If any of you had a childhood similar to mine, then you likely also watched hours of The Learning Channel on lazy weekend days with your family. I was raised on shows like Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Extreme Couponing and Cake Boss. Once the days of cable TV passed and my family was introduced to Netflix and Prime Video, we turned to binging other series and forgot about TLC. However, since the beginning of the year, I have found myself turning back to my old standby due to some recently released shows that have piqued my interest.
The first TLC show I started watching was Baylen Out Loud. This series follows 22-year-old Baylen Dupree as she navigates life with severe Tourette's Syndrome. It details the ups and downs of Tourettes in a way I had never seen before, highlighting both her wins and struggles. Baylen has some pretty unique and bizarre tics, which are involuntary vocalizations and movements, with one of her most common vocal tics being “slap the rotisserie chicken.” Although at times these interjections can be quite hilarious, they cause serious issues for Baylen when she is out in public. To make matters worse, her tics are exaggerated by her anxiety when she is in the public eye. This makes simple activities like going out to dinner for her brother’s birthday very complex. Baylen’s goal is to get married and have children of her own, but she is still trying to figure out how to live independently as her motor tics can make activities like cooking dangerous. Luckily, Baylen has an extremely caring family and lovely boyfriend Collin who supports her throughout the season. I have a lot more empathy and knowledge about Tourettes after watching this show. Baylen’s unique story and unapologetic personality led to the show being renewed for a second season which I am excited to watch.
Another show I found interesting this year was Jay and Pamela. They are a couple that both have a rare disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type 3 that makes it extremely easy for them to break bones. This disease has impacted their growth and mobility, so the pair use wheelchairs to get around. Although the two have had over 400 fractures combined, they do not let this stop them from living a full life. Pamela and Jay met online and dated long distance before Pamela moved in with Jay and his family. Now engaged, they are hoping to move into their own place. They both work remotely as they prepare for their wedding and deal with health issues. While I found their discussion of the more intimate aspects of their personal lives a bit overwhelming at times, I appreciate the raw honesty the two display. Despite the trials they face, they are an extremely cute and committed couple that you can't help but root for. There are still more episodes to come from Season 1 this spring so tune in!
The final TLC release I watched was Big City, Big Family. While there is only one episode currently out following the De La Motte family, it certainly is engaging. Mark and Amber have eleven children, including three college students, that all live with them in a 5 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom apartment in Harlem. All the children play string instruments and often busk on the streets of New York City, earning their account, The Happy Caravan, over 500k followers on TikTok and Instagram. The episode details the family’s move to New York City from San Diego as their daughter Pearl got into Juilliard. As very conservative Christians who homeschool, they discuss their worries that their children will struggle with temptation out on their own. However, the move has created other issues as the children feel stifled by their parents’ over-involvement and Marc and Amber are struggling to make ends meet. I really enjoyed this episode as the children are interviewed individually and you get their viewpoints separate from the parents. It is clear they have their own opinions about their parents' choices and unique way of living. Although there is no news of when another episode will be released, I still recommend giving the first one a watch.
Each of these three shows offers a window into some very unique lives. If you are looking for a way to escape the everyday grind and distract yourself from the pressures of the end of the semester with someone else’s problems, give these new TLC releases a try.
Emma Robinson is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at erobinson@cornellsun.com.
