Fallen soap vixen Faith Fairfield creates high drama after moving in with her straitlaced sister and her family.

Faith, in debt to her former studio because she "accidentally" set fire to a set the day she was fired, needs money, so Hope hires her as her assistant. A happy homemaker she isn't.

Hope gets a job as a columnist for the local newspaper, and Faith wrangles one, too, but they're not exactly "cubbie buddies": Faith is driving Hope crazy. Meanwhile, Charley and the kids must take take up the slack at home. Their first project: making pecan sandies.

When Justin is caught smoking and Hayley steals frogs that are ready to be dissected, Hope starts to worry that everyone will think she's a bad mother. This fear comes to life when Faith tries to rent an apartment from a lesbian landlord by passing herself and Hope as lovers. When their picture ends up in the newspaper with the headline ""local lesbians,"" Hope's bid for three time mother of the year is in jeopardy.

Faith, in her wacky efforts to impress an attractive single dad (Nick Lachey)tries to make him think that she's also a single parent by claiming her young nephew, Justin, is really her son.

Thanksgiving day brings up memories of ten years ago, when Faith hosts a holiday dinner at her Hollywood apartment. She goes to great lengths to impress her parents, Jack and Mary Jo, including posing as Brian Austin Green's girlfriend. Happiness turns to sadness, however, when the family learns of Mary Jo's secret: she is dying.

Part 1

Hope's life goes out of control when Faith submits Hope as a ""Wife Swap"" candidate. Hope gets switched with Cynthia (special guest-star Wynonna Judd.) Cynthia is a rich, spoiled, self-indulgent, Manhattanite. When Hope gets used to the fabulous life, Cynthia finds housework abhorrent -- but not nearly as abhorrent as living with Hope's sister, Faith.