LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC has extended the run of its upcoming reality series "Wife Swap" by 13 episodes. In adddition, the Alphabet has given pilot orders to two potential spin-off series "Boss Swap" and "Husband Swap."
Both developments come less than three months before "Swap" is scheduled to premiere on the network.
ABC originally ordered seven episodes (six plus the pilot) of "Swap" back in October of 2003 (read the story), meaning a total of 20 episodes are set to be produced.
As for "Boss Swap" and "Husband Swap," both projects were announced via press release this week:
ABC SET TO DEVELOP "BOSS SWAP" AND "HUSBAND SWAP," COMPANION SERIES TO INTERNATIONAL HIT "WIFE SWAP"
Production Set to Begin Immediately on Pilots that Will See If the Grass Is Greener
Working for Another Boss or Living with Another Husband
Ever dreamed of spending your day in a place where your work is appreciated and rewarded? If only it weren't for the jerk running the place! Ever imagined that the guy next door has better, more manageable kids and a more supportive wife?
From the producers of "Wife Swap," the international award-winning hit reality show where the battlegrounds are kitchens and living rooms, comes "Boss Swap," a show that will take viewers into the heart of the American workplace, and "Husband Swap," in which the husband is the one who gets to trade places and see what life is like in a new family.
"Husband Swap" is being developed for the ABC Television Network by creator and executive producer Stephen Lambert and executive producer Jenny Crowther for RDF Media. Michael Davies of Diplomatic is also executive producer and Wendy Roth is co-executive producer. Lambert and Davies are also executive-producing "Boss Swap," along with Joe Houlihan of RDF Media.
"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."
In the workplace, what will happen when lackadaisical is swapped with regimental? Supporter of independence with hands-on supervisor? Strong believer in "mental health days" with clock watcher?
At home, what happens when military taskmaster swaps families with middle-aged hippy? Eighty-hour-per-week workaholic swaps with stay-at-home dad?
As with "Wife Swap," expect the results to be explosive, enlightening, emotional and, often, very funny.
Producers are set to begin casting immediately. "Wife Swap" is set to premiere Wednesday, September 29, 2004 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
This article was corrected on Wednesday, June 30.
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