Yea, I can proudly say I did not watch this. I actually forgot. Thankfully. This was the funny, happy story I have been waiting for Z! I loved the part where you got warped into her spirit world for a minute. I am sure that this show was purely for money, shame on FOX for airing it! Dramatic birth scenes are never fun for anyone, I know we have some on tape. Why do people tape these things anyway, I want to earse them. Good article Z. Maybe you won't have to suffer through anymore and she will be cancelled. They are really exploited she and her children from the sounds of it and she doesn't seem to have the resources to realize it.

This girl is a nut job and my biggest question through the whole show was, who is paying for all the stuff she has. This question was never asked after all the comments by her mother saying she has no money. This was the worst piece of television footage I have ever wasted my life on besides SNL. Please tell me they won't make a show of this girl, she is an opportunist if there ever was one.

Hi, Love your comments. No plans for American TV series. This was a one-shot deal by these hustlers to make a buck off film already in the can. But Suleman does have some kind of deal for a reality TV series elsewhere. Thanks. Z

>

That is because there ARE no laws in PA to protect the poor Gosselin children. Those kids have been just as abused by TV as the Suleman kids.

My understanding is that there are laws, but the state has not been very active in enforcing them despite various critics of the show urging Pennsylvania officials to do so. Thanks. Z

I purposely didn't watch this trainwreck, even though I knew there was a trainwreck on the schedule and it's hard not to rubberneck. Thank you, Z, for the self-inflicted torture you endured to reassure the rest of us that we made the right decision.

Hi Linda, You did indeed make the right decision. Yes, this really was "I watch so you don't have to" TV. I earned my pay packet with this one. Thanks. Z

Not a Nadya OR Gosselin fan

There may have been an investigation into Jon and Kate, but this is from back in May.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Television/story?id=7709371&page=1

FreeTheGosselin 8 may have worked on this, but I am not sure.

Anyway, Octomom's plight is sad, even though I did find the article humorous. I am stilling hanging in there with Jon and Kate. I connect with them still for some reason. More with Kate right now and less with Jon.

Have a great day Z, I have to get more sleep. Apparently, my days are changing to four shorter days. I have to get off the long nights for my sake.

Hi Sherry, Thanks, this abc.com link is great. It absolutely says there are child labor laws in Pennsylvania. Here's the lead of the story linked to:

"Not only have Jon and Kate Gosselin captured the attention of tabloids, paparazzi and the nearly 10 million people who watched the season 5 premiere of their reality show, "Jon & Kate Plus 8," they've also perked the ears of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, which announced today that it's investigating whether the show is complying with child labor laws. "

Facts are wonderful things. Thanks for leading us to these, Sherry.Z

Alright, I admit, I got sucked in last night. Inbetween "wipeout" breaks I would flip to "octomon"; and then I found myself watching it exclusively. It may have been the cant-look-away syndrome, but I feel much different about watching this roadside disaster: I like her. Perhaps I should just married an inmate for less drama than finding a woman with 16 kids appealing.
No one, including her, can discredit the basic principle that she should NOT have had all these kids; and her secret desires to have the single sperm donor dad back in her life: craaaa-zy. But watch her with the kids; SHE'S GOOD. She guides as opposed to Kate's dictatorship. She just has too many kids to be a good mom unto. And look at the way her mom treats her AND Octo's perspective of it.

Blah. There. I got it out. I am very alone here at work so I had to get it out.

Hi Flint, I love your comments. Don't marry an inmate. But let me posit this hypothesis: Watching so much of Octomom made you as disoriented as it did me. (Kidding.) But these are really funny and smart comments, and, yes, the stuff between her and her mom is crazy, crazy, crazy. At first, I thought we might hit a "Grey Gardens" vibe, but no such luck. Just craziness. Thanks. Z

Thanks Z,

I agree facts are great! You have taught us that! I love the articles for this reason they make us research things and the writing is great. Don't ever leave.
Hopefully other readers will contribute even more facts.

I'll be back later.

Z, Now why did I go for a walk last night and forego this? I loved the review. And, as pointed out, you do earn your pay.

Hi Greg, Glad you liked the review. Yes, two hours out of your life well spent -- two out of mine spent in TV Hell. Z

Train Wreck

I've been wondering for quite a while now when we (the audience) became as addicted to watching celebrities flame out as much as they (the celebrities) crave our attention. Every new reality show seems to require the participants to shed more of their dignity until precious little is left. Have you watched the Dr. Drew show? Does he not set himself up as a "godlike figure"; the last resort for these hopeless addicted celebrities?

Now we have Nadia the Octomom. In many ways, she has been more honest than most. She put it out there from the start that she wanted to be famous and she wanted to make money off her "remarkable achievement". Repulsed as the rest of us may be, this is America, and everyone has the right to build a business and be successful. If they break laws, it is up to the proper authorities to hold them accountable.

We also hold tremendous power here, don't ever forget it! We can vote with our remote! If you don't want to see her exploit the babies, DON'T watch the show! The only reason she would ever see one more minute of time on the air is because people watch her. Of course it is hard not to. She is so much the opposite of the average television watcher that we tune in to subconsciously feel better about ourselves. "I would never in a million years be like her...she's a freak!" She is the anti perfect Heidi Klum, have a baby and be in a Victoria's Secret show three months later, and we love it. Let's criticize and rip Nadia to shreds!

The bottom line here is still what it always is...money. If we don't watch, the advertisers will pull their ads, the network won't make the money, and they will pull the show. If the O.M. is half as industrious as I think she is, she will find another way to use those kids to make some coin, don't worry!

The footage shown last night, was disturbing to say the least. There was the point where she is sitting on her bed with all 8 babies two in her arms and six layed out across her bed like baby dolls. Except these were real babies kicking crying an screaming. It looked like a nightmare. What about when she is sitting with all of her kids and the camera man is telling them to say Happy Mothers Day...all 14 of the kids were screaming (it seemed like) the camera man is telling them to be quiet and she laughs!!! There is someting wrong with this lady! OK one thing I can say is she does have alot of patience... I think if I had her life I would be screaming and cussing up a storm. Kudos to her for being so patient...but after watching her last night I seriously have to queston her sanity.

Hi Mary, Yes, I agree and ask the same question. But I did not need two hours of the video madness Fox was selling last night to get there. Thanks. Z

honestly, the positive remarks here about Octomom's patience are laughable - previous media reports over time have discussed her being 'on for the cameras' and off for the kids off-camera - being concerned about her makeup, etc. You guys are gullible to say the least

Hello Angel, Calling other commenters "gullible" based on something as vague as "other media reports over time" is not a very sound or productive form of dicussion. Trashing other people and their opinions does not make your view any more valid. The lipstick stuff and being "on" and "off" was in the film last night -- in fact, in the very first five minutes. It does not seem as if you viewed it before criticizing those who did. Z

I watched part of this show because of the trainwreck factor. IMHO, the way her children acted in front of the camera gave you a clue about what kind of mother she is when the camera hasn't been around. For example, it looked to me like the little boy who she was trying to put in timeout had no idea what that meant and his favorite word (b**ch) and all the hitting he was doing also spoke volumes about what his upbringing has been like.

Good points. Thanks. Z

I knew this was on last night, but refused to even turn it on. As a resident of California, I am Octomomed to death of this less than stellar person. From the beginning of this fiasco, local news, have turned each night into Octomom Hell--and FINALLY it dies down and FOX puts this garbage on. Hear that clicking noise? That is almost everyone out here rolling their eyes at the loon of lunacy's latest words on life and motherhood. The only ones I feel any sympathy for, are the children--who, as they grow older, will end up in therapy--on California's dime. Yay, us!

The Gosselin labor board investigation has not even begun.

I would like to know more about Kate Gosselin's hit and run accident from last year. ... You can google her name + hit and run and find a couple of links. Hmmmm.

I don't have enough brain cells left in my head to deal with Nadya. Someone else is going to have to fight for her kids.

Hi, Thanks for the update on the status of the investigation. I had to delete a sentence in the comment that began, "rumor has it." I do not print unconfirmed "rumor," though I know they sometimes (often) turn out to be true with the Gosselins. Still, those are tabloid standards not mine. And I know I might be tilting at windmills given what wild rumor is on the Internet. But... I am going to this length to explain, because I value your comments on this show. PS I am smiling at your line about "not enough brain cells." That's how i felt watching Octomom last night. Thanks. Z

From the moment she saw the Paparazzi she seemed almost giddy. As if this was something she has always wanted. Even as she was saying...."How is this happening?" All she needed was her pinky in the corner of her mouth.

Her older children don't seem to have very good social skills and seem to resent the cameras taking their time away from mom.

How about that beautiful little blue eyed boy that slaps his mom and calls her a b----? W O W ! ! ! !

Explaining that her lips are the result of having preeclamsia...If you say so.

The Kids didn't even FEEL like saying happy mothers day to their mom. I thought that was sad.

Her telling the story of her Mom in the trunk while she is on the phone and driving, alone enough was creepy. (Isn't talking on the phone and driving in Calif breaking the law).....Anyway......her mother doing that for her when she was younger (17 I think) says alot about why she is the way she is. Not to mention what she is in for with her 14.

My mother has always said what ever you did as a child, you will get it back double with your children. In her case, double x 14.

The vibe of the family, the house, and the octomom was scatterd and unsettling (like this email)....and I bet most of us, if there is more Octomom TV will unfortunately tune in.

Chaos form the moment they were born. On a video that supposedly SHE arranged. Says it ALL.

Thanks, Linda. Some good news: the show did poorly in the ratings. Z

Z, you'll never get those 2 hours back....pity.

You are right. Z

D-Z. Writer,

Man-oh-man Z., talk about flexing your comedic muscles! Your 'Octomom'/ Incredible piece had me rolling on the floor in paroxysms of gut-busting laughter (my pooch Ebony thought I had completely lost it); that image of a bunch of cavorting monkeys as a surrogate camera-crew on the FOX 2-hour 'Octomon' Special was just priceless.

If we could ever get those famed card-playing canines to wrap up that interminable poker game, they might work out just as well as those monkeys.

Frankly, I could only endure a mere 15-20 minutes of this FOX video-verite run amok.

Are you sure those weren't the Red Bull-fueled videographers from the herky-jerky "Blair Witch Project"? I was starting to experience vertigo and ringing in the ears, plus I could feel a migraine coming on.... and i normally don't even get migraines.

Nadya 'Octomom' Suleman is definitely a very disturbed, unstable, self-absorbed, narcissistic woman, who sadly requires a lot of psychological counseling, as well as loads of outside emotional, financial and basic child-rearing support.

Unfortunately, as the saying goes, she's made her own bed, and now she has to sleep in it.

To have the audacity, stupidity and selfishness to intentionally bring 14 completely innocent children into this world, without the where-with-all, or emotional capacity to support them is a human(e) travesty.

The horse, sadly has left the barn, and the 'Octomom' is obviously bound-and- determined, out of sheer desperation, to exploit her freakish, overwhelming predicament to the max for 'filthy lucre'; the only expedient option in her sights to make the mega-dollars she needs to raise this horde of growing and demanding kids.

I was actually taken by how physically beautiful all her 6 older kids were, and really felt for their situation, being kind of the odd-ones-out, w/ the prime focus being on the 24/ 7 needy, and totally dependent infants.

The glaring reality that there is no father, or father-figure (other than Nadya's dad.......hardly!) in the mix, is a real shame, and a big 'minus' in this whole sad scenario. 'Octomom', over time, seems to be acknowledging the fact that her almost super-human task of raising all these children is just too much for one parent to bear.(Hence the notion of hooking up w/ the sperm-donating father, which she raised in last night's show.)

I don't believe Nadya is inherently a bad, or unfeeling person, and as some of our fellow bloggers have pointed out, she does, on camera, exhibit moments of seeming clarity, tenderness, and nurturing. But as the skeptics among us have noted, maybe this is all a put-on act for 'the show'.

Z., I'm glad the 'Special' (theirs an oxymoron/ octomoron?) tanked in the ratings, and I commend you for taking "one for the Gipper" for all us folks who either could only stomach a small dose of the show, or those who had the foresight to not tune in at all.

I heard 75+ year-old Cheetah The Chimp (of "Tarzan" movie fame) has quite the filmic-auteurs eye and has been spotted, of late, directing and shooting Bar Mitzvahs and Debutant Balls in the L.A. area, a la Duddey Kravitz. Maybe the FOX reality T.V. big-boys could lure him over to their network and shoot the next 'Octomom' train-wreck.

Apparently he works mighty cheap; a few crates of organically grown bananas and a couple of cartons of Snickers bars, and your in business.

"Octomom For Bonzo" ....... has a cool ring about it, don't it ?

ALEX

Hi ALEX, Your comments made me laugh, too. I don't think Cheetah's going to give up deb balls for Octomom, though. Thanks. Z

Geezzz ALEX,

YIkes, Z's going to kick us right out of here. Yes, I loved this article Z. It was very funny. Have to have some heart for her plight though. Actually, ALEX post, Z's comment it all made for a brighter day after a long night. I almost typed my home address where it asked for email address, I must be tired. Better get some sleep.

Here is a concern I never see addressed: When it comes to finances and the proceeds Ms. Suleman receives from her "opportunities" (i.e. Radar Online/reality TV/pictures, etc), she insists that all money IS going to the children. She states that she is using all money received to put a roof over their heads, feed them, clothe them, etc. Hypothetically, let's say this is true. Let's say that she she has some part time job that we do not know about that she uses to pay for her tattoos and clothes. Last I heard, in the United States it is not the job of the children to earn their own keep. Housing, food, clothes, etc is the job of the parent(s). Why is it ok for these poor children to have to be put to "work" or exposed on natiional television to pay for their own existence?

David Z,

Glad I could noodge, or at least slightly tickle your funny-bone w/ my 'Octomom-related, last post. I guess you just inspired me to imagine way 'outside the box' w/ your zany (not totally, mind you) 'Octomom' piece from yesterday........ all that wacky 'monkey business'. HA! HA!

However, this morning I kind of had to do a little double-take while scanning your end-of-posting reply, 'cause initially I read your "Cheetah's give(ing) up deb balls" as meaning the celeb septuagenarian chimp was laying off some kind of exotic food item, i.e., "deb balls" (a new one on me)..... perhaps a variant of those choice gonadal-treats, "prairie oysters", or closer to home here in L.A., the popular Mexican dish, 'oeuvos' rancheros.

Then it quickly dawned on me that you had merely shortened my "debutante balls" to "deb balls" and I breathed a big sigh of relief, and had a little chuckle. Definitely an AH-HA!-moment.

Oh Z., I totally sympathize w/ your being on the verge of "speaking in tongues", and unwittingly kinda mangling your Yiddishisms while burning-the-midnight-oil; juggling the 'Octomom', Hewitt, Novak stories, plus other burning topics like a handful of steaming hot potatoes, trying to keep them all moving in the air at the same time.

I , for one, really appreciate your dedication and 'nose to the grindstone' work ethic. Hopefully things will settle down a bit, so you can get a little deserved respite. But something tells me that you really relish the more crazy, always-on-the-go pace of your job(s), and thrive on the energy, and the feedback you get from your dedicated, and engaged bloggers.

Keep up the great work, "Sheky" Zurawick! (The Borscht Belt beckons! .....I know, I'm really dating myself........ and that's illegal in most of the contiguous United States.(the dating yourself bit. HA! HA!)

I'd 'schtick' to my day job...... if I actually had one (rim-shot)! ----Oy veh!

ALEX

P.S.: ( Z. , would it be a big deal if you dropped the letters "i" and "l" as required in the "Please enter the letter "?" in the field below:" -box, as myself, and I would dare say many of your 'more mature' regular bloggers don't have the greatest near-vision, and find these two letters, at their smallish point size, hard to differentiate. Just a thought.)

Ha ALEX and Z, I got debutante balls, you had to read closely. I'm with ALEX on one more point those i and l's all run together kind of. And yes I am one of those people who should be wearing glasses for astigmatism, (getting old) but more often than not I don't.

Have a nice weekend!

You, too, Sherry. I'll be posting this weekend. And don't forget Don Hewitt's special on 60 Minutes Sunday. Z

Z, Yes me too! I am really excited about the Don Hewitt special on 60 minutes on Sunday. Writing it on my calendar right now. And after tonight and about 16 hours of sleep I should be good for Sunday. I'll be there is weekend. Thanks Z.

she is horrible. i would hate to be a kid and have 7 siblings.

7 siblings; Who taught you to add??? That would be 13 siblings. Anyways she is just another dumb lazy welfare case.