Extreme Couponing (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Extreme Couponing (renamed Extreme Couponing: All-Stars for third season) is a scripted American reality television series produced by Sharp Media and currently airing on cable network TLC.

History

Extreme couponing is an activity that combines shopping skills with couponing in an attempt to save as much money as possible while accumulating the most groceries. The concept of "extreme couponers" was first mentioned by The Wall Street Journal on March 8, 2010 in an article entitled "Hard Times Turn Coupon Clipping Into the Newest Extreme Sport". On March 25, 2010, ABC Nightline followed up with its Season 3 premiere with a segment entitled "Extreme Couponing Competition: How Far Can $50 Go?"

TLC's Extreme Couponing is a show about shoppers who make extensive and focused use of coupons to save money while accumulating large quantities of goods. It was previewed in December 2010; after surpassing network expectations with more than 2 million viewers, it received a series order and began regular airings in April 2011.

On June 6, 2011, TLC announced it ordered a second season of Extreme Couponing. It premiered on Wednesday, September 28, 2011.

The third season debuted on May 28, 2012 at 10pm ET/PT with two back-to-back episodes, and continues on Monday evenings thereafter.

Reception

New York Times columnist Virginia Heffernan described the show as "a deceptively simple look at the complex drama of American spending and the paradoxes of parsimony." E! Online's critic Jennifer Arrow called it a "recessionista series" marked by "a lot of tawdry, exploitative 'reality'" and participants "just doing their crazy best to stretch dollars and provide a little more for their families." Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly noted that the show "has elicited some extreme reactions", and called it "a canny example of two elements floating through the country right now," citing "a fascination with extreme behavior as it's filtered through reality TV" and "the fact that a lot of people don't have as much money as they used to."

The show has come under fire by consumer bloggers and experts such as Jill Cataldo about potential coupon misuse on the show. Actions such as the use of coupons for incorrect items, using counterfeit coupons, and encouraging compulsive hoarding have been cited as reasons to question the show's authenticity.

Series Overview

Season		Episodes	Season Premiere	Season Finale
	1	13	December 26, 2010	June 15, 2011
	2	12	September 9, 2011	November 23, 2011
	All-Stars	6	December 27, 2011	January 17, 2012
	4	8	May 30, 2012	June 25, 2012
	5	TBA	November 12, 2012	TBA

Episode list

Season 1

"?-	#	Title	Original air date	Production code
ProdCode=100-60	ShortSummary=	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=101	ShortSummary=A Maryland woman uses coupons to get $2000 worth of groceries for about $100 in the premiere of the series, which profiles bargain shoppers who go to extremes to find great deals.	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=102	ShortSummary=A St. Louis woman shops for a huge party without going over her monthly food budget of $30. Meanwhile, a woman from Idaho attempts 18 separate transactions to get more than $600 worth of groceries.	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=103	ShortSummary=Identical twins track down birthday freebies; a Kentucky couponer assembles 1000 military care packages. (Nathan, the Kentucky couponer, was also featured in the special pilot episode, purchasing items not only for himself but for a local food bank.)	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=104	ShortSummary=A frugal Missouri woman spends less than $10 on $400 worth of groceries; a Florida woman tries to make $50 using coupons.	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=105	ShortSummary=A thrifty woman searches for coupons in public recycling bins; a mother passes down her love of couponing to her son before he leaves for college.	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=106	ShortSummary=A single mom uses coupons so she can afford to support her mother and daughter; a couponer tries to collect 700 donated items without spending a dollar.	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=107	ShortSummary=A Seattle couponer is forced to take her kids along to the grocery store when her babysitter is late; a Spokane woman uses the money she saves from couponing to travel.	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=108	ShortSummary=A woman who started couponing to save her family business now has a stockpile worth more than $35,000. Also: a newcomer to couponing has a growing stockpile that's taking over her entire home.	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=109	ShortSummary=An Arizona couponer feeds her family of six on just $50 a week.	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=110	ShortSummary=A Georgia couponer brings her best friend along on a shopping spree to show her the ropes, while a stay-at-home mom in Idaho takes her skeptical husband grocery shopping, hoping to spark some interest in couponing.	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=112	ShortSummary=An Ohio woman tries to get $3100 worth of groceries for less than $100; a Washington couponer pulls an all-nighter in preparation for her shopping trip.	LineColor=C80815 }}	ProdCode=111	ShortSummary=An expectant couple from Long Island use coupons to stock up on supplies before their baby arrives; couponing allows a Las Vegas woman to home school her twin 6-year-olds.	LineColor=C80815 }}

Season 2

"?-	#	Title	Original air date	Production code
ProdCode=201	ShortSummary=The Season 2 opener profiles a Detroit couponer who's trying to save money to move her family out of their dangerous neighborhood. Also: a Connecticut woman uses couponing to help her family and friends.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=202	ShortSummary=A mother of seven feeds her family and 200 fellow parishioners for less than $100 a month; another couponer shops to feed 20 guests at her lake house, and faces unexpected competition from her best friend.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=203	ShortSummary=In Upstate New York, a couponer shops for her sister's wedding, planning to feed 280 guests on a $150 budget. Meanwhile, in North Carolina, a woman's grandmother left her a treasure trove of coupons with no expiration dates.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=204	ShortSummary=Michelle clears supermarket shelves when she finds a good deal; Kelly feeds her whole family on just $25,000 a year.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=205	ShortSummary=A Missouri woman uses her coupon savings to build a dream home for her family. 20 year old college student Tyler coupons to party more.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=206	ShortSummary=A Colorado family of five live off student loans and couponing while the father attends engineering school; a Georgia couponer teaches her best friend about the art of saving during a big back-to-school shopping trip.	LineColor = FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=207	ShortSummary=A Virginia woman uses coupons to keep her family on a vegan diet; a New York woman takes her coupon-skeptic brother shopping for groceries to donate to the Ronald McDonald House.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=208	ShortSummary=A 16-year-old couponer is profiled. Also: a New Hampshire woman embarks on a major haul before taking a six-month break from couponing.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=209	ShortSummary=A pregnant Florida woman shops for groceries and baby clothes at a discount department store; a Mississippi woman tries to break a personal record for saving on a month's groceries.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=210	ShortSummary=A Florida couponer makes a list of supplies, including hundreds of toothbrushes, to donate to a center for teen mothers; a single mom credits couponing for being able to afford her daughter's dance lessons.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=211	ShortSummary=A Connecticut mother depends on coupons to support her family of five; a single mom has trouble at the register while shopping at a discount department store in Kansas.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}	ProdCode=212	ShortSummary=Charitable donations are featured when a pair try to get more than $1000 worth of groceries without spending a penny; and an Ohio woman who believes in strength in numbers tries to get extra food.	LineColor=FF69B4 }}

All-Stars

Shoppers compete in a reality series that features 12 of the best "Extreme Couponing" savers in 30-minute challenges to see who can save the most on $500 worth of merchandise, which is then donated to charity.

"?-	#	Title	Original air date	Production code
ProdCode=301	ShortSummary=A woman from Detroit and one from North Dakota compete in the premiere of a reality series that features the best savers from "Extreme Couponing" as they go head-to-head in 30-minute challenges to see who can save the most on $500 worth of merchandise, which is then donated to charity.	LineColor=6699CC }}	ProdCode=302	ShortSummary=A deer hunter from Missouri and a math whiz from Pennsylvania compete	LineColor=6699CC }}	ProdCode=303	ShortSummary=A woman with seven children competes against a couponer with 20 years of experience.	LineColor=6699CC }}	ProdCode=304	ShortSummary=A woman from Chicago who blogs about coupons faces a Connecticut woman known as the "Couponator."	LineColor=6699CC }}	ProdCode=305	ShortSummary=A vegan from Virginia and a "Super Mom" from Idaho target a local food bank with their donations.	LineColor=6699CC }}	ProdCode=306	ShortSummary=A New York mother with an MBA competes against a Louisiana-born, stay-at-home mom in Colorado who goes by the nickname "Cajun Couponer."	LineColor=6699CC }}

Season 4

"?-	#	Title	Original air date	Production code
ProdCode=401	ShortSummary=Messy Missouri couponer Erin tries to get a haul worth over $2,000 for free, but her unorganized method may be her downfall. Kentucky college student Dominique and his frat brothers use their stockpile of gelatin for a pool at an epic college party.	LineColor=2FCE1F }}	ProdCode=402	ShortSummary=Ohio high school senior Cole clips coupons in class. He enlists his ex-girlfriend to help on a vital shopping trip, but her antics in the store imperil his haul. In Washington state, pregnant couponer Angelique must restock her shelves before going on break.	LineColor=2FCE1F }}	ProdCode=403	ShortSummary=Jeff comes from a New Jersey dynasty of male couponers and is passing the torch to his son Sam. But first, 8 year old Sam must pull off his first solo couponing trip. Ohio basketball coach Kelly is couponing for her basketball team's post game party.	LineColor=2FCE1F }}	ProdCode=404	ShortSummary=South Carolina waitress and mom Joyce is a coupon addict. She had an unhealthy relationship with food, but now focuses all of her energy on couponing. In Michigan, Aprille works at an auto dealership and bribes her co-workers with snacks from her stockpile	LineColor=2FCE1F }}	ProdCode=405	ShortSummary=Adrienne is spreading around her love of couponing & tries to convert a skeptical friend into a believer. Sarah, who is 14-years-old couponer, controls all of her family's grocery shopping.	LineColor=2FCE1F }}	ProdCode=406	ShortSummary=Lisa hopes to spend only $15 for a month's worth of food. April is planning to feed 300 guests for less $100.	LineColor=2FCE1F }}	ProdCode=407	ShortSummary=To cover for the home repairs, Jane must save enough money to pay for it. Judy teaches a class on couponing & puts three students in the class to the test.	LineColor=2FCE1F }}	ProdCode=408	ShortSummary=In Maryland, pregnant couponer Krista dumpster dives for coupons and bags up her husband's clothes to make more room in their closet for her stockpile. Georgia shopaholic Amanda must get all of the food for her sister's baby shower for less than $60.	LineColor=2FCE1F }}

Season 5

"?-	#	Title	Original air date	Production code
ProdCode=501	ShortSummary=In the fifth-season premiere, a Georgia woman hopes to spend as little as $20 on a reception for her vow-renewal ceremony with her husband. Meanwhile, a New York woman tries to make dinner for 16 people in her family for less than $100.	LineColor=FF9933 }}	ProdCode=502	ShortSummary=A Colorado woman hopes her saving skills will land her a job at a home for teens with substance-abuse issues, but first has to prove her abilities to the program's founder; a Detroit couponer commits to a more healthful lifestyle and wants to lose weight with help from a personal trainer.	LineColor=FF9933 }}	ProdCode=503	ShortSummary=Two best friends take their husbands with them shopping to see who can coupon better.	LineColor=FF9933 }}	ProdCode = 504	ShortSummary=An Ohio woman shops for her daughter's graduation party with her reluctant husband in tow; a Kansas teen lords his couponing prowess over his older sisters.	LineColor=FF9933 }}	ProdCode=505	ShortSummary=Susan is the original Queen of Couponing . She even has a coupon robot. For her 40th ?couponiversary,? she tries to beat her savings record. Cole recently started school at The Ohio State University. His roommate Brian has some stockpile requests.	LineColor=FF9933 }}	ProdCode=506	ShortSummary=Maryann throws her daughter a coupon-themed 12th birthday party to convince her friends and neighbors to start couponing. 15-year-old Haley is the boss of her whole family when it comes to grocery shopping. She starts to save up for her first car.	LineColor=FF9933 }}	ProdCode=507	ShortSummary=In Georgia, Amanda tries to teach her parents to coupon so she can take some time off from shopping. Jess is a shopaholic and coupon addict.	LineColor=FF9933 }}	ProdCode=508	ShortSummary=Zadia takes her friends couponing to prove that she can still get super savings. Briana and her boyfriend Jose are ready to get engaged but, like any good couponer, Briana refuses to go into debt to pay for the ring. Jose has a different plan.	LineColor=FF9933 }}

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