Ex-governor, wife land reality show on A&E network
Former Gov. Edwin Edwards and his third wife, Trina, are coming to reality television.
“Yes, it’s true!” Trina Edwards confirmed by email Friday.
A&E will air “The Governor’s Wife” beginning at 9 p.m. Feb. 27.
Later in the day, Trina Edwards went on Facebook to post: “The show is fun, positive, and light-hearted in nature ... just like us! I am not allowed to discuss specific story lines, but I will say that the show does follow our quest to conceive a child ... sorry, but that’s all I can give you now.”
The show’s creator and executive producer, Shaun Sanghani, said he is working with Leftfield Pictures and A&E, a cable television network, to produce the series.
“I am very excited about it and so is everyone else,” Sanghani said.
Edwards was governor from 1972 to 1980, 1984 to 1988 and 1992 to 1996.
He and Trina Grimes Scott married in 2011 after meeting while Edwards served time in a federal prison for his role in a bribery and extortion scheme to rig riverboat casino licenses during his fourth term as governor.
Now living in Gonzales, they have a blended family of six children, including Trina Edwards’ teenage sons, and hope to welcome a baby of their own.
The former governor is 85. His wife is 34.
Edwards’ post-prison life has been an active one. Known as a colorful character, he launched a book tour to promote his authorized biography, celebrated his 84th birthday in style with a glitzy party at the Hotel Monteleone and pursued a reality television show.
A bout with pneumonia landed him in the hospital last year, shortly after he moved into a new house, attended Gov. Bobby Jindal’s inaugural ball and went to college football’s Bowl Championship Series game.
Edwards recovered in time to preside as king over the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade.
According to A&E, “The Governor’s Wife” will feature the former governor, his wife, his wife’s sons and his daughters from a previous marriage, 62-year-old Anna and 60-year-old Victoria. Anna is described by A&E as a four-time divorcee while Victoria is said to be a former showgirl.
A&E said: “The series follows Trina as she attempts to fit into the former governor’s upscale world and busy social life while trying to get along with daughters twice her age and corral her teenage sons. Between school projects, running for president of the Homeowner’s Association, fending off skeptics who think she’s a gold digger, and thoughts of adding a baby of their own to the mix, the Edwards clan truly represent a new take on the modern family.”
The network ordered 12 episodes.
At least six reality TV shows film in Louisiana.
A&E also airs “Duck Dynasty,” which follows a West Monroe family who made it big by crafting duck calls.
Other Louisiana reality shows include:
- “Swamp People,” which tracks alligator hunters.
- “Cajun Pawn Stars,” which is set in an Alexandria pawn shop.
- “Sons of Guns,” which features a Baton Rouge gun shop.
- “Rat Bastards,” which films nutria hunters in south Louisiana.
- “Bayou Billionaires,” which showcases a Shreveport family who got rich off a natural gas find.