My day with Honey Boo Boo
Honey Boo Boo (Alana Thompson) and her family, including mom June Shannon and dad Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson, along with sister Anna and Anna's month-old baby, Kaitlyn
Honey Boo Boo is our new BFF.
We trekked down to the Middle Georgia town of McIntyre in search of Alana Thompson and her family this week. They could not have been nicer.
“It’s been a blast,” said her dad Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson, referring to the TLC show, airing at 10 p.m. Wednesdays, that has catapulted the family from their tiny town into the national spotlight. (Here’s my colleague Rodney Ho’s latest recap).
“Honestly, it’s still surreal to me,” said Alana’s mom June Shannon. Even though they had gotten somewhat used to life in front of the cameras from the TLC show “Toddlers and Tiaras,” from whence “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” sprang, she didn’t immediately jump at the opportunity.
Honey Boo Boo says the best thing about pageants is getting to dress up.
“It took us a couple of months,” June said. “I was very reserved.”
The entire family has enjoyed the experience – especially Alana, she said.
“She will stop in the middle of whatever she is doing and watch the commercial,” June said, referring to the promo for “Honey Boo Boo” that airs on TLC.
“I will not!” Alana insisted.
The 6-year-old second grader bounced around like a ping pong ball during most of our visit.
“Can I have a Pop Tart?” she asked her parents at one point, having determined there were no Oreos in the house.
“I have some flip-flop high heels,” she announced a few minutes later. “You want to see them? My momma bought them for my birthday. They were expensive! One dollar.”
Proud dad!
With that, Alana disappeared into the house and produced the shoes. Next she asked if we wanted to admire some of her sparkly pageant shoes.
“I don’t wear them to school,” she said. “You know why? They start hurting.”
Then she wanted us to take note of a school geography project her sister known as Pumpkin has been working on.
The Fed Ex guy wanted a photo. That's "Cracker Queen" Lauretta Hannon there in the bottom lefthand corner.
“See, they’re not stickers,” Alana said, pointing out the quality craftsmanship on her sister’s project.
Lauretta Hannon, author of “The Cracker Queen,” was good enough to join us on this little adventure. First, there is no quick way to get to McIntyre, so riding with someone makes the trip more fun. Second, we figured Lauretta would bring a certain je ne sais cracker to the endeavor.
Sure enough, when the family’s friend Tony Lindsey arrived (he’s the guy shown toppling over on a four-wheeler during the “Honey Boo Boo” credits) Lauretta immediately started figuring out who all they knew in common. Plus her mama ‘nem live down in Dublin, not far from the site of the annual “Redneck Games” event that was featured on a past “Honey Boo Boo” episode. We figure they’re probably distant kin somehow. Maybe kissing cousins.
“They personify some of the key points of my book, one of which is the resilience, beauty, love, bad choices, and good humor of people who don’t look so promising if you take them at face value and interpret them through your own biases,” said Lauretta, whose memoir includes anecdotes like roaring around in a butter-colored Cadillac her father won in a poker game with her mother, tossing cartons of cigarettes to inmates working on road gangs.
Here’s what Lauretta wrote about Honey Boo Boo on her own blog.
During our visit with the “Honey Boo Boo” clan, a number of people stopped by. A Fed Ex guy showed up with an envelope and asked to have his picture taken with the young star. After he left Alana tore into the envelope which contained a letter from Australian fans.
Then she read the letter to us. She is an excellent reader, tackling the word “Australian” with ease.
Honey Boo Boo, wearing the umbrella-hat one fan sent her, read us a letter another fan sent her. The 6-year-old second grader is an excellent reader.
Another package contained more fan mail and an umbrella-hat, which Alana promptly clamped onto her head. She disappeared into the house again, then reappeared with a can of apple-scented Glade air freshener.
“It kills the flies,” she proclaimed, dousing the staircase railing.
We especially enjoyed visiting with June, an avid “coupon queen” who noted with dismay that she is unable to get the AJC’s weekly coupons in her area. She requested that we send her a copy of the AJC print article when it runs – we’ll throw in the coupon insert, too!
She was completely candid when discussing the attention her family has attracted – not all of it positive.
“Yes, I got locked up,” she said, referring to a contempt-of-court charge four years ago. “It was the worst four days of my life.”
Honey Boo Boo has her picture taken all the time. She decided she'd like to take some herself.
“Yes, we really do have our Christmas lights up,” June added, referring to the strands bedecking the porch in the middle of summer. She also mentioned that last Christmas, she participated in a community food drive that assisted 108 families.
“The GoGo Juice was a one-time thing,” June continued, referring to the blend of Mountain Dew and energy drinks that an episode of “Toddlers and Tiaras” captured. Lots of pageant moms boost their kids’ energy with caffeinated drinks, she added.
She took this photo of herself.
So far the “Honey Boo Boo” shows have captured the family pretty accurately, she said.
“The only thing we did that was scripted was the etiquette class,” she said, referring to a segment in which an Atlanta etiquette expert tries to instill some decorum. Also, the family’s documented trip to the “Redneck Games” was their first and probably last, June said. They prefer spending time at a getaway she described as an “undisclosed mud hole.”
Alana, who turns 7 next Tuesday, does not meet a stranger.
Our iPhone is boring by Honey Boo Boo standards. No good games.
“I have three boyfriends,” she confided to us. “I love them all equally.”
Well, maybe love is too strong a word.
“You think I love taking pictures with boys? I don’t!”
After a while Alana decided to inspect our camera and took some photos of herself. Then she got interested in our iPhone, but was disappointed because we didn’t have any game applications. She did get interested in the pedometer application, and marched around the yard for a while to see how many steps she could rack up.
The pedometer app kept her busy for a while!
While we were visiting a truck driver stopped just to meet Honey Boo Boo and a car full of people slowed down and shouted, “We love you Honey Boo Boo!”
“It does get crazy at times,” June said. Trips to Wal-Mart take longer now since other shoppers recognize them and often want pictures. After Alana has had enough her mom shoos them away.
“I am a parent, first and foremost,” June said. “I am my children’s best friend. If you actually sit down and talk to me, you realize we’re not crazy.”
- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
164 comments Add your comment
Teri
August 22nd, 2012
10:59 am
I am from Georgia and proud of it however, I am not a redneck as many of my friends, male and female are not. Obvioulsy, reality tv is what gets the attention hence, all of the shows on tv now. This is no worse than South Beach Tow or The BatchelorHoarders, etc. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it and for goodness sake, do not read about it or comment about it. The world is full of different people, get used to it!! Bless your hearts, lmao!!
The Truth
August 22nd, 2012
11:03 am
The best thing about Alabama is that it keeps Georgia from bordering Mississippi.
GeorgiaMan
August 22nd, 2012
11:09 am
They can make this show a lot more interesting by moving the family to Clayton County.
And another thing.....
August 22nd, 2012
11:36 am
Good, balanced interview, Jennifer. ( and your hair looked great I might add…) It seems like June, as country as she is, is a good mom who is there for her family.
Jennifer Brett
August 22nd, 2012
11:52 am
Aww, thanks. They were all very nice. Nothing wrong with being country. I am from a small town in eastern NC. On school field trips, there was always a designated “smoking bus.”
Jennifer
Bojack
August 22nd, 2012
12:01 pm
At all BS…damn sick!
Cheaply
August 22nd, 2012
12:14 pm
Wow, such judgment. Too bad we cant all be Ben.
Seriously, reality tv and you want to judge this family versus housewives of orange county. Or Bethany and the crowdin new York? How bout them mafia thug wives of new jersey?
The concept of kid parents is kind of creepy to me, but this little outgoing friendly funny child has to wear your biased labels because it’s ok to stereotype southerners (versus the nutjobs on those other shows). Yeah that was Judy, but my point is feeling free to label this kid while you fluff and make a millionaire the anorexic emotional wreck (s) off the ny show. JUST TRY sticking some stereotype labels on the Atlanta housewives given they are mostly black, there are at least four or five organizations who will take you to court for defaming them, yet this author is totally comfortable and the news venue guilty of slapping their bigotted opinions on them. Yes, they are different from urban city peole but you kid yourself to think your different in any way from them. Given the choice between what appears to be, in a brief article, a reasonably intelligent mom and a precocious sweet kid, I’d prefer to know these folk over the self righteous lot such as Ben and his cliche bunch of excuses for thinking so highly of himself.
You go, Honey Boo Boo, and I just hope your folks put the same efforts in educational they did in patents for your success in life! Beauty eventually fades and who will you be after that?
Tell your sister not to feel worse than city kids, the rich just usually murder (abort) their teenagers babies, their pride is more important than their hearts. No difference in their behavior than hers.
slow down and think
August 22nd, 2012
12:20 pm
This started w/ disturbed parents pushing their babies to pagents and stealing their childhood for personal pride boosts. TLC now has further exploited the weak minded simple people here with this show. TLC does NOT respect these people, they are a meal ticket for their company and the more crazy they act the more they benefit. America begs for its own dumbing down, demoralization and ignorance then complanis when they get EXACTLY what the result of that is.
This show is pathetic, and if this show is your guilty pleasure you need to see a psychiatrist.
urban redneck
August 22nd, 2012
12:22 pm
mother of the year candidate for sure!
triggerman357
August 22nd, 2012
12:26 pm
I love ‘Here comes Honey Boo Boo’. She reminds me of my little cousins farther south in Early County. I see nothing wrong with little country girls having fun. This girl is using her God given talent and it has made her a star. Some people need to stop hating.
Kris Humphries Kardashian
August 22nd, 2012
12:32 pm
W…TF? THIS is honey boo boo? I saw the preview this weekend and piglets were running around the living room so I figured ok, silly name for a show about a family raising pigs. Honey Boo Boo is this lil chick? Shut the effin door. Twitter’s all abuzz over this lil chick? I quit twitter, GA, the AJC, and 285 – west and northbound- over this bs. I CAN’T.
America Disappoints Me
August 22nd, 2012
12:37 pm
Yay for childhood obesity… Yay for integrity, manners & education out the door… Yay for teen or tween pregnancy. If you consider this normal or entertaining … your favorite guilty pleasure show?! Then something is seriously wrong with you. TLC you are no longer a respected channel to watch! You sold out!
ToFunny
August 22nd, 2012
12:46 pm
White folks crack me up. LOL…its funny how some of you are trying to make excuses for this mess. Get for real.
Doris M
August 22nd, 2012
12:46 pm
With all the boring reality shows on TV, at least this one is interesting. Leave this family alone. they are using what talents they have in order to make money for their family. I’m for them continuing on TLC.
wiregrass geo native
August 22nd, 2012
12:54 pm
Give these folks a break; if you don’t like it don’t watch it.
1. Momma, Daddy & Honet Boo Boo got enough sense to make a few $……the good ole american way. Probably more sense than most of us.
2. Alana has enough spark and personality that TLC thought they could make some $ and proably are. The show is better than most “I am better than you” relaity TV shows such: Kardashians, Housewives of New York City or ATL, Jersey Smores
3. Mommas house is clean, daddy works considerable hours & is a volunteer fireman, the family is not of welfare, the kids are not homeschooled.
4. They are all green as grass; but they seem to be comfortable with themselves
5. If TLC offered me money and my kid wanted to do it…….I probably would
Steve
August 22nd, 2012
12:58 pm
The family tree doesn’t branch.
SuzieQ
August 22nd, 2012
1:10 pm
I can tell you who’s pimping her daughters – look at the Kardashians! Those girls are trash!
Fooksie
August 22nd, 2012
1:14 pm
My wife and I are fascinated by this show. I would like to be the Jane Goodall of McIntyre , and study these people and their simple ways, but I fear that I would lose my impartiality after my first experience with the “redneck slip-n-slide”. That looks like fun! We love Honey Boo Boo!
Tammy
August 22nd, 2012
1:17 pm
As broke down as the family is, the kids and the parents seem to genuinely get along and there is very little yelling in anger or tears.
Ginger
August 22nd, 2012
1:20 pm
Check out the mom’s mug shot on Georgia.arrests.org/Arrests/June_Shannon_7120598/. She forgot to add that along with the contempt of court charge, she was CHARGED WITH THEFT BY TAKING. Identity Theft. Oh, and my daughters used to work with her at McDonald’s on Lake Dow in McDonough and she is not the nice, clean, mother that this article is making her out to be. She was caught several times stuffing her bags full of food from there. And how do you know she’s not on welfare? She was at that time. I did watch some of the show after my daughter recognized the mom on a commercial. What a disgrace to Georgia!! I don’t care if it was entertainment purposes or let them earn some money or whatever you say. Total disgrace!!!!
who dat
August 22nd, 2012
1:29 pm
ToFunny black folk don’t crack me up.
RichardDaniels
August 22nd, 2012
1:30 pm
I thought that this show was going to be about a mother exploiting her daughter. After watching 4 episodes it’s clear that this mother LOVES her daughter and wants nothing but the best for her. That’s what makes this show worth watching. I’m a fan June!
ChiliCheese
August 22nd, 2012
1:31 pm
The Truth- GA continues to slip in all things ranked, UGA drops to the 5th party school in the nation, and after Obama, Mr. Jimmy will drop down to the second worst President.
The TLC channel is living up to it’s expectation, it has taught all of you “perfect” people responding with these negative comments, that there are people in this great world of ours that don’t live by your standards. It is obvious that this family is enjoying life, and that is a lesson we all need to learn.
Ben
August 22nd, 2012
1:47 pm
I need to liten up and lern to spel. I ubreeveated my name to ben cuz benjumin is hard
Susie Martin
August 22nd, 2012
2:00 pm
I think Alana is a great kid and I love the show. I totally agree with another commenter, this family is not trashy. I’d much rather watch the Thompson fam than the Kar-TRASHIANS, who elevate material values above all else in their lives. Yes, Alana does say “Holla for a Dolla” but it’s done in a funny and cute way which I hope leads to more financial security for their family without them losing their natural appeal. The snobs on this board who dislike Alana, her mom and her “country” ways are simply showing their true colors. Yes, there is life outside Atlanta, Calabasas(CA) (home of the Kartrashians), and New York. Look around you might see the real people of this nation instead of plastic phonies we usually are force fed by the networks. Bravo TLC! Go Alana! You are a talented girl!
Out of it, obviously
August 22nd, 2012
2:12 pm
I am LMBAO off and Honey Boo Boo and em is laughing all the way to the bank. I love America!
Liz Thibodeau
August 22nd, 2012
2:25 pm
Laughing out loud…if people don’t want to watch Honey Boo Boo…they can change the channel! Makes me crazy all this controversy. http://blog.take-one.net/2012/08/alan-funt-gets-real/
Evansdawg
August 22nd, 2012
2:30 pm
This is an embarrassment to the State of Georgia.
C MITCHELL
August 22nd, 2012
2:35 pm
Mark It Right – my point exactly. i didn’t mean to say that Alabama is worse. i just hear people use the term “Bama” in regards to something or someone that is ignorant,backwards, stupid, etc. and yes Atlanta is making it worse! and one thing that makes it worse is that these reality shows stars and fans are proud of this ignorance and “making good money from it” just makes everything alright. right?
Honey Boo Boo Rocks!!
August 22nd, 2012
2:41 pm
I will admit that I watched the first episode convinced that it would be a hideous train wreck. However, I fell in love with Alana and her incredible self-confidence. You may not approve of or agree with the way that this family lives (or speaks), but they are clearly doing something right if their almost 7-year old has such a positive outlook and such a great sense of self.
Don’t watch. Don’t hate. Don’t approve. But also don’t post mean things about this little girl. Let’s hope that all of her hopes and dreams come true instead. That’s what I’m hoping for – all good things for Honey Boo Boo. And remember – she’s only 7!
I'm Jus Askin
August 22nd, 2012
2:43 pm
How old is Anna to have a “month-old baby, Kaitlyn”. She seems really young.
Why????
August 22nd, 2012
2:50 pm
Typical Southern inbred trailer-trash at it’s finest. I think I actually grew up with this family down in Conyers. Well probaly not; even the hillbillies down there probably have some health codes denying raising a pig indoors….WOW….Still loving the show though….
Hey Ben - You're an Idiot
August 22nd, 2012
2:55 pm
Not all homeschoolers are religious. Many of us are secular. You are ignorant and a complete idiot. Perhaps you should spend some time with an actual homeschool family just to see what goes into the day and all of the planning involved. Not all of us are Bible beating nut jobs and a majority of us actually have college degree’s. So, before you start generalizing I invite you to contact some actual homeschool families before you start ignorantly ripping it apart.
As far as the show, this is just child abuse. They are putting a spoiled child into the spot light who has no manners and parents who cannot teach her how to act properly. TLC is ruining families left and right. It is really disgusting what they are doing. It shouldn’t be The Learning Channel anymore and should just be bought out by TMZ. The minute camera’s invaded the personal lives of people, starting with The Real World on MTV, it’s just pointless to watch TV anymore these days. Single documentaries are fine, but following people around daily is getting old.
Bobo
August 22nd, 2012
2:55 pm
JENNIFER BRETT!!!
PLEASE change the name of your column to HERE COMES JENNIFER BOO BOO
BenzKnotSmartt
August 22nd, 2012
3:10 pm
Ben…..poor misguided, idiotic Ben.
xyz
August 22nd, 2012
3:26 pm
If you think about it, the show perfectly displays rural Georgia. Redneck, uneducated, overweight and homeschool their kids so they do not have to interact with children of other races. And dont bring Christianity bull into it, cause it has nothing to do with it.
Ben is an idiot
August 22nd, 2012
4:33 pm
It must suck to be an idiot.
carla roqs
August 22nd, 2012
5:52 pm
nice article. crazy comments. no opinion on the show.
Sharris
August 22nd, 2012
9:21 pm
Wow, the hatred of some is astounding. I live not even a mile from them. I can assure you that not all georgians are “white trash”. I am a well educated woman and live in the same town. I had the opportunity to meet the family last week and they are incredibly nice. My three year old nephew passed away in an accident three years ago. My sister said she received flowers from the family, without them even knowing who he was. They are compassionate people. A little back woods? Maybe….but very kind hearted. Give the hating a rest people!
Alana : The Latest Fuzz
August 22nd, 2012
10:18 pm
[...] Comes Honey Boo Boo…in Spanish!E! OnlineHere Comes Your Honey Boo Boo Recap!hecklersprayMy day with Honey Boo BooAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Babble (blog) -Us Magazine -Starcasm.netall 79 news [...]
Heidi
August 23rd, 2012
8:24 am
To say that I condone everything they do would be a stretch, and I find myself cringing at times when I watch, I am not going to lie. I get what most people are missing, this is their life not mine. Frankly I find the whole family charming (mostly), and more true to life than most. (There are more people in this economic bracket then any other.) I know that where I live there are more families like the Shannon/Thompson’s then most others on t.v. And I do not live any where near Georgia. People in America are overweight, you can not turn on a t.v., radio, or read a news paper without it being mentioned, so why is everyone surprised about this family being over weight? June is clearly there for her children as a stay at home Mom. The teenagers seem better adjusted then most. This family clearly enjoys being around each other, and are able to laugh at each others short comings. I can exercise my right to watch or not watch. Frankly I watch because, I am a bit jealous of their over all compatibility with each other.
VeLisa Williams
August 23rd, 2012
8:51 am
Awww… That’s a fan letter from me that she is reading! I love Honey Boo Boo!
Carol
August 23rd, 2012
9:05 am
After reading some of the comments, some of you are really, really snooty! Get that silver spoon out of your mouths and get over yourselves! This is how people who are NOT living above their means live their lives. This family lives in rural Georgia. I’m sure if we take a glimpse at your family tree, some of you and your CLOSE family members are a stones throw away from this lifestyle. Luv the show!
Michelle
August 23rd, 2012
9:34 am
I’m loving that she loves the umbrella hat that we sent her from Australia (not England). We love this family!
Charles Volcher
August 23rd, 2012
10:15 am
not only the gene pool is shallow in Mcintyre Georgia but in San Clemente California also
Charles Volcher
August 23rd, 2012
10:22 am
she has got to be one of the worst mother in America of course you also have to count a Katherine Zimmermann of San Clemente California she almost tops Boo Boo
Five things we learn (or didn’t learn) from ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,’ ep 5 | Radio & TV Talk
August 23rd, 2012
10:24 am
[...] My colleague Jennifer Brett drove down south to meet the gang. Check out her time with Honey Boo Boo… [...]
Wow
August 23rd, 2012
11:28 am
That woman is almost as fat as you
Jesus was officially the first zombie
August 23rd, 2012
11:33 am
Irony.
A retard reporting on retards.
zoe
August 23rd, 2012
1:08 pm
Another show “made in GA” to show what we are made off? This family has no shame? Is everything that comes out of GA trash?