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Archive through October 20, 2009

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2010 - 2: Wife Swap: Archive through October 20, 2009 users admin

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Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 11:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
:-( Yep...and he will probably blame himself for whatever happens in the future re: this incident.

Maybe it would be better for the kids to be taken away. It is just such a horrible sad sad situation no matter what happens.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 11:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Would be nicer if the family could be ordered to family counseling and have someone appointed as guardian ad litem to oversee the progress, if any, and how the kids are faring. But I haven't followed this story too closely. Maybe there is immediate danger that would justify pulling the kids away? If that child feels guilty now, just think if the family is torn apart and the kids placed in foster care and then he'd probably feel that was his fault and anything bad that happened in foster care, or to the parents or down the road.

Well reading a bit more above, of course if the parents are mentally ill enough to endanger the kids, then there has to be intervention for sure. Hope at least the mom could be counselled or taught and be adequate.. for the kids to stay out of the sytem and together, at least.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 11:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
They are charging the family with reckless endangerment of the children, which in Larimer County means they will be taken away, at least for a time. Larimer is not terribly progressive in child protection, unfortunately. They have no bias at all toward keeping families together.

I have a friend who had a ADHD child, she was out of work, couldn't afford his meds and he desperately needed counseling. When she went to the county for help, they took her son away. Eventually (after a two year court fight), they terminated her parental rights and allowed him to be adopted by someone else. This *in spite of* the county's OWN psychiatrist testifying that there was nothing wrong with the poor woman except what the *county* had done to her!! Yet they have no problem with this "dangerous" woman keeping her daughter. It's insane; and I'm frightened for any child in that system.

Holly
Member

07-22-2001

Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 11:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Holly a private message Print Post    
I saw a clip of this guy Henne with his 3 sons on what I think was Wife Swap. The little one, Falcon, who was all of 5 at the time used the eff word in a really smart-assed way, coupled with flipping the bird toward the woman (the new "wife"?) on the show. He was prompted, of course, by the dad, who obviously thinks this is rearing kids the right way.

I say throw his ass in jail for a spell and the wife's too. She should be protecting those kids from her nutter of a husband, so she's no better than he is, attention seeking fools. And really, could those boys do any worse in foster care, especially if closely monitored given the high profile they now have. I really hope both parents get the book thrown at them. And fined on top of jail time. Cannot stand these reality show idiots using their kids for fame and fortune any more. Where does it end now it's become acceptable to do so?

Beth4freedom
Member

10-24-2003

Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 11:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beth4freedom a private message Print Post    
Of the two families who were on Wife Swap with the Heenes, you can see Sheri Silver and family at
http://abc.go.com/shows/wife-swap/episode-guide/heenesilver/161743?page=1
Sheri Silver's family is described as "the psychic, performing arts-loving Silvers from Florida". Sheri Silver was on Geraldo at Large last night with one of her sons. She did seem to indicate that she thought it a hoax. (There was a youtube link, but can't find it anymore.)

The other wife, from an episode that I saw, was "home-safety expert Karen Martel". I remember that episode because the Martel family's two sons were vastly over-protected, but by end of show, Karen Martel was willing to let her 2 sons go walking in their nearby woods alone. I don't remember that the Henne family changed at all from their experience--well, obviously not.

From yahoo news, I found this:
"(Sheriff) Alderden said officials tried Saturday to persuade Mayumi Heene to go to a safe house, but she declined.

"We talked to her at length about domestic violence, about her safety, about her children's safety," the sheriff said. "We have a concern, but we didn't have enough that would allow us or child protective services to physically take the kids from that environment."

I know I read previously that there had been a 911 domestic abuse call back in February(?), I think.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
There was a call in February, but it was a hangup. When police went to investigate, they said there was some damage around Mayumi's eye, but she said she ws having "trouble with her contacts" and said she felt safe. They were still suspicious but unable to investigate further without a complaint.

I do believe he abused her. One of his previous partners said he tried to shove toilet paper down her throat during one of the Wife Swap filmings. She also declined to press charges. Sigh.

Smokey
Member

07-08-2003

Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 4:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Smokey a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Aurora. That's the article I read last night. I don't know how much is true in it.

Sure, Cwcoop! You can come over and eat leftovers. :-)

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 8:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
You know, I hadn't wanted to say it before, but just from the one Wife Swap episode I saw and what happened last week, and how controlling the Dad was on the show, and how their whole lives revolved around the Dad, I wondered about domestic abuse.

The link Aurora posted above, and repeated here is quite revealing. Read on to the comments and find a couple other people who also worked with Richard Heene:

http://gawker.com/5383858/exclusive-i-helped-richard-heene-plan-a-balloon-hoax

After watching the one Wife Swap episode I did, many months ago, I went away with a bad feeling about the kids.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 7:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Yup, definintely mentally ill. But that brings us back to how reality shows find their contestants. Obviously they aren't doing any kind of serious psychological testing or this fella would never have made it.

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 9:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Reader234 a private message Print Post    
I watched some talk show that said the dad and mom met in "acting school" -

and interesting enough, "they" are saying that the mylar balloon wouldnt have held an extra "10#'s" (considering experts first said the balloon would've held the weight of the 6 year old, who knows how reliable this "they" is!!)

For me, just watching the video of the balloon, did remind me of a mylar balloon, and because of watching MythBusters with the busting of the balloon holding up a 6 year old child - that's where my doubts were - however, on The View they highlighted the "object" seen falling from the balloon -

this incident has done damage imho - by desensitzing us to 911 calls for help - the "PUnk'd" factor...

and also, when they talk of damages - I read that the farmer who's wheat field the balloon landed in was damaged beyond repair - and it was a crop that cant be planted every year - so that family has lost a lot - and will not even be considered for reimbursement!

Ahnicka
Member

08-08-2007

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 9:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ahnicka a private message Print Post    
I read an article on Yahoo news and in the last paragraph it stated:

Heene has a profile listed on a Web site that helps people get cast in reality shows, and the producer of "Wife Swap" said it had a show in development with the Heenes but the deal is now off.

If he had a reality show in development, he was essentially going to get the tv spotlight craved, so why would he fake all of this?

Could it all be a misunderstanding or just a bad coincidence this happening at the time it did? I thought it was a hoax, but I can't see the logic anymore with him doing this if he was about to get a show, because the risk of being found out could cause the deal to be cancelled as it seems Wife Swap producers have done.

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Reader234 a private message Print Post    
I think that "they" (because it is obvious Heene didnt act alone) knew they would get publicity - it would make Heene a "household" name - for the 15 min of fame - thus generating interest in his "reality tv"

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
As I understood it, they had already turned him down on the reality show; but information is just flying around a lot without being verified.

The experts who originally calculated that the balloon would carry about 80 pounds were given misinformation - apparently by dad. Now that they have the balloon and can provide exact measurements, it's clear that it could not have carried the child.

It would have been near impossible to get measurements from the balloon as it was flying.

Grooch
Member

06-16-2006

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grooch a private message Print Post    
I think he and Jon Gosslin should move in together and leave the rest of us alone.

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Reader234 a private message Print Post    
I think you are right on every count Kar!!

I think he was turned down, that's why he went to this "publicity stunt" - and *duh of course dad would give them balloon misinformation - -

I guess because of the internet and Mythbusters, I tend to be more cynical - but like the article from NPR - I'm glad that they erred on the side of caution - for the child's sake -

Brenda1966
Member

07-03-2002

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Brenda1966 a private message Print Post    
That's really horrible about the farmer's crops. Maybe some lawyer needs to step in and file suit, not that it would help the farmer in the short term.

Kearie
Member

07-21-2005

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:28 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kearie a private message Print Post    
My understanding was that he was pitching an idea to producers to have his own family in a New on-going series about HIS life and family.

He was turned down.

Along with this, his family was approved of doing another "Wife Swap" episode. Since this hoax, Wife Swap backed out of the plan. No episode for the Heene's.

Maybe I should say, because of the hoax, Wife Swap backed out.

(Just my understanding.)

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
I work in the ag industry....I am sure the farmers have crop insurance that will cover this and they will be just fine.

Kittyab
Member

07-15-2005

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kittyab a private message Print Post    
Gosh this thread has more posts when the show was being aired lol!

I hope its back on soon.

Ahnicka
Member

08-08-2007

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 10:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ahnicka a private message Print Post    
Thanks Kearie. I didn't realize the article was referring to another "Wife Swap" episode. That now makes sense.

Kearie
Member

07-21-2005

Monday, October 19, 2009 - 11:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kearie a private message Print Post    
You're very welcome Ahnicka

Dogdoc
Member

09-29-2001

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 5:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dogdoc a private message Print Post    
If the farmer has crop insurance he will be fine but the insurance company should go after the Heenes. Escapee, are most crop insurance policies state run?

Ahnicka
Member

08-08-2007

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 9:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ahnicka a private message Print Post    
Does anyone know if there's any real evidence against the Heene's? I'm not sure if I missed an article or something, but everything seems extremely circumstancial and not even really that. The former employee of Heene saying Richard wanted to do a reality show involving a balloon just doesn't seem like good evidence to me; that could be a coincidence.

I'm not defending the Heene's, the dad has a very scary/angry look to me, he always looks mad and something about his eyes are very shifty or something, but I'm just not seeing the evidence.

So, he and the wife met in acting school, he wants to be a celeb, he shopped a show around, and wanted to do something involving a balloon before, but to me that doesn't add up to evidence. Is there something I'm missing?

Lexie_girl
Member

07-30-2004

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 9:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lexie_girl a private message Print Post    
Ahnicka, from what I'm gathering, through a series of interviews with "associates" of the Heenes, they had been planning this for weeks.

Ahnicka
Member

08-08-2007

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 10:02 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ahnicka a private message Print Post    
Thanks Lexie! But have they stated what proof they have from these associates besides what the former employee said and the show shopping? I'm waiting on more substantial evidence, because I'd think they would have told us what it is by now if it was concrete or if they received a confession from any member of the Heene family.