Jon and Kate Plus 8, the cable hit about the family with twins and sextuplets, both warms the heart (those kids are pretty adorable, most of the time) and inspires a lot of hostility on the internet, where there are those who accuse parents Jon and Kate Gosselin of misusing their reality-show stardom to act like divas and acquire lots of free stuff from admiring viewers.
I don’t really want to contribute to the Kate-hate, which is often way over-the-top, but last night’s new episode, another one about the family’s move to a bigger house, contained a few scenes between Jon and Kate that got my stomach in a knot. Jon had bought a new shower nozzle (yes, this is the stuff from which Jon and Kate drama is drawn). But he didn’t use a coupon when he went to the store!!!
Sound like nothing? You didn’t see Kate’s reaction. She let him have it with both barrels, figuratively. “I’m gonna shoot him!” she fumed to the camera crew. Then she started talking to her husband as though he was about three years old, condescension mixing with anger. “You’re not buying anything anymore!… This is annoying; beyond annoying!… Where’s the receipt?… What is the rule about receipts?… You’re gonna go back to the store this afternoon!”
On and on it went. Jon was, as usual, stoic, poker-faced. Now, look: Here at EW, we have reviewed Jon and Kate positively. I used to like Kate a lot–I identify with her compulsion to clean, clean, clean the house. I think a lot of her sarcasm can be funny. I like that she’s so tough–most of the time. But last night, she was just too much. I know moving is a very stressful time, but, jeez, Kate, take it easy on your poor hubby: he’s doing the best he can.
Do you watch? Did you see? What do you think?
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She was a little over the top, but all things considered that was her only meltdown, and usually she freaks out more. I think the show is very real and not staged, and that’s why I enjoy it. What the Gosselin’s have said is that they do the show to control the public’s curiousity, so that the cameras are part of normal life and no big deal. Love them! Do not like the Duggers so much, but that’s another story.
I agree completely! I used to love this show, but now it’s hard to watch whenever the two of them sit down. She’s constantly making him resay things and critique his word choices and pronunciations. It used to have a cute ring to it, now it seems just mean. I think it has a lot to do with how much extra stuff she’s doing beyond the show (like in LA for her book, etc.) and not the move. But I don’t think they’re divas looking for freebies. I believe – and could be wrong – most of their money is coming from tv, books, etc. more than giveaways. in fact, I would guess that they accepted more charity before the show when they absolutely needed it and didn’t have fame, etc.
I used to get mad about the way Kate treated Jon when I first started watching the show. But then I saw an episode where they answered viewer’s questions and they brought up the topic of how she talks to him. He is aware of it and so is she. I think if it gets to be too much, he stands up to her, but for him, he seems so laid back sometimes that he just lets her rant and rave, then does his own thing. I want to see anyone else do the job she does with those kids and that household. Sometimes you just get so stressed you gotta get it out and it is usually about the little things.
I like Jon and Kate. I support them and their show is very enjoyable. Look, in the end, they trully act like a married couple with a situation which includes a lot of kids under 8. I just blame it on the move. It’s not like Jon doesn’t have his outburts too. I remembered when he yelled at Kate about the post office being closed.
I watch Jon & Kate Plus 8 in reruns most of the time, but if nothing is on on Mondays, I’ll catch a new episode. I love their relationship because its not all lovey dovey all the time. Its real. They fight about stupid stuff, which real people do. I know when I’ve been stressed, I have gotten immeasurably upset about a tiny detail and clung to it like it was the worst thing that could have ever happened. I can identify with both sides of the argument (arguing vs. just tuning out).
Kate gets a little crazy sometimes (OK a lot crazy!), but I can understand her being like that over a coupon when you have a total of 10 mouths to feed (plus a big new house to fill and decorate). I have a feeling Jon has done this before, so Kate probably wasn’t blowing up over one little coupon, but several saving money incidents over time.
I’ve been dating a guy for over 5 years. I don’t think he knows what a coupon is. I have a feeling that one day I’m going to have a “Kate Meltdown.”
Not a kate hater-
I don’t really like the Duggers either. I mean I’m sure they’re a nice family (they have all these values and blah blah), but they kinda creep me out. I just want one, ONE! kid to rebel! I just saw an episode in which the parents said they don’t celebrate Halloween! That’s just sad.
I hate this show. I hate how mean Kate is and how spineless Jon is. I hate how they say their lives “aren’t perfect” in the opening of the show because it pretty much excuses Kate’s behavior. What is keeping this family together but TLC’s money? TLC compromises every family they choose to document. Look at Little People, Big World. Money, money, money. People moving into new houses, getting free crap. Time to cut the chord. Their stories used to be authentic and interesting, but they sold out long ago.
A lot of people love how ‘real’ they are in their relationship, but that doesn’t make it healthy — or entertaining. I’ve been watching since the beginning and I’ve noticed a definite change in their demeanor. I’m starting to feel bad for those poor (adorable!) kids — and all the kids involved in these TLC reality TV shows about humongous families. For me it comes down to the realization that they’re willing to sell out their kids’ privacy to fund their lifestyle, and I’m not sure I’m okay with that anymore — no matter how cute the kids are, I almost feel guilty for watching. Jon and Kate’s arguments are starting to wear. She always seems so ready to critique and correct him, but never open to adjusting her attitude or way of communicating with her family. But whatever, there’s plenty more on TV if I don’t want to watch her screaming at her husband about a coupon.
I only watch the show for the kids. They are all so adorable.
I heard they make 100K an episode, and he doesnt work anymore. It doesnt depict the real family lifestyle. When the show is over and they both have no job experiance, I hope that giant house forecloses on them. Shes also a real jerk and her twins are brats. Granted I dont have 8 kids that are all young but the parents attitude contribute to their development. Jon, you are a good man to tolerate and I hope you find someone who treats you better.
I’m not a big fan of the show, but cut her some slack. The times I’ve seen the show, I see her working very hard w/ the kids, they are clean, fed, happy (except Maddy, she can be a beeeatch) — just kidding, kind of.
John can be kind of a tool. He’s very non-plussed about it all. And, he needs to man up and help out more!
I used to love that the couple is so real…but now, a couple of years on, they’re definitely snippier. She says snide things, he rolls his eyes and mocks her. It’s not pleasant. I get that they need money to support eight kids…but I find the show tiresome now. I also think she’s a little crazy with the whole germ-phobic thing. There was an episode where someone gave the kids ice cream cones and she freaked out because–gasp!!–their shirts were getting dirty. They’re kids, they’re going to get dirty…or they should. I have four kids…and life is too short to shriek everytime a child gets messy.
I used to not enjoy Kate-but like everyone says to me, if she wasn’t like that, there is no way she’d have any control over the house. I do sometimes feel bad for Jon though. But he knows how to deal with it.
I used to like the show.
But after this newest move – I think Kate has gotten a little full of herself. It was about a family dealing with the growing pains of a house of 8 kids and watching the struggle.
But now that they obviously have a lot of money – good for them – but the novelty of watching them get rich is a little hard to watch in these tough economic times.
Again, good for them – they made it work. But now it’s time to help another struggling family.
I can’t remember the set up for the joke, but The Soup once commented on one of Kate’s rants with news of TLC developing a spin off of Jon & Kate Plus 8 called “Jon Minus 9.”
I’d watch that.
Kate has always struck me as a very angry woman – she does treat her husband like one of the children, as though she is the only one with a brain cell working. I can’t warm up to her, thus no longer watch the show.
Yes, I agree with Tom below.
The same thing is happening on Little People. Used to love the show – but now it’s all about possessions. I think if they can’t take care of what they have (the house is a pigs sty) then they should cut back. Those kids have very little responsibility. Or, if they do, it’s not shown in the show.
I think they should follow a family for a year or two – and then maybe go back in 5 – but do different families. It’s too bad.
And the Duggars – well, as someone said below, they creep me out. I think most of their money came from selling land for a cell tower, so the “TLC” money will just help in the growth of the family. Is she pregnant again yet?
The unmarried, unemployed woman in California with six kids already and a new litter of eight apparently aspired to her own TLC show, much like this one. She’s also soliciting the tabloids and talk show for million plus payments. This show is the Dr. Frankenstein to her monster.
It’s time for reality shows to stop glamourizing what is a potentially emotionally, financially, environmentally and socially crushing thing to do (have a litter of babies).
I hope Jon & Kate are banking some money, because the gravy train will stop when the kids are no longer cute. And making your kids a meal ticket? Bad idea in all cases, but they’ve made their bed.
I think the moments where they fight are real and raw but this show really is great. My wife and I have been watching this since the special aired and they have changed but guess what I have never had the desire to send the family free stuff. Just watch the show and fall in love with how cute the kids are.
These people are exploiting their children!! These kids are growing up in a world thinking that cameras are supposed to be on you 24/7 and that you can fly to Hawaii whenever you want and move into a bigger, better house and not have to worry about the reality of life. Great environment to raise children. Anyone, and my wife is included in this b/c she watches this b/s, is contributing to the mess that John and Kate are making for their children. It’s disgusting, the show should be pulled and the parents should be investigated.
I used to watch the show religiously because I loved watching the kids. They are so funny, and watching their little personalities develop was enjoyable. But I stopped when I started to feel like I was contributing to something very unnatural and likely harmful to those kids. I can’t help but wonder what those boys and girls are going to be like as they age and they are all used to being “stars.” Not sure that’s good preparation for life. But I can’t complain about that AND watch the show. If the show had no viewers, TLC would cancel it and the family would have to live a life without cameras.
Let’s not forget this is still “entertainment”, and that hundreds of hours of footage are edited down to half-hour shows! Kate’s a little crazy, sure, but none of these so-called “reality” shows end up being an honest representation of the subject…
Not a Kate Hater. I enjoy the show and would probably have the same outburst with so many children running around. Think about how stressed you are when there’s only one or two kids to keep an eye on. Yes she can be condisending but that might be her outlet and while it’s not healthy it’s real. People are not perfect and you shouldn’t expect this family to be perfect.Also, I don’t think anyone’s taking into account that they could buy that house and surrounding land for probably what it would cost to buy a condo in DC/LA/NYC etc.
I’m bummed. I love this show and I agree it is totally going down the Little People Big World route. A show about a struggling family is interesting. A show about buying a one million dollar house isn’t. I’m glad the show has provided financial security for them, but it would be nicer if they had not upgraded to Hilton status and kept it a little more practical. Strange that the house alone has turned me off to the show so much. Especially when Kate is looking out the kitchen window and says, “Mine, all mine.” Yuck.
I use to be a fan, but then I saw a show where Kate was shopping with the kids. She had beautifully coiffed hair, professional makeup, a stylish outfit and pointy toed kitten shoes. Who shops with kids like this? The show has jumped the shark.
You didn’t watch the previous week? When she screamed at Jon to come in and wipe children’s buts. She is insane. She always talks to him like that.
I like the show. Kate did go slightly postal about the coupon, but I agreed with her when she said you “might as well flush $20 down the toilet.” We say something similar in my house – “why not set the money on fire and save time?” Don’t have a problem with the show at all.
I watched this show a couple of times then had to stop. When one kid stops screaming another two start–kate has got to be medicated also, could she be anymore emasculating?
I don’t watch the show because Kate irks me. I used to like it, but watching her treat her husband like a child episode after episode (while he treats her with nothing but respect) gets old. I know it’s TV and it might be edited to look that way, but egh, I can’t handle it.