I FEEL BETRAYED. ANGRY. AND SADNESS FOR THE CHILDREN INVOLVED. ALL OF THEIR CHRISTIAN MOTIVATIONAL TALKS, AND JON WEARING ISAIAH T SHIRTS. I FELL HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER FOR THE WHOLE CHARADE. NO, I WON'T WATCH.

Hi Steven: Yes, I have avoided commenting on the religious aspect of the way in which TLC packaged and promoted its large families like the Gosselins. But I hope commenters will explore that. Thanks for doing so. Z

poor kate she seems to be a good mother
who tried to do what she could for her family when that immature lazy husband
of hers played a picked on martyr. give me
a break JON GO BACK TO LIVING ON
YOUR SALARY AS AN "IT SPECIALIST"
Thank GOD Kate made you rich
u PIG

David - I hope you are right that they will not be back. I have read TLC says they do not have enough footage for a new episode. Hard to believe they didn't get enough for 30 minutes during Kate's romp in NC last month. Jon said on his return from France that he had to come home because they are going to start filming.

What kind of ratings do you think it will take for TLC to give up on them?

Hi Mary Lou, Since they are contractually in bed together for 34 more epsiodes, I think all the parties will move heaven and hell to get them on the air, even if they are nothing but lies and trash. But if the first epsiode back is under a million viewers, they will have a huge sponsor pull-out. Under 500,000, and they won't be back -- that is for sure. Thanks. Z

Z, I think you warned us this was coming. We didn't listen too well did we. I guess I was trying to give Jon and Kate the benefit of the doubt because I live in a dream world I actually thought that somehow they would work it out and stay together. I think we all fell for this family that was ultimately betraying everything they originally said they stood for, claiming to be Christians. I really hope the show is finished. How could we sit back now and watch any more explotation of their young children, which already have all the video they will need for a lifetime to document the destruction of their family. Does the name of Jon's new girlfriend ring any bells? It should.

Hi Sherry, Thanks. As to Jon's girlfriend, her name doesn't ring any bells. What am I missing? Thanks. Z

Z, that was a well deserved rant. You warned us about Jon and Kate a long time ago.

It took a lot of blogging to bring down this house of narcissism. There is nothing left but smoke and mirrors at this point.

But don't count Kate out quite yet. She would drag those children through a ring of fire if she thought it would garner good ratings. She will attempt yet another way to exploit her children. That's why she had them, after all.

Yes, and Free the Gosselin 8 helped lead the way and educate lots of people about the sham. Good for you. And I think you are right about Kate. Thanks. PS I love the "house of narcissim" term -- totally apt. Z

U know what sucks ?I just startes watching about 2 months ago my family got hooked on all the re runs and new season .I'm smoking mad I feel as if though it was my own husband .if I was her and I have 2 kids I would be looking for the crummy jerk and telling him ur butt ain't going no where for the next 9 years whenthese kids are 18 u made them ur helping raising them and turn off those dam camaras!

Hi Z,

The Today show said that the Glassman name had ties to Kate, this is the doctor who performed her tummy tuck in one of the early shows.

You can go have that bud now, I think we will join you.

Hi Sherry. Thanks. I totally missed the connection. Z

Hello Z,

Great story....You tell it like it is and hopefully get everyone thinking.

Hi Shayla, thanks. Z

Jon's girlfriend is reportedly the daughter of the surgeon who did Kate's tummy tuck. I haven't watched the show in years and I'm hoping that other people will follow. The way they parade themselves as an authority of values when they themselves don't address their own communication issues is hypocrisy, at its best. Ugh!

Anyway, I'm hoping to read an article one day that says this show has been permanently cancelled.

Hi Nanette, Isn't that incredible! Please, see Sherry T's comments. She caught it, too. I totally missed it. Z

i still feel, as always, that jon was the victim here. he just was not strong enough to fight kate and her horrible personality problems and just finally gave up. he deserves to be happy with whoever he chooses and i know that he will continue to be available for his children who he loves dearly. no, i will never watch the show again if they are dumb emough to air it again. go away, kate.

Hooray for Jon ~ he is finally getting what his ex-wife couldn`t or wouldn`t give him !

i wonder what the Glassman's think
about their daughters new love interest,
and what their relationship with Kate is
?
I don't think they gave her a tummy tuck
without selfish motivations.
anybody have a thought on this ?

Steven - I agree does TLC hold any resposibility for this mess? Most of the families that they have on seem to have underlying Christian values as the core theme of their show. Does TLC feel any responsibility when they see things slidiing downhill contradictory to these values? You would think out of good conscious that thay would seriously question the promotion of the family to the height of its destruction. We have a rather scattered religious background (Catholic, methodist, and we currently attend a Nazarene church) there are certain biblical standards that the church sets forth to deal with these issues, realizing that people are not prefect we have had these types of issues. If TLC is going to promote these families with Christian values maybe they should hold some responsibility to guide when they see things going in the wrong direction. Instead it seems they were more interesting in the money marketing value of this couple. That is sad. Maybe they had better step back and review their motives.

mary ann---ur an idiot
you obviously have never been a mother of 8---when ur then u may be qualified to
judge Kate. I don't care how much help
she has,she has to keep it all together
with a lazy immature husband.

Hi Peg, Thanks for the comments. But, please, let's respect other commenters iin this conversation even if something someone says really makes us mad. Thanks. PS I totally agree with the "lazy immature husband" sentiment. Z

I think Kate should get herself the best lawyer money can buy and get rid of the ball and chain called "jon". Having eight children, someone had to be organized and anal. Jon sure wasn't!!!! Lazy!

"Reality Television" is in many ways an oxymoron. While we as viewers may see many "real" people and events depicted on TV, the content is shaped by the content providers (i.e. the networks and their ilk), who are often motivated to exploit and sensationalize the content for maximum financial gain.

Thus while the real Jon and Kate plus 8 live and breathe in 1440-minute days and 365-day years, the film crews capture only a fraction of their "real" lives which is then edited down to a dozen or so hours of aired content per year.

And it's not as if Jon and Kate don't know they are being filmed, given their penchant for talking directly to the camera.

So a TV show which may have started out with modest intentions, depicting the challenges of rearing 8 young children, became the victim of its own success, as the adult subjects were indulged in artificial material trappings provided by the show and its sponsors and became all-too-aware of the attention they were garnering from those outside of their increasingly lavish fishbowl. Too bad the real "plus 8" don't get a say in choosing to participate in this "real" spectacle.

mary ann--i am sorry i called you an idiot
i just wanted to disagree with you.
i don't think Jon is a victim. he says he
loves his children , great...go back to
work as an IT analyst and live on that
salary and put all monies except household
expenses in trust for your children.

Hi Peg, thanks so much you the kind words to Mary Ann. I absolutely share your outrage about Jon. He defines being a loser, and it is really troubling the way he puts his own feelings above that of the kids. He is a bigger baby than any of them. I think Kate has become self-important and somewhat self-absorbed, too. But Jon is an outrageous character. I have said several times on this blog that someone had to the adult in this family, and always it was Kate. But together they are two people who seem to have never grown past high school. Thanks. Z

His testosterone is finally kicking back in - give the guy a break. He has been emasculated for the last ten years. Every decision from having "just one more" or him quitting his job was KATE'S IDEA, and she who must be obeyed doesn't take no for an answer.. I have no doubt he loves his children more than anything the world, and will continue to be a good father. He will probably be even better now, that he isn't being verbally and physically abused in front of the children. The bad example he was setting for his chidren would have been by staying with their witch of a mother.

All those b----- who treat their men bad must know by now that we ain't taking it any more. Kate the bad wife pushed this mild guy around for just a weeney bit too long and the guy just had enough. Leave him alone to have some fun now. He is still a young guy who has been controlled for too long with this media-celebrity obsessed witch.

Hello Mr. October: I think I know some women readers who are going to have something to say about this comment. Z

The Jon & Kate Gosselin + 8 Souvenir Divorce Tiles

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120438354014&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Let's see, Poor Jon and Kate are really struggling to raise 8 kids. Jon just bought a brand new Harley Davidson V Rod, a brand new BMW M3, Kate just bought a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser, Jon was given a brand new Nissan 350ZX Nissmo, Kate and Jon were given a 10 passenger van, a Mazda mini van, Jon a custom made chopper from OC Choppers, 3 free ski trips to Park City Utah, free box seats to a Philly's game, Kate a free two week vacation to Bald Head Island NC, The family, including J&K a free week in Hawaii, week in Disneyworld Orlando, 2 free ATV's, a free John Deere front loader, 2 free German Shepherds, free hair plugs, free veeneers for both of them, free tummy tuck, free breast job, lipo suction and now cheek implants for Kate. Free trip to Amish World in Lancaster, free cow, 8 free Ace of Cakes from Duff (retail 500 dollars each), free Gymboree clothing for the kids, free food still from Giant Food, 8 free college educations for the kids. They own four homes, one in Utah and two in PA and a condo in Trump Place in NYC total value 3.1 million dollars. Neither of them have had a job in five years. I've worked all my life and I still rent. What's wrong with this picture?

Z, I think your comments hit the nail on the head. Let's hope enough people get the message that they get less than 500,000 viewers on Aug. 3. I don't give an ounce of sympathy to either one of these fools. They both have enormous problems. And yes, I do still feel sorry for the children. Don't you? These losers are their parents, after all. The kids may be set financially, but I suspect there will be some major emotional turmoil in years to come.

Hi Z,
I think Americans love to kick that pedestal out from under those we perch atop it, deservedly so or not.

I think the show will continue with good ratings, at least for a time, while people tune in to gawk at the spectacle it's become.

Maybe at some point you could clarify how rating numbers are counted. I have read that only Neilson families are counted, and I have read that the new digital boxes and Tivo are counted. Comment or explanation?

And to October.. Both of these parents are damaging their children. It really doesn't matter who "one ups" the other any longer.

Yes, about both parents sharing blame in terms of kids. I agree. As to audience measurementm Nielsen ratings still rule. But last year, in deference to the way many people record and watch later or download and watch later, Nielsen started giving secondary ratings that include the audience at the time the show first aired plus everybody who watched within 24 hours. And then, they also offer a rating on everyone who watched when it first aired and then within seven days. Does that help? If not, I'll try to clarify further. Thanks. Z

This kind of stuff happens all the time.However if they want it to be a reality show then they need a poor woman with 8 kids! It's like the curse of the lottery.

Z

I loved, loved this article - someone who finally tells it just like it is - they had plans for their miserable little moneymakers in utero and their lies, manipulation, abuse and exploitation at the altar of financial gain HAS MORE THAN DUPED THEIR EMOTIONALLY INVESTED TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC

excellent work - I loved your "call to arms" DO NOT WATCH....

they are the worst, just despicable alleged parents....but hang in there because they will hang themselves, it is just a matter of time and their fifteen minutes are JUST ABOUT UP

PLEASE DO A FOLLOW UP - KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND STAY ON THE GOSSELIN SWEATSHOP
n.b., for those of you who feel sorry for Kate, you clearly HAVE NOT WATCHED the show - she calls ALL THE SHOTS
dumb and dumber

Z

I loved, loved this article - someone who finally tells it just like it is - they had plans for their miserable little moneymakers in utero and their lies, manipulation, abuse and exploitation at the altar of financial gain HAS MORE THAN DUPED THEIR EMOTIONALLY INVESTED TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC

excellent work - I loved your "call to arms" DO NOT WATCH....

they are the worst, just despicable alleged parents....but hang in there because they will hang themselves, it is just a matter of time and their fifteen minutes are JUST ABOUT UP

PLEASE DO A FOLLOW UP - KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND STAY ON THE GOSSELIN SWEATSHOP
n.b., for those of you who feel sorry for Kate, you clearly HAVE NOT WATCHED the show - she calls ALL THE SHOTS
dumb and dumber

Why is everyone blaming Jon? Kate was with the bodyguard for two years.
She wanted the show to go on, not Jon.

The kid's college is payed for for by the state of Pennsylvania, it was announced on Kate's first Mothers Day.

They have both exploited their children.

Who would actually watch this kind of stuff?? Not anything remotely appealing that would make me take time out to concern myself on what a couple of swarmy people were doing. Who really cares?? And if they do, why? Life can't be that boring.

October: It takes two to tango.

If TLC hadn't had this show on over a million times, the Gosselins might still be seen as a good family.

If they had done a yearly show, instead of an "hourly" show, we would not have seen all their good, bad, and ugly.

How do the Christians that gave them so much love, and so much MONEY, feel about this couple now?

Familiarity Breeds Contempt.

TLC shot themselves in the foot on this one.

Why has Jon shown such adolescent behavior?

People who have been criticized for the way they breathe, screamed at, hit, abused, accused, belitted, castigated, publicly humiliated, maligned, reprimanded, physically and mentally attacked do tend to become "crazy."

I think it may be a while before we see his true personality again.

I hate the way Jon is acting. I hate that his little kids see him behaving like a rebelling teenager.

I hate what Jon has become and I blame Kate for ALL of it.

She is a pig.