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Small Talk: The Polygamous Cul-de-Sac

Abra Came

By Abra Came
in Sister Wives

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Gramto6

Gramto6

(edited)
3 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I can think of one other reality show that you watch (not on TLC). Cooking shows like Valerie Bertinelli's recently cancelled show, and competitions are considered reality shows, like "Guy's Grocery Games", "Top Chef" and Gordon Ramsay's shows, as are things like "Dancing with the Stars" and even "Alone", which might be the most real reality show out there.

I don't watch "Dancing" that much anymore but I do watch many of the others mentioned above.

I think shows like this one are actually not doing as badly as it might look because they are so low budget they can survive on that basis. The cost/profit ratio still works out in their favor.

Actually the other show is My Big Fat Fabulous Life. Another show that started with a good premise, and once the true personality of Whitney started coming out it became more and more unwatchable.

I used to also watch The Little Couple but as the kids got older and so spoiled it too became unwatchable and I felt bad for the kids. I wasn't sad to see that one go off the air.  The kids need to live in the real world not in some tv-land "magic" world.

Edited by Gramto6
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mythoughtis

mythoughtis

(edited)

Some reality shows seem more ‘real’ the first season before everyone involved figures out how to script it.   After that it’s just nonsense.  For the one based on families or friends, the relationships seem to become destroyed as the seasons go on.  Or unknown scandals are found out. 
 

The Little Couple figured this out and left. I quit watching the Roloffs and Whitney because it was so disastrous.  In terms of this show, I think it was scripted through the middle years, but became ‘real’ again when Christine left. The monologue crazy-eyed Kody was real.  Janelle’s exasperation with him was real- because she’s never gone that in all the prior seasons. However the  Robyn- Kody-Meri picnic table talk was scripted because Meri wanted him to have to admit on camera that he didn’t want to be married to her. 

Edited by mythoughtis
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Absolom

Absolom

1 hour ago, mythoughtis said:

Some reality shows seem more ‘real’ the first season before everyone involved figures out how to script it.   After that it’s just nonsense.  For the one based on families or friends, the relationships seem to become destroyed as the seasons go on.  Or unknown scandals are found out. 
 

The Little Couple figured this out and left.

The LIttle Couple ended because of a legal dispute.  Bill and Jen wanted to keep the show going.  

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Orcinus orca

Orcinus orca

1 minute ago, Gramto6 said:

I had forgotten about that! But honestly, I think ending the show was really best for the children in the long run.

I do, too, although I had the highest respect for Jen in her medical career.  Seeing her in action was very inspiring and I would have loved to have worked with her professionally.  

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GeeGolly

GeeGolly

My reality show watching has dwindled because thinking of starting a new one feels exhausting. I'm down to one - don't judge me - Survivor is the only one I watch. I haven't watched SW since last year, although I read any article I happen by. And I read here.

I don't think realty TV will ever go away though, because they're so cheap to produce. 

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Yeah No

Yeah No

12 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

Actually the other show is My Big Fat Fabulous Life. Another show that started with a good premise, and once the true personality of Whitney started coming out it became more and more unwatchable.

I know you watch that - I was referring to "Guy's Grocery Games".

I think the confusion is with identifying a reality show as only including "candid reality shows", which follow people around in their daily lives when it also includes competitions and many other types of shows like game shows, talk shows, home makeover shows, "cook and stir" shows like "Pioneer Woman", others like "Survivor", "Alone", "Pawn Stars", "Storage Wars" and even "What not to Wear". Candid reality shows are just one sub-genre of a much broader genre.

In other words, a reality show is anything supposedly unscripted. I didn't make up the definition, it's how it's described elsewhere too. 🤷‍♀️

 

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Orcinus orca

Orcinus orca

I don't think even "unscripted reality shows" are truly unscripted.  I'm sure the producers have some sort of plan in mind and I can see them saying "oooo, oooo,, oooo, that was interesting.  Do it again but with X instead of X". 

Let's face it, it's all a load of BS.  Nobody I know would ever be in these shows or act like these people act.  Plus do something "interesting" that would be worthy of filling up an hour of film fit to view.  

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Yeah No

Yeah No

1 hour ago, Orcinus orca said:

I don't think even "unscripted reality shows" are truly unscripted.  I'm sure the producers have some sort of plan in mind and I can see them saying "oooo, oooo,, oooo, that was interesting.  Do it again but with X instead of X". 

Let's face it, it's all a load of BS.  Nobody I know would ever be in these shows or act like these people act.  Plus do something "interesting" that would be worthy of filling up an hour of film fit to view.  

Exactly, that's why I said "supposedly" unscripted. Some may not technically be scripted but at least producer manipulated and fabricated, like "Married at First Sight", "My Big Fat Fabulous Life", among others. Although with this show there's only so much of that they can do because so much of the family is on social media that the audience would figure out anything that far off from the truth from other sources. With that many people involved there's only so much an NDA can do to make them keep quiet about it.

 

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Orcinus orca

Orcinus orca

2 hours ago, LilyD said:

I believe that some shows like SW truly started off as genuine reality. However, there’s only so much that can be broadcast as interesting when it comes to ordinary life. Even when “ordinary” means 1 husband, 3 wives and 13 kids.  

Dishes, laundry. homework, sibling spats.  They refused to go into the religion or the intimate situations so the rest is pretty much daily life for the rest of the world minus Doofus.

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Gramto6

Gramto6

2 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

I have a strong feeling you will like it. If you can watch previous seasons, start from season 1, (the U.S. version of course as there's also an Australian version). It's on the History Channel.

Yes, it sounds like I would. I googled it and it looks interesting. I am going to see if Amazon Prime has it to watch.  I'm in need of something new to watch.

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Yeah No

Yeah No

10 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

Yes, it sounds like I would. I googled it and it looks interesting. I am going to see if Amazon Prime has it to watch.  I'm in need of something new to watch.

I hope you find it. It's such a breath of fresh air compared to all the depressing crap on many reality shows. Anyone that loves nature, can relate to being alone and appreciates perseverance amid challenges and obstacles might appreciate it.

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BAForever

BAForever

(edited)

Need to chime in on Little People Big World- Had never seen it before and binge watched during early covid On Demand. What a find! In a short month, I discovered lazy AF twin sons, an ignored younger son, a hoarder mom, a group of slobs, horrible pet owners, a tyrant/dreamer dad who either had an affair or almost, it was divine. (Molly somehow escaped). I think it's because I could watch so many seasons in a short time span that everything was magnified. Now that was a show!

Wonder if I had done that with Sister Wives how I'd feel about them all. I'm sure I'd still hate Kody and Robyn.

Edited by BAForever
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ChiCricket

ChiCricket

1 hour ago, AZChristian said:

Interesting article about the Browns' past and current financial "decisions."

Interesting article.  This was the end of it.

"From losing his son a few years ago, to the dissolution of his marriages to Janelle, Christine and Meri, to the painful disconnect with his children, to his current financial ruin and, lastly, rumors that the network may be losing interest in the show, Kody has lost everything he once held dear.

 If TLC doesn't hold out hope for Kody's redemption, he may be forced to find a new trade or additional ways to earn a living. With three of his four wives gone, it's quite possible that his final "honey" will leave with the last of the money." 😁

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Elizzikra

Elizzikra

1 hour ago, AZChristian said:

Interesting article about the Browns' past and current financial "decisions."

It is, though I don't find it particularly useful to know that most of their debt was from credit cards. Credit cards are just a method of payment; it doesn't tell me what they spend their money on. My husband and I put every expense we can on our credit card - gas, electric bill, groceries, daughter's college expenses - because we have a good deal on credit card points for travel. We also pay it in full every month because my husband is a wonderfully responsible man who keeps us within budget and makes sure we actually use those credit card points. I know that the Browns have a fair amount of frivolous spending, but I would still love to know more details of their finances. How much do they really make and what do they spend their money on, particularly now that many of the children are grown and living, apparently, independently?

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Yeah No

Yeah No

3 hours ago, Elizzikra said:

It is, though I don't find it particularly useful to know that most of their debt was from credit cards. Credit cards are just a method of payment; it doesn't tell me what they spend their money on. My husband and I put every expense we can on our credit card - gas, electric bill, groceries, daughter's college expenses - because we have a good deal on credit card points for travel. We also pay it in full every month because my husband is a wonderfully responsible man who keeps us within budget and makes sure we actually use those credit card points. I know that the Browns have a fair amount of frivolous spending, but I would still love to know more details of their finances. How much do they really make and what do they spend their money on, particularly now that many of the children are grown and living, apparently, independently?

What I got from that article is that they were running up debt on their credit cards because they were living beyond their means and didn't have the income to support themselves or pay the debt, which is why some of them filed for bankruptcy. I think in one place it said that while they had an income of $5,000 a month at one point but their spending was at least $1,000 over that. So it hints at overspending, but we really don't know if that's why they ran up the debt or because they were facing true hardship. Also, we don't know how much of that was a calculated strategy because some unscrupulous people find a way to use bankruptcy as a "get out of jail free card" because if done properly it can cancel out credit card debt.

I think what bothered me the most about that article was using the incorrect "blind-sighted" in place of the correct "blindsided"!

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AZChristian

AZChristian

11 hours ago, Elizzikra said:

My husband and I put every expense we can on our credit card - gas, electric bill, groceries, daughter's college expenses - because we have a good deal on credit card points for travel. We also pay it in full every month . . .

We do the same thing.  No kids in college, but when we used to attend church we would even put our tithe payment on a credit card.  THOSE points added up quickly!!!

I seem to remember several years ago looking up the bankruptcy records.  Christine's included a LARGE debt to Sears (appliances?).  I think - especially after the first bankruptcy - they may have seen it as a way to overspend, then write the bills off.  

I once had a co-worker who had a good job, as did her husband.  When they decided to file for bankruptcy, they changed the method of payment on his huge pickup truck from automatic withdrawal to regular monthly payments.  Then they went out and charged new tires for the truck (6 of them because it had double wheels on both sides in the back).  And they bought a lot of other stuff.  Legal?  Yes.  Ethical?  Not in my book.

11 hours ago, ChiCricket said:

". . . his current financial ruin . . ."

Odd that he has enough money for botox, coloring and curling his hair, and a BIG truck.  Well, not really odd.  For Kody, it's par for the course.

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General Days

General Days

12 hours ago, AZChristian said:

Interesting article about the Browns' past and current financial "decisions."

It was interesting, but it felt off to me. It kind of felt like that Collider article might have been written with the assistance of AI. Some of the syntax was a little weird. It also made some claims that are just plain wrong. 

For example, under the "Kody Never Takes Ownership For His Shortcomings" sub-header, the first two sentences read:

"As usual, Kody has remained mum about his financial troubles, but his daughter, Madison, has been very vocal about her disappointment in her father. In an interview with E! She explained where she thinks her father's money is going. 'He keeps buying assets that he sits on trailers and blah, blah, blah. I see the art on their walls. I see all these things," she accused'."

1. Madison gave no "interview" to E! The link to E! shows clips from the show. 

2. Janelle is the one who said, "He keeps buying assets that he sits on trailers and blah, blah, blah. I see the art on their walls. I see all these things," and she said it right on the show.

Janelle and Maddie were driving (maybe to look at the Montana property). I remember the scene, because as Janelle was saying all those things, Madison's facial expressions were priceless.

Also, the linked E! article has that quote in text form and even attributes it to Janelle (right above her picture -- relevant section starts 5 paragraphs from the end):

Quote

 

As for why Kody has avoided talk of Coyote Pass, Janelle suggests he has “other debts” he has to pay off first.

“But yet I've watched him add,” she tells Madison. “Like, he keeps buying assets that he sits on trailers and blah, blah and blah, blah, blah. I see all the art on their walls. I see all these things, and that’s fine. I have money and we spend it on things too.”

 

 

I suspect the writer has never watched the show, and just did web searches (and or used Chat GPT), and misattributed a quote, because she didn't read carefully.

The Collider piece makes it sound like Janelle was the only wife who worked (the writer puts it "assigned to work," but I"m pretty sure Janelle was dancing out the door to go to work). Meri always worked (sometimes part time, sometimes full) and Christine usually had a part time job too, in addition to being the chief childcare provider. 

Collider seems to use The Sun as its primary source too, and its coverage of Sister Wives is usually pretty bad. 

I am sure it will be a rude awakening for Kody to no longer be able to depend on the other wives for some income. And frankly the whole lot of them are financially screwed, once the show ends (I think the OG3 will end up okay eventually, particularly Christine and Meri -- and Janelle, if this flower farm pans out). 

I wouldn't put stock in The Sun's source though. It's often Robyn's former friend/employee -- the one who was somehow tied up with Meri's catfish. And I'm pretty sure the entire family has disassociated themselves from that person.

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Denize

Denize

I also wonder if Kody had Christine rack up charges on her Sears card "for the family", not just for her & her kids. Janelle mentioned other wives "helping out" when another had a big expense. After one wife declared bankruptcy, Kody probably had the next wife who could declare bankruptcy rack up the charges, to Bleed the Beast on a rotation.

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Pickleinthemiddle

Pickleinthemiddle

On 10/21/2024 at 2:21 AM, Yeah No said:

What I got from that article is that they were running up debt on their credit cards because they were living beyond their means and didn't have the income to support themselves or pay the debt, which is why some of them filed for bankruptcy. I think in one place it said that while they had an income of $5,000 a month at one point but their spending was at least $1,000 over that. So it hints at overspending, but we really don't know if that's why they ran up the debt or because they were facing true hardship. Also, we don't know how much of that was a calculated strategy because some unscrupulous people find a way to use bankruptcy as a "get out of jail free card" because if done properly it can cancel out credit card debt.

I think what bothered me the most about that article was using the incorrect "blind-sighted" in place of the correct "blindsided"!

Well if you stop and think about it $5,000 a month is not a lot of money for a family of 16 people.

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Yeah No

Yeah No

15 hours ago, Pickleinthemiddle said:

Well if you stop and think about it $5,000 a month is not a lot of money for a family of 16 people.

Yeah, but that was 20 years ago, although the accuracy of the article is already in question. Supposedly, $5,000 back then is worth $8346 today.

And the family was smaller then too.

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General Days

General Days

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating today. If you're not celebrating, I hope you have a good Thursday, and that some unexpected good thing happens for you.

Those who are celebrating, what are you doing? Are you hosting? Are you a guest somewhere? Are you going out to eat? 

My married son & his wife are hosting their first Thanksgiving which is exciting. We're bringing a lot of stuff, as is my co-MIL, whom I love. I loved my DIL from the first time we met her, and getting to know her parents has been an unexpected pleasure. 

 

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Roslyn

Roslyn

7 hours ago, General Days said:

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating today. If you're not celebrating, I hope you have a good Thursday, and that some unexpected good thing happens for you.

Those who are celebrating, what are you doing? Are you hosting? Are you a guest somewhere? Are you going out to eat? 

My married son & his wife are hosting their first Thanksgiving which is exciting. We're bringing a lot of stuff, as is my co-MIL, whom I love. I loved my DIL from the first time we met her, and getting to know her parents has been an unexpected pleasure. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving! Keeping it simple for my husband and I. Our daughter is away at Naval Officer training so it is just us and the cats. We get to finally see her after Christmas tho. Lots of phone calls to his family as well.

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lookeyloo

lookeyloo

16 hours ago, General Days said:

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating today. If you're not celebrating, I hope you have a good Thursday, and that some unexpected good thing happens for you.

Those who are celebrating, what are you doing? Are you hosting? Are you a guest somewhere? Are you going out to eat? 

My married son & his wife are hosting their first Thanksgiving which is exciting. We're bringing a lot of stuff, as is my co-MIL, whom I love. I loved my DIL from the first time we met her, and getting to know her parents has been an unexpected pleasure. 

 

Gosh we are the same as far as loving the daughter in law and her family. Sadly her parents have passed but we are here with them and her sister and family will be here tomorrow for the feast. We now travel on Thursday. Cheaper and easier. And none of us care that the big meal is on Friday.  We now have older grands and they all like to cook. 

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Dehumidifier

Dehumidifier

3 hours ago, Heathen said:

Christine Brown is into those godawful, super-duper "unique" spellings. You can look at the names of the Brown kids and pick out which ones are hers. "Ysabel," for crying out loud. 

Back to topic: I wonder what the latest spawn will be named. 

Not unique. Spanish:

https://www.babynamespedia.com/meaning/Ysabel#google_vignette

The baby girl name Ysabel is pronounced as IY-SaaBehL †. Ysabel is primarily used in Spanish and English, and its language of origin is Hebrew.

Ysabel is a Spanish form of the English, Greek, and Hebrew name Elizabeth.

Ysabel is also an English and Spanish spelling variant of Isabel.

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crazycatlady58

crazycatlady58

7 hours ago, EmeraldGirl said:

Name a boy in that family who has. 
 

Christine also had Paden, Gwendolyn, with not that spelling at all but I’m too lazy to look it up. Mykelti, which is probably also not spelled like that. Who am I missing? Janelle had very traditional names. Logan, Madison, Hunter, Garrison (RIP) Gabriel, Savannah. And Meri’s (one R or two?) Mariah.

oh man, with twins, this could be wild. Have we heard the genders? 
 

Edited to add Christine‘s other child – Aspyn. 

Christine used the y ti replace I as a nod of respect to Brigham Young the founder of their faith. Supposedly it is a Mormon thing.

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EmeraldGirl

EmeraldGirl

On 12/5/2024 at 3:37 PM, Nysha said:

Mariah is now Leon. I was momentarily confused when someone mentioned Leon regarding JillR, then I realized that y'all had named her Thyroid lump that.

I know. And I’m happy for them, because they seem extremely happy and content with their partner. I was just pointing out that all the other mothers picked pretty “ normal” names at birth compared to the names that Christine came up with. I’m sure Kody didn’t have a say in it or care.

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Nysha

Nysha

15 hours ago, EmeraldGirl said:

I know. And I’m happy for them, because they seem extremely happy and content with their partner. I was just pointing out that all the other mothers picked pretty “ normal” names at birth compared to the names that Christine came up with. I’m sure Kody didn’t have a say in it or care.

I agree. Christine seems to like unique names and alternative spellings. As for Kody, his involvement with his kids pretty much stopped once they were conceived.

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