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Saturday, October 6, 2018

10 Years of Reality TV

Duggars and Lauren Swanson
The Duggars with Lauren Swanson's family in the earlier days of the show (2010)

When the Duggars first appeared on weekly reality TV on September 29th, 2008, they had no idea what it would eventually become. Ten years and nearly 300 episodes later, and they are still going strong. From 17 Kids and Counting to 18 Kids and Counting to 19 Kids and Counting to Counting On, the title has changed to reflect the growing clan, but the love, faith, and family values of the stars have remained the same.

If you visit our Watch Full Episodes page, you'll find a full listing of episodes, as well as links to our recaps starting in season four, around the 60th episode. Our blog has been going strong for almost as long as the show has.

How long have you been watching the show and reading our blog?

In case you missed our post last month, this year is also the 14th anniversary of the Duggars' first television special, "14 Children and Pregnant Again."

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

37 comments:

  1. I heard about them when I lived in Arkansas and they had 13 children.i still watch them

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  2. When are John and Abbie getting married?

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  3. LOVE this family so much! Thank you for sharing your lives with us, Duggar family! Keep it going

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  4. when Jackson was born i saw that and watched a few epsiodes before getting back into it when Josh/Anna got together. This blog like a year and half.

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  5. I've been watching from the very first special. I remember waiting patiently to see if tlc was ever going to cover them again and I was so excited when it became a series.i honestly can't remember when I started following the blog. But it had to been soon after I started my Facebook account.

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  6. I would love to see "before and after" photos of each family member!! Has this been done before? Each one when they first started, and a current one right next to the older photo for comparison. I have been wanting to see that for a long time! Love you all!

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    1. I was thinking the same exact thing. Great minds think alike! 😁

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  7. Time 5:25PM Sat 10/6/18
    I have seen 14 kids & counting on YouTube never get to finish it. As for the blog IDK maybe I was reading it for awhile.

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  8. Started watching fall of 2014 on Netflix. Too bad they took them down :/

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  9. Congratulations! I hope you"ll be on for another 10+ years...Jane

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  10. been a faithful fan from the first special and started following you shortly after you started your blog. and a faithful fan of your blog too!

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  11. I have bene watching since the first special. I struggled as a single parent for a season in my life and wondered how they could raise kids with such grace having 14 kids as I struggled with my 3. I was encouraged as I homeschooled my kids by them homeschooling as well. Awesome testimony to the world of how imperfect families can work through issues in an imperfect world and still press into God and give Him all the glory. Thank you for standing strong in a world that tries to push us in the way of the world. I am so encouraged by your lives. Thank you for sharing your lives and your stories with us.

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  12. It's too bad the faith part is hardly a part of the episodes any more. Main focus is on who is courting who, etc.

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  13. My family and I have been watching since 2004. We have enjoyed the variety hours/17/18/19 kids and counting. We have been watching the show and to this day we enjoy Counting On. We love the show and always can't wait until the new seasons. Natasha B.

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  14. I have been watching since 14 children and pregnant again. I really love your show

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  15. I started watching when Jessa entered a courtship with Ben (Broadcast in the UK Oct 2014).

    I started reading this blog approx. the end of 2015.

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    For UK readers:

    The next season starts on TLC on Monday 8th October, 7pm.

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    1. The 7pm time slot is not a good sign, as usually TLCs top time slot for top shows is 8pm, maybe its a two hour special?

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    2. No, 1hr condensed version of Joseph and Kendra's wedding (Already seen a 2hr version earlier in the year). There was a double bill of Outdaughtered from 8-10pm.

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  16. I watched since the days of big collars and prairie dresses and crunchy perms and homemade laundry detergent. I watched before we knew what Josh was up to, and before Derick and Jeremy were so outspoken. I watched from when we didn't know a lot of what we know now. I evolved into feeling just as disillusioned as the rest of the audience as this show went on. I'm another one who thinks "they aren't what they used to be." Or, they hid who they really were for years, maybe until they had enough money that it didn't matter what anyone said. But you shouldn't wrap a show (or the truth) in cotton candy to sell it. You need to be truthful with your audience, or they'll see right through it.

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    1. I think they are just like most of the church! The world goes a little further, and so does the church! There is not a fine line separating the two any longer in a lot of Christians lives! I believe they were sincere in the past and not faking it!! Look how quickly some of the Bates family has changed! We live in a crazy time! We all need to ask God to keep our focus on him and not the things of this world so much! Starting with my own heart!

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    2. Hold on right there. Prairie dresses and homemade detergent do not a Christian make, and the Duggars never claimed that.

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    3. I think the Duggars are wonderful and real, and I love their show. Just because they don't wear prairie dresses anymore, they are still Christians. And even the troubles in their family, and how their faith has helped them through it have been an inspiration. I wasn't a Christian when I started watching, but I accepted Jesus Christian as my savior 2 1/2 years ago. I can't say the show was the sole reason, but seeing them living their faith, was certainly a good influence. God Bless the Duggars, and may their show continue to reach others, as long as God wills it.

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  17. Ellie and Lilly, you should stop blogging for the Duggar family.

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    1. Why??? They keep us updated..and do a great job.If you dont like dont come to this web site. Your not welcomed here.
      Thanks.

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    2. Why should they stop?! We love and appreciate what Ellie does. What would be the point of stopping? If you are going to come out with such a radical suggestion, please explain yourself.

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    3. Ellie and Lilly, thank you for doing the Duggar blog. God Bless you.

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  18. I remember when it was "14 Kids and Pregnant Again". I watched it when I had cable t.v.

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  19. I've watched from the beginning. I am a Christian and I wanted to understand why some Christians would adopt such unusual beliefs, such as having so many children, females only wearing skirts and not working, home-schooling and not going to college, dancing not allowed, adult children not allowed to go anywhere alone and having to live at home until married, etc. I've heard them say things that I consider true and basic Christianity, but I still don't understand the "add-on" beliefs that made me curious in the first place.

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    1. Maybe you could read the books they wrote a while back if you're interested in more detail.

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    2. Well the way they live now compared to what and how they believed when they wrote the books are 2 different. I think a lot of what Jim Bob and Michelle tried to make family traditions and beliefs were not anything the adult kids wanted to have as their beliefs. The kids dress different, act different, seem to want smaller families etc. I think Anna is the only female that follows Jim Bob's and Michelle lifestyle.

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  20. I have been watching the Duggars since 14 kids and pregnant again! I remember seeing the title in the guide on the tv and I couldn't believe it! Now I like to occasionally look back and see when some now familiar faces first appeared!

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    1. I guess you didn't grow up where there were a lot of Catholics, back in the days before birth control. Big families of 7-8-9 kids or more were not uncommon where I grew up. I remember a family with 13, "a baker's dozen."

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  21. Been watching since 2008 love seeing your family grow over the years.

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  22. Don't get me wrong...I still love the Duggars. However, I feel like since the Josh scandal they are not being the real and honest family we all fell in love with. I think they are very secretive and act like everything is rainbows and butterflies and we all know that is not real life. I think they should end the show on a good note and only show special now and then. The show is getting so repetitive and boring it will be canceled before long anyway. The season finale even had low views for what is the usual. People are losing interest.

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Thanks for leaving your comments! We answer as many of your questions as we can, but due to the number of comments we receive daily, we are unable to answer every one. Our aim is to post all points of view, but we do not post anything that is profane, insulting, derogatory, or in poor taste.