could never figure out. But women read the magazines & cry on the phone with their friends about Grey’s Anatomy. They’re part of pop culture. They were talking about how famous older women were dating younger men & I said that they couldn’t get a younger guy. They attacked me! I thought, “Ok I have something here, I don’t know what it is but I have something.”

RC: How much was your bachelor, tennis star Mark Philippousis, told going into filming of Age Of Love?
JD: Nothing. He was told he was going to meet young, beautiful women. That was a half-lie, some of them weren’t young. You could see the panic on his face when he started to meet the older women. I told the crew, “Nobody stops taping.” I didn’t want to stop & give him time to panic.

RC: Were the women also in the dark?
JD: The women were told that this was a show about empowerment & strength & also, to show how amazing they are.

RC: Was anyone upset after finding out the whole story? Do you try to pick people who are more like to go with the flow?

JD: We try to make good tv with great characters. I couldn't predict how people are going to react.

RC: All My Children’s (and Mr. Ripa) Mark Consuelos will be our host for Age Of Love. What does he bring to the table as a host?
JD: Mark’s a great guy, great charisma, positive energy … I can’t believe nobody snatched him up yet to host. People feel very relaxed & at ease around him.

RC: Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind?
JD: Endurance is in its 6th year and been nominated the last 4 for Best Kids Show. I love the show & this is my 20th straight year hosting. On the other hand, when producing, you dno’t have to worry about how you look or what you’re going to say. You get lost in the story. If I could do both forever, I would.

RC: What can we look forward to on tonight’s premiere episode of Age of Love?
JD: I think the best part of the show is the comedy. Yes, it’s a love story but in this genre, there’s usually not a lot of comedy. We have 2 different age groups pitted against each other. Tonight you’ll see Mark meet the 40 year olds & the panic he goes through. He’ll start to date them & just as he begins to have an open mind, we bring in the 20 year olds.

RC: Have you learned any lessons from working on this show?

JD: Yes, definitely. These 20 year olds can’t imagine what Mark would want with a bunch of 40 year olds and the 40 year olds can’t imagine what he’d want with a group of 20 year olds! I guess if I wasn’t doing this, I’d be a therapist or study social behavior because I just find this so interesting.

Age of Love debuts tonight on NBC at 9pm EST

Get your Age of Love links at sirlinksalot.net!