ABC gets in a bit of trouble

In a controversial move, Barbara Walters and "20/20" will follow 16 year old Jessica on her journey to find the best couple for her unborn child tonight. Five couples will vie for the custody of her child in what some are calling a "Reality TV"-like depiction of adoption.

"A Child's Waiting" adoption agency is sponsoring this event and according to show producers, "20/20" cameras were there since October to profile the pregnancy and selection period as each couple was literally given a half hour to convince the young mother to pick them to be the parents of her unborn son.

Each couple is diverse in profession and background. There's Steve and Kathy Fellinger, police officer and administrative assistant, respectively, who already have an adopted son named Nathan. Tina and Daniel McKeen, high school Spanish teacher and math teacher, are desperate to have a child. Adoption is their last hope to have a child as Tina has undergone several surgeries for infertility with no positive results. Karen and Tab Brown, mortgage broker and sales executive, have been married for 10 years and have a son named Trace, 8. They want a brother for Trace but their second child died shortly after his birth. Steve and Joyce Strasser, financial administrators, have an adopted daughter from the same agency. Lastly there is Beth and Matt Trnka, a warehouse supervisor and physical therapist, are high school sweethearts who had one daughter after four miscarriages and a dangerous pregnancy.

The lottery element and broadcasting of this private event has become quite controversial but ABC contests that this is strictly a profile and a news story. Walters contested that no one was winning a baby. The show is certainly expected to be intriguing because of the real life element but then again so is marriage but television has found a way to downplay that. The show will air on ABC tonight at 10:00.