A "GREAT SOCIAL experiment" has commenced on Monday nights on NBC: a reality show called "Age of Love." The idea is to find a mate for Australian tennis star Mark Philippoussis, a 6-foot-5 former GQ cover boy who, according to the show, "has everything except someone to share his life with."

Philippoussis, who's touted as "the man every woman wants" (though rumors that he dated Paris Hilton may alter that perception), thinks he's signed up for a conventional dating show. But just as he develops a fondness for older women, along come six more females. Like the first group, they have ample cleavage, voluminous hair and teeth the color of copier paper. In fact, they appear almost no different from the 40-ish women except for one thing — they happen to be in their 20s.

That awful screeching sound you're about to hear? It's not the nails-on-a-chalkboard effect of reality television, it's the ensuing catfight between the "cougars" and the "kittens." That's what NBC decided to call these rival gangs, describing them on the "Age of Love" website as "beautiful and sophisticated" and "enthusiastic and fun," respectively. And although the two sides haven't yet seen each other, previews from upcoming episodes suggest that the level of competition will elicit some sparkling repartee.

"What's a synonym for old?" we hear one kitten ask.

"Decrepit," answers another.

"Age of Love" executive producer J.D. Roth, who's behind such shows as "The Biggest Loser" and "Beauty and the Geek," said last week in an interview on RealityWanted.net that he gets his best ideas from listening in on the women when he and his wife socialize with other couples. When the subject of older women dating younger men arose one night, and Roth suggested that such scenarios were beyond his female dinner companions' reach, he was duly scolded. Then he realized he had the kernel of a great idea. Or at least an idea that could make effective use of the tiki torches, evening wear and porno soundtrack-style music without which no reality dating show is complete.