Some fans of 19 Kids and Counting are having a hard time accepting that their beloved TLC show has been canceled, and they think that it’s not too late to save the Duggar family’s TV series.
TLC recently released a statement announcing the cancellation of 19 Kids and Counting . Network execs spent almost two months deliberating the future of the show after Josh Duggar admitted to sexually molesting four of his younger siblings, including Jessa and Jill Duggar.
“After thoughtful consideration, TLC and the Duggar family have decided to not move forward with 19 Kids and Counting ,” TLC’s official cancellation statement reads. “The show will no longer appear on the air.”
TLC might be giving 19 Kids and Counting the ax, but the network isn’t completely cutting ties with the Duggar family — it has recruited Jessa and Jill Duggar to star in a commercial-free documentary aimed at raising awareness of child sexual abuse. The girls’ inclusion is a sign that the relationship between TLC and the Duggars hasn’t completely been destroyed, and some fans of 19 Kids and Counting are convinced that it’s still possible to save the Duggar family’s reality show.
According to the Duggar Family Blog , fans have created a website dedicated to keeping 19 Kids on the air. On SupportTheDuggars.com, Duggar supporters can sign a petition letting TLC know that they don’t want to see the family go.
“While the Duggar family may not be perfect and they’ve had difficulties like so many other families, their show WAS one of the few clean, family-friendly shows on TV,” the petition reads. “Sadly, there isn’t much a family can watch together any longer. The airwaves are full of terrible, trashy television! It isn’t right that the Duggars must be forced off the air while the filthy shows remain!”
The creator of the petition points to the continued existence of Duck Dynasty as an example of what reality show fans can accomplish if they band together.
“We want our voices to be heard! We all know the power of standing together—just ask A&E what happened when they cancelled Duck Dynasty !”
19 Kids and Counting fans have also been showing their support for the Duggar family over on the Duggars’ official Facebook page. Some supporters are begging Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar to see if another television network is interested in filming their family, and a few commenters have suggested that the Duggars reach out to UPtv.
“UPtv is a great forum for family friendly programming,” a fan named Kelly Wade commented. “Perhaps they would be a venue worth supporting and great match for the 19 Kids and Counting to carry on with. Just a thought….mostly just love you all and pray blessings upon your families.”
The Duggars are good friends with the Bates family, another conservative Christian clan with 19 kids who just happen to have their own UPtv reality series. In fact, as the Inquisitr recently reported, Jana Duggar will likely star in a future episode of Bringing Up Bates — a Bates girl has asked Jana to be one of her bridesmaids.
The Duggar family might actually be welcomed with open arms over at UPtv. After 7th Heaven actor Stephen Collins admitted to molesting underage girls, the network initially pulled 7th Heaven reruns from its schedule. However, UPtv eventually gave in to the demands of the fans who wanted to see the show back on the air — 7th Heaven is currently listed on the network’s schedule . UPtv execs have obviously decided that they’re comfortable allowing a controversial figure like Stephen Collins to appear on their network, so perhaps they wouldn’t have an issue with Josh Duggar.
Do you think fans of 19 Kids and Counting will convince TLC to bring the show back, or will the Duggar family pop up on a different TV network someday?
[Image via TLC]