Mainers invited to participate in ‘Wife Swap’

“Wife Swap” wants to come to Maine and the show’s casting producer is looking for local families to feature on upcoming episodes of the ABC hit.

Each week, two families with very different values are chosen to take part in a two-week long challenge in which they exchange husbands, children and lives. Don’t worry, there’s no hanky panky with the other wife’s man.

The purpose of the experiment is to learn not only about each other’s families, but for the wives to learn about themselves and what’s really important.

“In the first week of the swap, the wives move in with their new family and adopt their very different lifestyle,” according to the show’s Web site.

The wives are required to follow a manual written by the “departing wife” that outlines the rules of the house.

Hopefully no one gets too comfortable though, because life gets turned upside down in the second week when the new wife gets to lay down the law by introducing their own set of rules.

Sound like something you might be up for? What if your family got $20,000 when the episode airs?

If you’re interested, be sure to log onto www.bangornews.com and click on the Reality Bytes blog link to find out how to apply.

Still unsure? Tune in at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC to see a few episodes before you make up your mind.

Speaking of blogs and the Internet, I have an entertaining bit of news for “American Idol” fans looking for something a little different.

A southern Maine theater group has slated a reading of “American Idol” Internet postings.

The Insidious Theatre Company of Portland was inspired by the “angry debates that raged on Internet message boards” regarding this season’s “Idol,” according to a recent press release from the group.

“The Internet postings that I read shook me to my very core,” Insidious co-founder Lisa Muller-Jones stated in the release. “The raw emotion, profound passion and excessive use of exclamation marks in these posts cannot be denied.”

She also stated that excessive knowledge of “Idol” isn’t necessary, because the Web posts stand on their own merit, but are intended for a mature audience.

The one-night-only performance is sponsored by Brian Boru and will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 30, at the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center at 76 Congress St. in Portland.

Proceeds will benefit the arts center and an $8 donation is suggested. Seating is limited, so call 775-5568, Ext. 103 or visit www.stlawerencearts.org to reserve a spot.