Anyone who has followed the TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting will immediately see the incongruity of Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar sitting together on the NBC set of TODAY with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model Kate Upton – see her SI cover here.

We’ll try to explain just how painful this must have been for the conservative Christian couple who don’t believe in exposing skin because “our eyes don’t need to be focusing on body parts.”  Upton’s plunging neckline would certainly have been an eyeful for the pair who speak publicly about faith and family values.

Their nine daughters wear only skirts and for swimming don WholesomeWear garments that harken back to the bathing costumes from the late 1800′s.  The ten boys and dad never remove their shirts despite the oppressive summer heat in Arkansas.  The kids have also vowed not to kiss or engage in any pretext of sexual behavior until their wedding day.

Matt Lauer seemed delighted with the situation and remarked, “Well this is a scene we bet you never thought you’d see.”  Michelle and Jim Bob looked straight ahead and we’re guessing he’d have been in big trouble had he dared to glance at the gorgeous Kate seated not very far away.

For the first time ever, the interview did not cover whether Michelle Duggar plans to have more children.  Ann Curry was sensitive to the fact that mom recently suffered a second trimester miscarriage and the family went through the pain of a funeral and burial for their daughter Jubilee Shalom eight weeks ago.

The new season of 19 Kids and Counting premiere’s tonight on TLC at 8:00 central.

Photo:  NBC-TODAY

Filed under: 19 Kids and Counting, Celebrities, Kate Upton