After nine seasons on the air, TLC's 19 Kids and Counting, which follows the wholesome lives of the massive (and ever-growing) Duggar family, has become a reliable staple for the network.

The Duggars' fame was born out of the reality show fascination of the late 2000s around large and atypical families, starting with a popular set of Discovery Health Channel specials that eventually spawned shows like Jon & Kate Plus 8 and Little People, Big World.

But the Duggars have proven to be the most compelling and stable stars, with the six-year-old series still performing well, and an October wedding special garnering 4.4 million viewers, the network's biggest audience in four years.