The Duggars: In the Media and TLC

[fonfereksglen]

Looking at the entirety of TLCs schedule this week, they are lacking in original programs.  A good portion is older content, some that is over a decade old!  Of course, other than my guilty pleasure starring the beloved Dr. Now.   And the 90 day people with bad feet and pimples.

I suspect that Discovery Networks, of which TLC is a part,  is dealing with the cost crunch of cable cutters and other financial pressures from advertisers.  And I wonder how strong the international market contributes money wise.  So I do suspect the Duggers will continue to be filmed, though in a more cost cutting way.  

Which might explain the pathetic attempts as influencers.

[fonfereksglen]

5 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

The new season of Bringing Up Bates has just been announced. They aired a compilation show prior to the season opener.

I think the season opener of Counting On will be announcing Joy's and Jinger's pregnancies.

 

Bates is on an entirely different network.  With entirely different ownership.  Which is not part of Discovery.

[PikaScrewChu]

12 hours ago, Churchhoney said:

Maybe they've got somebody new in the programming department who just thinks it's time to freshen up the schedule somehow....

Moar 90 Day Fiance! Because TLC needs to drive something into the ground...

I am finding myself checking in on the Duggars less and less. There seems to be nothing to discuss. For a family that dreamed of themselves as fundie Kardashians they have no idea how to keep the "brand" going. 

[jcbrown]

4 hours ago, Future Cat Lady said:

It would be interesting, but there is no way JB would agree to participate in something like this. 

To me, that would be a good thing. He can stay home. Sans cameras.

[GeeGolly]

6 hours ago, fonfereksglen said:

Bates is on an entirely different network.  With entirely different ownership.  Which is not part of Discovery.

Yes, I'm aware.

[Future Cat Lady]

7 hours ago, jcbrown said:

To me, that would be a good thing. He can stay home. Sans cameras.

I should’ve been more clear. JB is the one who controls the show’s contract and his kids. He would never agree to have his religion be seen in a bad light and to put the kids in situations where they could be confronted in their views or exposed to something « immoral ». Also, the kids would not go against their parents that way. 

[Temperance]

It's worth-noting that TLC is showing Counting On reruns in the very early hours of the day. Two episodes 4-5am and 5-6 am, at least according to the guide on my tv. Most television "stars" have a contract where they get paid for any re-airings or syndication. I would expect the Duggars see a little money on this. It also suggests TLC hasn't completely given up on them.

Both Jessa Seewald and her sister-in-law Jessica Seewald are going to be on Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta where Jessica will pick her wedding dress. Jessa is apparently the conservative relative. If y'all remember, Jessica's dress was quite daring even by non-fundie standards. (I thought Jessica looked beautiful and I also like Jessa's dress when she married Ben.) It airs March 21st. We can create a thread here since Jessa will be there. 

Edited February 29, 2020 by Temperance
correction thanks to OpieTaylor

[SMama]

There are no residuals paid on “reality” TV shows. 

[OpieTaylor]

1 hour ago, Temperance said:

It's worth-noting that TLC is showing Counting On reruns in the very early hours of the day. Two episodes 4-5am and 5-6 am, at least according to the guide on my tv. Most television "stars" have a contract where they get paid for any re-airings or syndication. I would expect the Duggars see a little money on this. It also suggests TLC has completely given up on them.

Did you mean to say TLC has or hasn’t completely given up on them?

[Minivanessa]

1 hour ago, Temperance said:

Both Jessa Seewald and her sister-in-law Jessica Seewald are going to be on Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta where Jessica will pick her wedding dress. Jessa is apparently the conservative relative. If y'all remember, Jessica's dress was quite daring even by non-fundie standards. (I thought Jessica looked beautiful and I also like Jessa's dress when she married Ben.) It airs March 21st. We can create a thread here since Jessa will be there. 

What? So, Jessica's already married, the dress has already been publicly revealed, and now TLC is gifting us with this precious sister-in-law trip down memory lane to the dress shopping? What a snooze. Disclosure: I can't imagine why anyone would watch strangers shopping for wedding dresses, in real life or on TV. I would truly rather watch paint dry. So there's that.

Edited February 29, 2020 by Jeeves

[JoanArc]

 Girl knows she’s on camera. 

[Sew Sumi]

My DVR picked up two episodes I think Thursday morning. I checked to see what they were, and they were Joy's honeymoon and moving into the Laredo house, so stuff that happened 3 years ago. 

[Temperance]

42 minutes ago, OpieTaylor said:

Did you mean to say TLC has or hasn’t completely given up on them?

I meant to hasn't given up on them. Sorry I do proofread and I missed that. 

17 minutes ago, Sew Sumi said:

My DVR picked up two episodes I think Thursday morning. I checked to see what they were, and they were Joy's honeymoon and moving into the Laredo house, so stuff that happened 3 years ago. 

I also saw listings for both early hours Friday and early hours Saturday today.  

[GeeGolly]

This is what Jessa's SIL, Jessica, is wearing these days.

 

[JustRosie]

5 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

This is what Jessa's SIL, Jessica, is wearing these days.

 

Nike!

[JoanArc]

 Jessica is wearing what Jessa would wear if she had the balls.

[Future Cat Lady]

First pic : Wow, she looks amazing.

Second pic : Your wife is dressed like a complete hottie and you're wearing that? Complete letdown. 

[Natalie68]

21 minutes ago, Future Cat Lady said:

First pic : Wow, she looks amazing.

Second pic : Your wife is dressed like a complete hottie and you're wearing that? Complete letdown. 

I had the exact same thought. 

[Churchhoney]

3 hours ago, Temperance said:

It's worth-noting that TLC is showing Counting On reruns in the very early hours of the day. Two episodes 4-5am and 5-6 am, at least according to the guide on my tv. 

This could be good news for anybody who frequently wakes up way too early in the morning and has trouble getting back to sleep before a wakeup time of 6:30 or 7...... Just turn on the Duggars when you wake up at 4 and you'll be bored to sleep in seconds. 

They could offer this as a service to insomniacs. 

Edited February 29, 2020 by Churchhoney

[Sew Sumi]

Only Monday and Tuesday. After that, TLC is showing other programs for the two weeks my guide goes to.

[BitterApple]

1 hour ago, GeeGolly said:

This is what Jessa's SIL, Jessica, is wearing these days.

 

Yowza! No denim frumpers for this gal!

 

[Churchhoney]

46 minutes ago, Future Cat Lady said:

First pic : Wow, she looks amazing.

Second pic : Your wife is dressed like a complete hottie and you're wearing that? Complete letdown. 

True.

But while he's clearly way underdressed related to his wife's outfit, she seems to me to be significantly overdressed (for lack of a better word...) for the occasion/venue.

He seems to be dressed much more in line with the way the people at the other table are dressed than she does. I see nothing but schlubby sweaters and vests, and peacoats hanging on the backs of chairs, over there. Plus, do you really dress up like she's dressed to eat a dinner with that many potatoes in it? 

And look at the lighting in that place. That's in no way a restaurant where you wear your super-sexy getup and your nighttime makeup. The place is ablaze with light. 

Honestly, she looks to me like somebody who bought those clothes but has no place or occasion suitable to wear them. That's okay but kind of pitiful, seems to me. Well, just speaking for myself, I guess -- but I'd feel stupid in that look in that restaurant. 

Although if she's okay with it, it's okay with me.

Edited February 29, 2020 by Churchhoney

[PikaScrewChu]

14 minutes ago, Sew Sumi said:

Only Monday and Tuesday. After that, TLC is showing other programs for the two weeks my guide goes to.

Someone at TLC probably forgot to secure paid advertisements for that time slot.

[Temperance]

3 hours ago, PikaScrewChu said:

Someone at TLC probably forgot to secure paid advertisements for that time slot.

They used to run paid programming at that time. 

[madpsych78]

4 hours ago, Future Cat Lady said:

First pic : Wow, she looks amazing.

Second pic : Your wife is dressed like a complete hottie and you're wearing that? Complete letdown. 

 

4 hours ago, Natalie68 said:

I had the exact same thought. 

Me too!

[JoanArc]

22 minutes ago, madpsych78 said:

 

Me too!

 Dress for the spouse you want, not the spouse you have. 

[DangerousMinds]

6 hours ago, JoanArc said:

 Jessica is wearing what Jessa would wear if she had the balls.

Jessa couldn’t pull that off if she tried.

[PikaScrewChu]

5 hours ago, Temperance said:

They used to run paid programming at that time. 

That's what I meant. Like Sham Wow and the Magic Bullet one with the aunt who has a cigarette dangling out of her mouth.

[Albanyguy]

17 hours ago, Churchhoney said:

But while he's clearly way underdressed related to his wife's outfit, she seems to me to be significantly overdressed (for lack of a better word...) for the occasion/venue.

He seems to be dressed much more in line with the way the people at the other table are dressed than she does. I see nothing but schlubby sweaters and vests, and peacoats hanging on the backs of chairs, over there. Plus, do you really dress up like she's dressed to eat a dinner with that many potatoes in it? 

And look at the lighting in that place. That's in no way a restaurant where you wear your super-sexy getup and your nighttime makeup. The place is ablaze with light. 

That was my first thought. My second thought was that the two pictures may have been taken on two separate occasions at two different locations. All these people can be devious when curating their lives on social media.

 

[GinnyLee]

Anybody with any insider info on when the new season is going to premiere? It's usually on by the end of January or sometime in February. Now it's almost mid-March and no info at all. They need to revamp this show. I want to see family get-togethers, weekend events, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, road trips, vacations, entertaining hobbies, fundraisers, projects, & interesting daily life not just courtships, weddings, buying wedding dresses and babies being born. I'm sure I'll have to sit through another wedding, but the next one better be Jana's or I might be outta here. 

[Churchhoney]

nevermind. wrong place.

Edited March 7, 2020 by Churchhoney

[Sew Sumi]

2 hours ago, GinnyLee said:

Anybody with any insider info on when the new season is going to premiere? It's usually on by the end of January or sometime in February. Now it's almost mid-March and no info at all. They need to revamp this show. I want to see family get-togethers, weekend events, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, road trips, vacations, entertaining hobbies, fundraisers, projects, & interesting daily life not just courtships, weddings, buying wedding dresses and babies being born. I'm sure I'll have to sit through another wedding, but the next one better be Jana's or I might be outta here. 

Entertaining hobbies? Fundraisers? Surely you jest. 🤣

[Westiepeach]

Their hobbies ARE courtships, weddings, buying wedding dresses and babies being born.

[fonfereksglen]

3 hours ago, GinnyLee said:

Anybody with any insider info on when the new season is going to premiere? It's usually on by the end of January or sometime in February. Now it's almost mid-March and no info at all. They need to revamp this show. I want to see family get-togethers, weekend events, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, road trips, vacations, entertaining hobbies, fundraisers, projects, & interesting daily life not just courtships, weddings, buying wedding dresses and babies being born. I'm sure I'll have to sit through another wedding, but the next one better be Jana's or I might be outta here. 

Certainly won't be until Fat WWT,  Jazz, and the new episodes of my beloved 600 lbs are finished.  TLC is so lacking in original content, they need some spacing between new shows.  

 

 

[Churchhoney]

53 minutes ago, Westiepeach said:

Their hobbies ARE courtships, weddings, buying wedding dresses and babies being born.

Plus, these are apparently the hobbies of the lion's share of viewers, too. Since this seems to be the stuff that gets the biggest ratings......Now that even their highest ratings aren't very high, they're definitely not turning away from the stuff that pulls in the biggest audiences.......

[GinnyLee]

57 minutes ago, Sew Sumi said:

Entertaining hobbies? Fundraisers? Surely you jest. 🤣

Good point. What I meant was anything other than weddings, courtships & childbirth. Anything! 😁

[Sew Sumi]

I don't watch TLC. Have they even promoted the show at all?

[Westiepeach]

7 minutes ago, GinnyLee said:

Good point. What I meant was anything other than weddings, courtships & childbirth. Anything! 😁

See my answer above! LOL! 😂

[GinnyLee]

9 minutes ago, Sew Sumi said:

I don't watch TLC. Have they even promoted the show at all?

I only watch TLC for Counting On so I'm not normally on that channel. I also checked the TLC website and nothing. So to answer your question, I don't think so. 

[fonfereksglen]

1 hour ago, GinnyLee said:

I only watch TLC for Counting On so I'm not normally on that channel. I also checked the TLC website and nothing. So to answer your question, I don't think so. 

Right now in Primetime, TLC is the Pimple Popping, vulgar WWT,  crying Jazz, 90 Day whatever random show,  plus the wedding dress nonsense.  And, my 600 lbers.

Too soon for the Summer promos.

[PikaScrewChu]

Has TLC even been filming? I think the only potential of filming was when Jinger and Prop flew out to Arkansas on "short notice" for the girl's lunch. 

I mean they could rehash Addison's, Bella's, and Grace's birth specials.

The Duggars and TLC have steadfastly refused to re-tool Counting On, even as it is apparent that there are a finite amount of courtships that could happen and even fewer that will capture the viewer's imagination. I'm doubtful they are willing to wade into the Jed!2020 campaign on the show. 

And eventually it becomes the same old, same old. We all know Addison will be doing a smash cake for her 1st birthday to reveal whether the new baby is a boy or a girl. Etc. Etc. Etc. 

Kind of depressing to realize Kendra will be pregnant again within the next couple of months.

[fonfereksglen]

3 minutes ago, PikaScrewChu said:

Has TLC even been filming? I think the only potential of filming was when Jinger and Prop flew out to Arkansas on "short notice" for the girl's lunch. 

I mean they could rehash Addison's, Bella's, and Grace's birth specials.

The Duggars and TLC have steadfastly refused to re-tool Counting On, even as it is apparent that there are a finite amount of courtships that could happen and even fewer that will capture the viewer's imagination. I'm doubtful they are willing to wade into the Jed!2020 campaign on the show. 

And eventually it becomes the same old, same old. We all know Addison will be doing a smash cake for her 1st birthday to reveal whether the new baby is a boy or a girl. Etc. Etc. Etc. 

Kind of depressing to realize Kendra will be pregnant again within the next couple of months.

JerJer previewed on instagram his talking head stuff in LA. So TLC  filmed something in LA.  In Arkansas, Jing did the ice broom stuff with family and her prop.  And TLC comped one (non Josh) family night bowling event and filmed yet another bizarre family night.  Plus the Holstein Heifers breakfast. 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Sew Sumi]

No surprises, but I don't see anything new on either Jinger or Jeremy's IG. 

[PikaScrewChu]

It's probably been discussed before and I've missed it but does Jed running for political office affect TLC's ability to feature him on the show? I vaguely remember this coming up during Arnold's run for governor of California but that may have been something solely for California. Since reality TV people running for political office isn't a thing, I generally don't look up these laws. 😉

[SMama]

9 minutes ago, PikaScrewChu said:

It's probably been discussed before and I've missed it but does Jed running for political office affect TLC's ability to feature him on the show? I vaguely remember this coming up during Arnold's run for governor of California but that may have been something solely for California. Since reality TV people running for political office isn't a thing, I generally don't look up these laws. 😉

Would you please refresh my memory re Arnold? I recall his wife stepping down as a reporter for NBC to avoid the appearance of interest.

What was the deal with Arnold?

I’m not sure the equal time applies to reality TV.

 

[PikaScrewChu]

44 minutes ago, SMama said:

Would you please refresh my memory re Arnold? I recall his wife stepping down as a reporter for NBC to avoid the appearance of interest.

What was the deal with Arnold?

I’m not sure the equal time applies to reality TV.

 

Networks didn't run any of Arnold's old movies as they would supposedly have to give equal air time within the same slot to the other candidates. I went and looked it up. It looks like most TV networks drop re-runs and stop showing movies where any politician candidates show up to avoid issues but it is a grey area on what equal time constitutes and if movies/TV shows apply as campaigning. 

[SMama]

Ohhhhhhhh, thank you.

[Churchhoney]

9 hours ago, PikaScrewChu said:

It's probably been discussed before and I've missed it but does Jed running for political office affect TLC's ability to feature him on the show? I vaguely remember this coming up during Arnold's run for governor of California but that may have been something solely for California. Since reality TV people running for political office isn't a thing, I generally don't look up these laws. 😉

Basically, if one candidate gets "favorable" exposure on a station, that person's opponent has the right to ask for equal favorable time. (You have to ask within 7 days.).

This doesn't apply to somebody legitimately getting on the news for something they actually did, but it does apply to everything else. And unlike some of the other FCC rules about this, it applies to all candidates, even for local offices like city councils, and even if the person is running in a race with multiple opponents. if those opponents ask for it in time, they all have to be given time. (this goes for all programming, including both ads candidates pay for and any other appearances)

And if the first person's appearance wasn't an ad or something they paid for but was "free" coverage for them, then if the opponent asks, they have to be given approximately equal time for free as well.

I have no idea how the hell TLC would accommodate this if Megan asked. But it's in the law and if they failed to comply, she could sue. ... 

They do not, however, have to notify anybody that a candidate's going to show up on their station. So unless the opponents find out about the appearance prior to its happening or right when it happens, so they can make their own requests within 7 days, the station gets to breathe a sigh of relief.

My guess is that TLC definitely won't broadcast any ads with Jed in them between now and Nov. 3 and may just opt not to show him at all or only show him in crowd shots. Whizzing by with his broomball stick, for example, and mostly visible just from the rear. (he probably looks better from the rear, though, come to think of it...)

Even if they give him so much as a 20-second talking head about whether Jana or Jackson is courting, they'll be required by law to give Megan a bit of "favorable" time, too, in some show somewhere if she asks....

Seems unlikely they'd risk this for somebody who's never been much a part of the show anyway.....

But...if Jed really did start courting this year and then marry before the election, as was rumored when his candidacy first came to light, TLC could have a real dilemma on their hands. Because Megan'd be an idiot not to demand equal time....and I don't think she's an idiot. 

I wouldn't be surprised if JB thought about giving Jed a political leg up by combining a courtship with a candidacy.

But maybe some advisor warned him the network could get pissed if they got an equal-time claim from the ebil librul opposition -- even annoyed enough to cancel the currently limping show!....

.Or maybe he just couldn't find a woman who was eager to marry Jed's super-punchable face just now.....

 

Edited March 8, 2020 by Churchhoney

[GeeGolly]

At this point the Duggars are really TLC's, A Baby Story and A Marriage Story, with a built in fan base.

Other than that, they have a dozen kids at home, no current buddy system, no School of the Dining Room Table, and no making-ends- meet, buy used save the difference, stories.

The Duggars are now an affluent Fundy family, housing a half dozen unemployed adults and a half dozen school age children who run feral.

The Counting On couples aren't really all that different than the average American family (minus their beliefs).

Humpers and Haters will continue to watch but there really isn't anything unique about this family to bring in new viewers. 

My bet is TLC will continue to film them and air the shows as special episodes or abbreviated seasons. Between Jana and the older boys and the married couples, TLC and the Duggars can keep this going for a while.

[Albanyguy]

12 hours ago, fonfereksglen said:

vulgar WWT

Which show is "WWT"?

 

1 hour ago, Churchhoney said:

But...if Jed really did start courting this year and then marry before the election, as was rumored when his candidacy first came to light, TLC could have a real dilemma on their hands. Because Megan'd be an idiot not to demand equal time....and I don't think she's an idiot. 

This may not be a problem, since there's such a lag between the time an episode is filmed and the time it airs. Engagements and pregnancies are announced in Very Special Episodes long after we already know that the wedding has taken place or the baby has been born. Any footage they shoot of Jed's campaign (and so far, there really doesn't appear to be much to shoot) probably wouldn't air until well after Election Day. And if that's the case, it will pose a dilemma for Jim Bob. If Jed wins the race, he'll obviously want it featured prominently on the show. But if Jed loses (as seems more than likely), he certainly won't want it immortalized on camera. That, however, will be TLC's decision to make, not Jim Bob's.