Wife Swap

About Wife Swap

Wife Swap, premiered in 2004, is a reality television series broadcasted first on ABC and later on Paramount Network. The premise of the program involves pairing two families, usually from vastly different social backgrounds and lifestyles, and swapping the wives/mothers and occasionally husbands, for two weeks. In the first week, the visiting participant must adhere to the host family's rules and lifestyle, which tends to result in culture shocks. In the second week, they get to establish their own rules, often leading to a transformative life experience for both families.

Making / Production

Wife Swap is produced by RDF Media and later, Zodiak USA. The concept originated from the UK show of the same name and was adapted for the American audience. The show was created with the intention of exploring the diversity of American family values and lifestyle choices, often highlighting the stark differences and the eventual understanding and respect from the participants.

Actors

• The show primarily features real-life families hence there are no actors in traditional sense.
• The constant presence throughout the series is the narrator – actor John Schwab (First season) and actor John Schwab (later seasons), who guided the viewers through the contrasting lifestyles and conflicts with a neutral perspective.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show sparked a spin-off, 'Celebrity Wife Swap', that involved celebrities swapping wives.
• The show was once sued by a participant claiming the show misrepresented her and caused unrest in her marriage.
• 'Wife Swap' is based on a British show of the same name, which commenced in 2003.

Awards

The series received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program in 2005 and 2008.

Quotes

• "This is the most different two weeks I have ever spent."
• "In my home, my rules."; "In this house, your rules."
• "If you want to change your life, you have to change your mind."

Music, Soundtrack

• Co-composed by audio-network's Paul Mottram and Bob Bradley with light, family-themed tones aligning with the show's daily-life framework.