<p>I am getting very tired of this show and others on TLC. They have to find something new. The only one that I like anymore is “ACE of cakes” - what a talented bunch.</p>
<p>I liked watching the show when it was dealing with how they coped with so many children and the mundane aspects of life. By now the kids have become old enough that viewers have seen all of the mundane tasks dealt with and there are no news worthy differences in coping- it has already been covered and/or the differences aren’t worth viewing. I personally don’t care to see other people’s children enjoying extracurricular activities anymore than they would enjoy watching my pride and joy doing the same things. They have run out of story ideas, the kids have grown up enough it is time to retire the show. The show’s focus has switched from the dynamics of a large number of same age offspring to more and more grand activities. We do not see any personal sides of the kids- no sibling interactions or viewpoints. It is time for the family to go private instead of producing a TV show. They were able to afford to raise so many kids with the TV exposure, now they need to get their lives back. Jon has a real point about his life. Kate has “blossomed” with this lifestyle but needs a huge reality check for the sake of her kids and marriage. Hopefully the kids and Jon will outvote Kate and get to lead a normal, private life- they deserve that.</p>
<p>Show I refuse to watch-the 18 kids one (I even refuse to name them). I totally disagree with their lifestyle/beliefs. Mediocre people with poor values and making money off of breeding like rabbits. Nothing to admire in that family. Jon and Kate started out fine but the success of the show has had unintended negative consequences for the family. There is no reason for either family to get all of the perks just because they have so many kids- the show was a way for Jon and Kate to pay for huge expenses, but now they have gone far above and beyond their otherwise middle class means. </p>
<p>Another show reaching its final days is Little People, Big World. That show was good for the American public in making us aware of the challenges and lifestyle similarities/differences brought about by stature. Now the kids are growing up and we have seen many facets of life as a little person. This was a show I think helped many others with short stature by answering many questions et al. I also see where this show is running out of material and showing more fancy trips. I can see infrequent update shows giving us glimpses of college life unique challenges, coverage to be determined by what the little people community feels the American public should be made aware of. This show has had a true educational value (remember when TLC was the Learning Channel?) and I felt the parents controlled content to teach us something about the realities of life as a dwarf. It takes an unusual family, in addition to their newsworthy qualities, to allow their life to be exposed to the world.</p>
<p>“Ace of Cakes” is on the Food Network. All of the reality TV shows are in need of major back to basics revisions- many are getting far too grandiose. “Reality” has become too mundane for the producers- they need to recall what it is. The “Travel” channel and poker??? I miss “Lonely Planet” episodes. TV people have forgotten that everything shouldn’t be made “bigger and better”.</p>
<p>I like the show Moving Up on HGTV. It takes 3 homeowners that have purchased the previous owners home and bring them back a few months later to show the changes they did. Most do great everyday jobs, but one wacky couple re-did the house into a Lord of The Rings Hobbit themed house. They were serious about this, even redoing door ways to circular…OMG! Meanwhile they return to their old house and find out thatalthough they knew there were dead animals within the walls they acted shocked that she had to bring the walls down to studs. That was the only outrageous episode, the others are just minor re-dos…kitchens, baths, decks, etc.</p>
<p>I like Moving Up also, it’s one of my favorite. I hate Ace of Cakes, though, and demand that the Food Network get back to Cooking!!!</p>
<p>pima - moving up is hilarious but I missed that episode. It is funny how some people get so attached to their house, they get offended when someone puts in a new kitchen! they can take it so personally!</p>
<p>Ace of Cakes is art. My 18 yr old wants them to do her wedding cake (far into the future). I told her I would pay for it and that would be my total contribution to the wedding - lol.</p>
<p>I also vote a thumbs down to Ace of Cakes!!! It IS art, but I want cake that I can eat!!!</p>
<p>Please, do not bash my favorite Ace of Cakes! I will have nothing to watch if it is gone, except for news, which is the biggest comedy of them all anymore. Ace of Cakes makes me soo happy to realize that there is such a talent in regular, ordinary people, I really admire this. They are truly inspirational.</p>
<p>Ok, Miami, I’ll keep my Ace comments to myself (and to anyone who happens to read this thread on CC…
)</p>
<p>As a realtor when I list their home I always tell them that this is a financial decision for the buyer and an emotional for the sellers. You can’t imagine how many times I give feedback…house is too dark…response…are they crazy the sun comes in here, there and everywhere.</p>
<p>Now after many yrs of being a Realtor I state to the homeowner, it is nothing personal, to a buyer it is financial…you see the house as an extension of yourself, they see it as the best bang for their buck…There is no emotion, only dollars running through their mind.</p>
<p>If you have never seen MOVING UP they do about 4 episodes back to back on HGTV every Sunday (10 am for me in VA). Sometimes I love the house better with the new owner and sometimes I cringe screaming what were you thinkiing? A few weeks ago they had a historic home (wallpaper was a little much) with 12 ft ceilings, the new owners came in and painted in vanilla white…it lost everything.</p>
<p>Some of the previous owners are kind and understand that it is the new owners home and remark with an unbiased eye, some get ticked that their old home was renovated and take it personally!</p>
<p>Back to J & K anybody now thinking that Maddy is displaying her anger b/c she is old enough to realize that when the cameras leave Mom and Dad are going at it in a bad way!</p>
<p>I am now betting Jon did everything to save the marriage including spending more time at home for the show because Kate wanted him to.</p>
<p>BTW is Ace of Cakes the one with the guy from Baltimore or is that Amazing Cakes? I love looking at the cakes, but sometimes the storyline is really boring…i.e the Baltimore guy went to LA to do King Of the Hill…I felt like saying show me the other cakes you’re making instead of watching you do the voice character</p>
<p>I enjoy Ace of Cakes, too, but it is disappointing that most don’t look very appetizing. It is art but not necessarily great cake. I’m sure some of them are, but others are so structural or sculpted that there’s not much cake. And I think fondant is one of the most revolting food products ever. Of course, I also like good 'ol white wedding cake with plain icing. </p>
<p>The novelty wears off of most of the family focused shows whether there are 8/12/20 kids. I do like the little people show, and really thought the episode where the dad went to Iraq was moving. What is must mean to those children to see an adult who is able to function/travel/work/have a family cannot be overestimated.</p>
<p>I like Top Chef and the other one on Food Network where they start with four and give them weird ingredients and whittle it down to one winner at the end (hosted by Ted Allen). I’m also a Dog Whisperer, Dog Town, Underdog to Wonderdog addict. Sometimes like Me or the Dog if the people aren’t too outrageous.</p>
<p>Ace of Cakes the one with the guy from Baltimore</p>
<p>“I think fondant is one of the most revolting food products ever.”</p>
<p>I agree; you can get a similar look and a delicious cake by covering it with rolled marzipan. Yum!</p>
<p>That being said, I LOVE Ace of Cakes!</p>
<p>My daughter had a cake from Charm City Cakes (Ace of Cakes) for her 16th birthday. This was before they were famous and ordering meant calling Duff on his cell phone. He answered in the Miami airport and told me to call Mary Alice. She was very nice and helpful. Geoff made the cake and brought it out to my car. It was certainly not as elaborate as the ones seen on the show but it was beautiful and very tasty. She chose vanilla and raspberry cake. We didn’t eat the fondant, but really enjoyed the cake and the icing. When I ordered the cake, the show was not on so no one knew much about them. I’m glad I have lots of pictures of the cake.</p>
<p>cartera - thanks for that review. I’m thinking about using Ace of Cakes for a summer bash celebrating 20th anniversary for me and DH, college farewell for S, and sweet 16 for D. I always knew the cakes look great, but wondered about how they taste.</p>
<p>cartera45, I envy your experience! I am glad to hear that they are tasty in addition to being so artfully created. Thanks for sharing!</p>
<p>I will reiterate that this was over 3 years ago so things could have changed. Of course things have changed with regard to how far ahead to call. I’m sure they are booked months in advance. Other than the frosting, my D’s cake was a regular layer cake - it was decorated like a gift package with strips of pink and green (she was a preppie) but there was plenty of cake.</p>
<p>I watched this show for the first time last night. They were picking out the bunk beds for the eight kids, then were painting the room. It reminded me of how I have to keep my cats out of certain rooms. </p>
<p>Here’s a hint. Close the door and lock it if you don’t want them to come in!</p>
<p>I forget, they’re human. They will bang on the door and scream and kick to be let in.</p>
<p>I said a special Rosary, thanking God for only blessing me with one child. </p>
<p>Just kidding! They really are precious. Remind me of family gatherings. It was like watching my sister’s twin girls times four.</p>
<p>Jon is going to have stars on his crown in heaven. And Kate, too! After she spends some time in purgatory. Again, I’m kidding!</p>
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<p>LOL. Yes, we always somehow want to think of these moms of big families as saintly. I have a friend whose mom had 5 kids in 6 years. I asked how her mom handled it. My friend said, “Badly. I really think we drove her kind of crazy.” </p>
<p>A secretary at work was one of 9 kids. She said her mom was skinny as a rail because she never sat down to eat…but she did always have a drink (alcoholic) in her hand.</p>
<p>I had a Mom of 9 that worked for me at a Federated Store. One day in Aug. I asked her if she was cold. She looked at me like it was an insane question…WHY? Because you have your arms crossed over. Oh NO DEAR, I am not cold I was pregnant for so long that I have no other idea what to do with them. (envision having them rest on your pregnant belly)</p>
<p>I still laugh at that!</p>
<p>My Mom had my older brother then 15 months later had twin girls. When my kids were young I would call her and try to ask her questions about the usual baby/toddler things. She would reply “I have no idea…it’s all a blur.”<br>
Knowing even some of the stories of her raising the three of us (back when Dad took the car to work and Mom was home all day with no vehicle) does make me feel for these Moms…
Of course, back then multiple births were an accident, not engineered and there was certainly no gravy train of reality TV.</p>