14 DAY TRIAL // TLC is not yet ready to part ways with the still-very-popular Duggars, despite the 2 major scandals Josh Duggar, the eldest son, got himself involved in this year. So, while the network pulled the plug on the family’s show 19 Kids and Counting, it never lost hope of getting Jill and Jessa Duggar to agree to go solo with their own specials.
It’s finally happening: the Associated Press has confirmation from TLC that Jill and Jessa and their respective husbands will be the subject of “two or more specials.” The first one is believed to air by the end of the year.
Josh Duggar killed the Duggars’ reality TV career
Earlier this year, older police reports emerged online, revealing that a then-teenage Josh had molested 5 minor girls, 4 of whom turned out to be his own sisters. In response, after weeks of trying to downplay the scandal by supporting the Duggars to speak out on it, TLC finally canceled 19 Kids and Counting.
Then, in August, Josh’s name came up among the millions obtained in the Ashley Madison Hack. He later admitted that he did set up accounts to cheat on his wife and claimed he did it because he was addicted to adult material.
He is now in rehab, but while he is getting help, the family was left with little chance of ever coming back to the small screen.
At about the same time, rumors that Jill and Jessa would be getting TLC specials, which had first started after the show’s cancelation, stopped.
Jill and Jessa stay on with TLC
Just when people were least expecting it, Jill and Jessa are coming back. One source tells the AP that Josh won’t be featured on the specials, or even mentioned.
TLC Executive Vice President and General Manager Nancy Daniels says that one special will feature Jill and husband Derick Dillard, as they move to El Salvador with their son, for missionary work.
The other will show Jessa and husband Ben Seewald getting ready to welcome their first baby. Just like Jill got an entire episode on the now-defunct 19 Kids and Counting about the birth of her baby, Jessa will probably be allowing TV cameras into the delivery room as well.
TLC is saying that they’re working on “two or more specials” because, obviously, if ratings are good and Jill and Jessa are welcomed back by the public with open arms, they will continue to give them more airtime.