The Gosselins in happier times.
Update: Jon & Kate Plus 8 on Hiatus Until August
Jon & Kate Plus 8 will go on hiatus until August following the Gosselins’ separation announcement on Monday’s episode, TLC said in a statement.
“TLC continues to support the Gosselin family and will work closely with them to determine the best way to continue to tell their story as they navigate through this difficult time,” the statement read.
The network said Monday’s upcoming episode will be a retrospective clip show on Jon and Kate’s 10-year marriage. The next new episode will air Aug. 3.
I have just watched the first – and last – episode of “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ that I ever intend to see.
Actually, I can’t believe that this isn’t the last episode of TLC’s reality show chronicling Pennsylvania’s eight-kid Gosselin family, because this is the episode in which Jon and Kate announced that they’re separating. You probably know this. It’s been on the news, in the tabloids and on TV, everywhere. I have done my best to avoid reading about it, listening to punditry about it, or watching any shows about it, because I never watched the show back when they were presumably happy – they were cute, but I never cared enough to follow it – so why would I want to start now?
I watched this episode because I work on a team of writers who cover TV, and this episode was news, so since no one else had volunteered to write about it, I did.
I wish I hadn’t.
Before you start writing and calling me a hypocrite – yes, I watch and write about a lot of reality shows, mostly the ones about chefs and singing competitions and Botoxed housewives whose “reality” often involves staged encounters with arguments with other Botoxed women, some of whom were cast so they’d get into arguments with them. It’s not art, but it’s not really reality. I don’t even watch “The Hills,” because there’s nothing fun about watching dull people I know have inane conversations about nothing, so what’s the draw, exactly?
But I don’t get the fascination with Jon and Kate, especially the demise of their marriage. Anyone who has ever physically witnessed the uncomfortableness and muted pain of a crumbling marriage from the next couch, across the table at dinner or from an adjacent room where you aren’t supposed to hear the argument – and I have – knows there’s nothing entertaining about that heartbreak. It’s horrible for everyone involved, with the couple trying to pretend that everything is OK because there’s company, and the kids trying to pretend they don’t notice the silent or not-so-silent brittleness and porcelain-fragile peace so palpable they can almost feel it itchy on their skin.
If you care about the family living in that awful, awful state of pain, it’s torture, but you endure it and live it with them, if doing so will help one or all of them start to get through it. It’s what friends do, if the family wants and needs them to. And I know that over the run of “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” their loyal viewers have become to feel like they’re friends with the Gosselins and their eight adorable kids. Isn’t the point of these TLC shows about families with large broods supposed to celebrate those trial and joys that have been multiplied, to remind us all how love, ultimately, is the common denominator?
There are some people who watched the show, who feel like their hearts are breaking right along with these very real people that they came to love when the show was about a young, good-looking couple weathering the very unusual trials and joys of raising multiples.
But the episode I just watched wasn’t about happiness, or the normal bumps and emotional bruises of a hectic life. It was about two parents trying to tolerate each other for their children as they argued, through handymen, about where to put their kids’ new playhouses, while Jon and Kate revealed over the hour in one-on-on interviews (drawn out to what I think was an ickily exploitative extent) that they were, indeed separating.
You want a reality show? It’s not has-been celebrities living in the jungle to raise charity money and extend their 15 minutes, chefs trying to out-chef each other or some woman sobbing when one of the 25 men she’s dating at the same time rejects her. It’s this.
“We just want some peace,” Kate explained, dabbing a tissue at her chin, and that realness that made the Gosselins so attractive to their fans almost suffocated me. They need peace. And I immediately hoped that that declaration, and the separation announcement and the sad flashbacks of happier day when Jon and Kate tried to find something nice to say, meant that this was over. That this poor family could go and heal, if not out of the range of the tabloids, at least away from the camera crew that appear to live in their house.
But apparently, the show will go on, with Jon and Kate trading off days in the big huge house where their kids live, taping their adventures with their brood separately, and presumably mentioning less and less that the show is now, technically “Jon Plus Eight, With Kate Plus Eight On Alternating Episodes.”
Unless some miracle happens, it is never again going to be about a family with a lot of kids. It’s going to be about a divorce, which is not what the Gosselins signed up for, or what America signed up for. I like watching chefs create masterpieces out of a vending machine because it’s cool, or watching NeNe on “Real Housewives of Atlanta” and her weave, because I know tacky women with weaves, and weaves are funny. I don’t know why I’d want to watch real people I don’t know get divorced, because I’ve seen that happen with too many people I do know. And I hate it.
Nobody made Jon and Kate be on this show. No one forced them to invite America into their house and their lives, and they’ve benefitted from the fame and money and stuff that comes from being on TV. And I’m sure that there are contracts and obligations to fulfill. But how is the continued scrutiny of these kids beneficial to anybody? Even business-wise, how does this serve the image of the touchy-feely TLC channel to showcase barely-polite misery every week?
I don’t know Jon and Kate, or their kids, and like I said, I never watched their show before this, nor will I again. But I hope that somebody – anybody – has the sense to end the show and let them all heal away from TV. Because their reality isn’t going to be pretty, and it’s not going to magically resolve just because the episode is over.
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its so sad my husband was unfaithful and we worked through it it was hard but hey kids its so sad forgiveness is the hardness road but the most fruitful for your soul
I did watch the show for its first several seasons and I have to say I haven’t the stomach to watch it now. I too hoped when I read they’d announce their separation that would be the end of it… no more TV in their living room.
I’m sad that’s not the case. I’m with you: Someone should pull the plug for them if they can’t do it themselves. I’m unplugging now.
I watched also…although I’ve watched the show for years fascinated how these two normal people managed with 8 children plus my son is a HUGE fan of the show he’s 4 and believes the Gosselin kids are his “friends”
Through the shows it was evident Kate was the “man of the house” there were many times in the show she would belittle him to the point where I would cringe and feel embarrassed for him…I’m not placing blame I’m sure there were other issues no one knows the inside of a marriage even if they are watching a show about them but it seems once Jon saw himself on tv and the way their relationship was he probably said ENOUGH, he mentioned that yesterday that she was the ruler of the house, sometimes seeing yourself on TV shows a reality your not ready to handle…I truly wished they would take a break from filming the show and focus on themselves and working on their marriage. I think the reality of fame and fortune got to them and neither is willing to meet halfway to make it work. So sad.
Very thoughtful post, Leslie.
I don’t think Jon and Kate Plus 8 was necessarily different from any other reality show. There are certainly scripted episodes. And the fascination of watching someone navigate an extraordinary life.
I’m sure when this all started that no one on any side of the arrangement imagined that Jon and Kate would split.
And now what? Is the family not addicted to the flow of money that comes to them as a result of the show? How can they walk away now?
I have to say that in our house the show provoked a pretty serious discussion with our teen-age daughter about whether people should split up for the kids (as Jon said he’s doing) or stay together for the kids.
Reality?
There are no reality shows. Once you put a camera in the room, everyone acts and acts different.
These shows are all a fraud.
Were they ever happy – never watched the show but everytime i flipped thru the channels i would stop and watch a little and she was always a bitch to him. So I have to say I am on his side. She has turned into this hardcore bitch
Saw few episodes, not really a fan. I am tired of hearing about them. I agree with everyone else, from the few episodes I saw, Kate was a total Bitch! and I could not understand, how he allowed Kate to speak to him like that. I wish TLC stopped the show and let this family figure it out without the cameras. I feel sorry more for the kids, I hope they are getting all the support needed during this time, both parents are clueless and just focused on themselves. How sad.
I guess you people that watch this and every other reality tv show believe in santa claus and the tooth fairy cause no one with any brains believes these shows are real and have any merit to them.
THEY ARE ALL SCRIPTED! There is nothing real about any of these shows.
For cryin out loud get a life. No wonder this country has gone in the toilet.
Its all done for ratings with equals advertising dollars which equals money for the shows creaters and participants.
To the lady whose 4 year old kid thinks the tv kids are his friends, thanks alot for the special ed classes that your kid will need at the expense of my tax money.
Gosselin fan, why on earth is your four year old up until after 10??
They’re called repeats!!!
I have to agree with Jaqui Brooks comment. Forgivenss is the hardest road, and it seemed (from what the media portrayed ) both individuals were hurting through this. I agree they did not sign up for this part of the story. I am sure like anyone else they had the same hopes and dreams a lot of young families do….To live happily ever after. I am positive they never wanted this type of outcome for themselves or their family. Who does? Marriage is truly bringing two people together and making them one. And when seperation or divorce comes into play you literally are riping a part of yourself apart. I can not even fathom what they are going through. And to do it in the public eye, where this society is so quick to judge and place people in a category, that sometimes there is no escaping. They were a young beautiful family who wanted to share their story and as always FAME took its toll. It reminds me of Jim Carey’s movie the Truman Show, media had a course of action for this family and the script was written probably faster than they realized. In all marriages there are trials, I tell everyone all the time that marriage is the most difficult job I have ever held. A man needs respect and a wife needs love and security. There are rules on how to do this. Unfortuantly in this “me” society when one is hurting its hard to see the other persons side. I truly do have this family in my prayers. Not just for their children’s sake but for their own sakes as well. Its like that kodak commerical says….”Ever wonder why there is never any pictures of the bad times in life? Its because of those bad times we get to the next set of happy pictures.” Jon and Kate your whole family is in my prayers and if somehow through all of this anger, betryal and hurt you can both remember what it was that made you fall in love in the first place and being there. Its not an easy road but as the comment before me stated, it is the most fruitful. God can turn ashes into beauty if you trust Him enough to do so.
If they want peace, here’s a hint….KICK THE CAMERAS OUT OF THE HOUSE!!!!….the problem is they need the very thing that drove them to divorce in the first place. The wife is so spotlight hungry, that she is willing to pimp out her family to get what she wants….cosmetic surgery, a big house, financial stability…Well…those were things that should have been considered before cranking out 8 kids…and she is such a PAIN IN THE ASS that I can’t believe he stuck with her as long as he did. He looks like he was over the show totally, but she craves it still…she wants the attention, the money and the notoriety that TV provides, for beter or worse…what a golddigger!!!!
I think they are a wonderful family! So what if they are getting a divorce, what makes them any different from the million other couples that divorce every year. As long as they are still there for their children that’s all that matter’s! And how many of you would really pass up the opportunity to be financially stable for probably the rest of your life to be video taped. I have one child and it’s hard in these tough times. I couldn’t imagine supporting 8 children. I think they are very brave for opening their home to the world and all the hardship that comes along with it. I’ve watched the show since it started and I will continue to watch it. So what if Kate is a b*tch so am I. Sometimes women have to wear the pants in the relationship, like Kate said she has always been the main provider in the family. Times have changed women have taken on the role of men these days!
CAN I GET AN AMEN!!!!
JON AND KATE U SHOULD TRY TO WORK IT OUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN. LIFE IS TO HARD WITH BOTH PARENTS,LET ALONE FOR ONE IT WILL NEVER EVER BE THE SAME PLEASE TRY DON’T GIVE UP SO FAST JON.
Poor Kate, she’s such a bitch. How could anyone stand to live with her. Good luck to John and a new romance maybe. No more kids though. Good riddings to Kate and her body guard. No more kids. Please get her spayed.
TLC needs to forget about ratings and let this poor family alone….leave them be – it is TLC that detroyed them….WHO COULD SURVIVE THIS SANELY. Ask TLC – would the director or the President want cameras in their bedrooms / living rooms 24/7 for several years???? I think not – cancel the show and let these people be!!
What in the world makes anyone think this couple wants out of the show? If they were truly concerned about the children they’d be off this show as quickly as the lawyers could work out a deal with TLC. This couple has made it clear that they are concerned with paychecks, endorsements, book deals, etc rather than their children.