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Having a family is a lot like fishing, don’t you think? You just kind of stick your feelers in there and if you get a bite, you get what you reel in. Except in life there’s no throwing anyone back if you don’t like your chromosome-donator/family member/etc. Well, at least most of the time there isn’t. Anyway … I’m going to take this poor analogy and extrapolate on a little e-mail that swam into my inbox earlier this week. The e-mail wanted my help luring some families for a TV show. I took the bait, and now, well, you’re chomping at it too. Enjoy!

Question: How can my family be on TV?

Answer: Take the bait and switch your wife!

That’s right, the e-mail was from Wife Swap, that Monday evening show on ABC where two families with different values take part in a two-week challenge wherein the wives exchange husbands, children and lives. Rest assured the wives don’t exchange bedrooms and they don’t stay switched indefinitely. In the first week, the “pseudo-wife” lives according to the real wife’s rules about parenting, shopping, housework, budgets, etc. In the second, the “pseudo-wife” gets to set her own rules for her new “household” and quality entertainment ensues. I’m gathering these nuggets from their Web site because honestly I’ve never seen the show. That is, I’ve never seen the American version.

You don’t care about the premise though, do you? You just want the details! Well, the casting producer is looking for families for season four, which will air in the fall. The e-mail from the casting producer said the show is looking for traveling circus and carnival families in Louisiana. Nope. This isn’t a belated, fishy “Poisson d’Avril” prank. Turns out they’re casting nets across the continental U.S. to find a traveling circus/carnival family, not just singling out Louisiana. (Whew. I was worried about our reputation.) So your family isn’t in the circus? Hey, that’s OK. You can still apply to be on the show! The basic requirements are: there have to be two parents who live together under the same roof who have at least one child between 6 and 18 who also lives in the house full-time. See, you don’t even technically have to have/be a bona fide wife to swap. The show is also looking for parents who have a “united front” and are equally passionate and in agreement with the way they’re living and parenting. “The beauty about this show is you learn about so many types of lifestyles,” says Heather Teta, one of the show’s casting producers. “Anything goes and we’re excited to start chatting with families from all over the country.”

So, you know, if you want to nominate your family or have a “unique” family in mind to suggest, click here for more information, or e-mail casting producer Abby Koocher at abby.koocher@rdfnewyork.com. Per the online application, you’ll to have to explain who wears the pants and why, and if you’ll have any problem being judgmental and opinionated. If you’re picked for the show, you receive an undisclosed honorarium and if you help them find a family, you receive an undisclosed finder’s fee. And of course, you’ll represent our fine state. Too bad I’m not 18 anymore and have moved out of the nest. Us Louisiana Frayers have always been a circus of delight. Boy do I mean circus, contortionism and all (love you mom and dad)! Thanks to Heather and Abby with Wife Swap for sending me the e-mail of the year and for fielding my questions.