On one hand…yeeesh. The pain and anguish inherent in most divorces are something I'd have a hard time wishing on even the most loathsome of all reality show personalities, let alone on actual human beings. On the other hand, is there something here that documentary television — or crafted drama of any kind — might and ought to strive to capture? Awful things happen, and they happen a lot, and watching people process those awful things isn't inherently depraved or unjust. There's a level on which it could be comforting, illuminating, humane, and…entertaining. Is that so wrong?
One of the things I like about the first few seasons of Jon and Kate Plus 8 is their sense of normalcy — grocery shopping, putting on shoes, eating dinner, etc. Things "normal" families do. Recently, those problems have been pushed off the series in favor of more telegenic, fame-specific endeavors, and in a twisted way, Jon and Kate's divorce re-grounds the show. A lot of American couples divorce, and plenty of well-adjusted, thoughtful, healthy kids have divorced parents. Might a series about a family dealing with divorce serve a certain kind of purpose on that front? I think it might, though I'm skeptical that J&K+8 has the depth to do so.
Okay, PopWatchers, it's your turn to weigh in. Would you rather the show call it quits, or do you think there's value to capturing and exploring the process of divorce — and can this show live up to that challenge? Do you want Jon and Kate Plus Eight to continue in light of the parents' divorce?
More on 'Jon & Kate' divorce:
Ken Tucker's Watching TV blog: 'Jon & Kate' minus a marriage: They'll divorce, and 'I will survive and they will survive'
Hollywood Insider: 'Jon & Kate' divorce: Lawyers weigh in on custody
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Cancel that b.s.
If Jon and Kate are really “all about the kids”, they’ll stop the show and get them into therapy. They’ve made enough money. They should now take a step back and focus on their family.
It is always the children that suffer when a couple divorce. I am quite certain that the show itself was a primary cause of this. As with most people, when fame and money are thrown into a situation, their priorities change dramatically. Sad to see, divorces are so common when things get inconvenient. We live in a spiritually sick society.
Time to move on. Do an update show once a year. Divorce is painful and hard on everyone…and parts of it can really be nasty. Kids need time to cope.Probably therapy, too. Everyone needs privacy. Money shouldn’t drive the franchise, now. It was a show about a couple and their family. It would become all about a divorce and all the nastiness and pain therein. A judge should order the filming to stop for the good of the children.
Shouldn’t they have announced the END of the show – immediately after announcing their separation!? What kind of sick crap is this? Turning the breakup of your family into entertainment? These people should be shot.
Kate is hardly kind or charitable on a good day, now with divorce looming the claws are surely going to come out. Nor does she exercise discretion in what she says or how she treats other people in front of the kids. I think this is going to be very far “comforting, illuminating, humane…”
Time to end it now. Why let Kate make more money to spend… she should be taking care of those kids she wanted
Time to move on and end this show. Why give Kate more money to spend when her main job is 8 kids which she wanted.
I don’t get all the Kate-hate. She just seems like a normal woman trying to raise a family. Same with Jon. I think the jackals (yes I mean you too popwatch) should fold their tents and we should all maybe pick up a book and learn something for a change rather than getting involved in the lives of people we don’t know.
The show is about a married couple and 8 kids. It’s over just like their marriage. 17 years and still going. This show is Farce now and anymore shows is about the money.
really people, this is news? WHO CARES?
They should mediate the divorce and keep the show in tact so they can negotiate the conditions and learn to communicate.
GET RID OF THESE FREE LOADERS,TLC MUST HAVE OTHER SHOWS THEY CAN PUT ON WE REFUSE TO EVEN WATCH THIS SOAP OPERA ANYMORE IT IS BOTHING MORE THAN A HOOKER BREAKING UP A FAMILY BYE KATE HAVE A CRAPY LIFE
Kate especially goes on and on about how they will stay in the house. . for the kids (of course) but she and John will leave when the other is there to. . . film. WTF attitude is THAT?? There was no talk of seeking help for their marriage, they never mentioned talking to therapists, especially a child therapist who could help the kids through this. There was no counseling, or talking to their pastor (do they still go to church?). It is now all about Jon and Kate and how much dough they can make off their kids without having to get real jobs. Close it down!
I think that the show should end and they should definately focus on reconnecting in their marriage.
The parents need counseling. For better or for worse…they need to reconcile and be AN EXAMPLE to their kids and to all the kids watching. Jon and Kate are you reading this?
Kate is very biting and needs a spirit of gentleness and kindness.Jon needs step up and be a man and admit his mistakes, ask for forgiveness and be the leader he is called to be in his family.
These kids are going to grow up to be spoiled whiney adults just like their parents. I work with enough of them, lets stop it while they are still children.
Love and respect.
The show was MUCH better in the beginning when life focused on the children and a normal life. Now it seems its an advertising scheme, bikes, spas, play houses and vacations. Its not about reading stories, playing in the garage, cuddling on the couch and movie nights. This is not real life at all. I prefer the other reality show where families remain grounded. Little people, 18 kids and counting and 12 around the table.
i’m sure kate is going to want the camaras there when they sit the kids down and tell them officially that they’re getting divorced. i hope the show is canceled before that though.
They need to not reward Kate with $75,000 an episode. She is going to ruin the lives of those children. In about 20 years, those kids are going to have their own reality show called “8 of us in Rehab”. lol
The whole show is a sham. Its all over now that the so called BIG news came out last night. The show wont last another year. They jumped the shark once all the cash started rolling in.
Kate is just a nasty person and the constant saying of everything we do is for the kids is a load of crap. By the way I just loved her on the sofa last night showing off her new boobs. Nice touch Kate.
really people you need to get a life
I really do not see any loving kindness toward any member of that family toward another. The kids are actually kind of snippy, and why shouldn’t they be…their parents are loathesome! Kate is a want to be martyr who in actuality is a witch, and Jon is just a coward and an ass!
Cencel the show – enough is enough. They would probably still be togehter if not for the media frenzy. They should be in counseling – not jumping into divorce. Those poor children. Check in 5 years from now and see what kind of teens they are!
Dump the show. Don’t divorce. I am one of eight kids. There were plenty of tough times, fights and drama. My folks stayed together and everyone is better off because they did. J&K stop being so selfish, act act like it is “all about the kids” don’t just say it.
End the show now. Remember, one day the kids will have access to these DVDs of the train wreck of this marriage. If TLC really cared about this family, they would end the show and let the family have some kind of privacy as they go through this terrible situation. I have not watched it this season because of the subject matter. Please TLC, cancel, this is NOT good TV, it’s exploitation.
It’s funny (and sad) how most place everything (negative) on Kate, as though Jon is somehow magically not as bad (or worse). Shows how pathetic the human race is, that ultimately we can do nothing else but to scapegoat out of scenarios the easiest way possible in order to make ourselves feel better about our own blame (so that we aren’t faced with ourselves in the mirror). If anything, this silly show has brought that out into the cold light of day (that and the rampant sexism found within our society of course).
TLC doesn’t care about them. They are in business to make money. Jon and Kate don’t care either. This is their business to exploit their lives for cash.
TLC should buy them out, stop filming and Jon & Kate should find other jobs that don’t involve hiring their children out to TV cameras. Too bad Kate can’t take some responsibility for what happened. To TLC – people don’t like Kate anymore. This is nothing but a sleazy exhibition of 8 innocent little kids, stop it now.
kate is west PA trailer trash, and she has shown her true self over and over. the marriage is ending but the show must go on, give me a break. she isn’t about the kids anymore, she is about the money! she is a major money hungry control freak who has driven her poor husband out of the house and away from his family. i hope he gets some help, because i suspect he is a very angry man, and rightly so. yeah he made bad choices, but after being kicked in the nuts over and over on national TV, you would find a way to strike back as well.
Jon decides to “man up” by getting both of his ears pierced and placing pretty little diamonds in them, ahhh, you go get ‘em tiger!