TLC has broadcasted some crazy shows over the years, including ones that went on to achieve tremendous success, like 90 Day Fiancé, Dr. Pimple Popper, Cake Boss, Little People, Big World, Long Island Medium, Say Yes to the Dress, Sister Wives – the list goes on.
And while these and many other shows on TLC hit it out of the park, regardless of how ridiculous the premises might initially have seemed, TLC has aired plenty of other series that, successful or not, have been forgotten. Some of TLC’s original shows are so off-the-wall that it’s hard to believe they actually aired once upon a time.
10 10 Years Younger (2004-2009)
Anyone over the age of 35 can relate to wanting to look 10 years younger. This series, which surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly) lasted four seasons, focused on makeovers to help people shave a few years off their looks.
While aging gracefully is “in,” the reality show did focus on people who happened to look much older than they really were and thus were just trying to look their age. The makeovers were designed to help these people feel better about themselves, and focused on non-surgical cosmetic improvements, like straightening teeth, hair styling, and botox, as well as things like career advice. Jeannie Mai, who recently appeared on Dancing With the Stars, was one of the celebrity makeup artists for the show.
9 Abby & Brittany (2012)
Remember the reality series that focused on 22-year-old conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel? It only lasted a single season but it followed their lives from university graduation to a search for their first jobs.
The show began with their birthday party and continued on through pivotal life events, like a road trip, tour of Italy, and preparing for their new lives as adults. The women today are 30 years old but not much has been heard from them since this series ended.
8 Alaskan Women Looking For Love (2013)
There’s nothing unusual about dating shows – there are all kinds of them, with new, unique, and strange ones popping up all the time. But this one hones on a very specific group of people, and it was all about helping women from Alaska find love.
It followed six women as they traveled to Miami in search of their perfect mates. The reality show only lasted one season of six episodes.
7 Best Funeral Ever (2013-2014)
Even just hearing the name, it’s difficult to imagine that this really was a show. But it aired for two seasons and followed a family operating a funeral home in Texas, focusing on some of the most elaborate and over-the-top funerals they put together for grieving families.
The most notable among the eight episodes of the two seasons was the funeral for 1968 gold medal winner Ronnie Ray Smith, which included a casket that “ran” a 100-yard dash and was awarded a gold medal at the end.
6 Big Hair Alaska (2011)
Another series centering on Alaska, this one was actually filmed there. More specifically, it was filmed at the Beehive Beauty Shop in Wasilla, Alaska, a popular location where plenty of locals got their hair styled and cut, including once vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
Only two episodes aired, both on the same day, before TLC pulled the plug and decided not to continue. But the two episodes that did air featured government officials, bridal parties, and roller derby members all patronizing the venue, along with interviews being held for a new stylist job.
5 Breaking Amish (2012-2014)
With four seasons under its belt, this show followed five Anabaptist adults, including four Amish and one Mennonite, who moved to New York City to live in modern society and decide if they wanted to stay or go back to their known way of living.
Subsequent seasons featured different cast members and moved to different locations, including Brooklyn and Los Angeles. The series was popular enough to spawn a spin-off called Return to Amish, which last aired in 2019, despite many accusations that the show itself, or at least elements of it, are fake.
4 Buying Naked (2013-2014)
The series is exactly what it sounds like: a real estate agent shows nudists prospective new homes located in clothing-optional neighborhoods. The single-season that aired included episodes with clever titles like “Brave Nude World” and “Northern Exposure.”
This was, however, network television, after all. So, viewers only ever saw the bare bottoms of people featured on the show. There was no full-frontal nudity, though that required some clever product placements and camera angles.
3 D.U.I. (2011-2012)
Similar to COPS, this reality series followed police officers as they arrested suspects for alleged drinking and driving offenses. But the footage didn’t end at the scene of the alleged crime. Every episode followed the person through the journey that came after, including court dates and consequences they faced because of their actions.
There were a dozen episodes in all through the six seasons, mostly shot in Oklahoma, which has some of the strictest DUI laws in America and the fastest court turnaround times for such offenses. However, it was later revealed that the cases were all staged, with good intentions to bring awareness to the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving.
2 Extreme Cheapskates (2012-2014)
There’s nothing wrong with pinching pennies, but the people documented on this reality series take their frugality to, as the title implies, the extreme. Fans ate up the concept as the show lasted for 26 episodes over three seasons.
The usually eccentric people featured would use any means necessary in order to cut costs, beyond common practices like re-using teabags or keeping the lights off. One, for example, would dumpster dive at restaurants. Another limited her toilet flushing to once a week in order to reduce her water bill. And one couple kept everything shrink-wrapped in their house to preserve its resale value.
1 Freaky Eaters (2010-2011)
Everyone remembers My Strange Addiction, which is among one of TLC’s most popular shows, and one that fans wish would make a comeback. The focus of this series was similar to that one but only features people who had weird cravings and addictions to certain foods. Each episode title was preceded by the words “Addicted to” then went on to describe the food in question, which ranged from indulgences like cheeseburgers and pizza to things like sugar, corn starch, and even raw meat.
The show, which was hosted by a psychotherapist and nutritionist, lasted for two seasons and a total of 14 episodes. Each episode usually ended with the person getting the help they needed and finally breaking their addiction.
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