Image Credit: TLC
If you want to celebrate your child’s birthday, by all means, celebrate away. Parties are fun! But if you’re planning to spend a huge chunk of change for said celebration (or in the case of the final episode of Outrageous Kid Parties, more than my four-year college education!) please let TLC film it. We’re leaning against the notion of spending an exorbitant amount of money for a party. And yet we cannot look away while these parents rack up a nearly $30,000 bill for a circus party! Of course, for $30,000, we expect nothing short of a full circus.
Jeff Collins, an executive producer of Outrageous Kid Parties, spoke with EW about the concept for the show and about the cultural phenomenon of outrageous spending for these over-the-top celebrations. “Are they going too big or are they over-doing it? Are they creating monsters? I don’t know, but I think it’s interesting,” Collins says. The families featured on the show do not get any monetary compensation for participating, but a DVD of the memorable event is a nice parting gift. (TLC has yet to make a decision about whether the show will return with new episodes.) After the interview below, you can check out an exclusive clip from the finale, which airs Monday on TLC at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you guys come up with the concept for the show?
JEFF COLLINS: It was TLC’s idea. We were taking them an idea about party planners that do big expensive parties. [TLC] came back to us and said, “You know, there’s all this buzz about people doing over-the-top parties for their kids. That seems like something’s going on there.” We showed some tape to some of the folks at TLC, and they were like this is crazy! We should investigate this more. So that’s kind of how it all began. Who are these moms, and why are they doing this? What’s this all about?
Why do you think outrageous kid parties have become a thing, so to speak?
There are a couple of things I heard over and over again from these moms. And it was them feeling like this [is the] time in childhood where kids are still innocent and can do fun things and not be like nasty teenagers. Like the minute they turn 13, they get the devil injection. Moms realize that that period [in a child's life] is really short. Also, I think they’re starting to feel like they want to create memories that are really big and over the top because they know that culturally, kids grow up [and might] move away from home.
What kind of reaction has the show been getting?
People don’t really know what to think of it. Some people say it’s too much too soon. They’re saying, “You’re setting unrealistic expectations for the kids.” The mom’s argument to that would be, “No, I’m not.” Because the minute they get out of this innocent stage, their expectations change big time, when they realize there’s no Santa Claus and no princess and sometimes the world can kind of suck, no matter what cards you’re dealt, no matter how blessed you are in life. I think that’s what the moms believe. They [think] life’s going to be tough when they grow up. So they are trying to capture them at that time when everything is still in a bubble.
Why do you think the dads aren’t nearly as interested in these parties?
The dads are always the ones who kind of stand back and look at the moms. It’s puzzling to them. Some of them are really against it, but they know they don’t have a choice. The guys just know you have to pick and choose your battles and, obviously, this one is not one they can win.
In addition to spending large amounts of money, what makes these parties unique?
These aren’t the Kardashians. These are people we know, but they are doing something that is really extraordinary. That’s why we’re focusing on people from middle America. If we go forward with the show, you won’t see anybody featured from Beverly Hills or other wealthy places. That’s not what this is about. This is about regular folks who just happen to be doing something really big.
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TLC's 'Outrageous Kid Parties': A celebration of excess (that I'll probably watch)
I saw the show on the $30,000 princess party for the six year old and can’t say anything except that I was SHOCKED. Seriously unbelievable.
It just seems so much worse than “my super sweet sixteen” and that’s horrible.
Great. Not only are they showcasing over-the-top, meaningless greedy consumption, but they’ve managed to make it offensively sexist at the same time. This pervasive portrayal of women/mothers as pushy, grabby, controlling shrews with hapless, clueless men looking on helplessly, is really starting to get on my nerves.
Mom says that when we were children we ended up playing with the boxes more than the toys. She says that she’d give us pots and pans and wood spoons and we’d make up whole worlds with just those things.
I am so glad that I was allowed to have an imagination.
I watched one episode mostly to see how children manipulate and control their immature parents. I watched Aniston’s birthday party. Wow, her mom thinks she is going to be a “rockstar” and spent $30,000 on an 8 year old’s birthday party. I have an idea on how Aniston’s mother could spend her husband’s money wisely; how about spending some of that money on speech therapy lessons for Aniston. I could not understand one word the little girl said. Even the mom had to speak for her throughout the show. And on top of it, BRATTY kids like Aniston are not even the least bit cute. I feel sorry for her son and the father who had no clue. My other word of advice is for the father…….get a DIVORCE !
My sentiments exactly. An 8-year-old should speak much more clearly than Aniston (named after Jennifer?) does. This party was totally ridiculous. I got a big kick out of her brother, though.
Oh I love that line “The minute they get out of this innocent stage, their expectations change big time, when they realize there’s no Santa Claus and no princess, and life can kind of suck sometimes…”. Dream on delusional party mamas. The expectations merely change to match the child’s level of maturity. It won’t be enough to bring Cinderella and her posse to your backyard anymore, little precious is going to want you to fly her and four of her dearest friends out to Disney World so that they can visit Cinders in her own castle. By the time they’re 16 you’ll have done your job so well that the kid will have no concept whatsoever of money or how hard it is to come by and will be expecting a fully loaded, gassed up and insured cherry red convertible to be sitting in the driveway in celebration of their special day. Ownership in the name of Little Precious of course, baby doll deserves it – it’s her birthday after all.
I tried watching a show like this before. I am sure the spectacle of it all is supposed to be what draws the viewer…Maybe it will for some. I don’t think anybody needs to justify their excess or offer up any apologies. I am more moderate and am generally turned off by gluttony in children or adults. In this economy this show could do surprisingly well.
I watch it because I can feel good about myself (I’d never do that!) and about my daughter (she’d never do that!). My 16-year-old granddaughter is a really sweet kid. Her sweet 16 party cost about $2000, which isn’t bad for Montgomery County, MD. She doesn’t have her license yet, let alone a car!
I watched in horror of a 6 year old having a $33000. birthday party. The husband had a $10,000. limit.. This was my WTF moment and have been irate over it sense.
I was a single mom and my childrens parties were at most $100.00.. With $33000.00, I could think of thousands of children who could use a wonderful birthday party they have never experienced. It hurts my heart to think this is the norm.. So our children are shown from a young age to disrespect parents, money and friends. Shame on them. Please ,, Someone offer me $33000.00 to plan a birthday party.. Please. (I still remember having a birthday party or Christmas recieving no gifts.. ) That show is sad. I will not ever watch it again.
Ok, to the pathetic mother of the “big Ole wock sta paty”, how about spending the money on a speech patholigist for your 8 year old so she can actually be understood and not spend the rest of her school career being teased unmercilessly. You are a sad and desperate woman. You need a license to catch a fish but any bonehead can be a parent.
Of course the kids get a “devil injection” – you spoil them rotten, use them to live out your own dreams and clearly choose favorites. It’s poor parenting.
The family did not pay for anything. It would have been nice if the people who were out all that work actually got paid.