Jon and Kate Plus 8. Official Thread!!

[troobabiee7]

I've never seen the kids say they didn't want to be filmed either. Maddie's the only one who put her hand over the camera and they stopped filming her after that, and the rest of the times it was the younger kids touching the lenses since they were curious as to what they were.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

I do believe that the truth is somewhere in the midst of the comments made on the countless blogs & message board threads about the Gosselins... not as sunshine & roses as the sheeples like to believe and not nearly as bad as Aunt Jodi's sister's blog claims. I think a lot of what is posted is hooey. LOL. I like to ask questions and raise what I feel are valid concerns about the show. There are things I do like about them, and have posted those things too

That's where I stand, too, on most issues, actually. There are extremes on any subject, and the truth is usually somewhere in between.

And you can believe what you want and that doesn't make your opinion true either.

There's always going to be people that agree and people that disagree - regardless of the topic being discussed. I never understand why people get so uptight when others see things differently.

I don't think she sounded uptight, but it's just human nature to defend our points of view (point of views? ).

I've heard that the cameras are only there a couple of days a month. If the production crew knows something important's going on they'll plan on being there, or they'll set up special days for the family so they can film it. They're there all day on those days but they're not there every day of the week which is why most of the episodes are themed around special days or they're clip shows of random footage thrown together.

Regardless of how anyone feels about Jon and Kate, I think it's insane to go as far as saying the filming is abusive to the children. People throw "abuse" around so easily these days; of course it's extremely important to alert someone if actual abuse is detected or witnessed, but filming the kids at theme parks, doing pottery or all watching a movie is hardly abuse. The kids are all absolutely adorable, loving and caring... you can see how they love to help out Jon and Kate and they all take care of each other. Even the bratty tantrums and comments make them seem normal, at least in my book. Jon and Kate's form of punishment is sitting in the corner until they calm down or apologize - they've never been hit or verbally abused. Was not letting the boys have cupcakes on their birthday extreme? Absolutely. Is having the cameras around annoying? I'm guessing it could be. But none of this is "abuse." With so many kids out there actually being physically and mentally abused and needing help, I just think that's a mighty big word to so casually throw out there regarding cute kids on a TV show whose parents obviously love them, despite their supposed flaws.

I thought about that, too, after reading some of the anti-Jon and Kate blogs recently (I'm new to the whole Jon and Kate scene).

very well said.

we only know what Figure8 films lets us see. the rest is just speculation. 99% of what is posted on the internet is kind of like Ferris Bueller's Day Off - my best friend's sister's boyfriend knows this guy who knows this kid who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night - it's all stuff someone has heard or read.... conclusions based on assumptions. Very little, if any, is first hand knowledge coming from people that actually know or spend time with the Gosselin family. No one knows, really KNOWS, what's going on there.

Though this person may be a troll, it's been well-reported they have college funds set up at a local bank...the gov of PA (I think?) announced it on the kids' first birthday.

Google can be a good thing.

Again, I'm new to the whole Jon and Kate debate (woohoo, more rhyming!) scene, but I looked at their web site, and it seems pretty outdated. Is it possible some of the FAQs just haven't been updated? Do the college funds have college covered or is it just a start-up? DS has a college fund, but it's faaaaaar from "having college paid for."

 

[barkley]

I've never seen the kids say they didn't want to be filmed either. Maddie's the only one who put her hand over the camera and they stopped filming her after that, and the rest of the times it was the younger kids touching the lenses since they were curious as to what they were.

i recall at least one of the sextuplets getting upset in the episode filmed at beth's (last season?-the one where they were doing a photo shoot) when the child had to go to the bathroom and kate kept insisting the child use the potty chair they had set down in the driveway. the child kept refusing to sit down, looking directly into the camera and shaking their head 'no', crying about not wanting the camera to watch, not wanting people to see them go potty outside.

 

[KAMLEM]

The whole potty chair outside thing really bothers me for some reason. Never in a million years would I put a potty chair in my driveway and expect my child to use it, I just think it's odd.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'm not interested in getting into a battle with you over this, but I'd really like you to point out the show in which the kids told the camera man to stay out of the bathroom and go away. We watch the show pretty regularly and don't recall ever seeing the kids do that. The only time I ever saw any of the kids put their hands up to cover the camera was Mady during Christmas breakfast when she was in one of her moods.

Again, this is what I'm talking about. You have a very valid point if you can please point out the show this actually happened in.

I am not in any way trying to argue with you. But yes, when the kids were outside the house on those little potties one of them was trying to do their business and wanted to be left alone but the camera refused. More than once they show a child going into a room (with one of the twins) and they tell the camera man to stay out. I would guess they are using the bathroom. I may be wrong as it has been a while but I think also on Mady's birthday when she came in from school stomping and angry and slammed in her room to be left alone. If you watch you will see many small moments like those. It is one of the (many) reasons I stopped watching. IMO maybe having all of these private moments filmed and on tv is a bit much. I am sure they love the kids and all but is it really in their best interest to have every moment - good and bad- on tv for the world to see (and judge)?

 

[troobabiee7]

i recall at least one of the sextuplets getting upset in the episode filmed at beth's (last season?-the one where they were doing a photo shoot) when the child had to go to the bathroom and kate kept insisting the child use the potty chair they had set down in the driveway. the child kept refusing to sit down, looking directly into the camera and shaking their head 'no', crying about not wanting the camera to watch, not wanting people to see them go potty outside.

That's a whole different issue. It was probably more so that the kids had to go to the bathroom in the driveway than anything. I don't think the kids need to be filmed in the bathroom regardless. The shows supposed to be entertaining and watching kids go to the bathroom just... isn't. I don't even get why they'd film that

 

[Wonders10]

I just wanted to throw in my opinion on the kids displaying behavior showing they do not want to be taped....for most of the instances, the kids have either said or done something that made it clear to the camera guy to leave them alone...and they obliged. Mady putting her hand in front of the camera at Disney for example, they stopped filming her according to what we saw on tv. Not saying there aren't times when they may continue filming even when given these cues. And also not saying that maybe the kids get sick of seeing the camera all the time. But we do have to give the crew the benefit of the doubt that they have stopped filming when one or some of the kids have "asked".

As for Mady stomping around and slamming the doors, I think she just wants to get away from EVERYTHING (not just the camera crew) and something tells me that she displays that behavior even when the camera crew is nowhere around. And while I'm on the subject of Mady, I think her outbursts are more from wanting attention and having some jealousy over her siblings and just handling it in a different way than other kids would. Not necessarily her telling the world that she has been scarred for life for being on a tv show.

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

I'm not pro or anti J&K.... But I think allowing the children to be taped while in the bath, or on the potty is inappropriate. I don't think the camera guys, or the pervs watching at home need to see it. JMO.

 

[sunny12]

I don't know what this name calling even refers to but I suspect it's not nice and you should be ashamed of yourself.

 

[madge]

Again, I'm new to the whole Jon and Kate debate (woohoo, more rhyming!) scene, but I looked at their web site, and it seems pretty outdated. Is it possible some of the FAQs just haven't been updated? Do the college funds have college covered or is it just a start-up? DS has a college fund, but it's faaaaaar from "having college paid for."

it has been widely reported that after the sextuplets were born that the governor of Pennsylvania set up 529 (college education) accounts and where to send donations. I have never seen any reports of how much money is actually in the accounts. There could be a $1 in each one, for all we know. LOL. But ... for Jon & Kate to adamantly deny that such a thing exists is sort of silly, when it's been reported in the news that the opposite is true.

I think it's strange that the website is so old - John's in the computer business, they're on a TV show .. how hard is it to update the official site? surely someone has the time to refresh it.

 

[madge]

I've never seen the kids say they didn't want to be filmed either.

if (and I am saying IF) that happens/happened, I would imagine that would be edited out. IF that happened, and they showed it ... I think that would look bad on Jon & Kate to have a child begging not to be filmed and they did.

I've not watched enough of the show to know whether it has or not. I've questioned over and over what happens if it does, though. Do the adults listen to the children's wishes or is getting the show filmed the higher priority? That's one set of questions I don't think we'll get an answer to unless someone on the inside breaks their silence/contract with the show. And even then, I"m not sure I'd believe it (no matter which side they're on).

 

[Mouse House Mama]

if (and I am saying IF) that happens/happened, I would imagine that would be edited out. IF that happened, and they showed it ... I think that would look bad on Jon & Kate to have a child begging not to be filmed and they did.

I've not watched enough of the show to know whether it has or not. I've questioned over and over what happens if it does, though. Do the adults listen to the children's wishes or is getting the show filmed the higher priority? That's one set of questions I don't think we'll get an answer to unless someone on the inside breaks their silence/contract with the show. And even then, I"m not sure I'd believe it (no matter which side they're on).

This is a good point. I guess I should say that overall I am not a fan of "child stars". Look at Lindsey and Britney as an example of why it maybe isn't a good idea. JMHO of course. Maybe that's why I just wish they would do a once a year special and leave the kids alone. Just a thought.

 

[Camster0307]

if (and I am saying IF) that happens/happened, I would imagine that would be edited out. IF that happened, and they showed it ... I think that would look bad on Jon & Kate to have a child begging not to be filmed and they did.

I agree - and I think it would make the producers of TLC look just as bad also; the media is typically expected not to harass children. I couldn't imagine that they would show the kids begging not to be filmed while they continued to do just that.

Again, I'm still not recalling the scene at Beth's with the potty chair in the driveway. That episode - "Gosselin Family Photo Shoot" - has been on alot lately; I'll have to pay closer attention the next time to see what actually happens.

 

[madge]

Again, I'm still not recalling the scene at Beth's with the potty chair in the driveway. That episode - "Gosselin Family Photo Shoot" - has been on alot lately; I'll have to pay closer attention the next time to see what actually happens.

I remember the episode - all the boys' chairs were lined up in the front of the house and it was cold outside. 2 of the boys went to the bathroom quickly and one lagged behind. I don't specifically remember any of the boys asking the camera guy to go away, though.

edited to add: is it the family shoot episode? I thought it was something where Kate & the girls had gone and done something and Jon had the boys? It was definitely cold weather. again, I'm not up on all the J & K shows. I'm still waiting for the one when Joel is sick, and in the laundry room... so I can see if what I think happened, and what some here tell me happened are the same or different. LOL.

 

[Camster0307]

I remember the episode - all the boys' chairs were lined up in the front of the house and it was cold outside. 2 of the boys went to the bathroom quickly and one lagged behind. I don't specifically remember any of the boys asking the camera guy to go away, though.

edited to add: is it the family shoot episode? I thought it was something where Kate & the girls had gone and done something and Jon had the boys? It was definitely cold weather. again, I'm not up on all the J & K shows. I'm still waiting for the one when Joel is sick, and in the laundry room... so I can see if what I think happened, and what some here tell me happened are the same or different. LOL.

Yes, you're remembering the episode correctly - Jon had the kids and thought it would be easier to put the potty seats out in the driveway (the boys were the only ones not potty-trained yet) I believe it was Colin who lingered out there for awhile; I don't recall any of them complaining about being filmed either. A pp is claiming though, that during the photo shoot episode, Kate made one of the kids sit outside, against their will, in a potty seat - I don't recall that happening.

 

[Camster0307]

I think the episode with Joel being sick and on the laundryroom floor is the show about the twins going to cooking class (it's pathetic I know that! ) It was just on the other day.

 

[MM27]

I remember the episode - all the boys' chairs were lined up in the front of the house and it was cold outside. 2 of the boys went to the bathroom quickly and one lagged behind. I don't specifically remember any of the boys asking the camera guy to go away, though.

edited to add: is it the family shoot episode? I thought it was something where Kate & the girls had gone and done something and Jon had the boys? It was definitely cold weather. again, I'm not up on all the J & K shows. I'm still waiting for the one when Joel is sick, and in the laundry room... so I can see if what I think happened, and what some here tell me happened are the same or different. LOL.

Yeah it wasn't the photo shoot episode. It was when Kate and Beth went shopping at IKEA and Jon and Bob had all the kids for the day. They put the three potties outside and they said it was cold so the kids went fast. Kate even commented in the chair after that it sounded like they were dogs being let out to go. None of the kids said anything about not being filmed.

At this point I hope they stop with the potty shots. As I recall, in the last few episodes they have just sent the kids off and they come back when done and the cameras haven't shot anything.

On a side note, I was watching Oprah the other day when the Roloff's were on. She asked Jacob if they can tell the camera men to turn off the cameras and he said if there is something that we don't want taped then we can tell them, but he said they never feel that they need to. Also Amy said that she has made Molly's room off limits for the cameras because she said a girl needs that space and for boys it doesn't matter.

 

[madge]

I think the episode with Joel being sick and on the laundryroom floor is the show about the twins going to cooking class (it's pathetic I know that! ) It was just on the other day.

thanks! I'll check my DVR and see when it's on again.... because it seems like the show has been on a LOT lately. LOL.

That actually got me to thinking the other day, when DH walked through and said something about those people being on AGAIN ... a lot of the cable shows that gain popularity end up being so successful that the network runs it into the ground. Shows like Trading Spaces, anything Rachael Ray or Paula Deen, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Deal or No Deal, etc. ( just as examples ... ) It seems like many of them end up be victims of their own success. TLC could possibly be headed on that path with JK8.

 

[madge]

On a side note, I was watching Oprah the other day when the Roloff's were on. She asked Jacob if they can tell the camera men to turn off the cameras and he said if there is something that we don't want taped then we can tell them, but he said they never feel that they need to. Also Amy said that she has made Molly's room off limits for the cameras because she said a girl needs that space and for boys it doesn't matter.

I have no idea who those people are. LOL.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Yeah it wasn't the photo shoot episode. It was when Kate and Beth went shopping at IKEA and Jon and Bob had all the kids for the day. They put the three potties outside and they said it was cold so the kids went fast. Kate even commented in the chair after that it sounded like they were dogs being let out to go. None of the kids said anything about not being filmed.

At this point I hope they stop with the potty shots. As I recall, in the last few episodes they have just sent the kids off and they come back when done and the cameras haven't shot anything.

On a side note, I was watching Oprah the other day when the Roloff's were on. She asked Jacob if they can tell the camera men to turn off the cameras and he said if there is something that we don't want taped then we can tell them, but he said they never feel that they need to. Also Amy said that she has made Molly's room off limits for the cameras because she said a girl needs that space and for boys it doesn't matter.

We were in the studio audience for Rachel Ray when they were on her show, and during a break, they took audience questions and they mentioned something to the effect of the crew being very respectful of private issues. They ultimately have the power to tell them when they need private family time. I'd hope the Gosselins have the same option.