TV Review: Trading Spouses
Published March 18, 2006
As you watch the credits to Fox's Trading Spouses, you'll see a credit for two supervising story producers. That should send out a message loud and clear that this supposed "reality" show isn't entirely reality. What is it, then, if not reality? Obviously, it's "real" in the sense that the families on the show are real. However, if events are staged and/or manipulated by the story producers, doesn't that introduce an element of non-reality? It's manipulation, with the producers pulling the strings as we watch.
The premise of Trading Spouses is simple: two families will swap mothers for one week, and we, the audience, will get to see the wacky results. And, thanks to those story producers, we know we are going to get some truly wacky moments of that tired but true fish-out-of-water formula.
Is it entertainment or exploitation? I think the show is definitely straddling the grey area in between. The fish-out-of-water scenario allows for shows where people from very different families are put together, and at times put into situations that are demeaning or humiliating.
Take the episode featuring the Joseph family and the Gibbons family. The Joseph family is African-American and lives in Harlem, New York. The Gibbons are caucasian and live in Mendon, Massachusetts. And since we're going to be heading straight into stereotype territory, of course the Gibbons family are wealthy, and the Joseph family is middle class. Are there no wealthy African-American families to feature on this show? Of course not.
Octavia Joseph, the matriarch, heads off to Mendon while wealthy Lynne is en route to Harlem. Ah, now we're going to really get some sparks flying! How will the wealthy white mom deal with living with an African-American family? In Harlem? With other African-American folks? Conversely, how will Octavia handle the spoiled Gibbons family?
Octavia is picked up at the airport by Tom Gibbons, and the two proceed to say nothing at all to each other. Meanwhile, Lynne has met up with Carl Joseph, Sr., the patriarch of the Joseph family.
Octavia finds herself in a huge home with a gaggle of teenage girls who, apparently, have never been disciplined nor said "no" to their entire lives. Of course, this could be one of those stereotypes the story producers wanted to push: spoiled, rich white teenage girls. We only see what the producers present to us, and in this episode the girls do act annoyingly spoiled.
- TV Review: Trading Spouses
- Published: March 18, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Television, Video: Reality TV
- Writer: Scott C. Smith
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Comments on this articleComments
Sterfish,
You're probably right, although it wouldn't surprise me at all if the story producers didn't get involved during the filming, to suggest activities for the families to take part in or to "suggest" to the traded spouse issues to bring up with the new family. Esp. in the episode with the white mom living in Harlem and not wanting to get a cup of coffee by herself. I can just hear someone saying to her, "Do you usually get a cup of coffee in the morning?" or something like that. But I've no doubt that some manipulation is going on. What would they do if they had hours of boring footage? They'd have to spice things up somehow.
Glad you enjoyed the review. It's a fascinating show, I've been watching it over the last several weeks. Typical Fox.
I think Trading Spouses is a fantastic show. The one that recently aired about the family from Scottsdale Arizona trading with the organic farmers had some really beautiful moments, especially when the two Moms met at the end. The organic farmer lady started out wacky but had a lot of insight in the end (about husband Ray). The Scottsdale Mom was also insightful and caring despite being overwhelmed at first.
The other show, Wife Swap, is much more formulaic and the announcer gets really annoying. It has its good moments too though.
Bill,
Yes, the episode with the organic farming family was very well done. Her family was down to earth and she was very insightful, and certainly more endearing than the family with the father who couldn't come up with a list of his faults. One of the best episodes in the series so far.
I watch this programme often and it is 100% a good programme to watch.Particularly the episode with the Gibbon's and Joseph family.I believe that it is a great idea to have white and black families switch point of views,being whatever race you are i s going to last a life time,so why not experience life on the other side.
i think it's arrogant if you all believe that any of that show demonstrates a true prospective. trust me.
Yeah... listen genius: I work in television and maybe you should check your facts before you start blabbering about whatever you feel like each and every day. A story producer is not someone who writes a show or a story for the "actors" to play out. It is about searching through thousands of hours of shot footage (REALITY footage) and piecing them together in a coherent manner so that the audience has something cohesive to follow. I appreciate your analysis on a title for a job that you have never worked... but perhaps you should get your facts straight.
They have to make a story - otherwise -its a web cam for a week. I liked the Borat styled organic farmer and their turkey dinner. It is funny because of the edits. This is not a documentary. This show should be a tounge in cheek review of American life and life-styles, Cultural Learning .....I do wish they would follow up with some of the more interesting families.
Marguerite, plain and simple is crazy.....there was not dark side stuff going on, she acts like they were performing sadistics things. She wanted everyone to see things her way only. the least she could have done was see there way before dismissing it. There was nothing wrong with they were doing things. Marguerite, i think is greedy and she could have spent 20000 on the family instead of gastric bypass, maybe she should get up and do some of the things she was yelling at people to do. EXCERCISE!!!!! its free.
Enjoyed your review. I just saw the Perrin/ Flisher episode this week. For whatever reason Margueritte was so out of control, her relentless hysterical outbursts gave me a headache. As a Christian, I can testify that this is no way to behave toward others' differences. Bringing non-believers to Christ is accomplished through compassion, mercy and LOVE. All that screaming and hollering was anything but necessary - poor woman could have brought on a heart attack. Anyway, bottom line (and why I kept watching the 'train wreck') is that I witnessed more kindness and tolerance from the new-age D'Amico-Flisher family than I did from Bible-thumping Margueritte, whose mind was deadbolted from the onset. It's too bad, really, that she didn't seize this opportunity and honor the privilege of being used by God as an instrument to bring the truth to people who simply don't know. The Flisher's seem to be very nice folks who genuinely care about each other and their fellow man. Both Chris and Jeanne were extremely supportive of Margueritte and her family. So who's truly walking in Christian love here? Can I get an 'Amen'?!
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Very good review. One thing to note, though, is the mention of story supervisors. The way I have heard it, their job is not to stage events but, rather, to find the storylines within the hours of footage. Footage is moved around in order to show a single storyline/plot similar to scripted TV. Even though no actual writing is involved, this job is, as far as I know, actually considered writing. You will find "story" people in the credits of every reality show. It's these people that really show the difference between documentaries and reality TV.