Culture Shock is a South African reality television series produced by six different production companies in association with M-Net Original Productions (Season 1) and Vanilla Productions (Season 2) in which two different families swap lives for two weeks in the same way that wives swap families in the UK show Wife Swap.
The series premiered on M-Net on Sunday 18 February 2007, at 17h00. Only one season aired on M-Net but the show was revived on DStv's Mzansi Magic channel in 2012. It also aired on DStv's Mzansi Wethu channel, from Season 2. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on Mzansi Wethu on Saturday 11 May 2013, at 18h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 18 episodes in the second season.
Synopsis
Culture Shock focuses on two different families in each episode, tracking how well (or not) two members from each of the families assimilate into a family with a polar opposite cultural background.
During the first two days, the visiting family must adhere to exactly the same rules and lifestyle of the host family and the rules laid out by the member they are replacing. Each departing member of the family leaves a house manual, which explains his or her role in the family and the duties they hold.
During the second half of the show, the visiting family is allowed to establish their own rules, and their new families must adhere to these new household rules.
The families may only use the shops, transport, money, help and modes of communication that their hosts use and must live according to their household rules.
At the end of the two weeks the family members return home and a week ater the two families meet up to discuss what they thought about their swapped experiences.
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2006
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2007
South African Families Prepare For A Huge 'Culture Shock'
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2012
Culture Shock returns and wants you
Seasons
Note: only four episodes of Season 1 aired on Mzansi Magic. Season 1 did not air on Mzansi Wethu.
Season 1 (6 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 18 Feb 2007 | Finale: 25 Mar 2007 | Sundays, 17h00
Channel: Mzansi Magic | Premiere: 3 Apr 2012 | Finale: 24 Apr 2012 | Tuesdays, 19h00
Season 2 (18 episodes)
Channel: Mzansi Magic | Premiere: 1 May 2012 | Finale: 28 Aug 2012 | Tuesdays, 19h00
Channel: Mzansi Wethu | Premiere: 11 May 2013 | Finale: 7 Sep 2013 | Saturdays, 18h00