THE TV COLUMN

Little People, Big World sprouts new season on TLC

Roloff Family: Jeremy, Zach, Amy, Jacob, Matt, Molly.
TLC's Roloff Family, Little People, Big World
Jeremy, Zach, Amy, Jacob, Matt, Molly.
Roloff Family: Jeremy, Zach, Amy, Jacob, Matt, Molly. TLC's Roloff Family, Little People, Big World Jeremy, Zach, Amy, Jacob, Matt, Molly.

Here’s big news.

One of TLC’s favorite families returns with an all-new, eight-episode season of Little People, Big World at 8 p.m. today.

The Roloffs “go back to their roots” as scattered children Jeremy, Zack and Molly join still-at-home Jacob for the summer, reuniting the family on the farm for the first time in two years.

Parents Matt and Amy enlist the kids to help expand the family business and gear up for pumpkin season on the family farm.

In case you’re out of the loop, Little People, Big World follows the adventures of the Roloffs, a family comprising little and average-height folks. It follows their everyday successes and struggles, while presenting an in-depth view of life as a little person.

Since the series began in 2006, the Roloffs have welcomed viewers into their day-to-day lives on their Oregon-based farm.

Matt and Amy bought their 34-acre spread in Helvetia, just outside Portland, in May 1990. At the time, the property consisted of a weather-worn old farmhouse, a broken-down barn and an overgrown peach orchard.

Amy said she would have been comfortable with the home they had found in the city, but Matt was drawn to the rural life. He had a vision that the property could be their ideal home.

While Amy managed their growing family, Matt set out to make the dream come true. He envisioned a working farm, but also a magical place for his children.

During the early years he built an adventure land with a huge pirate ship, a three-story tree fort and a Western town complete with underground tunnels.

Later he added a soccer field, swimming pool and other play structures. Matt continues to add something every year.

Today, Roloff Farm is a successful agricultural business, event center and major tourist attraction during pumpkin season.

Here’s the gang.

Matt: Always an entrepreneur, Matt spent the majority of his career in software development and sales. He now divides his time between the farm and speaking engagements.

Amy: Amy is an author and public speaker who has worked as a personnel manager, administrative assistant and preschool teacher.

Jeremy: The eldest child is an outdoors lover who graduated from high school in 2009and attends Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, Calif. Jeremy is average height.

Zach: Jeremy’s twin, but of little person stature. He’s into soccer and enjoys coaching children. Zach continues to attend community college part time.

Molly: Only daughter Molly is average height, graduated at the top of her high school class in 2012 and attends Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash.

Jacob: The youngest Roloff is also average height and loves nothing more than to play his video games.

This season, Matt will be faced with some health problems that could put his ability to run the farm in jeopardy. And he, Amy and the children will also support one another as they deal with an upsetting diagnosis for another family member.

Then, according to TLC, “as the summer comes to an end and the kids head back to college, Matt and Amy find themselves alone once again re-evaluating their relationship.” Uh, oh.

Duggar reminder. The new season of Little People, Big World takes the time slot of 19 Kids & Counting, which just finished the second half of Season 7 last week. That series stars prolific procreators Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar of Tontitown and their children.

Keep up with the clan on their personal website - duggarfamily.com.

Got a hankerin’ for Duggar paraphernalia? The TLC online store has you covered at store.discovery.com.

There’s the “I the Duggars” drinking glass ($14.95); iPad case ($24.95); messenger bag ($49.95); mousepad($22.95); coffee mug ($17.95); tote bag ($14.95); and assorted DVDs and books.

Look! On the bargain table is the 19 Kids & Counting Seasons 1-5 DVD set, marked down from $174.75 to $141.83. A steal.

Finally, in case you missed the report in our Paper Trails column: In an interview with an outfit called Celebrity Baby Scoop, Michelle said she and Jim Bob are actively trying for child No. 20.

“We are not expecting right now,” Michelle, 47, says in the interview. “I would be so grateful if the Lord blessed us with another one. We’re trying at this point and we shall see if that is a possibility. If not, we are so thankful and grateful for the ones that God has given us so far.”

Double whammy. NBC has canceled Ironside and Welcome to the Family. Both freshmen died of poor ratings.

For the rest of the year, the Wednesday night Ironside void will be filled with a variety of stuff. Family’s Thursday hole will be filled with Parks and Recreation and seasonal specials.

The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email: [email protected]

Style, Pages 30 on 10/29/2013

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