Ever since Bill Klein and Jen Arnold first invited TV cameras into their lives with the
premiere of The Little Couple in 2009, fans have been obsessed with the pair's seemingly
perfect marriage, and their ridiculously adorable children, Will and Zoey.
But is everything on reality TV really what is seems?
Here's what goes on behind the scenes.
Filming logistics
As fans of the show know, Arnold worked as a neonatologist at the Texas Children's Hospital.
And sometimes she shot scenes for The Little Couple while at work.
But as she revealed in a 2013 interview with Glamour, it took a lot of time and effort
to convince the hospital to allow camera crews inside.
She said,
"When the show became a reality, we got in touch with the PR folks there, but there was
a lot of hesitation.
As a hospital, they have a lot to lose, and they wanted to make sure it would show the
hospital in a good light."
Arnold explained that after a series of conversations, the hospital administration and production
company, LMNO, were able to reach an agreement.
She said,
"LMNO was great and had done shows in other hospitals, so I think everybody felt more
comfortable."
Their stunning Houston home
While they were settled in Houston, Texas, the family lived on quite the property.
It was close to Arnold's work, and was seriously spacious with plenty of light.
But viewers likely don't realize just how amazing the couple's home was, since not all
of its unique features were highlighted on camera.
"If we ever leave this place, she's stealing the faucet."
"Yeah, it's coming with me.
That and the oven"
When Arnold and Klein decided to make the move to Florida, they put up their five-bedroom,
six-bathroom Texas home for sale, at over $1 million.
And according to Houston Business Journal, they finally found a buyer in August 2018.
Reportedly purchased for nearly $900,000, the home had been custom built in 2010 to
fit the couple's needs, but had since been renovated to suit traditional scale.
According to the Journal, the nearly 4,000-square foot home features a resort-style pool, spa,
an elevator, and even an outdoor kitchen and firepit.
Serious legal drama
Despite The Little Couple's impressive ratings, the show's future became uncertain when shooting
was abruptly halted after the eighth season thanks to a nasty legal battle between Discovery
Communications, the company that runs TLC, and LMNO, the independent production company
producing the show.
According to Deadline, it all started in 2016 with a $7 million lawsuit, and spiralled out
of control with a quote, "extortionist accountant," as well as embezzlement, and falsified records.
And the stars of The Little Couple were stuck in the middle.
As the battle raged on, Arnold and Klein finally had enough.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that in May 2017, the couple filed papers in a California
federal court asking for:
"[…] Compensatory damages, punitive damages and emotional-distress damages."
Despite the ongoing dispute, fans were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief when TLC
set a premiere date for a new season in September 2017.
The complicated, headline-making legal struggle finally came to an end in March 2018.
Although the exact terms will remain confidential, Variety reports the nearly two-year legal
struggle has ended in…
"[…] an amicable settlement […] to the mutual satisfaction of both parties."
The family gets political
Between working, raising a family and filming a hit reality show, Arnold also dedicates
time to dive into politics.
In July 2017 she headed to Washington D.C. where she spoke out against "proposed cuts
to Medicaid" and joined the Children's Hospital Association for one day packed with meetings
and conversations with various Congressional members, as reported by the Washington Post.
Arnold said,
"The timing is critical.
The [Better Care Reconciliation Act] is scary, it would cut $43 billion in Medicaid funding,
which would more negatively affect kids than adults.
We have to speak out.
We have to talk to our congresspeople."
"The majority of the patients that I care for as a physician are under Medicaid because
it really does help to bridge care for those medically complex children"
But she's not the only one in the family getting political.
Arnold was joined by her hubby and kids who weren't shy about getting involved.
She posted a shot of Zoey, writing: "Today I get to help Speak Now for Kids!
Learn why children's health care is so important."
Then she posted a shot of Will, writing, "Will on The Hill!
You can advocate today to!
Contact your members of Congress and tell them to protect children's health care!"
Looks like whatever The Little Couple is up to, it's always a family affair.