TLC's lineup just keeps getting more outrageous! In a surprising turn of events, Alec and Hilaria Baldwin are set to headline their own family reality series, 'The Baldwins,' which is slated to air on the network in 2025. This high-profile Hollywood pair, who share seven children, announced the show in a chaotic Instagram video, featuring their kids running around and screaming with excitement.
"We're inviting you into our home to experience the ups and downs; the good, the bad, the wild, and the crazy," Alec Baldwin declares in the video. "Home is the place we love the most." He adds with a cheeky grin, "We're coming to TLC! God help you all!" And indeed, God help us all.
Already, the internet is abuzz with comments about Hilaria's hilariously inconsistent Spanish accent, which conveniently disappears in the video announcement. But the timing of their new show raises eyebrows, to say the least. Alec Baldwin is currently embroiled in the tragic 'Rust' shooting incident, where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on set after a prop gun held by the actor (who also served as a co-producer on the film) discharged.
In January 2023, he and co-producer Hannah Gutierrez Reed were charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Although the charges against him were initially dropped in April 2023, he was later indicted by a New Mexico Grand jury for involuntary manslaughter. The actor has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is fighting for its dismissal; his trial is scheduled for July.
If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of up to 18 months in prison. This doesn't exactly bode well for what's presumably supposed to be a feel-good family show. It's a bit like inviting the audience into a house that's currently on fire, but hey, TLC is never afraid to push the boundaries of reality TV!
The phenomenon of celebrity families strutting their stuff on reality TV is nothing but a well-worn trend, and TLC's foray into controversial waters is far from its first. Just take a peek at the likes of "19 Kids and Counting" and its spin-offs, along with the ever-so-entertaining "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo". Now, the announcement of this new series arrives at a pivotal moment, where former reality TV stars, once minors on camera, are bravely speaking out against the exploitative nature of such programs.
In Prime Video's "Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets", Jill Duggar Dillard boldly accused her parents of deliberately keeping her and her siblings in the dark about their contracts as adults, using it as a means of control. Collin Gosselin from "Jon & Kate Plus 8" has also been vocal about his tumultuous childhood under the glare of cameras.
TLC, as always, remains true to its colorful self (after all, we're discussing the same network that brings us the hilarious "MILF Manor"). But "The Baldwins" might just take things to a whole new level of reality TV drama. Let's wait and see how things unfold in the exciting year of 2025.
Kelly Martinez, a Los Angeles-based TV Reporter, has a rich portfolio of work spanning across outlets like BuzzFeed and People Magazine. She finds joy in reading, cherishing moments with her feline companion, and explaining the intricate plotlines of "Riverdale" to anyone willing to listen.
