WE TV's Downsized Brings The Bruce Family Back For An Emotional Second Season

Has Their Luck Changed Or Gotten Worse?

Beginning August 16 at 9 PM ET/PT, The Bruce Family Faces Even Bigger Obstacles As Their Economic Struggle Continues

WE tv's critically-acclaimed original series, DOWNSIZED, showcases the lives of a blended family of nine pulling together when the tide of the economy suddenly turns and leaves disaster in its wake.  In season one of the original primetime series, the Bruces were in the midst of a financial nightmare and saw their extravagant lifestyle of vacations, expensive dinners and a flush savings account evaporate, as their free spending ways collided with the economic reality of the recession. 

With two homes in foreclosure, a dried-up contracting business and a meager teacher's salary, the family had to move to a smaller home, sign up for food stamps, and trade in the kids' coveted sporting activities for jobs.  Season 2 revisits the family, as they continue to dig their way out of debt.  Despite small strides toward success, the Bruces are hit with unforeseen events that set them on a course toward further financial ruin, leaving viewers to question - is it bad luck or just bad choices?  Their "downsize"' may mean their downfall as this family's money woes leave them on rocky ground.  DOWNSIZED season two premieres Tuesday, August 16 at 9PM ET/PT on WE tv with ten one-hour episodes.

It all began when Todd and Laura fell in love, got married and formed a modern-day "Brady Bunch".  Her five children and his two kids joined forces and formed an extra-large family unit with a sizable appetite for spending.  During the real estate boom, Todd's construction business was thriving and money was coming in hand-over-fist, but when the market collapsed, their lives were turned upside-down.  DOWNSIZED follows the family as they bond, struggle, laugh, and attempt to make the steep climb out of financial ruin hand-in-hand.  Todd and Laura used their misfortune as an opportunity to teach their children the importance of ingenuity, teamwork, perseverance and the value of every hard-earned dollar.  But will they remember the lessons they learned once they think the storms have passed?

"I am so proud of our family and I think the past year has helped strengthen our bonds," reflects mom Laura Bruce.  "What we've been through has made me a new person, and I want us to continue to build a strong foundation for the family.  The best thing about our family is we stick together no matter what, and we need each other now, more than ever."

In season two, the Bruce family will face even greater challenges, as they make small strides and do their best to overcome unexpected setbacks.  Normally, easy-going Laura has become more vocal when it comes to family and financial matters, and it seems like she and Todd are constantly butting heads.  While Todd wants to use their small nest-egg to buy a house, Laura wants to save it for a rainy day.  When that day comes in the form of a busted transmission, Todd makes the decision to buy a truck without Laura's knowledge.  With tensions high, the parents also can't seem to agree on how to discipline the children, and they go toe-to-toe right before the kids' eyes.  The youngest child, Danielle, is beside herself with worry that they're headed for divorce and that her new family could fall apart.  And while the kids are still pitching in with part-time jobs and side projects to make money, old habits die hard.  Some of their wasteful ways of the past are creeping back in.  Gone are the days of saving every penny like it's your last, as Bailey purchases a used car on the spot that turns out to be a lemon, and Dylan wastes newly earned dollars on food.   But Todd comes up with an ingenious idea to teach them the value of a dollar - "the dictator" plans to set them straight for good!  But will the dictator be able to teach himself the lessons he doles out?

With a full house of nine, there's yet another family member - Todd's troublesome 21-year-old son Cody, who may want to make the household an even ten!  Todd seems game as he has regrets over his son's absence early in the couple's marriage, but Laura isn't up for the drama that seems to follow Cody.  His presence left a house divided between the "Rumseys'" and the "Bruces" that made life difficult.  Will this be the final battle that breaks the unstoppable Bruce family?  If there is a family that can rise above any new trial and tribulation, it's the Bruces, and they are taking viewers with them for yet another roller coaster in the next emotional chapter of DOWNSIZED.

DOWNSIZED is produced for WE tv by Pie Town Productions with Russ Heldt as Executive Producer and Showrunner.  Executive Producers for WE tv:  John Miller and Suzanne Murch.