TLC to premiere polygamist 'Sister Wives' series (and add to our self-loathing)

On a scale of 1 to 10, how much should we hate ourselves for wanting to watch Sister Wives, the new seven-part TLC series premiering Sept. 26 that follows Kody Brown, his three (soon to be four) wives, and their 13 (soon to be 16) children? Here’s an excerpt from the press release so you can give an accurate reading:

“Sister Wives introduces audiences to husband Kody — along with his three wives; Meri, Janelle, and Christine and their combined 13 children — showing how they attempt to navigate life as a ‘normal’ family in a society that shuns their lifestyle. From their unconventional family structure and living arrangements to financial challenges, each half hour episode exposes the inner workings of a polygamist household, revealing the unexpectedly tight-knit and loving relationships between Kody’s wives.

Sister Wivesalso captures the intense dynamics surrounding a man juggling three wives while attempting to keep it a secret from the outside world — but the general public is not the only challenge that the Brown family unit is facing. The series begins with Kody announcing plans to take on another wife and her three kids — and although expected, the news is met with mixed feelings. Meri, Janelle, and Christine were married before starting families so all of the children grew up as siblings. And for sixteen years, the Sister Wives have established their own role within the group and worked together to maintain a cohesive, loving unit. Bringing on a fourth wife could easily disrupt the balance, changing lives forever. The series chronicles the growing pains as Robyn and her kids assimilate into the family and the sister wives work through the insecurities and uncertainties that are inevitable to their chosen way of life.”

Yes, this show could be another sensationalized offering from the network that brought us the New Year’s Eve “Night of Sexual Taboo,” Or, it could be a riveting, unscripted look inside a polygamist household. I’m fascinated by how the fourth wife’s children will respond to their new family and how the first three wives might passive aggressively punish Kody. You?