Move over, The Duggars.
It’s time to make room for The Putnams.
In light of the (controversial) success behind 19 Kids and Counting and then its spinoff, Counting On, TLC has given the green light to another reality show that centers on a large and unique family.
Ready to meet the Putnams?
This unit is comprised of a patriarch and a matriarch; four adult kids; and many, MANY children… all living under the same roof.
For reasons that are partially explained in the trailer below, Bill and Barb Putnam are the heads of an immediate family like you’ve never seen before.
They’ve been husband and wife for 35 years and their four grown kids are all married. These adults have a total of 15 children between them, meaning there are 25 people overall living in the same house.
For now, that house is only 6,000 square feet and it is located in Caro, Michigan.
But the Putnams are in the process of building a 34,000-square foot home and this construction will be a main focus of Season 1.
Back in January, TLC aired a one-time special in which viewers got to know the Putnams.
At the time, oldest son Billy told MLive that he and his siblings had discussed moving out of their parents’ residence.
They didn’t choose to stay for any kind of religious reason or anything. They just like it there apparently.
“We all sat down and said, ‘Do we really want to continue doing this?’” he said. “We ultimately decided that we’re having a lot of fun. We voted and it was unanimous.”
Billy, 33, and his wife Jennifer have four daughters: Isabelle, Abigail, Addison and Gabby.
Brandon, 30, and his wife Kacie have five daughters: Emma, Bella, Mya, Nova and Gia.
Blake, 28, and his wife Megan have three daughters and a son: Mercy, Lulu and Alena and Noah.
Blair, 26, and her husband Jamie have two sons: Jonah and Eli.
The Putnams reportedly all share one bank account and two bathroom. They also gather for a (huge!) family dinner every evening at 6 p.m.
“The whole counter is full with people, the main table is full, but there are always two plates, just in case someone decides to drop by,” Bill says, adding:
“It’s who we are – a welcoming family that loves being with people.”
That’s for sure.
And just in case things weren’t crowded enough with 25 people in one home, a 16th grandchild has been added to the mix since the Putnams’ special aired in January.
Meet the Putnams will premiere on September 11 at 10/9c, immediately following the premiere of Counting On Season 3.
We’ll wait to watch a few episodes before we determine where the new series ought to rank in the following countdown of TLC reality shows…
