A Kung Fu Master Mom on the next Wife Swap on the next Wife Swap  1/10/06

A MANICURED MOM WHO HAS NEVER COOKED A MEAL AND RUNS A LOUD, OUT-OF-CONTROL HOUSEHOLD SWAPS LIVES WITH A KUNG FU MASTER, HEALTH-CONSCIOUS MOM WHO KEEPS HER FAMILY ON A TIGHTLY CONTROLLED SCHEDULE, ON ABC'S "WIFE SWAP"

This week in "Bimonte/Hubbard," a mom who believes anything goes and lets her out-of control 13 year-old daughter's demands rule the household, swaps lives with a Kung Fu master mom who keeps her children on a tightly controlled schedule and prefers her 19 year-old daughter to do martial arts than have a social life on ABC's "Wife Swap" -- the critically-acclaimed, unscripted reality show that takes us into the intimate heart of the American family home to reveal the extraordinarily different ways families live -- MONDAY, JANUARY 16 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Editors please note: This episode replaces "King/Reeves" which had been scheduled for this time.

Each week from across the country, two families with very different values are chosen to take part in a two-week-long challenge. The wives from these two families exchange husbands, children and lives (but not bedrooms) to discover just what it's like to live another woman's life. It's a mind-blowing experiment that often ends up changing their lives forever.

Lori Bimonte (38), of New Jersey, has a chaotic home with TV and music blaring all day and all night. Lori feeds her family fast food and uses her kitchen cabinets to store socks and clothes. Lori's 13 year old daughter Nicole refuses to do homework, talks back to her parents and lives with very few boundaries. Lori's two younger children, Danielle (6) and Joseph (10) barely get a look in. Dad Joe (41), who works 12 hours a day in construction, comes home to a nightly ritual of trying to get his foot-stomping, door-slamming daughter to go to bed at a decent hour.

Lori travels to the calm and orderly California home of martial arts couple Lekili (44) and Alan (44) Hubbard, and their two children, Kalani (15) and Makanani (19). Here, Kung Fu is not just a sport; it's a way of life. Lekili and Alan run martial arts studios and their children are top kung fu athletes whether they want to be or not. The Hubbard house is a sanctuary of calm where the family practices 75 different martial arts movements. Lekili and Alan control every aspect of their teenage children's lives including what they eat, where they go and who they are allowed to see outside the family.

In the first week of the swap, Lori loses her long lacquered fingernails to learn Tai Chi and cook dinner - something she has never done. She becomes frustrated with her new punishing schedule but forms a bond with Makanani. Meanwhile, Lekili is shocked to find the Bimonte family store clothes in their kitchen cabinets and that Nicole gets away with practically anything.

In week two of the swap when the wives change the rules and turn the tables, Lori bans all martial arts, takes Makanani out for an all girls night on the town and organizes a surf trip for father and daughter. In the Bimonte house, Lekili brings the calm of Feng Shui to the house and orders the Bimonte family to spend more time together. At the end of the swap, when the couples are reunited, will they find common ground or are their differences too great to overcome?

"Wife Swap" is an RDF Media production. It was created by Stephen Lambert and is executive-produced by Lambert, Jenny Crowther, Wendy Roth of RDF Media ("Faking It" and "Junkyard Wars") and Michael Davies of Embassy Row ("Who Wants to be a Millionaire"). Stef Wagstaffe is the co-executive producer.

"Wife Swap" is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.

Source: ABC Press Release