or


[08/06/10 - 11:35 AM]
Less Proves to Be More as We TV's New Series Downsized Takes a Look at a Family's Life in a Recession
The eight-part series premieres Saturday, November 6 at 9:00/8:00c.

[via press release from WE tv]

DOING WITHOUT BUT DOING IT TOGETHER: MEET THE BRUCE-BUNCH (all nine of them!)

Less Proves To Be More As WE tv's New Series DOWNSIZED Takes a Look at a Family's Life in a Recession

Series Premiere Saturday, November 6 at 9PM ET/PT

Los Angeles, CA, August 6, 2010 - Here's a story... of a lovely family... with a very different twist. Laura and Todd Bruce, and their seven children were a happy blended American family, living a lavish life of vacations, expensive dinners, summer homes and more money than they could spend. Fast forward four years to a crippling recession, and you'll see the Bruce's flat broke with two homes in foreclosure, a collapsed contracting business and a daily struggle to make rent. The Bruce family's challenge of living life with nine people on a poverty-level budget is the focus of WE tv's riveting new one-hour, eight episode-series, DOWNSIZED, premiering Saturday, November 6 at 9:00PM ET/PT. Witness a modern day "Brady-bunch" use love, humor and discipline to navigation the very real stresses of life in modern America.

DOWNSIZED features a large, blended family brought together by Laura and Todd Bruce. When Laura and Todd married, they merged Laura's five children with Todd's two kids to become a large family, with a sizable appetite for spending. The real-estate boom awarded Todd a thriving construction business that made money hand-over-fist and allowed him to provide a posh-lifestyle for his new family. Then, the real estate market collapsed and their lives were turned upside-down. Household budgets were slashed and that meant a "rental" home, clipping coupons and rolling pennies. Everything from vocal-lessons and cheerleading camp to baseball equipment and shopping sprees became things of the past. With retirement savings and college funds depleted, this family is beginning the steep climb out of financial ruin.

In the midst of their economic pressures, Laura and Todd are raising seven teen/pre-teenagers that are going through important social phases daily. After witnessing the divorce of their respective parents, all children were faced with having a new step-parent and step-siblings. Boys they competed with a school are now the very ones they share a bedroom with and girls have to form new sisterly-bonds. Ages 10 and up, there are the "Bruce's": Heather and Levi; and the: "Rumsey's" Bailey, Rex, Dylan and Whitney (the triplets) and Danielle (the youngest). Through DOWNSIZED, the new "Bruce-bunch" are learning to navigate the difficult teenage years of dating, friends, high-emotions and the loss of life's former luxuries - all under the parents' watchful eye. The step-siblings have to learn how to deal with jealousy of others and even themselves. While Todd's children have access to generous gifts from their well-to-do mother, Laura's kids have to make due. This can mean the difference between Heather attending the prom when Bailey can't afford to go. Still, DOWNSIZED illustrates that what the Bruce's lack financially, they make up in love and camaraderie.

"What keeps our family together is that we laugh together," reflects mom Laura Bruce. "In spite of facing an enormous debt, we're united by love and laughter."

Each member is tasked with responsibility for contributing to the family as a whole. During the school year, the Bruce's have Laura's sparse teaching income, but that is hardly enough to sustain the entire clan. They have to shop with coupons and struggle with personal pride when using food stamps, finding clothing at Good WIll and cleaning other people's homes in the neighborhood to make money. They must baby-sit, swap clothing, dumpster-dive and work summer-jobs to help each-other stay afloat. Despite their difficult circumstances, Laura and Todd will use their misfortune as an opportunity to teach their children the importance of ingenuity, teamwork, perseverance and the value of every hard-earned dollar. The Bruce's will reveal the very real face of modern American family's economic-recovery.

Produced by WE tv and Pie Town Productions. Executive Producer for WE tv: John Miuller and Monica Ramone.

About WE tv

WE tv (www.wetv.com), a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, offers compelling, entertaining stories that focus on key life stages of a modern woman, from getting married to having children and raising a family. cptfc Available in nearly 77 million homes, the network's original programming includes the critically acclaimed, viewer favorite The Locator (the network's most-watched series ever), the poignant, and often comical, real-life story of a family raising multiple toddlers, Raising Sextuplets, and a robust line-up of wedding series, including the hit show Bridezillas, Amazing Wedding Cakes and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera. WE tv is available in HD and WE tv On Demand is available in more than 30 million homes.

WE tv's public affairs initiative, WE Empowers Women, is dedicated to creating programs that foster and celebrate women's strength, confidence and diversity. The network's newest initiative, WE Volunteer (www.wevolunteer.tv), is a call-to-action for women to become more involved in their communities by volunteering one full day - just 24 hours - of community service to make a difference in someone else's life.





  [august 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· DOWNSIZED (WE)





[12/09/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Kicks Off Its Winter Lineup with Special Advance Premiere Dates for New Series "Best Medicine" and Returning Comedy Series "Animal Control" Following FOX NFL Doubleheaders
Plus: look for a two-night premiere event for new drama series "Memory of a Killer," starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperiloi, beginning immediately after the NFC Championship Game.

[12/09/25 - 10:31 AM]
John Stamos, Dale Dickey, and Cam Gigandet Join "The Hunting Wives" Season 2
The trio joins previously announced new cast members Kim Matula and Alex FitzAlan, alongside returning cast members Brittany Snow, Malin Akerman, Jaime Ray Newman, Dermot Mulroney, Evan Jonigkeit, George Ferrier, Karen Rodriguez, Hunter Emery, and Branton Box.

[12/09/25 - 10:01 AM]
BET+ Original Film, "A Soulful Christmas," Premieres Thursday, December 25
The film stars Kaci Walfall, Myles Truitt, Shanice, Kenny Lattimore, Taylor Symone, E. Roger Mitchell, Towanda Braxton, KB Holland, Kyler Chavis, Gail Everett-Smith, Gerard Catus, Ryan James, and Elijah Resurreccion.

[12/09/25 - 09:31 AM]
"The Upshaws" Returns to Netflix on January 15 with Final Season
As Regina makes a run for office and Bennie's garage falls on hard times, the Upshaws will always find a way to keep it real, loud and full of love.

[12/09/25 - 09:22 AM]
Viaplay January 2026 Exclusive U.S. Premieres: "Sport vs. Money," "Stayer," "The Curse," "Scenes After a Marriage"
"Slayer" follows an aging rock musician forced to confront his greatest challenge when the mother of his child dies tragically - struggling to balance fatherhood, fame, and the haunting choices of his past.

[12/09/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Official Trailer - "The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball" Season 2
The series, produced by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, returns on Monday, December 22 only on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

[12/09/25 - 09:01 AM]
The History Channel's New Series "History's Deadliest with Ving Rhames" to Premiere on Monday, January 26
The 10-part series produced by Propagate Content will reveal the unbelievable details surrounding the world's most prolific and powerful killers.

[12/09/25 - 08:10 AM]
Roku Originals Hits the Road for Sophia Bush and Lauren Holly Comedy Feature "Broad Trip"
From Muse Entertainment and Motion Content, the film recently wrapped production and will debut on The Roku Channel in May 2026.

[12/09/25 - 08:09 AM]
FOX Nation Taps Zachary Levi for New Docudrama "David: King of Israel" Slated for Early 2026
Released weekly, the program brings to life the thrilling, turbulent and deeply human story of David, the shepherd boy who rose to become the greatest king in Israel's history, and whom Christians regard as the ancestor of Jesus Christ.

[12/09/25 - 08:08 AM]
OWN Announces "Maxxed Out": A Bold New Financial Intervention Series Premiering January 10, 2026
This unflinching eight-episode series reveals how money (and mismanaged money) can strain even the strongest relationships.

[12/09/25 - 08:01 AM]
Tyrese Haliburton Joins "NBA on Prime" as Player Contributor
Haliburton will make his debut tonight on "NBA on Prime's" postgame show, "NBA Nightcap," following the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals doubleheader featuring the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic (6:00 p.m. ET) and New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors (8:30 p.m. ET).

[12/09/25 - 07:01 AM]
Apple TV Reveals First Look at "Margo's Got Money Troubles" from David E. Kelley
Based on Rufi Thorpe's bestselling novel of the same name, the eight-episode series will premiere globally on Wednesday April 15, 2026 with three episodes, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through May 20, 2026.

[12/09/25 - 07:01 AM]
Prime Video Reveals First-Look Images and Premiere Date for "56 Days," Starring Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia
All eight episodes will be released on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[12/09/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Unlocked: A Jail Experiment" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
At an Arizona correctional facility, a sheriff implements a bold experiment to grant incarcerated men more agency in this eye-opening reality series.

[12/09/25 - 06:01 AM]
The Game is Afoot! Prime Video Releases First-Look Images for "Young Sherlock" Series
The thrilling series, brought to life by visionary director and executive producer Guy Ritchie, charts the origin story of Sherlock Holmes in an irreverent, action-laden mystery that follows the iconic detective's early adventures.