Why are the Duggars still on?

[Swamptribe]

It's mind boggling that the Duggars are still on.  They don't actually do anything new or interesting.  The entire show is about having godly, unprotected sex and producing babies.  Then it dawned on me.  The show is nothing but fundie porn.  Titillating the masses with "godly" sex.  Thoughts? Comments? 

[purplepeony]

The duggars are on because people still watch the show. TLC doesn’t care about ‘titillating people’ but making money so the Duggar show must make them some money one way or another

[Coconut Flan]

They're on because in one way or another they make money for TLC. 

[Four is Enough]

It is kind of mind boggling. Most other shows with this premise (Sex for Jesus!) would be considered semi pornographic and would be banned...

[Daisy0322]

They have to be bringing in money, I think I more people watch the show then care to admit lol I'd rather watch the sugars then the kardashins though. Both are equally fake but I prefer fake joyfulness to fake drama and cat fights.

[Million Children For Jesus]

It's a reprieve from the constant fighting and affairs shown on other reality tv shows. There's an audience that doesn't want gossip and boobs, and that audience has limited choices. Basically only family sitcoms with laugh tracks, HGTV, and Duggars.

[nickelodeon]

4 minutes ago, Million Children For Jesus said:

It's a reprieve from the constant fighting and affairs shown on other reality tv shows. There's an audience that doesn't want gossip and boobs, and that audience has limited choices. Basically only family sitcoms with laugh tracks, HGTV, and Duggars.

I remember seeing this sentiment come up on Facebook and such after Joshgate - "it's the only wholesome show on TV!" It was impressive how many people were willing to declare (very publicly) that they don't care if abusers and cults profit from the program as long as there's no cussing in it. Because they NEED something to watch that won't require them to talk to their kids!

[HarryPotterFan]

11 minutes ago, nickelodeon said:

I remember seeing this sentiment come up on Facebook and such after Joshgate - "it's the only wholesome show on TV!" It was impressive how many people were willing to declare (very publicly) that they don't care if abusers and cults profit from the program as long as there's no cussing in it. Because they NEED something to watch that won't require them to talk to their kids!

Because they don’t need to talk to their kids about abuse? Because cussing is worse than abuse? Talk about fucked up priorities.

[Million Children For Jesus]

1 hour ago, nickelodeon said:

I remember seeing this sentiment come up on Facebook and such after Joshgate - "it's the only wholesome show on TV!" It was impressive how many people were willing to declare (very publicly) that they don't care if abusers and cults profit from the program as long as there's no cussing in it. Because they NEED something to watch that won't require them to talk to their kids!

Yes! I remember this and becoming soooo angry.

So many people get caught up in inconsequential content like swear words and then gloss over major issues, such as Boob and Mechelle's full blown lack of accountability. In my real life, I have to avoid swearing to certain people because they will never absorb or respond to what I'm saying if a swear word is involved. Then they go off subject about "my language," instead of addressing what it is I'm telling them. 

I think there should be some viewing options for people who want wholesome television, but new religious movements, Gothardism, and the Pearls should not be marketed as wholesome. The Duggars should come with a warning label, "don't try this at home." 

I think some people watch because they're waiting for the next trainwreck to come out of all the weirdness, but there is still an audience of people who are sticking with the wholesome nonsense. 

[acheronbeach]

It's boring, predictable, family-friendly, Godly and full of nice-looking people who act happy all the time.  Of course it's still on.  There's not much choice for the Dull and Sanctimonious Christian market segment.  

[Million Children For Jesus]

We should write something. 

[mango_fandango]

I bet many of the viewers are hate-watchers/snarkers like us. I can't find any info on viewing figures.

[Snarkasarus Rex]

4 hours ago, mango_fandango said:

I bet many of the viewers are hate-watchers/snarkers like us. I can't find any info on viewing figures.

I agree that many people watch for reasons other than just being fans.  I don't think anyone keeps track of any demographics other than the standard ones (age/gender), because in the end, TLC doesn't care why people watch.  I'm sure the Duggars don't care either, as long as they get paid.

[eveandadam]

It's still on because people still watch (freak show factor) and because JB is very well connected, I'm serious!

He knows how to play the business and also the show business game and most importantly, how to show off his beautiful daughters, whom he used "very well" to draw in the audience. Really, Jana, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joy are the cashcow if the show!

Can you imagine the Duggar show being still on with only boys?

 

[December]

7 hours ago, mango_fandango said:

I bet many of the viewers are hate-watchers/snarkers like us. I can't find any info on viewing figures.

Agreed, and for the rest of the viewers it's lots of feel-good fluff like weddings.

9 hours ago, Million Children For Jesus said:

There's an audience that doesn't want gossip and boobs, and that audience has limited choices. Basically only family sitcoms with laugh tracks, HGTV, and Duggars.

Reminds me of something ironic I encountered. I knew a fundie lite person who talked about how much filth was on TV, how watching it was so bad for everyone. Come to find out, they DVR'd The Big Bang Theory with all its cleavage, "dirty" jokes, and a title that both references a non creationist origin of the universe and sex (probably of the premarital variety)! Guess they were just better equipped to watch mainstream TV without being corrupted like the rest of us...

[HarleyQuinn]

I think Kim Jong Boob knows where TLC buried some bodies, personally. 

[Rosalie]

@HarleyQuinn Kim Jong Boob! I laugh so hard, I got coffee in my nose! 

But yeah, I also think the dry humper has something on someone high in the ranks of TLC. B/c the show is shit boring.

[wandering woman]

Because people like us watch the show.

[Coconut Flan]

2 hours ago, HarleyQuinn said:

I think Kim Jong Boob knows where TLC buried some bodies, personally. 

It wouldn't matter.  TV is all a dollar and cents game.  Truly.  I know people who know people and they still can't get their show ideas on air.  Why?  Not going to make enough money. 

[Million Children For Jesus]

@wandering woman I don't watch. I read the recaps here. A lot of people here don't watch. It's too boring. Usually one person agrees to take one for the team and write a recap. Usually someone funny. The recaps are far more entertaining than watching. The timelines are annoying, the wedding stuff has been done to death, and the talking heads are mind numbing. I can't sit through it. 

[Rosalie]

52 minutes ago, Million Children For Jesus said:

@wandering woman I don't watch. I read the recaps here. A lot of people here don't watch. It's too boring. Usually one person agrees to take one for the team and write a recap. Usually someone funny. The recaps are far more entertaining than watching. The timelines are annoying, the wedding stuff has been done to death, and the talking heads are mind numbing. I can't sit through it. 

Same, same (and anyway - it’s not aired on norwegian TLC before months after aired in the US). Originally I caught interest in the family b/c the show, but stopped watching a long time ago.

[singsingsing]

I've kept watching the show over the years. I find it kind of weirdly relaxing, like I'll put it on and do some colouring. Of course I've been growing more and more uncomfortable continuing to watch it, because I feel like I'm inadvertently supporting their cult. Also, it's gotten really freaking boring.

Anyway, I swore this time around that I would stop watching the show if they kept to their old ways and did another rehash of the last wedding. And guess what? The trailer for the next season just came out, and it's business as usual, the wedding rehash. So that's it. I'm done. The torture ends now.

[snickers34]

18 hours ago, acheronbeach said:

It's boring, predictable, family-friendly, Godly and full of nice-looking people who act happy all the time. 

Yes, and I'll go one step further. My (totally subjective) opinion is that there are a lot of christians (especially women) who live vicariously through them and the fantasy, nonsensical world they've created, where kids don't talk back, young women are 'empowered' by staying at home and waiting for prince charming to come save them, everyone's happy, and there's no stress about money. The show got crazy popular when the girl's weddings started - beautiful virgin brides getting the wedding of their dreams to some nice godly young man. It's like total fundie porn (like others have said). It helps distract people from their failed attempts to get their own kids to not be dicks, or the asshole husband they shouldn't have married in the first place, who doesn't actually support them like they would like. Or whatever other real world thing they wished would've happened - it's all playing out perfectly on the Duggar's show. All bullshit, of course, brought to us by fancy editing and smooth talkers.

Just my $0.02.

[Carm_88]

It makes money for TLC without them having to do a shit ton of work. 

[WhatWouldJohnCrichtonDo?]

9 hours ago, wandering woman said:

Because people like us watch the show.

That's why I've never watched Counting On and I hope I never will. I don't even want to risk that my viewing could contribute to the show continuing. Plus, as others have said, the Duggars are boring and the recaps are more entertaining.