Parents' Guide to

Wife Swap

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Fish-out-of-water reality show -- fine for all.

TV ABC Reality TV 2004
Wife Swap Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 3 parent reviews

jarohunny
jarohunny Parent of 9-year-old
June 3, 2022
age 13+

Garbage t.v.

Forced scenarios to create drama, a lot of arguing, some iffy situations. Would not recommend for kids.
CommonSenseChristian
CommonSenseChristian Adult
December 31, 2012
age 17+

Okay, Who Let The Cameras in THIS House?

Yes, I like this show, primarily for the fact that families come away better and more appreciative of other for the experience. It's also very interesting to see what two lifestyles will clash on each episode. However, this show is very much adults-only, and sometimes, I even skip the middle. The journey to redemption is rocky, with a lot of fighting and crying and some considerable language (some bleeped, some not). Many Judeo-Christian families may in fact not choose to watch this at all, and I don't blame them; I may eventually take it off my personal schedule. Some of these families are rampant consumerists, obsessed with wealth, or so into one thing that their kids get neglected (for example, monster-hunting, music, Halloween, doll-collecting and treating the dolls like real kids). Freedom = laziness for a lot of these families, too. But what breaks my heart are the appearances of authoritarian families. These are the families that work their kids, literally, from sunup to dark, over-schedule them, may smack them around, and don't care what they think. Some of the men act like this toward their wives, indulging in the "barefoot and pregnant" mentality to its extreme. In fact, "extreme" is the watchword here. I get the feeling some episodes are played for straight drama, especially where Christians are concerned (almost the only Christ-followers are fundamentalist stereotypes who are negatively contrasted with punk rockers or nature worshippers). But it's also doing people a disservice to put any lifestyle on display for the sole purpose of ridicule, which is often what happens. Adults can watch for the discussion fodder, of which there is plenty. But many may end up closing this bedroom door.

This title has:

Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The provocatively named WIFE SWAP is actually a fairly tame reality drama in which families switch wives for two weeks. During the first week, the wives live according to their new family's rules, and during the second, they introduce changes. The two families are chosen for their stark contrasts, and tension and arguments often occur when the wives' style clashes with that of their new family. In one episode, for example, a workaholic mother whose husband takes care of the house and whose kids complain about her constant cell phone use switches households with a stay-at-home mother who home-schools, won't let her teens date, and sleeps in the same room with her husband and all seven of their kids.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (12 ):

With such extremes coming together, the part of each episode in which the wives change the house rules is always difficult. But it's fascinating to watch as the families are forced to try on new behavior. Much of it chafes, and there's plenty of minor rebellion, but ultimately the wives and their families learn that their lives aren't as perfect as they may think and that a little change can't hurt.

Overall, the show is rather simplistic and predictable, but it can still be enjoyable to watch families grow and learn from each other. Many of the familiar reality-show elements come into play -- the producers clearly accentuate the conflicts through editing choices, and the ending is always optimistic, but it's less gimmicky and confrontational than its competition, Trading Spouses, which is refreshing.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it would be like to switch households. What changes do you think someone else would want you to make? What would be the most difficult thing to change about your family? What things do you wish would change? What's the best thing about your family that you would want to introduce to others?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: September 26, 2004
  • Network: ABC
  • Genre: Reality TV
  • TV rating: TV-PG
  • Last updated: August 19, 2022

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