Well that was creepy...

Shiny Happy People

As a "fan" of reality TV Shows and the ensuing trainwrecks, I was aware of the Duggar Family. Aware in the sense that I knew who they were and what they were all about but I never watched the show. I watched Jon and Kate, and I glanced at the Octomom because although they were "out there" they seemed more real to me. The Duggars were another story. I know a lot of people who grew up in strict religious households and communities. Without exception they all suffered abuse at the hands of men and elders in the community. All in this case is not hyperbole. I could enumerate the kinds of abuse and the extent but to get an idea you should just watch the show that is if you can stomach it. The weird thing for me about the Duggar shows was that their situation was presented as if it was good thing. TLC and Discovery always had shows with observably weird situations but they whitewashed the protagonists for public consumption. Shows about hoarders and cupoun clippers and people who ate weird things were common. The producers of the shows went out of their way to elicit sympathy for the main characters.

Sometime in the early 10's the Forrest Gump effect hit reality TV. Duck Dynasty, Honey Boo Boo and other shows that highlighted corn pone Beverly Hillbilly style "wisdom" were everywhere and the Duggars were front and center. That's when to my mind the Duggars went from being family of 19 headed by a creepy controlling guy maried to an idiot factory, to something more insidious. This odd sect of American Christianity was being put forth as somehow wholesome and uplifting. That of course went to hell in a handbasket when the inevitable sexual abuse scandal broke. Shiny Happy People season 1 documents the rise and fall of the villains and the tribulations of those that suffered at their hands. It's really disturbing but it is definitely worth the watch especially with all that is going on now.