Amber and Gary
The first episode of Teen Mom Season 3 aired last night. I have to admit that I haven’t been able to watch it because it’s not on MTV’s site and they haven’t put it on iTunes yet. (I’m out of the country and can’t just set the DVR from here.) So we have to go with E!’s excellent recap. I’ll post some of it below, and you can read more at the source.
Considering E’s recap and this story on US about Maci wanting to take her unemployed ex Ryan to court over child support, the first thing that strikes me is that MTV is playing fast and loose with these kids’ financial situation yet again. As they’ve done in past seasons, they’re making it seem like the young women are struggling for cash, and they’re using it as a key plot point. We heard when Amber was deposed in court that she makes $140k from MTV for every six months filming. So why does Maci need child support and why does Farrah need to borrow money for new boobs? They make over a quarter million a year each. It doesn’t make sense. I get that Ryan owes Maci money and is legally obligated to pay, but why not admit that she’s doing quite well without it? I’m not saying she shouldn’t take him to court over it, that’s justified, but there’s something inherently disingenuous with this show when they try and make it seem like these kids are broke.
But young mothers Amber, Maci, Catelynn and Farrah are coping the best they can with their limited resources…
Farrah, for one, has been working her butt off. “Culinary school, waitressing and modeling,” she boasts in her best MTV-script monotone. [What about author?! Come on, Farrah, don’t let us down—we’ve already preordered 2011’s “most eagerly anticipated book” on Amazon.] After reminding us that “being a good mother is a full-time job too,” Farrah says she’s “ready to make a big change.”
What could it be? College? Er, OK, how about romance? No, the answer for this struggling young mom is, obviously, a boob job! And because she’s doing this all for baby Sophia, Farrah applies for a loan to cover the procedure instead of dipping into her savings account. After being repeatedly rejected, MTV a bank comes through with the funding…
Some other Teen Mom boobs saw the spotlight in tonight’s episode: Maci’s baby daddy, Ryan Edwards, for example. And although Ryan is paying child support (from his unemployment check, yo), he had a lot of nerve asking if Maci’s employed, independent boyfriend Kyle is “slow”…from his mommy’s porch. Where the 22-year-old father of Bentley lives, rent free.
Trying not to be a boob is Tyler Baltierra—Catelynn’s baby daddy/fiancé/stepbrother—who calls himself a “loser” because he’s “18 years old living at [his] mom’s house. I don’t even do my own laundry.”
Both Tyler and Catelynn are ready to make a big change—so where’s the plastic surgeon? Hold up: Instead of going under the knife, Carly’s sensible birth parents are planning to get an apartment together. While we hate to see Tyler leave the nest, Catelynn’s escape from her mullet-lovin’ mama can’t happen soon enough. Rent and utilities are expensive, sure, but seeing as how these kids aren’t going to be cruising the college campus anytime soon (What? You saw their report cards), maybe they can borrow a little from their Jezebel college fund?
[From E! Online]
Meanwhile Amber and Gary are still shown fighting, and we know that Amber ends up in rehab after a suicide attempt. (I don’t really consider that a spoiler as it’s been all over the gossip press.) It just came out yesterday that Amber had to go to the hospital after she hit her head during a supposed fall at rehab. She is so troubled and I hope she makes it out with her sobriety and a little peace of mind.
Getting back to the money issue, when we first asked how MTV could portray the Teen Moms as broke despite their very decent salaries (by our standards, maybe not by reality TV standards), many of you guessed that the money might be being held in trust for them and their children, to be released at a future date. I doubt this is the case, since Amber and Gary have been going on spending sprees and buying cars and both Maci and Farrah got boob jobs. But of course MTV isn’t glamorizing teen pregnancy at all.
Farrah before her boob job
Gary and his daughter Leah
Ryan and Bentley, his son with Maci
photos courtesy of MTV
I hope Catelynn and Tyler beat the odds. They have already demonstrated better sense and maturity than their scary parents.
This is what urks me about the show. They are far from broke, yet they make it seem as though they are struggling. Sorry but I find it rather odd that a girl who is having money issues would be so concerned with getting her boobs done. Amber is a hot mess and it burns me that she still blames Gary for all the relationship issues, “he cheated on me”….right Amber and you are completely innocent. She moved a man into her apartment 2 weeks after dating him and let him change her daughter’s diaper. Plus the verbal and physical abuse she put Gary through. Not saying Gary hasn’t done stupid stuff. The fact that he still loves Amber and wants her back after it all says a lot about his character.
Your a teen mom who is suppose to be a broke-ass but you have to get a loan for boobs …bitch please. Instead of influencing positive attitudes or behaviour, these shows are promoting more bad than good
Um wait, What? Even though these chicks pull in about a half million a year, you are still thinking that unemployed kid should pay child support? Even if he cant afford it? Vindictive man hater much? From what i understand, child support was created to help struggling parents who split from their bread-winning spouses and actually needed the money, not to rub in the fact the spouse that is struggling gets a free check a month to spend on new boobs. Imagine the shoe on the other foot, if it was a man with primary custody and making a half million a year, every female on here would be screaming about the injustice of a woman being expected to cough up the cash every month anyway. These chicks are all losers and why do they need fake tits anyway? Morons.
Those kids are pretty cute. I do have sympathy for these girls. I was a teen mother myself. It’s hard and lonely existence. But I love my son whom I had at 19 and glad he is here. I hate hearing people say teenage parents have ruined their lives. Crap. It’s something I wouldn’t want my kids to follow but you can still get an education, career, travel and have a social life but there are sacrifices.
Ok now I am off my soap box… Gary is a passive aggressive douche. Amber seems like a lazy smart ass. Ryan is a spooky brat and treated Maci like crap. I don’t mind Maci she seems like a smart girl. But my faves would have to be Catelynn and Tyler. Those two have shown great emotional maturity I wish them the best.
Why do they always have to show all the skunks and morons on TV? I guess positive values and positive stories don’t sell anymore.
I, for one, am sick of people going to rehab for “exhaustion” and “depression” when they mean to say “meth” and “cocaine”.
Who in their right mind cares about these stupid people????
@4- the other parent always has to kick in if they don’t have primary custody. My sis-in-law has to pay her ex for her boys since the boys live with their dad, even though he makes more than she does. I do not care how much Maci makes … Ryan is the father to that baby and he owes money to help support that child. It makes me sick to see a young man … totally capable of supporting himself … living with his parents. Get a job, Ryan.
As for how MTV portrays the $ situation, it’s why I have a hard time watching the show. It seems like a very forced storyline since even if MTV puts the $ out of their reach, they are still appearing on magazines, selling their stories … there has to be income from that.
I think the original intention of this show was to portray how hard teen pregnancy is….on everyone. Most of all the baby.
Somewhere along the way (the intervention of media attention, fame, exploitative network execs, money..)that message got deluded when “reality stars” are born. The message is still an honest look into the lives of teens too immature to be parents and how drastically their lives change. I don’t think it glorifies anything, or promotes teen pregnancy….THAT’s quite a stretch to say that by watching these kids struggle emotionally, physically, financially;most getting their hearts broken,trying to navigate adult relationships, break- ups, custody battles, damaged family relationships. Will make another teen WANT to go down that road of hardship. I still think it’s original purpose of a realistic view hasn’t changed.(minus the money BEHIND the scenes) And if some teenager wants to get pregnant after watching this show….they’ve got bigger problems and any tv show can be emulated. SRSLY…back off I am addicted to this crappy ass show and Ive never been a teen mom or even a mom for that matter. I think it’s important social commentary that can deter an age-old epidemic that in the last few years has been on the decline thanks to sex education, that can come from shows like this. Just MHO
Ryan is unemployed because he doesn’t like to work and his parents pay for everything for his son. He gets a check for being in the show too. So like the rest if them he’s far from broke. Part if the show is supposed to portray the trials and tribulations most single moms and young moms have to go through. Without the huge paychecks.
Thxs for the reminder of the new season! *googles*
@hatsumomo exactly!
I watched the first couple of seasons of 16 and Pregnant as well as Teen Mom. But now, knowing how much money they all are making from this (though not knowing the conditions), it’s hard to bring myself to watch. I did watch last night’s episode, because I grew to like many of the people, and enjoy seeing how the babies are growing up. Still, I think it’s time to pull the plug on the series. It’s better known now for the tabloid exploits than what happens on the show. Jenelle and Amber don’t need ANY more coverage.
@ Chrissy stole the words right off my keyboard
I love Catelynn & Tyler! I love how they faced the facts and did what was best for the baby. I know they were irresponsible in getting pregnant, but they made the right choice.
Farrah confuses me. I think she has the right intentions but jacked up execution. You get boobs AFTER school and stability.
Amber & Gary…they can go on to Heck and manifest. I’ve long found Gary to be a lazy, listless, irresponsible Coot! I think he’s very dim for going back and forth with Amber, who has shown instability time and time again. I hate when he tries to look the hero when Amber goes nuts, yet he stays with her. I hate when women stay in abusive relationships and the same applies to men. Both of them are just…UGH!
I don’t think that MTV should give them money either. That money should be put in a untouchable trust for each of them to get at 21. I’m sorry, don’t cry “broke teen mom” and get paid six figures.
These are girls that are either still teenagers or just out of their teens, how could they possibly need “new boobs” I’m 42, I’ve got Blohan boobs. Now someone like myself needs new boobs.
“Maci and Farrah got boob jobs.”
of course they did.
You mean people actually watch this crap.
How weak minded.
Frankly I love Catelynn and Tyler. I am amazed by their strength. Their grades may not be straight As, but they make great decisions when it matters. I sincerely hope that they do well in life, and have the long term happiness they deserve.
Well at least the child support issue was resolved…basically her bank made a mistake and didn’t put it in her account for a few days. She thought Ryan was holding out but he said “Wanna see my stub? They take it from me!” Plus she didn’t want him to go to jail or anything for it (when he friend said it would be “hilarious” if he went to jail Maci told her it wouldn’t be because when Bentley got older he’d ask questions).
Amber needs serious, serious help
I would like to thank MTV for further destroying the minds of the young.. I understand that the show is meant for one thing, but the gullible teen takes it as a one way trip to be a star.. Cut the show off..
I guess I am the only person that did not know MTV was showing them again..
I’ll pass on the fuckery. I hate MTV.
They probably haven’t gotten money in a while. MTV is done with them, they aren’t part of the new group so why would they keep paying them so much money? They are struggling now like a lot of people would going from broke to have six figures in the bank. It sounds like a lot of money so they spent it carelessly and didn’t make any future plans. It happens a lot with lottery winners and even athletes/entertainers. They proved over and over they are not the best at making decisions it was a bit careless on MTV’s part to give them so much money with no string and no oversight. But at the end of the day they wellbeing is not MTV’s responsibility. They got into the situation themselves and were offered way more opportunities than most teen moms, unfortunately for them (and especially the kids) they wasted it.
I hope Farrah realizes that fake boobs are like tires…they need to be rotated every few years and that costs money too. A girl I graduated HS with in 05 received boobs as a graduation present (gotta love america)and she’s already had 2 jiffy lube stops on them because they hardened and ended up lop sided.
Gross, gross and more gross. I’m a stay at home mom, my husband works from 7am to 10pm and we don’t make enough to afford child care. These girls disgust me. I sacrifice my life for my two daughters and this kind of behavior makes me sick.
Why are all the guys on this show so ugly and scummy?
Or since the show is SUPPOSED to be showing teenagers the hardships of having kids young, they play out that they are broke. Because teen moms in real life would be broke.
Huh, she got one big boob sitting beside her. If you add her in we got two boobs. Now get a loan for child support.
Well, Farrah got her boobs for a very good reason – she wants to be a model!
Why does Maci have to take Ryan to court? Because it makes good TV…Duh! haha
I hate how the moms are getting paid so much for this. The majority of the money should go into a trust for their poor children.
Tyler and Caitlynn are great and the smartest of the bunch.
Is Cali the ONLY state with rehab centers?
Why are these stupid reality chicks from all over the US going to rehab in Cali?
Oh, yeah, right…because they’re “famous.”
I agree with the poster above who said that they have to portray living in poverty on the show. I dont know why people are so surprised that “reality” tv is scripted and fake. Really guys?? MTV has maintained a stance that this show is supposed to document the struggles of teenage motherhood. This struggle includes being broke. Its not much different than an actress making a million dollars to play a poor person for a role. Thats what these girls are doing, playing a “role” based on their actual lives and they are being paid.
Farrah is soooo annoying. She has no respect for her parents. I feel sorry for her daughter, who has to live with that.
It’s terrible.. I’m trying to keep my family in a place where we wouldn’t get there
As for Maci.. Ryan chooses not to work. And he deserves to pay childsupport. that is his child and needs to learn responsibilities. Kids are not cheap. And as for thier boob jobs.. I dont see a problem with that.. Maci and farrahs kids are taken care of and not on the streets so they deserve to spend money on themselves.
All I know is Farrah is such a bitch to her parents, really everybody. It’s like impossible to have a conversation with her