As if West Virginia didn't have enough of an issue with the kids from Buckwild, now TLC is bringing us Gypsy Sisters from the hills of Martinsburg. We first met Mellie on My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding as the stripper with a heart of gold penchant for violence. Now she's joined by her older sister Nettie, cousin Kayla, and friend Laura. Admittedly, I am fascinated with the gypsy culture.
The show follows the four women and their families, as they bling, tat, clean, tan, and engage in vicious fist fights. Ah, yes, The Learning Channel at it's finest. I am glad to see that it's keeping up with all of the other high brow reality networks. That said, I will totally be watching this madness. It's like the Bad Girls Club, but with gypsies! And just wait until you hear what Nettie's grandchildren are named. You just can't make this up, people…you. just. can't. The show premieres on TLC at 9PM ET on Sunday February 10th.
CLICK THE CONTINUE READING BUTTON TO MEET THE CAST AND SEE A CLIP FROM THE UPCOMING SEASON!
Have you ever wanted to know what it feels like to party like a rockstar polygamist? Well, now you can! Sister Wives' star and ridiculously coifed patriarch Kody Brown just celebrated his birthday with the help of his four wives, Meri, Janelle, Robyn, and Christine. Oh, and fourteen of pair's quintets' seventeen kids were there too.
Due to their conservative religious lifestyle (you know, the one that affords them four giant houses and Kody's midlife crisis convertible), the party was just a time to be at home with the family, showering dear old dad with gifts and goodies. They stayed far from the Vegas strip…and the strip breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Love them or hate them, the Shannon Thompson family has catapulted to international stardom for nothing more than being their normal, everyday selves. Sure, the majority of people think that their normal, everyday selves are unhealthy and a bit gross, but nonetheless, they truly seem to love and accept one another.
Now the crew from Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is facing some sad news, but something tells me the family is going to pull through it even stronger. Sugar Bear's brother and Alana Thompson's beloved Uncle Poodle, Lee Thompson, has just announced that he is HIV positive. In an interview Poodle explains that he wants to use his diagnosis as a platform to put an end to bullying.
This was a good week for our favorite reality shows! It seems that everyone is getting back into the swing of 2013, and with a routine comes our favorite old habits…watching some of the most fantastically trashy television series known to man.
Lots of networks premiered new seasons of their hit shows, while Bravo maintains steady viewership for its shows that bridged the holiday season. Whether you were tuning in to Here Comes Honey Boo, NeNe Leakes (WIG!), or Seanthis season is going to bLowe try to find love, you were certainly watching!
Alana Thompson and her redneckognizing family are back with a slew of holiday specials. First up? It's Halloween! If the group's time at Shhh! It's A Wig is any indication, we are in for a wild, wild ride. I have not been quiet in my love for all things Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, but last night was overkill. Don't get me wrong, I still love this family, but TLC needs to differentiate between thirty minutes of hilarious redneck reveling and an hour of dragging out poor Sugar Bear in a wheelchair. Although, how awesome was he with baby Kaitlyn?
Oh Lord, I don't even know what to say. Two minutes into the special we are treated to June napping haphazardly across her bed and Pumpkin emerging from the crawl space beneath the house (just how close does that train come to their home??) with some nastiness she's found. Pumpkin ties said nastiness to a 2×4 and dangles it over her mother's face. I can only imagine what the remaining fifty-eight minutes have in store. As for Chubbs, Chickadee, and Smoochie, they love Halloween for the sweets. As Alana so eloquently sings/raps, "Halloween is all about the treats…treatin' myself to candy!" She's practically autotuned!
Poor Sugar Bear is in a wheelchair due to a recent surgery, and Pumpkin wants to dress up Chickadee's baby as a cheese ball for Halloween. The baby is precious! June shares that Halloween is a special time for her family, given that the girls love to dress up (well, duh, they are a pageant fam!), and they love to eat candy. I'd say that's a fair assessment. The family is decorating the yard for Halloween, and I have never seen such an assortment of pumpkin inflatables. There's that darn train again…I'd make spotting the train a drinking game, but I fear that I wouldn't be able to make it through this recap! June and Sugar Bear gather up the girls to head to the pumpkin patch. I'm so happy to see they already have their Christmas lights up on their house. That should make preparation for the yuletide holiday special that much easier.
Last night was the season finale of Sister Wives followed by a family interview. We watched Logan head off to college, and we were teased with a Kody Brown haircut. I can't say I'm sad to see it end…for now.
Christine is freaking out about the closings of the homes. Kody reveals that the family has yet to qualify for their loans. Um, why are they doing this again if they can't afford it? Kody and his wives head to the bank to pick out their options for their homes. One at a time, the ladies pour over carpet colors and countertops. Robyn is up first, and she's quick to make her decisions. Meri is up next, and she's already over budget. Meri is stressed about the money, but she still wants to see any potential upgrades. Are you kidding me? Kody is quickly getting frustrated because he thinks that a washer and dryer is way more important than special countertops. Meri is on the defensive, and she's over it. She leaves, allowing her sister wives to pick their options.
Last night was a Sister Wives' road trip from hell. I got totally stressed out just watching it. Kody Brown's behavior rivaled that of his youngest children, and we learned that Meri Brown and Robyn Sullivan-Brown's great-great-(and great) grandfathers were both hanging out in Nauvoo, Illinois at the same time. Perhaps that's why they have such a connection? Christine Brown fancied herself a Chris Brown with her impromptu stand-up routines during the sofa interviews, and I think that Janelle Brown said maybe three words. She was probably still traumatized from the road trip.
The episode begins as the family is celebrating Logan's birthday. Kody announces that everyone is going to file into two RVs for a road trip to Nauvoo, Illinois which is where the Church of Latter Day Saints gained popularity. While the Browns aren't a part of that denomination, they are looking forward to learning more about their Mormon forefathers. Needless to say, the teenagers aren't super thrilled at the idea of driving three days to Illinois to learn their church history, while the younger kids just hear "RVs."
Hunter and Logan manage to get out of the pilgrimage thanks to prior plans and football camp. The teen girls are beyond jealous of their brothers' good fortune. Logan and Hunter aren't even pretending they're upset to missing this debacle. Christine and Robyn will be staying in hotels while the other ladies will be bunking in the RVs.
Last night we were treated to a double dose of Sister Wives, but it wasn't really more of Kody Brown's lion mane. TLC just gave us two thirty minute episodes instead of one hour-long program. There's drama and Kody tears…it's not funny. So why am I laughing as I type? Perhaps because when I typed it, I didn't realize that Kody was crying over the loss of a dog…I am a horrible person. I am so saddened that the Browns have to deal with putting down their twelve-year-old family member.
On the first episode, the family meets to go over the different options for the homes. Granite countertops? Christine Brown is quick to pick her back splashes and cabinets, but Meri Brown and Robyn Sullivan Brown are slow to make a decision. Meri is willing to get another job so she can have what she wants in the house. Seriously, Meri? You're too good for sliding glass doors? She really isn't willing to budge on what she wants in her home even though she's over budget. I love that Christine won't offer up any of her extra cash even though she comes in under budget. I totally get that Meri shouldn't be punished budget wise just because she wasn't able to have more kids, but on the flip side, she should be thanking her lucky stars she's getting a ginormous home for herself while her sister wives will have kids doubling up in bedrooms. I normally really like Meri, but she needs to get over herself.
Thanks Meri, for making me tear up by showing me an aging, sick dog. It breaks my heart. I'm such a dog person, and I've lost two dogs when I was growing up to old age, and one who was hit by a car as an adult. I just let my four-legged child get up on the sofa with me to watch this show because all of this dog story line is so sad. Meri and Kody call in all the children to say good-bye to Drake, and the kids are bawling crying and taking pictures with the sweet pooch.
Over at Janelle Brown's house, it's time to hit the gym. She is up at quarter till five in the morning, and she's heading to meet with her trainer. I think it's very brave of Janelle to share her weight loss struggles. Christine is very proud of her sister wife's dedication. Janelle's trainer is is not only working on her body, but he's also trying to help her change her eating behavior. She is very determined.
