ABC's "Celebrity Wife Swap" puts a new spin on the critically-acclaimed reality series, "Wife Swap," by revealing the various ways some controversial celebrities live their lives. In this new series, the mothers in two celebrity families switch lifestyles, children and homes (but not bedrooms), and embark on a journey like no other. They are given the chance to see how another celebrity raises children and deals with life in the spotlight, while allowing both couples the opportunity to re-discover why they love each other and why they decided to get together in the first place. "Celebrity Wife Swap" premieres on TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
In each one-hour episode, two mothers with very different values swap lifestyles and children in a one week-long challenge. In the first part of the swap, each mom moves into the other's home and must adopt their new celebrity family's lifestyle, no matter how different. They agree to follow a manual written by the departing mother that sets out the rules of the new household - how to parent, manage their social life, do house work, unwind and more. In the second half of the week, everything changes when the new moms take charge. They introduce their own set of rules and get to run the new household their way. It's a radical shock to both celebrity families. The results are explosive, enlightening, emotional and often very funny.
At the end of the show, the two celebrity couples meet for the first time. In a potentially highly-charged exchange of views, both couples make a frank assessment of each other and talk about what they've learned from the experience. In the process, the kids as well as the partners discover what it would be like to live a life completely unlike their own. It's a mind-blowing experiment that will change their lives forever.
The featured celebrities and their families are:
"GARY BUSEY / TED HAGGARD"
GARY BUSEY is enjoying a 41-year career in Hollywood, which includes a BAFTA win and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, both for his performance in the title role of "The Buddy Holly Story." His other notable film credits include his memorable roles in "The Firm," "Under Siege," "Point Break," "Big Wednesday" and "Lethal Weapon." Busey became a household name and ratings sensation with TV audiences too in his recent starring role in "Celebrity Apprentice," when Team Busey raised and donated $40,000 to his charity, The Center for Head Injury Services in St. Louis, MO. Busey's other TV roles of note were his multiple appearances on HBO's "Entourage" and a recent special guest-star role in which he played himself on "Two and a Half Men."
TED HAGGARD is the pastor of St. James Church in Colorado Springs, CO, and the husband of 33 years to Gayle Haggard, New York Times best-selling author of Why I Stayed: The Choices I Made in My Darkest Hour. Together they founded New Life Church in Colorado Springs, which grew to 14,000 members. In 2006 Haggard resigned from his position as senior pastor when his moral failure became public. The resulting scandal became national news due to the fact that Haggard also served as the President of the 30-million member National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). During his four years as president, Pastor Haggard represented the NAE in meetings with President Bush, Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Ariel Sharon and on numerous media outlets. Currently he and his wife, Gayle, are serving St. James Church. Gayle is also working on a new book, and Ted has launched a series of YouTube videos commenting on current events and biblical issues. They have five children, all living in Colorado Springs.
"TRACEY GOLD / CARNIE WILLSON"
TRACEY GOLD began her acting career at the age of four when she began working in commercials. She quickly moved on to dozens of parts in television movies and feature films, honing her skills working alongside such legends as Jane Wyman, Bette Davis, Patty Duke and Gena Rowlands. In 1985 Gold was cast in the role of Carol Seaver on the now legendary television series, "Growing Pains." Following that success, she returned to drama with many TV movies of the week. She portrayed the title character in "For the Love of Nancy" (with Jill Clayburgh), which was a personal triumph for her, as the movie was based on the main character's struggle with a severe eating disorder. Gold has been unafraid to speak publicly about her own battle with anorexia nervosa, which began at age 19 and almost took her life. Through her involvement with therapy and an eating disorder program, she was able to recover. Rather than retreat from the subject of eating disorders, she has, in the intervening years, spoken out publicly about it. She is currently the host of a new reality show on Lifetime entitled "Starving Secrets with Tracey Gold," where she mentors women publicly through their own fights with the disease. Gold was introduced to her future husband, Roby Marshall, by her television mom from "Growing Pains," Joanna Kerns. They reside in Southern California, where they raise their four sons, Sage, Bailey, Aiden and Dylan.
CARNIE WILSON has a varied career as a singer, songwriter, actress, author, voice over artist and talk show host. As a member of Wilson Phillips, she achieved unparalleled first album success, selling 10 million copies with three No. 1 hit singles, including the song "Hold On." Recently Carnie and Wilson Phillips have re-energized by touring in 2010 and 2011. Their appearance in the hit film "Bridesmaids" singing "Hold On" has resulted in a new Wilson Phillips reality show, more concert dates and a new recording contract with Sony. In 1996 Carnie hosted her own nationally syndicated TV talk show, entitled "Carnie," and she is the host of GSN series "The Newlywed Game" and "Carnie Wilson Unstapled." Her story has been chronicled in two books, Gut Feelings and I'm Still Hungry. Carnie is the daughter of legendary Beach Boy founder Brian Wilson, the mother of two daughters, and is married to musician-composer Rob Bonfiglio.
"FLAVOR FLAV / DEE SNIDER"
FLAVOR FLAV is a member of the hardcore rap/hip-hop ensemble Public Enemy, considered one of the most influential rap or hip-hop groups to emerge during the mid- to late '80s. Flav provides the comic edge in the group to offset the sobriety and gravity to their lyrics. He typically sports a massive number of rings on each hand, wears a giant clock on a chain around his neck, and has had all of his front teeth encased in gold, into which were engraved the letters of his stage name. He branched out into film roles as early as 1990 with a small role in "New Jack City." In a memorable stint in 2004, Flav participated in Season Three of VH1's "The Surreal Life." During that season, he and Scandinavian model-turned-actress Brigitte Nielsen struck up a now-famous on-camera love affair, which prompted the network to initiate a spin-off reality series, "Strange Love." Flav signed for a follow-up VH1 reality series devoted to his pursuit of lifelong love, entitled "The Flavor of Love," which debuted in 2006. He and his fiancée of nine years, Liz, live in Las Vegas with their two children.
DEE SNIDER is perhaps best known as the lead singer of '80s sensation, Twisted Sister. However, there is so much more to him. He starred in the record breaking Broadway musical "Rock of Ages," which features two of the hits he wrote for his band, and in several reality TV shows, including "Celebrity Apprentice," CMT's "Gone Country," MTV's "Rock the Cradle," and "Growing Up Twisted," an A&E series featuring the entire Snider family. He is also a frequent host on MTV Networks and his own nationally syndicated radio show, "House of Hair," which is heard on more than 200 stations in North America. Simon & Schuster will debut his autobiography, Shut Up and Give Me yhe Mic, in spring 2012, right after the release of his latest album, "Dee Does Broadway."
"MICK FOLEY / ANTONIO SABATO JR."
MICK FOLEY is known as "The Hardcore Legend" in the world of professional wrestling for his willingness to put his body on the line. He was a cornerstone of the WWE's meteoric rise in popularity in the late '90s. With retirement looming, Foley penned his own autobiography (written by hand) without the aid of a ghost-writer. The book showcased his unique blend of wildness and warmth, wit and wisdom, and shocked the literary world by reaching No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list. In all, Foley has written nine books -- five of which have been New York Times best-sellers. He donated 100% of his proceeds for his latest book, Countdown to Lockdown, to survivors of sexual violence, with 50% going to RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, and 50% to Child Fund International (CFI) to establish scholarships and provide micro-loans to those affected by sexual violence in the West African country of Sierra Leone. Foley has sponsored children through CFI for 20 years. He has funded the construction of early childhood education centers in Mexico, the Philippines and Sierra Leone. He serves on RAINN's Board of Directors and has logged over 500 hours as a weekly volunteer for RAINN's Online Hotline, an experience he has called "as important as anything I've ever done." Foley lives on Long Island with his wife and four children.
ANTONIO SABATO JR. has proven to be one of the hottest commodities to come out of daytime television, nabbing a series of primetime roles and appearing in the most successful Calvin Klein underwear campaign in the company's history. Growing up in Rome, Sabato's first language is Italian and he didn't learn to speak English until he moved to Beverly Hills in 1984 with his mother and sister. His big break came when he was cast in the Janet Jackson video "Love Will Never Do Without You," shot by Herb Ritts. He joined the cast of ABC's "General Hospital" as Jagger Cates in the spring of 1992. That same year, he landed a coveted spot in People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People issue. He reprised his famed "General Hospital" character on SOAPnet's "Night Shift," after winning NBC's hot summer series "Celebrity Circus," where he performed nearly impossible Cirque du Soleil-esque acts. One of Sabato's most memorable television roles was that of Heather Locklear's abusive ex-husband on "Melrose Place." His dating series, "My Antonio," set in Hawaii, was a hit for VH1. He also starred as serial killer Henry Lee Lucas in the indie feature "Drifter: The Henry Lee Lucas Story," for which he won Best Actor at The 2009 Beverly Hills Film Festival. Sabato is a fitness and auto-racing enthusiast, and an accomplished author with the book, No Excuses: Workout for Life.
"NIECY NASH / TINA YOTHERS"
NIECY NASH is hosting and starring in her own web series entitled "Let's Talk About Love," currently running on Yahoo. Audiences can tune in each week to listen to her hilarious, no-nonsense perspectives on love, dating and relationships. She is also taping her own reality docu-series for TLC scheduled to debut in 2012. This project came right after the summer of 2011, as she planned the wedding of her dreams to then fiancé Jay Tucker. The entire wedding experience aired as a two-hour television event and was so heartwarming that it inspired the docu-series that shows the blending of two families. Nash is currently working on a pilot for TV Land opposite Cedric the Entertainer. The former host and producer of the Style Network's home makeover show, "Clean House," she is a two-time 2009 Daytime Emmy nominee. She won a 2010 Gracie Award for her role as no-nonsense Officer Raineesha Williams on the Comedy Central hit, "Reno 911!," and it's spin-off film, "Reno 911: Miami." In 2008 Nash starred in her own FOX comedy series, "Do Not Disturb." She is also well known for her recurring role on the comedy series "The Bernie Mac Show." Additionally, she is developing various television and film projects through her own production company, Chocolate Chick, Inc. The proud mother of three adoring children, when asked what her hobbies are, Nash proudly replies, "motherhood," which she considers her greatest success in life.
TINA YOTHERS, who began her career as a child actor at the age of eight, is perhaps best known for her role as Jennifer Keaton on the hit NBC series "Family Ties," as well as for her roles in numerous television films throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. She formed the band Jaded with her brother, Cory, where she provided the lead vocals while Cory played keyboard. In 1998 Jaded released their self-titled CD. After a nine-year absence from acting, Yothers was given the lead role in 2004's "Lovelace: A Rock Musical," about the life of adult film star and women's liberation advocate Linda Lovelace. Her additional accomplishments include writing the book, Being Your Best: Tina Yothers' Guide for Girls. She is also a founding member of a charter school in Chino, California, which two of her three children attend. She is married to electrician Bob Kaiser.
"Celebrity Wife Swap" is produced by Zodiak USA. Executive producers include Grant Mansfield, Natalka Znak, Claire O'Donohoe and Bruce Toms. It is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound.
