Upbeat TLC family returns for Season 12 of ‘7 Little Johnstons’
Saying “no” to woe: The largestknown family of little people in the world returns to TLC Thursday, Aug. 16, for a brand-new season of “7 Little Johnstons.”
Audiences everywhere have been captivated by the positive and hopeful philosophies that fuel the Johnstons, a family of people with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism.
Trent and Amber Johnston, who raise their two biological children, Elizabeth and Jonah, with adopted children Anna, Alex and Emma, call themselves “the real-life seven dwarfs” and have related to families around the world as they navigate everyday obstacles such as after-school activities, dating and the overall challenge of raising teenagers in a modern world (or any world, really).
After moving away from home in the previous season, eldest son Jonah struggles with his new independence and Amber and Trent wonder whether returning home may be more beneficial.
The parents are also reluctant to see Elizabeth leave the nest with her boyfriend. Despite the couple discussing the move for several months, Amber and Trent are still unconvinced that their daughter is ready to be on her own — with or without her partner. Meanwhile, Anna is ready to jump back into the world of dating herself, finally healed after her previous relationship fell apart.
Alex and Emma, the youngest children, both turn 17 and feel ready for the sweet freedom of adulthood this season, but they still have many lessons to learn on the way. Feeling their nest getting emptier, Amber and Trent do their best to help their kids while also making changes in their own lives and careers.
See how the Johnstons tackle big change by appreciating the little things when Season 12 of “7 Little Johnstons” premieres Tuesday, Aug. 16, on TLC.
Odd couples: While the conversation around the U.S. prison industrial complex churns, the experiences of current and former prison inmates are integral for shaping the conversation. A&E follows the transitional period between imprisonment and freedom in “Inmate to Roommate,” a new docuseries that follows former inmates who’ve done their time and are now moving in with everyday people who have welcomed them into their homes.
“Inmate to Roommate” premieres Thursday, Aug. 18, on the network.
A crucial factor in criminal recidivism is a lack of accessible housing for former convicts. With about 76% of inmates re-arrested within five years of being released, America suffers from one of the highest recidivism rates in the world (per A&E). The transition from living in a cellblock to cohabitating in a civilian home involves a great deal from all parties involved as communities question motives and allegiances among the households.
The “Inmate to Roommate” trailer introduces a number of formerly incarcerated Americans, some leaving sentences as long as 18 years, and their respective new housemates. The subjects had very little prior contact to get to know their new companions, and ideologies clash as some are presented with overwhelming expectations.
After receiving a long, detailed list of rules and behaviors by which to abide, one man is left openly wondering, “What have I gotten myself into?”
Rehabilitation is a possibility for the people in “Inmate to Roommate,” but only if they are able to find harmony in their new lives. Tune in to A&E’S new unscripted series when it premieres Thursday, Aug. 18, and see how the right (or wrong) communication and boundaries can make or break success in newfound freedom.
A chip in the crown: Investigate Discovery continues to uncover details from some of the most heinous crimes and mysterious cases of the 1990s, including the death of Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, in “The Diana Investigations,” premiering Thursday, Aug. 18, on discovery+.
Still widely referred to as “the people’s princess,” Diana held the promise of a new connection between the citizens of the United Kingdom and the British Royal Family.
The daughter of Earl Spencer, she caught the eye of Prince Charles and appealed to the Royal Family with her elegance and charm, eventually marrying the expected future king. However, through a muddled timeline of political scheming and constant media attention, her relationships with other royals became increasingly strained.
The princess made it her prerogative to speak openly about mental illness and criticized much of royal protocol, making her a pioneer in her position while increasing her distance from the Royal Family until she perished in a fatal collision 25 years ago.
Fans of the public figure mourned her loss around the globe, and following her death, conspiracy theories blossomed about who (if anyone) was to blame for the fatal car crash. Today, audiences are still engrossed with the mysteries leading up to and surrounding Diana’s death.
For the first time, Investigate Discovery gives voice to key investigators into the death of the princess. The intense four-part series features one-onone interviews in which viewers become privy to key details never before heard by the public.
Join discovery+ as it pieces together one of history’s greatest puzzles. “The Diana Investigations” begins streaming Thursday, Aug. 18, on the platform.