It isn’t every day that I receive e-mails from network casting personnel, so when I saw the subject line, “ABC TV Casting,” I almost assumed it was spam. I’m not self-centered enough to assume someone might want me for a television show, so my first reaction was to pitch the e-mail without opening it. But after a fleeting fantasy sequence ran through my head in which I was suddenly earning Seinfeld money, I decided to open the note.
As I read the name Wife Swap and “family run car wash” in the same sentence, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. But it also piqued my curiosity. It turns out, the e-mail was legitimate. If you didn’t read our news story, the ABC reality series is looking for a passionate, outgoing, made-for-TV family that happens to be in the professional carwash business. I don’t know how much homework they’ve done, but apparently they believe there are dynamics to a carwashing family that will make for compelling television. I would agree.
If you’re not familiar with Wife Swap, it is a documentary-style program that gives participating families an opportunity to share their beliefs and lifestyles with another family. In each episode, the mothers from two families exchange lives. For one week, each mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. The following week, after making observations, each then introduces several “rule changes,” implementing rules and activities that are important to her real family.
The name of the show is much more provocative than the heart of its content. Wives change lives, but not bedrooms. It’s sort of a social learning experiment that places family dynamics inside a fish bowl, but as a prime-time reality show, producers also want to entertain. That means that compromising and uncomfortable situations, confrontations and embarrassing moments will find their way on air.
Keep in mind, too, that the show tries to pair families from opposite backgrounds. A description of an episode for this season reads: “The wife of a competitive truck puller who pays more attention to his vehicles than to her swaps lives with a stylish, high maintenance wife who's waited on hand and foot by her adoring husband.” Competitive truck puller?
What is the opposite of a family run carwash? That’s tough to ascertain, but my guess is the show’s producers likely view carwashing as blue-collar and probably envision an honest and hardworking, mom-and-pop type business. They may be looking for something unrefined, but ultimately may have to pair a seven-day-a-week carwash family with one that runs a business strictly out of their house or, even better, doesn’t work at all.
No doubt the show adjusts pairings based on the dynamics and home life of each participating family, but if you’re interested in pursuing your 15 minutes of fame and $20,000 for your trouble, you first might want to think about how you and this industry might be portrayed.
Two-parent families with at least one child over the age of 7 living at home are eligible. Serious inquiries may be sent to Amanda Gershkowitz, casting associate producer, at 646.747.7949 or via e-mail at amanda.gershkowitz@rdfnewyork.com and wifeswap.amanda@gmail.com.
Good luck. America will be watching.
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Tony Jones 