Jon Minus Kate plus Eight (every other weekend)

[Earth 2 Chris]

I really think their reality shows are becoming more and more scripted.

I don't think they scripted their divorce, but I do think they will reap this for all it's worth, and Kate at least, will be laughing all the way to the bank. She always seemed the one more comfortable in front of the camera whining about how her life is so hard with a TV network paying for her to live.

One odd thing I noticed about this show, the few times I was too lazy to get off the couch to get away from it; it's never really about the kids. They never focused on the kids at all, as far as I know. Never really gave them an individual spotlights to show their distinct identities and personalities. It was just "we have 8 kids. Watch how miserable we are, and how we try to cope with it". That does not make for good TV, IMHO.

Chris

[Shanester]

Who is this John Andkate and why does he gain eight? Never saw it, never will.

[mitchedwards]

TLC is jumping the shark.

I really think their reality shows are becoming more and more scripted. Case in point this season we have Jon and Kate splitting up. The Teutles at OCC have split up. Jr and Sr are going their own ways after 10 yrs. TLC shows are beginning to look more and more like pro wrestling. You think its real, but its all staged.

Why? Because the shows have slipped in ratings and conflict brings the ratings back up.

I'm just waiting for the next season of Little People Big World, to see if TLC is gonna screw with the Roloff family.

[Sideshow Spock]

If I was her, I'd say enough's enough, and get out of my contract, and walk away from it all. They live in a mansion on a huge spread now though, so the kids may be just a meal ticket at this point, which is REALLY sad.

I think the last thing she'd do is walk away. At this point the kids seem almost incidental to the tabloid John vs Kate fodder that the show has become.

The show has essentially given her a new body (she's had multiple procedures), and TLC pays them $75K per episode. I don't think it's a coincidence that as the show made them richer and richer, they drifted farther and farther apart. Especially considering they didn't seem to like each other much to begin with.

I've watched quite a few eps with my wife. The thing I've always said to her is, these are not interesting people. There's nothing about them that compels me to watch them, and that includes whatever contrived activity TLC came up with that week for them to do. I don't care that they have eight kids running around.

I wonder what monies (if any) are being put away in trusts for the kids' future. I guess TLC has declined to answer that question, since the jury is still out on if the kids are actual "employees" of the show.

The show will probably run for a couple more years before peetering out, and then we won't hear from John and Kate for a few years.. until the kids become teenagers and start suing their parents for their share of the loot.

[Hector]

She verbally castrated him weekly on TV.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I can't stand that show. My wife watches it, and I cringe and gripe every time. I've been saying for years Kate is a you-know-what on wheels. Not saying that gives Jon the right to cheat on her, or whatever, but she seems like a really frigid person. She verbally castrated him weekly on TV. Every time they go somewhere with their kids she seems put out and disgusted. If you didn't want more kids, why'd you keep taking fertility drugs after two?

If I was her, I'd say enough's enough, and get out of my contract, and walk away from it all. They live in a mansion on a huge spread now though, so the kids may be just a meal ticket at this point, which is REALLY sad.

Chris

Chris

[palitoy]

When I didn't have the remote, I was forced to watch snippets of this occasionally and I always found it cringe worthy. If I wanted to watch a tense marriage I'd visit a couple of my friends more.

Other than Home Reno shows and the Jon Dore Show (which is a parody) I have no place for Reality TV. I'm down to about a half hour of TV a day now.

[Riffster]

I hate 99.9% of reality TV and that show proves just how horrible it is

[Hector]

Those "poor" kids are doing just fine.

Poor kids are in places like Burundi...where they get to see their parents chopped up by machetes in front of their eyes.

[The Toyroom]

I must have lived in a bubble for the last 3 years because I only became aware of these yahoos in the last 6 months or so....now I can't escape them...they're everywhere. And apparently still continuing with the show so America can witness firsthand how messy a reality TV divorce can be...those poor 8 kids.

[palitoy]

I missed the episode and went outside instead (I don't regret that) but I guess the big news today is they are splitting up.