If you have never seen the Learning Channel's reality show called Jon and Kate + 8, I'm sure by now you know who they are, based on the fact that they are on the cover of every magazine, tabloid and home page of gossip and entertainment websites.
Jon and Kate were a couple with problems getting pregnant so through a series of fertility treatments they ended up with twins and sextuplets! They began with a couple of one hour specials that ended up being a weekly reality show that had a big following - certainly big by basic cable standards.
Many people said they were turned off last year when the series turned into a Travel Channel clone - with the family taking trips almost every week, anywhere from Hawaii to California to the Carolinas - all expenses paid. They also began with product placement in their home - striking deals with Procter and Gamble, Gymboree and many others, to use their products on camera and vocally talk about how much they loved them. They ultimately moved into a million dollar compound and ceased contact with most of their families, including the childrens' young cousins. Family members and others have written blogs talking about verbal abuse in the house when there were no cameras, sexual affairs, and am army of nannies, personal assistants, publicists, bodyguards and housekeepers.
In other words, the whole thing is very messy.
However, they couple have agreed to keep the cameras rolling, even though they admit their marriage is deeply troubled and that they are stalked by paparazzi on a daily basis. Kate said she believes the children are unaffected by the storm and are unaware of any trouble.
Their supporters believe they should continue to share their lives with viewers who feel they have come to know them personally and genuinely care about their kids.
Others claim it's all about money and fame and that the children are being deeply scarred by the parents' decision to have their kids on camera on an almost daily basis.
Jon and Kate are currently on the covers of all the major tabloids and celebrity magazines and none of it is done in a favorable light. Kate has been on the road for several months, doing publicity tours for her new book and television shows like Larry King and Dr. Phil.
The Learning Channel has been besieged with letters and calls for the show to be canceled, citing how inappropriate it is to allow the show to go on, in light of the tabloid obsession with Jon and Kate. TLC is currently running promos for the premiere of Season 5 - airing next Monday. They are using the tabloids and scandals as the main focal point of these promos, with Jon and Kate as full participants. People protesting the show feel the parents are exploiting their children for money.
Fans of the show are also contacting TLC, calling for the show to go on - and for Jon and Kate to work on their differences - and marriage - in front of the same people who have supported them for so many years.
TV critics expect the ratings to be the highest ever, for Mondays premiere.
Tell Us
Are these scandals and tabloid covers harming the children (ages 5 and 8 collectively)? Should this show be canceled or should it be business as usual? Will you watch it?
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You know, there are probably two big issues here that Jon and Kate worry about for their eight: security, and money.
It has to take a fortune to clothe, feed and pay for eight children. They've done well because of their reality show. I imagine that they have had times when they have wished they could stop the cameras but honestly don't know how they'd make enough money to make sure the kids get all the care they need, college savings and so on.
Of course, there are many many families with multiples all over the country who are doing it without being on television, so clearly it can be done. And they don't need a huge compound to be comfortable. Clearly, one thing has led to the next -- the show allowed a level of comfort, but brought a level of publicity and security needs that we can only imagine.
I think Jon and Kate and their 8 are a curiosity and a slight societal addiction. But in reality, the kids are just plain going to get less interesting really soon. Think about it: everyone can walk, talk, feed themselves, dress themselves, potty by themselves and assert themselves. They are all going to be in school most of the day now, and soon they'll all be doing homework every day after school. There will be things like soccer games and parent-teacher nights, but the kids won't all be in the same classrooms and there will be more hours in the day when they aren't on camera (I can't imagine their schools going along with the reality-tv thing). Honestly, I can't imagine passing the days with just the grownups.
What makes twins, triplets, quads and the rest -- especially now the octuplets -- interesting to us is the sheer quantity: how many diapers do they change? How many bottles do they feed? How do they get all those kids into the car? But once the kids get to a certain level of self-sufficiency, their activities are just not as TV-worthy. And there will be at least some kids in the family who, at some point, decide they're over it, and they don't want to be on camera anymore.
Though I have to say that Jon & Kate + Eight Teenagers would be interesting watching. Just to see if they survive!
May 25, 2009 - 7:06amThis Comment
I have enjoyed watching Jon & Kate +8 since it started, as it is really interesting to witness the joys & struggles of raising children, and the ups & downs of daily life.
I am surprised that so many people would voice their opinion about a TV show to the TV network, for some reason!
I try to ignore any type of tabloid, as I think they are silly. I am sure that since the children attend school, that their schoolmates would mention the tabloids...but these children have had a different life growing up with cameras, so it may be no different.
I don't feel like I can make a judgment on their life, based soley on my watching their edited-life on TV, and by their pictures on covers of magazines and tabloids. That is not even 1% of their real life, and who knows how much of it is falsified or exaggerated for the benefit of ratings?
I will likely continue watching the show, and base my TV-watching choice on if I'm enjoying the hour entertainment; it may be less entertaining now (I agree with their traveling so much last season as not feeling "real"), and I have not enjoyed the bickering between the two of them. Some disagreements are understandable, even healthy, but the on-camera disrespect and verbal attacks seem to have increased, and are not enjoyable to watch. I don't see this as being a big issue, because there always seems to be another scandal after this one dies down, and the show may not weather through this first scandal. I foresee the people who are "into" scandals watching the show, and the actual fans of the original show may taper off. I will likely be one of those people.
Can't believe I'm writing this much about a TV show!
May 24, 2009 - 6:39amThis Comment
I LOVE THE SHOW I AM A PARENT OF MULTIPLYS SO I TRUELY UNDERSTAND THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONDEMING THEM PROBABLY DO NOT. PLEASE CONTINUE SHOW.
May 24, 2009 - 6:20amThis Comment