The truth behind Keeping Up With The Kardashians: How the family landed their massively successful show

It wasn't all down to Kim...

kardashian-family-red-carpet-picture

by Owen Tonks |
Published on

We now know the Kardashians and their giant bums inside out (yes, we know that sounds gross but anyway…) but when their reality show first aired in 2007 we had to do some digging to find out who they were.

We kind of knew Kim as Paris Hilton’s pal who was always out partying with the hotel empire heiress in Hollywood but who were the rest of them and why did they warrent their own show? We sometimes go out at the weekend to Yates’s in Croydon with our mate Gwendolyn who works on the reception of our local B&B but WE don’t have television producers hounding us.

Keeping Up With The Kardashians executive producer Ryan Seacrest - who has his very own weekday show on heat radio, don't you know - has spoken about how it all began, telling Haute Living magazine that casting directors were looking for families to take part and the Kardashian/Jenners were perfect.

Lets not forget Bruce!
Lets not forget Bruce!

Having met the Kardashian girls before, Ryan sent a cameraman to film the clan having a barbeque one Sunday, telling the publication: “I remember it perfectly: he called me from their house Sunday afternoon and said, ‘It’s absolutely golden; you’re going to die when you see this tape. They’re so funny, they’re so fun, there is so much love in this family and they’re so chaotic – they throw each other in the pool!”

He added: “I loved watching The Osbournes, which was really the first show of this genre. I started thinking about what another show could be like or who another show could be about, which is how it started.

“We went to some casting directors in LA and said, ‘We’re interested in meeting families who want to be on a series or are interested in being in the world of television. The Kardashians were interested.”

Oh hi, Ryan!

Obvs it didn’t all end there because super momager Kris Jenner went on to turn the family into a brand, adding squillions to their already huge fortune thanks to her insanely brilliant business mind.

And Ryan looks up to the family matriarch for what she’s done for her loved ones.

He said: “I admire Kris, because she has done an amazing job at taking what was just a television show and building it into a massive empire for the family.”

Totes, Ryan. Will you adopt us Kris? Or at least spare us a fiver…

GALLERY: 101 Kardashian fashion disasters for you to feast your eyes upon

Gallery

101 Kardashian fashion disasters for you to feast your eyes upon

Socks appeal1 of 99

Socks appeal

Getting crafty with Kris' old hosiery, were we?

Getting pleathered2 of 99

Getting pleathered

Where would one even buy tasselled pleather cowboy boots AND a matching pleather panelled dress?

Thigh nigh3 of 99

Thigh nigh

Having to be physically cut out of a pair of boots is probably a sign they're not the best buy

Lady in waiting4 of 99

Lady in waiting

If Kim had a silver platter, we'd take her to be a member of a catering company

Sacking off5 of 99

Sacking off

A shapeless dance sack is not appropriate red carpet attire. Sorry, Kris

Leathering up6 of 99

Leathering up

We hate to break it to you Kris, but nobody over the age of 30 should be wearing double leather

Super furry animal7 of 99

Super furry animal

We dread to think how many poor animals died only for an outfit to look this hideous

Jump for your life8 of 99

Jump for your life

Part dress, part jumpsuit, but definite no-no

Pulling shapes9 of 99

Pulling shapes

Except you won't be pulling anyone in that get-up Mrs J

Lady in lace10 of 99

Lady in lace

We sincerely hope there's a zip at the back of that for health and safety reasons alone

The Amazing Spiderwoman11 of 99

The Amazing Spiderwoman

Someone's hoping for an invite to Spiderman 3...

Nighty night12 of 99

Nighty night

On the plus side, at least Kim won't have to change much when she gets ready for a snooze

Wet wet wet13 of 99

Wet wet wet

Kim handled having oil poured all over her really well considering

Mulleting over14 of 99

Mulleting over

We do hope Kylie's covered up under that mullet coat. We'll ignore the fishnet boots as they make our eyes hurt too much

Brace yourself15 of 99

Brace yourself

Literally. Looks like Kim was very concerned about those puppies going astray

Ready for bed16 of 99

Ready for bed

Alright, Kourtney. It's not bedtime yet

kourtney-kardashian-fashion-disaster-gym-khaki-tracksuit17 of 99

kourtney-kardashian-fashion-disaster-gym-khaki-tracksuit

The Kardashian harem18 of 99

The Kardashian harem

One of Kim's unfortunate maternity wardrobe mistakes which we just can't bring ourselves to forget

Snoody fox19 of 99

Snoody fox

How clever of Khloe to fashion a snood out of a jumper dress

Pocket it20 of 99

Pocket it

Lost a bit of your dress? Just borrow a bit of your hubby's pocket square instead

She was a skater girl21 of 99

She was a skater girl

A skater boy hoodie fashioned into a dress - why not? THIS IS WHY NOT

We see your true colours22 of 99

We see your true colours

Just the grossest colour we've ever seen basically

Hell for leather23 of 99

Hell for leather

Literally. This top is hell personified

Ice-scream24 of 99

Ice-scream

If a dog ate a Magnum and then threw up all over your dress, this is what it would look like

A bit of all white25 of 99

A bit of all white

In fact, a lot of all white. And that's definitely just all white, not all right

Baggy trousers26 of 99

Baggy trousers

Now we know where the inspiration for Madness' song came from

(Un)sweet charity27 of 99

(Un)sweet charity

One of Kris' charity bin cast-offs?

Cheapskate28 of 99

Cheapskate

Could a cheaper looking fabric exist if it tried?

Serge-ashian29 of 99

Serge-ashian

Sergeant Kardashian reputing for duty, ice-cream in hand

Doing things by scarves30 of 99

Doing things by scarves

When you can't find your people to hold your accessories, just make them a part of your dress

Knit wit31 of 99

Knit wit

Kim accidentally stretched Kanye's jumper in the wash so decided to wear it as a skirt instead

Primary fashion32 of 99

Primary fashion

Has a primary school class' entire box of art supples spilled over poor Kylie's dress?

All tied up33 of 99

All tied up

That's what you should be Kourt. Arrested for unmentionable crimes to the fashion industry

All penned in34 of 99

All penned in

Seriously, that primary school class need to be more careful with their felt tips

Beach ready35 of 99

Beach ready

Who cares if it's a red carpet eh Kris? No need to change from your sunbathing stint on the shores

PVC to the max36 of 99

PVC to the max

To be fair, if Pepsi Max paid us £5k to wear this outfit we wouldn't say no either

Child's play37 of 99

Child's play

Cracking pins, but did you really need to wear a child's dress to show them off?

Bandaged up38 of 99

Bandaged up

Thank God Kylie's moved onto much more fashionable ground (literally) these days

In-genie-ous39 of 99

In-genie-ous

Now where's that bottle? That genie needs to climb back in, pronto

West is not best40 of 99

West is not best

The ultimate sacrifice: wearing your husband's awful shoe designs

Getting hitched41 of 99

Getting hitched

When your dress isn't quite short enough, just keep hitching up and nobody will notice

Pull yourself to-leather (please don't)42 of 99

Pull yourself to-leather (please don't)

Seriously, what is it with the momager and leather?

Gold digger43 of 99

Gold digger

Well that's certainly one way of attracting attention...

Straight laced44 of 99

Straight laced

A corset from Gulliver's Travels? We think not, Kris

Kolonel Mustard45 of 99

Kolonel Mustard

Not exactly the world's most flattering shade

Sheer horror46 of 99

Sheer horror

Talking of caterers, now here's another lady who's fallen into waiting on tables

Austin Kowers47 of 99

Austin Kowers

That's right Kourt, you should be cowering away in this awful shift dress

Close the curtain48 of 99

Close the curtain

No joke, we do actually think this is a real life curtain

Hooking up49 of 99

Hooking up

We see Pretty Woman was on at the weekend...

Jump (please don't)50 of 99

Jump (please don't)

If you're going to wear something of Hugh Hefner's, you could've at least tit-taped yourself into it, Kim

Off the cuff51 of 99

Off the cuff

Are those actual metal cuffs around Kourt's ankles? We've seen some pretty horrific sights, but we're seriously worried about her pain threshold now

Through the keyhole52 of 99

Through the keyhole

Keyhole tops are like sooooo '90s

Grrrrross53 of 99

Grrrrross

Gangster chic with leopard accessories has never been a 'thing.' Sorry KJ

Full fringe54 of 99

Full fringe

Been frolicking in a lavender field, Kourtney?

It's a wrap55 of 99

It's a wrap

We just wish that whole day was so that outfit can't penetrate our poor eyeballs anymore

Daring to bare56 of 99

Daring to bare

We can only hope this was in response to a dare. Otherwise there is absolutely no explanation

Reaching for the pot of gold57 of 99

Reaching for the pot of gold

Khloe was very happy about competing in the Irish Dancing Championships

Misfit58 of 99

Misfit

Really. It's OK to wear clothes that fit you sometimes

In leopardy59 of 99

In leopardy

Leopard jumpsuits can be cool. But not if they involve palazzo pants and a lace-up front

Linger-NAY60 of 99

Linger-NAY

We must admire the fact you managed to stretch an old tiara under your boobs, Khlo

Trench warfare61 of 99

Trench warfare

Paying homage to Scotland in this leather jacket with tartan trim. We don't think the Scots will be too thrilled, mind you...

Silver surfer62 of 99

Silver surfer

Did Scott Disick give Kourtney his old trews? How kind

Jumping jumping63 of 99

Jumping jumping

Maybe if you could just jump away, we'd never have to see that pantsuit again

Suited and booted64 of 99

Suited and booted

Somehow we think we prefer the navy suit on Cara Delevingne

Sew no65 of 99

Sew no

Had an accident with the sewing machine, did you?

Feeling fierce66 of 99

Feeling fierce

If there's one thing we've gauged about this family, it's that they are deffo not afraid of leopard print

Plastic fantastic67 of 99

Plastic fantastic

Lee from 911 called. He wants his jacket back

Creme de la creme de la creme...de la creme68 of 99

Creme de la creme de la creme...de la creme

Nobody can pull off top-to-toe cream, love

French miss69 of 99

French miss

Part beach babe, part Parisian artist

Time traveller70 of 99

Time traveller

Been raiding Romy and Michele's costume cupboard? Surely you could've found something better than that old thing

Scouting about71 of 99

Scouting about

Joining the girl scouts, are we Kylie?

Reuse and recycle72 of 99

Reuse and recycle

And here's another way you can recycle your mum's old tights. Just in case the others weren't up your street

Kaleidonope73 of 99

Kaleidonope

This is the kind of pattern we'd hope to see at the end of a kaleidoscope. Not on the red carpet

Feeling blue74 of 99

Feeling blue

How fresh faced does Kourtney look here? Let's just focus on that and not look down...

Walking on sunshine75 of 99

Walking on sunshine

Katrina (And The Waves) would be proud of this. Nobody else is

What a mesh76 of 99

What a mesh

Turning yet another old pair of Kris Jenner's tights into a top. Such a resourceful family

Mid-flight77 of 99

Mid-flight

Er, Kim? Your flies are undone

Winging it78 of 99

Winging it

Putting a whole new meaning to the term 'bingo wings'

Slipping up79 of 99

Slipping up

We know they're comfy, but your grandad's slippers are never meant to be seen outside

Get your crocs off80 of 99

Get your crocs off

Remember that song by Jimmy Nail called Crocodile Shoes? Well erm, yeah...

Sheerly does it81 of 99

Sheerly does it

We bet that photographer was a happy chappy

Just beachy82 of 99

Just beachy

Has Kendall been combing the beach to make her weird shell sleeves?

Flower power83 of 99

Flower power

Those flowers are certainly powerful. But not for the right reasons

Lady in red84 of 99

Lady in red

Oi Kourt, have you got any shoes under there?

A cuppa tee85 of 99

A cuppa tee

A stretchy old t-shirt simply will not suffice as an entire dress, Mrs West

Bandaging up86 of 99

Bandaging up

At first glimpse, we actually thought Kim had suffered a serious stomach injury

In the pink87 of 99

In the pink

So that's where all the Pink Ladies' jackets from Grease got to...

Flare mare88 of 99

Flare mare

Someone's been digging out their old B*Witched albums...

Disco dolly89 of 99

Disco dolly

How sweet! If you were going to an under-18s disco, that is

Pantomime Dame90 of 99

Pantomime Dame

Yes you've got the part. Now go and change

Scoring a Birdie91 of 99

Scoring a Birdie

Big Bird called. He wants his feathers back

Glitz n' tits92 of 99

Glitz n' tits

What more could we ask for?

Don't be a square93 of 99

Don't be a square

Correction: don't wear a square

Dance dance94 of 99

Dance dance

Does this photo remind anyone else of being dropped off in the car park by the parents before the school disco?

War and peace95 of 99

War and peace

We'll tell you when we'll peace out. When outfits like this don't exist anymore

Club strip96 of 99

Club strip

Just in case you're wondering, yep this really is Kimmy K. But as to why she's dressed like a secretarial stripper, we have absolutely no idea

Buckle up97 of 99

Buckle up

Fancy a bigger belt buckle, Kim?

Mad for mono98 of 99

Mad for mono

Back in the day, KK was all about matching EVERYTHING

Peachy keen99 of 99

Peachy keen

Those poor bosoms don't have any room to breathe! Thankfully these days they have lots more

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