'Jon & Kate Plus Eight' relaunches as simply 'Kate Plus Eight'

TLC announced today that its popular reality show tracking the daily lives of the large Gosselin family will return in November with husband Jon Gosselin largely out of the picture. Renamed "Kate Plus Eight," the program will focus mostly on wife Kate Gosselin's experiences as a single mother raising eight children. The change comes after the couple's very public break-up this summer.

Jon Gosselin will continue his "exclusive relationship" with the network and occasionally appear on the show, TLC said.

"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," TLC President and General Manager Eileen O’Neill said in a statement. "The family has evolved and we are attempting to evolve with it; we feel that Kate’s journey really resonates with our viewers."

O'Neill said that the network is also working with Kate Gosselin to develop another project for 2010.

-- Matea Gold

Comments

[Sabor72]

Wasn't this ladies 15 minutes up 30 minutes ago? Glad she isn't vain. Why I could care less about these people and her further attempt at fame and exploitation. ADIOS........

[Doug in Toronto]

"it only makes sense for us to refresh and recalibrate the program to keep pace with the family"?? No, it only makes to sense to cancel this sad affair (pun intended), and let these people stumble through their lives in relative peace. But there's no money in that, is there?

[Sue-Milwaukee]

I am so disappointed in TLC for continuing a show that is not doing the kids ANY good. I was a constant viewer when the family dynamics were to the kids advantage. However, this "pity me-single mom" attitude wears thin. Has Kate watched old episodes of the badgering Jon took? With a camera to play to, what is that teaching kids to be "normal". It appears that Kate is playing this for all SHE can get, not to benefit the kids. Sorry, but that opinion is shared by quite a few in this community. I wish the kids well. They only have one childhood and to be exploited like this is a sad commentary on our society.

[Diamond-X]

Jon and Kate plus eight minus Jon

[DRE DAWG]

I feel soooo sorry for the kids. She's a horrible mom!!!! He's a horrible dad!!!! These kids have a video diary of the break up of their family...an entire play by play in a DVD box set they'll purchase for $69.99 :(

[Cookie]

The show is over, it’s a fact. Get with the program; these people are no different from the rest of the communities who struggle with real life issues. What's going to happen is the kids are going to grow up, resent Kate and Jon, watch the old tapes and blame Mom & Dad for their anger and become just like kids from broken homes. Jon and Kate have only themselves to blame. Once they got money and fame they dumped their kids and their kids future and though only of themselves and what they want. Kids what kids- it’s all about me, me me now. Their both idiots- just cause you can have kids does not mean you should. This is proof. -Cookie

[CLT750]

"the program will focus mostly on wife Kate Gosselin's experiences as a single mother raising eight children."

BS. She is so rich now she will not be doing much raising. She will have some serious help behind the scenes that no one will ever see.

[Thomas]

Meh. Hopefully in a few years, the kids' college and psychotherapy funds will be nice and full while the viewing public moves on to some other overhyped tragedy.

[mama bear]

Following Kate and her beautiful children through their many daily trials will be a great source of empowerment, support, and encouragement for the single mothers of our country. TLC made the right choice.

[fabgear]

Hang it up TLC. The bloom is off this flower. It all sounds pretty depressing.

If I wanted to watch a highly disfuctional family I'd just turn off the TV and hang out with my own

[Monique]

Give me a BREAK enough is enough already, let the KIDS live a private life NOW.
When those kids grow up, they are going to have so anger issues and it will be the PARENTS FAULT. LET THEM BE KIDS!!!!!!! Get that camera out of that home

[AlenOnline]

Maybe Jon's spin-off can be called "Jon Minus Shrew"?

[bill]

this is sick, incredibly sick and sexist too. but then again kate is better to look at - see, all you heavy women out there? you less than perfect looking women should be outraged at this, not b/c you like jon but b/c this is trading in the marketplace on looks alone - but then again women do tend to embrace their steriotypes b/c lets face it it give them more power. even though all this was public, we really would never know what broke them up - there is blame to go around for sure b/c it takes two to make a marrage not just "8" kids.

[LA Twins mom]

"... we feel that Kate’s journey really resonates with our viewers." Uh, this show has NEVER resonated with this viewer! I'm a stay-at-home mom of naturally occurring twins - no one has come to me and offered me my own TV show; no one has offered me free plastic surgery. I still feel so sorry for those children (especially the twins who are virtually ignored and forced to help out) whose parents have pimped them out on television only to ruin their marriage and their children's lives. And in this economy, TLC finds it necessary to continue this garbage?! Seriously, I can think of so many more causes that are more deserving of the kind of money they are shelling out for this filth! Cancel this show!!!

[James]

I agree with many of those here ... this is shameless exploitation on many levels. Exploitation of the sad situation, the kids and our societies sick fascination with something I call personal train-wrecks.

As this goes on I side more and more with Jon's point of view and increasingly view Kate as a shrew who drove him away with her constant badgering and belittling running commentary. She is a domineering control freak who will now learn the hard way just what Jon meant to his kids and that she's got little control over much of anything. It goes without saying that I won't follow this nonsense anymore.

[M. Ross]

THIS IS NOT ENTERTAINMENT!

[Sabrina]

I wish they'd just pull the plug on that stupid show altogether. It's the kids I feel sorry for, NOT their selfish and greedy parents!

[GG]

SHAME on TLC.

[cody mccall]

Okay, I'm weird. I don't have cable nor watch much TV; but, I read a lot, everyday, including this paper, and do pretty well on TV trivia in the daily crosswords. But, this Jon and Kate thing . . . who ARE these people?? Even after reading some (brief) articles about the big bust-up, I cannot figure out who they are and/or what they do? Okay, they're on TV. But, why? And besides their families, who watches them? And why are they all over magazine covers and interview shows? I just do not get it. But, then, I've never 'gotten' Regis Philbin, either. When I first saw him on Joey Bishop I just knew he had to be Joey's brother-in-law or cousin he owed money to or something. And now, he's been on TV more than anybody!!! Even Hugh Downs!! TV. I don't get it.

[Kelsey Keener]

Just cancel this stupid show, make Kate actually work to raise eight children.