Frauentausch
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| Frauentausch | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Docu-soap |
| Theme music composer | A*Teens |
| Country of origin |  Germany |
| Language(s) | German |
| No. of episodes | 169+ |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | |
| Running time | 90 minutes (without commercials) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | RTL II |
| Original airing | July 14, 2003 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
Frauentausch is a German docu-soap based on the British TV programme Wife Swap. Frauentausch was first aired on July 14, 2003 on the German channel RTL II. It is produced by Constantin Entertainment GmbH and Prisma Film.
The first episode was seen by 1.28 million viewers — corresponding to a market share of 5.3 %. On average Frauentausch reaches a rate about 10 % of the important target market. This corresponds to about a million viewers. The docu-soap reaches according to self-statement of Constantin Entertainment GmbH a rate about 18.1 % of the important target market.
Contents |
[edit] Contents
The concept of Frauentausch is the same as in other formats around the world. Usually two wives swap men and households for two weeks although there have been shows centered around men trading places. It is general practice from the network to choose two families from completely different social, ethnic, or religious backgrounds, thus ensuring that conflicts will most certainly arise.
[edit] Application
Each family (who lives in Germany or near the border in the neighboring countries to Germany and speak the German language) willing to take part at Frauentausch, can apply at the website of Constantin Entertainment GmbH (see also second external link below).
[edit] The programme and the course of the experiment
At first all members of the two families are introduced; names and ages are mentioned. Then RTL II shows the apartments of the families and the families are short introduced themselves. In place of the latter RTL II sometimes shows the application videos of the families.
Before the start of Frauentausch, Constantin Entertainment GmbH records a video message of each swap mother which is meant for the other mother.
At beginning of the swap, the mothers get small slips of paper respective cards where they write a short summarize in a few words which should help the mothers for orientation. For example the mothers write at one of the cards that the "new" mother should make washing and hang the card at a suitable place — here at the washer. Then the substitute mothers make up their suitcases and say goodbye to their families.
When the women are driven with the cars of Constantin Entertainment GmbH or RTL II (it is not clear who of them drive them really), it is shown, how the women meet them now — with closed eyes — at the half distance/route from their apartments for making an impression from each other. The mothers who swap leave the cars which are parked one behind the other (back-to-back), meet the other person and they are allowed to greet themselves, change maybe one or two sentences to each other and they are also allowed to touch themselves. Afterwards they change the cars. While they are driving further they are allowed to take off their eye masks and give a conclusion. If the mothers travel by train so this event will not happen.
Arrived at the new apartment the swap mothers have a time of one hour for making close with their new home. In this time the families are not at home. Now the women view the video message from each other in which they can get a better impression of each other. In the message they maybe introduce them and mention more or less important things which the "new" mother should keep or have to do. Nearly at every swap the women give each other different tasks, for example to finish a painting, to find a job for a family member or to sing at a party. Each few sentences or tasks are commented by them. After the hour the families reach their home and make acquaintance with the so far unknown person.
In the following days will be show whether the "new" persons in the households are able to manage all things.
At the ninth day of the experiment the two substitute persons get a video message again — now from their families. In this last message the persons hear whether their families are fine and maybe whether they become clear with the "new" person.
At the tenth and last day from the swap the mothers prepare for their homeward and say goodbye from their substitute families. At the half distance/route from their apartments the women or men meet each other at a place for example in a restaurant for expressing. Maybe they give each other advices what they can change in the own family or they talk about their problems or similar things. Sometimes the discussions end in insults or even in violence. At last will showed how the substitute mothers/fathers arrive their own house and how the families receive them.
[edit] Trivia
In the first episodes the television viewers were able to vote by phone who of the women of the unusual environment managed better the challenge.
In irregular distances RTL II shows special issues for example a special with high society or a vacation special.
On May 18, 2006 the hundredth episode was shown with a big anniversary special. It was shown whether the lives have changed of the families who have taken part at Frauentausch or whether there are new friendships between some families.
In episode 112 it came to a fight/brawl between two mothers. One of them got a contusion at the hand and was brought into an hospital. Among other things she was sticked and fell down. This argument happened as the cameras were switched off already. The cause of the argument alleged was the control of the household and child education.
Frauentausch is main seen from young female viewers.
Prisma Film produces with Tausche Familie an also successful format for the Austrian television.
