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Documentary

Miss You Can Do It: HBO documentary spotlights special girls, special pageant

Because I am the mom of a bright, beautiful daughter who lives stylishly with severe cerebral palsy, I watched the screener for HBO’s new documentary Miss You Can Do It at home, just in case of emotional overload. And, as I expected it would, the film — about former Miss Iowa Abbey Curran and the pageant she created for young ladies with physical and mental challenges — made me cry. Not out of sympathy or even catharsis — but for myriad happy reasons. The film, from director Ron Davis (Pageant) deftly balances the challenges faced by children with special needs […]

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Kids

Dance Moms Season 3 episode 21 recap: While Abby’s Away, It’s Apples All Day

Welcome back, Dance Moms nation. Quick poll before we begin. Raise your hand if you swore you were done, that’s it, finis, and never coming back after the end of last week’s episode … and you did it anyway. Raise your hand if you are checking the recap first to see if you can handle watching this week’s episode before you actually do. Raise your hand if you think what Dance Moms really needs is a whole lot less of Maddie and Mackenzie, Chloe and Kendall, Nia and Paige and Brooke and Asia. You have been warned. We start this […]

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Kids

Dance Moms Season 3 episode 20 recap: Living With the Fibbin’

Once again, Dance Moms nation, we have ourselves an episode that had a splendid opportunity to leave viewers with something positive and lovely for a badly needed change … and blew it resoundingly. We had support for patients and families living with cancer. The power of forgiveness (yes, I know Christi and Kelly aren’t really fighting, but still). The rewards of good sportsmanship and fair play. All shot to hell because whomever is in charge just had to manufacture some drama that makes one little girl seem what I’m virtually certain is unduly insufferable and another, once again — perpetually, […]

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Kids

Dance Moms Season 3 episode 19 recap: It’s Crying Time Again

Welcome back, Dance Moms Nation. How’d you fare in the past two weeks with nothing to fuel your DM obsession but repeats? The second half of Season 3 kicks off with a quick recap of the first — Cathy’s crew is breathing down the Pitt Crew’s necks; Abby’s threatening to go Hollywood for good; mothers are fighting with other mothers — and then we watch as everyone pulls up to the ALDC after a month-long break. Well not quite everyone. Raise your hand if you know the missing mommy … That’s right. It’s Kristie. Turns out, Asia had the opportunity […]

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Family

Jamie Deen talks Home for Dinner with Jamie Deen Season 2

Like most busy parents, Jamie Deen has mastered the art of multitasking. Doing an interview while cleaning out and gassing up his car to prepare for a family vacation, Deen explains that it’s actually a large part of what drove him to create his popular Food Network series Home for Dinner with Jamie Deen, which returns for a second season Sunday, May 26, at 10am ET/PT. The show features Deen whipping up nutritious, time conscious and budget-friendly meals that appeal to adults and kids alike, so his family — and those of his viewers can spend around the table with […]

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Family

Jo Frost talks ‘Family SOS with Jo Frost’ on TLC

As TV’s beloved Supernanny, Jo Frost spent seven seasons coming to the rescue of parents whose tots were creating havoc — but she says she did much of her best counseling when the cameras were off. So Frost pulled the plug on the long-running ABC hit and began contemplating a new show in which she could assist all kinds of clans, not just those in need of the “naughty step.” “I wanted to focus on a format that would allow my expertise to be shown on every level, and I wanted to be able to create a format that allows me […]

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Kids

Dance Moms Season 3 Tell All Reunion Part 2 recap: For Crying Out Loud!

Welcome back, Dance Moms nation. Did everyone have a nice Mothers Day, even if you didn’t get your own TV special to commemorate it? Are you ready for — or dreading — our two-week sabbatical until Dance Moms starts up again June 4 with what’s looking like a doozy of a summer season? But right now we’ve got one more hour of Dance Moms Season 3 Tell All Reunion (and dance moms in jewel-toned dresses) to get through, so let’s have at it. We begin with a solo Abby once again, and this time JC Superstar Executive Producer wants to talk […]

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Kids

Toddlers and Tiaras Season 6 premieres June 5 on TLC

Toddlers and Tiaras, TLC’s jaw-dropping reality hit that introduced America to Eden Wood and Honey Boo Boo returns for a sixth season of spray-tanned pageant tots, overbearing parents, Pixy Stix and tantrums June 5 at 9pm ET/PT. And Boo Boo Mama June, you and your Go-Go juice are about to enjoy a little vindication. T&T fans, get ready for the phenomenon of “Tinker Tea” — Mountain Dew, bottled sweet tea and Pixy Stix powder, all mixed together and served up in a nice pink sippy cup. To a two-year-old. A two-year-old who has been starting her day with another sippy […]

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Kids

Dance Moms Season 3 Tell All recap: Children and Violence

Did everyone enjoy “The Mother of All Specials” that preceded tonight’s Dance Moms: Tell-All Reunion Part One, Dance Moms fans? Did it give you a better understanding of why Abby Lee is the way Abby Lee is — or make you more confused, since Mother Miller is calm and kind and often appears as puzzled by her daughter as we are? Did it make you nostalgic for when Dance Moms was more funny and fun, and less cutthroat and stressful —and we got to have Dance Moms fashion moments? Did it make you want to pop Abby’s dad in the […]

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Kids

Dance Moms Season 3 Episode 18 recap: Apple Sass

So we’ve reached the midterm of Dance Moms Season 3, Dance Moms nation. Everybody ready for a couple of reunion shows and a dab of a spring break before we have back at it come summer? But first we have two hours of midseason finale to get our tanks on “full” and get us through, so let’s get to it. While Abby’s taking stock of what numbers we have to get crackin’ on now that The View is behind us, Kelly actually asks her permission to take the solo-less Brooke to see a music manager. Abby says she’ll think about […]