
Even if you've never seen a single episode of the TLC mega-hit Jon & Kate Plus 8, chances are you've been hearing a lot about it lately. Specifically, the rumors of infidelities, open marriage contracts, and staying together not for the kids, but for the cameras. One should always take tabloid stories with a grain (or a pound) of salt, but when the issues make their way onto the actual show? Perhaps there is something to them.
TLC just released a two-minute clip of the May 25 season premiere of Jon & Kate Plus 8 (video also after the jump), and, well, it's awkward, to say the least. One of the hallmarks of the show is that Jon and Kate always squeeze onto a love seat together to do their interviews. In the season premiere, however, each one is sitting alone on the couch. Gone is the playful banter; in its place is a woman who looks as though she's spending every ounce of her energy trying not to scream, and a man who just looks beaten down by life. It's not exactly the family-friendly entertainment viewers are used to.
Jon and Kate Gosselin Photos
In this publicity image released by TLC, reality TV stars, Jon Gosselin, left, and his wife Kate Gosselin, from the TLC series, "Jon & Kate Plus 8," are shown. (AP Photo/TLC, Karen Alquist) ** NO SALES **
AP
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin play with their German Shepherd dogs and then go to speak together at the Pennsylvania Women's Show at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. NON-EXCLUSIVE May 2, 2009 Job: 90503M2 Redding, Pennsylvania www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
DAVID KRIEGER/ bauergriffinonline.com
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin play with their German Shepherd dogs and then go to speak together at the Pennsylvania Women's Show at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. NON-EXCLUSIVE May 2, 2009 Job: 90503M2 Redding, Pennsylvania www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
DAVID KRIEGER/ bauergriffinonline.com
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin play with their German Shepherd dogs and then go to speak together at the Pennsylvania Women's Show at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. NON-EXCLUSIVE May 2, 2009 Job: 90503M2 Redding, Pennsylvania www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
DAVID KRIEGER/ bauergriffinonline.com
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin play with their German Shepherd dogs and then go to speak together at the Pennsylvania Women's Show at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. NON-EXCLUSIVE May 2, 2009 Job: 90503M2 Redding, Pennsylvania www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
DAVID KRIEGER/ bauergriffinonline.com
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin play with their German Shepherd dogs and then go to speak together at the Pennsylvania Women's Show at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. NON-EXCLUSIVE May 2, 2009 Job: 90503M2 Redding, Pennsylvania www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
DAVID KRIEGER/ bauergriffinonline.com
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin play with their German Shepherd dogs and then go to speak together at the Pennsylvania Women's Show at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. NON-EXCLUSIVE May 2, 2009 Job: 90503M2 Redding, Pennsylvania www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
DAVID KRIEGER/ bauergriffinonline.com
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin play with their German Shepherd dogs and then go to speak together at the Pennsylvania Women's Show at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. NON-EXCLUSIVE May 2, 2009 Job: 90503M2 Redding, Pennsylvania www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
DAVID KRIEGER/ bauergriffinonline.com
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin play with their German Shepherd dogs and then go to speak together at the Pennsylvania Women's Show at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. NON-EXCLUSIVE May 2, 2009 Job: 90503M2 Redding, Pennsylvania www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
DAVID KRIEGER/ bauergriffinonline.com
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin play with their German Shepherd dogs and then go to speak together at the Pennsylvania Women's Show at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. NON-EXCLUSIVE May 2, 2009 Job: 90503M2 Redding, Pennsylvania www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
DAVID KRIEGER/ bauergriffinonline.com
This has been coming for a while. Last season's finale ended with Kate gritting her teeth while she and a weary Jon had a "not fight." You know what I'm talking about; where they just want to have a knock-down drag-out, but they're trying to keep it civil because they're in public? I'm paraphrasing here, but the exchange basically went like this:
Jon: "Hey, remember when I met you, and we got along, and I was still able to have an opinion and a backbone? And I wasn't constantly being belittled on national television? Yeah, that was nice."
Kate: "Hmm. I don't recall. You know what I do recall? That time I got a bunch of book deals and a grip of cash for belittling you on national television. Now that was nice."
Jon: "How about we quit the show?"
Kate: "How about you shut up?"
Again, that is not what was actually said, but I defy you to watch that scene and not hear those words directly beneath the surface. They obviously didn't quit the show, but based on the preview we've been given, it seems to only be a shell of what it once was.
Granted, it's only two minutes, but Jon and Kate do not interact or even look at each other a single time -- and they're celebrating the sextuplets' birthday. They're having a birthday party for their kids, and mommy and daddy seem to be refusing to come within fifty feet of each other. Reports even have them leaving the party in separate cars.
Kate and TLC seem to be milking this controversy for all its worth, hoping to turn it into big ratings. Jon, for his part, seems to be laying low as much as he can, just hoping for the whole thing to blow over. What's not mentioned is the children. There are eight kids living in this house and no indication of what they do or do not know.
Ultimately, it's good TV, but the question is, will it alienate the show's core audience? The ones who tune in to see a large, happy family's day-to-day life? Or will it bear an entirely new audience? Those who tune in strictly for the Schadenfreude; who want to see the exact moment it becomes Jon Minus Kate Plus Eight.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
5-21-2009 @ 2:44PM
Sarah said...
"What's not mentioned is the children. There are eight kids living in this house and no indication of what they do or do not know."
i feel so sorry for those kids. just imagine when they are old enough to discover and digest this information...
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 4:00AM
Courtney said...
I think we all need to remember that Jon and Kate have given us all the Privillege of getting to watch these amazing little children grow. We need to respect that privillege. They have 8 perfectly normal, healthy little children who Only know that they are All L.oved immensely. Jon and Kate deserve to be applauded for five very hard years of a job extremely well done. They have 8 individual well rounded kids who are all developmentally right where they should be if not beyond. That is because of the way Jon and Kate click. Kate's OCD may be a little overboard sometimes but she has to be organized and anal about every little detail of life to stay afloat, and Jon's laid back, everything will work out approach balances her out perfectly. Together they have managed to pull off a great life for these kids. I believe they will always support and encourage their children and do what is best for them. The money they have made by allowing us to watch them do it in a honest and up close way will allow them to give each of these kids a great life. That is why and only why they do it. We all know that. They are not wasteful and they appreciate their blessings and give back. Stop and think about what the next twenty years of raising these children is going to cost and give them a break. They are good people who have endured a tremendous amount of stress over the last five years. They are experiencing the same strains any marriage does, hopefully for the sake of all of them they will come through it stronger and closer. I believe they have a glue that sticks just right. I love getting to watch these amazing little children grow and interact. I hope they continue to give us a peek into their lives on regular basis forever.
I am pulling for jon and kate PLUS eight.
5-25-2009 @ 2:40PM
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5-26-2009 @ 11:16AM
bkg said...
Shame on TLC for airing this trash
Rumors ? - their families and friends are telling all.
poor Jon - hope he finds a caring person
those poor children - they will be made fun of the rest of their lives thanks to MOM - and her self centered life
5-25-2009 @ 7:27PM
cheri said...
is all BS Kate is lazy and bossy she just barks orders to everyone how hard can life be when the nanny and jon is doing all the work and she sits back like she is so wore out give me a break TLC is the ones paying the bills for her trips,nannies,i think he needs to get out while he can and take the kids and give them a normal life and let that money hungry witch fin for herself that how it should be
5-21-2009 @ 3:04PM
CParis said...
I watched this show one time - don't get the appeal of these nuts driven to birth enough kids to field their own baseball team!
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 11:17AM
Anonymous said...
It's not as if she planned on having 8 kids. She had twins and expected one more. Do you want her to have killed a few of the babies? If thats it then your sick!
5-25-2009 @ 4:33PM
Kris said...
If you watched the show even once, you hear that they planned to have one more child and ended up having six. If you only watched the show once, why are you on a message board commenting on their troubles? I pray for each of them and hope nothing but good things happen for the entire family.
5-21-2009 @ 3:15PM
cdawg said...
it's hard to put your finger on it, but once you start watching, you're enthralled. It's not even like they are doing anything exciting - be it cooking lunch or putting together bedroom furniture, but I just cant look away.
I've said it before (and granted, I don't know them from Adam), but I think Jon just acts like a 9th child so it should really be called Kate plus 9. She can be obnoxious, but imagine having to do all the work without your partners help (at least she did in the first few seasons before all the fame/ money/ whatever allegedly got to her head).
Reply
5-21-2009 @ 3:28PM
ryan said...
it's one thing to have to do everything on your own. it's another thing to completely take over as she does. no one mentions the kids because, honestly, if you watch the show both jon and kate seem like good parents. but when you (jon) say you don't want to do the show because you want to get back to normalcy and another (kate) wants to keep it going, it just looks bad. no saying one is right, one is wrong, but it is easier to sympathize with jon here. she's been overbearing since the first season and honestly, all this talking she is doing is not helping her cause any.
5-23-2009 @ 12:50AM
Gage said...
I too got enthralled with this show but after awhile I had to stop watching it due to my contempt for Kate. The woman is pure evil! John in no way is "The Ninth Child" in my eyes. The man works, then comes home to 8 kids and treats them as such. Like he should! Kate's O.C.D. must be pure hell on these kids and John as well. The fact that John has to deal with that, then bites his tongue daily in front of the world why Kate beats him down is a teatament to self control.
5-21-2009 @ 6:33PM
KatieIreneLies said...
Stop with the Katie has to be a witch because she does it "all." She's never done it all. She's had volunteers, nannies, sitters, house keepers, chefs, even before the money they had the medicaid nurse, Aunt Jodi who watched them weekly so Katie could enjoy "me" time then too, the volunteers that stayed on til Katie got enough money to kick them to the curb and hire pros with confidentiality contracts. Katie's only given orders never actually put in the actual work unless the camera was on. Good Grief, are the fans of this crap ass reality fraud all deaf, dumb and blind. Wake up and smell the manure that Katie is spreading.
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 11:14PM
src48 said...
I agree. Maybe is Kate wasn't such a money hungry witch, she'd stop this filming long enough to take care of her children during this time. She has used her kids as a money ticket from the get go. they are exploited and it's sick in my opinion. What does she think the kids are so young they don't know somethings wrong? She'd do just about anything for money. If they stopped airing the show and took away her nannies and all her help, maybe she'd have to stay home and out of the salons and take care of her own kids the way the rest of us do. Kate has just sucked the life out of Jon. She's exhausting just watching her on TV. can you imagine having to live with her? I will never watch it again but I will pray for those young children and their Dad. Jon cares about the kids. I think he'd rather just go back to being a computer analyst and be happy again.
5-21-2009 @ 8:54PM
Kim said...
Talk about going out with a bang! Big money from "People" magazine, and now the ratings will be even higher because we just have to see what is next...and all the "freebies" will be pouring in!!
Kate will continue to claim "I do it all for my kids". Try BEING a mom and wife Kate, and not a money making machine!
Turn your tv's off America!!
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 1:29AM
navygrl903 said...
I completely agree. Kate drives me nuts. She's so overbearing. When women are taking up for the man, there has to be a serious issue. No one wants to be belittled, and when you are- you withdraw. Get back to the real issue. Your Family. With all the tummy tucks, tanning, shopping, and trips, you will not have anything in the end but a question, "what could I have done differently."
5-26-2009 @ 8:22AM
antoine said...
Get a life with the kids kate and stop using them to make money
5-25-2009 @ 5:21PM
KittyMel05 said...
Amen sista! I used to watch Jon and Kate all the time in the past, they were great until I realize when Aunt Jodi wasnt in the picture anymore and when they got that new house, Kate was more "yelling and bitching at Jon alot" I was like wtf is her problem? She needs to CHILL! and now all this is going on. I havent watched it in awhile due to I dont have TLC anymore but heck, seeing that clip and news stories, no wonder Jon cheated on her. shows me that they are going through a divorce or seperation. Kate "doing it for the kids"
5-21-2009 @ 11:55PM
Kelly said...
This bad television and if I were TLC I'd get it off the air straight away. Those poor kids, nothing is worth the pain this whole craziness is causing them. I for one will no longer be watching, out of respect for those kids.
Reply
5-22-2009 @ 10:54AM
Nate said...
Several weeks ago, my wife was watching a Jon & Kate marathon while I read the Sunday paper. Without even watching or paying much attention I could tell that Kate's treatment of Jon was demeaning, overbearing and bossy. If the roles were reversed and a man treated his wife in this manner on a tv show, the howls of spousal abuse from feminist groups would be overwhelming. Yet when a woman treats her husband like that, women think it is not only appropriate but funny. My wife even said that Kate has to treat him like that to get him to do his share of the work. But, as another poster pointed out, these people have plenty of help looking after the kids and the house. Kate does not need to constantly browbeat Jon. She just does it because she is a domineering control freak.
The writer of this article mentioned that Jon looks like a man beaten down by life. I would agree completely. Jon looks to me as if he has mentally checked out after years of belittling and abusive behavior. I have not witnessed this on the show, but another article I read mentioned that Kate sometimes slaps Jon, but calls it "love taps". No matter what you call it, that is inexcusable. Again, there is the double standard. Imagine if Jon were to give Kate a so called "love tap". He would probably end up in jail and with a restraining order. And deservedly so.
It just amazes me the diffence in what some women perceive as abuse, depending on whether they are receiving it or dishing it out.
Just to be clear, I am not advocating that people should abuse each other equally. I am just saying that the definition of what constitutes abuse should be equal, regardless of gender.
Reply
5-22-2009 @ 8:55PM
LisaP said...
Exactly. Jon gets my sympathy. Kate has issues much bigger than the control-freak variety, and she's got one heck of a cruel streak. I'm embarrassed for her and her family.