Jon and Kate may have eight, but they've got nothing on Eric and Betty. That's Eric and Betty Hayes, Marlboro residents and the proud parents of 10 children. Yup, you read right: 10 children. Even more unusual, the children are all multiples — two sets of twins and a set of sextupletsThere's the 12-year-old twins, Kevin and Kyle, 10-year-old twins Kieran and Meghan, and 4-year-old sextuplets Tara, Rachel, Ryan, Connor, EJ and Rebecca, who has cerebral palsy."It's hard to take 10 kids out and watch them all and keep an eye on them all without losing your mind," says Betty, in what has got to be one of the biggest understatements ever.
The Hayes — yep, all 12 of them — are the stars of their very own reality television show, "Table for 12," which debuts at 10 p.m. Monday, March 23 on TLC.
While this is the family's first weekly TV series, the network introduced them last fall in a one-hour special called "Twins, Twins and Sextuplets."
Before you clutch your head in empathy (or pain), know this: As complicated as the Hayes' everyday life obviously is, the parents handle it with such aplomb it's impossible not to admire them.
Take the very first episode, in which Eric enlists the kids' help in making Betty's birthday gifts and cake. He allows them to use glitter while making a birthday card for her, even though he knows the shiny bits will wind up all over the house — to say nothing of the chaos that ensues during the creative process.
"I don't think I would have done that for your birthday," Betty admits to her husband.
"Yeah, I don't think I'm going to do it again for your birthday," Eric replies without hesitation.
Even when bestowed with a gift certificate to a spa — Tranquilite Salon and Day Spa in Morganville — Betty finds it difficult to tear herself away, much less relax. She agrees to go only if she can take Meghan with her.
Speaking of Meghan, it's apparent that while most of the children get along well with one another, she and her older brother, Kyle, don't always see eye to eye.
"They just pick at each other," Betty explains. "Probably when I'm dead and buried they'll be best friends."
During an outing that includes a visit to Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant Beach, Betty acknowledges the family, not surprisingly, gets a lot of stares and comments.
"I guess some people can't handle it or can't imagine it, so they're like, 'God bless you,'" Betty explains. "I hear it at least once a day."
Obviously, it's impossible not to compare "Table for 12" with TLC's other popular series, "Jon & Kate Plus 8," But if you tune in expecting to see a "Jon & Kate Plus 8" knock-off, you're going to be disappointed. Sure, the Hayes' household is loud and boisterous, with plenty of yelling and crying, but it also lacks an anal-retentive mom and passive-aggressive dad.
In other words, the adult Hayes' are a likable pair. Even better, it's clear they like one another. Imagine that — reality TV parents who don't harbor animosity toward each other!
Their kids even seem to like them.
"Mommy is really special, because she is practically the only mother in the world that can take care of 10 kids at one time when everybody else would probably have a meltdown in five minutes," 12-year-old Kyle declares.
Out of the mouths of babes . . .
Note: "Table of 12" moves to its regular time, 9 p.m. Mondays, beginning March 30.
JERSEY UPDATE
Move over, Orange County, New York and Atlanta: The Garden State has its very own set of "Real Housewives."
Five women from Franklin Lakes in Bergen County will put Joisey on the reality TV map beginning at 11 p.m. May 12 when Bravo debuts "The Real Housewives of New Jersey." (The network will air a sneak peek of the show at 11 p.m. April 7.) The women are as follows:
Jacqueline Laurita: A former cosmetologist and current stay-at-home mom of a teenage daughter from a previous marriage and a 6-year-old son with her current husband, Chris, who is the owner of wholesale apparel businesses and is the brother of Dina and Caroline, two of the other housewives.
Teresa Giudice: Jersey-born and raised, she's mother to three young daughters and the wife of Joe, who owns a construction company. She's friends with Dina and Caroline and has a house down the Shore.
Danielle Staub: She's a single mom of two daughters who regularly goes to church and was one of the first women in the state to become an American Express Black card member. She's good friends with Jacqueline and says, "You either love me or you hate me, there is no in between."Dina Manzo: This mother started up a nonprofit organization called Project Ladybug, which helps children with cancer. This interior designer and event planner is best friends with her sister, Caroline. In addition, her husband, Tommy, works with his brother (who also happens to be Caroline's husband — are you getting this all straight?) at their family's catering business. Dina's brother is Chris, Jacqueline's husband.
Caroline Manzo: Dina's sister is a "feisty spitfire" and mother of three who owns a real-estate firm and a line of children's accessories. She also is on the board of Project Ladybug. Her husband is Albert Manzo, Dina's husband Tommy's brother. Caroline's brother is Chris, Jacqueline's husband.Meanwhile, word on the street is that the extremely popular SciFi — excuse me, SyFy — series "Ghost Hunters" recently dropped by Elizabeth's Union County Courthouse.
Yup, that's right. Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson, Linden native Dave Tango and company descended upon the building March 12 to investigate reports of elevators opening and closing on their own, flickering lights and the ghost of a woman dressed in white Colonial garb.
The program decided to visit the building based upon the recommendation of former Elizabeth police officer Bruce Tango, father of "Ghost Hunters" member Dave. Apparently hangings were conducted behind the building in the 1800s.
It will be a while until we know if their investigation uncovered anything, as an air date has not been announced.
And finally, Jersey girls Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson still are in the running to become "America's Next Top Model."
During a photo shoot in last week's episode, Aminat — a 21-year-old student from Union — received praise from Tyra Banks, who said that it was her best photograph so far. Teyona — a 20-year-old loss-prevention representative originally from Woodstown — also was complimented, although the judges noted that she must be more careful about how she angles her head in photographs.