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19 Kids and Counting
Genre	Family reality
Created by	Figure 8 Films
Composers	Scott Pearson, David Imhof
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	11
No. of episodes	163 (and 11 specials) (list of episodes)
Production
Producer	Sean Overbeeke
Running time	23 minutes (special episodes: 46 minutes)
Original release
Network	TLC
Release	September 29, 2008 – present

19 Kids and Counting (formerly 17 Kids and Counting and 18 Kids and Counting), rendered graphically as 19 Kids & Counting in its onscreen logo, is an American reality television show on TLC. The show is about the Duggar family, which consists of parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children—nine girls and ten boys (including two sets of fraternal twins), all of whose names begin with the letter "J". The series began on September 29, 2008. It has had ten seasons, with an eleventh that began on April 2.

Background

The Duggars live in Tontitown, Arkansas, and originally appeared in several TLC and Discovery Health one-hour specials, most of which focused on four of Michelle's last five deliveries. Jim Bob Duggar has one older sister, Deanna, who (along with her daughter Amy) occasionally appears on the show. Michelle Duggar has six siblings. The couple met in the early 1980s when Jim Bob Duggar, along with a fellow church member, were sent for a follow-up visit after Michelle Duggar had experienced a religious conversion. Jim Bob and Michelle were married on July 21, 1984.

The Duggars elected to delay having children and practiced birth control. It was four years before Josh, their eldest, was born. They then resumed using birth control; despite precautions, they conceived again but Michelle Duggar miscarried. Michelle revealed that they had named the miscarried child Caleb, even though they did not know whether the baby was a boy or a girl. Believing the miscarriage was due to the contraceptive, the Duggars quit using birth control. As they explained, they "decided to allow God to determine the number of children" they would have. Shortly thereafter, Michelle became pregnant again, this time with her first set of twins, Jana and John-David. Thereafter, Michelle has given birth approximately every year and a half.

The Duggars are devout fundamentalist Christians. In accordance with their beliefs, they only watch wholesome family television on DVD, and various historical events. They have filtered Internet service. They wear modest clothing; girls wear long hair and skirts below the knees, boys are clean-shaven and short-haired, and they also wear modest-wear swimsuits. Instead of dating, they practice chaperoned courtship, which encompasses the couple abstaining from physical contact. In the event of engagement, the suitor seeks permission from the young woman's father before asking her to be his wife. The children are homeschooled using a mix of materials, including those of Switched On Schoolhouse, Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), and Accelerated Christian Education (ACE). For college studies, several of the older kids use the CollegePlus! program.

The Duggars raise their children using a buddy system, wherein an older sibling is assigned to a younger sibling and assists in the latter's primary care. According to Michelle, "They help them with their little phonics lessons and games during the day and help them practice their music lessons. They will play with them or help them pick out the color of their outfit that day and just all of those types of things." In 2004, Michelle Duggar won the "Young Mother of the Year Award" in Arkansas, which is sponsored by American Mothers Incorporated.

Jim Bob Duggar served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002. He later became a real estate agent and investor. The Duggars' income is derived from the rental proceeds of the commercial properties they own. They live debt-free, which Jim Bob Duggar has said is "the fruit of Jim Sammons' Financial Freedom Seminar" he attended years ago. (Sammons' Seminar is endorsed by IBLP.). The construction of their 7,000-square-foot (650-square- meter) house was begun by the family in 2000 when they bought the lot and ordered the frame. Discovery Networks completed it, by finding local Arkansas construction workers to donate their skills and time. The home was completed on January 20, 2006. The painting, decorating, furnishings, appliances, and other finishing touches—such as a stocked pantry—were provided by Discovery Networks and corporate sponsors as part of the one-hour television special entitled 16 Children and Moving In.

During the series

On December 10, 2009, Michelle gave birth via emergency Caesarean section to Josie Brooklyn Duggar, three months prematurely. Michelle was rushed to the hospital for gallstones and it was there that doctors discovered she had pre-eclampsia and performed an emergency delivery. Josie weighed 1 lb, 6oz at birth. A week after the birth, Michelle reported that Josie was "doing as well as can be expected for a baby at her age. We are taking each hour as it comes." On April 6, 2010, after nearly four months in the hospital, Michelle and Jim Bob were able to take Josie to their rental in Little Rock, while they awaited the okay to take her home to Tontitown. However, on April 8, 2010, Josie Duggar was readmitted to the hospital after her vital signs dropped. Fortifiers that had been added to breast milk to help her gain weight appeared to be the cause.

The Duggars were able to take Josie home to Tontitown on June 23, 2010. Michelle Duggar said Josie was doing well and weighed about nine pounds. By that December she weighted 15 lbs. 12 ounces.

The couple had discussed the possibility of having more children, with Michelle Duggar saying,

We would love more! I'm 43, almost 44 this September. I know that my mommy years are probably numbered, and I don't know how many more children God will see fit to give me. ... t is something we've been praying about because we do love children. Each child really is a gift and that doesn't mean just our children. We asked the Lord to give us a love of children the way He loves children. That is something that we've prayed about, and we'll just see what the Lord has in store for our family in the future.

On November 8, 2011, Michelle Duggar and family appeared on NBC's Today Show to announce that she was expecting their 20th child. On December 8, 2011, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar revealed that she miscarried. Six days later, they held a memorial service for their unborn girl whom they named Jubilee Shalom (which means celebration and peace).

On March 11, 2013, Josh and Anna Duggar announced they were expecting their third child and on April 1st, revealed it will be a boy, due June 7th.

Duggar family

Parents

• James Robert "Jim Bob" Duggar – born (1965-07-18) July 18, 1965 (age 59)
• Michelle Annette Duggar (née Ruark) – born (1966-09-13) September 13, 1966 (age 58)

Children

Josh's family

• Anna Renée (née Keller) – born (1988-06-23) June 23, 1988 (age 36) – married Josh on September 26, 1987
• Mackynzie Renée – born (2009-10-08) October 8, 2009 (age 15) (homebirth)
• Michael James – born (2011-06-15) June 15, 2011 (age 13) (homebirth)
• Baby boy due June 7, 2013

Guests appearing

Family members

Non-family

The most often recurring guests (other than relatives) are the Bates family from Tennessee. Because they are so similar to the Duggars (having 19 kids of their own), they have become close friends. As of 2012, there is a spin-off series featuring the Bates family, called United Bates of America.

Other notable guests have been:

• Meredith Vieira of Today
• Kirk Cameron – two episodes (in seasons 2 & 10)
• Dolly Parton – two episodes in season 3
• Charles Stanley (minister) – season 6, episode 3
• Dan Harris of Good Morning America – season 7, episode 12
• Bethany Hamilton (professional surfer) – season 8, episode 6

Availability

DVDs

Online releases

Episodes of the series are available for download from the iTunes Store, Amazon Instant Video, and Microsoft's Zune Marketplace.

References

1. "14 Children and Pregnant Again!". TLC. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
2. "The Duggars: Countdown to Baby 18". Discovery Health. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
3. "Couple welcomes 17th child – and wants more". MSNBC. Archived from the original on August 17, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007. The Duggars have been featured on several programs on cable television's Discovery Health Network. The next special, the Duggar Family Album, is scheduled to air next month, according to Jim Bob.
4. "The Duggars Religion". Wordpress. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
5. "Family Scrapbook". Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Family. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
6. Gicas, Peter. "Michelle Duggar on Her Miscarriage". E! Online. Retrieved December 12, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help)
7. Home Education Resources | Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Family
8. "Duggars College Choice". Retrieved November 21, 2011.
9. American Morning, CNN October 15, 2005, http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/14/ltm.02.html
10. "(The Duggar family with Governor Huckabee)". MSNBC. Associated Press. May 25, 2004. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
11. Carrie Rengers (September 9, 2001). "13 Children Add Up To Asset For Challenger". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
12. ^ Arnold Hamilton (December 19, 2005). "For Arkansas family, 18's not a crowd". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009. The Duggars are an anomaly, attracting worldwide media attention.
13. Prill Boyle. "Eating an Elephant". National Association of Baby Boomer Women. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
14. Michelle Duggar. "Raising 14 Kids". parents.com. Retrieved September 2003. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
15. "Duggar baby No. 19 arrives early". MSNBC. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
16. "Duggar Baby 'Doing As Well As Can Be Expected', Says Mom". People. Archived from the original on December 20, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
17. Josie Duggar Back in Hospital – Health : People.com
18. Dennis, Alicia (December 10, 2010). "Duggar Family, Michelle Duggar Celebrate Josie's Birthday". People. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
19. "Exclusive Interview: Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar Say Josie Weighs Nearly 6 Pounds; Would Love More Kids & Consider Adopting". Radar Online. May 7, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
20. Dube, Rebecca. "20 kids and counting!". msnbc. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
21. Dennis, Alicia. "Michelle Duggar Miscarries". People.com. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
22. Joyce, Chen. "Duggar family plans memorial service for baby Jubilee Shalom after tragic miscarriage". NY Daily News. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
23. Salon: "Why did the Duggars photograph a stillborn baby?", December 16, 2011.
24. ^ "Josh and Anna Duggar Expecting Third Baby". people.com. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
25. ^ "Duggars reveal gender of their next grandchild". NBCNews.com. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
26. ^ "Family Scrapbook". Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Family. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
27. ^ "Birthdays". duggarsblog.blogspot.ca. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
28. Zutter, Natalie. "Duggar Extortion Scandal Was A Total Non-Issue". Retrieved March 12, 2013.
29. "AmyRDuggar".
30. ASIN B001VZ9YP0, 17 Kids and Counting (2 DVD Set)
31. "Package Art and New Details Delivered for the DVD Set". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
32. "18 Kids and Counting Season 3 DVD". Retrieved November 21, 2011.
33. "Retail Release of Season 3 DVDs in March". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
34. "19 Kids and Counting Season 4 DVD". Retrieved November 21, 2011.
35. "Season 4 DVD Set is Going 'Wide' in April". TVShowOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
36. "19 Kids and Counting Season 5 DVD". Retrieved September 6, 2012.

External links

• Official site
• Duggar Family's website
• Influence-Music.com (Show's composers Scott Pearson & David Imhof)
• Official family facebook page
• Josh & Anna Duggar's website
• 19 Kids and Counting at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com show

• 2008 American television series debuts
• 2000s American television series
• 2010s American television series
• American reality television series
• English-language television series
• TLC (TV channel) programs
• Television shows set in Arkansas
• Children
• Discovery Communications