Jon & Kate Plus 8: What REALLY Happens Behind The Scenes!
Jon & Kate Plus 8, featuring Jon and Kate Gosselin and their brood of eight kids – a set of twins and sextuplets – show viewers what it takes to raise multiples. The program is supposed to be “relatable” for fans – showing every day struggles with caring for children, particularly a big family. However, Kate’s sister-in-law Julie is letting viewers know the show is not all it seems.
Julie blogged: *Note* Julie is the sister of “Aunt Jodi” just to clear up any confusion. Us mag referred to her as “sister-in-law” although, I’m not sure that would be the proper title for her in regards to Kate Gosselin.
“Since TLC is airing the old episodes, I thought I shed some light on how the show works. We’ve discussed this before, but it’s buried somewhere in the archived posts.
“When the show first started, Kate made a wishlist of things that she wanted, and that became the theme of each episode–the carpet, twin’s room, bunk beds, cow, hairplugs, teeth whitening, trips, etc. EVERYTHING that you see them do or buy is completely paid for out of the budget for the show or traded for free advertising. Kate went on and on about saving up for special days, you saw her paying for things, she talked about budgeting, etc. It is all for the appearance that they are a struggling family with 8 children. They needed to be relatable. They didn’t pay for any of it.
“The episodes are also staged. Here’s how it works…there is a staff of people reading these blogs and they base the shows around what people are talking about. I haven’t watched many episodes, but I do know some of the behind the scenes events.
“The Christmas episode from 2007. Producers told Kate that the viewers wanted to see her show appreciation to their helpers. They told her what the episode was going to be. I think they baked cookies and then went caroling (of course this was probably one of their many ‘traditions”–those are all fake too). Kate threw a fit. She didn’t want to do it, but she did…because they were trying to pacify the viewers.
“Another example is the ‘Games Gosselins Play’ (I think that might have been the same episode as their ‘mission statement’). I actually did watch this one. This was around the time that I started reading discussion boards and finding out that there were many people opposed to the show. It was so obvious that the mission statement was addressing all of the concerns that I had been reading online. The game time was just ridiculous. After the episode, I called Jodi and said, ‘what was that?.’ She hadn’t watched it, so I explained that it came across so fake (at least to me). Jodi was with Kate when she got “the call” about the theme for that episode. Kate said something like, ‘so now I have to pretend that I play with my kids.’ They also wanted her to pay special attention to the boys.
“Don’t believe everything you see. The children are also being prompted to say or do certain things. They signed their lives away to TLC and they will continue to spin the show to keep the viewer’s interest. I don’t believe this show will go away until the viewers decide that they don’t want to be played anymore.
“Of course, you’ve all figured out that they are showing Kate cook/bake to promote her upcoming cookbook. The show has now turned into a show about a family with a reality show–move to a mansion, cross-over shows, book tour, talk shows…
“I’ve only watch a handful of episodes. I haven’t even seen all of the episodes that Jodi has been in. I made a personal decision long ago to do what I can to give those children the privacy and respect that they deserve. I refuse to watch and participate in something that I feel so strongly against.
“Please don’t watch on Monday. You’re not going to learn anything new by watching. They will only show what they think people want to see and it isn’t real anyway. They will probably drag this out (J&K’s ‘relationship’) for the entire season. They just string the viewers along hoping that they will come back for more.”
So, do you believe her? Are the Gosselins – particularly the children – being exploited? I have only seen a few minutes of the show here and there, but what I have seen doesn’t seem “fake” when it comes to the kids. They honestly don’t seem like they’re being prompted to act a certain way – I mean, don’t they have meltdowns like any other kid? That’s pretty real!
And would two parents put on a “show” (no pun) for the cameras to keep the money flowing even if it meant exploiting their own kids? I suppose it’s possible – we see parents do worse things all the time. I don’t want to believe Jon and Kate are so manipulative!
[Source]
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Reunited? Jon & Kate Gosselin’s Therapy Sessions (VIDEO)
A New Statement From Jon & Kate Gosselin – What It Means For The Show
Jon & Kate Premier – What The TwitterVerse Thinks
Kate Gosselin: From Mommy To Monster?
Jon & Kate – Who Are The Kids Happier With? (Photos)
Sneak Peek! Jon & Kate Plus 8 Season Premiere
Gosselins are Good for a Gander
More Jon & Kate Secrets Exposed
This show stinks because the kids are going to be destroyed when they older, and it is entirely their parents fault for being so selfish and immature. It’s really sad what Americas youth is coming to but what can we do about it? Not watch this show for starters. : )
I think it is awesome that Kate is such a bitch and hates her family.
if this dumb fight is part of the show I will scream everything HAS TO BE so DRAMATIC in hollywood just make-up already all marriages have hills,mountians and bumps but even when they “divorce” they’ll still be bonded by eight little blessings that they brought into this world.
Personally, I think Jon is a push over. I feel bad for the family. I don’t think that Kate is ‘the devil’. I also think that if Jon even cared, he would get up off his ass(excuse the language) get himself a job so Kate could stay home with the kids and write. Then they could cancel the show. Think about it, with how the economy is, it must take a lot to feed, clothe, and take care of all together all of those kids. Someone has to work. TO bad it’s Kate. I feel bad for her. No matter how she really is…I feel bad for her and I hope that they can work things out…because I don’t think it’s fair to those kids or the parents.
1. They have help and a lot of it. When you make $75,000 per episode you can buy it.
2. Some of you need to take off the rosy glasses. Get real and open your eyes people, Jon & Kate put their children on television for 40-52 episodes a year. You don’t know what kind of whack jobs are out there.
3. If Jon treated Kate the way she treats him (and I have seen every episode) you all know that you would be yelling at her to get her and her kids out of that verbally and sometimes physically abusive situation and fast.
4. BOTH parents need a reality check. They were too young and not established as a couple yet to be bringing children into the picture. Who was it that wanted the kids, like NOW? Kate. She had twin daughters be happy with that. But no, she wanted one more, she was a nurse and you know darned well that she knew and understood all the risks involved with the method they used. Jon even said that the world is made for a family of four on one show but that Kate wanted to try for just one more. Well? Where is she now? I don’t fault her for wanting to work outside her home but come on don’t try to pass off that you are doing all the work on your own. You’ve got help and lots of it. Nothing wrong with that get off the pity party routine. The poor me crap got old the first season. It is a well established fact that Mom’s make the sacrifices for their kids that aren’t even on Dad’s radar.
4. Both parents need a reality check. They have a lot to be thankful for and although you hear both of them say it and say the kids come first neither of them are acting like it.
5. Admit you made a bad decision by signing on to for yet another season and move yourselves and your children out of the public scrutiny.
6. The kids are already showing signs of closing the circle around them and leaving out the parents. They won’t forget about their childhood either because if they do all it will take is popping in a DVD and they can relive all the memories. That includes just how irresponsible their parents were and what a poor decision they made to continue signing with TLC. Kate and Jon will start talking in front of the camera soon about the reasons they chose to continue with the show because there are probably a lot of people monitoring all the “talk” to see what they should talk about next. Monday’s show proved that as soon as Kate started talking. The kids will know the truth and make their own decisions as adults and oops Kate and Jon you allowed cameras in to document it.
I know so many people that are sick of this show including myself. Kate is a big phony and will do anything to make a buck, even if it means losing her friends & family.
Kate got all the help she needed from family & friends when the kids were younger, but now that they are 5 and more independent, she could care less about the people that were there to help her when she needed it.
This show needs to be off the air. It is disgusting.
Did Jon and Kate forget about what they had promised each other and there 8 kids? That they would be married forever!
This breaks my heart about them. It’s been awhile that I’ve really noticed that Kate is really enjoying what she’s doing and simply LOVES IT! No matter what Jon said about not wanting to be in the public light. She really love all the attention she’s getting now and you can really tell. The days of her staying home and taking care of her 8 children are done. She don’t need to be writting books going on TV interviews and all, Poor Jon had to give up his job and stay at home for HER! I think Kate is just pure selfesh. Now if you never had all this publisity You guys would still have a marriage. Kate quit being so money hungry. stay home do your own peticures lay in your own hot tub and be thankful you have a HOUSE TO LIVE IN.
All things aside…I feel for Jon , Kate just talks to him like he don’t have a brain in his head, and always makes fun of him and corrects him no mater what he says and does.
What ever turns out I really do wish they get there act together and get help stay together quit the show and love all 8 of there beautiful children.
I’ll pray for you guys STAY TOGETHER AND GET OFF TV.
Kaylee,
Exactly what show have you been watching all this time?
Kate does nothing unless its going to put money in her pocket.
At least Jon is willing to can the show and walk away, you won’t find Kate doing that.
She’s done nothing but boss the man, slap the man, use the man.
She won’t give up on the show because she would have to go get a real job, one where she wouldn’t be the boss lady and i doubt she could take orders from anyone these days.
She shows herself still as the one who does it all and i guess Jon was a mere servant in her eyes.
She managed to separate herself from any family members, she wanted it to be just the 10 of them with no one around.
Well she got what she wanted, minus Jon and i for one am happy to see he finally stuck up for himself.
She had to have the big house,the glamorus look(i can remember one show where Jon took her shopping because she didn’t know how to pick out clothes to make her look updated),
So you see, she has it all now, except for the husband she treated so terrible in front of the world.
Don’t you recall her always shouting to Jon, “i want the kids fed, bathed and in bed by 8, then he would get the two older girls up every morning and ready them for school..
This man did it all and she blew it.
WTG Jon, get out while you still have some dignity left.
Kate, as Jon once said to you” pull the stick out it’s getting old”……………..
It is so good to see how many people are sticking up for Kate. I watch the show with my youngest daughter, and on top of us watching the show, my adult twin daughters love it too! I think most people who are so negative about this show have never really watched it. So many people from this blog have gotten it right!
I am not seeing any talk about all of the community services this family has done. They have not been afraid to attend church, show pride in their country or donate to the community. Dosen’t this account for anything?
Thanks to the media, the martial problems between Jon and Kate are beind discussed all over the place! Now, the media has decided Jon and Kate are terrible parents!
If you are going to discuss their lives, don’t forget all of the good they have done. Try looking at their own website and reading some of the comments from some of their fans. It is inspirational! This family has brought a lot of joy to a lot of people. Isn’t that a good thing?
kim did you watch the episode when they bought toys for christmas for i thinks some childrens hospital and when they were there they visited “the lady who folds their laundry” she moved to i dunno where and beths daughters were there so beth might have been there but we didnt see her and about their church they just moved their in a new town and therefore probably a new church with new people they dont know , and seriously kate might have friends who didnt sign the waiver to be on camra or didnt come or were there but werent shown. you should really think about these things
Why were no friends of Kate’s at the birthday party?
What about the woman who folded the laundry? What about
Beth, the friend who opened her home to them? Why not anyone
from their church? She has no friends?
I thought the comments about the show last year by that guy on Soup was right on the mark:
“it’s a show about a man with no reason to live”
The wife and daughter watched the show often, I never paid much attention until the comment.
Watching the show (and repeat episodes) it became clear why the Soup guy made the comment about Jon having no reason to live.
Kate constantly derided and disrespected Jon, how the man took all that abuse is a monument to stoicism.
Jon is in a world of hurt, if he divorces the witch he’ll be cutting his financial throat, she will ruin him.
Jon is not fault free, he should have known on his first date with this whackjob that she would be extremely high maintainence and had high bitch potential. Also, I’ll bet she was your worst nightmare as a nurse.
Sinister describes best why I watch now, I want to see this witch’s life crushed. The woman is walking puke!
Jon needs to pull out of the show, go get a job and get on with his life. Hopefully the show would go away and this agony of a bitch out of control would mercifully end.
Sadly there is no hope for the children, they are screwed for life because this witch is their mother. Children’s Services ought to remove these children from this abomination of a family., as bad as that is it would be better than growing up with a monster mother like Kate.
I believe Kate hopes the rumors are true about Jon, just so she can find a reason to leave him. Kate, u have a good man…so stand by him!!!!!
Thats whay they have the 12 passenger van…….
Im not to happy bout all this. I wants them to make up along with a lot of other people i knows.
Yes, Kate has one brother, Kevin, who is married to Jodi. Julie is Jodi’s sister.
I’m confused as to who this sister-in-law is? I was under the impression that Kate only had one brother- Kevin, who is married to Jodi. Is there another one? And Jon’s an only child, right??
I wuD hAte 0o2 SEe Jon And KaTE gET a DivorCE…bUt…Wen it aLl CumS dwN 0o2 It thEy dnT neeDa b iN a ReLaTIONshIp ifH theRe Nt HAppY..beCuZ n ThE eNd itS nt HelpN thE KIDs iTs aCTUallY huRtinG theM.Its Lyk Jon And KaTE wuD b giVinG the KIds SiGNs thAt thEy arE haPPy and THere rEaLly Not.JUs kUT dhA buLl sHXt ANd Do WAT thEy neeDa dO ta MakE theM haPPy. BeCuz moNey Is Nt GnnA MakE yhU FeeL anY bettA abOUT yoSelF(although 4 sum it may but hopefully it wont) AnD weN it All ComES dOWn 0o2 It FAmIly LasTs LongA thaN monEY!!!!!
So Do WAts RiTE 4 yO faMILY:)!!:(
Kate plays the role that the majority of mothers do, whether it’s 8 kids or 1; she takes on the RESPONSIBILITY for raising these kids and Jon helps. That’s why it would appear easier for him to walk away, buy a sports car and start over again, he knows that she’ll continue to take on the everyday responsibility for these kids. I’m not saying he doesn’t love them, it’s just the way it is. I’ve watched the show and would be a tough woman to live with, but who wouldn’t be raising this many kids. Please no backlash from good Dad’s, I know you’re out there, but I’ve watched the show enough to see that Kate calls the shots with these kids and Jon gets told what he needs to do.
I a so sad right now. The season premier left me crying. It is so hard seeing all the good episodes and following the seasons just so they can lead up to this. It is sooooo sad!
P.s. Jon just seems like he is giving up on everything.
I know maeby, that was so sad!
did you hear alexis (leah?) tell jon “i dont want you to leave anymore daddy”? that was SO sad! and he just said “well daddys have to work” or some stupid lie. what a jerk.
i really felt bad for kate.
I think it is all fake.
I was really sad when I saw those two acting like little babies.
If Jon didn’t want to do the show he should have said no. If he wanted the show to end he should have said no. All I can say is MAN-UP!
Jon won’t stop the show because he loves the money train. Its easier to be sunbathing at home with young women then go get a real job and tell your wife to stay home.
Jon was happy to do the show when he was well loved by the fans and she was his horrible wife.
Kate is working hard to ensure the futue for her eight hungry kids. I run an in-home daycare all by myself. I get snappy at my husband at the end of the day. My husband knows how hard it is to raise children properly, not on video games, and tvs, and internet all day either. He understands that my real intent when I snap at him is simply me asking for help.
Sometimes, I too feel the desire to get out and have a “career” and adult interaction as well.
Having so many children and a film crew always there must make it nearly impossible for them to connect as a couple.
Whatever happens, I wish them and their children the best.
this is sad. I have seen this show many times, especially the early episodes, and I am sad for them. It is amazing how quickly people can pull apart. If either of them were wanting to do something about their marriage the show would be off the air. I am saddened to see two people chosing to destroy their lives for the sake of T.V.
I think that Jon should man up and not be thinking of his own needs when he has fathered 8 little kids. Buggering off for the weekend when his 6 younger kids are having a birthday party and then lying to his daughter about Dads have to work sometime was pretty lame. As a man, I know that Jon is tomcatting around and seems like he is going thru a mid-life crisis. He is letting down not only himself, his wife, but his 8 little innocent children. His behaviour is deplorable.
Last night was so sad. Shame on Kate and Jon.
If they are all about what’s best for their kids, why would they stage a birthday party in a public park? Why are they begging to have their privacy violated? They have ample space in the yard for 2 jump inflatables.
I almost had to laugh about the bad “p” people. Is it really that abnormal for strangers to be photographing the private life of these poor children? The only bad part to Kate, is that she’s not getting paid for those photos…
It’s time to call it quits on the show, Jon and Kate. Try to repair things for the sake of the kids and don’t continue to document this on TV.
Kate, how would you like it if in ten years your kids never speak to you again? Then there will be no family, no friends and no kids. Sell your soul and you get what’s coming to you.
I think that it is wonderful that they have been able to make so much money to help with their kids future! Can you imagine how much college will cost for 8 kids, not to mention clothes, and the food bill(especially with all organic!). I think people are just jealous! I know I am I would love to get all those free trips, I can’t say what I would or wouldn’t do to get these things for my family, can you. The kids seem very well rounded and very intelligent! Besides that kids are resilliant! I do not like the fact that Kate has cut so many family members from her life although I do not know the particulars. I think in 5 or 10 years from now when the cameras are off she will miss all those who helped her out in the begining. Also I would never throw my marriage away for $50,000 but you better believe I would try and talk my hubby into doing the show for $75,000 per episode, wouldn’t you? But again to each their own. I enjoy watching the show!
@Winnie43906 – I agree, Jon definitely seems ready to end the marriage, while Kate is maybe wanting to try to work it out. I did feel sorry for her when she was crying – going through relationship trouble is hard enough, but that much more difficult when doing it publicly.
What I can’t believe no one is talking about is the shameful behavior of Kate’s brothers and sisters-in-law. Dishing dirt on the family like this, which could only be motivated by a desire to get paid for such interviews? How is that better than the behavior they accuse Kate of engaging in (i.e., hunting for freebies, agreeing to “fake” storylines or behavior to appease viewers and therefore keep getting paid for each episode, etc.)?
I’m just wondering how all 8 kids fit into Jons new car? If he does everything “for the kids”, than why not buy a family car instead of a chick magnet?
I watched the show last night and it seemed to me that Jon is ready for the marriage to be over. The tension was thick at the birthday party. Kate seemed overly cheerful and trying to put on a happy face for the kids sake. Jon seemed totally disinterested in all of it. Just shrugging his shoulders to almost everything. He said he was only there for the kids. It was good to see the softer side of Kate for a change. It was obvious that the kids are very aware there are problems. So sad. I hope Jon and Kate realize that no problem is insurmountable. But, if the love is gone, and it seems to me that it is for Jon, then the marriage is probably over. I wish them the best.