TV Review: Trading Spouses
Published March 18, 2006
Back in Harlem, the producers are cackling over how they can best exploit racial stereotypes in order to make Lynne uncomfortable. Lynne seems uncomfortable just being around African-Americans. A-ha! Another stereotype: the rich white woman afraid of groups of African-American men.
It's Octavia's first day with the Gibbons, and when Octavia wakes up, Tom informs her that she's going to have to do a whole bunch of chores. Ah, now we're going to head into exploitation central. Tom, playing the part of the Clueless White Man, informs Octavia he can't do the laundry because he doesn't know how to separate the clothes. Yes, it can be difficult separating white clothing from colored clothing. I'm assuming this is some sort of metaphor the producers have tacked on to the show.
It gets worse. While Octavia is literally slaving away for Tom, the Gibbons family housekeeper is making her rounds. Yes, a housekeeper.
Lynne, in Harlem, has to deal with living in a home that probably could fit into her living room. Carl Senior's son, Carl Jr., is a rapper who goes by the name "Cashflow." He's managed by Carl Sr. We spend a lot of time in this episode as a bewildered Lynne attempts to acclimate herself to the world of the Joseph clan (and to Harlem). She doesn't do very well. At one point she and Carl Sr. are talking outside, and Lynne wants a cup of coffee (where's Starbucks??). Carl Sr. points to a place across the street and encourages Lynne to go there by herself. Lynne is not going to do it. You know, because those scary black folks might rob her or something.
Back in Mendon, Octavia is dealing with the bratty teenage girls of the Gibbons family. When Octavia points out how obnoxious and disrespectful the girls are, they of course get defensive and angry (knowing Octavia is right). How dare this strange African-American woman pass judgment on them! Back in Harlem, Lynne innocently mentions not knowing who Malcom X is. The Josephs are incredulous. Of course the rich white woman wouldn't know anything about Malcolm X.
Most episodes seem to fall into a pattern of having one wealthy family and one lower/middle-class family "trading" spouses. I get to wondering, as I watch, why the upper middle-class families have agreed to be on the show. The show ends with each mother allocating how $50,000 will be spent by the other family. Do the rich families really need $50,000? Why would anyone want to subject themselves to the humiliation of reality TV for $50,000? It's a mystery.
- TV Review: Trading Spouses
- Published: March 18, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Television, Video: Reality TV
- Writer: Scott C. Smith
- Scott C. Smith's BC Writer page
- Scott C. Smith's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
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'?!
Trading spouses humiliate and ridicule poor people
Nice review and the organic farmers in Missouri were very fun. Loved the episode w/ Ms. Perrin and think these shows will be a great reflection of American family lifestyles in 20 years. Sure wish CMT would catch us up on what happened to these people after they got their 50K.
I was watching T.S.tonight and the show realy made me angry to see a lesbian woman tore apart by a very angry uninformed insecure and very hateful woman, i think even in this type of situation with a tv show were people are willing to sell them selves to the public for money there should still be some tactfulness and someone to stop this kind of behavior this is why the contry is in a big ongoing war with the differences we all have as humans,i wanted to hide in a hole just knowing this woman is from oregon,this show should not have happened,i am outraged about tonights show!
Story producers do suggest things for u to do and they twist around the footage to make it more interesting there are things that happen on the show where they will literally cut a person out to make it look like there's drama where there's not. Don't believe at least half of what you see on this stupid show.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/45184)
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.