As much reality TV as I'm willing to watch, I have to draw the line somewhere. And I draw the line at dating shows. It's like the television networks know they're losing their audience to the internet, downloads and On Demand, so they're pairing up nitwits guys and straw-for-brains chicks in an effort to breed a super race of people dumb enough to watch future seasons of "Deal or No Deal."

But next week NBC has a dating show debuting next week that shows real train wreck potential. At least enough to give it the Jerry Thornton One Episode Test. It's called "Age of Love" where they take one of the generic dickweed guys that all these shows have (this one happens to have a weird puppet look to him, like Gary Johnston from "Team America: World Police") and try to fix him up with women.

The twist on "AoL" though is the dude is about 30, and the contestants are all MILFs and cougars in their 40's. But wait! There's more! Before puppet boy starts culling the herd, they bring out a bunch of hotties in their 20's and the games begin. I have to admit, I like the sociological aspects of the idea. The warped, twisted sexual-political, sociological aspects. And the producers aren't making it easy on the guy. It's not like they've got Alexis Bledel on one side and Star Jones on the other; they make the choices tough. Some examples:

20s:

40s:

I don't think it's a slam dunk choice. I've got a thing for hot MILFs, but I once heard a great philosopher...I think it was Sylvester Stallone...say "I like young girls for the same reason people like puppies." Hard to argue with the logic.

Still, I think I'd lean strongly toward taking the cougars. Seriously. It's like this: No one, in spite of what they say, goes on these shows looking for a spouse. They go on to boink strange (in every sense of the word) women, period. If you're looking for a short term thing, you definitely go 40+. For the same reason if you're looking for a guy to win you the World Series next year, you go hard after Curt Schilling. But if you're thinking long term, you bring up Jon Lester. And no one goes on these shows looking any further in the future than tonight.

(On an unrelated note, Bret Michaels will have a dating show on VH1. I can't wait to see the challenges. Instead of "You and Bret will sip champagne on the Sienne...", they'll have "You're each being given a trailer hitch. If you can suck the chrome off...")