31-YEAR-OLD AUSTRALIAN TENNIS SUPERSTAR MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS ATTEMPTS TO FIND TRUE LOVE AMONG WOMEN AGES 21-48 IN UNIQUE SOCIAL EXPERIMENT BASED ON THE CURRENT PHENOMENON OF YOUNGER MEN DATING OLDER WOMEN


BURBANK, Calif. � May 10, 2007 � NBC's upcoming reality dating series "Age of Love," premiering on Monday, June 18 (9-10 p.m. ET) and hosted by Mark Consuelos ("All My Children"), features a timely, unique twist on the reality dating show format. More than just a dating competition, it's a social experiment based on the question: When it comes to falling in love, does age really matter?

31-year-old Australian tennis superstar Mark Philippoussis will attempt to find true love among women ranging in age from 21-48 in this unique series based on the current phenomenon of younger men dating older women. Philippoussis will date 13 women from two very different groups -- the "Kittens," six fun, enthusiastic women in their 20's, and the "Cougars," seven beautiful, sophisticated women in their 40's.

But only one woman can win Mark's heart. Is she an attractive, experienced woman who knows what she wants and has already carved out a niche of her own, or is she a sexy younger woman who lacks the experience of her older counterpart, but has an enthusiasm for life that only comes with the inexperience of youth? In the end, both Mark and the viewers will discover if love is truly ageless.

The suspense builds in early episodes as Mark -- unaware of the concept -- is first introduced to the "Cougars." As he meets them one by one, their ages increase much to his surprise. The series takes a dramatic turn when Mark learns there's a second group of much younger women -- the "Kittens" -- who will also be attempting to vie for his affections. Unaware of each other, the two groups of women meet for the first time taking the competition for Mark's affections to a whole new level. From there, each week the field of women will be narrowed down with the remaining vying for his attention -- but only one can win Mark's heart.

Mark has reached the apex of the professional tennis world, but is lacking that one woman who he can share his success, his adventures, and his life with. Born in 1976 in Melbourne, Australia, Mark's beginnings were inauspicious. "I came from nothing," he says in describing his formative years. In fact, his father, who dedicated his life to his son's development, took a second job driving taxis at night to support his son's fledgling career. Often, he would spend several days' salary on tennis apparel for his son.

Mark's aggressive style of play soon helped him dominate Australian tennis and burst onto the international scene. By 1999, Mark had cracked the Top 10 in the world, becoming a household name and premiere target for sponsors almost overnight.

Mark turned professional in 1994. The next year, at the age of 19, he was the youngest player in the history of the sport to end the year in the top 50. In 1996, he upset Pete Sampras in the Australian Open, and in 2003, Mark advanced to the final at Wimbledon to face Roger Federer. Currently, he is in training to return to the professional tennis circuit this summer.

A self-professed "adrenaline junkie," Mark has a penchant for all things fast -- horses, planes, motorcycles and cars. He's an avid surfer and skydiver, and he is on route to get his pilot's license.

All of Mark's success hasn't insulated him from the pitfalls of love. The lifestyle thrust upon him by his success -- the travel, the instability -- prevented him from solidifying a recent relationship. Through it all Mark keeps his positive outlook on life. He jokes that he is currently in a healthy, committed relationship -- with Kia, his 4-month old Rottweiler puppy. "It's the perfect relationship," he claims, "she doesn't ask where I've been and she's always there for me."

Mark's ready for all of that to change. He has found a home in Las Vegas, Nevada and is at a turning point in his life. For the first time, Mark feels that he has achieved enough stability to invite someone into his life and into his heart.

"Age of Love" is produced by 3 Ball Productions. JD Roth ("The Biggest Loser," "Beauty and the Geek"), Todd A. Nelson ("The Biggest Loser," "Beauty and the Geek") Adam Greener ("Unan1mous") and Craig Armstrong ("Survivor," "Super Nanny") are executive producers.