17 KIDS AND COUNTING Follows The Duggars - America's Favorite Large Family - in Their First-Ever Television Series

- Jim Bob, Michelle and All the Children Welcome Viewers Into Their Family With 17 KIDS AND COUNTING, Premiering Wednesday, October 1, at 9 PM (ET/PT) on Discovery Health -

SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 9 -- It's official: The Duggars are a true pop culture phenomenon. With their regular appearances on national talk shows, their countless press clippings and their enormous online following, this 19-member family from Arkansas has all of America talking. However, while millions of people know of the Duggars, few are familiar with the individual personalities and unique experiences that make the family who they are. Audiences will get the definitive view into this one-of-a-kind world on Wednesday, October 1, at 9 PM (ET/PT) when Discovery Health presents the all-new series, 17 KIDS AND COUNTING.

The patriarch and matriarch of this large -- and still growing -- group are former high school sweethearts, Jim Bob and Michelle. With values rooted in their strong personal faith, Jim Bob and Michelle firmly believe that every child is a gift to be cherished. After more than 20 years of marriage, the couple has received 17 gifts -- ten boys, seven girls -- with number 18 on the way. With only two sets of twins among the 17 children, Michelle has been pregnant for nearly 12 of her 40 years on earth. Another vital piece of Duggar trivia is that each child's name begins with a "J" -- Joshua, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jeremiah, Jedidiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah and baby Jennifer.

The premiere episode of 17 KIDS AND COUNTING takes culture shock to the next level, as the family journeys to New York City for a Mother's Day surprise. Viewers will see that hailing cabs in the Big Apple for 19 people is difficult -- but not impossible. Later, the series introduces viewers to the latest business venture for the always entrepreneurial family -- the Duggar Used Car Lot. Finally, this family that is known for births also has a wedding to plan with the engagement of eldest son Josh. Viewers will follow the couple from courtship to the altar and have the chance to learn about dating "Duggar style," where hand-holding is a luxury that only the engaged can enjoy.

Online at discoveryhealth.com, visitors can get to know each member of the Duggar family by reading each person's biography and viewing the family's photo album. Also online are Duggar-family-themed interactive games and video bloopers from the series. Visitors can even add their own input on a name for baby number 18!

17 KIDS AND COUNTING is produced for Discovery Health by Figure 8 Films. For Discovery Health, Alon Orstein is executive producer. For Figure 8 Films, Kirk Streb is executive producer and Sean Overbeeke is writer, director and producer.

Discovery Health Media includes the Discovery Health and FitTV television networks and online assets including http://www.discoveryhealth.com, as well as its Continuing Medical Education (CME) business and Discovery's first stand-alone VOD service, Discovery Health On-Call. Discovery Health Media is part of Discovery Communications, the number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery's 100-plus worldwide networks are led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, The Science Channel, Discovery Health and HD Theater, with digital media properties including HowStuffWorks.com.. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information please visit http://www.discoverycommunications.com/.