NBC is apparently hoping its news division can explain how The Baby Borrowers is more than just entertainment.
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Billed as an "interactive town hall-reunion," the special will include members from the show's cast, production crew and other as-of-yet unannounced "news-making guests," according to NBC. In addition, the special will also feature viewer questions submitted via nbc.com.
"The coincidence of this unique series has drawn media attention to the very important subject of the recent rise in teen pregnancies as well as to recent related news ranging from the high school students in Gloucester to pregnant teen celebrities such as Jamie Lynn Spears," NBC reality programming executive Craig Plestis said in the network's announcement. "This special should shed more light on a controversial subject that deserves more personal discussion beyond the social experiment that we provided to entertain audiences this summer."
The Baby Borrowers follows five participating couples -- ranging in age from 18 to 20 -- over the course of three weeks as they are given a home and a job in preparation for the arrival of their first baby. Every few days the baby "ages" -- going from an infant to an elderly person.
The series has recently come under criticism -- including from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, which issued a statement last week calling for NBC to "pull" The Baby Borrowers due to health and safety concerns it has with the show.
Zero to Three -- a national advocacy group for young children -- also released a statement claiming the show "exploits very young children in the pursuit of entertainment."
The Baby Borrowers reunion will air one week after the show's finale broadcast, which will also serve as the lead-in to the special on August 6 at 8PM ET/PT. NBC News' David Corvo will serve as executive producer.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
