TLC

TLC’S “MY GIANT LIFE” – BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY

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The network that brought you “My Husband’s Not Gay” (that would be TLC, of course) has a new show documenting the lives of four women over 6’6” tall called “My Giant Life” that premiered last night. Naturally the four women face unique every day challenges. Two of the women are 6’9” – one is a seventeen year old high school girl who plays basketball. In Texas, no less. Another, shown above, is a former wrestler and actress in Los Angeles who happens to be searching for her long lost father responsible for her height. We are frankly torn by unsettling feelings about exploitation and the strong desire to watch this show.
Photo: TLC

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BREAKING AMISH’S JEREMIAH IS A CON MAN

TLC should really fire the producers of “Breaking Amish” because what COULD have been a fascinating peek into another culture is turning out to be even more of a sham than The Bachelor. Jeremiah (last name Raber) is no wide-eyed teen – he’s actually 32 and divorced with three children and he hasn’t been Amish since he was 18! His ex-wife Naomi spilled the beans to a Pennsylvania news station CBS 21, and to Star magazine, AND she claims the show’s producers tried to pay her to keep quiet! She revealed that Jeremiah’s parents haven’t “shunned” him – they SPOILED him – buying him two cars and helping him out whenever he needs money. Naomi doesn’t remember a time when Jeremiah DIDN’T Have a cell phone and he’s fond of strip clubs. That big scene where he got a tattoo was particularly contrived – he actually has had the tattoo for years – it featured the name of his wife and 3 children. On the show he had his wife’s name removed, and passed it off as a brand new tattoo! TLC should be ashamed.

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BREAKING AMISH: REBECCA’S NOT SUCH A GOOD GIRL

breakingamish #janetcharlton

“Breaking Amish” continues to create problems for TLC when it comes to “reality.” TLC claimed the five young Amish people featured were inexperienced and had never left their communities. Websites are popping up online claiming that several of the cast members have not lived the Amish life for quite awhile. A photograph of Abe and Rebecca holding a baby that appeared on his brother Andy’s Facebook page (Facebook?) has critics saying they already have a child together. And a photo of Rebecca allegedly at a pool party in 2010 after she was too modest to wear a swimsuit on the show, DOES imply fakery. Kate (the one with the DUI in Florida) had no trouble modeling a bikini on one episode. Expect more revelations as the show continues – how will TLC explain all this? The premise of the series is fascinating – too bad it wasn’t produced with more attention to detail – and truth.

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HUNGRY? “HOARDING: BURIED ALIVE” WILL KILL YOUR APPETITE, FOR SURE

#hoarding #janetcharlton

Working at the TLC network becomes increasingly risky as three women who work in the show “Hoarding: Buried Alive” got sick after cleaning up a filthy garage in Houston. The jam-packed house in question was quarantined for four days because local health authorities feared the women were exposed to the dreaded and often fatal Hantavirus. (The virus is contracted by breathing dried rodent urine or feces.) Fortunately, the clean-up women tested negative for the disease. Many viewers find the hoarding show to be revolting, (and actually it is an effective appetite suppressant) but it also shines a light on a mental disorder that needs to be addressed. It’s funny how MANY of the TLC shows tend to make the viewer queasy….

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FEARLESS TLC IS TAKING IT ONE STEP BEYOND: CAN YOUR STOMACH BEAR IT?

#halftonkiller #janetcharlton

The National Enquirer should be ashamed. TLC has stolen their sensational tabloid investigation ideas and they are building a hugely successful (if somewhat tasteless) network on it. The Enquirer should have had a tabloid network of their own YEARS ago. We thought Honey Boo Boo and the siamese twins Abby and Brittany were startling, but this new special “Half-Ton Killer,” telling the story of a grotesquely obese woman charged with squashing a little girl is beyond belief. Be warned: this is a scary video

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EVEN AMISH PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE TO BE ON TV

#breakingamish #janetcharlton

If you can’t trust the Amish – who CAN you trust? TLC’s new hit show “Breaking Amish” is our current favorite and with three million viewers, has better ratings than Honey Boo Boo. But apparently the naïve Amish and Mennonite young people on the show were not 100% honest with producers. Once character on the show has not only lived outside the community before, but has been married with two children, and divorced, according to the New York Daily News. Cast members were investigated as carefully as possible, but the Amish and Mennonites aren’t as fussy about record-keeping as mainstream society. An insider revealed that the issue will be dealt with in an up coming episode. Episode 3 of 10 airs Sunday.

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TLC IS SEEKING TO MAKE UP FOR “HONEY BOO BOO” WITH NEW SHOW “BREAKING AMISH”

#breakingamish #janetcharlton

Don’t know what YOU will be doing Sunday night, but we are looking forward to watching “Breaking Amish” on the questionable TLC. The show documents five Amish young people who bravely choose to leave their strict communities forever and try to start a new life in New York City. They have very limited education and no knowledge of computers or cell phones or how to drive a car. Considering how ill-prepared they are for modern life, their struggles must be monumental. We’re almost hooked and we haven’t seen the first episode yet.

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ABBY AND BRITTANY: REALITY SHOWS JUST TOOK A GIANT LEAP – BUT IN WHICH DIRECTION?

#abbyandbrittany #janetcharlton

We’re trying hard NOT to be freaked out by TLC’s new reality show “Abby and Brittany” documenting the story to conjoined twins from Minnesota who just graduated from college and are now job hunting. The two girls are cheerful and perky and have separate personalities but they are literally joined at the neck and share one body. Abby controls the right arm and leg and Brittany controls the left. Internally they have separate hearts, stomachs and spinal core, but share reproductive organs. A third arm was removed early on. They are used to being stared at, so being on camera didn’t bother them. We can’t stop pondering, is this a kind of twisted freak show or is it GOOD for everyone involved? Certainly it’s heartwarming to see the girls enjoy their lives. Is TLC pandering to morbid curiosity seekers or will this show teach viewers to be kinder to unusual or disadvantaged people? What’s your opinion? Will you watch this?

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THREE PRINCES IN DISGUISE, LOOKING FOR LOVE

Forget the whining Kardashians, THIS reality show looks like FUN! On Tuesday, Jan 31, TLC will introduce “Undercover Princes” and it looks hilarious. Linda Stasi at the NY Post has seen early episodes and she LOVED it. The show was inspired by Eddie Murphy’s movie “Coming to America.” Three genuine bachelor princes – from Sri Lanka, South Africa, and India, travel to the UK to live together with no servants and look for love dressed like normal people. (One of them is gay!) They are socially awkward and don’t know how to do anything for themselves so every day is a struggle. Watching them search for romance could become a new indulgence.

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