Jon and Kate Plus 8, Official Thread--Part 7

[redrosesix]

I would be willing to bet there will be some "clause" or something in all this mediation/arbitration that Jon will cooperate - even if it's for additional money from Kate or to get something else he wants. Kate and her team are pretty smart and won't just let Jon have the last say on this IMO.

I thought Jon said in one of his interviews that the "morning" nanny (I can't remember the terms he used now - sorry!) was there from 5:30 until the kids went to school and the "night" nanny was there from the kids getting off the bus until they went to bed. If that's correct, it's not like Kate always has two people there plus a parent (J or K) helping out. The way Jon made it sound, one parent and a nanny are there when the kids are there IIRC. (My notes in my top secrect work notebook are on Oct 6 - I must have been working on my time line that day - I've got several J&K notes jotted down )

Yes, that's exactly what he said -- so there is always 1 nanny there when Kate is at home (because she is the one who schedules them) -- it was in the interview where he disclosed the email she sent to him about the birthday. I was just noting that she makes it sounds like she is always there on her custody days, the only one getting the kids up and making them breakfast. If the nanny comes on duty at 5:30, likely that she is working from 5:30 on, not sitting around and watching Kate do everything. I just found the article weird -- it's like she's saying the things that sound good, but the more you think about them the more they don't sound right. Like how she says she was rarely home in the months before the separation, so she got used to not being around Jon so that was a good thing. But I'm sure it made the transition harder for the kids, since they were used to having him (and not her) most of the time.

And I think Kate will be a big part of trying to get Jon to allow the kids on her show, just as she was part of the decision to drop him from the old show. And I don't know what he would do if they guaranteed him reduced working hours for the kids, plus other perks that only Kate could add. In fact, I'm wondering if her coming out and supporting Stephanie Santoro's story yesterday is part of this -- if they discredit Jon enough, his decision to keep the kids from taping will appear purely as an act of selfishness by a lying criminal who doesn't care about his children even a little bit. There is a lot at stake here for both TLC and Kate.

 

[newtodis]

Meanwhile "Real Housewives of O.C." star Gretchen Rossi said that its one thing for her to go in and expose herself to the world, but "when you start affecting children who didn’t sign up for it" things go to a whole new level of inappropriate. However, "Real Housewives of Atlanta’s" Kim Zolciak has no regrets about her time in the limelight.

"My two little girls have a hard time, sometimes it’s hard for them at school," Zolciak said. "But all press is good - negative or positive, it doesn’t matter."

On the flipside, Danny Bonaduce’s former wife Gretchen (who came with her new fiancé) seems to think it’s the media that are more disgusting than the controversial Gosselin parents.

"It’s not the show that ruins relationships, it's cheating and all the other things. It has nothing to with the camera. Blaming it on the show is not right," Bonaduce said. "This is going to sound mean, but if the media is so concerned about the kids, then stop covering them. Then the kids won’t read it and nobody will know about it."

That's a piece of this article:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,566707,00.html?test=faces

Now the Kim from RHOA is more nutty than Jon or Kate IMHO so I don't know that it's a fair comparision but it's been said more than once here that any kind of publicity is good regarding the thinking of J&K. I also like the comments from Gretchen Bonaduce as well. I beleive (at this point) that if it was going to happen, it would have happened with or without the show. Maybe not as quickly as it did because they would have needed each other to survive (financially) for longer without the show but I don't think they were a good fit just from what I've seen.

 

[LoraJ]

Kim is a nutcase. There was an episode I saw where she just didn't want to deal with her whiny daughter so she called for the nanny to deal with her.

I agree with Gretchen's thoughts. I don't think that the show was ever harmful to the kids. What has been bad is all of the negative press during the divorce.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I agree with Gretchen's thoughts. I don't think that the show was ever harmful to the kids. What has been bad is all of the negative press during the divorce.

Those were my thoughts as well.

 

[DMRick]

I third that. We can only hope Jon pulling the plug was not for more money.

I agree with Gretchen's thoughts. I don't think that the show was ever harmful to the kids. What has been bad is all of the negative press during the divorce.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I third that. We can only hope Jon pulling the plug was not for more money.

I kind of thought he did it as a way to tell TLC to "stick it". While I know many are happy that it got the kids off the air--I think it naive to pretend that this is a permanent decision for the safety and well being of the children.

 

[redrosesix]

Meanwhile "Real Housewives of O.C." star Gretchen Rossi said that its one thing for her to go in and expose herself to the world, but "when you start affecting children who didn’t sign up for it" things go to a whole new level of inappropriate. However, "Real Housewives of Atlanta’s" Kim Zolciak has no regrets about her time in the limelight.

"My two little girls have a hard time, sometimes it’s hard for them at school," Zolciak said. "But all press is good - negative or positive, it doesn’t matter."

On the flipside, Danny Bonaduce’s former wife Gretchen (who came with her new fiancé) seems to think it’s the media that are more disgusting than the controversial Gosselin parents.

"It’s not the show that ruins relationships, it's cheating and all the other things. It has nothing to with the camera. Blaming it on the show is not right," Bonaduce said. "This is going to sound mean, but if the media is so concerned about the kids, then stop covering them. Then the kids won’t read it and nobody will know about it."

That's a piece of this article:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,566707,00.html?test=faces

Now the Kim from RHOA is more nutty than Jon or Kate IMHO so I don't know that it's a fair comparision but it's been said more than once here that any kind of publicity is good regarding the thinking of J&K. I also like the comments from Gretchen Bonaduce as well. I beleive (at this point) that if it was going to happen, it would have happened with or without the show. Maybe not as quickly as it did because they would have needed each other to survive (financially) for longer without the show but I don't think they were a good fit just from what I've seen.

ITA with this. I don't know how the marriage would have played out without the show, but I think the divorce has reached a whole new level of vindictiveness because they are in the media, and maybe moreso than other celebrity divorces because they were on a reality show. A lot of the things they've said about each in interviews might have been said to friends or family, but wouldn't be out there for the kids or their friends to see (if not now, later) And there wouldn't be all these extra participants like Stephanie Santoro and all of the sources that are quoted in the tabloids.

Interesting article, although I'm not familiar with a lot of the people who were quoted. My question to all of you who have watched their shows is: do most of them have real jobs? It seems to me that J & K are the only ones on TLC who don't, and on most of the other shows it's not about their lives at home, more like "the show is our job, and our job is the show" as on OCC and all of the tattoo shows. Even the Roloffs spend a lot of the time on their show working on the farm.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I agree with Gretchen's thoughts. I don't think that the show was ever harmful to the kids. What has been bad is all of the negative press during the divorce.

I guess I'll have to disagree. I think it is harmful to the kids. They have (pre scandals, tabloids and divorce) seen their parents fighting, seen Kate berate Jon and others they love, seen Kate freak out over things, endured having their private moments filmed, put up with long photo shoots, had cameras in their little faces for 4 years and been dragged all over the place for 'life experiences'. Not only all that, but they also might have learned that they are entitled to these things and special treamtent because they're on TV.

And that's just the immediate, what about the long term effects? My guess is that some (if not all) of the kids are going to be resentful/hurt at having their lives documented in this way when they are older. Imagine the backlash J&K will probably be in for. Yikes.

Bottom line, J&K have sacrificed their 8 little ones for fame and fortune. For free Gymboree clothes, free trips to Hawaii, California, Disney, the zoo, the beach. For book deals, a million dollar home, nannies, and so on. We all know the list is long. That is harmful IMO because in order to get these things, J&K allowed their children to be exploited by TLC. Geez, doing the show wasn't the only way to provide for their kids. What were they planning to do once the babies were born anyway? TLC hadn't approached them yet. I really think J&K have tricked people into thinking that if they hadn't done the show, they'd be poor and destitute. Look at what Kate said about her bills on The View. She had a stack in her purse she couldn't pay now. Ya right. So that account is the only one with $ in it? I know real people who are struggling to pay their bills and they don't live in million dollar homes with nannies. And before anyone pulls out the 'you're just jealous card', my DH has a wonderful job which allows me to stay home with our kids. I'm not wishing I had all the things Kate does nor would I consider using my kids to get them.

There, morning snark over!

 

[madge]

and so it continues ... TLC has filed suit against Jon

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ent...ch-of-contract-suit-against-jon-gosselin.html

 

[redrosesix]

I guess I'll have to disagree. I think it is harmful to the kids. They have (pre scandals, tabloids and divorce) seen their parents fighting, seen Kate berate Jon and others they love, seen Kate freak out over things, endured having their private moments filmed, put up with long photo shoots, had cameras in their little faces for 4 years and been dragged all over the place for 'life experiences'. Not only all that, but they also might have learned that they are entitled to these things and special treamtent because they're on TV.

And that's just the immediate, what about the long term effects? My guess is that some (if not all) of the kids are going to be resentful/hurt at having their lives documented in this way when they are older. Imagine the backlash J&K will probably be in for. Yikes.

Bottom line, J&K have sacrificed their 8 little ones for fame and fortune. For free Gymboree clothes, free trips to Hawaii, California, Disney, the zoo, the beach. For book deals, a million dollar home, nannies, and so on. We all know the list is long. That is harmful IMO because in order to get these things, J&K allowed their children to be exploited by TLC. Geez, doing the show wasn't the only way to provide for their kids. What were they planning to do once the babies were born anyway? TLC hadn't approached them yet. I really think J&K have tricked people into thinking that if they hadn't done the show, they'd be poor and destitute. Look at what Kate said about her bills on The View. She had a stack in her purse she couldn't pay now. Ya right. So that account is the only one with $ in it? I know real people who are struggling to pay their bills and they don't live in million dollar homes with nannies. And before anyone pulls out the 'you're just jealous card', my DH has a wonderful job which allows me to stay home with our kids. I'm not wishing I had all the things Kate does nor would I consider using my kids to get them.

There, morning snark over!

I'm agreeing with you.

Interesting that all of the posters who think the show is not harmful to the kids agreed with one participant (Gretchen Bonaduce) and she didn't even comment on the affect of the show on the kids.

Having said that, I'm sure there are some posters who would qualify their response to whether the show is a good idea for the kids: some would say not now because of the divorce, some would say it was fine when they were babies, some would say that specials would be ok but not 40 shows per season.

 

[DMRick]

I'm not wishing I had all the things Kate does nor would I consider using my kids to get them.

There, morning snark over!

I (my own opinion) don't think, in Kate's mind (I don't know where Jon's is right now) that Kate thought she was getting the trips, and clothe's and house for herself. I think she thinks she did it for the kids. A way for them to have more than a struggling life. If there wasn't the show, she would have worked (maybe Jon would have kept a job, maybe not..if not, even if she worked, welfare was a real possiblility..and if they still split up it was more than a possibility), had sitters, and been one of those families who did make it, but struggled mightily. I think she was trying to avoid that.

If the divorce hadn't happened, and they appeared to still be a great couple, while we wouldn't have like certain things shown (the usual, the ice cream, the gum, the constipation) most would have still been watching the show. Complaining about how Kate treated Jon, (heck, I complain about Matt Roloff, I don't see how Amy puts up with him, but I still watch), IMO it's what's going on now that tells me it should end. The kids shouldn't have to watch this play out (not that I don't think most kids of the divorced go through life hearing their mom and dad bicker, and put each other down, but it's not so public their friends hear it too) and watch friends of the family no longer want to be with them, lest the paps follow them as well.

Remember..you are only allowed one snark per day LOL!

 

[WaltD4Me]

and so it continues ... TLC has filed suit against Jon

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ent...ch-of-contract-suit-against-jon-gosselin.html

I knew this was coming.

The article says the show was on since 2007...typo, wasn't it 2005 or 2004?

 

[redrosesix]

and so it continues ... TLC has filed suit against Jon

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ent...ch-of-contract-suit-against-jon-gosselin.html

So I guess this is how they're going to convince Jon to let the kids do the show. IMO, it may just backfire on them.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I (my own opinion) don't think, in Kate's mind (I don't know where Jon's is right now) that Kate thought she was getting the trips, and clothe's and house for herself. I think she thinks she did it for the kids. A way for them to have more than a struggling life. If there wasn't the show, she would have worked (maybe Jon would have kept a job, maybe not..if not, even if she worked, welfare was a real possiblility..and if they still split up it was more than a possibility), had sitters, and been one of those families who did make it, but struggled mightily. I think she was trying to avoid that.

If the divorce hadn't happened, and they appeared to still be a great couple, while we wouldn't have like certain things shown (the usual, the ice cream, the gum, the constipation) most would have still been watching the show. Complaining about how Kate treated Jon, (heck, I complain about Matt Roloff, I don't see how Amy puts up with him, but I still watch), IMO it's what's going on now that tells me it should end. The kids shouldn't have to watch this play out (not that I don't think most kids of the divorced go through life hearing their mom and dad bicker, and put each other down, but it's not so public their friends hear it too) and watch friends of the family no longer want to be with them, lest the paps follow them as well.

Remember..you are only allowed one snark per day LOL!

Well shoot, now I'm all used up!

As far as Kate thinking she did it all for the kids (as she's said millions of times), I would agree with you to some degree on that. But, when did it become acceptable to use your kids to provide a better life for them? I guess that's my point. Without the kids, the show would never have been. Why should they (the kids) have to be the means of income?

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

Yes, you're right about that, but she didn't want Jon when he was the one she had (just) remarried. And that was long before any of those things you mentioned that made most of us dislike him.

True. Many times we don't realize how blessed we are until it is too late.

Tina Fey was on Access Hollywood tonight, they asked if she was Team Kate or Team Jon. She said she's Team Kate! (I was surprised) she said she's watched the show from the beginning and once in awhile her husband would watch and comment that Kate was kind of mean to Jon. She said she told him that she had to be, she has 8 kids and her husband is an idiot.

I kind of thought he did it as a way to tell TLC to "stick it". While I know many are happy that it got the kids off the air--I think it naive to pretend that this is a permanent decision for the safety and well being of the children.

So do I, Lisa.

ITA with this. I don't know how the marriage would have played out without the show, but I think the divorce has reached a whole new level of vindictiveness because they are in the media, and maybe moreso than other celebrity divorces because they were on a reality show. A lot of the things they've said about each in interviews might have been said to friends or family, but wouldn't be out there for the kids or their friends to see (if not now, later) And there wouldn't be all these extra participants like Stephanie Santoro and all of the sources that are quoted in the tabloids.

I always have thought they would have ended up in divorce court even without the show but now I am not so sure. I think without the show, Jon would have remained in the IT field and not home with Kate everyday which I think was a big mistake. Most couples can't take that much time together. Now I am of the mind that the show definitely contributed to the downfall or at least made the inevitable happen much quicker.

and so it continues ... TLC has filed suit against Jon

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ent...ch-of-contract-suit-against-jon-gosselin.html

It was just a matter of time.

 

[DMRick]

I'm agreeing with you.

Interesting that all of the posters who think the show is not harmful to the kids agreed with one participant (Gretchen Bonaduce) and she didn't even comment on the affect of the show on the kids. .

I agreed with what Lori said. Some of what she (Lori)said was agreeing with what Gretchen said about the relationship and some was her own thoughts.

 

[newtodis]

Interesting article, although I'm not familiar with a lot of the people who were quoted. My question to all of you who have watched their shows is: do most of them have real jobs?

The Kim girl does not - she's said that on the show many times. She has a boyfriend - LoraJ correct me if I'm wrong - who is apparently still married to another woman who makes enough money to pay for his family and hers. I have no clue what Gretchen Bonaduce does....was she on a talk show for a while maybe??

I guess I'll have to disagree. I think it is harmful to the kids. They have (pre scandals, tabloids and divorce) seen their parents fighting, seen Kate berate Jon and others they love, seen Kate freak out over things, endured having their private moments filmed, put up with long photo shoots, had cameras in their little faces for 4 years and been dragged all over the place for 'life experiences'. Not only all that, but they also might have learned that they are entitled to these things and special treamtent because they're on TV.

To me though, that's no different than home movies that people take and post on youtube or acting like that in every day life. My kids have seen my DH and I fight, I've said some not so nice things to DH in front of my kids, I've freaked out over things, have home videos and pictures of "private" things like bath time and stuff like that, made my kids sit through family photo shoots in parks and things instead of letting them run wild (they did get to once we were done), my kids have had cameras in their face since they minute they came out, and I've dragged them many a place to give them what I didn't have growing up. I know I'm not mom of the year, but I don't think I'm an awful mom either. Now I know my experiences don't rival the Gosselins simply because my family's not on tv, but mom freaking out in the store with kids from you class present is just as bad if you're on tv or not IMO - the kids would talk either way.

I also don't know if the kids are learning they get things for being on tv - the kids (the little ones more than the twins) may just think mom and dad plan these trips and the cameras come along. The planning stuff is probably a bit much to grasp with the little ones and who actually paid for/planned the outing.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I always have thought they would have ended up in divorce court even without the show but now I am not so sure. I think without the show, Jon would have remained in the IT field and not home with Kate everyday which I think was a big mistake. Most couples can't take that much time together. Now I am of the mind that the show definitely contributed to the downfall or at least made the inevitable happen much quicker.

You might be right. Some couples can't handle being together 24/7 like J&K were. I've thought that the stress of doing the show greatly contributed to their marital issues. I wonder what might have been had they not done the show and Jon kept his job? Who knows for sure but at least if they did end up divorcing we (and their kids) wouldn't have to read about it everywhere!

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

TMZ has the lawsuit documents if anyone wants to read it.

http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/16/jon-gosselin-kate-jon-and-kate-plus-eight-lawsuit-tlc/

According to the suit, filed by Paul Gaffney of the law firm of Williams & Connolly in DC, the day TLC recast the show as "Kate Plus 8," Jon's lawyer contacted TLC and demanded that they release him from the "exclusivity" provision of the contract, even though Jon was still drawing a full salary. The suit claims Jon's lawyer gave an ultimatum -- either release him from the exclusivity clause within one hour, or Jon would block the filming of the TLC show on grounds it was "detrimental to his children."

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I also don't know if the kids are learning they get things for being on tv - the kids (the little ones more than the twins) may just think mom and dad plan these trips and the cameras come along. The planning stuff is probably a bit much to grasp with the little ones and who actually paid for/planned the outing.

Actually, didn't Kate say they couldn't go to NY now because Daddy stopped the show? They were supposed to go see the Statue Of Liberty I believe. So yes, I think they do understand that they get all these things because of TLC and being on TV. Especially when Kate tells them they can't do something because TLC isn't filming them there. That could make for some very spoiled kids if you ask me.