19 Kids and Counting

19 Kids and Counting is a reality television series that premiered in 2008 on TLC. The show follows conservative Christians Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who do not believe in using birth control, as they believe God's will should determine how many children they will have. Presently, the Duggars have 19 children (ten boys and nine girls) who all have names starting with the letter "J." The family resides in Tontitown, Arkansas in the 7000 square-foot dwelling the Duggars built themselves. The series gives viewers a glimpse into the everyday lives of this enormous family, and how ordinary activities such as dining, laundry, and shopping are vastly different when there's a small army to be clothed and fed. Because the Duggars have such conservative, religious values, Michelle and Jim Bob home-school all of their children, and allow them very little access to television and the internet. The family also lives extremely frugally, buying mostly second-hand goods at thrift shops and garage sales. When the show premiered, it was initially called "17 Kids and Counting," but given the family's stance on birth control, the name has changed (and will likely change again) to reflect the accurate number of Duggar children. MORE