TLC’s new show, Labor Games, poses trivia questions to women in active labor


Over on CNN (because I check legit news sources when the gossip is dry) I found a video report about an upcoming show on TLC called Labor Games. (This has been out a couple of weeks, but it’s news to me.) The show transforms pregnant women’s hospital delivery rooms into a game show, complete with blinking lights, oversized binky graphics and a giant flat screen TV with baby-centric trivia questions. Contestants can win prizes including baby clothing, a stroller and up to $10,000. Not to worry, though, you can keep track of the participants’ labor at home with their handy on-screen labor monitor, which alerts you to active contractions and lists the time between contractions and the number of centimeters the contestant’s cervix is dilated. It’s ridiculous, it’s offensive, it’s intrusive and it’s dangerous to have pregnant women get surprised by a TV crew at a time when they may need life saving medical intervention for themselves or their babies.

“This is a really bad idea”
ABC News’s chief medical officer, Dr. Richard Besser, stated the obvious about this ill-conceived game show:

During labor, emergencies can arise. This is one of the most important moments in your life. I think this is a really bad idea, to have a camera come in at that moment of your life.

ABC News had a brief interview with the couple above, who gave birth to a healthy baby boy afterwards. They said it was worth it. What’s more is that supposedly “no one participates without prior consent.” While expectant couples may not know if they were selected to participate in the ‘interrupt your delivery sweepstakes’ (my words) they supposedly know that there’s a possibility it could happen.

“This is a high stakes medical situation”
Another ABC news medical expert, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, said that she’s delivered about 1,5000 babies and that things usually go smoothly but that “Things can… go wrong in a big way really fast. This is a high stakes medical situation, but I can guarantee that if there were a severe and serious obstetric emergency, those cameras would be out of the room.” I wouldn’t be so sure about that.

Here’s the thing, the people who participate in this may have agreed to it, but what about the medical personnel on the ward and the other women nearby? This is a huge distraction. If I was having a baby or working as nurse and I had to hear people playing a game show in the next room I would be so pissed off. Of course you can personally opt out of participating in a game show when the delivery of your child is imminent, but it affects so many other people.

TLC is of course the network which has not yet cancelled 19 Kids and Counting, which probably knew for years about Josh Duggar’s molestation of his sisters (or at the very least willfully ignored the rumors) and continued to air the show as normal, and which brought us such other gems as Freaky Eaters, My Strange Addiction and Virgin Diaries. This show is just about par for the course for them.

Here’s another video where they surprise a couple at 1:30 in the morning in active labor. If this couple agreed to participate ahead of time, they don’t seem to have remembered it.

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80 Responses to “TLC’s new show, Labor Games, poses trivia questions to women in active labor”

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  1. Lama Bean says:

    This may be the dumbest idea I have ever heard in my life. EVER. And I’ve heard a ton of dumb ideas.

    • wiffie says:

      Because that’s what you want during a contraction. People asking questions, waiting for answers, flashing lights, and people seeing your face on TV during a particularly painful one.

      Of course my last labor was 2 hours, so I was in transition after an hour and a half so this would have been extra hell. No time for that.

    • Loulou says:

      Yep. This reminds me of the horrible reality shows on 30 Rock. Jack Donaghy would have eventually come up with this.

  2. Shambles says:

    Because pushing a human being out of a small hole in your body is just as fun as a game show!!!

    F*ck TLC.

  3. Swordspoint says:

    For f*ck’s sake, TLC.

  4. Carmen says:

    After hitting rock bottom with the Duggar mess, TLC actually took a shovel and started to dig.

    • Chibichchai says:

      +10000

    • Esmom says:

      Seriously. Someone needs to pull the plug on the entire channel.

    • Ripley says:

      I just… I can’t. What the what?!

    • StormsMama says:

      Yes Carmen. Haha thank you

      What the ever loving fck TLC. Just NO.
      NO NO NO!!!

      Stop!!!

    • Lensblury says:


      thank you!
      Maybe it’s a “Hello there, excuse me, let me distract you from that disgusting trainwreck that just happened over there on our channel, which, by the way, we’ve definitely seen coming” strategy?
      ETA: thread further down – should have checked, aims already introduced this possibility. I still think this wouldn’t be surprising.

  5. Lori says:

    I should just call my cable company and ask to have this channel removed from my package. I know I don’t pay extra for it, but I hate even knowing that they get paid one cent from my basic package for carrying the “lowlife” channel

    • Nicolette says:

      I’m tired of paying the cable company money for dozens upon dozens of channels I don’t watch. It’s way beyond time for an a la carte menu and let people choose what they want to pay for.

      • Alicia says:

        I have over 500 channels on my DirecTV and I think I watch – at most – 10-15 of them. And even then I have Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu. I don’t even know why I still pay for cable anymore.

      • msw says:

        That’s exactly why I don’t have cable. It’s a ton of money for crap shows. Cut the cord! The only thing I want that I don’t have is sports, and I’ve found ways around that too.

  6. Snazzy says:

    I have never watched any TLC show and this has just confirmed that I never will. This network is clearly run by imbeciles

  7. Linn says:

    Everytime I think TV shows can’t get any more stupid somebody decides to prove me wrong.
    Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to smash my head against the wall.

  8. Mich says:

    Every time I think The Lechery Channel couldn’t get any worse, it manages to surprise me.

    Did you know they also have a show called The Submissive Wives’ Guide to Marriage?

  9. Tifygodess says:

    Nothing is private anymore – nothing. I am really starting to hate society.

  10. Jen43 says:

    As if there aren’t enough distractions. Aren’t most women in pain during active labor? I had 3 c-sections but witnessed my nephew’s birth, and my sister had the epidural, but it just took the edge off.

  11. aims says:

    So I guess when TLC stars are having to be shelved for sexual abuse charges, they break out plan b and intrude on a private event. This is tasteless and I’m disgusted. There’s no amount of money that could be thrown at me to have the world know at what stage my cervix is dilated. Really offensive.

    • Celebitchy says:

      To be fair where it’s not necessarily deserved, this news first came out a couple of weeks ago, around Mother’s Day, about this Labor Games show. TLC probably knew about Josh’s abuse at that time, but they didn’t know the story was going to break the way it did.

      • Snazzy says:

        CB honestly you are too kind. They do not deserve for us to be fair. Between Mama June, the Duggar nonsense and now this …

      • aims says:

        You’re right. I guess I’m just grossed out by the sensationalism of child birth. Something that is private and sacred.

        Dugger is not being brought up on charges, he got away with abuse free and clear.

  12. InvaderTak says:

    Tlc is pathetic of course but how desperate for your 15 seconds of fame can you be to sign up for this?

    • Alicia says:

      Considering they could win up to $10,000, my guess is the 15 minutes plus any prizes. There are some people out there who love to win anything – no matter how small the amount.

      I’m also guessing there are more than a few of them who think this could lead to a reality show of their own if they act asinine enough.

  13. bros says:

    Are they in active labor without an epidural? if not, who cares, stakes are low. I mean, it’s obviously a terrible idea that only a craven TV channel could come up with, but unless they are doing this without meds, then meh.

  14. Jenns says:

    What next? Answering questions when you are constipated and trying to poop?

    • heather says:

      Well, don’t give TLC any ideas! But uh, I wouldn’t be surprised if TLC took 5 constipated contestants, fed them laxative laced foods and quizzed them while they fought the urge to run to the bathroom. Last person to hold it in wins a brand new toilet.

    • Sopha says:

      I know, right! how about a game show for all those hours you sit in emergency? bored while waiting for your emergency life-saving surgery? why not play wheel of fortune – you could play to have your medical care covered!!!

      I am from Australia and I can only hope that some bright spark overhear doesn’t think this is a genius idea and try it here. married at first sight is bad enough.

  15. FingerBinger says:

    @celebitchy You forgot the My husband’s not gay show.

  16. kri says:

    Oh my god.

  17. Izzy says:

    I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. For real.

    Honestly, the only shows I ever enjoyed watching on TLC were Say Yes To The Dress (the original show set in Kleinfeld, not one of the 18 spinoffs they’ve done), and The Little Couple – and that show only because I went to college with Jen and she’s a sweetheart.

    But seriously, I will never be able to NOT think of this network as anything other than “The Lechery Channel” or “Touching Little Children” now. Also seriously, exactly what in the sam hill am I supposed to be learning, on this alleged “Learning Channel?” (Note: NOT a rhetorical question; I’m really wondering now…)

    • Hannah says:

      Yeah, I liked say yes to the dress and that’s about it.

    • Esmom says:

      I haven’t watch TLC in about 15 years but when I was home with my son when he was a newborn, they had a show Trading Spaces that came on right when he napped. I loved it. People redecorating each others places — seems like such a quaint concept now that reality TV has devolved into so much garbage.

      • Ripley says:

        Trading Spaces was my go-to show at University. I would come home, put on pajamas, drink beer / wine, watch and then change back into real clothes and head back to reality. It was fabulous.

    • Ange says:

      I still won’t hear a word against My Strange Addiction lol.

  18. t.fanty says:

    I would have nailed that quiz show. Assuming, of course, every answer was “F*CK OFF AND GET ME MORE DRUGS!”

  19. CarrieUK says:

    Wow…..what the hell, I have no words

  20. Katie says:

    I really thought Honey Boo Boo and the Gypsy Sisters were the bottom of the barrel for TLC but it seems their barrel is bottomless…

  21. the blonde one says:

    Sounds like a GREAT crossover possibility with 19 Kids (completely screwed up) and Counting. The only problem is they will need to GREATLY dumb down the questions for the Duggar females.

    Funny how they don’t have a “Hey, you just got your NUTS stomped on- mind if I ask you some history questions?” show.

  22. Triple Cardinal says:

    A guy. This just has to be from a guy. No woman would ever think up or green-light so boneheaded an idea. ‘Cause I’m just waiting for the day TLC premieres “This Is Your Vasectomy!” or “Prostate Games 101” as programs. Don’t think it’ll be too soon that these puppies show up.

    Listen, do what I just did: Find the manual for your TV and learn the procedure for blocking channels. That way you’ll just flip by TLC and never have to deal with them again.

    Done, and done.

  23. Mia4S says:

    Having never watched TLC (as my brain is actually connected to my eyes) I’ve still come to the belief that for the survival of humanity all traces of it should be wiped from the earth.

  24. The Original G says:

    Actually, I’m pretty sick of the way TLC exploits the humiliation and subjugation of women and children for profit.

    • The Other Katherine says:

      AMEN. Can’t we lift this site’s prohibition against wishing death on people when it comes to the executives of TLC? Seriously, these people are a blight on our planet.

  25. Nicolette says:

    Amazed a hospital would allow this traveling circus in to begin with. They must be getting quite a nice payoff for doing so. Hollywood really has run out of ideas for movies and television. It’s pathetic.

    • msw says:

      Seriously… if I were a doctor, I would be noping this and putting it in my patient’s contracts. I will not deliver you if any bozos from sexist tv networks set foot on hospital property. Sign here.

  26. Merritt says:

    Who comes up with this nonsense?

    I used to watch TLC when it had things like Trading Spaces. But now almost all the shows are fat shaming, creepy large families, or other freak shows.

  27. Nebby says:

    It’s a stupid idea but I’m not too offended by it. The women have given consent. I would imagine the hospital has say in who is entering and filming there, at least when I’ve visited ppl in labor or after giving birth there were rules. Also tlc and other channels have filmed labor and women giving birth for many years. So I’m not offended by the filming at all, it’s mostly that they’ve made giving birth a game and its tacky.

  28. Tig says:

    Forget the lunatic parents to be- I cannot imagine hospitals/birthing centers agreeing to this. Aside from care/emergency issues-their HIPAA compliance officer would have a stroke- the potential for violations is immense.

  29. Dragonlady Sakura says:

    I’m waiting for the ” I Ate 20 chilli dogs and the bathroom is broken” game show.

  30. Mzizkrizten says:

    Just further proof nothing is sacred anymore. I swear society is slowly becoming a parody of itself. Like if there are other life forms out there, humanity is totally the kardashians of the Galaxy.

  31. marie says:

    Nope, nope, nope…. my daughter arrested immediately after birth and was medivac’ed away to another hospital while I was taken to surgery because I was bleeding out. My husband was so traumatized by it we had to find a different hospital to have our other children in because that one gives him panic attacks.

    It was the worst most unexpected moment of our lives. What if one of us had died? Then it’s just on film? Or what if having too many people in the room delayed care? No, this is dangerous.

  32. Alex says:

    I think we deserve an in-depth news article on the people running the shows, behind the scenes. I have a feeling they really hate women!

  33. Chinoiserie says:

    Well clearly this is one of the most idiotic ideas ever. But the participatants could just act like this is a suprise for drama. I would think the network would like them to sign some agreement in advance for legal reasons and most reality TV shows fake things anyway.

  34. Tough Cookie says:

    I can’t even think of an intelligent comment for this show. I give up.

  35. Samtha says:

    I feel like someone came up with this as an April Fool’s Day prank, and TLC just ran with it.

  36. Mon says:

    Sorry but is tlc run by monkies? Who comes up with those ridiculous ideas?!

  37. msw says:

    What a colossally stupid idea. For the second time this week, I’m so grateful I don’t have cable so I don’t pay for or support this crap.

    Go home, TLC, you’re drunk.

  38. Mcm says:

    Women in pain. Hilarious!

  39. Danskins says:

    Wowwww TLC…is nothing sacred?

  40. StaceyP says:

    Look to the Roman Empire, we are entering the end days of the Roman Empire with this TLC S&%T!

  41. jenn12 says:

    Really. Really?? So we will basically do anything and everything for ratings, including risking lives.

  42. lisa says:

    i’d rather watch MILF island

  43. Me too says:

    How is your high horse? Geez, this site is ridiculous. I would willingly participate because I don’t see my birth as the next coming of Jesus.

  44. Maya says:

    I used to love What not to Wear and Trading Spaces back in college … I will even admit to watching a few episodes of Say Yes to the Dress (no idea why, I don’t ever plan on wearing one myself), but we haven’t had cable in a couple of years and I don’t miss it one bit!