The Duggars: In the Media and TLC

[MunichNark]

Sure, who WANTS to watch them? I mean really? Obviously I haven't been able to, not being in the US, but even so, apart from a few minutes zapping I'm just not interested.

What have they to show? Changing nappies? Going for a walk......painting nails.......dirty houses.......no, just no.

[sometimesy]

7 hours ago, MunichNark said:

Sure, who WANTS to watch them? I mean really? Obviously I haven't been able to, not being in the US, but even so, apart from a few minutes zapping I'm just not interested.

What have they to show? Changing nappies? Going for a walk......painting nails.......dirty houses.......no, just no.

Over a million people wanted to watch them. That number may dip because there was nothing interesting going on. 

Jill's tweet might indicate a family reunion for Cathy, so this years theme could be adoption.  Iff they are filming. 

Last years was 'look how many jobs our daughters can do while their brothers and hired help do the actual work'. Which confuses me, because in the early shows the girls made an apple crisp (even calculating fractions to increase the original recipe) for some firemen and also made homemade laundry soap. Suddenly it's cute to be inept, right around the time to sell them off. They are so full of ca ca that they should not be designated reality. They are a shitty drama with poor writing, production and acting. 

These people could do fine on social media, but their blogs are uninteresting and bland.  There are people out there doing better on instagram and twitter than they would on a show. I think they are making idiots of themselves on the wrong platform. 

Now get off my tv and put Jill R and her freakshow on air. She's still feral. 

[Arwen Evenstar]

Sometimesy, I second. I'd also vote for the Rodriguii Reality show over the Duggars. At least those poor kids would get something to eat!

[Missy Vixen]

One can only imagine when the media is going to print something about the rampant homophobia of the Duggars and their religion. 

C'mon, In Touch, you know you want to...

[Sew Sumi]

Jessa's posts on Sunday from anti-LGBT preachers were posted by an outlet yesterday and noted on the Benessa thread. 

[Missy Vixen]

1 hour ago, Sew Sumi said:

Jessa's posts on Sunday from anti-LGBT preachers were posted by an outlet yesterday and noted on the Benessa thread. 

I hope someone took screen shots and forwarded them to Nance. We all know she'll be excited to see them!

[JoanArc]

15 minutes ago, Missy Vixen said:

I hope someone took screen shots and forwarded them to Nance. We all know she'll be excited to see them!

She's cool with most situations.

[Sew Sumi]

What's a little bigotry between best buds? 

[Missy Vixen]

1 minute ago, Sew Sumi said:

What's a little bigotry between best buds? 

They can bond over John Piper's sermons.

C'mon, media, don't let us down.

[Darknight]

On Thursday, June 09, 2016 at 8:56 PM, Arwen Evenstar said:

I think that the show has basically run its course. I'm not trying to be snarky or ugly. Writers and producers of shows like Downton Abbey, Friends, Seinfeld , etc. pretty much knew when it was time to shut her down.  What's their next episode? Duggars Jump the Shark?

Duggars go to college,Jana gets married. Jimchelle,Benessa,Jillard, Smugger get divorce, Duggar tell all, Duggar escape, Duggar caught premarital kissing and hand holding, Jim Bob or Josh has secret love child. 

[Arwen Evenstar]

5 hours ago, Darknight said:

Duggars go to college,Jana gets married. Jimchelle,Benessa,Jillard, Smugger get divorce, Duggar tell all, Duggar escape, Duggar caught premarital kissing and hand holding, Jim Bob or Josh has secret love child. 

Now that I would watch! I'll hold off on making the popcorn though.

[JoanArc]

I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a secret abortion hiding somewhere. They could do a season long lead up to the reveal.

[Arwen Evenstar]

There are no doubt more skeletons in the closet. Question is, will it be only a big deal to the Fundy crowd? Premarital kissing is a huge scandal to their ilk, but the non Fundy crowd.

Edited June 16, 2016 by Arwen Evenstar

[cmr2014]

I agree that there are more skeletons in the closet, but I don't think that abortion is one of them -- unless it was J'chelle or Mary.

JB built his political career on his rabid anti-abortion stance, and I don't think that any of the Duggar daughters would have an abortion under any circumstance -- although a girlfriend of Josh might be another story.

I know from personal experience that lots of rabid anti-abortionists suddenly change their minds when it is their own family member who becomes pregnant. They still manage to believe that abortion is horrible and wrong under any circumstance for anyone else, but in this particular case . . .

The reality is, though, that these are people who have hopes for their daughters in the future: an education, a career, a happy marriage, etc. The Duggars care about none of that. It's all about producing babies for Jesus. 

For me, at least, the exact nature of the next Duggar scandal is a mystery. I always thought that Josh was a jerk, but I would have never imagined that he molested his sisters. I think he's a lot dumber than he thinks he is, but I would never have expected him to plaster the internet with dating profiles in the hope of getting some on the side.

I think that their creepy beliefs about sex, sexuality, and gender make it almost inevitable that there will be another scandal, but I don't think that it will be as white bread as an unintended pregnancy. I think that they will continue to have scandals, and they will continue to be jaw-droppingly gross, until they disappear from the media all together. Even then, I imagine that there will be horrible things going on, but we will no longer care or notice.

[sometimesy]

The next 'scandal' might be an escape. We could be waiting years. They are really boring. I'm not even waiting for a pregnancy or wedding, I don't care, nobody can make weddings more boring that the Duggs. 2 hours of blah. 

If they do find someone on tinder  begin a courtship, I hope it plays out in either of these ways:

a) The person is a total jebus freak and can't tone it down for tv. Someone like a Jill Rod girl to a Boob boy. A total offensive whacko family. I don't want to subject a girl to that, a boy can dictate the terms.

b) The person starts off like Derick, college educated and respectful of Boob. Let's make it a him, and make him tall dark and handsome as well. Then once the filming is done, we find that the person has seen behind the curtain and chooses to leave boob and the cult and take his bride with him. They move somewhere that doesn't work with a flatbed of Duggar relatives and makes it known that they need space to begin their lives together. They engage in taboo activities like salsa dancing. They choose to delay child rearing until the girl has some sort of training or hobby. The groom has a job like law or medicine, so they are financially able for the bride to be a well-known feature at many charity events where they are generous with their time and $. If you can find a pro athlete, he will do as well. 

If a season or two can provide BOTH of these gems... and we can follow those two kids "J---- and J---- moving on"

[Arwen Evenstar]

Sometimesy, I think we're in for a long wait. The Duggars as so freaking boring they make my head hurt. Been trolling the headlines just so I can find something snark worthy. As much snark as I'm capable of dishing out, most of it is fed by my utter dusgust for the stellar parenting of Jim Boob and his brood mare. Whatever gave them the idea that brainwashing their kids to the point that any of their adult children are incapable of functioning outside of the compound was a smart thing to do?  This whole patriarchy movement is dangerous to the welfare of women and children. If it was just the Duggars, it would be one thing, but we already know about the Bateses, Maxwells, Rodriguii, Andersons and thousands of other similar families who have bought into these. dangerous beliefs, many of which fly in the face of science and common sense.

Depriving ones children of education, nourishing food, socialization is coming home to roost. Josh was only the beginning and now we all see how Jill and Jessa are always falling on their faces on social media.  Everything they say comes off as either: smug, sanctimonious, or ill-informed. They came from a world where everyone had the same rhetoric drilled into them and their spirits broken until they bought into it, so they have developed no critical thinking skills, other than what they see as "the one true way". Their stunted maturity and lack of critical thinking is evident at every turn. All the Duggar spawn from Josh to Josie (as well as children of other families) have been set up to fail. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.  It would take years of deprogramming for those who escape this cult, before we would even begin to expect any of them to function properly.

[louannems]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.designntrend.com/articles/78661/20160615/jill-jessa-counting-call-cancel-duggar-family-insensitive-orlando-tragedy.htm&ved=0ahUKEwj-3YOXla3NAhXGMGMKHfNMCNYQqG8IGzAA&usg=AFQjCNEcHrdyLBjfdfE4RjCwd4kkUrVsOA&sig2=_l4DeTQ4aZQkLI_bEBhZ8g

 

The Duggars' are getting blasted after quoting gay-hating statements and scripture before the massacre bodies are even cold.

[sometimesy]

2 minutes ago, louannems said:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.designntrend.com/articles/78661/20160615/jill-jessa-counting-call-cancel-duggar-family-insensitive-orlando-tragedy.htm&ved=0ahUKEwj-3YOXla3NAhXGMGMKHfNMCNYQqG8IGzAA&usg=AFQjCNEcHrdyLBjfdfE4RjCwd4kkUrVsOA&sig2=_l4DeTQ4aZQkLI_bEBhZ8g

 

The Duggars' are getting blasted after quoting gay-hating statements and scripture before the massacre bodies are even cold.

I had no idea where these quotes came from, but considering their limited 'quote' source, it shouldn't have surprised me. 

[Arwen Evenstar]

Pretty much that's been the only Duggar headline for the last few days..  Are any of us surprised that they'd actually not be preachy?

[toodles]

Pickles has posted on her FB page that the Duggars have started a Fundie summer camp.

Sort of reminds me of the pinball camp in the rock opera Tommy.  It has the refrain of we're not going to take it.

I would post the link, but my computer is not friend today.  Really not my friend.

[JoanArc]

Camp of the Secret Touch?

Duggar Day Care?

Camp Crystal Lake?

 

Why do homeschoolers support summer vacation? Not to mention don't they need some kind of regulation. Who would leave their kids with a couple who was investigated by CPS less than a year ago?

[Missy Vixen]

21 minutes ago, JoanArc said:

Why do homeschoolers support summer vacation? Not to mention don't they need some kind of regulation. Who would leave their kids with a couple who was investigated by CPS less than a year ago?

And where is Joshley Madison staying these days? Unless he's working under the table for a political campaign, he's not flush in the bucks, so wouldn't he be at the TTH? Would anyone in their right mind want children around him?

[Arwen Evenstar]

Merit Badges that you can earn at Duggar Day Camp

Beginning Grifting taught by Benessa

Intermediate Grifting taught by Jillard

Advanced Grifting taught by Boob

Standing By Your Man taught by Anna

How To Be Sly taught by Smuggar

How To Delegate taught by Michelle

Having A Servant's Heart taught by Jana

Joyful Availability taught by Michelle

Patriarchy 101 taught by Boob

Assisting a Home Birth taught by Muffy

Advanced Mold Remediation taught by The Howlers

How To Avoid A Toilet Birth taught by Anna

Couponing for Jeebus taught by TFDW

Matchy Matchy Fundy Fashion taught by TFDW

i just rolled with this...if I come up with any more, I'll post in Parodies.

[Minivanessa]

Actually, Pickles' post is a joke, and there are some hilarious photos and captions about all the "camp activities." Really worth a look. 

[JoanArc]

Quote

i just rolled with this...if I come up with any more, I'll post in Parodies.

Merit bade for getting a 7yo to sew your merit badges on with a sewing machine.

[Arwen Evenstar]

I also found out it was a joke and it was funny just being able to imagine it.

[Arwen Evenstar]

1 hour ago, JoanArc said:

Merit bade for getting a 7yo to sew your merit badges on with a sewing machine.

That class would be taught by Hannie, aaaaand you'll learn how to do it barefoot sitting on the floor; that is when she's not cooking with cans.

[Sew Sumi]

That was Jenni. But still...

[Arwen Evenstar]

Oh, okay.  Thanks, Sew.  I get the littles all mixed up.

[Lemur]

These people are so boooooooooooring.  They need at least a small whiff of activity to remind us all that they're still alive and need paychecks.  How long before they're lowing a kid down a well?

[lulu69]

13 hours ago, Jeeves said:

Actually, Pickles' post is a joke, and there are some hilarious photos and captions about all the "camp activities." Really worth a look. 

Knowing how questionable news sites have trolled these boards for Duggar dirt before, how funny would it be if they picked up on this 'story'? 

And I have to add my favorite proposed classes: Dry Humping 101 taught by Jizim Bob & How to Convert Your Uterus Into a Clown Car by MEchelle

[BitterApple]

11 hours ago, Arwen Evenstar said:

I also found out it was a joke and it was funny just being able to imagine it.

It's crazy because we actually can imagine then doing that. The Boobster must be burning through cash like there's no tomorrow. There's 30 people in that family and nobody has a real job. 

It's interesting there's been no word either way on the future of JJCO. The ratings were solid, but with no advertisers, I'm wondering if it's becoming cost prohibitive to continue with the show.

[NextIteration]

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/06/a-new-victim-claims-child-sex-abuse-by-josh-duggar-which-caused-her-to-rebel-and-leave-home/

Surprising not a single person.

[sometimesy]

2 hours ago, Lemur said:

These people are so boooooooooooring.  They need at least a small whiff of activity to remind us all that they're still alive and need paychecks.  How long before they're lowing a kid down a well?

Not very active on social media either. Hmmm, filming? 

[Arwen Evenstar]

12 minutes ago, NextIteration said:

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/06/a-new-victim-claims-child-sex-abuse-by-josh-duggar-which-caused-her-to-rebel-and-leave-home/

Surprising not a single person.

Looks like a regurg of prior stories.  It seems that rebellion to these wing nuts is a more egregious sin than what was done to this poor girl. With Gothard victim blaming, hiding incest and molestation, and we all know how well their type of therapy really helps anyone heal.

[Missy Vixen]

19 hours ago, Arwen Evenstar said:

Matchy Matchy Fundy Fashion taught by TFDW

i just rolled with this...if I come up with any more, I'll post in Parodies.

Lying For Jesus, panel featuring Triple D, Jilly Muffin, J-Chelle and Jim Boob

[satrunrose]

5 hours ago, BitterApple said:

It's crazy because we actually can imagine then doing that. The Boobster must be burning through cash like there's no tomorrow. There's 30 people in that family and nobody has a real job. 

It's interesting there's been no word either way on the future of JJCO. The ratings were solid, but with no advertisers, I'm wondering if it's becoming cost prohibitive to continue with the show.

I've been wondering about this too. J&JCO can't be particularly cheap to make. They need to pay 4 families enough that they don't decide that Jesus has led them to a new season of life out of the sight of grubby non-believers. They need to pay for field trips to make the show about more than 15 adults sitting around staring at each other (Neat!) while 15 kids run wild around them. They need to pay all the expenses to get the crew and X Duggars to danger America for however long. I realize in the realm of 1 000 000 per episode per actor scripted drama it's probably peanuts, but if it's not bringing in any ad revenue, I can't see how it's worth TLCs while. Sure, they have solid ratings and maybe they can maintain them, but unless Jana or Jinger get married or there's another scandal (breaking Duggan-Style, I hope) I don't see them improving. 

[kokapetl]

TLC is one of dozens of crap basic cable networks. The commercials before and after the show, combined with incredible cheapness of the show itself might make financial sense. It's never had a Super Bowl approach to ad time, advertisers just bought big blocks of ad time to be broadcast wherever on Discovery Media channels, whenever.  

The Americans, a show I really like, averaged 900,000 viewers per episode in its latest season. Recreating the eighties Cold War DC setting cannot be cheap, and Russell, Rhys and Emmerich earn $100,000, $75,000 and $50,000 an episode, $225,0000 for the lead actors alone. That show must be approaching a million or millions per episode, but despite the price and dismal ratings, it been renewed for two more seasons.

WATCH THE AMERICANS, PEOPLE!

[Churchhoney]

5 hours ago, satrunrose said:

I've been wondering about this too. J&JCO can't be particularly cheap to make. They need to pay 4 families enough that they don't decide that Jesus has led them to a new season of life out of the sight of grubby non-believers. They need to pay for field trips to make the show about more than 15 adults sitting around staring at each other (Neat!) while 15 kids run wild around them. They need to pay all the expenses to get the crew and X Duggars to danger America for however long. I realize in the realm of 1 000 000 per episode per actor scripted drama it's probably peanuts,

It's definitely peanuts compared to anything scripted, of course. In addition to those lead actors, you don't have bit players, sets to build, costumes to create, remote locations to set up and get permissions for, real writers and directors and directors of photography and lighting and sound and casting and so on to pay and pay for, just to name a few things .....

I would bet the secret, though, is just the timidity of the entertainment industry. I'm sure that if TLC thought they had a show that would be as cheap to produce as Duggardumb and would pull in as big an audience, they'd go for it and drop them. But they have years worth of evidence that the Duggars are the biggest audience draw they've ever had, and no evidence -- I would guess -- that another show they might think of would do as well. Like the whole entertainment industry, these days, they're skeered that something new won't bring in enough cash. So they're willing to just hold on and bring in the eyeballs they can bring in with the Ds, until the Duggar ratings drop down and down and down to the point that they believe that some new idea they have could do just as well. At some point, the Duggar money curve will cross what they actually do believe they can get out of a new show and they'll dump them. That's my hypothesis anyway.

Edited June 18, 2016 by Churchhoney

[Absolom]

17 minutes ago, Churchhoney said:

the Duggars are the biggest audience draw they've ever had,

Actually the Gosselins were a bigger draw than the Duggars.  The articles that claimed the high ratings for the Duggars were only doing a selected period of time around the weddings, not the entire life of the show. 

22 minutes ago, Churchhoney said:

they're skeered that something new won't bring in enough cash

Right now the Duggars are in the same league as Roloffs and Sister Wives.  TLC can't seem to come up with a new breakout hit and they appear to be struggling.

19 minutes ago, Churchhoney said:

At some point, the Duggar money curve will cross what they actually do believe they can get out of a new show and they'll dump them. That's my hypothesis anyway.

That's sort of the way the industry works for the major networks.  In TLC's case it's a bit more like the revenue vs expenditure curves.  When they get close to crossing or cross, the show is gone.  TLC has plenty of time in its schedule to try out new shows so they don't have to can shows to make room to try new ones.

[Featherhat]

I think they will get a new season, but they are definitely stuck for storylines. I think TLC (and Jim Boob) were banking on more courtships and more pregnancies by now which for one reason or another haven't happened yet, hence Jill's birth Mom fishing tweet and all the hot air about adoption. "Counting On" when they aren't is just two young, dull Christian families and their cute but unexceptional only toddlers. Except the residual affection/fame. And let's not forget the "life changing announcement that never happened.

[GeeGolly]

4 hours ago, Featherhat said:

I think they will get a new season, but they are definitely stuck for storylines. I think TLC (and Jim Boob) were banking on more courtships and more pregnancies by now which for one reason or another haven't happened yet, hence Jill's birth Mom fishing tweet and all the hot air about adoption. "Counting On" when they aren't is just two young, dull Christian families and their cute but unexceptional only toddlers. Except the residual affection/fame. And let's not forget the "life changing announcement that never happened.

For sure TLC is stuck for story lines. The Bates family has 3 pregnancies, a potential break-up, a new courtship, and they can film the whole family. The Duggars have nothing. And since they rebranded as Jill & Jessa they have limited their content (although they did squeeze in the non-tree house and the fake car business). In the past the shows didn't necessarily have story lines, they were boring in an obvious way, because it was more of a day-in-the-life-of show, now TLC seems to be trying to make the Duggars exciting, which they are not, nor have they ever been.

They need to do a 'then & now' episode. Showing the differences between the younger lives of the 1st 10 or so kids, and the little ones now. Compare Hannie & Jennie to Jill & Jessa at similar ages...

[BitterApple]

3 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

In the past the shows didn't necessarily have story lines, they were boring in an obvious way, because it was more of a day-in-the-life-of show, now TLC seems to be trying to make the Duggars exciting, which they are not, nor have they ever been.

I think TLC really screwed the pooch by focusing the show on Jill and Jessa. Neither one is particularly entertaining or likable, nor are there husbands. Even throwing in the older kids as peripheral characters hasn't helped. They're too scared of further damaging the brand to act naturally on camera. As much as it pains me to say it, I think Boob and Michelle had the most made-for-tv perpersonalities. It's usually the trainwrecks who carry the show.

[Marigold]

It doesn't help that Jill's big "missionary work" has turned into two jokers in Danger America doing absolutely NOTHING.  

I'm sure TLC was anticipating some good footage of people or places or work or charities or SOMETHING other than Izzy licking a fan and everyone speculating if Derick is an addict/sick./mentally unstable orjust rebelling against Jim Bob.  yeah...not quite going according to plan.  

[sometimesy]

They need to do something really 'culty'. They are portraying themselves as really mainstream. We can peek in our neighbors window if that's what we're after. The 19 kids aren't a draw, because it was the 19 kids at home that was so interesting. They now have the wrong adults to kid ratio. 

If they want to go mainstream, film that. Film them sending Josie to public school and how they feel about that. Film Bin studying and going to a school and Jessa learning how to be alone with her child and how she feels considering her upbringing. 

Stop filming the grifters in Danger America. They are greedy, offensive and arrogant. 

Either show them evolving, show them as they really are, or stop showing them. 

[Marigold]

I find Jill and Derick to be the most boring thing about the show. I can take Jessa & Ben much better, for some reason. Maybe because I think they are arrogant but they are not koo koo.  I truly see Jill and Derick as very mentally unstable...so it's kinda boring to see two balloon heads floating through life. 

Jill is a snoozer. Derick only interests me out of morbid curiosity because I think he is going to have a psychiatric break at any moment and I can't wait to see how Jim Bob spins it.  (i wish Derick well and hope he feels better/heals from his surgery very soon)

Jana, Jinger, Joy or JD are more interesting at this point. 

[Sew Sumi]

Ben goes to online college. We've seen one of his projects, and it was pitiful. They have truly run out of storylines that aren't totally redundant (see what I did there? :D ). Even weddings are redundant at this point, other than the participants. But again, who really cares? A JD, Joe, or even Josiah wedding aren't going to bring in huge ratings. Jana would, Jinger and Joy might. So, out of six marriageable kids, you've got one that will make TLC some coin and two that might break even. 

As for babies, it's hard to top a toilet birth. 

[satrunrose]

I don't know if a Joy-full wedding would be a hit because a. She's really young to get married and b. Hasn't seemed to be really eager to get a-courtin' or if people would boycott in droves for the same reasons. 

 

Edited to add: I mean, people do get married at 18, but it would be a surprise given Joy's obvious discomfort and lack of enthusiasm. 

Edited June 18, 2016 by satrunrose

[ChiCricket]

Duggars get slammed for mentioning Josh on their Facebook page

"Somebody on the Duggar team made the mistake of posting about Josh on the family Facebook page, and the result was being brutally torn apart by angry commenters. "Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever though goest." It was posted with a call to followers to share their favorite Bible verses in the comments.

But instead, followers of the page took the chance to slam Josh for the multiple scandals he was involved in last year, including his admission that he molested several underage girls and used Ashley Madison to cheat on his wife.

"Is that what he told his wife and all the girls he molested? 'Be strong, God is with you, while I break other tenants of our faith,'" one commenter wrote. "I shall not molest my sisters or have affairs while judging others for their mistakes and then only ask for forgiveness instead of punishment," another added."

Edited to add: "It looks like the post has since been deleted. However, MNR Daily said that it got over 130 comments, many of which were pretty nasty."

Edited June 18, 2016 by ChiCricket
Updated

[Sew Sumi]

1 hour ago, satrunrose said:

I don't know if a Joy-full wedding would be a hit because a. She's really young to get married and b. Hasn't seemed to be really eager to get a-courtin' or if people would boycott in droves for the same reasons. 

 

Edited to add: I mean, people do get married at 18, but it would be a surprise given Joy's obvious discomfort and lack of enthusiasm. 

I agree, but I felt I needed to add her because they featured her as one of the kidults on J&J:CO.