Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Waterloo Merchant on Wife Swap!

Tune in to ABC this Friday, November 7th, at 8:00 pm to check out Shoparooni owners Marlee and Steve Brown on Wife Swap!

Steve Brown is a world-renowned yo-yo artist and his exploits are all over YouTube, but this is one of the first time you can check out his skills during prime-time.

Having seen Wife Swap several times and knowing the Browns, I can tell you that Friday should make for a very interesting hour of reality television.

If you want to check out the episode in the neighborhood, there will be a viewing party at the Boardwalk, 16011 Waterloo! Pop in to Shoparooni before the show at 7:00 to check out the Plushform custom toy show.

The Plain Dealer also covered the Browns on Wife Swap. This is what they said:

'Wife Swap' sends Marlee Brown of Cleveland Heights off to Idaho
Sunday, November 02, 2008

The Brown household in Cleveland Heights runs on free-spirited energy.

Dad Steve is a wizard with a yo-yo and loves his velvet Elvis that hangs over the couch. Mom Marlee is a graphic designer who pads around the house in owl slippers. Because they are parents who primarily work from home, there isn't a lot of clock watching.

The Neighbor family in Idaho believes in rigid schedules, eat-off-the-floor cleanliness and being tops in every endeavor.

What happens when a member of the Neighbor clan comes to live with the Browns? Find out on "Wife Swap," at 8 p.m. Friday on WEWS Channel 5.

On the ABC reality show, wives from dissimilar families swap homes for two weeks. (Get your mind out of the gutter; the wives sleep in guest rooms.)

During the first week, the wife tries to fit into her new family's routines. For the second week, each mom establishes new rules for her substitute family.

"Wife Swap" producers contacted the Browns because the show was looking for a family with a performer. Steve, a yo-yo master, was recommended by the man who runs an international yo-yo competition. Although Steve, 32, and Marlee, 29, had never watched "Wife Swap," they signed up.

"It was one of those, 'Why not?' moments," said Marlee, a native of South Euclid.

The Browns own Shoparooni, a gift boutique in Cleveland's North Collinwood neighborhood. Their family includes Zane Rouse, 12, and 3-year-old Maverick. Toddler Trixie was not included in the episode, which was shot in the spring.

Jessica Neighbor, 36, the spit-and-polish mom, clearly felt that the Brown house and its occupants weren't clean or organized enough. How did Steve react?

"With admirable restraint and the patience of Job," he said. "She was very scrutinizing."

Marlee Brown stayed at the Neighbor home with dad Alan, 48, daughter Kassidy, 11, and son Kaden, 9. Marlee had to manage the kids' schedule of activities, sports and chores. She realized both families want their children to be successful but approach that goal differently.

While they didn't agree with the Neighbors' approach to child-rearing, going on "Wife Swap" made their family stronger by letting them see it through outsiders' eyes. Steve said he and his stepson, Zane, became closer as they shared duties in Marlee's absence.

Marlee would do it all over again.

"It was a really cool life experience," she said.

Check out the full story at: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1225528487214040.xml&coll=2&thispage=2

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