| WHAT TO WATCH

ABC Plans to Start Swapping Everything

Monday, June 28, 2004

10:00 AM PT

Got a spouse, child, boss, friend, car, house, pair of bowling shoes, used book or lawnmower that you want to try to exchange for a better model? Chances are good that given enough time, ABC will have a swapping show just for you. Even though the network's "Wife Swap" has yet to air, ABC has already greenlighted pilots for such diverse swapping options as "Husband Swap" and "Boss Swap."

Both spinoffs will come courtesy of RDF Media and Diplomatic, producers of "Wife Swap." RDF is also responsible for the British equivalent of the "Wife Swap" and "Boss Swap" formats.

ABC is attempting to swiftly transform "Swap" into the kind of renewable franchise that the network already has with "Extreme Makeover" and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette." If the formula succeeds, ABC will soon be swapping anything that seems swappable.

"We are such fans of 'Wife Swap' that we wanted to apply the concept in these new arenas," says Andrea Wong, executive vice president, alternative Programming, specials and late-night, ABC Entertainment. "We think 'Wife Swap' is going to be addictive appointment television, and we're excited to see what happens when the husband and the boss are the ones who make the switch."

As many things as ABC tries to swap, FOX may be quick to follow suit. Last week, FOX fast-tracked "Trading Spouses," a copycat reality series that the network hopes to get out in the late summer before the Sept. 29 date that ABC has staked out for "Wife Swap."