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Campoli is a Haddonfield Memorial High School graduate who found inspiration for her new reality television show rooted with her hometown girlfriends.
On Tuesday, the premier of Mister Mom will air on NBC television at 8 p.m. The show was co-created by Campoli. She has been in negotiations with NBC broadcasting for more than two years. Finally, a deal was signed earlier this year for six episodes.
The inspiration for the show spawned from e-mails shared over a period of time where Campoli and her close friends matured and settled into careers. "I was in New York City living this metropolitan life and my friends were out raising families," said Campoli. "I would get these crazy e-mails, talking about dirty diapers and minivans, while I was sharing a small apartment and trying to make it in the city." She said the intimate stories made the show possible.
"I thought the stories of being a mom and trying to handle the chaos of small children was intriguing, but then they would talk about the husbands' take," she said. "The dads seemed to be unable to grasp the amount of work and sacrifice the moms put into running the house and the kids."
She said girlfriends would e-mail her horror stories of dads taking over.
"My friends would plan a night out and put dad in charge of the house," she said. "The girls would come home, find the house a wreck, the kids hadn't been bathed, and nobody was put to bed."
Campoli's Haddon-field childhood friend, Jen Pleasant, said the show was "dead-on" when it comes to moms' workloads. "I thought this was a great idea," said Pleasant. "Kimberly really had a topic that so many women across the country could relate to...the mom workload resonates with a lot of people and I think it will be hysterical to see what happens."
Pleasant, who now lives in Virginia Beach, said the show will provide more appreciation for moms. "Kimberly knows what we've been through growing up and raising families," she said. "People will get a better understanding of a mom's daily life."
According to NBC, the show consists of dads being in charge in a reality competition. It takes some of America's busiest families and gives moms a much-deserved break. Each week, moms from two different families are surprised with a luxury vacation, "while the dads are left to manage their chaotic households."
During the week-long challenge, the two dads and their kids compete in various tasks (with the moms watching in awe on closed-circuit TV). "Families are rewarded with a greater appreciation for each other," according to NBC, "and the winning family receives a cash prize."
Campoli, who has been in several other reality shows, including "The Restaurant," said NBC has picked up Mister Mom for six episodes. "I'm really excited to see how the show does," said Campoli. "We have an option for more episodes so we'll see what happens." Campoli is co-producing the show with Jamie Bruce.
Campoli also is producing a reality stars calendar that will be available in the coming weeks. It will be distributed to major department stores around the country in August.
Contact Dan Keashen by e-mail at dkeashen@ingnews.com or call (856) 795-4920.
