The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Dewi — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:00:50 GMT

Sarah, I also noticed the publicity is self generated by Kate, she was on Larry King, morning shows, the cover of magazines, blah, blah, blah about her marriage you can't shut her up.

If she does have a contractual obligation to fulfill taping the show, she also has the personal choice to fulfill it quietly and with dignity to protect her children.

On Larry King she said she has veto power over what they air on the TV show, and she has not used it.

I think that sums up her perspective on protecting her children! She chooses not to shield them from this public mess of their own making!

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

sarah — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:54:44 GMT

The kicker for me was the People magazine article. She's on the cover discussing her marriage. I don't think she was under contract to do that. I think she has totally lost her perspective.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Dewi — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:28:05 GMT

I think the core values and moral compass of these parents have been corrupted by the fame, celebrity status and money.

There is an interesting article in the NY Times art section today, it gives the impression that Kate is choosing to continue in this exploitation and abuse of her family for "college saving" etc. Jon seems to want out.

She made a deal with the devil for $25,000-$50,000 per episode and the book deals. Kate is an RN. She has a profession she can go back to. I can't imagine she went into this creating children through technology thinking her only resource to provide for them was to exploit them.

They can not claim they're naive anymore!

It's an old story we keep on seeing in popular culture, celebrity and money swallows people up alive.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

mamatried — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:23:24 GMT

Those kids are crazy cute. I agree with everything Mia just said. I haven't watched much but it always seems staged to me when I do. What really kind of freaks me out (and now I am obsessed and cannot stop reading) is that blog you linked to above. I mean they refer to the most minute details and talk at length about them in episodes past...very odd.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Mia — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:46:04 GMT

I agree, although my understanding is that they have only *recently* renewed for an additional two years. And, certainly, at the end of last season Jon made it quite clear that he did not want to continue and Kate explicitly said she did and that she "loves it." She has frequently made comments that she loves being in front of the camera and sees her future there.

I didn't watch the new episode because I am done participating in the exploitation of those children. If their parents wanted to they should have pulled the plug and hunkered down and healed their family at the end of the season when the crisis was so painfully obvious it couldn't be ignored. I'll cut them some slack for the earlier years when they undoubtedly needed the money, but even then, it was obvious that one of the older twins, Mady, was acting out and struggling with the family dynamic. As soon as they had financial stability they should have pulled the plug and gotten family therapy.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

amanda — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:55:32 GMT

Great post. I agree wholeheartedly, except I know I will watch again, because it's like a horrible train wreck. I can't look away.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Melissa — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:05:50 GMT

I read Kate Gosselin's interview in People magazine and I've got to say, though she was very clear on the causes of their problems she didn't seem to take any responsibility for any of it. I don't endorse his behavior, but she shares some of the blame. Have you seen the way she talks to him as if he is one of the children? It's insulting and he's not as dumb as she thinks he is. I think we all get harried sometimes and annoyed by our spouses, but you should never forget to talk to your partner with respect.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Cheruth — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:52:01 GMT

I know what you mean about feeling dirty. I used to enjoy the show on occasion.

That being said, actually they do have to perform for other people. They are not in control at all. I am sure TLC has an iron clad contract in place. I have no doubt that Jon, at least, would not be there if he didn't have to be.

Do we really have any information about their contract with TLC? At the very least, they have to have a contract for the fifth season firm and in place. Getting out of that would be difficult. There are probably huge (millions of dollars) fines attached to breaching. If there aren't fines explicit in the contract TLC can sue for what they expected to gain from the season. They wouldn't get anything like that but it could be very harmful to the family.

Granted, family is more important than money. But they have eight kids. I doubt they want to take on the huge legal battles involved with breaching a contract. They quite literally signed their life away. What I want to know is if they have a contract for just one more season or several?

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Matilda — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:47:16 GMT

Mary J - why do you blame Kate? She wrote a book and is on a tour to earn money for her family, while Jon is out possibly being unfaithful - and it's all her fault? Maybe she's doing what she has to do right now.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Meagan Francis — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:23:42 GMT

I hear you on feeling dirty. It was a fun show when it was just about their day to day life, but it should have ended after a couple of seasons so they could get back to--you know--LIFE. I didn't watch last night, though I was curious. I just hate how what should be a very private family issue has becoming public entertainment. Of course, they signed on for it, but that doesn't mean we have to support it by watching it happen.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Mary J. — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:52:05 GMT

Your commentary is very sad and expresses exactly how I've felt about this show for the past year. I could see the disintegration of the marriage happening before my eyes, and with the recent private troubles very publicly played out, it seems certain this marriage is doomed. But why don't they pull the plug? The Gosselins have, by conservative calculations, earned over $1 million in the last season alone, not including the income from the books, speaking engagements, etc. That should be enough to keep this family in decent comfort, with Jon returning to work to bring in income to pay the property taxes on that huge McMansion they had to have. The fact that Kate wants to continue speaks volumes for where her priorities now lay and it is not with the best interests of her children or her marriage

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Marie-Eve — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:44:41 GMT

Disturbing is the right word. What a train wreck. I guess my point is not very enlightening but I just feel so sorry for these kids... There's a ton of bad press on them online (if you look it up for 5 minutes, you'll find gossip that, even if only 10% true, is really awful), and it made me feel kind of sick to my stomach.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Jamie — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:35:51 GMT

I like to watch a few episodes of the show here and there, and I have to say I'm not a huge fan of Kate's personality. But from a completely unbiased perspective last night's episode was just... depressing. Both of them seem sad and stressed and you can't hide those kinds of emotions from the kids. Just plain sad. I think that will probably be the last one I watch as well.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Jane — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:20:05 GMT

I watched a few episodes of this show many years ago. Even then Kate seemed to be perpetually in a bad mood. I haven't watched since then because I couldn't stomach her negative attitude. I guess it's only gotten worse since then.

They did this for the money. (and by "this", I mean the show, I would hate to think they had the babies for the money a la "Octomommy". )

I wouldn't doubt that they are locked up pretty tight into a contract, but I doubt that the contract stipulates that they go out at night with other people or travel separately. Those are choices that they are making for themselves. Now they have to live with the consequences of those choices. You lie down with the dogs, you get up with the fleas.

It's a shame that the kids have to live with their parents choices. I wonder how long they would have stuck it out on the show if the contract had stipulated that all cash compensation be held in trust for the children until their 21st birthday?

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Kat — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:09:49 GMT

I definitely agree with everything you said. I saw this coming with the rumors weeks ago of Jon cheating and the commercials of the season premiere. I couldn't even let myself watch the premiere! I definitely don't understand how they as parents could let this happen. And I do think it is them letting it happen. They are adults who can supposedly make responsible decisions. They decided to have more than 2 children, have a TV show, not end the TV show, and now divorce. Though I do wonder if the divorce is real or a ploy to a)stop the show and b)take the celebrity in a different direction. Potentially a great idea considering the 2 oldest girls will be teens before long. Nothing worse than having your awkward years blown up and world wide!

If they really do divorce at least all 8 children have each other who are in the same situation. Though I wonder how custody will pan out, and with no reality show (doubting the success of Jon & Kate + 8 - 1 daddy or Jon Doe & Kate + 8) and Jon supposedly having the only "real" job. Will Jon really be able to support Kate + Children as well as a potential new family? Or will nannies just continue doing the job?

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Alex — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:46:35 GMT

While I agree with everything else said in this post (well - except I didn't watch the show) I think the children are already seeing the financial benefit of the show. Supporting eight kids is hard, and the fact that they are clothed and well fed is due to the show.

That said, I am sure they can find another way.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

EG — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:26:56 GMT

This blog post reminds me that I actually dreamed last night that one of their kids was in therapy on the show last night, and I said to someone, "I hope they have money in escrow for all these kids to go to therapy eventually."

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Val — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:54:39 GMT

The sad thing is that any parent worth their salt knows that children have a way of blaming themselves for things going wrong in the home....there is going to be a TON of self blame with these poor children as they grow.

It sickens me that these parents don't see that it's the SHOW that is ruining their marriage...nothing else. If they stopped filming every second of their private lives (how much of that is 'real', I don't know), many of their stresses would immediately disappear and the rest would slowly fall away.

I beg of someone to be the hero for the kids here...Jon, Kate or TLC...someone has to see that the kids need someone to stand up and say 'enough is enough'. Let them have a normal life. It might be too late, but they are certainly worth the try.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

kgranju — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:12:45 GMT

That's actually a really good point, Jennifer, and one I've not heard made that clearly.

-Katie

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Jennifer James — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:59:22 GMT

Maybe they're under contract to do "x" number of seasons. It's hard to come out of a contract. They would probably rather go through the pain of doing the show in front of millions of people and get paid instead of get sued for not living up to their contract obligations.

re: The tragic weirdness that is "Jon & Kate Plus 8"

Shellon — Tue, 26 May 2009 03:56:56 GMT

whoa, yeah, the tension in the together interview was ........wow! Each said, with obvious anger "I'm here for my kids". Neither of them said "our" kids.

Painful. Yeah, they need to stop the show and see if they can salvage the mess they've found themselves in and take care of "their!" babies!