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

[madge]

How are they critical?

mostly, why did they wait until now to speak out? many of the comments were before the interview was shown, and people are generally applauding the efforts for change in reality TV for all children. And on this particular site, while it's heavy in the Gosselin coverage, it's not the only focus of the blog... and I believe the blog owner to be quite genuine in the concern for all children in similar situations.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yeah, and then Aaden was like "Hi cow, we're from under sea!"

I thought it was kind of sad when Kate was talking about how the kids will come home from school and some of their classmates will tell them they watch their show.

Yeah--that was a bummer.

But it happens to many celebrity kids.

I'm sure even the President's children had to encounter a little bit of that when they started.

I thought Kate's suggested response was a good one and the fact that it stopped suggested it was effective.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

mostly, why did they wait until now to speak out? many of the comments were before the interview was shown, and people are generally applauding the efforts for change in reality TV for all children. And on this particular site, while it's heavy in the Gosselin coverage, it's not the only focus of the blog... and I believe the blog owner to be quite genuine in the concern for all children in similar situations.

I see.

That's my beef with them too.

If something is harming someone that I love to the extent that I think legally something should be done, I'm not going to wait until it stopped. I feel it is a day late and a dollar short and their efforts should have been at protecting their relatives, not strangers. The benefit would be of course to benefit all children. But their prime focus--should have been their nieces and nephews and I just don't feel that it isn't.

I'm wondering if we are speaking of two different blogs, though.

 

[madge]

When I read the People recap, (I thought it was just that, a recap. I didn't think they commented negatively about it - or positively..just a recap).
(http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20315590,00.html)
I didn't bother reading others, because I know they must get more readers if they report negatively, so what's the point? I watched it, so I'll just go by what I thought.

hmmmm.... that wasn't the People blurb I read earlier. Of the articles I read this morning, it was the most straightforward recap. I'll have to see if I can find what I read.

I like recaps and opinions, good and bad. That's why I read them. Why would they get more readers for negative writing? Any and all Gossein publicity generates traffic these days.

 

[talulabelle]

If the show is done filming, why are Jodi & Kevin bothering with the lawyer?

If Kate + 8 starts up, if there are child protection laws in place, they will just be sure to follow them. It won't keep the kids off TV.

Although I would never put my kids on TV and comromise their privacy, I don't think that anyone has an issue with kids appearing on TV at some degree....but those Gosselin kids were being filmed ALOT. How many episodes? How many hours of filming did they say it took to get one episode of a show? Back to back seasons, never a break. This is what the child advocacy lawyer and Jodi and Kevin are fighting about. I don't think anyone would have an issue if it were an hour or few a week, but as Kate always says, is was their LIFE. they had no say in it because they are at the mercy of their parents...THAT is what they are fighting for. Just as there are child labor laws, so that a parent can't force their child to work too many hours to make money for the family, they want laws in place that will keep parents from subjecting kids to being filmed too much so that their paretns can make money off them. Jon and Kate and TLC got around this because they claim being filmed is not "working" so child labor laws did not apply. In California and NY which were previously the only 2 places children would likely be filmed for a show...they have these laws in place. With new technology and satelites etc..these shows can be filmed anywhere now..so PA does not have these laws to protect kids...Jodi ,Kevin and the lawyer are fighting to get the laws mandated federally so that it would apply to the entire country.

They aren't trying to keep all kids off TV at all times, but just keep their entire lives from being TV veiwing entertainment.

 

[daughtersrus]

I'm getting so tired of the "poor me" attitude. Maybe if they hadn't had all of the help from TLC providing nannies, cooks, gardeners, housekeepers...for all of these years, they would be adjusted to caring for their family on their own by now. I know that they say that they are glad that they are healthy but I have to wonder if either of them truly realizes how lucky they are and how difficult it would be if one or more of their children were not. If they can't handle their healthy children being in extra-curricular activities, how would they have dealt with the therapy schedule that a disabled child/ren would have required?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Although I would never put my kids on TV and comromise their privacy, I don't think that anyone has an issue with kids appearing on TV at some degree....but those Gosselin kids were being filmed ALOT. How many episodes? How many hours of filming did they say it took to get one episode of a show? Back to back seasons, never a break. This is what the child advocacy lawyer and Jodi and Kevin are fighting about. I don't think anyone would have an issue if it were an hour or few a week, but as Kate always says, is was their LIFE. they had no say in it because they are at the mercy of their parents...THAT is what they are fighting for. Just as there are child labor laws, so that a parent can't force their child to work too many hours to make money for the family, they want laws in place that will keep parents from subjecting kids to being filmed too much so that their paretns can make money off them. Jon and Kate and TLC got around this because they claim being filmed is not "working" so child labor laws did not apply. In California and NY which were previously the only 2 places children would likely be filmed for a show...they have these laws in place. With new technology and satelites etc..these shows can be filmed anywhere now..so PA does not have these laws to protect kids...Jodi ,Kevin and the lawyer are fighting to get the laws mandated federally so that it would apply to the entire country.

They aren't trying to keep all kids off TV at all times, but just keep their entire lives from being TV veiwing entertainment.

What's interesting is that even with the most restrictive child entertainment (labor) laws--the kids could essentially still have a full time filming job.

I always found that to be interesting in that the very thing that is being fought for, would essentially bless this format of television. It would change the classification of the children and garner them additional protection.

But from a working standpoint, it wouldn't be too much different from what they have now.

I don't feel that just b/c it is the "reality" genre that the parents would be under more restrictive laws than are already in place for child performers.

But I find it extremely odd that the very thing they ARE fighting for wouldn't change much except the guaranteed paycheck (which could still legally be much less per child than it is for Jon and Kate) and perhaps an advocate present.

I do believe we are very much kidding ourselves if we believe the kids would get anything much more than that.

I'm not looking it up right now, but I had looked up a few states in the pass with such laws on the books and the amount of hours that a child could feasibly work was far more than I ever anticipated and consistent with what TLC "claims" is occurring with the children. (IOW, a similar law wouldn't reduce filming all that much.)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

how would they have dealt with the therapy schedule that a disabled child/ren would have required?

They don't have any disabled children.

 

[mikki'smom]

Yuck!!! I just saw the clip of Kevin and Jodi on CBS and this is what I have to say....IMHO

1. I don't disagree with the fact that there needs to be some sort of advocacy for children in reality shows since this seems to be the trend for the future....we probably will have the "Gosselin Law" someday....that being said...

2. Seeing Kevin and Jodi and Gloria Allred in all their "righteousness" sitting there made me want to throw up....Kevin and Jodi couldn't find their fame on their own so they sold themselves out by "knifing Kate in the back". They surely have changed their tune since the time they were on the show. It is quite remarkable at the number of ephiphanies that happen AFTER TLC drops people from the show (but I'll save that for another time). And now...they're all BFFs with Jon again because IMHO he is totally supportive of anything that will infuriate Kate...I knew when we saw their pictures together over the past few days that something was cooking...it had way more to do with planning strategies than rekindling old acquaintances...after all...birds of a feather flock together...

3. And last but not least...the Gloria Allred factor...I'm sorry but everytime I see her I wonder what bandwagon has she jumped on this time...in her own way she gives me the impression that she's there to be seen and heard...I'd like to see her in a debate with Nancy Grace...now that would be something scary for Halloween...

You know....you watch people long enough and you get to see the way they really are....


I still think that Kate is showing "way more integrity" than these others put together....way to go, girl!

 

[talulabelle]

...maybe TLC will do a "Jon's side" in which he will sit blase on the couch and look dazed (more so then he does usually)

By the way, shots of jager last night, watching the episode. Good drinking game but woke up with Kate hair.

Now THAT is worse than a hangover!

 

[kidshop]

Jon hasn't granted permission for filming the kids that we know of. So they will be kept off tv unless Jon changes his mind.


As for Jodi and Kevin--I don't know. But it seems a day late and a dollar short.

I know people don't "care when or the motivations" of what takes place in protecting the children--but it seems that protecting the children you are related to at the time you perceive they aren't being treated well, is more important than protecting future children you aren't related to.

I don't know how else to put it and apologize if that doesn't come across the way I intended.

But if I see something broke, I should want to fix it NOW, not keep my mouth shut while it continues to get broken further.

The show was different when Jodi was on it, perhaps she was just realizing the full impact and then she was eliminated from their lives. They did go public in the spring but their focus was too much on J&K and that was wrong, and not effective in getting the message about reality tv kids out. I think it's too late the help the 8! Any laws now will only protect future kids on tv.

But it still needs to be done, and someone needs to take the cause. Why not them?

 

[daughtersrus]

They don't have any disabled children.

I know that they were lucky that none of their children were born with a disability. My point is that if they can't handle their able-bodied children doing anything besides family activities (paid for and helpers provided by TLC) and school, how would they have managed if God forbid, one or more of their children was born disabled and required therapy/services from professionals as well as by them (Jon and Kate)?

 

[talulabelle]

What's interesting is that even with the most restrictive child entertainment (labor) laws--the kids could essentially still have a full time filming job.

I always found that to be interesting in that the very thing that is being fought for, would essentially bless this format of television. It would change the classification of the children and garner them additional protection.

But from a working standpoint, it wouldn't be too much different from what they have now.

I don't feel that just b/c it is the "reality" genre that the parents would be under more restrictive laws than are already in place for child performers.

But I find it extremely odd that the very thing they ARE fighting for wouldn't change much except the guaranteed paycheck (which could still legally be much less per child than it is for Jon and Kate) and perhaps an advocate present.

I do believe we are very much kidding ourselves if we believe the kids would get anything much more than that.

I'm not looking it up right now, but I had looked up a few states in the pass with such laws on the books and the amount of hours that a child could feasibly work was far more than I ever anticipated and consistent with what TLC "claims" is occurring with the children. (IOW, a similar law wouldn't reduce filming all that much.)

Not exactly full time...children can't film onset as long as adults, that is why they often use twins to play the rold of a child (like the olsen twins on full house) so that between the 2, they have a full time actor, but laws could be written for the reality genre restricting the amount of time filmed at their home...so at least they would have some safe haven from all of the filming. Some measures of privacy.

 

[talulabelle]

Yuck!!! I just saw the clip of Kevin and Jodi on CBS and this is what I have to say....IMHO

1. I don't disagree with the fact that there needs to be some sort of advocacy for children in reality shows since this seems to be the trend for the future....we probably will have the "Gosselin Law" someday....that being said...

2. Seeing Kevin and Jodi and Gloria Allred in all their "righteousness" sitting there made me want to throw up....Kevin and Jodi couldn't find their fame on their own so they sold themselves out by "knifing Kate in the back". They surely have changed their tune since the time they were on the show. It is quite remarkable at the number of ephiphanies that happen AFTER TLC drops people from the show (but I'll save that for another time). And now...they're all BFFs with Jon again because IMHO he is totally supportive of anything that will infuriate Kate...I knew when we saw their pictures together over the past few days that something was cooking...it had way more to do with planning strategies than rekindling old acquaintances...after all...birds of a feather flock together...

3. And last but not least...the Gloria Allred factor...I'm sorry but everytime I see her I wonder what bandwagon has she jumped on this time...in her own way she gives me the impression that she's there to be seen and heard...I'd like to see her in a debate with Nancy Grace...now that would be something scary for Halloween...

You know....you watch people long enough and you get to see the way they really are....


I still think that Kate is showing "way more integrity" than these others put together....way to go, girl!

I don't care WHO it is doing it, thank GOD they are doing it! So that people like Jone AND Kate can't do this to their kids (or in this case so that people like Kate can't do this to her kids and force her weak husband along for the ride)

and as for what I bolded, apparently not ALL of us see how people really are after watching them long enough (Kate).

 

[madge]

Is anyone in California planning on going to see Kate tomorrow? I'd like to hear a firsthand account of how it goes?

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/10/video-kate-signs-books-fans-long-beach

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

She does seem to have a sense of humor. She bought one of the Halloween wigs to keep for her self LOL!

I have always thought that both Jon and Kate have a good sense of humor.

So basically she has full time help during her custody days, and Jon is on his own (which is basically what he said the day before the twins' birthday) -- makes sense, since we only see the nannies when she's there.

There are plenty of pictures of nannies being there with Jon as well. Jon has spoken in interviews about how a nanny is there in the morning and in the evenings on his days. He just has to schedule his own.

I can't remember Kate's answer word by word but I can understand why. She mentioned about how it wouldn't be possible for the kids to do after school sports and I took it to mean that with two adults, one can drive the kid to the activity and the other can stay home with the other kids. She also mentioned something about them coming up with wild projects or still going into the water. I can understand the need for two adults since the kids are older and they can't all be restricted to one play area anymore.

Especially with a pool.
I think the Gosselins would come under fire if they had no help. Then people would say they don't care enough about the children to hire help when it is clearly needed.

I think Jodi does really well on camera - Kevin , well he is more like Jon in an interview (but that is how I would probably be, for goodness sake, the guy isn't a professional...he was thrown into this)...but ya know what, I don't think they are doing this for personal gain. At this point there is nothing in for them other than to show they weren't just talking the talk earlier in the year because they were stiff armed and jilted by Kate, but they are actually going to walk the walk and follow through to make sure that this can't happen to other kids just because their parents see a quick buck to be made. I think it is noble of them. I hope they succeed.

I don't find what Kevin & Jodi have done/are doing as noble at all. It is awfully convenient to be critical of a show you were once a part of until you were told you won't be paid. Not to mention bashing your own family to anyone that will listen. They have no integrity or class, IMO.

It is quite remarkable at the number of ephiphanies that happen AFTER TLC drops people from the show

Seems to be a definite trend.

 

[LoraJ]

Although I would never put my kids on TV and comromise their privacy, I don't think that anyone has an issue with kids appearing on TV at some degree....but those Gosselin kids were being filmed ALOT. How many episodes? How many hours of filming did they say it took to get one episode of a show? Back to back seasons, never a break. This is what the child advocacy lawyer and Jodi and Kevin are fighting about. I don't think anyone would have an issue if it were an hour or few a week, but as Kate always says, is was their LIFE. they had no say in it because they are at the mercy of their parents...THAT is what they are fighting for. Just as there are child labor laws, so that a parent can't force their child to work too many hours to make money for the family, they want laws in place that will keep parents from subjecting kids to being filmed too much so that their paretns can make money off them. Jon and Kate and TLC got around this because they claim being filmed is not "working" so child labor laws did not apply. In California and NY which were previously the only 2 places children would likely be filmed for a show...they have these laws in place. With new technology and satelites etc..these shows can be filmed anywhere now..so PA does not have these laws to protect kids...Jodi ,Kevin and the lawyer are fighting to get the laws mandated federally so that it would apply to the entire country.

They aren't trying to keep all kids off TV at all times, but just keep their entire lives from being TV veiwing entertainment.

I've said it before and I will say it again. I am a video editor. The way this show appears to be shot is not like other reality shows. It is so easy to shoot in a limited amount of time and get the footage you want. Much of the actual work is done by J&K when they do the interviews. That is probably the most time consuming. The producers have to be sure to get the right dialogue to fit with the storyline. The interviews with the kids that they show probably do not take long at all. You could get all that footage done in 15 minutes. While playing the camera men ask them to tease the show, "say, coming up on Jon & Kate plus 8." They play and then perhaps they say "show me what you found there." They have more than one camera to get different angles and shots of the kids playing simultaneously.

Most of the work is done with J&K and the producers planning out what will be done where and how. They probably have the kids re-enact something that they missed.

I used to work at a TV studio in NYC. There was this one sitcom that they did that had a couple of kids on it. The pilot episode had Christina Ricci in it when she was 11. They were on set for the allotted amount of hours, but when not on set, you think they went home? No, they were in the building, playing or working with a tutor. The Gosselin kids have a lot more freedom since they are home and can go to their rooms.

 

[talulabelle]

2 weeks in a row with a Kate-centric episode? TLC is stretching this out for all that they think it's worth, I guess.

uh-huh. Unfortunately true. What is sad is that I think Kate is so ego-centric and narcissistic, that she is entirely blinded by her perceived "celebrity status" that she truly thinks that she is worthy of 2 full hours of nothing but her. She doesn't realize that she is just being used, and her families circumstances are just being exploited for every last drop of milk from a dieing cow by TLC.

During many episodes, I felt that TLC was sort of mocking Kate and her nastiness and would point out VERY DRAMATICALLY just what sort of mother she was....like the spa epidsode where they show a disstraught child screaming for "MOMMY! MOMMY! I WANT MY MOMMY!!!" as the tears are pouring and the kids is breaking down on the pavement in the driveway and then they cut to Kate saying coldly, "I thought I would never get out of that house!" as she sits in the spa being pampered and explaining to us that she needs her spa days because it makes her a better mommy when she returns. I would think to myself, "why can't Kate see she is being played by TLC" I would be furious if I was set up like that with them showing me being indulgent while my kids were suffering for me. But she is just that ego-centric. SHe couldn't see it...she just thought everyone would watch it and think "poor, Kate, she just can't even get out to her spa day, without the kids throwing a fit" she just never thinks she is wrong, never made a bad choice, she is just that ego-centric.

I like how "Z on TV" described the definition of narcism as "no sense of any living thing except as it relates to her". This is so true of her. No sense that the kids needed her and that she should be with the kids, but that SHE needed it to "be a better mommy". One of the definitions of narcism in Websters is "A consuming self-absorption or self-love; a type of egotism. Narcissists constantly assess their appearance, desires, feelings, and abilities." If this isn't our Kate, (especially afte last night's discusting display)I don't know what is.

 

[MAKmom]

I know that they were lucky that none of their children were born with a disability. My point is that if they can't handle their able-bodied children doing anything besides family activities (paid for and helpers provided by TLC) and school, how would they have managed if God forbid, one or more of their children was born disabled and required therapy/services from professionals as well as by them (Jon and Kate)?

They would be housebound like most people born with disabilities or multiple children with disabilities. Therapy comes to you in your home & they are on social security most of the time.

Jon & Kate do not have to handle things alone they can afford help. Most people can afford baby sitters. Maybe if your really poor but if that is the case you get free day care.

 

[barkley]

I know many parents who car pool or otherwise have help so that children can do activities that pertain to their interest instead of what is convenient to the parent.

You are right that it is possible to go it alone, but why should one parent be compelled to do it your way?

I have had times where my kids did the "same" activity--but then on game day, one would be in one location and one in entirely a different location.

I know parents who don't wish to rely on other parents. I am one of those. I guess I could if I had to. But if I could afford to pay for help, it would be my preference.

i never said she had to do it my way-she on the other hand said something akin to it being "impossible" for her children to do these activities absent a second adult. it might be difficult, it might be less than ideal to have to schlep all the kids around-but impossible? i just don't buy it.

(impossible absent a second adult would be a situation akin to ours on wednesdays-it is 'impossible' for dd to do any afterschool activity because her younger brother has in-home occupational therapy that i have to be present for. her father is in school those afternoons/evenings so absent a second adult who can drive her it is impossible).