A few years ago a one-hour special titled “Surviving Sextuplets and Twins” was aired on the Discovery Channel. Since that broadcast, a reality television series developed called, Jon and Kate plus 8. Every episode was a day in the life of Jon and Kate Gossellin raising their eight children. This series has proven to be a ratings boom for the Discovery Channel as well as a financial bonanza for the network and the Gossellin family. But, through all of the controversy and rumors that have circulated since this show’s beginning, the specter of divorce has reared it’s ugly head.
When divorce papers were filed by Kate Gossellin, a few days ago, it stated that she and Jon Gossellin had been living apart for two years. This fact was never indicated on the show. In fact, the Discovery Channel went out of it’s way to show Jon and Kate as a loving couple trying to raise their family in today’s economy. In light of everything, the show appears to have been a complete fraud. It is reported that Jon was actually living in an apartment above the garage and has been dating during the whole series. Which brings us to the question; Was this a reality show or a big deception? Or, even a bigger question; Do we care?
For me, if it is reality then, tell it like it is. In other words, the truth. This show has been a lie from it’s inception. Sure, you had a couple trying to raise their eight children but, they were not lovey dovey. They were actually a couple pretending to care about each other for the sake of the kids. Now that would have been reality television.
The series is on a hiatus until sometime in August. Then, it is scheduled to continue. It remains to be seen if the popularity of the show continues or not. More than likely it will. But, I think it should be relabeled as a Soap Opera instead. Yes, divorce is reality but, the Discovery Channel will try to gloss it over because ratings equals money. And don’t forget, that is what this is really all about.
That’s How I See It.
Websites of reference;
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Kate+Plus+sham+last+years+divorce+papers/1731637/story.html
http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/jon-and-kate/jon-and-kate.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_&_Kate_Plus_8
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/12/jon-kate-plus-8-mom-denie_n_214862.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacy-schneider/emjon-and-kate-plus-8em-d_b_212710.html
For me, if it is reality then, tell it like it is. In other words, the truth. This show has been a lie from it’s inception. Sure, you had a couple trying to raise their eight children but, they were not lovey dovey. They were actually a couple pretending to care about each other for the sake of the kids. Now that would have been reality television.
The series is on a hiatus until sometime in August. Then, it is scheduled to continue. It remains to be seen if the popularity of the show continues or not. More than likely it will. But, I think it should be relabeled as a Soap Opera instead. Yes, divorce is reality but, the Discovery Channel will try to gloss it over because ratings equals money. And don’t forget, that is what this is really all about.
That’s How I See It.
Websites of reference;
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Kate+Plus+sham+last+years+divorce+papers/1731637/story.html
http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/jon-and-kate/jon-and-kate.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_&_Kate_Plus_8
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/12/jon-kate-plus-8-mom-denie_n_214862.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacy-schneider/emjon-and-kate-plus-8em-d_b_212710.html
I record this show every week and have seen every episode & special about this family. Those kids are adorable, and it's mostly been just entertainment for me until now. I watched the divorce announcement episode and felt sick to my stomach. I was around the same age as their sextuplets when my parents divorced, and I still remember how hard that was for everyone involved. Throughout my childhood, the constant shuffle back & forth between houses & parents made a HUGE impact on my life, and I feel for their children in that aspect. I think they should have quit the show a long time ago, but the money I guess was just too good an opportunity to pass up. Last season's finale episode showed Jon & Kate discussing whether or not they were to continue filming, and Jon obviously didn't want to- he wanted his life back. And she very adamantly wanted to continue despite his wishes. Where was the "for our family" attitude there? If Kate was really so into God and her family she should have done the right thing a long time ago and focused on just that, and not on the show and whoring out her family for ratings, and he followed right along like a puppy who'd been kicked. Shame on them. Now their kids are going to pay for their selfishness.
ReplyDeletePeople's enthusiasm for this show has always been a mystery to me. It's not good that so many people spend so much time watching the personal shenanigans of total strangers on TV...and it's certainly not good that in this case, everybody seems more concerned with Jon & Kate's domestic squabbles than with the fact they exploited their kids for money.
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