TLC's 'Sister Wives' Winter Season to Debut in January (Exclusive Video)

TLC’s popular reality series “Sister Wives” will return for an eight-episode winter season on Jan. 4 with a two-hour premiere at 9 p.m., the cable network exclusively told TheWrap.

The network promises that the polygamist Brown family will face several “trials and tribulations” on the upcoming season.

Also read: TLC Holiday Lineup Features 'Secret Santa' Docu-Film (Exclusive)

Here’s TLC’s description of the season:

Kody and the Sister Wives – Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn – have settled into life in the cul-de-sac, but life is anything but easygoing for the family. The family prepares for two of their daughters, Mykelti and Madison, to graduate high school bringing a flurry of mixed emotions. And, the family bands together to deal with a potentially risky surgery involving their son Dayton.

The sister wives are also presented with new business partnership opportunities that give rise to a serious discussion about their long-term goals. They weigh the pros and cons of opening up to the possibilities that lie ahead.

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Produced by Figure 8 Films in association with Puddle Monkey Production, 1.6 million total viewers tuned into the “Sister Wives” midseason premiere on July 8, with 798,000 viewers in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic.

See photos: 'The Amazing Race' Celebrates 25 Seasons, 10 Emmys and a Football-Free Timeslot (Photos)

TheWrap has an exclusive first look at the new Winter season, in which Kody and Robyn encounter a lesbian polygamist with a pretty straightforward proposal.

Watch the preview.

11 TV Shows Canceled by Controversy -- From 'Honey Boo Boo' to 'Politically Incorrect' (Photos)

Paula Deen’s Food Network shows - After admitting to using racial slurs, The Food Network severed their relationship with Deen and canceled her shows “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Best Dishes,” and “Paula’s Party.”
Food Network
“Politically Incorrect” – ABC pulled the plug on Bill Maher’s talk show after the host disagreed with President Bush calling the terrorists behind the September 11^th attacks cowards. Maher asserted that the U.S. military response in the Middle East was cowardly, saying: “We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."
Getty Images
“Luck” – HBO canceled Dustin Hoffman's series after three horses died during production.
HBO
“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” – TLC abruptly canceled the reality show after reports that June Shannon, mother to the young star of the series, was dating a convicted child molester.
TLC
“Ford Nation” – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s talk show, co-hosted by his brother Doug, lasted only one episode. The program premiered on the same day the Toronto City Council voted to strip Ford of most of his powers and budget.
Getty Images
“The Good Life” – CeeLo Green’s reality show was canned by TBS days after the musician pleaded no contest to a felony charge of giving a woman the drug ecstasy. He then tweeted: “People who have really been raped REMEMBER!!!”
Getty Images
“7^th Heaven,” in syndication – Reruns of The WB series were pulled from UP TV after audio tapes surfaced of the show’s patriarchal star Stephen Collins admitting to child molestation.
The WB
CNN’s Hillary Clinton documentary – Director Charles Ferguson pulled out of the project after Democrats, Republicans and the Clintons themselves criticized the film. CNN Films then canceled their plans to move forward with the documentary.
Getty Images
“All My Babies' Mamas” – Oxygen was in the midst of developing a special featuring rapper Shawty Lo and his family of 11 children from 10 different women. An online petition to cancel the show led the cable channel to shelve the project.
Oxygen
“Buckwild” – MTV suspended production on the reality series following the death of cast member Shain Gandee. The 21-year-old was found dead of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
MTV
"Flip It Forward" – Twin brothers Jason and David Benham were set to star in their own HGTV series, but the network shut down those plans after learning about homophobic, anti-Muslim and anti-abortion statements they’d made in the past.
HGTV

1 of 11

All of these series had the plug pulled on them under less than ideal circumstances

Paula Deen’s Food Network shows - After admitting to using racial slurs, The Food Network severed their relationship with Deen and canceled her shows “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Best Dishes,” and “Paula’s Party.”

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11 TV Shows Canceled by Controversy -- From 'Honey Boo Boo' to 'Politically Incorrect' (Photos)

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