What You Didn't Know About Wife Swap

May 2024 ยท 2 minute read

"How real is reality TV" is a question that's been asked since the genre started. The answer depends on the show, ranging from "not at all" to "really real." The latter's an exception, though, because everyday life is pretty dull in actual reality. Even the most intriguing reality subjects need guidance, editing, and/or scripted help to make for compelling or bearable viewing. "Wife Swap" was a prime example.

There was undoubtedly more than a degree of authenticity when it came to the beliefs and lifestyles of swapped partners. But that wasn't enough on its own; it needed some production fairy dust. For instance, there's the often outrageous and, well, kind of unbelievable house manuals and rules supposedly written by "Wife Swap" participants. It turns out there's a reason why they seemed too incredible. They weren't actually real; they were scripted.

Sean Lowe learned that lesson the hard way when he suffered severe "fan backlash" after his stint on "Celebrity Wife Swap." According to People, Lowe's spouse, Catherine, was switched with fellow "The Bachelor" star Jason Mesnick's wife. After "Molly woke up to the to-do list Sean left for her, which included ironing his socks and wiping down the kitchen," Lowe's social media was flooded with negativity. The reality veteran took it in stride, though, pointing out that hey, it's just television, folks! "[Catherine] would scratch my eyes out if I ever gave her a to-do list," Lowe assured the hordes of haters.

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