Why Won't Anyone Pull the Plug on Jon & Kate Plus 8?

Alicia White
Alicia White, Yahoo! Contributor Network
May 26, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
A year and a half ago when I wrote my first Jon & Kate Plus 8 piece called, "Should Jon & Kate Plus 8 Be Taken Off the Air?" it was met with Jon and Kate fans who were appalled that anyone would have a problem with this series. I wrote it about the time the show stopped being about the sextuplets and twins, and started looking more like Kate & Kate Plus Kate. Fans who accused me of not being a parent and those who assumed I, myself, lead an oh-so-perfect life, were either blind, deaf, or just plain ignorant. Isn't it funny how my predictions were dead on? Maybe not funny in a traditional sense, but perhaps in the irony.

So, now that Jon and Kate Gosselin have made it perfectly clear in their own words, on-air, that:

1. This show has been all about the money for quite some time, and
2. Jon and Kate can hardly stand each other anymore, and
3. Jon is only on location for filming,

Can we finally agree that it's time to take Jon & Kate Plus 8 off the air? Pretty please?

It's odd how the die-hards didn't see this coming. People praised Kate for belittling Jon. Others were proud to yell at their husbands in a similar manner. People called her selfishness unavoidable and necessary. People ignored the fact that these kids were being pushed aside and overworked despite the Pennsylvania state child actor laws that make it very clear that these children were being filmed too often.

Aunt Jodi recently came out on video, with Jon and Kate's prior knowledge, saying that Jon and Kate now have an open marriage, at Kate's behest. Jon is allowed to date anyone he wants as long as he shows up on time for filming. Jon told Jodi the kids are too young to realize he is gone more often. That must have been his penis talking, because my 5-year-old damn sure would have known something was amiss.

I already know my argument is futile, because diehard fans will remain clueless to the fact that something is still very wrong with this picture, more so now than ever. Since TLC ran the series 5 premiere of Jon & Kate Plus 8 last night, it's clear that they too agree that money trumps child welfare. I mean, maybe when the children get married, Jon and Kate will give them each a golden DVD set of season 5 so they can see how much mommy and daddy hated each other, and couldn't wait to play out their train wreck to the world.

What will it take for someone to step in and say, "Enough is enough!"

Published by Alicia White

Alicia is a former air traffic controller who lived in Japan for several years. She's currently a freelance writer in California, and a full-time student majoring in digital media/graphic design.  View profile

11 Comments

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  • Bailey R.7/23/2009

    Doesn't TLC mean The Learning Channel? If so I guess everyone is learning how to cheat on a spouse and use children for one's own greed.Jon and Kate need therapy and so do their kids. Please Pull the Plug on this show and put it out of it's misery

  • lisi7/20/2009

    Take Jon & Kate plus 8 OFF the air

  • Angie Muresan6/24/2009

    Shame on them for exploiting their children like that! Once again, I am glad I don't have a TV in my house. Great article and I completely agree.

  • Betty6/1/2009

    This show should be taken off the air immediately. I used to watch every episode, but it started to creep me out awhile ago, and after this latest episode I will never watch it again. These people are hurting their children with each airing. They need therapy asap, and to learn that 'putting your children first' has nothing to do with raking in piles of money. It was heartbreaking to hear Kate happy talking about how the twins are stepping into the role vacated by the father who effectively deserted them. She had no clue that putting little kids into an adult role is damaging to them. Kate took little responsibility for having driven Jon away, and she and he both acted like innocent victims of media attention. They both picked each other to marry and they both chose to have all these kids. They both share equal responsibility to do right by them. TLC is exploiting the kids as well, and casting a shadow on their other family 'reality' shows.

  • liza5/28/2009

    please get them off the air!!! haven't they made enough and sucked enough companies dry to last a lifetime. they say they don't want all the attention(but can they give up their cash cow? so get off TV and spare us all

  • Stacey5/28/2009

    The more truth that comes out, the more Kate can be compared to OctoMom. Exploit the children for money. If TLC had any integrity, it would take the show off the air and if the parents (mainly Kate) had an ounce of decency, they would do what they needed to do to get out of the contract and focus on their family.

  • J. Paul Norton5/27/2009

    I think the show should be taken off the air and Jon & Kate given an opportunity to work with a trained counselor. This family needs to be repaired for the sake of the children. Jon and Kate owe it to them to resolve their issues.

  • Sheila Roush5/26/2009

    WOW!! Last nights show was not a fun one too watch at all. I really felt sorry for the kids but they did seem to handles things really well. I know that they are all going through a tough time. They wanted the fame and money and now that they have it they are all so miserable!! TLC needs to take this show off the air but why would they when they get the ratings that they are looking for. Jon and Kate need to get some legal advice and see how they can stop filming and start living life like a family again.

  • Loni V5/26/2009

    Last night's show was hard to watch. There is a strain in the marriage. I don't know why anyone would want to publicly put this out on television. I think TLC is wrong to allow the show to go on. With all the problems in the world right now, do we want to see something else go wrong. We as a nation need to have some good news right now. Who really knows what goes on in their home. The family needs prayer and intervention by their pastors.

  • Victoria Miller5/26/2009

    Last night's show was hard to watch. What a mess it all is. Unfortunately, train wrecks equal ratings, so the show will most likely go on.

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