ABC Needs to Divorce "The Ex-Wives Club"

With "The Ex-Wives Club" (XWC), ABC has taken the reality television format to a brand-new low. Not even the syndicated show "Cheaters" resorts to such cheap exploitation.

A summertime replacement series scheduled to run for 5 weeks, each episode of "XWC" features one man and one woman who have suffered through a painful divorce and are emotional wrecks (Isn't the guy going to have additional image problems after being referred to as an "ex-wife"?). With the help of the celebrity hosts, however, and some actual experts, they will rebuild their self-esteem and go on to live happily ever after, or at least until their families see them make complete fools of themselves on national television.

On the surface, it sounds as if ABC actually is doing something noble with an hour of prime time, but, in reality, this show is worse than reality disasters like "Joe Millionaire" and "The Real Wedding Crashers." The only qualifications that celebrity hosts Angie Everhart, Marla Maples and Shar Jackson seem to possess are famous ex-lovers, cute smiles and fake attitudes.

Episode 1 features a young woman named Rebecca who, after accepting a bended-knee proposal from her boyfriend, endured seven years of emotional abandonment, starting with him calling her the "B" word on their honeymoon because she pressured him to go dancing. She also played second fiddle to his classic muscle car at shows and exhibitions, Rebecca said on camera that he would introduce that car to friends and associates, but not her.

Everhart's confrontation with Rebecca's ex-husband probably will appear on "YouTube" under the heading of "Stupidest Celebrity Moment Ever." Full of herself, Angie tells him that if he ever called her the "B" word, she would react more aggressively than Rebecca did. Yeah, Angie, he looked REALLY scared at that remark; I think he only yawned once-maybe twice. Actually, the guy appeared pretty relaxed and well-spoken, walking away when Angie obviously was trying to bait him into snarling for the camera.