Kardashians surrender their reality television throne

Grab+some+popcorn+and+enjoy+some+Kardashian+drama+before+it%E2%80%99s+gone.+Photo+credit+Katie+Phillips

Grab some popcorn and enjoy some Kardashian drama before it’s gone. Photo credit Katie Phillips

Maddie Loverich, Sports Editor

Selfishly, I hoped the Kardashians would continue to film their show forever. I may not have tuned into E! Network when the show premiered weekly, but it was always nice to have my guilty pleasure show in the back pocket. 

As they sat around drinking black water and eating massive salad bowls brought to them by staff, I indulged in the drama. Who is mad at who this week? There’s no shortage of pettiness, and personally, I find it cathartic. 

The main ailment in their daily lives is pretty relatable to most: the hilarious fragility of the sibling relationship. Everyone with a sibling can attest to the fact that your brother/sister can go from your best friend to your sworn enemy in the course of a few moments. Sure, the Kardashians represent this at a much different scale. For example, my brother and I have never (and maybe this is just my experience) argued about having a sugar-free Candy Land party for children. That, my friends, is the comedy we’ll miss when the show ends.

On September 8, accompanied with a sentimental throwback from the first season, Kim Kardashian West announced the eventual ending of the show. Sister Khloe and “momager” Kris quickly followed suit, posting almost identical statements. The 20th season will be its last, premiering in 2021. 

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To our amazing fans – It is with heavy hearts that we’ve made the difficult decision as a family to say goodbye to Keeping Up with the Kardashians. After what will be 14 years, 20 seasons, hundreds of episodes and numerous spin-off shows, we are beyond grateful to all of you who’ve watched us for all of these years – through the good times, the bad times, the happiness, the tears, and the many relationships and children. We’ll forever cherish the wonderful memories and countless people we’ve met along the way. Thank you to the thousands of individuals and businesses that have been a part of this experience and, most importantly, a very special thank you to Ryan Seacrest for believing in us, E! for being our partner, and our production team at Bunim/Murray, who’ve spent countless hours documenting our lives. Our last season will air early next year in 2021. Without Keeping Up with The Kardashians, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who has watched and supported me and my family these past 14 incredible years. This show made us who we are and I will be forever in debt to everyone who played a role in shaping our careers and changing our lives forever. With Love and Gratitude, Kim

A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on

Do not fret, the end is not exactly near. Season 19 premiered a week ago, on September 17th, which means we have about two full seasons left. The new season’s premiere did not disappoint, complete with masked Kardashian’s and Zoom meeting interviews. Celebrities… they’re just like us. 

Fans were disappointed, but not exactly surprised. In the latest season, Kourtney Kardashian (or as Kim famously called her: “the least interesting one to look at”) already stopped frequently filming. She often complained about the show, blaming it for taking valuable time away from her children and her new influencing endeavors.

And the woman has a point. Cameras followed the family at their every turn for 14 years. Viewers have seen the birth of all of Kris Jenner’s grandchildren and the entire adolescence of eventual superstars Kylie and Kendall. But the good comes with the bad. We’ve also seen Kim’s 72 day marriage and Khloe’s DUI arrest (“Kim, would you stop taking pictures of yourself? Your sister is going to jail”). 

Say what you will about the Kardashian-Jenner clan, but they truly have subjected themselves to the ever-scrutinizing public eye for the sake of our entertainment. Reality TV watchers everywhere will mourn the loss of the drama, but will remain consoled by the fact that their social media presence will likely be with us forever.