Jon and Kate Plus 8, Official Thread-Part 3

[3prettyprincesses]

I recently came across someone comparing Kate Gosselin to Madonna -- i.e. both came from poor backgrounds, are very tough and determined to achieve fame & fortune, they aren't letting anyone stand in their way and they don't care who they have to trample over to do it.

Do you think this is a good analogy? I thought it had its merits.

Ok, I just have to say that the heading alone Is Kate Gosselin Like Madonna? made me laugh and choke on my tea!

Back on topic, that is interesting. It is difficult when you come from a meager background. I'm sure that explains Kate's drive and determination. To work hard and rise above it I guess. I don't disagree with her drive at all but I think it has overtaken her and become her #1 priority. Did that make sense? What I mean is that she probably feels really good about being able to make all this $ for her family. Numerous times on the show she has commented that she is happy to give her kids the things she didn't have. Nothing wrong with that. But when it seems to consume you to the point you're away from your family so much, it's time to step back. I wonder if her kids would give up the large house or freebies if it meant Mom & Dad being home more and together. I do believe Kate loves her kids and thinks that what she's doing is best for them. However, kids require more than financial stability. I'm sure there are lots of poor families who's kids are very happy and well adjusted even though their parents can't give them trips to Hawaii, Disney, Gymboree clothes and so on.

 

[maxie]

I don't know if anyone posted this yet, but here's an article about the two birthday parties that were thrown for the kids.

http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272626163.shtml

Fights, Cameras, Cash! Jon and Kate Gosselin, Plus 8 for TLC Premiere

There was a marked difference in the two birthday parties Jon and Kate Gosselin threw for their sextuplets this year, a new report notices. On May 10, the children’s 5th birthday, the celebration was somber. L&S has the details, "Kate was spotted with an angry expression on her face while picking up a meager-looking cake at a bakery near the family’s Reading, Pa., home early in the day. Few people were spotted coming and going from the house, and at the end of the day, just a few bits of wrapping paper lay in the trash."

"A week later, however, the scene was different. With the cameras rolling for their TV series, Jon & Kate Plus 8, the entire family - as well as a large group of friends - drove to nearby Blue Falls park, were Kate went all out for a second birthday bash on May 17."

Are they only playing for the cameras? Is fights, cameras, Action, er cash? This time, she pulled out all the stops: There were pinatas, balloons, even a set of moon bounces for the kids to jump on. “Jon looked like he really didn’t want to have anything to do with the filming, but Kate was all about it,” an onlooker tells Life & Style. In fact, the day before, Kate, 34, was filmed taking the kids to Party City, where they eagerly stocked up on supplies for the celebration.

They seemed the picture of happiness - even though only weeks earlier, reports emerged accusing Jon, 32, of cheating on his wife. And just days before the party, Kate admitted things were so bad and she and Jon might split. But they hid the trouble when the cameras arrived to film for the fifth season of their TLC show, which premieres May 25.

***

With the entire world aware of the family’s problems, why keep pretending? Jon and Kate’s neighbor Sheilah Jones thinks the answer is simple. “I would say they’re definitely only staying together for the money,” she tells Life & Style. “A lot of people around town say that’s what their relationship has been about for a while. People think the two of them - Kate especially - are in it for the publicity and money.”

Maybe they kept the May 10th celebration small as they knew there would be a bigger one that would be filmed. Why have 2 big ones? Besides May 10 is Mother's Day. Some of the kids friends may have been busy with their own families that day so they chose to have a small family celebration that day instead of the big party. Makes sense to me.

 

[blissventure]

I recently came across someone comparing Kate Gosselin to Madonna -- i.e. both came from poor backgrounds, are very tough and determined to achieve fame & fortune, they aren't letting anyone stand in their way and they don't care who they have to trample over to do it.

Do you think this is a good analogy? I thought it had its merits.

Well, Madonna's new boyfriend is 22. Madonna (51) is almost the same age as this youngster's granny (50).
Kate just might have enough problems already. A Madonna comparison seems like it's piling on.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

I don't know if anyone posted this yet, but here's an article about the two birthday parties that were thrown for the kids.

http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272626163.shtml

Fights, Cameras, Cash! Jon and Kate Gosselin, Plus 8 for TLC Premiere

There was a marked difference in the two birthday parties Jon and Kate Gosselin threw for their sextuplets this year, a new report notices. On May 10, the children’s 5th birthday, the celebration was somber. L&S has the details, "Kate was spotted with an angry expression on her face while picking up a meager-looking cake at a bakery near the family’s Reading, Pa., home early in the day. Few people were spotted coming and going from the house, and at the end of the day, just a few bits of wrapping paper lay in the trash."

"A week later, however, the scene was different. With the cameras rolling for their TV series, Jon & Kate Plus 8, the entire family - as well as a large group of friends - drove to nearby Blue Falls park, were Kate went all out for a second birthday bash on May 17."

Are they only playing for the cameras? Is fights, cameras, Action, er cash? This time, she pulled out all the stops: There were pinatas, balloons, even a set of moon bounces for the kids to jump on. “Jon looked like he really didn’t want to have anything to do with the filming, but Kate was all about it,” an onlooker tells Life & Style. In fact, the day before, Kate, 34, was filmed taking the kids to Party City, where they eagerly stocked up on supplies for the celebration.

They seemed the picture of happiness - even though only weeks earlier, reports emerged accusing Jon, 32, of cheating on his wife. And just days before the party, Kate admitted things were so bad and she and Jon might split. But they hid the trouble when the cameras arrived to film for the fifth season of their TLC show, which premieres May 25.

***

With the entire world aware of the family’s problems, why keep pretending? Jon and Kate’s neighbor Sheilah Jones thinks the answer is simple. “I would say they’re definitely only staying together for the money,” she tells Life & Style. “A lot of people around town say that’s what their relationship has been about for a while. People think the two of them - Kate especially - are in it for the publicity and money.”

Again, I feel the media are trying to spin something out of nothing. It's not at all unusual to have 2 birthday parties, 1 smaller, 1 larger. I've done it a few times. They have a big party for all their schoolfriends - all the trimmings, big cake, party games, lots of noise etc. Then a small 'family' event at the house for the grandparents or others. No big deal at all.

 

[C.Ann]

Just like the Gosselins, when you post your opinion in a public forum, you open yourself and your thoughts up to criticism and comments from anyone and everyone who reads it. If you don't want people to question your opinions, don't post them..

-------------------------

Anyone is free to criticize or make comments about my opinions.. I never said they couldn't.. What I did say is that I don't owe anyone an explanation as to "why" I have those thoughts and opinions - nor does anyone owe me an explanation of theirs.. Anyone is free to ask me all the questions they want - I'm not obligated to answer them.. I know it's a popular game here on the DIS - "fish and bait" - but I don't care to play - nor am I under any obligation (according to the rules of this site) to do so.. It's really a pretty simple concept..

Now back to the topic at hand before this thread ends up closed.. There is a J&K Marathon on TLC right now - way back from the beginning - if anyone is interested.. I came across it when I was flipping through the channels..

 

[1stluvispooh]

I went back and watched the video,
and I only commented on Jon.
Sometimes when couples fight, they can barely look at each other.
I just saw Jon take a look at Kate,
and when I watched it a 2nd time, I saw kate's "look" that she gave Jon.
But with editing, the look could of been for something totally different.
But it was sad to see Kate give Jon the look of "dismissiveness".

Good description of "the look"

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Ok, you all are going to get a kick out of this! I'm watching a re-run of J&K with my 3 girls (season 1) and TLC showed a clip of them at Charm City Cakes for the upcoming season. My oldest 2 LOVE Ace of Cakes. So they say "Mommy can we go to Charm City Cakes and make cakes like the Gosselins??" I told them no, we can't do that because Charm City Cakes doesn't allow people to just come in. Then they both said "why are the Gosselin kids allowed to then?" "Why can't we do it too?" "Why are they special?" Ah, out of the mouths of babes...

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I'm watching the special, Surviving Sextuplets from 2006. They said they're moving into their new house (the one with all the green carpet just down the street from Jodi's) and it was 4,000 square feet! I always thought that house was small the way Kate talked about it, or rather complained about it. 4,000 square feet is a really decent sized house too. I was just surprised.

 

[DMRick]

They have had girl scouts and brownies on the show. Maybe you can sign your girls up with one of those troops.

Ok, you all are going to get a kick out of this! I'm watching a re-run of J&K with my 3 girls (season 1) and TLC showed a clip of them at Charm City Cakes for the upcoming season. My oldest 2 LOVE Ace of Cakes. So they say "Mommy can we go to Charm City Cakes and make cakes like the Gosselins??" I told them no, we can't do that because Charm City Cakes doesn't allow people to just come in. Then they both said "why are the Gosselin kids allowed to then?" "Why can't we do it too?" "Why are they special?" Ah, out of the mouths of babes...

I have no idea what a fish and bait game is here on the Dis or anywhere. I don't spend a lot of time on different threads in this section of the Dis, and seldom any argumentative ones, so I guess I haven't run into this game.

That said, when people give opinions on a discussion board, I find it's nice if they say why they feel the way they do..you never know, they may change my mind, if they have a good enough reason to feel that way (like why they feel this is harmful to the kids, for instance. I don't buy, because it is as a reason, or because they didn't sign up for it. My kids didn't sign up for a lot of things either.). I really do wonder, when I read something here, just why we have so many different opinions, and it's been nice in the past when we discussed them. But you are right, anyone can state things as facts/opinions, assumptions here..no reason to give a reason why someone 'feels' like they do. It just makes it harder to understand why for instance, someone would state as fact that Kate is only in it for the money, or Kate is only doing it for the fame, if we don't know where that is coming from. I do try to state why I think what I do..so people know why I wrote what I did..but each to their own.

I know it's a popular game here on the DIS - "fish and bait"

I watched the cleaning the garage show earlier (again)...Kevin mentioned they were 5 houses away. Just a FYI if anyone wanted to know how many houses away they were. Boy they have come a long way from that show and being such good friends, to now.

 

[1stluvispooh]

I'm watching the special, Surviving Sextuplets from 2006. They said they're moving into their new house (the one with all the green carpet just down the street from Jodi's) and it was 4,000 square feet! I always thought that house was small the way Kate talked about it, or rather complained about it. 4,000 square feet is a really decent sized house too. I was just surprised.

I think the 4,000 sq feet included the unfinished part of the basement. And you know they never really filmed in the basement all that much.

 

[blissventure]

Ok, you all are going to get a kick out of this! I'm watching a re-run of J&K with my 3 girls (season 1) and TLC showed a clip of them at Charm City Cakes for the upcoming season. My oldest 2 LOVE Ace of Cakes. So they say "Mommy can we go to Charm City Cakes and make cakes like the Gosselins??" I told them no, we can't do that because Charm City Cakes doesn't allow people to just come in. Then they both said "why are the Gosselin kids allowed to then?" "Why can't we do it too?" "Why are they special?" Ah, out of the mouths of babes...

That was a bit odd, wasn't it?
Slightly OT--But it might be fun this summer if your kitchen magically became Charm City Cakes for a day, and the three princesses turned into cake decorators. Bet they'd have a great time decorating to their hearts content!!

 

[C.Ann]

I'm watching the special, Surviving Sextuplets from 2006. They said they're moving into their new house (the one with all the green carpet just down the street from Jodi's) and it was 4,000 square feet! I always thought that house was small the way Kate talked about it, or rather complained about it. 4,000 square feet is a really decent sized house too. I was just surprised.

-------------

I think that's the marathon that they're running tonight..

 

[themilesfamily]

I'm going back to casting for the upcoming Jon & Kate movie...

John O'Hurley for the bodyguard. (Yes, it's Mr. Peterman!)

 

[3prettyprincesses]

That was a bit odd, wasn't it?
Slightly OT--But it might be fun this summer if your kitchen magically became Charm City Cakes for a day, and the three princesses turned into cake decorators. Bet they'd have a great time decorating to their hearts content!!

What a super cute idea! All 3 of them love to bake and decorate so that would be fun. They think that Ace of Cakes is awesome which was why they wanted to go there.

-------------

I think that's the marathon that they're running tonight..

Yup, it's on right now. Interesting to see how far they've come.

 

[C.Ann]

Yup, it's on right now. Interesting to see how far they've come.

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I think she looks much prettier now - even though she's older..

 

[3prettyprincesses]

------------------

I think she looks much prettier now - even though she's older..

I totally agree, Kate looks fabulous. I'll give her credit! It's just sad to see how much she and Jon have changed...look how close they sat on the couch together, how they joked back and forth and smiled at one another. Kate actually said that all that matters to her are Jon and the kids, that the 10 of them are all that's important in the world and that no matter what, they all have each other. Sad isn't it? Now they're contemplating divorce and seem so distant.

Now it's the episode where she gets the tummy tuck. Right before she went back to surgery, she and Jon embraced and it was so sweet. Then he prayed for her and she smiled at him. After she came out of surgery, she reached over to hug Jon and he hugged her back while she said thank you for bringing me. While recovering she said Jon is a wonderful husband and that he's taking such good care of her. Then she got a make-over before going back home to him. It was so sweet, she came home and Jon hugged her and she kissed him. She couldn't wait to get inside and see all her kids and it was so genuine. Stuff like that makes me wonder if maybe they can work things out. The love was there and I think having all the babies and then being on reality TV just added an enormous amount of stress. Is it too sappy to think they could actually work through this?

 

[jpaxton1118]

Exactly. And as someone pointed out about my Wikipedia quote that it's not always reliable I'm pointing out that rumors aren't either. And posting that someone you never is not trustworthy is subjective but you were stating it as factual.

Actually if you read my post you will see that I called it a rumor many many times.

 

[jpaxton1118]

Maybe they kept the May 10th celebration small as they knew there would be a bigger one that would be filmed. Why have 2 big ones? Besides May 10 is Mother's Day. Some of the kids friends may have been busy with their own families that day so they chose to have a small family celebration that day instead of the big party. Makes sense to me.

I completely agree with you. See, I swing both ways.

 

[jpaxton1118]

I'm going back to casting for the upcoming Jon & Kate movie...

John O'Hurley for the bodyguard. (Yes, it's Mr. Peterman!)

Perfect

 

[kidshop]

I found it in the synopsis of the May 14th interview.

EXCLUSIVE NEW INTERVIEW: Kate Gosselin's Family Blasts TV MomEXCLUSIVE NEW INTERVIEW: Kate Gosselin's Family Blasts TV Mom
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on May 14, 2009
Kate Gosselin, the highfalutin matriarch of TLC's hit show Jon and Kate Plus 8, shows more interest in her fame as a TV personality, speaker and author than she does as a mother, her brother and sister-in-law said in an explosive new interview exclusively on RadarOnline.com.

Kevin Krieder, the 32-year-old brother of the reality TV mom, said that his sister has a selfish agenda focused more on boosting her career than her family. He said that the show's depiction of Kate as a do-it-all mother who cooks and cleans is "all for the cameras," and the reality TV couple's claim that they are raising their family all by themselves is a "snow job."

Jodi, who was also prominently featured in early episodes of the show, said it takes the work of many to take care of the children, and Kate is too busy to pitch in unless the red light is on.

Watch part one of our exclusive interview with Kevin and Jodi

"Kate is very good at designating jobs," her sister-in-law, Jodi Krieder said. "As the years have gone on, Kate has become the designator to the people that have those jobs going on."

The Krieders said they have not talked to the Gosselins in more than a year.

The fallout, according to Kevin, came over money. He said that members of the production crew told them that TLC was planning on compensating the Krieders, a fact which drove Kate ballistic and led to the family rift. They said that Kate is obsessive over control.

"It's a very sad situation," Jodi said. "This is going to affect these children terribly, if she goes for a divorce. I think right now Kate is very lost and very blinded by her actions and what she is doing -- [she] is not being a mother that is nurturing and hands on."

Well, that didn't come out of Kevin and Jodi's own mouths, that is what the source SAYS they said, but did they really say it? How do you know for a fact?