The Duggars: In the Media and TLC

[JenCarroll]

Well, I think after Amy's delightful display of disloyal venality in the run-up to her wedding and the charming social media shots she and Jessa took at each other afterwards, there's a pretty good chance that beta Duggar doesn't have a great shot at a TLC show. Maybe she'll write a book. 

 

OK, maybe someone else will write a book and she'll sign it, but I wouldn't bet against an Amy book, is what I'm getting at.

Although putting Amy and Jessa in a room together and telling them to act like bff's could make for some truly entertaining television.

[Julia]

Although putting Amy and Jessa in a room together and telling them to act like bff's could make for some truly entertaining television.

 

OK, I'm doing a 180 on this now. If they made Amy and DWIboi share a house with Jessa and Ben big brother style, I would totally watch the hell out of it. Or maybe watch the outtakes when they aired on Cops.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Julia

[kokapetl]

Well, I think after Amy's delightful display of disloyal venality in the run-up to her wedding and the charming social media shots she and Jessa took at each other afterwards, there's a pretty good chance that beta Duggar doesn't have a great shot at a TLC show. Maybe she'll write a book.

OK, maybe someone else will write a book and she'll sign it, but I wouldn't bet against an Amy book, is what I'm getting at.

I bet Amy is currently trying to get pregnant ASAP in order to weasel her way into the new show/specials.

[SomePity1066]

I find this gaggle of Duggars subversively dangerous. I'm really disappointed that TLC did this but not surprised at all. If what they believe in is ok...then SHOW the world their belief system and lifestyle and general tomfuckery that their lifestyle is all about.

Don't hide it behind the cutesy THs about courting and hand holding and purity. You believe in it..preach it baby. .out in the open so everyone can see how vile and dank they truly are.

I KNOW, right ?!?! They've been saying for more than a decade now that the show is a venue through which their faith is spread, and the one thing that matters to them the most is their relationship with God and getting that message out there, so why sugar-coat it ? Does JB, even in all of his idiocy, know deep inside his heart that their bizarro-world Gothardness is unpalatable to the masses, at best, and creepy, dangerous, off-putting and batshit insane, at worst. 

 

I have a show proposal for TLC - it's about a very conservative, politically active guy who nonetheless has different sides to his personality. He's a life-long vegetarian, loves his dog, a beautiful German Shepherd, dabbles in amateur painting, and lives in an energy-efficient underground dwelling with his new wife. 

 

It's called Honeymoon with The Hitlers. 

 

Okay - baaaaad example, way, way overdone, and I have, of course, descended into Godwin's Law pretty damn fast there, so mea culpa, but when I look at it that way I feel that I can justify my disdain for the whole Duggar phenomenon. 

 

They have stated time and time again that God is the pillar, the lynchpin, of their very existence. They do nothing, say nothing, believe nothing that isn't in service to the Lord - but they subvert, suppress, or hide their own beliefs on TV in order to maintain the revenue stream. 

 

At least Peter only denied Christ three times - they've been doing it once a week for years...

 

ETA: However, your comment did make me think further. I said upthread that I didn't mind giving a platform to pro-lifers; I'm as pro-choice as they come, but I get why some people feel uneasy about it. But that only applies if you actually have a working knowledge of sex ed and female anatomy. A lot of pro-lifers in the media have been disseminating flat-out false information about women's health and what does or does not qualify as an abortifacient. So yeah, if you don't know your vagina from your vulva from your uterus, or if you believe that "rape can shut that whole thing down", then you can STFU. No platform for you

 

 

Interesting article from earlier this year that hilariously illustrates your excellent point, galax-arena ! I tried to not laugh while reading it but it got the best of me.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/25/womens-bodies-cant-perform-feats-of-magic

[Julia]

It will be interesting to see what they film and include about those two fab young missionaries, including whatever the hell it is they have done or will do "overseas." Because so far, unless TLC had a crew with them in El Salvador and got footage of activities that Jill and Derick withheld from social media, it's been fuck all - except for lame skits and hanging out with vacationing kids. 

 

Well, since they promoted this by saying that they were impressed with what Jill and Jessa bravely shared on their abuse special, and Jill and Jessa shared precisely nothing except how pleased they were to be there at the seminar, I'm gonna guess the chronology is going to be creative.

[Ilovemylabs]

"Pro-lifers" are also trying to take away our (women's) rights. I have a huge problem with Bin's rants, especially since he knows virtually nothing about women's health.

I respectfully disagree.  Not ALL Pro-Lifers are like Ben.

[JoanArc]

 

He's a life-long vegetarian

Nope.

 

 

Well, since they promoted this by saying that they were impressed with what Jill and Jessa bravely shared on their abuse special, and Jill and Jessa shared precisely nothing except how pleased they were to be there at the seminar, I'm gonna guess the chronology is going to be creative.

The editing certainly will be. There's gonna be a lot of takes to get this all right.

[ginger90]

 They've been saying for more than a decade now that the show is a venue through which their faith is spread, and the one thing that matters to them the most is their relationship with God and getting that message out there

 

How are they doing this without the show??? No show, no money so they do nothing?

[kokapetl]

The television ministry thing was just a lie they told themselves to justify doing the tv show.

[Tabbygirl521]

SomePity1066:

Oh gawd!!! "Honeymoon with the Hitlers"!! I did the proverbial "scared the cats" guffaw! You had me nodding like, That would be cool. And then the punch line! You got me.

The television ministry thing was just a lie they told themselves to justify doing the tv show.

I kind of agree, in that I think that they think they are so very special that just existing inspires us all to emulate them, I.e., had delusions of grandeur. Or DID think so, anyway. They have to be wondering what they did for Josh to be so unGodly. Because everything is always someone else's fault. Or something. Oh, hell, I dunno.

[OhioMom]

Isn't that one of those meaningless Catholic sins? lol

Well, I guess it could be.  To me, it's just common sense.  No one needs  to tote off 14 dozen doughnuts...unless they're a glutton or doughnut hoarder.

[Churchhoney]

Well, I guess it could be.  To me, it's just common sense.  No one needs  to tote off 14 dozen doughnuts...unless they're a glutton or doughnut hoarder.

 

Yeah, it's common sense all right. Of course, common sense is not so common -- especially in the TTH. It's also one of the seven deadlies. And many Catholic theologians describe it the same way you do -- consumption that goes beyond reason

 

Here's an online Catholic encyclopedia describing the way Aquinas saw it: "The moral deformity discernible in this vice lies in its defiance of the order postulated by reason, which prescribes necessity as the measure of indulgence in eating and drinking."       In other words, nobody needs 14 dozen donuts. No kidding.    http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06590a.htm

[sometimesy]

I think this will pull in good ratings; the show has been off for a bit, there are a couple of scandals and a baby. Meh, who knows.

[NewDigs]

Well, I guess it could be.  To me, it's just common sense.  No one needs  to tote off 14 dozen doughnuts...unless they're a glutton or doughnut hoarder.

I continue trying to wrap my brain around the grifting of 14 dozen donuts.

Gee, if they hit enough Krispy Kremes in a day they could...

Contribute to the diabetes epidemic?

Sell them?

[Missy Vixen]

And yeah, to be able to read Marjorie and Amy's minds right about now....

I think Amy is furious.

 

I think Marjorie (and her parents) made the best decision of all. Their family (and their souls) are more important than "easy" reality show cash. I believe her parents took a hard look at the Duggars post-Joshley Madison and weren't happy with what they saw. They didn't want to be associated with it, IMHO.

I hope these specials reflect some sort of contractual loose ends and that maybe, maybe they will be The End.

I disagree. I think TLC is chomping at the bit to recover as much of that $24 million writedown as possible, up to and including putting the reruns back on Netflix/iTunes/Hulu, broadcasting the "lost season" and filming additional episodes.

 

The statement from their head of programming yesterday made the hair stand up on my neck. They honestly don't give a shit about anything that's come out since Joshgate Part 1. And I hope she's getting lots and lots of not-so-positive letters/phone calls/e-mails about her company's decision.

[Missy Vixen]

We could start a new thread with possible scandal ideas, to cheer ourselves up. 

Secret love child (how pissed would Mechelle be if JB had 20 kids and she only had nineteen?)

A shoplifter in the family

A secret vegan, or Buddhist in the ranks

Grandma having a fling with the UPS driver

Maybe we'll hit on something true.

Porn on Jim Boob's phone.

 

Smuggar escapes from rehab and shows up in Florida to reclaim his wife and the kids.

[Micks Picks]

I read the comments on one of the links (which article it was I've forgotten) and the people there were saying they were going to contact TLC and anybody else they could think of and said showing Jill and Jessa episodes was promoting child molestation.  Seriously?

 

However, I think the episodes TLC is looking to unload is going to be 90% of what they already filmed and was shown as "next season" teasers.  Jerrick was announcing their missionary plans was one thing that comes to mind in the teaser.  So that was in the can even prior to Josh I.  Personally I'd rather watch paint dry than watch the courting, bridesmaid dresses, blah blah episodes.  Paint dries much faster.I couldn't believe those episodes got such high ratings, but that's me.  Maybe they have tons of fun die  teens who love that stuff.  I love auto-correct.  I'll let that stand.

[Wellfleet]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47NWmhalMD8

 

My hero, Bill Maher, mentioned Josh this week - enjoy.

PS - hope this works. I've never added a link before. If not, 'copy & paste' should do it.

[PityFree]

I blame Whitney Thore for not being more interesting or likeable and therefore causing TLC to bring back the Duggars.

[Defrauder]

Who was it, Jessa, who said that if the show got cancelled life goes on.  Apparently not.  Stardom or nothing, you know for God and the army.

[Purpose to defraud]

"understanding that this was something they wanted to do"

 

Guess he didn't get that, had he offered them a show consisting entirely of video of them farting on television, it would have been "something they wanted to do." And broadcast farting would have quickly become "their mission." Not only are they addicted to easy money but to celebrity as well. I feel sorry for the babies who are going to be raised by these now fully addicted fame whores.

In another generation, Jessa will be Kris Jenner. 

[louannems]

I ventured over to Duggar Family Blog.

Jesse gives a 3 point sermon on Godly Parenting, starting with singing the praises of her own wonderful role model- her parents!

There is a ticket giveaway for Jessa's speaking at Southern Woman in October.

The Duggar's will be speaking at an upcoming ATI Family Camp.

[Churchhoney]

I ventured over to Duggar Family Blog.

Jesse gives a 3 point sermon on Godly Parenting, starting with singing the praises of her own wonderful role model- her parents!

There is a ticket giveaway for Jessa's speaking at Southern Woman in October.

The Duggar's will be speaking at an upcoming ATI Family Camp.

 

On her crappy parents: "Growing up, I truly felt like they knew me better than anyone else! I knew that they cared about me deeply, and they were there to see me be a success in life and pray me through any hard times I might face! It gave me great confidence as a young person to have such love and support from them."

 

I can't imagine that she and Jill won't be spewing this kind of vileness on the show, since they don't seem able to say anything else. (wonder if Michelle and Jim Bob actually wrote this, or what? but anyway...) So I wonder how America will like hearing about how these incredibly fabulous parents -- who failed to notice child molestation going on in their own tiny house and who didn't get treatment for either the molester or the molested until forced to, claiming it was NO BIG DEAL -- are absolutely the bestest and most virtuousest and most Jesuslike mommy and daddy ever and should be taken as role models by the whole damn world?

 

The leghumpers will lick it up like Josie on a public-bathroom floor, of course. But I do wonder how many such diehard legumpers are really left.

Edited September 26, 2015 by Churchhoney

[Julia]

Sadly, my new cable provider tells me I'm a Nielsen household, so it would be irresponsible of me to train wreck watch. I'll have to read about it here.

[Churchhoney]

Sadly, my new cable provider tells me I'm a Nielsen household, so it would be irresponsible of me to train wreck watch. I'll have to read about it here.

 

Thank you for your ??sacrifice??

[galax-arena]

Sadly, my new cable provider tells me I'm a Nielsen household, so it would be irresponsible of me to train wreck watch. I'll have to read about it here.

Your new cable provider is looking out for your best interest.

[lulee]

I ventured over to Duggar Family Blog.

Jesse gives a 3 point sermon on Godly Parenting, starting with singing the praises of her own wonderful role model- her parents!

There is a ticket giveaway for Jessa's speaking at Southern Woman in October.

The Duggar's will be speaking at an upcoming ATI Family Camp.

Jessa has a speaking engagement in October? That's getting close to her due date. Maybe she'll give birth on stage! That would be a real showstopper and a ticket to a bunch of solo covers on People. Edited September 26, 2015 by lulee

[louannems]

Oh God, now Cousin Amy is telling US Magazine that Anna is doing well and at times like this, it is good to have a big family to give her support. Amy, Amy, how much $$$ are you getting running to these mags?

[JoanArc]

 

Sadly, my new cable provider tells me I'm a Nielsen household, so it would be irresponsible of me to train wreck watch. I'll have to read about it here.

*cough* Torrent the episodes, like I did.

[Julia]

Oh God, now Cousin Amy is telling US Magazine that Anna is doing well and at times like this, it is good to have a big family to give her support. Amy, Amy, how much $$$ are you getting running to these mags?

 

Raise your hand if you think anyone in that family has spoken to Amy since they were shooed out of the reception. 

 

*cough* Torrent the episodes, like I did.

 

Now, now. I like to think of AC Nielsen as my accountability partner in all this.

 

Besides, my history and science nerd husband needs the actual television for his guerrilla campaign to bring back fact-based programming now that BBCA has stopped showing that stupid british ladbro car show 24/7. 

[questionfear]

Sadly, my new cable provider tells me I'm a Nielsen household, so it would be irresponsible of me to train wreck watch. I'll have to read about it here.

I think it's important that you avoid TLC entirely then.

We were a Nielsen household several years ago. It was crazy fun, but I had a list of shows we couldn't tune into because i didn't want to impact their numbers.

And I am STILL bitter that Dollhouse was cancelled the day after we agreed to be a Nielsen household. I had such hopes my tuning in would save the show.

[Julia]

I think TLC is chomping at the bit to recover as much of that $24 million writedown as possible, up to and including putting the reruns back on Netflix/iTunes/Hulu, broadcasting the "lost season" and filming additional episodes.

 

Sorry, just saw this. They've been back on iTunes for a while.

[JenCarroll]

Still off Amazon Instant Video. You can buy the DVD's, though.

[kokapetl]

As far as I know, they never left iTunes. There wasn't any reason to remove it, only those who explicitly agreed to pay for episodes would be exposed to the Duggars, and iTunes had to maintain the entire series on "The Cloud" for people who had already purchased them.

[MyPeopleAreNordic]

I blame Whitney Thore for not being more interesting or likeable and therefore causing TLC to bring back the Duggars.

#truth

[mimionthebeach]

Raise your hand if you think anyone in that family has spoken to Amy since they were shooed out of the reception.

Now, now. I like to think of AC Nielsen as my accountability partner in all this.

Besides, my history and science nerd husband needs the actual television for his guerrilla campaign to bring back fact-based programming now that BBCA has stopped showing that stupid british ladbro car show 24/7.

Bless your wee heart. Such a positive encouragement.

[Julia]

Bless your wee heart. Such a positive encouragement.

 

I feel pretty darn doubleplusgood about it.

 

Excuse my language.

Edited September 26, 2015 by Julia

[BitterApple]

Why do these people talk in exclamation points? Don't they! Realize! It's! Overkill?!

I mean damn, I feel like someone's yelling in my face every time I read one of these stupid Fundie blogs.

[Oldernowiser]

Why do these people talk in exclamation points? Don't they! Realize! It's! Overkill?!

I mean damn, I feel like someone's yelling in my face every time I read one of these stupid Fundie blogs.

They are.

[Wellfleet]

Why do these people talk in exclamation points? Don't they! Realize! It's! Overkill?!

I mean damn, I feel like someone's yelling in my face every time I read one of these stupid Fundie blogs.

 

I think for 2 reasons. 1 - They "write" the same way they talk, which is generally spazzy.  2 - Knowing that college was not in their futures, I doubt many homeschooling Fundie parents spend a lot of time or effort on teaching Little Fundies how to write well. How to make a point in a clear and concise manner. How to start paragraphs with a "grabber" to draw the reader in. How to make your last few sentences a summary of the whole paragraph. Etc etc etc.

Edited September 27, 2015 by Wellfleet

[DollEyes]

 UGH! Looks like these famewhores won't go away like they should after all. I normally wouldn't have a problem with survivors of sexual abuse telling their stories when they're doing it for the right reasons, but when they're part of a family who uses their fame as a weapon to hurt anyone who's not just like them, I've got a big problem with that. Putting the Duggars back on TV in any way, shape or form proves that TLC has not only hit rock bottom, it's sunk to an all-time low.

[Julia]

Problem is, how would they learn to write? They've been educated using really poor quality materials, and the only regular outside reading they do is the Bible. And while the Bible is a fascinating book, they're being told that they should ignore the clear meaning of what they read to support the bizarre extra-biblical teachings of their cult. From what I can see, even wanting to say something they haven't been taught to say is a fast track to hell (where their brothers and sisters will sit on clouds overhead and laugh while they're tortured for eternity, which I have to say for some of them doesn't seem like a massive stretch). Then they're plunged headlong into the world of partisan political messaging, which they've also apparently been told is a form of missionary work?

 

I'm astonished they can write at all.

[Wellfleet]

Problem is, how would they learn to write? They've been educated using really poor quality materials, and the only regular outside reading they do is the Bible. And while the Bible is a fascinating book, they're being told that they should ignore the clear meaning of what they read to support the bizarre extra-biblical teachings of their cult. From what I can see, even wanting to say something they haven't been taught to say is a fast track to hell (where their brothers and sisters will sit on clouds overhead and laugh while they're tortured for eternity, which I have to say for some of them doesn't seem like a massive stretch). Then they're plunged headlong into the world of partisan political messaging, which they've also apparently been told is a form of missionary work?

 

I'm astonished they can write at all.

 

They really can't write - not really. They just transcribe what they'd say out loud. IMO, big difference.

[Julia]

They really can't write - not really. They just transcribe what they'd say out loud. IMO, big difference.

 

on second thought, I should move this to the closet.

[JoanArc]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/25/why-is-tlc-serving-up-more-of-the-toxic-duggars.html

 

 

More time with the Duggars is far more cringe-inducing and disheartening than 30 minutes of television about accidentally setting a loved one’s genitals on fire with a cigarette lighter.

Heh, the media still loves them, right?

[GeeGolly]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/25/why-is-tlc-serving-up-more-of-the-toxic-duggars.html

 

Heh, the media still loves them, right?

I have to say that articles like these piss me off though. It is not cool to keep invalidating any survivor of abuse no matter how the survivors interpreted it.  The implicit message is for victims to keep their mouths shut because nobody will believe them. And that message sucks.

[Oldernowiser]

I have to say that articles like these piss me off though. It is not cool to keep invalidating any survivor of abuse no matter how the survivors interpreted it. The implicit message is for victims to keep their mouths shut because nobody will believe them. And that message sucks.

But is it the articles or the Duggars themselves with the message that you can talk about it, but it's really no big deal so why bother? Everything since the first scandal has been, "Hey, nothing to see here, keep the $$$ coming, oh, and praise the lord." These survivors glossed over it themselves. If either one of them had had what seemed like an honest moment, like saying, "It was my brother and I was confused/scared and didn't know what to do," it would be much easier to support them as individuals.

They all toed the Duggar Family patented line of revisionist Biblical bullshit. Are those their real feelings? Would they even know?

There's apparently no way for these women to still be on television without them dragging the whole steaming pile of Duggar Dogma with them. Since that seems to be their choice, then I can't support "supporting" them by cheering them on in this new round of famewhoredom.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Oldernowiser

[Julia]

We've already established that the way their situation was handled would have led to fairly serious legal consequences if Jim Bob hadn't had enough influence with local law enforcement and government to keep it - illegally - from being addressed before the statute of limitations ran out. If the girls say that it was handled appropriately, as a factual matter, they're wrong. There are laws which cover what happened. Not a few of them were broken. I understand that they've been taught differently. What they've been taught, by the parents who broke the law to protect their abuser, is (as it's an excuse for illegal behavior), not correct.

 

I don't think that TLC is sending a good message by rewarding high-profile abuse victims for being 'good' abuse victims and dismissing what happened to them, and it makes me believe that their abuse special was a profoundly cynical exercise (although the time slot they gave it and the way they featured the woman who covered up the crimes and didn't ask the girls to engage at all sort of already told me that).

 

I don't have any say over what Jill and Jessa believe. I do have an opinion about what for-profit corporations should be presenting as appropriate. I don't think long-term conspiracy to enable child molestation is one of those things.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Julia

[galax-arena]

These survivors glossed over it themselves. If either one of them had had what seemed like an honest moment, like saying, "It was my brother and I was confused/scared and didn't know what to do," it would be much easier to support them as individuals.

Or, hell, even if they had simply said, "We've moved past it as a family. I [Jessa or Jill] have forgiven Josh." They didn't need to talk about being confused or traumatized. The problem is that they didn't just stick to their own spiel of forgiveness, they proceeded to minimize abuse and speak for the other victims. And that was a shitty thing to do, and they absolutely deserve to be called out on that. They don't get a free pass just because they were victims. 

 

It took me a long time to come to terms with my own molestation because it was "just" a little bit of touching, it happened years ago, I should just get over it already, etc. And to this day it's not something that I'm forthcoming about IRL because I know that the way the Duggars think is not all that uncommon. I'm just glad that I'm not an impressionable young adolescent anymore who had to hear the Duggars essentially tell me that my abuse was no big deal. 

Edited September 28, 2015 by galax-arena

[Satchels of gold]

And nothing screamed " staged and rehearsed" like the girls talking about the parent company of in touch exploiting woman through porn. Are we to believe that they independently researched this? Cmon. They beleive dinosaurs walked the earth with man. intellectually curious they are not.