'Sister Wives' shows that in TLC's programming formula, it's all relative

"We know there are risks," said No. 2. "For the sake of our entire family, it was an important story to tell."

"We are willing to take those risks," added No. 4.

They noted that they have told co-workers about their family arrangement and that their kids have told friends. The Hollywood version of polygamy, HBO's "Big Love," has the three wives each getting her own house.

In Kody World -- not so much. Kody's Three Original Wives all live in one house with their kids, although each gets her own "apartment" in the house. Wife No. 4, who had previously been married but no longer is for reasons not explained, still lives in her own house, but only because there's not room in Casa Kody at present, although there are plans to build her an addition.

They are part of what they call a "fundamentalist" Mormon culture.

Kody says he became a polygamist a couple of years after his dad.

"When my mom was gone working, I missed her and it made me insecure, but when my aunt was visiting, I felt that love, that compassion and that endearment that made me more healthy through that experience," Kody said. "This is an opportunity for the whole family to grow and develop under the nurturing of three mothers."

The wives insisted that they like things this way because they don't want to have to take care of a man full time. "I feel like I have a lot more freedom than do a lot of my peers," No. 2 said.

Kody stays with a different wife each night.

"We have a schedule -- I'm still trying to figure it out," he said.

A plus for 'Alaska'

TLC finally confirmed its worst-kept secret: Kate Gosselin and her brood of eight children did indeed recently travel to Alaska and did connect with Sarah Palin, and that get-together will be seen on the cable network.

But, contrary to popular speculation, this historic meeting of America's Two Most Polarizing Moms will not be seen in one of those "Kate Plus Eight" specials the cable network has been running, in which Kate takes her kids to various places to show them a "good time."