Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy

I had never seen this show, and tune-in to CMT very seldom, except to watch "Trick My Truck," or the occasional movie they have listed in which I'm interested.

A couple of weeks ago, I happened to be tuning to another channel, when I hit CMT just as one of these episodes was getting underway. After intending to pause for only a moment, I became interested, and watched the entire episode, with complete interest.

I checked and found it had originally aired in September of 2004, and was the first to vary from the usual format, with the husbands changing locales instead of the wives. (The Cooke//Levine episode.)

Both men were completely likable - Justin Levine, a successful New York City lawyer, and of Jewish heritage, traveling to rural Georgia, with chicken coops and all. His counterpart, "Jay" Clark, a blue-collar factory worker went to the Levine's high-rise, terraced apartment, with superb view - the type you find listed in "New York" Magazine WELL into seven figures.

This was a pleasant program, with Justin actually shopping in the hardware store and doing a very credible job of constructing a gate for one of the animal enclosures, and taking the wife (who preferred the local diner) to a posh Atlanta restaurant for haute cuisine.

"Jay" Cooke, as thoroughly-pleasant a man as you're likely to encounter, was understandably fascinated by the New York City digs and overall scene, and it was honestly heartwarming to observe his bonding with son Pierce, preparing for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah; there could not be a better scenario for displaying the pleasant interacting of two cultures, both religious and social/lifestyle. He was also fascinated by the frenetic, hyper wife, Beverly, a quintessential big city career woman, social butterfly, nervous about her son's upcoming ceremony (and everything else) - but somehow, being also very pleasant at the same time - no mean feat!

This was the only program in this series I'd seen, until today, when I watched another, also produced sometime ago, originally airing January, 2005. (The Lambe-Levy//Farrell episode.)

Here, Marybeth Lambe travels from the family farm in rural Washington state, and her and Mark Levy's seven children, multi-racial, with four adopted. Her counterpart, Janet Farrell, travels from Carmel, New York and her four kids, ranging from earlier teens to tattooed/pierced son, Brian, 20.

Marybeth is quiet, nurturing, early-rising, enjoying an active schedule, and even a bit of "chaos." Janet, while amazingly being such while not being highly-"unpleasant," sleeps late, her husband, Dennis, doing most of the housework (despite multiple back surgeries), an has a somewhat deluded view in assessing the positive effects her presence, requests, ideas and instructions have on those around her. If they were grading same, in her host family surroundings, she'd give herself a solid "10", while Dennis and children would likely be around, say, "4" --MAX.

The most vivid aspect of this program was Marybeth's genuine, sincere interest in Brian's art and talent, and encouraging him to pursue whatever path would come, whether body or fine art.

It was clear from his comments - both during the program and after his mother's return home - that this woman had given him more in this vein in one week than his mother had in 20 years.

When his Mom was reading Marybeth's disbursement of the their $50,000 stipend for the show (in accord with each spouse directing how his/her host family's 50-grand is to be spent) he uttered something about probably "getting a break," since Marybeth had made the disbursement decision (instead of his Mom).

From some other comments and summaries of other offerings in this series, I'd say that, by chance, the two I've seen are probably among the most pleasant and interesting in a positive manner.

I'd give it 8* based upon what I've seen - 9* for my first, and 7* the other, averaged. I think this is simply one of those shows where, instead of being a fan of virtually everything presented, one needs to watch for a bit, and then continue or switch channels, accordingly, based upon that day's particular presentation.

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Just saw a third episode, several days after the above two. Some difference. From original season, the totally obnoxious, yowling, morbidly-obese "Christian" nut from Louisiana, exchanging households with the attractive, quiet spoken lady from Massachusetts - a "New Age" astrologer and radio show love Guru, whose husband held a Solstice celebration for her almost psycho counterpart. However, for me, this program was wholly fascinating, and the "New Age/astrological" fanaticism almost as nonsensical as the shrieking "Christian" histrionics --albeit at opposite ends of the spectrum. Thank God most folks are sensible enough to be somewhere between.

I also don't ever make comments about shows either, but this woman was just so incredibly disgusting that I still can't believe she can actually show her face to the world! Did you see how rude & evil she was when she told ZZ that he will die at 40yrs old because of his diet! I loved zz's response back to her! This Vegan lady has such severe MENTAL ISSUES, I can't believe she was even allowed to be on the show. She is such a hypocrite, being a vegan is only good when it fits her. She let her family down. She is psychotic in ever way! Did you see how disguising she acted when some of the money went to her husband for his garden, she was jealous & actually started to CRY! Oh!! But when she gets HER money she laughs, this is after also crying about getting a spa!!! Most people would love to have a spa!! So, So ungrateful! She is just the biggest hypocrite, rude, UGLY, CRAZY, person I've ever seen on T.V. She is a BAD mom and a TERRIBLE wife. She makes me sad I live in California! I better not EVER run into that Crazy woman, she'll get an earful from me! Oh, P.S. Smelly Vegan Mom, Good job on teaching ZZ English, wow your real smart. I hope you choke on a piece of Alligator meat!!!!!!!!!! You Creep. Oh and all your friends are rude too!

To the sweet, wonderful, respectful and compassionate Alligator mom, first off you are way more beautiful on the outside & inside then her! You are a GREAT MOM & WIFE. I told my husband while watching the show that I would love to come visit you & your family, & I would love those alligator gifts and I will eat all the meat in the world with you all. Oh & zz, I will drink soda & burp with you all day. ZZ when you told crazy vegan mom she was fired, I just fell in love with you! You are an adorable boy & have the cutest personality. I'm so sorry you had to deal with that psycho lady! Not ALL Californian's are like that. I hope she drowns in that spa you guys gave her. Wicked people like that don't deserve to be here on this earth. You guys have a wonderful, beautiful family and God bless you all.

I have never sent a comment on shows that I have watched. But this one upset me so much that I just had to send one. First I want to say I love the show. Second, I want to say is that the Vegan Mom, Barbara, is a cruel, hypocritical, insensitive BEAST. The way she treated Zizi made me wish I can punch her thru the TV screen. The way she treats her own children and family makes me wish her husband would leave her ugly butt and take those children and run for the mountains. The other mom played the game right and with so much respect. God Bless her and her golden heart. You seem like a wonderful woman and a GREAT mom. I hope nothing that beast wrote about you got to you, she was probably writing about herself. What right does she have to treat your child that way, criticize you and your family and think she can teach you on how to raise your child. Sure that was great for the show's ratings, but that was just so cruel to you and your family. HHMMMMMM how do we spell Monkey when it is plural????

Sadly I'm a resident of California but luckily had the unusual pleasure of living in Louisiana for 1 year,,,I absolutely fell in love with the down home unpretentious friendly,trusting Cajuns folks.. They made me realize how strangely cold,narrow minded & paranoid California's are,,, Vegan Monstermom consumes all the horrible qualities that many extremist liberals that have live in Calif...Its those same people who think they know what's best for everyone & empower the state to step in to tell you how to raise your kids & everything else,,,\ like wacky Vegan lady who is so obsessed in her food beliefs it really sicken me. These Vegans remind me of the kool-aid drinkers in the Jim Jones occult,so easily able to be convinced without question to follow something that has no science behind it,,,no logic, just some need to feel superior in their ignorants..they are haters...I wonder how they feel about animal on animal crime,all animal eat other animals,lol duh! its called Nature=food chain..

Be a stupid bloody Vegan if want be but what's with all the judgement and need to convert and the lack of tolerance???? They are clearly void of logic, they are so uptight about killing things but & when push comes to shove they do kill,,,but yet there is for some strange reason this super up-tightness and need to think they know what best, they may or may not eat meat but they are surely eating something that is giving them brain damage,,,

Did anyone notice how the mean stupid Vegan lady was totally telling ZZ the wrong info on his spelling..and claiming how smart she was at the same time,,,and actually goes as far to say "if she was starving she would eat a dog"!!!! OMG!!! I love the way people justify their hypocrisy...I couldn't believe how rude and judgemental those animal right activist were to that sweet Cajun woman,,,,it made me sick and ashame to be from Calif,,, Vegan Bitch was without a doubt emcompassing everything that's wrong with the mentality of many Californias..,You'll never met kinder people than those Cajuns...

In regards to the Parrin family episode I just watched, "Abossy" treated Marguerete horribly. He is racist, mean, disrespectful, and inconsiderate. Learn from the past; don't live in it or use it as an excuse to treat white people (or anyone) in such a vulgar manner. Abossy was a bully and it seems he is a friend to nobody unless they have black skin, which is OK because with friends like him who needs enemies! The saddest part is that his little girl was a witness to the inexcusable, awful treatment he bestowed upon his guest and now thinks that is acceptable. Hopefully as she grows and learns about life for herself she will realize the error of her father's way of thinking.