The Burnett Family is the tenth episode of Season 1 of the American Supernanny show.
Episode Summary[]
Jo meets the Burnett family in New Jersey: Dad Michael Sr., who is a self-employed general contractor and work-at-home dad and Mom Joanne, who works as a teacher. They have four kids, all of whom are twins: three-year old twins, John and Joseph; and 16-month old fraternal twins, Michael Jr. and Molly. Michael also has an eight-year-old son, Zachary, who is from a previous marriage, and is only with his father on certain days.
All four twins, especially Joseph, are extremely clingy, and are constantly wanting to be picked up and held by their parents, which they always give into. Michael sets his own routine with the children everyday, and makes it convenient enough for him to get work done whilst he leaves the kids with other activities. All four kids are tired during the day, and its only when Joanne returns home that they begin being energetic. In addition to this despite being three, Joanne and Michael still treat John and Joseph like babies.
Being alone with the kids all day is difficult for Michael, and as such he is hoping to eventually bring in outside help. Help is constantly denied by Joanne however. Whilst she at first claims it's because she wants to raise her kids in a way she feels satisfied with, she later reveals to Jo that she is uncomfortable with the idea of someone she doesn't know watching her children. Can Jo get the twins to be less clingy, will the elder twins be able to act their age, and will Joanne allow Michael to get the help he needs?
Recap[]
Observation[]
Jo arrives at the Burnett home at 10am. According to Michael this is the regular time for them to eat breakfast. Michael loses track of his 16-month old son while on the phone. Jo finds the toddler crawling up the stairs. Michael soon ends up chasing all of the kids. Joseph sobs for Michael to hold him. Michael puts the younger kids down for a three-hour nap and makes the older twins watch TV so he can get some work done.
As soon as Joanne gets home, Michael hands the kids off to their mother and is not seen again until dinner. Joanne fixes them lunch at past 4 since Michael has not fed them yet. The kids are now extremely active. One of the twins gets his shirt dirty, so Joanne goes and changes all three of them in order to have them all wear the same outfit. During playtime, when Joseph pulls out the plug on the keyboard, Joanne attempts to put him on the Naughty Step, but gives up. During the timeout, Jo gets the oppertunity to ask Joanne why she hasnt had anyone called to help Michael take care of the kids. Joanne explains that she simply isn't comfortable with the idea of someone not apart of the family watching her children. She also makes dinner, cleans the kitchen, feeds the kids, bathes them, gives them storytime and tucks them all into bed (while Michael continues to work in his office or wander around talking business on his phone). After the kids are tucked in, Joanne then does all housework while Michael sits in his office. By the time Jo leaves the house, it is past 9 p.m. and Joanne is just getting ready to vacuum the floors.
Parents Meeting[]
Jo points out that the way Michael cares for the kids is just convenient to him, such as the long naps and watching TV. Michael admits that his favorite part of the day is naptime. He loves it when they're all asleep because it allows him to get his work done. Jo then re-iterates her question to Joanne as to why nobody's been allowed to help Michael.
Jo feels like the older twins should be able to dress themselves. Jo asks why Michael doesn't do more of an equal share of the work in the house since they both work. Joanne says she doesn't feel like she can ask Michael to do that when he already spends all day taking care of the kids. Michael says Joanne does the traditional work that women do (housework), while he does the traditional work that men do (provide for family).
Teaching[]
Jo brings in her usual routine, which Michael does not seem to be very pleased with. It includes getting the kids up at 8 am. and eating breakfast from 8:30 to 9 am. Jo introduces the Off-The-Hip technique for Joseph, the clingiest child in the family.
Joseph eventually calms down, but has yet another tantrum when it is time to eat dinner. The tantrum lands him on the Naughty Chair. Once back at the table, Joseph eats his dinner. The next day, Jo arrives at 8.30 am. to find the kids up and eating breakfast. Michael puts plates in the dishwasher for the first time. Jo introduces the Big Boy technique to help the boys dress themselves. At playtime, Jo introduces the Managed Play technique.
Later that day, Michael takes the twins outside the play. Joanne comes home during outdoor playtime. Instead of simply switching off as they had previously done, the family actually spends time together.
Family Test Run and DVD Meeting[]
During the Family Test Run, the parents do well with the Big Boy and Off-The Hip techniques, but Michael lapses back into waking the kids too late. The kids constantly eat. Joanne introduces a game for the boys to take turns. When John refuses the take turns, Joanne takes the game from both boys. Joanne struggles with implementing the Naughty Chair properly. When she can't do it anymore She actually says she's gonna Call Jo, much to her anger
Reinforcement[]
After watching the DVD, reinforcement begins. Jo addressed the fact that Joanne always dresses the boys the same. Jo wants Joanne to see the boys at individuals, not just as "the twins." Michael now thinks that the routine is wonderful for his kids, but not so much for his work. Jo suggests that Michael talk to Joanne about help. Michael suggest that they bring in someone who helps with little things such as lunch. Despite her hesistance, Joanne agrees to try it. Joanne goes over Managed Play again. Michael, the twins and his older son, Zachary (who appeared out of nowhere) play pretend that they are in outer space in a Buzz Lightyear tent. Afterwards, Jo leaves for good.
Pop Culture[]
- During the Observation, Michael Sr. gives John and Joseph the option of watching either Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs or The Lion King; the former is chosen, and brief scenes of Snow White and The Evil Queen are shown.
- When Jo was implementing Off The Hip, Molly is seen playing with an inflatable toy Lula sword from the Dave The Barbarian McDonalds Happy Meal promotion.
- Jet Puffed Marshmallows are shown in the family update
- Jif Peanut Butter can be seen.
- When it was dinner time, Molly was seen holding the Sesame Street book, Grover: Hello, Everybody!
- Two stuffed toys of Simba from "The Lion King" can be seen in the observation.
- During the observation when Michael was getting Molly dressed, a plush of Dipsy from "Teletubbies" can be seen.
- During the Submission Reel, two plushes of Mickey and Minnie can be seen.
- The Baby Van Gogh Color Go Round toy can be seen during the Observation and the Reinforcement.
- The My Own Learning Leap toy can be seen during the observation and the teaching.
- A Winnie the Pooh plush can be seen during the observation.
- When the Managed Play technique was first introduced, a Sesame Street Jack-In-The-Box can be seen.
- During the Family Test Run, John and Joseph were seen playing "Don't Break The Ice."
- The naughty chair seemed to be a Winnie the Pooh chair.
- At the end of the DVD Meeting, the book, "Fox in Socks" by Dr. Seuss, can be seen. However, it was blurred due to copyright reasons.
- In the Submission Reel and the reinforcement, the Learn and Groove Musical Table by LeapFrog can be seen.
- A Buzz Lightyear tent can be seen during the reinforcement.
- A Pluto plush can be seen during the reinforcement.
Family Members[]
Person | Age | Relation to Family |
---|---|---|
Michael Burnett Sr. | 37 | Father |
Joanne Burnett | 38 | Mother |
Zachary | 8 (born September 21, 1996) | Son |
John | 3 (born July 11, 2001) | Identical Twins |
Joseph | ||
Michael Jr. | 16 months (born November 15, 2003) | Fraternal Twins |
Molly |
The child was disciplined via one of Jo Frost's techinques. |
Behind the Scenes[]
This Episode was filmed in March 2005
Trivia[]
- Zachary is the first kid in the series to not speak in an episode. Although, this can be explained, since he only appeared in the Reinforcement.
- The second was Philip from The Davis Family (Season 5), who despite being on-screen a lot, never spoke at all.
- Molly is the only female baby in season 1.
Gallery[]
External links[]
Season 1 |
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The Jeans Family • The Bullard Family • The Orm Family • The Wischmeyer Family • The Weston Family • The Bailey Family • The Gorbea Family • The Ririe Family • The Collins Family • The Burnett Family • The Christiansen Family • Family Update Special |