Do you think that the Duggars have an "expiration date"?

[bluehydrangea]

That is to say, do you think their fame and social acceptance has an expiration date? I'm sure that this has been talked about in various threads, but I'm really interested in hearing everyone's thoughts on this one. Think Duck Dynasty homophobia hysteria...which admittedly hasn't killed their brand, but it's not the same now. Or Paula Deen and the N-word, which obviously did permanent damage.

 

It's no secret that the Duggars have some seriously controversial beliefs, and with Jessa and Ben spouting off on IG, it seems like it's only a matter of time 'til there's a serious backlash. But then again, Jubilee's death caused some friction and bad press, but here they are, more popular than ever. Do you think it will ever get ugly and come to an end? And if so, why/how? Or what the hell is making them so immune to things that Duck Dynasty is not?

[Four is Enough]

I happen to think they are "past due" their expiration date. However, they are riding this swell of Christian fundamentalist extremism (is that an oxymoron?) right now that has transcended the media, politics, and popular culture. They can still participate in serious damage, if this doesn't change.

[bluehydrangea]

I tend to agree, I feel like they have pushed the limits enough that their fire should have been put out by now. Do they just get excused from all the controversy because of the "cute, wholesome family" dynamic?

[Coco]

i wonder how it will end. Former fans could stop caring and fade away, too disgusted by the bigotry. No more cute sweet kids to see, just a bunch of ignorant raging young adults.

Or JB & Michelle could be letting their kids create drama to keep people interested in the train wreck aspect and the family implodes under the pressure -- the kids becoming opposites to everything they were raised as they see people giving reasonable answers to the fundie spiel. But surely JB & Michelle would fight against that happening, even if so much drama would keep them on TLC a few more years. They value their speaking and fundie culture status too much to let the family become a complete "disaster" (in their minds, kids who live their own lives independent of what their parents believe). So far nothing the Duggars have said is against their culture, it's just exposing the ugly beliefs that have always been hidden under the surface.

i think they'll just let it play out, because it will cement their fanbase in the "true believers" and they can keep getting paid to write books and give speeches after TLC says they've gone too far. Fans who write them off, well in their minds that's just the persecution that comes with standing up for the "truth".

[CorruptionInc.]

Their expiration date was about 5 years ago...

Then Josie was born a preemie, so they extended it to see if she survived...

Then Mullet got pregnant again, so TLC went 20 KAC, great idea...

Unfortunately poor Jubilee did not make it so they kept it going for another season or two to see if she'd get #20.

They didn't, so by the time they probably thought about canning it, courtships started to happen.

This is all speculation of course, but how they're still on the TV is beyond me...

[Mel314]

To me, it seems like they are just getting started.

Any press they get, whether positive or negative, brings in $$. So it will also depends on how the Duggars roll with it.

I think there is a high probability they are encouraged to cause controversy, as it means more $$ for them and TLC. Just look at most celebs, you don't stay interested in people when they're doing perfect all the time.

Plus, they could do a ton of spin-off shows with all these young adults. Who cares about Jim Bob and Michelle when you have Jill, who's trying for her own 19. Or Jessa, who's "model pretty" but dumb as bricks and spews her ignorance? Kinda like Paris hilton, without the porn star part! And don't forget her 19 year old boy-man-husband who has no real job or skills!

I really don't think these people can afford to support themselves without the show, seeing as they get 90k per episode and 100k for specials.

There's a big part of them that rejects general public view, so if anything that actual helps them go harder.

I think there's a huge factor that these girls are young 20 somethings, which attracts a similar audience who are intrigued to agree/disagree with them. People stopped caring about Paula Dean cuz she's an old white lady from a cooking show. Not much of an audience there besides er, older white ladies.

[Toothfairy]

The duggars expired a long time ago. Every shoe especially reality tv has an expiration date and it doesn't end well for some aka John and Kate, Roloffs, teen mom, etc. I'll give them 2 more years before people get bored or tired of the family's rants and hypocrisy.

[delightfullyduggar]

I just want to see Jana's wedding then they can quit. I would be so ticked if we got to see Jill and Jessa's and not Janas wedding.

I'd take a wedding special all the same. Jingers would be nice to see, too.

[Sundaymorning]

Well, I think if they hadn't had their "expiration date" already, it will soon come. Cause let's face it, what have the Duggars to offer: crazy Gothard-cult stuff, weddings and babies. Well, Gothard is pretty much out of the picture, with his abuse case and things like gay marriage gaining a lot of supporters even among independents and conservatives, the Duggars can go packing with their bigot ideology. Then there are the weddings and babies, they are always cute. But after the 7th Duggar wedding and the 12th grandchild, people will get bored eventually.

So yeah, unless they find some scandalous spin-off (like Jana Duggar goes to college with her new (non-Daddy approved) boyfriend), they will be forgotten soon.

[Rescinded and Mended]

At this point, no. The only way I could see the show getting cancelled would be if it simply costs too much to pay everyone who appears on the show, including all future Duggar in-laws and their respective families. Any stupid thing a Duggar says or does will simply be milked for ratings.

Apprarently, Jim Bob feels pretty certain of his prospects. I think he considers this the "expansion" phase of the operation. Pick out a child, encourage said child to begin a courtship (whether a prospective mate is on the table or not is irrelevant, because one can soon be found), get them married and pregnant, and have cameras follow them around to film it all. Bridal and baby registries are a form of gravy, they can be used to sign up for anything other members of the family happen to want or need. A house or other form of matrimonial compensation will be provided to guarantee the continued cooperation of the newly mated pair. Those who are unattached can follow the courting pair around for hijinks that will help ratings.

Yeah, I think they're going to be able to spin this out a bit longer. Jim Bob and Michelle have young adult children who are marriageable, gotta get those courtships going and keep the ratings high!

[bluehydrangea]

I definitely don't think they've met their expiration date yet; if anything, they've had a resurgence in popularity lately. I wonder, too, if people will get bored with the babies and wedding. But......TLC has made quite a "showing" of weddings and babies. I just wonder if there will ever be a significant uproar over anything like homophobia, patriarchy, or other things they push. So far, people seem to be weirdly accepting of it.

[wittyname]

I think they were well past their sell-by date before this season. Nobody cares how a family with a gaggle of children and mini-moms travel or go on outings, or go eat pizza or whatever. Especially since this family is rich as heck. But this season sort of echoed back to the roots of shining a light on another culture (via the courting and engagement rules). I don't know what they'll do next to bring publicity, because nobody is going to be as interested in Jessa's wedding preparation next season, and then it's back to boxcar derbyesque fillers between commercials. If they were smart and wanted to stay on the TLC train, they'd spin it off or just reformat it to where the show focuses on the lives of the Duggar young adults, the newly weds, the new parents, the seemingly perma-bachelor, the life of the slaves/female adult children (Mostly Jana), the boys aging into adulthood, and less about lord dimbulb and his dairy queen, and their loyal subjects/children.

In other words, time for Michelle to plan for yet ANOTHER new season of life, where she's not the star of the show. THough I suspect she and jb would sooner have the show cancelled before they gave up the control that stardom provides, and allowed their adult children some content-related autonomy.

[BrownieMomma]

At some point. I think they are past their shelf life but they do manage to pull out a few more shows or another season due to the courtship/babies but they are actually boring people and it is going to catch up to them.

They will have to start changing things up, maybe send Joy Anna to college or have John David marry a Wiccan at Stonehenge.

They are running out of things. No one is going to want to watch the howlers and lost girls grow up much less stick around for over ten more years til those kids are marriage material. Just an annual specials.

If JB was really smart, he'd pull the plug while they are on top and make a killer deal for specials.

[eh02]

I give it 2-3 more years and expect some weird offshoots after that - blogs, "political careers," whatever it may be. I think when the show is off and they're less well off financially is when we'll get some kids making a run for it.

The weddings and babies are saving that show. It has become increasingly mundane with time...everyone loved watching the freak show that was a bunch of fundie kids meeting Dolly Parton or wearing weird bathing suits, or Jim Bob and Michelle in a head shop looking at "glasswear." But if I have to see one more dentist appointment, craft day or birthday outing...

[FreeHannie!]

Yes, and I think it's coming sooner rather than later.

If not for the two courtships/weddings, I think TLC would have ended it already.

[Letgo]

I think the recent changes have really helped the Duggar brand. Jill's marriage and pregnancy should extend their shelf life. Jessa will be married in just over three weeks, and I'm sure she'll be pregnant by Christmas. Actually, by Thanksgiving. However, showing the courtships and marriages of child after child will become too repetitive. I can see TLC following a pregnant Jill, holding a baby, accompanied by a toddler or two or three, heading off with Derick into the mission field. The show can film among the main family, Josh and Anna and family, Jill and Derick, Jessa and Ben working on their broken marriage, and Jana, still single and happy she is nearly finished raising her sibling.

[CaptainFunderpants]

One thing that was brought to my attention recently is that since the gay marriage debate is starting to be seen as a a lost cause, funding is going to start heading substantially more toward repealing Roe vs. Wade.

I wonder if that'll have any impact on the show; I doubt Discovery cares about actual science any more, but almost all of the repeals have nothing to do with actual proven science. I'm crossing my fingers that they start taking a turn for the autism/vaccines and it becomes risky to insinuate that these people are right/common knowledge that they're wrong and causing death with their views.

[kmary1]

I think the recent changes have really helped the Duggar brand. Jill's marriage and pregnancy should extend their shelf life. Jessa will be married in just over three weeks, and I'm sure she'll be pregnant by Christmas. Actually, by Thanksgiving. However, showing the courtships and marriages of child after child will become too repetitive. I can see TLC following a pregnant Jill, holding a baby, accompanied by a toddler or two or three, heading off with Derick into the mission field. The show can film among the main family, Josh and Anna and family, Jill and Derick, Jessa and Ben working on their broken marriage, and Jana, still single and happy she is nearly finished raising her sibling.

I agree, the wholesome couple getting married shtick ala Jill and Derrick will get old fast. People were interested since she was the first girl to get married, but if it's all the same storyline people won't stay interested. Watching their show, the wedding storyline is the most interesting part. The stupid soapbox derby cars and all that is super boring. They'll have to find something else to do to keep the show rolling.

[Free Them All]

It could last if they would focus on one child each episode and really show us what their goals are and let them talk about their futures.

Show their interests and cut out Moochelle and Jim Boob as much as possible.

It won't last if they continue to talk politics and show only live births and weddings and courting.

[Coco]

I agree, the wholesome couple getting married shtick ala Jill and Derrick will get old fast. People were interested since she was the first girl to get married, but if it's all the same storyline people won't stay interested. Watching their show, the wedding storyline is the most interesting part. The stupid soapbox derby cars and all that is super boring. They'll have to find something else to do to keep the show rolling.

And that's going to get boring super fast if they insist on a dull dress shop scene with those dorky undershirts that make every dress look like a frumper. I'm sorry to be judgey but that was just meh. They could have covered her arms just as "modest" with a snug light colored long sleeve tee (maybe even shimmery a la Elsa).

Jill's greed and selfish attitude had already become known by the time the dress shopping episode came around with the manufactured cry fest. Now that Jessa is trashing her social media with ugly uneducated harsh opinions, i don't think i'll care to see her made a big deal out of by the FEW people in her life that are allowed to be there. Where are their friends, the girls they know from church? Where's the fun? Some stuffy old dark room with everyone sitting on chairs looking forced to be there? Ew. Everything is so scripted, so stilted, so fake. This show is going down in flames. :lol:

[freealljs]

I just watch the Duggars for the train wreck. I tune them out for a while, mainly because they are pretty boring and the train wreck is so slow to happen, that I find watching paint peel a bit more exciting. I don't think the Duggars will quit the media anytime soon, especially if Michelle has anything to do with it. She somehow has to make everything on 19KAC all about her. I'd love an episode where Michelle weren't present AT ALL and the show's focus was on the J'kids and J'Boob even. Even J'Boob isn't as famewhoring as Michelle IMO, and I'm not by any means even a marginal fan of his. Once Michelle can't be the center of the show, the circus show will end.

[CorruptionInc.]

I just watch the Duggars for the train wreck. I tune them out for a while, mainly because they are pretty boring and the train wreck is so slow to happen, that I find watching paint peel a bit more exciting. I don't think the Duggars will quit the media anytime soon, especially if Michelle has anything to do with it. She somehow has to make everything on 19KAC all about her. I'd love an episode where Michelle weren't present AT ALL and the show's focus was on the J'kids and J'Boob even. Even J'Boob isn't as famewhoring as Michelle IMO, and I'm not by any means even a marginal fan of his. Once Michelle can't be the center of the show, the circus show will end.

I wish they could do a candid Duggar filming - I bet that ridiculous baby voice is just for the tellymabobs!

After that, no more Mullet please! :wink-penguin:

[silverspoons]

I see them as on fire right now. They have had more media and magazines in the last 9 months then in the past 5 years. It will take a long time for the ratings to sag back to the below 1 million mark, which TLC looks for cancellation. Remember TLC loves to own the rights to families even if they don't have a current show. I see TLC owning the Duggars forever. Jim Bob is happy with any free money. He is laughing to the bank with every check and bus gas tank TLC fills.

I say if the Duggars can make it past the Howlers growing up, they will be here for another 20 years. Viewers love the older kids. They know them. They saw the older 6 grow up from teens to young married adults. The younger Jackson-Josie were born on the show, so viewers are invested. It is the big clump of boys that I don't think fans or viewers know or care too much about. I bet asking viewers who is Jason, James or Justin, the average view could not ID the boys or tell you anything about them.

[Phoenix]

I think the Duggars have finally overreached. It has become painful to read articles about the courting couples because we hear so little about them and a lot about how JB and Michelle feel about them. The backlash against the assorted social media posts and wedding related gift grabs is building fast.

TLC doesn't seem to be protecting them as much as they used to. Reminds me of the last few episodes of Kate Plus 8 where TLC seemed to delight in showing Kate at her absolute worst. Granted Kate gave them a lot to work with. Maybe that is part of the formula for these shows, build a family or group up, make a ton of money for all concerned, throw them under the bus and move on to the next.

It might be best if Michelle was not in the public eye for the next few years. She seems a likely candidate for a major breakdown as her daughters start families of their own. She was never really cut out ot be a mega-mom as her years of detachment from her kids have shown.

[Rainytown]

They're getting a ton of press, but it's a matter of time before one or more of the Duggars does or says something that will be offensive to the vast number of viewers because of that increased media. I thought Jessa's comment about abortion = the Holocaust, Anna and Josh on the platform when their white supremacist political candidate lost, the Roe v. Wade t-shirts was enough to get the show "suspended". Evidently not.

Phil Robertson made another outrageous comment a couple of days ago, and it hasn't affected his granddaughter's guest shot on DWTS as of yet.

It's unfortunate that TLC doesn't have the balls to show the Duggars' political/religious beliefs as they are.