'Kate Plus 8' to Premiere on TLC in November

Kate Gosselin will have her TLC show mostly to herself starting in November, according to The New York Daily News. Jon & Kate Plus 8, soon to be downsized to Kate Plus 8, will pivot the focus of the show to follow Kate's struggles as a single mother of twins and sextuplets. Jon Gosselin, no longer having his name on the marquee, will still be seen in some episodes, but to a lesser extent than previous episodes.

Does the name change from Jon & Kate Plus 8 to just Kate Plus 8 signal TLC's unhappiness with Jon? It is no secret that he wanted out of the TLC contract to pursue other interests, including a reality TV show about divorced dads. The Hollywood Gossip reported a month ago that TLC asserted that Jon Gosselin violated his moral's clause with his behavior; one can only assume that they mean his alleged extramarital affairs with a nanny and the daughter of the plastic surgeon who re-sculpted Kate's overstretched stomach back into beach bikini shape a few seasons ago. Cutting down an uncooperative cast member's screen time, effectively demoting him from a star of the show to guest star status may have been the best that Jon Gosselin could hope for due to his binding contract with TLC.

Will Kate Plus 8 really give viewers what they want to see as TLC asserts?

TLC's statement regarding the name change from Jon & Kate Plus 8 to Kate Plus 8 indicated that the show was renamed because of the change in the Gosselin's family dynamics. The New York Daily News' article on the redaction of Jon from the show's title quoted TLC's president as saying, "Given the recent changes in the family dynamics, it only makes sense for us to refresh and recalibrate the program to keep pace with the family." The statement further elaborated that, "The family has evolved and we are attempting to evolve with it; we feel that Kate's journey really resonates with our viewers."

Will America tune in to Kate Plus 8? Perhaps not.

The ratings have fallen off for the show since the divorce was announced, though millions tuned in for the episode where the couple's plan to divorce was confirmed. Given that a previous mother of fourteen was given the cold shoulder by many for her choice to raise her new octuplets on her own as a single mother, will America embrace the new show focusing on Kate Gosselin and her struggles with raising her 8 children?

Perhaps the name change to Kate Plus 8 is a desperate attempt to prop up a now failing show. While we may be drawn to the tabloids and magazines to read about the couple's latest antics, we just aren't willing to tune in. Changing the name of the TV show doesn't make the train wreck of the Gosselin's life any more palatable to watch.

Sources:
http://www.theinsider.com/news/2759387_Jon_Gosselin_Says_He_Wants_To_Quit_Reality_Show
http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/08/tlc-says-jon-gosselin-violated-morals-clause-loser-wants-own-reality-show/
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/09/29/2009-09-29_so_long_jon_gosselin_tlc_announces_jon__kate_plus_8_will_be_relaunched_as_kate_p.html