Archive for the 'Roloffs In The Media' Category

Matt’s Trial Results

Kevin February 14th, 2008

In this month’s newsletter, Matt revealed and talked about the results of his DUI trial. He was found not guilty by the jury for drunk driving, but was found guilty of crossing over double yellow lines due to drowsiness and driving an unfamiliar vehicle. You can read Matt’s side of things below:

I am grateful to everybody who stood by me in the months-long ordeal leading up to my trial. The hundreds of letters and e-mails showing support gave me the strength and courage to stand up and fight for my rights to have my day in court and be vindicated.

I was found not guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol. From the beginning of this nightmare, I tried to explain to the arresting officer that I had just returned from a 4,000 mile road trip, was driving an unfamiliar vehicle, and was exhausted. I was not drinking or effected by alcohol in any way whatsoever.

I know that many of you feel I was guilty because of my prior DUI and my refusal to take a breathalyzer test. I can assure you that ever since my past transgression, which I admitted and did restitution for, I have been firm in my conviction to never drink and drive. The facts will bear me out, as did the criminal justice system. I am thankful to the many friends who offered to testify to my constant refusal to drink and drive. My doctor even offered to share with the court all the possible ways my recent health issues could have played a role in that night, but my lawyer decided to keep things simple and place the bulk of my defense on the bottom line: I was not drinking and driving.

It was a scary experience, and I am thankful that it is over. I was, however, found guilty of driving over the yellow lines; which I readily admit. I was too tired to be driving an unfamiliar vehicle on a winding, curvy road after having driven a 42-foot RV from California earlier that day.

It would have been much easier to plead guilty, pay a fine, and keep this whole embarrassing event in my life quiet and out of the public eye - but I’ve always told my children, just like my father told me: “When you are right, be willing to fight.”

Although it was an uncomfortable experience, and something I would rather have not had to go through, I felt it was important to not sweep this event under the rug. My family has shared our ups and down for over three years now, and despite the embarrassing nature of the charges, I felt we owed it to viewers to tell this story. So the cameras were there, and everybody will have the opportunity to see all the details of the case unfold when the new season of “Little People, Big World” premieres in March.

Matt Talks Openly In Orato.com Article

Kevin December 11th, 2007

The editor of Orato, Robyn Stubbs, has this cool process where she interviews people, then takes their responses and puts them in a first-person, narrative format. She recently featured Matt in this format, and the result is a very insightful and entertaining article.

One point of interest from the article worth noting is where Matt talks about how much TLC pays the Roloffs for appearing on the show:

People don’t believe this, but Discovery and TLC don’t pay a lot for these reality shows. They treat you well and take you on vacations and sometimes companies give you things to balance the compensation, but for the most part, you’re left to your own income.

So the point I take is that TLC is basically willing to pay for projects, vacations, and other things for the family as a way to create different themes and settings for the show … but they don’t necessarily pay the Roloffs a huge salary in addition to that. Still, take that with a grain of salt. When Matt says they don’t pay “a lot”, that’s a pretty vague term. What might not be a lot to Matt, might seem like a huge amount to some people. And I’d imagine Matt downplays the compensation they are paid, because like most people, he doesn’t want the world to know all the details about his finances.

You can read the full article here.

Matt’s Trial Date Set For December 5th

Kevin November 12th, 2007

Fox12 in Oregon reported Friday that Matt’s DUI trial has been set for December 5th. Matt was pulled over last June, and later cited after failing a sobriety test.

HILLSBORO, Ore. — A trial date has been set for television star Matt Roloff, who is accused of driving under the influence.

Roloff stars in “Little People, Big World,” a reality television show on The Learning Channel that focuses on the lives of Roloff, his wife and his son, all of whom are dwarfs.

He appeared in court Friday and a trial date was set for Dec. 5.

In June, a Washington County deputy pulled Roloff over as he was driving on West Union Road.

Deputies said Roloff failed a field sobriety test and was arrested. He was taken to the Washington County Jail and cited on charges of DUII, refusing a breath test and failing to drive within a lane.

It was the second time Roloff had been linked to a driving under the influence charge. In 2003, he had a DUII charge dismissed after completing an alcohol diversion program.

Roloff and his family live on a farm in Helvetia, Ore.

The news site also has a video of Matt in court - for those interested.

[Update - 12/17/07]
Word has it on the TLC forums that the trial has been delayed until mid January, which explains why there has been no news about the outcome of the December 5th trial.

The Roloffs Get A New Hot Tub & Swimming Pool

Kevin October 29th, 2007

What can five days of round-the-clock work, and $75,000 get you? Well, in this case it got the Roloff Family a new hot tub and 16-by-40-foot heated pool. Virginia Beach-based The Pool Guyz Inc. flew out to Hillsborough and did the install, which will be featured on an episode of the show later this season.

Ric Reineke and The Pool Guyz Inc. made a big splash recently at Matt and Amy Roloff’s 34-acre farm, the setting for TLC reality show “Little People, Big World.”

Reineke, president of Virginia Beach-based The Pool Guyz, flew to Hillsborough, Ore., at the request of manufacturer Viking Pools to meet with the Roloffs.

Reineke was joined by Brent White, his vice president of operations, and installation team leader Nakia Shawha n to build the family of six an in-ground pool and spa.

The three men worked in 15-hour stretches alongside the Roloffs’ local electrician and masons an d TLC’s non-stop television film crew.

The team installed a hot tub and 16-by-40-foot heated pool in five days. The project was valued at $75,000.

“They were like a SWAT team, ” Matt Roloff said in a phone interview. “The most powerful part of the experience was their ability to step in at the last minute.”

His physician had prescribed more cardiovascular exercise, which can be difficult for Roloff, a little person who partly relies on mobility assistance from crutches and a scooter.

“Swimming is ideal,” he added. “I’ve increased my lung capacity in two short weeks (since the install). Now I’m swimming the entire length of the pool.”

The Roloffs left most of the design ideas to Reineke and his men. However, they did request customized steps with a shorter rise and plenty of patio room with low-texture, stamped concrete as opposed to the more dramatic, high-texture design that Reineke typically recommends.

Other custom touches included an automatic pool cover and fiber-optic-colored lighting.

Reineke assisted Roloff in incorporating boulders he’d collected into the surrounding landscape. That bonding experience, Reineke said, was one of the highlights.

“What a really, really cool family,” he said. “They’re hard workers and so appreciative. We got to hang out with them for the week, and we had a blast.”

The Pool Guyz, headquartered on Viking Driv e, builds about 130 pools in Hampton Roads each year. It s next cross-country venture takes place on the set of “Extreme Makeover, Home Edition” in Seattle.

Roloff was thrilled with the experience.

“We felt like we had the best in the world out there,” he said. “We’re loving the pool.”

He s aid it’s one thing the whole family gets together for these days.

The project will be featured this fall season, probably mid- to late-November, Roloff said. A schedule has not been set.

[Via HamptonRoads.com]

Matt & Amy Interviewed By Rachael Ray

Kevin October 14th, 2007

Last Friday (October 12th), Matt & Amy were guests on the Rachael Ray Show. They discussed topics from how doing the show has actually helped them be better parents, to Matt’s DUI. From Rachael’s website:

Matt and Amy Roloff, stars of the reality show Little People Big World, tell Rachael that sometimes it’s an advantage having cameras around 24-7. “We just previewed an episode the other day,” Matt says, “where [son] Jeremy is on the phone with his girlfriend all the time. I’m thinking, as soon as I get home from this trip I’m going to talk to him about how often he’s on the phone with his girlfriend, because we don’t see it.” Amy agrees. “Mom usually knows a lot, but I’m realizing I don’t know everything!”

Rach wants to know if the show will deal with Matt’s DUI case. “We put everything else out there so we don’t want to hide anything,” he says. “It makes what the show is all about. I think there are still pieces of it that are all being put together, but it’s been a great experience being able to do a show where we can show the good, the bad, the ugly — our successes and our failures.”

It should be interesting to see what Matt has to say about the DUI when they cover it on the show - and you know they will. Like Matt said, the show is about the good, the bad, and the ugly … not to mention a topic like that is bound to bring in the viewers and raise the show ratings.

Matt Arrested For DUI

Kevin September 15th, 2007

Sometimes good people make bad decisions. That’s the angle I’m gonna take with this story recently reported by Access Hollywood and MSNBC.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Oregon - Matthew Roloff, the well-known farming father on TLC’s “Little People Big World,” was arrested last month on allegations of DUI.

Roloff was driving a white, 2005 Chevrolet van on West Union Road in Washington County, when officers spotted the vehicle, which appeared unable to stay within its own lane. Sheriffs pulled over the vehicle and identified the driver as the 45-year-old Roloff.

Authorities report Roloff allegedly failed the field sobriety test. He was taken to the Washington County jail where he was cited for a DUI. Sherriff’s Department officials confirm Roloff refused to take a breath test.

After being cited, Roloff was later released.

As far as I know, (aside from pleading innocent) Matt has yet to comment about this publicly. If you want to read more about fan reactions, there is an ongoing discussion over on Matt’s official site about it.