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