Wife Swap 888671 226132916 2008-07-16T23:31:59Z 69.125.193.133 /* Synopsis */ {{otheruses4|the television programme|the subcultural sexual lifestyle|Swinging}} {{infobox television | bgcolour = | show_name = Wife Swap | image = [[Image:Wifeswaptv.jpg|250px]] | format = [[Reality TV]] | runtime = 60 minutes | creator = | starring = Various couples | country = {{UK}} | network = [[Channel 4]] | first_aired = [[January 1]] [[2003]] | last_aired = Present | num_episodes = | website = http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/W/wifeswap/index.html | imdb_id = 0392948 | tv_com_id = 23898 }} '''''Wife Swap''''' is a [[reality television]] programme, produced by [[United Kingdom|UK]] independent TV production company [[RDF Media]] and created by [[Stephen Lambert (media executive)|Stephen Lambert]]. It first aired in [[2003]] on the UK's [[Channel 4]], and since [[2004]] an American version has also aired on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] network. On [[February 28]] [[2008]] ABC announced that it had renewed ''Wife Swap'' through the 2008-2009 Season.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?date=02/28/08&id=20080228abc02 Breaking News - ABC ANNOUNCES EARLY PICK-UPS OF ALTERNATIVE SERIES FOR 2008-2009 SEASON | TheFutonCritic.com]</ref> == Synopsis == Two families, usually from vastly different [[social class]]es and [[lifestyles]], swap wives/mothers (and sometimes husbands) for two weeks. In fact, the show will usually deliberately swap wives with extreme polar opposite lifestyles, such as a dramatically messy wife swapping with a fastidiously neat one. Though using a phrase from the swinging lifestyle, couples participating in the show do not share a bed with the "swapped" spouse while "swapping" homes. This swap will most likly end up in a hysterical hour of fighting and loving. It has grabbed the attention of the young teenagers of today because of the obvious fictionality of the show. The people might be real but the drama on the other hand is fake and scripted. Be sure to catch this show on ABC. During the first week, the new wife must adhere to the exact same rules and lifestyle of the wife she is replacing. Each wife leaves a house manual which explains her role in the family and the duties she holds. This almost always determines what rules the wives will apply at the "rules change ceremony." During the second week, the new wives are allowed to establish their own rules, and their new families must adhere to these new household rules. It usually takes a while for the families to adjust to this policy. At the end of the two weeks, the two couples all meet together for the first time, and along with their husbands, discuss how they feel about the two weeks. This often descends into personal insults and has degenerated into violence at least once. In 2006 on the American version, a new twist was added whereby the wife can bring in someone to help her (a family member, a friend) to help on one day of the swap. The twist was discontinued early in the third season and only appeared in a few episodes. == Spin-offs == ===Other countries=== Localised versions of Wife Swap were produced by [[Viasat]] and aired in [[Croatia]], [[Sweden]], [[Norway]], [[Denmark]], [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]]. Viasat was the first company in the world to adapt the format locally. The first adaptation aired in Denmark in Fall 2003. A version in [[Serbia]] airs on [[RTV Pink]], called ''Menjam ženu'', which premiered in July 2006. Also, [[Chile]] premiered its own version of Wife Swap called "¿Quién cambia a quién? Intercambio de Esposas" (Who changes whom?: Wife Swap) on March 14. The show is produced by [[Canal 13]] and hosted by [[Cecilia Bolocco]]. The [[Croatia]]n version airs on [[RTL Televizija]]. There is also a Dutch and a Belgian version of wife swap. In [[The Netherlands]] it's called "Jouw Vrouw Mijn Vrouw" (Your wife My wife) and in [[Belgium]] it's called "De Nieuwe Mama" (The New Mum). There is also Czech Version, hosted by NOVA TV, called Výměna Manželek (Wife Swap). In Germany Wife Swap is called [[Frauentausch]] and premiered [[July 14]] [[2003]] on [[RTL II]]. ===Celebrity Wife Swap=== There have been some celebrity versions of ''Wife Swap'' produced on the UK version of the show: * [[Charles Ingram]] and his wife Diana swapped with [[Jade Goody]] of ''[[Big Brother (UK)|Big Brother]]'' and her then-partner [[Jeff Brazier]]. * Racing [[pundit]] [[John McCririck]] and his wife Jenny swapped with [[politician]] [[Edwina Currie]] and her husband John. * Magician [[Paul Daniels]] and his wife [[Debbie McGee]] swapped with journalist and radio host [[Vanessa Feltz]] and her fiancé [[Ben Ofoedu]]. * 80's pop-singer and [[Celebrity Big Brother]] star [[Pete Burns]] and his partner Michael Simpson swapped with former [[football player]] [[Neil Ruddock]] and his partner Leah Newman. * Comedian [[Freddie Starr]] and his wife Donna swapped with [[Samantha Fox]] and her partner Myra Strattan. * 80's pop-singer [[Sinitta]] and her husband Andy swapped with former [[Coronation Street]] star [[Bruce Jones]] and his wife Sandra. === Other Special Editions === In 2005, [[Channel 4]] had aired an international version of [[Wife Swap]], where a [[British people|British]] family had changed lifestyles with a [[German people|German]] family. In 2008, [[Channel 4]] had aired a version where two [[British people|British]] families who happened to be living in [[Spain]] at the time swapped with one another ===Boss Swap=== A spin-off, ''Boss Swap'', aired as a series in the UK. A pilot for a U.S. series aired on ABC, but the series never got commissioned. ''Husband Swap'' and ''Vacation Swap'' pilots were also aired in the U.S., but were not ordered to series. At least once, however, a husband and a live-in boyfriend swapped while the women stayed with their families. == Parodies == *''Wife Swap'' was spoofed in a [[2006]] episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', "[[Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife]]", which was written by and starring [[Ricky Gervais]]. It was also spoofed in an episode of ''[[Hope & Faith]]'' with [[Wynonna Judd]] guest starring. *In 2007, [[Richard Thomas (musician)|Richard Thomas]]' [[BBC Two]] series ''[[Kombat Opera Presents]]'' included a musical parody of the American version of ''Wife Swap'', under the title ''Spouse Change''. *In the final episode of ''[[The Vicar of Dibley]]'', it showed [[Dawn French]], and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] participating in a "Celebrity Non-Entity Wife Swap". *An episode of the ''[[Chappelle Show]]'' aired a parody of the show ''[[Trading Spaces]]'' titled "Trading Spouses". This was filmed before the show aired. The skit featured a format similar to the show, but with sexual themes. == Legal issues == ===Trading Spouses=== In the [[United States]], the [[Fox network]] airs another show entitled ''[[Trading Spouses]]'', with a near identical format to ''Wife Swap''. In [[2004]], the RDF Media sued Fox for [[copyright infringement]] for reproducing the ''Wife Swap'' format without their permission.<ref>[http://entertainment.tv.yahoo.com/entnews/va/20041215/110317512400.html "''Wife Swap'' Producers Sue Fox TV Over ''Copycat''"] from Yahoo! News</ref> In 2004, ABC showcased their upcoming ''Wife Swap'' show including projections of its popularity. Weeks before the show's debut, FOX introduced ''Trading Spouses''.<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117907017?categoryid=14&cs=1 "Spouse swap a fit for Fox: Net snipes at Alphabet with ''Trading Spouses''"] article from ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''</ref> The producers of ''Wife Swap'', [[RDF Media]], claimed FOX stole their concept,<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04352/427976.stm "''Wife Swap'' sues ''Trading Spouses''"] article from post-gazette.com</ref> while FOX argued that TV shows have always borrowed from one another and that FOX simply beat ABC to delivery.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} === British version === In her 2003 appearance on the programme, [[Lizzy Bardsley]] was shown to be living entirely on [[state benefits]], which she continued to do without declaring payments she subsequently received for media work. Prosecuted and found guilty in 2005, she was sentenced to 80 hours community service and ordered to repay £4,879 in overpaid benefits.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4286756.stm BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Reality TV star cheated benefits<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In February 2007 she was convicted of child cruelty charges, receiving an eight month [[suspended sentence]] and a two year supervision order.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6385975.stm BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Wife Swap Lizzy escapes jail term<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> === American version === In November of 2005, Jeffrey Bedford, a participant on the show, sued ABC network for trading his [[wife]] for a [[gay]] man. He accused ABC of being dishonest, not allowing him contact with his wife, and making him miss college classes. He claims that when he ceased participating with the production of the show, ABC threatened that it would not tell him his wife's whereabouts and would not pay for his wife's return home. He is suing for over [[United States dollar|USD]]$10,000,000.00.<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20051124/ai_n15879594 "'Wife Swap' sued over gay guest" article] from ''[[The Independent]]''</ref> The producers of the show and ABC have dismissed the allegations and claim that his argument was simply [[homophobia]] on his behalf.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} == See also == * [[Frauentausch]] (German version of ''Wife Swap'')* * [[Holiday Showdown]] (like ''Wife Swap'', but with holidays) == References == <references /> == External links == * [http://www.channel4.com/wifeswap ''Wife Swap'' '''UK'''] at [[Channel 4#Channel4.com|Channel4.com]] * [http://www.keshet-tv.com/program.aspx?ProgID=2035 ''Wife Swap'' '''Israel'''] at keshet-tv.com * [http://abc.go.com/primetime/wifeswap/index?pn=index ''Wife Swap'' '''USA'''] at abc.com * [http://www.rtl2.de/533.html ''Frauentausch'' '''Germany'''] at rtl2.de * [http://www.channel4.com/bossswap ''Boss Swap'' '''UK'''] at [[Channel 4#Channel4.com|channel4.com]] * [http://www.rdfmedia.com RDF Media] [[Category:Channel 4 television programmes]] [[Category:American reality television series]] [[Category:British reality television series]] [[Category:American Broadcasting Company network shows]] [[Category:American programs based on British programs]] [[Category:Dating and relationship reality television series]] [[Category:2003 television series debuts]] [[de:Wife Swap]] [[fr:Liste des émissions de RTL-TVi#On_a_.C3.A9chang.C3.A9_nos_mamans]] [[it:Cambio moglie]] [[he:אמא מחליפה]] [[pl:Zamieńmy się żonami]] [[fi:Vaimot vaihtoon]] [[sv:Wife Swap]]