OT: Wife Swap 1/20/2009

[Binnie]

I meant 1/30/09. I was really hot at the time!

I am so completely appalled at the episode of Wife Swap tonight that I just have to talk to somebody, and DH is at work...

One family in MO the other in CA. The CA husband has been so completely mean, nasty, insulting and disgusting to the mom on the swap that I can't even believe that they showed the episode! Literally calling her dumb in fron of the kids and just to the camera. He justifies it by bragging about his degrees and IQ. THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO BE SO NASTY. To my mind, in his snottiness, that guy has showed how painfully low class he is!

GRRRRRR.

OK. Vent over.

 

[sk!mom]

Watching it now and ITA! I wonder if he and his wife will realize what a jerk he is when they see the tape. He's obviously never heard that it's better to take the high road.

Of course the entire show requires that they find completely over the top people at oppostite ends of the spectrum. If they don't clash big there's no show.

 

[kinntj]

The date you posted is wrong in the title, so I was confused at first and then got it when I opened up the thread.

I'm watching it also. I hope he sees himself in this episode and realizes or his wife points it out. Certainly, he can think those nasty things all he wants, but to verbalize it like that was atrocious. He's a snob and definately full of himself.

Sounds like he rubbed off on his children. I hope they don't end up like him in life. I can see how they feel education is important (we do too) but you need to balance yourself socially. There's something said for people who make others feel good. Ya know.

 

[Binnie]

OK. I said I was done venting, but I'm not. That guy was such a jerk--calling that woman stupid. He's the stupid one. I can't believe that the gal took it from him, even a little. Just because you have advanced degrees doesn't make you any better than anyone else! DIRTBAG!

Maybe now I'm done...

 

[ilandrazdsw]

OMGoodness...his wife was sitting there looking mortified at the table meeting!!!

Way to go other dad for making the kids step up and both parents for continuing to encourage forms of education.

 

[dzneelvr]

We're big fans of WS, and I totally agree with your vent about tonights show! It was the worst. The English husband was a rude disrespectful obsessive control freak There was such a deep sadness and tight control over those 2 kids. He is obviously low self esteem and has to attack first because he can't communicate in a normal way with others. Can you imagine what people in their world will be saying once the show airs? He needs to head back to England or wherever that type of behavior is tolerated....trouble is, he probably can't function there either

 

[ilandrazdsw]

I have a ? about WS...I don't watch frequently and only caught the last 20 mins because it was on the boards and Toy Story had just ended. The whol rule thing is part of the show and the families agree to it, right? So why do they act like minor changes...like try a new thing...is SUCH a big deal and the families give such resistance??? I know it probably helps with the ratings, but seems to make the families who completely rebel look like ummm, FOOLS!

 

[disykat]

OMGoodness...his wife was sitting there looking mortified at the table meeting!!!

Way to go other dad for making the kids step up and both parents for continuing to encourage forms of education.

I only saw the last half of the show so I didn't see if his wife was bad as well. She appeared pretty nice in what I saw and looked mortified at the reveal - but then they showed her in the update laughing and looking all smug and totally agreeing with her husband. They really showed their OWN ignorance and stupidity on the show.

 

[LisaMommy]

I have a ? about WS...I don't watch frequently and only caught the last 20 mins because it was on the boards and Toy Story had just ended. The whol rule thing is part of the show and the families agree to it, right? So why do they act like minor changes...like try a new thing...is SUCH a big deal and the families give such resistance??? I know it probably helps with the ratings, but seems to make the families who completely rebel look like ummm, FOOLS!

Because the families are the exact opposite to each other, usually the rules are really extreme compared to their lifestyles. Like if the dad, who's never cleaned a thing in his life, all of a sudden has to take over all the housework. It's quite predictable that he's going to resist, because, although this might seem like a minor change to someone who does pitch in around the house, to him it's a big deal. Plus, I'm sure the people running the show have told them to exaggerate everything, so it makes for good viewing.

 

[Disneychix]

I had to stop watching after the dad wouldn't allow the rule changes and threatened to stop the show? But my question is, why did that family sign up to be on the show. Just to 'mock' Americans from the 'middle of the country'??

When the one mom said she wasn't a proud American!! Go live somewhere else honey!!

 

[Binnie]

I have no idea WHY they would have signe dup, unless it was for the mom to go spread her message of health and certifications (at the bginning, she named off all her certifications, like life coach and hypnotherapy) to the world. Maybe her husband was peeved that she did it, thereby explaining his behavior, but there's still no excuse. He was horrid.

I couldn't believe that the British guy's wife was so unphased by his horrible behavior. I would KILL my husband if he was even a little bit as rude as that horrible man was.

I was actually quite impressed with the other family. There was a relatively small amount of resistence, but they tried, at least.

I still can't believe that the producers let that episode happen!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

I I was actually quite impressed with the other family. There was a relatively small amount of resistence, but they tried, at least.

I still can't believe that the producers let that episode happen!

So was I...it was out of their comfort zone, but they seemed to at least "play along" and some of it seemed to "stick" according to the update.

Because the families are the exact opposite to each other, usually the rules are really extreme compared to their lifestyles. Like if the dad, who's never cleaned a thing in his life, all of a sudden has to take over all the housework. It's quite predictable that he's going to resist, because, although this might seem like a minor change to someone who does pitch in around the house, to him it's a big deal. Plus, I'm sure the people running the show have told them to exaggerate everything, so it makes for good viewing.

Even if they are the opposites, they know that and what is expected of them (which I guess is acting over the top) signing up for the show. I mean have these families never seen the show (or at least the adds for it) before?!?! Not like it's the first season.

Mybe not such "good viewing," but hey, we're talking about it!

Ratings

 

[hockeymom3]

I was digusted by the show - I have seen lots of arguements between families but I have never seen someone be so abusive to another person. I seriously wanted to jump through my tv and kill the guy. That lady showed the class that she really had by not attacking him. I am not a violent person and I know that I would have done something!!!

At first I thought maybe his wife would be mortified - but at the end she seemed to laugh off the rule changes too.

I'm not even American but someone should be watching that show and boot him out of the country and send him back where he came from!!

 

[teacher2525]

I totally got the wrong impression by your title Thought you were interested in wife swapping and was thinking maybe I should advertise for a husband swap

 

[Vijoge]

I totally got the wrong impression by your title Thought you were interested in wife swapping and was thinking maybe I should advertise for a husband swap

Me, too. I guess I've seen too many posts for stroller swaps. fridge swaps. etc. Oh, yeah, don't forget baby swaps. . .

 

[Binnie]

Dirty, dirty minds.

 

[LIMOGE7]

I watched this wife swap in complete disgust as well. That English father was such a pompus man. I really believe he was the low class person on the show not the other way around. I also had a hard time watching and felt sorry for him and moreso for his poor children.

 

[DawnM]

I didn't catch what the English guy actually did for living as I came in to the show late. What line of work was he in?

Oh, and did the man not receive any manners in all of his years of education? Calling someone obese, lazy, stupid, and fat, are not ever acceptable in polite society!

I just remember him stating SEVERAL times what his score was on the GRE to get in to grad school. Sheesh, who cares? I am a firm believer in education, but not at the expense of a childhood. There has to be balance....which is why I could never be on the show....I am not nearly extreme enough.

Dawn

 

[peytonsmomie]

I just can't get into that show at all. Watched a couple episodes with my DH and he didn't get it either. I mean, the fact of the matter is that in this big ole nation, everyone has their own way of doing things. So the idea of a "swap" to me seems kind of pointless. What's the point? The overarching scheme? Someone suddenly wakes up and abandons their gater farm in the bayou to go serve high tea in the mid-afternoon? A Christian family steeped in the traditions of their church abandons it all to raise their children in the pop psychology methodology?

I suppose it just goes right over my head. I don't need to experience another lifestyle to know that there's dozens of them out there. Likewise, I don't need to be bashed over the head with ideas different than my own in order to realize that there may be other (even better, maybe!) ways to do things.

Maybe that makes me a spoilsport. Likewise, there's just no way I'd trust television producers to determine an outside influence that'd be living and raising my kids for 2 weeks. There's just no way I could give up the control.

Oh, and I agree, they often dredge up the worst possible examples of society for these things. Husbands who are completely ridiculous caricatures, and wives who are so rigid and controlling one can't help but pity their children.

 

[DawnM]

NO! That doesn't make you a spoiled brat at all.....spoiled brats are the ones who can't see beyond their own little bubble, like many on that show.

I don't watch it often, I have seen only a handfull of episodes, but I totally agree with you....I know and love people of all sorts of backgrounds and tend to not be close to those who are extreme on either side of any spectrum.

Dawn

I just can't get into that show at all. Watched a couple episodes with my DH and he didn't get it either. I mean, the fact of the matter is that in this big ole nation, everyone has their own way of doing things. So the idea of a "swap" to me seems kind of pointless. What's the point? The overarching scheme? Someone suddenly wakes up and abandons their gater farm in the bayou to go serve high tea in the mid-afternoon? A Christian family steeped in the traditions of their church abandons it all to raise their children in the pop psychology methodology?

I suppose it just goes right over my head. I don't need to experience another lifestyle to know that there's dozens of them out there. Likewise, I don't need to be bashed over the head with ideas different than my own in order to realize that there may be other (even better, maybe!) ways to do things.

Maybe that makes me a spoilsport. Likewise, there's just no way I'd trust television producers to determine an outside influence that'd be living and raising my kids for 2 weeks. There's just no way I could give up the control.

Oh, and I agree, they often dredge up the worst possible examples of society for these things. Husbands who are completely ridiculous caricatures, and wives who are so rigid and controlling one can't help but pity their children.