3 Ways The Duggar Family Is Trying To Save ‘Counting On’ From Cancellation

The Duggar family’s TLC series, Counting On, is arguably the most controversial show on the network that also airs Sister Wives and Toddlers & Tiaras, and many advertisers want nothing to do with the Duggars. However, the scandal-plagued family is desperately clinging to fame, and the Duggars aren’t giving up on their careers as reality TV stars without a fight.

According to In Touch Weekly, Counting On advertisers continue to drop like flies. A rep for Chattem, the parent company for products including Gold Bond and Aspercreme, said that TLC ran its ads “in error” during the September 13 episode of the Duggar Family’s TV series. The rep revealed that Counting On is on Chattem’s “do not buy list.” Big Lots is also making sure that its ads no longer air during the show.

The Duggar family isn’t just scaring off advertisers; they’re steadily losing viewers. Counting On’s ratings have dropped by nearly one million viewers since Season 1. However, the Duggar family and TLC keep trying to save the show, and they’ve come up with a few new stunts to try for Season 2 and a possible Season 3.

Bringing Jim Bob Duggar back

According to the Washington Post, Jim Bob Duggar bragged about having the highest-rated show on TLC back in 2014. This was before TLC cancelled 19 Kids and Counting in response to the revelation that Josh Duggar had molested four of his younger sisters as a teenager, but the Duggar family was embroiled in a another scandal. After Michelle Duggar made transphobic comments, members of the LGBT community started a petition begging TLC to take away the Duggar family’s platform to promote their anti-LGBT views.

“Our show is the number one show on TLC. We love everybody,” Jim Bob said in response to the petition. “It’s a small group creating this fuss. All it has done is give us more exposure. We’ve gained 50,000 Facebook fans last week.”

According to the New York Times, the final season of 19 Kids and Counting averaged around 3.5 million viewers an episode. Showbuzz Daily reports that just 1.07 million viewers tuned in for the September 20 episode of Counting On.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar were rarely seen during the first season of Counting On, but they’ve played a much larger role during Season 2. Perhaps TLC’s thinking was that giving the parents more screentime would help the Duggar family win back the 19 Kids and Counting fans that they lost after that show’s cancellation. If this is the case, TLC may end up regretting this decision. As the Inquisitr previously reported, many viewers have complained about Jim Bob’s presence on Counting On, which has basically turned into a 19 Kids and Counting reboot minus Josh and Anna Duggar.

Some of Jim Bob’s comments are grossing fans out. He failed to protect his young daughters after Josh Duggar confessed that he was molesting them, so many viewers find it disturbing that the controlling Duggar family patriarch is now trying to forbid his 22-year-old daughter and her 29-year-old fiancé, Jeremy Vuolo, from “swapping spit.”

Getting Jinger Duggar to the Church on TLC Time

During this week’s episode of Counting On, Jessa Duggar said that she thinks that Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo are moving “too fast.” However, SheKnows speculates that Jessa was just trying to drum up some family drama for ratings; Jinger and Jeremy’s “fast track” relationship is actually playing out at the perfect pace to provide storylines for two seasons of Counting On. Is it possible that they planned the timing of their courtship announcement and engagement out to fit a filming schedule?

As Us Weekly points out, Jeremy Vuolo invited Jim Bob Duggar and Ben Seewald to look at engagement rings with him on the September 20 episode of the Duggar family’s reality show. It’s looking like the Season 2 finale will focus on Jeremy’s proposal, which sets up a possible third season that follows Jinger and Jeremy as they plan their wedding. However, Jinger and Jeremy’s nuptials don’t necessarily have to be the focus of the Season 3 finale. The Duggar family has created another major storyline to fill up airtime: Jessa’s second pregnancy.

Keeping Jessa Duggar Off Social Media

Last month, Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald told People that they’re expecting their second child. As E! News reports, Jessa shared tons of baby bump selfies when she was pregnant with her son Spurgeon, but this time around she isn’t using social media to treat her fans to a pregnancy play-by-play. In fact, Jessa hasn’t shared any baby bump photos at all.

Perhaps Jessa is trying to force baby bump watchers to tune in to Season 3 of Counting On to follow her pregnancy progression instead of simply checking her Instagram page. However, they’ll be watching her baby bump grow belatedly. Jessa’s due date is sometime next February, so her baby will likely be here by the time Season 3 airs.

As of right now, there are still companies out there willing for their ads to be aired during Counting On, and the show’s ratings don’t seem all that bad when compared to other TLC series. The most recent episode of 90 Day Fiance attracted 1.1 million viewers, and just 532,000 tuned in to watch the September 21 episode of Toddlers & Tiaras.

In other words, TLC may still view the Duggar family as one of its biggest assets, so don’t be surprised if Counting On gets a third season.

[Featured Image by TLC]