Season Finale of Wife Swap Monday, May 22nd  5/16/06

SEASON FINALE

A HARD WORKING COSMETICS INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE WHO BELIEVES PERSONAL APPEARANCES ARE EVERYTHING SWAPS PLACES WITH A HALLOWEEN-LOVING WIFE WHO ENJOYS MAKING HERSELF AND HER CHILDREN UP IN ALL THINGS MACABRE, ON ABC'S "WIFE SWAP"

This week in "Zemanek/Brandon," a wife who proudly admits that appearances - especially first impressions - mean everything swaps places with a Halloween-loving wife who drives around in a hearse and proudly displays a coffin in her family's living room, on the Season Finale of "Wife Swap," MONDAY, MAY 22 (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 experience that often ends up changing their lives forever.

Jessica Brandon (38), from Florida, admits she's incredibly vain. She spends hours on her appearance and wears only the latest fashions She's also a control freak who has been known to clean her house after it's been cleaned by professionals. She often spends more of her day at work and at beauty appointments than at home. Her children, Erin (16) and Jillian (11), are encouraged to follow in their mom's footsteps, and Jessica demands that her daughters always look presentable. Husband Eric (50), stepfather to Erin and Jillian, is a charming radio DJ who flirts on-air with female listeners, much to Jessica's annoyance. Eric gets very cranky if his sleep is interrupted, so to avoid his temper tantrums, the family tiptoes around the house. Eric's interests are making money and playing tennis.

Jessica travels to the macabre Arizona home of the Zemanek family, where every day is Halloween. Jill (32) and Jonny (33) Zemanek love Halloween so much that they married on the holiday and have decorated with flower vases in the shape of skulls. They are so fascinated with all things morbid, their family car is a hearse! They are creative spirits who encourage individuality in their children, Raven (12), who sports a punky look, and Deuce (5), who's had a Mohawk since he was two years old. Spending time with the kids is a priority for both parents - if Jonny could give up work to hang out with Deuce and Raven, he would.

In the first week of the swap, Jessica is horrified that she has to don a bright pink wig and hang out with the Zemaneks' friends. She's appalled by the Zemaneks' living room dicor - a coffin and giant spiders on the walls. In Florida, Jill struggles with Eric's temper tantrums and his no-noise rules while he's sleeping. She dislikes Eric's attitude towards his stepdaughters and the lack of connection in the Brandon house.

In the second week of the swap, when the wives change the rules and turn the tables, Jessica puts an end to Halloween and the Zemaneks' alternative lifestyle. Raven goes mainstream and enjoys being more accepted at school. Deuce flattens his Mohawk and Jonny puts on a suit. Meanwhile in the Brandon house, Jill brings an end to Eric's tyranny by sending him to a time out every time he throws a temper tantrum. She introduces the girls to the joys of self-expression through painting and brings Eric and the girls together by organizing a party.

At the end of the swap, when the couples are reunited, will they find common ground, or will they discover their differences run too deep?

"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 Embasy Row ("Who Wants to be a Millionaire"). Stef Wagstaffe and Stephanie Schwam 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