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Monday, November 03, 2008 ABC Television Network PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT - - - WIFE SWAP (11/21)
A WIFE WHO SUPPORTS HER HUSBAND'S DREAMS OF SUPERSTARDOM AND LET'S HER DAUGHTER WALK ALL OVER HER SWAPS WITH A NO-NONSENSE MOTHER OF NINE WHO RUNS HER HOME LIKE A BUSINESS, ON "WIFE SWAP"
"Berwick/Roachford" -A wife who has sacrificed her own dreams to her husband's 30-year-old pursuit of rock superstardom and who indulges her pre-teen daughter swaps with a woman with nine children who runs her house with an iron hand and relies on her husband's total support, on "Wife Swap," FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Each week from across the country, two families with very different values are chosen to take part in a two-week long challenge. The wives from these two families exchange husbands, children and lives (but not bedrooms) to discover what it's like to live another woman's life. It's a mind-blowing experiment that often ends up changing their lives forever. (Note. This episode was originally scheduled for 11/14).
For the Berwicks from Illinois, life is about pursuing your dreams -- as long as your name is Pete. Pete (50) is still chasing his dream of becoming a mega rock star, and wife Denise (54) will do anything to support him. Pete's so focused on his own career, he takes bookings even on holidays. 10-year old daughter Faith (9) feels she takes second place to her dad's dreams. Pete's music gigs don't pay enough to cover the bills, so he makes his money singing telegrams dressed like a gorilla, a chicken or a pirate. As well as making all of Pete's bookings, Denise does all the household chores; Pete believes that "(brides') wedding dresses are white so they match the appliances." Denise does everything for Faith too, including putting up with her temper tantrums.
But in Georgia no one talks back to Val Roachford. Val (43) runs her family like a business, training her nine children to unload groceries assembly line style. She expects her husband, Greg (40), and the children to do whatever needs to be done to keep the house running smoothly. 19-year-old daughter Briana had been co-opted as a third parent and is so busy caring for her eight brothers and sisters, she never has a moment alone. In this house, dreams take a back seat to efficiency in managing a household of eleven.
In the first week, Denise moves to Georgia and has to adjust to the efficiency of the Roachford home. She worries the children are stifling their passions as they follow the regimen of all work and no play, and bonds with Briana, as she warns her about giving up her dreams. Meanwhile at the Berwicks', Val gets into a chicken suit and sings for her new family's supper. She criticizes Pete for his selfish lifestyle and follows him to one of his gigs to ask him why he isn't at home with his daughter. In the second week of the swap, to show the family the importance of fun, Denise dresses everyone up in chicken suits to perform "the world's largest chicken gram." At the Berwicks', Val locks up Pete's instruments and invents "Holiday Day" to make up for all the holidays Pete has missed.
Can Denise help the Roachfords see how important dreams are? And can Val show Pete that the only thing he should be striving for is more time with his daughter?
"Wife Swap" is an RDF USA production. It was created by Stephen Lambert and is executive-produced by Mike Gamson, Stef Wagstaffe and Michael Davies of Embassy Row. Stephen Pettinger, Neil Regan, Julie Cooper and Will Nothacker are co-executive producers. "Wife Swap" is broadcast with Spanish subtitles. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.
ABC Media Relations Contact: Virginia Mastroianni (818) 460-6989, Virginia.m.mastroianni@abc.com