[FamilyTV]

Hi, my name is Jodi and I am a casting producer for ABC's Wife Swap. I am currently looking for families that hold high standards in education (ie. Ivy league for the children) and are involved in associations of excellence (either parents or children). Showing a family with those values would be a positive influence on the American public!

Wife Swap families rave about their experiences on the show. Jody Spolansky, a New York City heiress who appeared on the premiere episode, says “ What a great way to step outside your life and see how someone else lives”. Caprice DeLauder, who swapped places on another episode, says, “I was not ready for Wife Swap to end after two weeks”. And Nicole Stallone, a daughter in one episode says, “ We always appreciated our mom, but we gained a whole new appreciation for everything that she does for us”.

Families featured on the show will receive a $20,000 honorarium. If you refer a family that is selected to be on our show, we pay you $1,000. Each family should consist of two parents and at least one child over the age of five and should reside in the continental U.S.
In case you are unfamiliar with the show, the premise of Wife Swap is to take two different families and have the mom's switch place to experience how another family lives. Half of the week, mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. The other half, she introduces a "rule change" where she implements rules and activities that her family has. It's a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life.

I am always looking for dynamic, interesting families, so if you or someone you know have an interesting and unique story, email me at jodi.friedman@rdfusa.com.

Jodi Friedman
Casting Producer, Wife Swap
ABC TV/RDF Media
NY, NY 10001
212.404.2447
jodi.friedman@rdfusa.com

[azsummer2003]

Hi,

I saw your request for families to participate on Wife Swap, on the Families.com website. I watch Wife Swap all the time because I love to watch the contrast between the families. Unfortunately, the only one we qualify for (higher education) was cast in April.

However, I have a show idea for Wife Swap I wanted to share with you.

As a recently bereaved parent, I feel that showcasing how a family travels the grief journey would be beneficial for all families to experience. I feel it would be interesting to have a mother who isn't active in her children's lives (self absorbed), in contrast to a family that has lost a teenager. I say teenager because it's a bit more dramatic and so many are killed each year through car accidents or suicide. I think the striking contrast would be a real eye opener.

I would recommend finding someone who is a little further into their grief journey as opposed to someone who has not gone through the first or second year of memorial dates. (Holidays, birthdays, vacations, etc.) If you exposed someone too early on in their grief experience, they may not be able to fulfill the two weeks required to video. I tell you this from experience. http://taylorburgstahler.memory-of.com/about.aspx

I am in several parental grief groups and would be willing to help you find a suitable family. If you find this idea of particular interest, I would appreciate if you took a moment to read about my son's foundation, The Taylor Fund. (www.TheTaylorFund.com) Several of the families I am involved with have similar foundations.

I will be available for questions (child death is a touchy subject, tough to understand unless you've been there). Should you find you need answers.

Sincerely,

Lori Burgstahler