Keeping Up with the Kardashians is an American reality show that aired on E! from October 14, 2007 to June 20, 2021. Originated by Ryan Seacrest, the series stars the Kardashian/Jenner family: Kim, Kourtney, Khloé and Rob Kardashian, their mother Kris Jenner, their half-siblings, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and their step-mother Caitlyn Jenner.note
The series focuses on the personal and professional lives of the family (focusing mainly on sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloé), with the structure of a regular episode usually including the family exhibiting their privileged lifestyle and getting into one or several minor conflicts before ultimately making up in the name of family, with some Quirky Household antics along the way. If you haven't seen the show, you might have at least heard about it.
The show consistently received negative reviews from critics due to accusations of centering around people who are "famous for being famous", as well as some of the storylines being staged, and for the stupidity in the content, like most reality shows. In spite of this, KUWTK attracted high viewership ratings, becoming one of E!'s most successful shows, and nevertheless is considered a "guilty pleasure".
Tropes:
- The Alcoholic: Part of Kourtney's arc is her fluctuating relationship with Scott, due to his alcoholism. His seeming refusal to seek treatment is why she ultimately called off their relationship amid concerns for their children.
- Alcohol-Induced Idiocy: Scott and Rob getting drunk at Kim's birthday party in Las Vegas, rolling over the floor in the hotel and shouting. It gets even worse at the restaurant with Scott and his employer is right there.
- Ambiguously Gay: In the context of the show, and in media, no one is sure if Kim's friend, Jonathan Cheban, is gay or not. There was even an episode dedicated to the stars being confused about it.
- Appeal to Worse Problems: When Kim is upset over losing an expensive earring in the ocean, Kourtney says "Kim, there's people that are dying".
- Attention Whore: Kris Jenner, and her family is not oblivious about it. She once wanted to change her name back to Kardashian to capitalize on the Kardashian brand, even though it clearly hurt her husband. Kris also had tons of Jenner’s Olympic memorabilia decorating her office when she was famous, but now has her daughters everywhere. It takes a long calling-out on her selfishness by Khloé for her to realize how negative her behavior was. Kim also shows shades of her mother's attention-seeking.
- But of course, all members of the family have a shorthand of being attention whores. They are reality tv stars, publicity seeking is part of the job after all.
- The Baby of the Bunch: Kylie.
- Beauty, Brains, and Brawn: Kim is the beauty, Kourtney is the brain and Khloé is the brawn.
- Big Fancy House: While their home from the earlier seasons was quite big and nice (it also had a pool), as the successes of both the show and the family's careers progress, they started moving into a bigger mansion and the successes got so big that all of them had their own mansions. Some of them, like Kylie, even have multiple mansions.
- Breakout Character:
- The younger sisters (Kylie and Kendall) are gaining a fanbase and hosted the MMVA's - despite being 16 and 18 respectively. At this point, Kendall is second only to Kim in fame.
- Since coming out as transgender, Caitlyn Jenner is now considered the most recognized transgender celebrity in the world.
- Brick Joke: And on Twitter, Kim delivers Kourtney's line back to her when she has a similar problem.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Kim may be selfish, immature and shallow and is not exactly famous for being clever. Nevertheless, she's a successful businesswoman.
- Chocolate Baby: Khloé is one, according to rumours, because she looks nothing like the rest of the family.
- Closer to Earth: Inverted with Kris and her spouse; their relationship is comparable to Hank and Peggy Hill, where the wife's ego holds back her senses.
- Deadpan Snarker: Scott Disick and Khloé Kardashian are the most prominent. Kourtney Kardashian and Caitlyn Jenner to a lesser extent. Pretty much everyone has snarked at one point or another.
- Family Theme Naming: All of the Kardashian and Jenner daughters have names that start with K to match their mom, Kris, while Rob is named after his dad, Robert Kardashian Sr. (yes, the one involved in the O.J. Simpson trial). When she chose her name, Caitlyn kept the hard consonant sound but spells hers with a C.
- Fleeting Passionate Hobbies: Scott Disick has a new hobby almost every episode. From piano, dirt bikes, karate, you name it, he's tried it.
- Four-Temperament Ensemble:
- Kim: sanguine
- Kourtney: choleric
- Khloé: melancholic
- Rob: phlegmatic
- The Ghost: Although Kim's daughter is mentioned, she never appears on the show, as Kanye West initially wouldn't allow it, but she later appears in more recent episodes as a toddler. It remains to be seen if her son will appear as well.
- Glory Days: Caitlyn shows signs over not being as famous as she once was. The fact that her wife latched onto the fame of her daughters is just rubbing salt in her wounds.
- Grand Finale: The series has 2-part series finale and continues with a 2-part special reunion.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: Khloé and Malika, who have been best friends for a long time.
- Hypocrite: Khloe criticized Kourtney for taking Scott back when he cheated on her. This is the same woman who has taken Tristian Thompson back countless times when he's cheated on her many times.
- Insufferable Genius: Kourtney.
- Massive Numbered Siblings: There's Kim, Khloé, and Kourtney. They have a brother named Rob, two half-sisters named Kendall and Kylie. The number caps off at ten if you add in Caitlyn’s other kids from previous marriages, Burt, Brody, Sam, and Casey.
- Mistaken for Cheating: Happens to Scott once, as he is preparing a surprise for Kourtney.
- My Nayme Is: Kourtney and Khloé are just "Courtney" and "Chloe" spelled with a K to fit with the "K" theme.
- No Sympathy: Kim's given no sympathy from Kourtney when she loses her (insanely expensive) earring in the ocean and bursts into tears, giving her the now-famous line, "Kim, there's people that are dying."
- Narcissist: Kim and Kris are the most prominent. Notably, Kim was chastised by her mother for taking selfies while her sister was going to jail.
- Quirky Household: Kris can be a bit of an egotist, Kim's misadventures and sex tape are infamous, Rob has no problem mentioning his masturbation in front of his family, and the family is still very close-knit.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Khloé points out her mom's ego and fame-seeking attitude, and how she's practically casting her spouse away to latch onto her daughters. Kris is moved to tears.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Many of their fights end with someone walking away, often by them saying: "I'm done."
- Spin-Off: Kourtney and Khloé; Take Miami, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Khloé & Lamar, Kourtney and Khloé Take the Hamptons, I Am Cait, Rob and Chyna, Life of Kylie, DASH Dolls, and Flip It Like Disick.
- Serial Spouse: Kim's storyline during the beginning of the show, until Kanye West.
- The Sociopath: Khloe accused Scott of being this in an episode of Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami.
- The Stakeout: Done to Kris when Kim, Khloe, and Caitlyn kidnap her dress at the dry cleaner.
- Tangled Family Tree: A mild case, keeping in line with the above Quirky Household. The spin-off Rob and Chyna, featuring Rob and his girlfriend Blac Chyna, who's pregnant with his child. She also happens to be the ex-partner of Tyga, who is Kylie's boyfriend. While it's not really mentioned on any of the shows, she and Tyga also have a child together before they broke up. To put in simpler words, Rob is dating the ex-girlfriend of his half-sister's boyfriend.
- Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: Kylie pole-dancing in the pilot episode. At age eleven.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: All of the Kardashian sisters have arachnophobia, but Kim fears spiders the most.
Unfortunately for Kim, her eldest daughter loves spiders and wants a tarantula as a pet, much to her mother’s dismay. At one point she agrees to hold a tarantula to make her kids happy for facing her fears, but makes it clear they will never have one as a pet.
