A DISORGANIZED, ANIMAL LOVING MOTHER WITH 25 PETS TRADES PLACES AND FAMILIES WITH AN OBSESSIVELY TIDY MOTHER WHO LOVES TO-DO LISTS AND DETESTS ANIMALS, ON ABC'S "WIFE SWAP"

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 what it's like to walk a mile in another mother's pumps. It's a mind-blowing experiment that oftentimes ends up changing their lives forever. In "Pitts/Policchio," two couples with very different sensibilities - one with a very laissez faire approach to life, the other efficient and organized in the extreme - swap homes and families for two weeks, airing SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network (rebroadcast. OAD: 9/26/04).

Bambi and Kenny Pitts, a laid back couple from a diverse, working-class community in Connecticut, live in a zoo... literally. With over 25 pets, two rowdy teenage boys and a two-year-old daughter, this liberal family survives paycheck to paycheck. There are no rules or order to this noisy household, where kids stay up playing music until early morning and animals make a smelly mess of the living spaces. Bambi is disorganized, typically running behind schedule, and makes little effort to cook or clean. She and Kenny have chosen to befriend their children instead of disciplining them. They remain passionate after 16 years of marriage and enjoy their carefree, low-maintenance lifestyle.

But the relaxed Bambi is more than surprised when she travels to nearby Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to exchange places with Caprice Policchio, a strict mother whose household is defined by her obsessive compulsive behavior. Caprice is a perfectionist to the extreme - numerous to-do lists, cleanliness, and an inflexible rule over her husband, Don, and sons Ian (16) and Adam (10). In addition, no noise or pets allowed. She cooks all meals herself for fear of external germs, and serves a well-balanced dinner which the family eats together each night. The kids are not allowed to make noise, have a non-negotiable bedtime, and are only permitted to see their girlfriends on weekends. Husband Don is assigned tasks each weekend, and they attribute friendship to the success of their 24 years of marriage. The family is never out of Caprice's control and live a very quiet existence in their neat and immaculate suburban home.

The first week of the swap becomes a lesson in compromise when Bambi gets a taste of a structured lifestyle by cleaning five hours a day and coping with Don's anal retentive demands, while Caprice must stand back and let the Pitts clan behave as they please. But the second week turns into a roller coaster for all, when Bambi shakes things up by bringing fun and a pet cat into the house, while Caprice pushes the Pitts to the edge when she cleans the house for the first time in years and temporarily dismisses the animals.

"Wife Swap" is an RDF Media production. It was created by Stephen Lambert and is executive-produced by Lambert and Jenny Crowther of RDF Media ("Faking It" and "Junkyard Wars") and Michael Davies of Diplomatic ("Who Wants to be a Millionaire"). Wendy Roth is the co-executive producer.

This program carries a TV-PG,L parental guideline.