Little People Big World

I know I mentioned before in a previous blog that "Little People, Big World," a show on TLC, was one of my favorite reality-based programs that I watched. However in the past year, I can't say that anymore. It's probably the first time that I didn't watch a single episode of the latest season and I really had to interest in doing so. Something about the show changed in my views between the season in 2009 and this year. In fact, I believe the entire focus of the show has changed since it originally premiered several years back.

Originally, the show focused on Matt and Amy and their struggles with being little people. One of their children, Zak, is also a little person. That really became the sole focus of the show and it spotlighted their adventures in being little people. If you've ever watched the show, you know that Matt cannot walk around without the help of crutches. And if he has to walk long distances, he rides around on a little scooter. Amy doesn't have any walking disabilities but she still faces her obstacles in being so small as does her son Zak. However, they've been able to make the most of their lifestyles and have lived their lives to the fullest, despite the challenges that exist in being dwarfs.

Lately in the most recent episodes, the spotlight on the family has in a more luxurious light. It seems they are always on some sort of vacation. During the last season, it appeared that the majority of the episodes focused on their trip to Europe. They traveled all over Europe from Rome, Italy, Spain, the UK, and several other spots in between. In the earlier seasons, the only sightseeing they did was when they made cross country trips across the U.S. I always found it interesting to see the family dynamic get tested during those road trips across the U.S. - I mean, doesn't that happen with any family during road trips? Lately it seems the Roloffs can fly all over the world where ever they want. And hey, more power to them, but please don't make it a huge focus of the show. Heck, I'd take more episodes focusing on the trials and tribulations of pumpkin season than anything.

For awhile TLC was airing repeats of the previous seasons weekdays at 4 PM (eastern time), but they've even stopped doing that. Hopefully they start airing it at that time again because I'd like to get caught up on the show, even though I'm not happy with its new direction. Even though I wasn't a follower of the past season, I'm still a fan of the show overall. I just wish they'd keep focusing on their lives as little people and less about the amazing trips they've been able to go on and how mansion-esque their home has become. Keep making episodes about the Little People of America conferences, the Little People Games, pumpkin season, more about the twins' college experiences, etc. Hopefully they'll be able to return the focus of the show to where it once was.