In wake of the Josh Duggar sexual abuse scandal, TLC has decided to pull 19 Kids and Counting from its lineup. Now it looks like the network is having a change of heart. TLC is deciding to continue the show but without Josh Duggar. The show may even change its title from 19 Kids and Counting to 18 Kids and Counting . It has some people wondering why TLC won’t pull the plug on the Duggars.
Several sources told TMZ that the network is weighing all of it is options. One of those options is to cancel 19 Kids and Counting , the other is to continue the show without Josh Duggar. Sources also told the celebrity gossip site that Josh’s presence wouldn’t hurt the show, as the daughters have become the new face of the reality series.
The televised weddings of Jill and Jessa were a ratings success for 19 Kids and Counting . It’s probably one of the reasons why TLC doesn’t want to axe the hit series featuring the beloved Christian family. The network is also worried that it will lose some of its major sponsors if they cancel the show. General Mills pulled the plug once TLC pulled 19 Kids and Counting from its regular lineup.
It sounds like TLC doesn’t care about the child molestation case. They only care about their devout evangelical fan base and their sponsors. In October of 2014, TLC made the quick decision to cancel Here Comes Honey Boo Boo after reports circulated that Mama June was dating a convicted child molester, even though he never made an appearance on the show.
Once Josh Duggar made his public apology in the light of his child molestation scandal, TLC aired a marathon of 19 Kids and Counting . Mama June even criticized the network for not following through with cancelling 19 Kids . She’s also threatening to sue the network if they insist on keeping the Duggars on the air.
Everybody in the media has been weighing in on their thoughts about whether or not TLC should cancel 19 Kids and Counting . Time magazine contributor James Poniewozik thinks the network shouldn’t try to cash in on this child molestation scandal, especially since it’s such a sensitive issue.
“It has no excuse to. Maybe Josh Duggar is truly remorseful, maybe not. That’s for people to decide themselves. And it may be that the show’s fans—or even non-fans—may decide to forgive his actions and his family’s inactions. That’s a personal decision. As a moral principle, judge-not-lest-ye-be-judged is admirable. But as a business principle, it means being able to do anything, to do business with anyone, and profit from it anyway.”
On the other hand, maybe the network should show some reality for a change. Newster staff writer John Johnson believes that 19 Kids and Counting should highlight the sexual abuse scandal that’s surrounding Josh Duggar. It may even bring in more viewers and more conversations about what happens in the Quiverfull movement.
“At the Washington Post , TV critic Hank Stuever hopes that’s not the case because the show might finally be worth watching. Up until now, it’s presented a version of the Duggar family that seems almost impossibly pure. ‘Now is not the time to cancel it,’ writes Stuever. ‘Now is the time for TLC to double down and have the courage to present America, at last, with a truly unscripted show about a family enduring a crisis largely of its own making.’”
TLC has not yet commented about its long-term plans for the series. The network announced on Friday that it pulled reruns of 19 Kids and Counting from its regular schedule and is planning its next steps. The reality series is not in production at this time, so it wouldn’t matter if it was cancelled or not.
“Effective immediately, TLC has pulled all episodes of ’19 Kids and Counting’ currently from the air. We are deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time.”
What do you think? Do you think TLC should finally let its beloved Duggars go? Or do you think 19 Kids and Counting should go on without Josh Duggar? Share your thoughts below in the comments section.
[Image: TLC]