(September 26, 2004- )
ABC
Based on the British television series of the same name (2003- )
Premise: Two women trade families and households for a ten-day period to experience an opposite lifestyle and give the family a taste of their own
Bambi Pitt and Caprice Policchio were the wives in the debut episode

It was the subject of a Hope & Faith episode (which wound up looking ripped from the Jerry Springer Show).
The episodes often appear painfully staged, thus fueling stereotypes equated with the subjects' backgrounds.
Many of the couples retained a narrow minded view of things — especially where domestic labor was concerned.
The ‘Moment of Truth,' where the wives explore the new household, also tends to come off as contrived.
Many episodes featured clean freaks trading households with slobs (one of whom owned a free-roaming goat)!
'Chappelle Show' aired a comedy bit called 'Trading Spouses' long before 'Wife Swap' aired.

Like Big Brother and the Mole, it has become an international phenomenon.
The new rules rarely go over well with the husbands but often make the kids happy.
Sometimes the husbands will swap locations (and one even used his bicycle for that).
No lifestyle is considered verboten. For instance, a Wiccan has swapped with a new-millennium mom; a liberal lesbian with a conservative in an interracial marriage; a tree-hugger with a pistol-packer, and so on.
Sometimes, even while the new rules are in effect, the wives will continue to accept the rules with which they started.
At the reunion, husband and wife are more than happy to see each other.
Although they will often exchange harsh words, there are almost no physical fights between the couples at the ‘judgement table' (which can be anywhere).
There are no cash prizes.

Credit: Cool It All Right?

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