Is TV Land Going Too Far with ‘The Cougar?’

First we had The Bachelor, a playboy’s dream come true.

Women everywhere decried the reality series as degrading to women and they were right.

Women, paraded like succulent desserts in front of America’s voracious appetite for reality television was anything but flattering.

Turn about is fair play

Payback was certainly hell when The Bachelorette aired and the true nature of a dozen and a half wimpy guys begging for love made us all feel…um..better?

And now for something completely pathetic

Anyway, now the TV Land network is getting into the act with the April 15 debut of The Cougar.  I find it equally sad.

Here’s some hype from the website:

Meet “The Cougar”: Stacey, a beautiful, blonde mother of four from Arizona. As the star of TV Land PRIME’s new reality competition dating series, Stacey — who’s a successful and determined realtor — is eager to shatter dating stereotypes. She believes society has placed a double standard on women who date younger men and wants to prove that age is simply a number.

Sad or Sexy?

OK, let’s be real here. I’m a guy with an active libido.  It’s not like I’m turned off by Stacey. Quite the contrary. It’s the visual attraction that we males are so blessed with in full-on operation.

So while I find Stacey attractive in the picture above, I have to wonder why a mother of four who looks like this has to go on national television to find Mr. Right.

I’m also uncomfortable with what her kids will have to endure knowing all of America is watching their mom date a bunch of guys. And if she’s got a daughter? Yeah, I see this as real healthy for her, too.  That’s what I find sad about this whole concept.

So how do single moms and dads feel about this?

Does it hit a nerve? Is it just another example of our collective approval of prime time voyeurism? Am I overreacting and The Cougar is simply a case of ‘My Turn’ for 40-something women?  Give me some ‘reality,’ please.