The Stonerocks glad to be back together as a family
Posted on 06/20/2006 10:32:25 AM PDT by CharlieOK1
AN OUTDOORS-LOVING MOM WHOSE PASTOR HUSBAND SPEAKS TO GOD 100 TIMES A DAY SWAPS PLACES WITH AN OUTDOORS-HATING, COMPUTER- OBSESSED WIFE OF AN ATHEIST DISC JOCKEY, ON ABC'S "WIFE SWAP"
This week in "Stonerock/Finley," a Pastor's wife who loves the great outdoors swaps places with an outdoors-hating, computer-obsessed mom whose husband is an atheist disc jockey, on ABC's "Wife Swap"-- the critically-acclaimed unscripted reality show that takes us into the intimate heart of the American family home to reveal the extraordinarily different ways families live their lives - MONDAY, JUNE 19 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/28/05)
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 live another mother's very different life. It's a mind-blowing experiment that often changes their lives forever.
Kelly Stonerock (37) and her husband, Pastor Jeff Stonerock (39), live in a cozy suburban Michigan home with their four children, Devon (10), Justin (9), Hunter (3) and Jesse (2), and their niece Taylor (9) and nephew Jacob (6). The Stonerocks are pillars of their community. Jeff is the pastor of the town's Pentecostal church and Kelly is its "First Lady." Her regimented and fast-paced daily schedule includes home schooling, working out, playing team sports and hosting regular Bible-discussion groups with other women from the church. Kelly keeps the children on a hectic schedule involving church activities and volunteer work. She sees to it that the family gets plenty of exercise, including soccer, basketball, baseball, canoeing, hiking and sledding. The entire family shares in the household cleaning. The kids must abide by the "Stonerock Behavior/ Consequence Plan," which Kelly, Jeff, and the children wrote together. It outlines what happens if the children don't abide by the rules. For example, cursing results in someone's mouth getting washed out with soap. In addition to lots of family time, Kelly and Jeff still manage to make time for each other, having regular date nights and vacations.
Kelly travels to the urban Georgia lived-in home of Amber Finley (30) and her husband, Reginald (31). The Finleys are atheists raising three children, Dorian (11), Reginald Jr. (3) and baby girl Ryan (1). Dad Reggie spends 80 hours a week working from home, broadcasting his own internet radio show and running a website devoted to atheism. He believes that God does not exist and convinced his wife to give up her Christian beliefs when the couple first started dating. After the kids go to daycare and school, Amber spends her day on the computer, surfing the Internet or obsessively playing computer games. Amber and the family are also responsible for cleaning the house to Reginald's high standards. The children spend their evenings in front of the television and computer or quietly in their rooms, so as not to disturb Dad while he's broadcasting a show. Though Amber and Reginald are at home together all day, they rarely spend quality time with each other, as Reginald is obsessed with his work, which barely supports the family.
In the first week of the swap, devoted mom Kelly bristles at having to leave the kids at daycare and cries when she finds out how little time Reggie spends with his son. Meanwhile, Amber dissolves in tears when the Stonerocks' niece reveals she's not treated the same as the other kids in the family.
In week two of the swap, when the wives change the rules and turn the tables, Kelly converts Reggie's radio broadcast into her own show and, in a kitchen confrontation, Reggie sobs, saying Kelly makes him feel like a failure. Meanwhile, non-believing Amber puts Pastor Jeff in his place; fining him a dollar each time he mentions God and collecting enough money to throw a huge party for the kids. At the end of the swap, when the couples are reunited, will they find common ground or are their differences too great to overcome?
I think this was an old episode, but it still was pretty interesting. It was ABC, so it wasn't too shocking when they tried to portray the Christian family as a bunch of whackos. But what really got my attention was how awful the Atheist family came across. The Dad was shown as the whiny "victim" that he is. He completely ignores his family so that he can work on his website, infidelguy.com 18 hours a day! And the mom makes her oldest child do all of the household chores, and ships her two youngest kids to daycare, so that she can manage her "virtual family" online all day. They have this huge yard, but the kids are never allowed to go outside. At one point, the Atheist Dad gets so upset that he starts crying like a whiny little b***h because everyone persecutes him for being a non-believer.
I started looking around to see if there was anyone else that had discussed this particular episode, and found that the website, the Atheists.org had it's readers contact ABC because I guess ABC had yanked it at one time. I almost wonder if ABC refused to show it because the Atheists looked so pathetic, while the Christian family seemed very normal.
Anyone else see this and have an opinion?
Oh geeze, I didn't even catch onto this. His poor wife did seem like she was only going along with his militant atheism, and she seemed genuinely changed by being with the Christian family. I hope she takes those kids and leaves that loser.
. . . with their children, Pebbles and Bam-Bam Stonerock. . . .
I cant stomach most network tv. this looks like the cherry on the top of the fruitcake.
Does anyone actually watch this ****?
Makes sense.
I know, I know. But what made it interesting was how it seemingly backfired.
I'm telling you, if I didnt know better, I almost would say that they were trying to make the Christian family look good and the Atheists look bad.
I like some reality TV but can't watch Wife Swap because it is just too negative and condescending.
Trading spouses on Fox is a slightly better version.
If not, that's not wife swapping!!
What was really interesting was when I saw how upset the Atheist website was when the episode was pulled. I wonder how they feel about that now!
I have watched the show a couple of times, to see if it was worth watching. Ouch!
This show might have interested me if only to see how the Christian family was portrayed, but I proabably wouldn't have bothered.
That was probably their intention, but there is a Force greater than ABC. :-)
I would liked to have seen this. I was channel surfing last night and actually did land on ABC during wife swap, but didn't stay there longer than about 20 seconds. If I'd have known the plot of this episode, I would have watched.
I watched the program once, and that was when they paired a conservative family with a "progressive" family. Again, the leftists came out looking very bad (foolish, irresponsible, emotional, immature), and the conservative family came across as normal, responsible, good citizens.
I think you're right. Maybe it's just something you can't 'spin' away. The left's true colors always come through and they look as idiotic as they truly are.
i think this show's concept is horrible,
yet this particular episode would sounds
refreshing in light of the junk i've seen
on t.v.
i wonder if the "atheist wife" had something
to do with the, perhaps, unintended result,
after living a life she was missing.
Glad to hear it. Thanks.
The Stonerocks glad to be back together as a family
Cause cleanliness is next to Godlessness?
SD
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