a father holding three babies in diapers TV multiples: Finally, we have come up with a theory to explain this rather bizarre genre. iStockphoto.com
 

by Linda Holmes

Believe it or not, there is yet another reality show about a giant gaggle of children premiering tonight on TLC. Called Table For 12, it's about parents who have two sets of twins and a set of sextuplets.

This joins, of course, Jon & Kate Plus 8, and also the Duggar family chronicles (they are, incidentally, Quiverfull followers).

The Duggar stories started with 14 Children And Pregnant Again and are currently up to 18 Kids And Counting, and will one day be called, presumably, something like, 29 Kids And Okay Now We're Starting To Get Kind Of Tired.

The TLC/Discovery/Health Channel group has certainly been the center of this particular phenomenon, but it's not alone -- ABC's Supernanny frequently features families with one or more sets of twins. Multiples are absolutely everywhere.

It took quite a while, but I have finally figured out what I think drives the national fondness for multiples.

The Disney movie that's responsible for this whole thing, after the jump...

It's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" from Fantasia, right?

People just want to know whether Mickey is going to win — or whether the army of brooms he has created are going to be his undoing. Right?

When you watch a set of parents trying to control (as Jon and Kate do) six 4-year-olds, you can't help but wonder whether they have the slightest realistic chance of staying on top of the situation full-time.

You won't gain a nuanced view of, say, 18 children on a show like this. The children become a solid wall — even more so if a bunch of them happen to be identical multiples.

It's the parents against the mob: Instead of trying to hold back a flood in a stone fortress, they are trying to hold back anarchy while trying to fit six toddlers for new shoes. (Dump-da-dump, da-da-da-da-dump, da-dump...)

Next time you watch a commercial for one of these shows, imagine the parent in a giant cone-shaped hat. It will make a lot more sense.

categories: Television

11:30 - March 30, 2009

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