Little People, Big World

[tamaradixon]

TLC's show about the Roloff Family.
There was a marathon tonight, which had me totally hooked, and the season finale is airing tomorrow night at 8.

There's something about this show that's very addictive. I think I'd watch them even if they weren't 'little people'. In fact, that seems to play a fairly minor role in the stories now.

And am I a total perv for thinking oldest son (well, twin) Jeremy is turning out mighty fine (he's now 17)?

[grumpygirl]

I watch it, too. The father used to royally get on my nerves until a scene recently where he was talking about how he could do so much more if he had a normal body. He was very wistful and sad, not maudlin, but resigned to the fact that not only is he small, but very crippled. It was really heartbreaking.

The mom is the best. She's just so settled and calm and normal. The oldest boys are too whiney for my taste, but it's probably because they're teenagers. Plus they need diction lessons, they slur their words so badly I can't understand them most of the tiem. Maybe it's a teenager thing!

[Deleted]

The mom is the best. She's just so settled and calm and normal.

I agree, but it's funny you say that because over at TWOP they think she's a miserable bitch trapped in an unhappy marriage. I've only watched a few episodes, but I have yet to see any indication of this. I have 2 teenagers myself and the Roloff home life seems pretty ordinary to me in that regard. In fact, I actually watch this show because I can relate to the Roloff's as a family regardless of them being "little people."

[coley]

How much is TLC paying them? I can't stop wondering, since in the first season the mom was constantly worrying about money, and then in the second season the dad went back to his sales job because they didn't think they had enough money to run the farm and take care of the family on the money they were making with the mom's part time jobs and and the dad's little-person-hotel-kit business.

Then all of a sudden in the third season they are all going to Hawaii and staying at a mega-expensive hotel in a huge suite, and the dad is renovating the house like there is no tomorrow. Is the sales job so lucrative that he can spend at least $10K on a vacation, put in new hardwood floors on the whole first floor at the spur of the moment (and like 2 days before Thanksgiving with the family coming over!) and now re-doing all the kids rooms? Or is TLC paying for all this stuff?

[Ladybug]

I can see TLC paying for the vacation, just so they would have something interesting to film. And they are probably getting paid well for the show. Also, they rent out their farm for corporate events, and I imagine they get paid well for that.

I like this show and the family. They seem totally normal, warts and all.

[Deleted]

highondegrassi said:

The mom is the best. She's just so settled and calm and normal.

I agree, but it's funny you say that because over at TWOP they think she's a miserable bitch trapped in an unhappy marriage. I've only watched a few episodes, but I have yet to see any indication of this. I have 2 teenagers myself and the Roloff home life seems pretty ordinary to me in that regard. In fact, I actually watch this show because I can relate to the Roloff's as a family regardless of them being "little people."

That's what bugs me bout the threads on TLC.

To me it seems that the dynamic of the couple is that Matt is the dreamer and Amy is a bit of a naysayer. But you need that otherwise you'd never get anything done. I must confess that sometimes her negativity gets on my nerves on the show but also his "Ok, let's throw a Halloween party for the city two days from now" also gets on my nerves.

I don't like how the two boys sass him all the time though. Amy can be negative about his plans but they shouldn't be.

But all in all, these are normal family problems. I think that's why I like the show so much.

I will say that I think the fame went to Jeremy's head somewhat because he totally did a relationship "upgrade". His girlfriend last season was sweet and pretty and they met at church and his girlfriend this season is always fake tanned and is probably more in line with the high school ideal of "Hot". Or something.

[kostgard]

I don't live that far away from their farm and I keep meaning to go there and get my Halloween pumpkins from them.

If I do go this fall, I'll be more than happy to bop any sassy teens upside the head if anyone would like me to pass one along - "This is from the Internets! Quit sassin' your dad!"

[grumpygirl]

kostgard said:

I don't live that far away from their farm and I keep meaning to go there and get my Halloween pumpkins from them.

If I do go this fall, I'll be more than happy to bop any sassy teens upside the head if anyone would like me to pass one along - "This is from the Internets! Quit sassin' your dad!"

Oooh, that would be so cool. If I lived in that part of the world I would totally go to their farm. I think that's why their pumpkin business is doing so well, they have the exposure from the show now.

I think that Amy has to be the naysayer because otherwise Matt would NEVER finish a project and would have them launching wooden shuttles from the barn. "I just KNOW we can go into space from here!" Matt is very smart and energetic though. The show where he was doing his talk to the Novotel hotel people about the stools really made me sit up and take notice. He's a very charismatic speaker. Really, really good at it, a real natural.

I also noticed the upgrades at the house. Last year it was the big addition with kitchen and family room. Then the kids bedrooms were getting redone.

And you know, they just seem like nice, down-to-earth people. If you needed something, they'd do it for you. The twins need to be bopped, but most teenagers do.

[Deleted]

kostgard said:

I don't live that far away from their farm and I keep meaning to go there and get my Halloween pumpkins from them.

If I do go this fall, I'll be more than happy to bop any sassy teens upside the head if anyone would like me to pass one along - "This is from the Internets! Quit sassin' your dad!"

Yes! Do it!

(and I love using the word sass)

I really wish Zach would close his mouth. Everytime he's on the screen he has his mouth hanging open. It reminds me of that line in Mary Poppins when Mary says "Close your mouth, Michael, we are not a codfish!"

So if you could bop him on the head and say "The internets would also like to remind you that you are not a codfish--close your mouth!"

[grumpygirl]

My mom always said "Close your mouth or your brain will fall out." He seems like a mouth breather. Maybe he needs to have his adnoids removed. Whatever adnoids are.