AN ORGANIC GOAT FARMING FAMILY WHO BELIEVE YOU SHOULD "MEET YOUR MEAT BEFORE YOU EAT" SWAP LIVES WITH A FAMILY OF DIVAS WHO ENSURE THEIR KIDS' POPULARITY BY PUTTING THEM THROUGH "COOL SCHOOL," ON ABC'S "WIFE SWAP"
"Funderburgh/Warren" - A family who gave up a sophisticated city lifestyle for the simple life on an organic goat farm swap lives with a divalicious mom who shops �til she drops, on "Wife Swap," FRIDAY, JULY 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Each week two very contradictory families from across the country participate in a two-week-long challenge: The wives exchange husbands, children and lives (but not bedrooms) to discover daily life in another woman's shoes. This astonishing experiment repeatedly changes lives and redefines families.
Tom and Denise Warren were working long hours building successful careers in the Big Apple. However, their nanny was spending more time with their children than they were. With no prior farming experience, the Warrens packed up and moved their family to an organic goat farm in upstate New York. Fourteen years later, they now operate a successful restaurant and farm store out of their home, which allows them to be stay-at-home parents to kids Katie (16) and Shane (11). Since they rarely leave the property, they opt to shop at thrift stores and don't care that they smell of farm animals. In order to keep the farm running smoothly, both Katie and Shane have heaps of chores with no pay, allowing no time for a social life. Katie doesn't partake in normal teenage activities like the prom, since the family thinks it's outdated and expensive. Shane's friends live a distance away, and he doesn't see them very often. He has resorted to befriending a lamb named Lubert, though his parents will eventually have to butcher Lubert and sell him for the meat.
In Oklahoma, the Funderburgh family's first priority is being fabulous! Diva mom Angie is a workaholic and clocks 60 hour weeks so she can give her family all the luxuries they desire. Angie plays as hard as she works and makes sure to have "me time" away from her family to shop and pamper herself with manicures and pedicures. Stay-at-home dad Tim cleans the house and cares for kids Trevan (11), Kylie (9) and Tiana (18 months), whose only responsibilities are to be happy, popular and good looking. Angie conducts "cool school" to teach the kids how to walk, dance and act hip. When Tim actually asks the kids to pitch in around the house, he typically resorts to bribing them. Angie doesn't mind her kids walking all over Tim; she boasts they learned to be high maintenance from her, since she considers herself a queen.
In the first week of the swap, Denise Warren leaves her organic farm life behind for the flashy Funderburgh house. An amused Denise finds Angie's fabulous belt collection, hair extensions and sparkly designer clothes rather tacky and questions Angie's idea of taste. Denise wonders if Angie's absence in the home and obsession with material items is sending the kids the wrong message. Although she finds Tim and the kids to be warm and inviting as they induct her into "cool school," she later confronts Tim about their family's seemingly shallow priorities. Meanwhile in New York, pampered Angie Funderburgh gets a taste of farm life as she is forced to trade in her designer duds for overalls and boots. She struggles to keep up with Denise's workload and Tom's expectations. After spending the day trying to get Katie to reconsider going to the prom and meeting Shane's only friend, Lubert the lamb, she questions whether Tom and Denise are really in touch with their children.
In the second week of the swap, when the wives change the rules and turn the tables, Denise puts an end to Angie's demanding work schedule in hopes the Funderburgh kids will enjoy having a
mom at home. In order to teach them the value of hard work, she brings baby goats home for the kids to raise. After Tim witnesses the kids' bad attitudes towards Denise's rules, he begins to wonder if their indulgent parenting is having a negative effect. Meanwhile, in New York, Angie tries to negotiate with Tom to find a way to keep Shane's friend, Lubert the lamb, from heading to the slaughter house. Angie is also on mission to bring some glamour into the Warrens' lives by giving Tom, Katie and Shane makeovers. Although Tom seems to dismiss Angie's rules, he thinks twice when Katie lights up like a princess after her makeover. After two weeks in another home, can Denise Warren teach the Funderburghs that there's more to parenting than enrolling kids in "cool school?" And can Angie Funderburgh bring the Warrens closer to their children and save Lubert the lamb?
"Wife Swap" is an RDF USA production. It was created by Stephen Lambert and is executive-produced by Mike Gamson and Michael Davies of Embassy Row ("Who Wants to be a Millionaire"). Stephen Pettinger, Neil Regan, Julie Cooper and Will Nothacker are co-executive producers. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.
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