'Supernanny' Hopes to Swoop Down on D.C.

If you need help with your ornery offspring -- or, this being Washington, if your nannies are frazzled with managing the children you spawned -- the folks behind ABC's "Supernanny" want to capture your family in all its unkempt glory.

And then reveal it to the world.

The fourth season of the show already has booked four families from across the country, including Las Vegas and San Francisco. But casting producer Nick Gilhool wants to focus the season in and around the nation's capital. It would be ideal to "cast the remaining nine families in the Washington area," he says.

You have until Friday to volunteer for this madness by filling out an application online at http://www.supernanny.us.com or calling 877-626-6984. Be prepared to send in a family photo and get specific about what you need help with. After the application pool is whittled down, a crew interviews each family and films a mini-documentary that helps in the selection process. Once chosen, each household spends about two weeks in production.

Opening your front door to a television crew as well as millions of viewers and delving into the details of kids who talk back or don't listen may not be appealing initially. But Gilhool says it boils down to a "pay now or pay later" philosophy for those who want to nip problematic patterns in the bud.

"Parenting is such an important dialogue, and people take it very seriously," says Gilhool, 36, who has a 3-month-old. "It often boils down to the fact that we're so busy and spread thin in our work and lives that it's hard to have the energy to be a purposeful parent."

Star Jo Frost, the 21st century's answer to Mary Poppins, isn't in the business of making a spectacle of people. Instead of shining a light on difficult children for five-minute segments or shipping them off to boot camps, Frost gets at the root of parenting problems by observing a family's interaction for a week, pointing out missteps and offering advice on correcting unruly behavior.

The show's wish list of issues to cover includes single fathers, teens with bad attitudes or school woes, parents whose jobs include a lot of travel and families who have adopted children.

Also on high order are sports-obsessed moms and dads and career-obsessed couples with nannies, Gilhool says.

"Jo Frost is a former nanny herself with 15 years of experience," he says. "She has a lot of wisdom to impart for that kind of delicate situation."

If you already have children under your spell, Gilhool says there could be a different opportunity for you. ABC is on the lookout for a male nanny, teacher, doctor or any other kind of family specialist who spends his career dealing with children and can impart parenting wisdom in a format similar to "Supernanny." Details are at the "Supernanny" Web site (click "Search for Childcare Expert").

"It's for a separate show and stems from the idea that there's more room in the public space about parenting," Gilhool says. "Even if parents rely on any given book or Web sites, we'd love to hear from them."

-- Akeya Dickson