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WIFE SWAP: ALLISON / HAGERTY (TV)

Summary

One in this reality series, based on the British program of the same name, in which two families from different lifestyles swap their matriarchs for two weeks. For the first week, the wives must abide by their new families' usual policies, and for the second week they institute their own rules. This episode's families are the Allisons of Mississippi, with kids Drew, Elizabeth and Margaret, strict dad Tim and proper mom Lydia, who teaches an etiquette class for young ladies, urging them not to be slovenly, ill-behaved "goops," and the Hagertys of Massachusetts, who believe in a lack of rules and "fun and freedom" for the three rambunctious boys, Matthew, Jason and Danny Jr. Mom Maureen explains that she is uninterested in what others think of her poorly-behaved children and runs a casual, messy household, though dad Danny Sr. admits that he is often frustrated by the kids. The wives bid their families farewell and head across the country to their new homes, first exploring the houses and reading the "guides" written by the other mother. Lydia and Maureen are equally appalled at the other's parenting styles, with Lydia suggesting that Maureen's sons are destined for prison.

The wives meet their new families, and Maureen notes that the Allisons are unusually quiet and demure. Lydia is unnerved at the family's habit of eating dinner in front of the television, while the Allison children correct Maureen's table manners. In the morning, Maureen is bored by the excessive house-cleaning and attempts to teach Lydia's etiquette class, and the girls note that she is "kind of different." Lydia takes the three boys to the grocery store and is embarrassed when they run around touching the products and causing trouble. Maureen talks to Drew, who explains that he dislikes the padlock on his bedroom door, and then confronts Tim, telling him that she had an unhappy childhood and wants something different for her kids. Danny confronts Lydia about her stern treatment of the kids, saying that their boorish behavior is "just boys being boys." At the rule-change ceremony at the end of the first week, Maureen tosses away the fancy china and declares that the family is "too stiff and formal," while Lydia states that the boys need to write letters of apology to the people they offended and must starting using better manners. The kids seem intrigued by the changes, though both fathers are doubtful.

Lydia and Danny argue when he seems to break her new rules right away, while elsewhere the Hagerty boys dress in formal clothing and receive an etiquette lesson in which they bid farewell to the rude songs they like to sing, and Danny admits that it is a "welcome change." Maureen takes Margaret and Elizabeth shopping for more casual clothes, though Tim is angered when his younger daughter wears a midriff-baring shirt, declaring it inappropriate. At the dinner table, Lydia teaches the boys how to burp discreetly, and declares them to be "goop-busters" when they begin behaving more politely. Maureen takes the family to a fast-food restaurant and starts a ketchup fight, which angers Tim. The "meat man" at the grocery store is surprised and touched by the boys' letters of apology, and Maureen cuts the lock off of Drew's door, much to his delight. When Jason acts up, Danny makes an attempt to discipline him and sends him to time-out. On the final day, Maureen urges the family to let loose for once, and Tim admits that she is "a lot of fun." Lydia is moved when the three boys act courteous at the table, noting that there is "a lot of love" in the household. The couples reunite and the four parents sit down for a meeting, and though Lydia states that she got an impression of laziness from Maureen's home, Tim and Danny both defend the other wife and admit that both families changed for the better. Some time later, Maureen reveals that "the new and improved Hagerty way" involves eating at the table more often and disciplining bad behavior, and Drew reveals that he now has a key to the lock on his door and that the family eats more casually now, even occasionally engaging in food fights. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: September 12, 2005 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:88157
  • GENRE: Reality
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Reality; Families
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2004-
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - Ambien medication
    • TV - Commercials - Applebee's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Bertolli pastas
    • TV - Commercials - Carnival cruise lines
    • TV - Commercials - Chili's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Clairol Natural Instincts hair color
    • TV - Commercials - Claritin-D allergy medication
    • TV - Commercials - Dr. Scholl's gel insoles
    • TV - Commercials - Fisher Price Shout! Elmo toys
    • TV - Commercials - Glade scented oil candles
    • TV - Commercials - Jergens Natural Glow lotion
    • TV - Commercials - Johnson's Softwash body wash
    • TV - Commercials - L'Oreal Vive shampoo
    • TV - Commercials - Netflix internet movie rental services
    • TV - Commercials - Nivea Q10 wrinkle cream
    • TV - Commercials - Pampers diapers
    • TV - Commercials - Shedd's Country Crock mashed potatoes
    • TV - Commercials - Target stores
    • TV - Commercials - Tic-Tacs breath mints
    • TV - Commercials - Transitions eyeglasses
    • TV - Commercials - Trident chewing gum
    • TV - Commercials - Verizon Wireless services
    • TV - Commercials - Yoplait Whips! yogurt
    • TV - Promos - "According to Jim"
    • TV - Promos - "Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus" home video
    • TV - Promos - "Commander in Chief"
    • TV - Promos - "Dancing With the Stars"
    • TV - Promos - "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
    • TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
    • TV - Promos - "Invasion"
    • TV - Promos - "Just Like Heaven" motion picture
    • TV - Promos - "Lost"
    • TV - Promos - "Monday Night Football"
    • TV - Promos - "Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie" home video
    • TV - Promos - "The Greatest Game Ever Played" motion picture
    • TV - Promos - "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" motion picture
    • TV - Promos - World Music Awards 2005

CREDITS

  • Stephen Lambert … Executive Producer
  • Jenny Crowther … Executive Producer
  • Michael Davies … Executive Producer
  • Wendy Roth … Executive Producer
  • Stef Wagstaffe … Co-Executive Producer
  • Patricia Ciano … Coordinating Producer
  • Kathy McManus … Senior Producer
  • Mike Gamson … Supervising Producer
  • Elizabeth Cover … Associate Producer
  • Michael Raptis … Casting Producer
  • Amy Faas … Casting Producer
  • Stacy Altman … Senior Story Producer
  • Alex Weresow … Story Producer
  • Will Nothacker … Story Producer
  • Michele Loschiavo … Story Producer
  • Bridget Deane … Director
  • Francis Baker … Director
  • Steve Harris … Director
  • John Schwab … Narrator
  • Lydia Allison
  • Tim Allison
  • Drew Allison
  • Elizabeth Allison
  • Margaret Allison
  • Maureen Hagerty
  • Danny Hagerty Sr.
  • Danny Hagerty Jr.
  • Matthew Hagerty
  • Jason Hagerty