CarolMK

Can't wait to see Colin Farrell..agree with the others he did a great job in Crazy Heart as a country singing cowboy. Vince Vaugn is a favorite, too....looking forward to the new season...next summer?

I saw an older episode the other day where apparently Jill had been up at night delivering 2 babies, and the other 3 older girls were away on some mission thing, so Michelle is in the kitchen cooking breakfast. She makes omelets for everybody, one at a time, serving them on paper plates. At some point Jim Bob offers to help, but when he tries to fold an omelet, Michelle freaks out to him that it will be gooey in the middle. Geez, Michelle, you should be glad he offered to help! Of course the side bar says it take 36 eggs to feed the Duggars every morning, which I don't believe at all...and why now make a couple of the really huge 12 egg omelets in a gigantic pan and then cut them up, or frittata in the oven? Making 20 omelets one at a time would easily run over an hour . No wonder she can't take care of her kids without help from the girls. I wonder if Hannie has been promoted to kitchen duty yet.She's had a break so far, being 9, I'm sure the other girls got started by age 6 or 7.

In all honesty, I see Ben as much more likeable and personable that say, Joseph. Either Joseph is shy or socially awkward. He's going to be 20 in January, same as that Joshua was when he and Anna got married, but we don't know much about him except that he recently went to Alert camp and I think he helps John David in the towing business. Joseph seems a lot more like a kid than Ben and I don't see how TLC could make much of a storyline out of him getting married.

This whole season seems like a snoozer to me, especially after watching the last 2. I am wondering if Josh is getting a winner's edit.

Haven't quite a few of the Duggar's friends adopted kids? One that comes to mind is the Vanderhoffs..they adopted a bunch from one of the African countries, I think. The Duggars have said now several times that they in fact are praying about adoption, though I haven't heard anything lately. I've never heard the Bates say this, and in fact I think at one point Kelly said in an interview that she thought her time of having babies was now over , or something to that effect. I don't think Michelle will ever admit that she can't have any more kids, even after she goes through menopause.

Regarding Ben and college, it was shown right when Ben was first on the show (the episode where he asked Jessa to court) that he was at the time attending college on the actual campus of Northwest Arkansas college (or whatever it's called, sorry I can't remember it exactly) and he was also running a side business fixing windshields. He had to swtich to doing online classes once he moved in with the Duggars since it's 4 hours away.I suspect at some point that Ben may go into business with his dad since he too fixes windshields. Jessa might really enjoy living in the Hot Springs area, too , a distance but not impossible drive away from her family. By the way, I can't remember where I found this, but I'm pretty sure Mrs. Seewald (Guinn?) is a year older than her husband..they married when he was 19 and she was 20. So his parents probably don't see him as too young to get married.

One thing I have noticed about Josh and Anna is that it seems that since they moved to Washington, there has been a deliberate attempt for them to slow down on the baby-making. While still in Arkansas, she had the Duggar girls to rely on and help her out quite a bit of the time, but since they've been in Washington, they've been largely on their own. I know Jana and Joy stayed with them this past summer for awhile and there have been other visits, but it's not the same as it used to be. I don't think Josh wants to see Anna turn into Michelle. Also, I caught an older episode where Josh and Anna drive down to see Priscilla and David right after their baby Paul was born. Anna comments when she was watching the baby in addition to her two (she was about 7 months pregnant with Marcus ) that it's a lot of work and she wonders how she's going to do this when she has 6 kids. Moving away from the Duggar parents may have given them the idea that they can truly choose to live their own lives and make their own decisions (so long as they're going along with the tv show).

Unfortunately for Jessa, she can't keep her wedding private. The Duggar parents allow filming of practically every aspect of their lives,and all courtships, weddings and new babies being born are huge ratings for the show. Jill's weddding was TLC's highest rated show in the last 4 years for the network. Having the option of keeping a wedding private won't be possible for any of the older kids, say from Joy on up, unless they decide to wait maybe another 10 years when interest in the show finally wantes and prompts cancellation. Even though when the boys marry, it might not be a huge big deal like Jill's wedding was, I'm sure it will warrant a very special episode no matter who it is

I hope Jessa's wedding has a different tone to it. And if this show manages to stay on the air for another 20 years (it's been on about 10 so far, or is it 11 since the first special?) will see see all of the remaining 17 children at home go through the courtship ritual, side hugs. no first kiss until wedding day , finger foods at reception crap? Or will TLC manage to think of something else? I just realized, in 20 years, Jim Bob and Michelle will be pushing 70. Will they have the same hairstyles, same clothes, same exact standards about their kids? We know how they feel about college and any sort of higher education and how they absolutely won't let any of their kids leave home to live on their own. It's never been said, but it seems like in this group of Gothard followers, if anyone were to leave, they'd be cut off and shunned, not allowed to go and visit their parents and siblings anyway. It's Jim Bob and Michelle's way, all the way, or it's the highway. As long as the show is on the air, none of the Duggar kids will leave voluntarily. I feel that a few may remain home until their 30's...and if it happens to be Josie and Jordyn, they'll be caring for their parents in their old age. Hopefully by then the filming will be long over, because that is just such a sad thought.

My DVR picked up an older episode where Jessa and Jinger volunteered for a local coffee shop to raise money for the orphans in Guatamala. Jessa actually seemed to enjoy herself that day, she is outgoing and I can't see her sitting around the house all day while Ben is either at school or at work. Granted, Jessa is probably now too famous to work as a coffee barista. It would be nice to see her do some kind of work, though..she seems to like to interact with people. I wouldn't worry about how Jessa and Ben will manage financially. I'm sure TLC will now be giving them their own paycheck, plus the episodes that have already aired must have included some type of paycheck for Ben, since he isn't part of the Duggar Family trust (yet). I've love to know if Jessa had really thought for one minute to go ahead and elope with Ben, discussed that possibility with Jim Bob, who managed to cut a deal with TLC to get another season of her courtship/engagement/wedding and give Jessa a nice share of the profits. She seems like one of the kids who was most likely to rebel, in her own way. Even if Jim Bob didn't approve of Ben 100%, it seems like Jessa was dead set on marrying him anyway.

So much has already been said, but some things 1. The first Kiss...I think Derrick did the dip away from the camera deliberately so TLC and all of America couldn't actually see it on film. It was his FU to JIm Bob and Michelle and it made me respect him more. The Duggars go on so much about the damned side hugs and first kiss, he was probably sick of it..and I think secretly that Jill was in on it too. 2. Glad there were only balloons and no trashing of Derrick's car.....was it his car or a rental? anyone know where they went on their honeymoon? 3. The wedding planner must have been pretty inexperienced if she let the ice cream melt. Also, I agree with everyone else a snack and punch reception just looks cheap. But since they can't do any dancing, and no booze is served, I guess the reception is just an hour long affair after the ceremony. Still, no tables and chairs looks cheap. 4. I choked up seeing Cathy in the wheelchair with oxygen, but glad she made it to the wedding. I think we heard she is now in remission and it was announced only recently? I have a feeling Cathy's health may very well have led to Derrick and Jill getting pregnant right away, so Cathy could be there for her grandchild. 5. Jim Bob was over the top in his love and affection for Jill but I do think his feelings are real. You can never tell with Michelle. 6. I think Jana is quietly observing her sisters' courtships and marriages and will hold out until Jim Bob finds her a really spectacular guy. She isn't going to settle for the first one who shows interest, probably has actually turned down one or two already, off -camera.

I can see in those old episodes, they were really starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel for ideas. In MIchelle's birthday makeover surprise, the last 10 minute of it were devoted to the 5 younger kids getting sick and vomiting several times. Nobody wants to see that! Also, it featured a trip to the dentist for the same 5 kids. i think Jim Bob realized his show was proably on the verge of going down to semi-annual specials if he didn't hurry up and arrange marriages for a couple of his kids. Maybe he really has been trying to find potential partners for Jana and John David but neither of them are interested in either marriage in general or the people he's been having them meet.

I can only hope for the best for these two. Maybe they wil surprise us all and live happily ever after. It would probably be best for them to move away from the Duggar compound, even if it's back to the Hot Springs area. Jessa's future inlaws seem to really like her, he has sisters she could hang out with sometimes and Ben could continue on in college there and go into business with his dad. Anything seems better than being Jim Bob's handyman.

I saw an old episode the other day where the family was working on the Stoney Brook house that Jill and Derrick now live in. It was really an eyesore when Jim Bob bought it, so I bet he did get it at a fairly low price, there was so much work that had to be done to it. The way it looks now, I'm sure at some point professionals were brought in to finish it. It also referenced how John David was doing some cleanup on a foreclosed property in which they bank was giving him both the property and a house along with it. It 's been rumored that John David has been living in this house, but as far as I know, we've never seen it on the show. Does anyone know more about this house?

Regarding the buddies: Supposedly Josh had Joseph and John David had Josiah, but i think Jana had both of them, really.

I read on another site that Josiah was at ALERT camp for most of 2014, maybe he isn't just a camper, but also a counselor like Jana was to the Journey to the Heart retreats (or group leader). He was there for Jill's wedding, we saw him briefly with Jill picking up Josh and Anna at the airport. He also was in some recent pictures on the Duggars Official FB page so he is back again for Jessa's wedding. I wonder if he is going to be featured on the show in the future, though...last thing I remember him in was his homeschool graduation.

I'm not sure why Kelly was voted out either. But on the Survivor FB board, all the folks over there are bitching about how they dont' want to see men kissing. Sheesh, what is the big deal? I think the emphasis was on all of the couples who were together reuniting.

Does anyone think that Jana may be home for another 5 years? If so, she'll be almost 30. The thought of that really makes me sad. But by that time, nobody should need a "buddy" anymore. Jim Bob will have to be trying to figure out careers for all of his sons, all of whom will be teens at that point. I have noticed that both Jenny and Jordyn were 6 when their sister-moms got married. Josie will be 6 in a little over a year from now. Could the age of the little girls have something to do with the fact that the Duggars kept their older girls home longer than anyone expected them to be there, considering how Michelle was married at age 17?

I saw that. So they invited this woman and her kids for lunch and she ends up bringing all the food? uh, okay. Also, I saw another filler episode from about 3 years ago when the Hartanos were staying there....the kids from Indonesia. I have wondered if either Jonathan or Jennifer Hartano would ever get involved with Jana or John David. Despite being from Indonesia, they follow the same religion as the Duggars and they speak perfect English..and both also enjoyed giving the little kids lots of attention. I think both of them may have now graduated from college though, so perhaps we won't see them again.

Wasn't the Bates first grandchild due today? Is there any update from the family about how they're doing now?

Watching the China/Japan episodes recently, as well as the England/Ireland/Israel ones a week or so ago , I can't believe how disrespectful the Duggars are toward other cultures, especially Jim Bob. He was on the streets in China practically demanding that somebody direct him and speak English to him...sorry Jim Bob, most people there don't know it. Between making fun of the food in every country they visited, and grilling a street performer in Scotland who admitted he didn't believe in God, I have to wonder why TLC bothered to spend the money for these people to travel. Clearly they don't want to be around anybody who doesn't think and act the way that they do.

Well, all of the older girls had to become buddies by the time they were 5 or 6. I think Jana has been the one who's done it the longest and with the most kids (4 buddies total..Josiah, Justin, Jackson and Josie)..Jessa and Jinger had each of the twins when there were 6 and 5, Jill was Joy's buddy when she turned 6. The youngest 5 never had to be buddies,unless Jackson sort of acted as a buddy to Josie, but I highly doubt it. Hannie, Jennifer, Jordyn and Josie will never have to have buddies to take care of and will have an easier time in years to come...hopefully most of their older brothers will be out of the house by the time these four enter their middle teens and they won't have to cook and do laundry for 20 people. Michelle said in her first book by the time her kids were too old for a buddy, they were then buddies to whoever was next in line. It was always the oldest 4 girls though, who forever had a buddy. When I watched the China special recently, Jessa had Jordyn by the hand the entire time, as did Jill with Jenny and Jana with Josie. I don't remember seeing Jinger constantly holding Hannie's hand though, maybe since she was already about 7-8 then?

I can't see a spin off lasting more than about 8 episodes for Jill and Derrick. There just isn't that much going on with them that we don't already know. And for heaven's sake, Derrick, please don't quit your job! Look what happened to Jon Gosselin. Kate insisted he quit his job with the state of PA that offered decent benefits to become a reality start, and then 2 years and a McMansion later, she tosses him aside and he wasn't able to find much in the way of work afterwards...last I read he was working as a waiter at some pub in the middle of nowhere, PA, living in a small home without his kids. Don't let the lure of the easy cash lure you away and turn you into a Jim Bob #2.

Yes, Jim Bob is indeed pimping his kids out for anything and everything he can for ratings, whether it's a courtship, wedding, wisdom teeth removal, fun day trip, birthday, all expenses paid vacations around the world, even falling off the stage and sustaining serious injury (Jason). A real classy guy, that Jim Bob. Although maybe in regards to the courtship/weddings, he has agreed to split the payment for those 50/50 with the lucky couple.

It's our youngest daughter, Josie. With Michelle's baby voice, she's a little tough to understand.