ABC Announces Early Series Pick-Ups of Supernanny and Wife Swap  1/27/07

The ABC Television Network announced early pick-up's of "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Supernannny," and "Wife Swap" today. "AFHV" was picked up for a record breaking18th season, while both "Supernanny" and "Wife Swap" were picked-up for fourth seasons.

Now in its third hit season, "Supernanny" continues to save America, one harried family at a time. Jo Frost, as Supernanny, can tame the wildest toddler, soothe the savage six-year-old and get the most difficult child to overcome problems with behavior, sleep, mealtime, potty training and other challenges that have vexed parents around the world for centuries. After just three episodes of the show aired in the U.K. in summer 2004, Jo Frost became Britain's hottest new TV star and godsend to desperate parents who were dazzled by her amazing results with unruly children. She debuted in America in early 2005 and captivated Americans as well with her practical, no-nonsense style, honed over 17 years of nannying. Hailed by the New York Times as "fascinating" and "required viewing;" praised by Oprah Winfrey, David Letterman and Kelly Ripa; acclaimed by such publications as Newsweek, Hollywood Reporter and The New Yorker; and lauded by parents and nannies across America, "Supernanny" is phenomenon. It airs in 47 territories, almost all of them with Frost as Supernanny.

Nick Powell is the creator and executive producer of both the American and British versions of the show. Craig Armstrong and Nick Emmerson are executive producers of the American version. "Supernanny" is produced by Ricochet, Ltd.

"Wife Swap," the critically-acclaimed unscripted reality show that takes us into the intimate heart of the American family home, reveals the extraordinarily different ways families live their lives. 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, with explosive, enlightening and often very funny results.

When "Wife Swap" premiered in 2003 in the United Kingdom, it was an instant television phenomenon. The program has won numerous awards, most recently the prestigious BAFTA (British Academy of Film & Television Arts) Award for best reality show and the Golden Rose for best reality program at the International Rose D'Or Festival, Europe's top entertainment television awards. "Wife Swap" currently airs from France to Australia and Germany to New Zealand. It has been sold as an acquisition or a format to over 100 international territories.

"Wife Swap" is an RDF USA production. It was created by Stephen Lambert and is executive-produced by Wendy Roth and Stephen Lambert of RDF Media ("Faking It" and "Junkyard Wars") and Michael Davies of Embassy Row ("Who Wants to be a Millionaire"). Cristin Cricco, Stephanie Schwam Adams and Mike Gamson are the co-executive producers.

Source: ABC Press Release