Jon and Kate Plus 8. Official Thread!!

[EveDallas]

Oh, I absolutely agree. I think the ice cream thing was definitely more cringe-worthy.

I think the whole thing with Jodi, much like many of the other events that come under fire, was set up. Jodi wasn't just a free babysitter, she is their aunt. Family. The families appeared to spend a LOT of time together ... they seem (on the show, at the time) to be very close. Should Jodi have put of the kids with a simple, "let's ask your mom when she gets back about the gum"? Maybe. Probably. I just thought the way she led them into the whole thing ... "are you suuuure your mom lets you have gum?" And then she went along with it? I don't know. Was the gumball machine new at their house? Why, after all the times they've been there were the children asking about it in that particular episode?

Deep thoughts for 8:17am.

That bugged me too. Like she KNEW Kate didn't allow gum (or at least was pretty sure it wasn't allowed) and gave it to them anyway.

 

[MichelleVW]

Sure, but let's face it, would we act that way in the presence of a video camera?

maybe or maybe not, but if you had a camera on you all the time, I would think you tend to get complacent about it being there.

I agree with you here. I'm sorry, I would have been pretty ticked off too if my sister or SIL gave my young children gum without checking with me. It was a dimwit move on Jodi's part; and just because she babysits for free doesn't mean she gets a free pass to do things without thinking.

I do think the worst part was the whole Colin/teddy bear thing; but as it has already been noted by PPs - as moms, I think we've all had those moments where we've been somewhat "heartless" in the heat of the moment! In the end, Colin did keep his bear.

I still say the whole Disney/ice cream incident makes me cringe more. But that's just me.

My kids weren't allowed to have gum until they were at least 5 or 6 and I would have been mad too! Seriously, 3 year olds and GUM, it's not something they need at all and just leads to problems.

I can't watch the Disney Ice cream episode because of the flip out, but I really do think it was a set up to have her flip out. Who brings out ice cream in the HOT Florida sun when they kids were suposed to be seeing the Princesses, it just doesn't make sense.

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

I agree that you would become complacent about the cameras. You would be very aware of them at first but over time you would become more and more comfortable.

I have 2 children that mean the world to me and they say I am the best mom in the world....in spite of bad moments. I am sure Kate's children feel the same way.

 

[barkley]

whoops! sorry! I've already been up for 2 hours at 8:15am ... it's a little easier for me to have those deep thoughts.



well, it definitely bugs me. The premise of the show is following the Gosselins through their crazy life. Knowing that it's sometimes staged ... come on... I understand the need to re-shoot something from time to time, but staging things is a whole different story, IMO.

A previous poster has mentioned that the days at home shows getting boring, and that's where the need for the field trips comes in. Maybe it's time to start thinking about the yearly updates again.

i'de like to see the show just do yearly updates as well-if for no other reason it's enjoyable with these types of families to not see the kids for a period of time just so you can see how much they've changed (kind of like getting yearly school photos of far away young family members and friends-you can marvel at how much they've grown and changed).

curious-does anyone else wonder if the issues with the u.s. economy is going to call into producers minds the continuing of this show (at least in it's current 'style')?

i wonder about this. when the show started there was so much talk about how hard it is to raise a family of that size from a financial standpoint but as it's evolved even though j&k still talk that talk-they certainly don't walk it anymore. historicaly, in bad financial times people have found escapest entertainment very entertaining-look to the movies and radio shows that were popular during the depression. i look at j&k+8 and the show has obviously changed to be more entertaining for the audience (the trips, the activities the kids go to) but it's still representing itself as a reality show-and the reality is, in current (and forseeable) economic times most of what i consider to be their focus audience is made up of people who are/will be realy looking to just maintain and provide for their families basic needs-certainly not looking at excessivly expensive homes just because they want more space (or hate their kitchens), not doing big trips (look to the travel industry and see how it's already been impacted)-and certainly not doing them frequently, and not able to even consider having their smaller numbers of children going to high cost venues/activities let alone week after week (let alone parents doing spa trips, golfing and the like).


escapist entertainment is just that-you escape from reality, total fiction. reality television is supposed to be reality, idealy without embellishments and misrepresentations. the gosselin's show for me is some kind of skewed mixture-and i have to wonder how appealing it will be to people if they continue on this style of production.

 

[sha_lyn]

i wonder about this. when the show started there was so much talk about how hard it is to raise a family of that size from a financial standpoint but as it's evolved even though j&k still talk that talk-they certainly don't walk it anymore. historicaly, in bad financial times people have found escapest entertainment very entertaining-look to the movies and radio shows that were popular during the depression. i look at j&k+8 and the show has obviously changed to be more entertaining for the audience (the trips, the activities the kids go to) but it's still representing itself as a reality show-and the reality is, in current (and forseeable) economic times most of what i consider to be their focus audience is made up of people who are/will be realy looking to just maintain and provide for their families basic needs-certainly not looking at excessivly expensive homes just because they want more space (or hate their kitchens), not doing big trips (look to the travel industry and see how it's already been impacted)-and certainly not doing them frequently, and not able to even consider having their smaller numbers of children going to high cost venues/activities let alone week after week (let alone parents doing spa trips, golfing and the like).

No they don't "talk that talk" anymore.
In fact in the last season they have pretty much said just the opposite. That the show has made it possible for them to offer a lot of things/experiences etc to their kids that wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

 

[whitneyNC]

Oh, I absolutely agree. I think the ice cream thing was definitely more cringe-worthy. I think the whole thing with Jodi, much like many of the other events that come under fire, was set up. Jodi wasn't just a free babysitter, she is their aunt. Family. The families appeared to spend a LOT of time together ... they seem (on the show, at the time) to be very close. Should Jodi have put of the kids with a simple, "let's ask your mom when she gets back about the gum"? Maybe. Probably. I just thought the way she led them into the whole thing ... "are you suuuure your mom lets you have gum?" And then she went along with it? I don't know. Was the gumball machine new at their house? Why, after all the times they've been there were the children asking about it in that particular episode?
Deep thoughts for 8:17am.

The kids were asking beacaue they are allowed to chew gum. We've seen it on the airplane (obviously to help w/ ear pressure) and the very next episode after gumgate, the camera man zoomed in on one of the little girls chewing gum at home. The kids weren't fibbing. The reason Jodi was hesitant is that she knows Kate so well, and knows how different rules apply to different people. We see Kate do this even with Jon having different rules when caring for the kids than she does, different rules at the rent house, etc. Jodi could have said, "let's ask your Dad when he comes to get you," but honestly it's just a gumball and they were well into "3", not 18 months. If it was a rule that the family adheres to, Jodi should have also, but I don't think it was.

I think the kids are so crazy about sweets because Kate uses them as rewards/punishment. She also seems to talk them into a frenzy over the candy at the parade, cake on the 4th of July, cupcakes at the bakery, hershey's kisses at chocolate world, etc. If it's not an emphasis it doesn't seem so enticing.

 

[sha_lyn]

Kate has said they are only allowed gum on airplanes.
As for the camera zooming in one of the girls in another episode at home...how do you know what she was chewing?

 

[whitneyNC]

Because there was a big, slobbery, pink, wad of gum visible between that gorgeous smile! Little kids don't hide their gum very well. I don't think the gum episode is all that people have made it to be. Kate looked like a nut with the lovey and the sock, and the ranting, and she should have talked to Jodi in private. I don't think she's awful or evil. I look like a nut some days too.

 

[madge]

i'de like to see the show just do yearly updates as well-if for no other reason it's enjoyable with these types of families to not see the kids for a period of time just so you can see how much they've changed (kind of like getting yearly school photos of far away young family members and friends-you can marvel at how much they've grown and changed).

I absolutely agree. I like that the Duggars, Dilleys, and McCaugheys have sporadic updates (via TV or print media) instead of weekly shows. I think that the Duggars are making a mistake going to a weekly show.

curious-does anyone else wonder if the issues with the u.s. economy is going to call into producers minds the continuing of this show (at least in it's current 'style')?

i wonder about this. when the show started there was so much talk about how hard it is to raise a family of that size from a financial standpoint but as it's evolved even though j&k still talk that talk-they certainly don't walk it anymore. historicaly, in bad financial times people have found escapest entertainment very entertaining-look to the movies and radio shows that were popular during the depression. i look at j&k+8 and the show has obviously changed to be more entertaining for the audience (the trips, the activities the kids go to) but it's still representing itself as a reality show-and the reality is, in current (and forseeable) economic times most of what i consider to be their focus audience is made up of people who are/will be realy looking to just maintain and provide for their families basic needs-certainly not looking at excessivly expensive homes just because they want more space (or hate their kitchens), not doing big trips (look to the travel industry and see how it's already been impacted)-and certainly not doing them frequently, and not able to even consider having their smaller numbers of children going to high cost venues/activities let alone week after week (let alone parents doing spa trips, golfing and the like).


escapist entertainment is just that-you escape from reality, total fiction. reality television is supposed to be reality, idealy without embellishments and misrepresentations. the gosselin's show for me is some kind of skewed mixture-and i have to wonder how appealing it will be to people if they continue on this style of production.

I've wondered about the future of JK8 more than once. The controversy surrounding it is unlike anything I've ever seen. While the GWoP girls certainly make the rounds on many blogs/message boards other than their own ... there are plenty of sites that they don't frequent, and the comments are just as nasty. As we've seen here, people have very strong opinions about this show. Letters are being written to sponsors and to TLC. Is that enough to get them to scale back on the Gosselin overload? Factoring in the economy makes it interesting, I hadn't thought about that. Comments have been made here over the last several months about the focus of the show - whether or not it's a true reality show, depicting the day to day life of the Gosselins or if it's just a way for the Gosselins to take free trips & businesses to get free advertisement. Regardless of the state of the economy, I think they need to figure out their focus... and stick with it. If it's entertainment over reality, then I wouldn't expect them to change the tone of the show (due to the economy) any more than I would the producers of The Office or ER. KWIM?

 

[madge]

Kate has said they are only allowed gum on airplanes.

Kate says things and then does the opposite, sometimes.

not just Kate ... but she's the one who chose to have her life shown on TV for people to scrutinize.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

I've wondered about the future of JK8 more than once. The controversy surrounding it is unlike anything I've ever seen. While the GWoP girls certainly make the rounds on many blogs/message boards other than their own ... there are plenty of sites that they don't frequent, and the comments are just as nasty. As we've seen here, people have very strong opinions about this show. Letters are being written to sponsors and to TLC. Is that enough to get them to scale back on the Gosselin overload? Factoring in the economy makes it interesting, I hadn't thought about that. Comments have been made here over the last several months about the focus of the show - whether or not it's a true reality show, depicting the day to day life of the Gosselins or if it's just a way for the Gosselins to take free trips & businesses to get free advertisement. Regardless of the state of the economy, I think they need to figure out their focus... and stick with it. If it's entertainment over reality, then I wouldn't expect them to change the tone of the show (due to the economy) any more than I would the producers of The Office or ER. KWIM?

Are you kidding?? That's just what they want! The producers aren't worried about the economy and powerless letter-writing "advocates." They're thrilled the show is causing so much talk.

No business like show business!

 

[madge]

Are you kidding?? That's just what they want! The producers aren't worried about the economy and powerless letter-writing "advocates." They're thrilled the show is causing so much talk.

No business like show business!

well, that certainly is true .... No press is bad press. Journalism 101.

 

[emer95]

When I was watching last week's rerun, I was reminded of something. On some blog somewhere, it said that Kate actively pursued a television company to air their story. I take everything form the haters with a grain of salt, so I didn't really believe that. But then, the homemade videotape Kate made when she was alone with the babies was interesting. Remember when she put the camera to her face and said, "No I do not look glamorous...etc." That always struck me as a little odd, because when I make tapes of my kids, I just tape my kids. Anyway, at the very end of last week's episode, Kate is turning the camera off and saying, "Hope you enjoyed our tape!" which is not something someone would say if it was just something for their own family.

Not that it's good or bad, just an observation. I'm surprised with all of those kids and that much to do, it would even occur to her to want to have her family on television. Plus they make it sound like they were "approached." Maybe they were and they made a tape of "a day in the life."

I'm thinking about this much too much. Good thing The Office and Grey's Anatomy starts tonight!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

When I was watching last week's rerun, I was reminded of something. On some blog somewhere, it said that Kate actively pursued a television company to air their story. I take everything form the haters with a grain of salt, so I didn't really believe that. But then, the homemade videotape Kate made when she was alone with the babies was interesting. Remember when she put the camera to her face and said, "No I do not look glamorous...etc." That always struck me as a little odd, because when I make tapes of my kids, I just tape my kids. Anyway, at the very end of last week's episode, Kate is turning the camera off and saying, "Hope you enjoyed our tape!" which is not something someone would say if it was just something for their own family.

Not that it's good or bad, just an observation. I'm surprised with all of those kids and that much to do, it would even occur to her to want to have her family on television. Plus they make it sound like they were "approached." Maybe they were and they made a tape of "a day in the life."

I'm thinking about this much too much. Good thing The Office and Grey's Anatomy starts tonight!

I know what you're talking about. I thought that was footage from their first specials. Was it not?

 

[Yzerbear19]

When I was watching last week's rerun, I was reminded of something. On some blog somewhere, it said that Kate actively pursued a television company to air their story. I take everything form the haters with a grain of salt, so I didn't really believe that. But then, the homemade videotape Kate made when she was alone with the babies was interesting. Remember when she put the camera to her face and said, "No I do not look glamorous...etc." That always struck me as a little odd, because when I make tapes of my kids, I just tape my kids. Anyway, at the very end of last week's episode, Kate is turning the camera off and saying, "Hope you enjoyed our tape!" which is not something someone would say if it was just something for their own family.

Just a thought, but maybe she was making that tape to send to family or friends.

 

[emer95]

Yep, you could both be right.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Yep, you could both be right.

I'm late to JK8 (isn't that great, mate?), and I've only seen one of the specials (the tummy tuck), so don't quote me. I was just thinking/typing out loud.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

maybe or maybe not, but if you had a camera on you all the time, I would think you tend to get complacent about it being there.




My kids weren't allowed to have gum until they were at least 5 or 6 and I would have been mad too! Seriously, 3 year olds and GUM, it's not something they need at all and just leads to problems.

I can't watch the Disney Ice cream episode because of the flip out, but I really do think it was a set up to have her flip out. Who brings out ice cream in the HOT Florida sun when they kids were suposed to be seeing the Princesses, it just doesn't make sense.

Kate herself said she thought it was a great idea. She said something about their sugars being low and the kids were hot so something cool and sugary like vanilla ice cream sounded perfect. If you are going to lay some blame, it falls right on Mommy Dearest herself.

And Aunt Julie knew Jon and Kate had given the kids gum in the past, which is why she let them have some. It wasn't Julies' fault that Jon and Kate are inconsistent. A little gum on a teddy bear or sock is not a big deal. She could have handled it very differently and still got her "no gum" point across.

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

Wow, another thread for me!
I love Jon and Kate Plus 8. I started watching it in May and I've been hooked all summer! I know a lot of people say mean stuff about Kate, but really I think she's a great mom and I know she's not the only one that has melt downs around the kids, even my sister does that many times. Just because the camera is there doesn't mean she will act like someone she isn't, I think she even adressed that once.
Anyway, yeah. I love this show!

 

[Camster0307]

And Aunt Julie knew Jon and Kate had given the kids gum in the past, which is why she let them have some. It wasn't Julies' fault that Jon and Kate are inconsistent. A little gum on a teddy bear or sock is not a big deal. She could have handled it very differently and still got her "no gum" point across.

Well, if Aunt Jodi KNEW the kids had gum before, why does the episode clearly show her asking the kids, "Are you sure your mom lets you have gum?" I'm sorry - the way it was presented in the show was that Aunt Jodi asked the kids if it was ok, instead of knowing anything for sure. Still think it was a dumb move on her part - the kids were 3 years old! I'm not defending the way Kate acted in the aftermath; but , IMO, Jodi is definitely not blameless here!