17 Kids and Counting

There's not the slightest bit of entertainment. Watched it all the way through expecting that at some point I might be able to justify a show like this one taking up space as entertaining 'programming'. Worse, it's on some days back to back in place of programming with some human interest or some interesting dialogue and characters. Nothing interesting happens. Why is a show like this even on TV? Is it because it's seen as'wholesome?'. Wow. Do TV's writers and scripters think everyone's forgotten about good programming? It's kinda scary, if like me, you once had good TV to watch. The 'family' shows of old were really good quality. Nothing like this nonstop boring awfulness. No comparison whatsoever. Sad sad.

When I first started watching this show, I was interested to see how the lives of such a large and Christian family would play out. Being Christian myself, I thought I was going to see some good TV and important messages about what it means to be a happy family.

Boy was I in for a downer...

Instead, the show describes the overly-protective lives of the children of the Duggar family and just how boring their lives really are. To this day, I have NEVER seen a date in public where the people dating were literally being followed around by their own family.

This show is literally what life would be like if "Big Brother" was actually a thing. These kids lives are being constantly monitored; every single move they make is being made known to everyone else. They're also home-schooled and live in a pretty shut-in community. What these parents are doing is not preparing them for the real world. First of all, these kids need A LOT more independence.

They need to be able to determine for themselves what's right and what's wrong, and not have their parents watch their every move.

Yes your kids can and will be tempted to do what's wrong, but they need to be able to flee temptation on their own. If you don't think your kids are going to do the right thing when no one is looking, then you have a problem...

In conclusion, this show is more disturbing than entertaining. With all the overbearing rules and overly protective parenting this family has, it's no surprise that the kids that have already moved out turned a little wacko...

The series is extremely bland. The "excitement" of watching someone grocery shop or make a cake doesn't grow just because 23 people are stuffed into one house. An older sister took three younger kids to the store and they bought flour or something. That's ten minutes of the show.

I admit that I only watched maybe one and a half episodes because I was home sick. The other "excitement" in the episode was the parents making out in front of their daughter. They were on a double date with her "suitor." This was done, according to Michelle Duggar, in an effort to get her to consider marrying a 19 year old stranger. The "date" was at a miniature golf range. I think watching my parents play tonsil hockey would make me want to avoid intimacy. I'm not telling what happens after that, you'll have to watch.

I can't keep up with all the "J" names, either, they all sort of blur together. Which one is "Jessa" and which one is "Jinger?" I'm also not sure it matters, since the activity the other one is doing will be folding laundry or making beds. I can watch that sort of thing in my own home.

Family values hits a perverse peak with "19 Kids and Counting" (the reality TV show's title changes as new babies are added to the family). This show celebrates an Arkansas family for producing a lot of children. Good for them. Each baby is given a name beginning with the letter "J". This celebrates family dad James "Jim Bob" Duggar. Since there are a lot of names beginning with the letter "J", we can expect mother Michelle to keep getting pregnant (as long as she is able). This show is making a statement, of course. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to make babies and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to get the point being made, here. They are saying "no, No, NO!" to birth control...

Many wonderful people have big families. If you have the time and money, great. In one episode, the older daughters are seen making an audio for their book; elsewhere, some of the sons work on their video. This means money. Book and video deals can be a gravy train. Jim Bob and Michelle also have time on their hands. They "homeschool" their children. A full-time parent and teacher must to be very smart. One of the weaknesses of homeschooling is your child's lack of socialization skills. Children meet a diverse group of peers in public school. Many wonderful homeschooling parents make sure their children join groups, where they meet and interact with other children. The Duggar family builds its own peer group...

As of this writing, this TV show was "suspended" due to a sex scandal involving eldest son Joshua "Josh" Duggar. What happened is unclear, since molestation can cover a lot of territory. One of the early explanations from the Duggar family was that son Josh was simply "playing doctor." That's very normal. Then, it was disclosed that he was 15-years-old while "playing doctor." That's not normal. None of this was shown on his TV program. In fact, the television family seems super-sensitive regarding any extra-marital sexual activity. For example, when daughter Jessa Duggar was "courting" Ben, the couple demonstrated the "side hug" as healthy physical contact (it kept the couple's fronts from touching)...

Josh moved to Washington DC with his wife Anna. If you're thinking there is potential for significant political activity in the Washington DC area, you're correct. Off-screen, the Duggars are a very politically-involved family. Jim Bob and his family advocate for Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Rick Santorum and other "conservatives". Naturally, the younger Duggar family started having children. They decided to use names beginning with the letter "M" (nicely honoring mother Michelle). The second Duggar family has "3 Kids and Counting". This makes it a total of "22 Kids and Counting" (if you're counting). Although the two families live apart, they are often seen together, through the magic of television and money...

They don't watch TV, but hope you watch them. Blessedly, the show may no longer be in production, but episodes are reproduced on the Internet. They seem very nice. Of course, father Jim Bob and eldest son Josh are especially involved in politics. However, it's mother Michelle who may have raised the most eyebrows. While campaigning against a law that would allow transgender individuals to use a women's bathroom, she feared males with past child predator convictions will claim they are female and take the opportunity to molest young girls in the bathroom. A concerned mother is a wonderful mother, but most sexual molestation does not usually occur between children and transgender women in public bathrooms.

* 19 Kids and Counting (2008-2015) Jim Bob Duggar ~ Michelle Duggar, Josh Duggar, Jill Duggar, Jessa Duggar

Possibly one of the worst shows on television today, 19 Kids and Counting is perfect for those looking for your daily dose of discrimination that is already prevalent in modern America today!

Unlike most trashy television shows that market themselves as, well trashy television shows, 19 Kids and Counting attempts to slap on a "family friendly" vibe but ultimately fails in covering up their numerous flaws. From their blatantly sexist views to the rather disgusting white-knighting that is reminiscent of the imperialistic tendencies of the West in the late 19th/early 20th century, the Duggars manage to cover nearly every form of discrimination that mankind has discovered all while touting themselves as a "wholesome" family. The fact that there has been such little public backlash against this show is rather alarming and, unfortunately a sad reflection of our country today. I guess if you're white, middle- class, Christian and smile creepily at the camera, everything's A- okay. Hopefully this show will be taken off air soon and TLC might even go back to trying to educate people. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

If I am to be honest though, I have learned one very important thing from this show; that I am extremely lucky. This show has made me so thankful that I have a father that trusts me, respects me as much as my brother, stays out of my sex life, and has supported pretty much every professional endeavor I have attempted instead of demanding I get married before 25 and start popping out babies. Thanks a million dad.

Additionally, I know I should not criticize appearances but Jim Bob's lack of eyebrows drives me crazy. Where are they??