Strollerderby : sextuplets

Octomom to Kate: Don't You Judge Me

Madeline Holler — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:34:00 GMT

It's a battle of the super-breeders! The LA Times is reporting that Nadya Suleman (aka: Octomom) wants Kate Gosselin, star of TLC's "Jon & Kate + 8," to stop judging her.

Suleman's comments come after a recent episode of "Dr. Phil." Gosselin, the mother of five-year-old sextuplets and two older children, said that Suleman would have a difficult time raising her 14 children without a husband or money. She was responding to a question about Suleman's situation.

Here's what Suleman had to say in response:

"Do I have to watch it? She reminds me of my mother," said Suleman, a resident of La Habra, in an interview with Radar Online released this morning. "I have moved past my mistakes. She has her own issues. ... She needs to stop being so judgmental and stop pulling at straws for attention." ...

Suleman said in the video interview that Gosselin should focus on her own life. "My children are extremely healthy, strong and happy. Don't you have, like, a lot of issues in your life? A lot of marital problems?" she told Radar.

Ouch!

Incidentally, Suleman signed on for her own reality show. But producers want you to know it's different. Ocotomom herself will be holding the camera much of the time. Oh, that can't be good. That can't be good.

'Jon & Kate' Under Investigation

Blogger Defends Kate!

Image: LA Times

'Jon & Kate' Under Investigation

Madeline Holler — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:03:00 GMT

The mega-meltdown hit TV show "Jon & Kate + 8" is under investigation for breaking Pennsylvania child labor laws.

The state's Department of Labor is looking into whether the shows producers are complying with child labor laws. Investigators are gathering information from its represenatives, but officials are quick to point out an investigation does not mean suspicion: they investigate every complaint.

So who's behind this complaint and what's it about?

State officials aren't saying. But the couple's in-laws have openly called the show and the Gosselin parents "exploitative."

From MSNBC:

“Unfortunately, I think it has come down to all about the ratings,” sister-in-law Jodi Kreider told CBS’ “The Early Show.” “And no one is looking at these children as what they are going through and the life consequences they are going to have as they get older.”

Kreider said the children have told her they don’t like the cameras.

Her husband and Kate’s brother, Kevin Kreider, said in the same interview: “You can’t imagine as a child realizing that my birthday party, that all the outings that my parents took me on were ... for ratings, and all organized by production companies.”

A spokesperson for TLC said producers have been in full compliance with state laws and regulations.

Again, MSNBC:

State law permits kids who are at least 7 to work in the entertainment industry, as long as a permit is obtained and certain rules are followed. The law also allows performers younger than 7 to have “temporary employment ... in the production of a motion picture.”

The sextuplets have just turned 5. Ahhh, but this is reality TV and here's one possible outcome:

George Voegele, a labor lawyer at Cozen O’Connor in Philadelphia, said the Labor Department might well decide it doesn’t have jurisdiction over the show, especially if investigators determine the cameras are there to document the kids, not direct them.

“The fundamental question I see here is whether or not they’re employees, whether they’re working, and whether the Pennsylvania child labor law provisions would even apply to this situation,” he said.

Hmmm. Maybe 'Jon & Kate' will have a legal impact on future reality TV shows starring, uh, I mean "documenting" children.

More Jon & Kate

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Photo:TLC

Jon & Kate Plus 8 Premiere Snags 9.8 Million Viewers

Brett Singer — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:00:00 GMT

So you know this Kate Gosselin we've been hearing so much about? Mother, reality show star, husband may or may not be cheating on her? Lots of backlash against her?

After all the sturm und drang that the Gosselins have generated in recent weeks, you might think that would hurt their ratings. But you would be wrong.

The season premiere of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" was watched by 9.8 million people. That's not only the largest audience for a cable show on Monday. It was the largest audience for ANY show that evening.

People, negativity sells. Big time.

Yes, it was Memorial Day. But "Jon & Kate" isn't even on a network. It's on cable. Which means that not everyone -- most people, but not everyone -- can see the show. To me, this was an astonishing feat.

I have a confession to make. I don't watch "Jon & Kate Plus 8." I don't watch any reality shows regularly, which isn't a judgment on those of you that do. It's just not my thing. (If they could make a reality show with superheroes in it, that I might watch.) But all of the tabloid news has been oddly fascinating to me. I read the People Magazine article. Someone left a copy of US Weekly in my house and I read the "Jon & Kate" article. (Well, I started it. But I'll finish it.) And I have to admit that I might just check out a few minutes of the show.

Did you watch the "JK8" premiere? Did the recent scandals surrounding the couple make you more interested in the show?

Source: Hartford Courant

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Confirmation: Jon Gosselin of “Jon and Kate Plus Eight” Cheated

SunnyChanel — Wed, 06 May 2009 04:40:00 GMT

Following in the footsteps of oodles of TV reality star couples before them, it appears that Jon and Kate of Jon and Kate Plus Eight fame may be even further on the road to marital ruin. According to US Weekly, there is truth to the rumor that Jon Gosselin is stepping out on the mother of his eight children.

The tabloid reported in this weeks’ issue that for the last three months Gosselin has been having an affair with a 23-year-old third grade teacher Deanna Hummel (no relation to the figurine). This is fresh on the heels of Jon being caught leaving a bar at 2am with Deanna but no wedding ring. The magazine got confirmation of the hot and heavy action from five people “close to the situation.” Both Deanna and Jon have denied the affair. Deanna recently told People Magazine that "We're just friends…it's absurd that anyone would think otherwise." And Jon released a statement that they were just friends and going for a ride in her car at 2am was “in poor judgment.”

Deanna’s brother, one of those who confirmed the affair, did an over share with the mag and said in regards to Jon and Deanna’s rendezvous’ at the house, "A lot of the time, it was pretty, um, gross listening to her, you know, um — how do I say this? The walls are thin. Let’s just say that. I mean, no one wants to hear his sister having sex, let alone with a married dude who's, like, almost twice her age and who has eight kids and a maybe-crazy wife. Ick. Nast."

For more details from US Weekly check it out here (and more of the story will be revealed when the issue hits the stands) and they also claim to have obtained a video of Jon leaving Deanna’s home at 7:30 in the morning.

Regardless of if the affair is fact or fiction, do you think having a camera crew in your homes and airing your life for the world to see would ruin a marriage? Or do you think there has to be deeper issues at play?

Source

Courting Controversy: Is Jon and Kate Plus 8 Done?

JeanneSager — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:49:00 GMT

More proof that even bad press is good press?

News that Jon Gosselin might be cheating on the mother of his eight kids, along with an expose that calls Jon and Kate out for a multitude of pandering sins that relate directly to their parenting, helped boost Jon and Kate Plus 8's TV ratings to the highest ever in their season finale on Monday night.

The episode got the most ever viewers of any one episode in its four seasons, and knocked out NBC, the CW, CBS, and Fox among women aged eighteen to thirty-four. In fact, of any ad-supported cable show in its time slot, Jon and Kate's finale had the most viewers in almost every demographic.

So why? Is it the controversy? Oh yeah.

There's rumor swirling that the Gosselins might be calling it quits on their show. Because of all the other rumors out there, from Jon's alleged cheating to Kate's harping prompting a divorce, the Gosselins have made it clear that they're starting to tire of the public eye.

But then again, maybe not. There are several episodes already banked, including a Gosselins go green episode set to air in April.

In a Q&A on their Website, the Gosselins have said they don't pay attention to negative press. "First of all, we don’t have time to worry about what people are saying and second of all, we know that our show is benefiting so many people that we need to continue. Any flack we receive is just typical stuff that anyone on TV on a regular basis receives. Furthermore, although this is the absolute hardest job (aside from raising 8 kids, that is) that Jon and I have ever had, it is also the most amazing blessing that we can be home with our children while working and when asked, all 8 of our children agree…for now, we need to continue on…and so we will!"

They're certainly not hurting for money now - not with a $1.3 million home, book deals and dozens of speaking engagements (part of the controversy in the expose). It's very possible they could stay home now - without the cameras - and be just fine.

Do you think they will call it quits? Or do you see another year of Jon, Kate and their six kids?

Image: Discovery Store

Kate Gosselin Dreamt Of A Husband and Children - Did You?

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Expose Puts Another Spin on Jon and Kate Plus 8

JeanneSager — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:28:00 GMT

If you're a fan of the Jon and Kate Plus 8, you might be shocked by the venom reserved by some parents for spewing at the Gosselins. Then again, if you read last weekends Philly Mag, you might be joining them.

In case you haven't seen it, it's the "normal" TLC show, the story of a couple who underwent fertility treatments because the mom (Kate) suffered from polycystic ovarian syndrome, which made getting pregnant the natural way impossible. The first time around, they came out with twins. The second, with sextuplets. Hence the "Plus 8" in the title.

Since a 2005 one-hour special garnered massive attention, the entire family and all their doings has been on TLC week in and week out on a regular series, showing life with multiples can be hectic but relatively normal. Relatively.

Frankly, I don't watch every week (I actually don't watch much TV myself), but I've seen more than my share of episodes in the off hours. My daughter got us into it - I was cuddling in bed with her one evening, flipping channels while she half dozed in the crook of my arm, and she noticed little kids on the screen. She asked me to "go back, I wanna see the kids who are cold." The Gosselins were out skiing - hence the cold. My occassional tune-ins since have been mostly out of curiousity - their younger kids aren't much older than my daughter, and it's fascinating to get a glimpse at how other kids her age act. Suffice it to say, I was never a Gosselin hater.

After reading the expose in Philly Mag, I'm still not as venomous as say Glamour's Christine Coppa . . . or the legion of commentors on either her blog or the Philly Mag piece. BUT I've certainly got my eyes open.

Open to how much "God" really does play a role in the Gosselin household - even as they attempt to differentiate themselves from their TLC counterparts, the Duggars, with a limit on the Christian speak. Check out their Website. God this. God that. There's nothing wrong with belief in God or even talking about God, but in all the episodes I've watched, I've never once seen Kate and Jon talk about religion. And apparently they make frequent visits to churches, where they allow the church to pass around the basket for a "free love offering." They also charge the churches big money to come out - not just airfare but first class airfare plus a hefty speaking fee. That's Christian?

I was also disturbed to see that the family put up a request list on the Web (akin to Nadya Suleman's already defunct donation Website) before they got the guarantee of a paycheck from TLC. Remember, they had fertility treatments - they knew what they were in for.

Some things plain old did not shock me. The Gosselin house is ranked eighth out of one hundred forty-nine cable shows for product placement these days. Jon got free hair plugs. Kate got a free tummy tuck. They get free toys, free trips to baseball games, free trips to Hawaii. It's all wrong, says Coppa and the parent commenters because it means the Gosselins are exploiting their kids. I tend to disagree. Most of us pay for these things (minus the plugs and tummy tuck), and the Gosselins get it for free. Jealous? Yeah - so are a lot of commentors it seems. Coppa too.

But as someone who has worked in journalism for the past decade, I know advertising is a necessary evil. The newspaper I work for wouldn't be published without it! And I wouldn't get a paycheck. The Gosselins "pay" by allowing cameras into their homes. The advertisers get a spot on a top-rated cable show. That's advertising folks - that's how it works. Rather than paying with funds, advertisers sometimes pay with product. And if they didn't pony up the product, when the kids played with a (Mom- and Dad-purchased) Wii, you can bet that would get cut off the show by the folks at TLC. It doesn't mean the kids wouldn't get these things, and frankly, the big companies should HAVE TO pay somehow - either with product or money. Would it be better if TLC reaped all the benefits instead of the family?

I also confess to not being all that upset that the family charges for autographed pictures. They're celebrities. Ever been to a meet and greet at a concert? Didn't you pay for that? How about the autographed tees and pictures at one of the merchandise kiosks? You paid for that too, didn't you? Although Coppa compares the Gosselins charging to her chance meeting with the OC's Mischa Barton - who posed for a picture and didn't charge, snapping your own pic with a celebrity is different from a signed celebrity photo. Those cost money to produce, and take time to actually sign. Personally, I wouldn't buy one - but if people are willing to pony up $20 for pictures of the Gosselins, that's their problem - not Jon and Kate's.

There's plenty more - some bad, some not-so-bad in the Philly Mag piece. It's extensive and well-researched, so I'd recommend reading it all the way through.

When you're done, come back and let us know - did it change your mind about the Gosselins?

Image: Discovery Store

Also on Babble:

God's Army

Five Minute Time Out: Kate Gosselin

Queens woman pregnant with sextuplets

Brett Singer — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Let's talk about sexts, bay-bee, let's talk about you and me (and me and me and me and me and me and me)…

Six kids. SIX. KIDS. AT. ONCE.

"Victor and Digna Carpio didn't want their 7-year-old son Jhancarlos to grow up alone. The Queens couple tried for years to have a second child - without success. Now their wish is about to come true - over and over and over and over and over and over again."

So, be careful what you wish for?

A few choice details:

-   At first, doctors said she was having quintuplets. They also found a mass that they thought was a tumor. Turns out the tumor was the sixth baby.
-   Their son, 7 year old Jhancarlos, said, "Mami, that's too many babies…They'll destroy the house!" Smart kid.
-   This is the second set of sextuplets to be born in New York City, and The Daily News says that the Carpios might be the first Hispanic couple to have…sexts. (That sounds weird, but if you can call quintuplets "quints", sextuplets should be "sexts", right? I really need a nap.)
-   Sextuplet pregnancies are rare, and often all six babies don't survive. "Carpio had such a rough time during the first four months of her pregnancy that her doctors tried to convince her to sacrifice four of the babies to improve the chances of survival for the other two." She refused. I think I would too, but what a decision.
-   The article makes no mention of fertility treatments, which is good.
-   A follow up article is titled, "Queens sextuplets will be challenge." Um, duh.

I'll say good luck, but they're going to need more than luck. Patience, money, family... oof.

image/source: NY Daily News

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Marathon Mom runs big race after birthing sextuplets

Brett Singer — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:00:00 GMT

OK, she didn't do it RIGHT after giving birth. But that's about the only thing about this story that doesn't make me feel like a big giant marshmallow.

Jenny Masche, the mother who last year gave birth to sextuplets, recently ran a 26.2 mile race. Yes, in her spare time. She trained after the kids, who are now 1 year olds, turned in for the night. "They’re good sleepers," she told Meredith Vieira on the Today show last week.

And did she enjoy herself? You bet! "The marathon was so fun for me — until I hit 21 miles," Jenny recounted. "Then you hit a wall. You push through and you’re so exhilarated." Oh yeah, I know exactly what you mean. That first 21 miles – just great.

That, in case it's not obvious, is sarcasm at its most sarcastical. If I get to the gym once every two weeks, it's a freakin' miracle. Jenny trained for, and then ran, a marathon. This is in addition to feeding, bathing and changing the diapers (30 per day) of six infants. Her husband helps, of course, and so do the grandparents (Bryan, the proud poppa, also ran the race with her). But, like, yowza. Good for her. This might be the only time in my life when I think it might actually be OK for me to say, "You go girl!" Well, almost.

image: Today Show

Source: ParentDish

Lake Havasu Couple Prepares for Sextuplets

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:31:00 GMT

A couple in Lake Havasu, Arizona is expecting sextuplets very soon. Seems a little like "expecting a tidal wave." I remember what it was like to expect twins. Ignorance was bliss but how can one expect ignorance in the case of six babies? I simply don't know. Jenny and Brain Masche doubtless have a different take on the matter, having tried unsuccessfully for a number of years to have a family.

After suffering two miscarriages, Ms. Masche finally became pregnant with three girls and three boys. The couple is setting up a fund for the sextuplets and is gaining more and more media attention for their situation. The babies are due in a few months and the couple will join the ranks of families in the U.S. with sextuplet multiples.

Babies Given Medical Treatment Against Parental Wishes

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:08:00 GMT

Social workers in British Columbia removed three babies after the parents refused to allow their children to undergo blood transfusions on religious grounds (they are Jehovah's Witnesses). They have since sued the B.C. government claiming provincial authorities had no right to intervene in this matter.

The family had sextuplets in January, Canada's first, and two of the six children died soon after their premature birth at 25 weeks gestation. The blood transfusions are forbidden in Jehovah's Witness religious practice, even in times of medical emergency. After their babies were removed from their custody, the parents attempted to request a hearing, which was denied. The babies were returned to their parent's custody after receiving transfusions and remain in good condition.

It is well established that plenty of people make poor judgments as parents, even life endangering ones. The Canadian government effectively argues that the well-being of the child trumps parental beliefs and decisions. And I tend to agree.

Strollerderby : sextuplets

Octomom to Kate: Don't You Judge Me

'Jon & Kate' Under Investigation

Police Discover Girl Raised by Dogs

Sonogram Cufflinks for Father's Day ... or a Pro-Life March

Jon & Kate Plus 8 Premiere Snags 9.8 Million Viewers

Speaking Engagement Host Tells Kate Gosselin: Be Nice!

Morning News - California Supreme Court Upholds Prop 8

Kate Gosselin - Mom or Monster?

Gosselins are Good for a Gander (big roundup of stories on Famecrawler)

Mom Arrested for Having 555 Pound Son

Morning News - Mike Tyson's Daughter Injured

Confirmation: Jon Gosselin of “Jon and Kate Plus Eight” Cheated

Courting Controversy: Is Jon and Kate Plus 8 Done?

Expose Puts Another Spin on Jon and Kate Plus 8

Kate Gosselin Dreamt Of A Husband and Children - Did You?

Expose Puts Another Spin on Jon and Kate Plus 8

Six-Year-Old Soccer Star Could be the Next Beckham

Disabled TV Star Scaring Tots?

Grey's Anatomy Tackles Mother Vs. Baby Issue

What Octo-Mom Is Spending The Money On

Queens woman pregnant with sextuplets

Egyptian woman gives birth to septuplets because she wanted a boy

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Two women found guilty of illegal midwifery

Girl being kept alive by Viagra

Are your kids aware of the election?

Was Trig Palin drugged?

They Say: no link between autism and measles vaccine

Marathon Mom runs big race after birthing sextuplets

Lake Havasu Couple Prepares for Sextuplets

Babies Given Medical Treatment Against Parental Wishes