A Drill Sergeant Mom & a Prank Loving Mom Switch Tonight on Wife Swap

A Drill Sergeant Mom & a Prank Loving Mom Switch Tonight on Wife Swap 1/9/08

JANUARY 9

A DRILL SERGEANT MOM WHO DISCIPLINES HER CHILDREN BY MAKING THEM DO PUSH UPS IN THE FRONT YARD SWAPS LIVES WITH A PRANK-LOVING MOM WHOSE ONLY RULE IS TO HAVE FUN

This week on "Flynn/Orris," a strict Mom who raises the roost military style swaps lives with a carefree, easygoing Mom who runs the house with no help from her family, on "Wife Swap," WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

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.

Mishelle (37) Orris and her husband, Terry (37), a former soldier, run their home in Ohio like a boot camp. The husband and wife team use military drills to keep their son, Justin (14), and daughter, Payton (8) in line. If the kids break one of the many house rules, they're more likely to hear, "Drop down and give me 20," than "Go to your room." Mishelle is a dental assistant who checks her kids' teeth after every brushing and is so strict about personal hygiene that she sniffs her kids' armpits -- and heaven help them if she smells anything other than deodorant! If the kids are slow to rise in the morning, Terry and Mishelle will blow a whistle to get them up. The family works as a team around the house, sharing chores and duties, and if Justin or Payton slack off, there are always the yard drills to remind them of what needs to be done. Terry and Mishelle believe discipline and cleanliness are essential in raising their children to be responsible adults.

Mishelle Orris travels to the unkept, chaotic Missouri home of Michelle Flynn (36). Although they share a name, their lives could not be more different. Michelle feels like she's the mother to three kids: Jessica (9), Billy (5) --and her husband, Patrick (37). There is no time for cleanliness, as there's too much partying, burping and pranking to do. Patrick rides around on his tricked out golf cart, visiting and pranking the neighbors, who are always at the Flynn's for BBQs and parties. He says housework is a woman's job, and the kids aren't expected to do any chores or help Michelle around the house either. Both Patrick and Michelle love their easygoing lifestyle and believe their children will never remember how clean their home was, they'll just remember how much fun they had.

In the first week of the swap, things are off to a rocky start for super strict Mishelle, who is appalled by Patrick's childish behavior and the children's lack of discipline. Patrick and his kids have a food fight over dinner and burp at the table. Mishelle and Patrick's relationship rapidly deteriorates until they're reduced to calling each other names at the rule change ceremony. Meanwhile in the Flynn household, Terry becomes frustrated by Michelle's failure to keep to their orderly schedule. When the chores are not completed on time, the family is late for a fishing trip which ends in a violent rain storm and an argument between Michelle and Terry.

In the second week of the swap, when the wives change the rules and turn the tables, Mishelle introduces the Flynns to her whistle wake-up call, banishes the golf cart and orders Patrick and the kids to clean the house, do laundry OR face her military drills. Patrick buckles under the stress and breaks down in tears, realizing how much he appreciates his wife Michelle, and he vows to help her more around the house. In the Flynn household, Michelle brings fun into the house with toys and a golf cart and helps the kids pull a prank on Terry. When he sees the kids laughing and smiling, Terry realizes he needs to lighten up, and he grows closer to the kids, especially Justin.

At the end of the swap, when the families are reunited, will Mishelle say "At ease boys" and give her sons some freedom? Will the other Michelle clean up her family's act and give everyone some responsibility?

"Wife Swap" is an RDF Media production. It was created by Stephen Lambert ("Faking It" and "Junkyard Wars") and is executive-produced by Stef Wagstaffe and Michael Davies ("Who Wants to be a Millionaire"). Mike Gamson, Mitchell Rosenbaum and Stephanie Schwam-Adams are the co-executive producers.

"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