Jon and Kate Plus Eight

Originally Posted by gee_ess

Hmmm - I don't know the gum incident. I need to catch up on my internet gossip!
You bring up a good point about Kate's parents and their possible reasons for not being on tv...

But I have to disagree with the comment that the kids can say no. They are just now getting old enough to even be able to articulate that sort of decision. A group of multiples more than likely functions as a unit - pretty rare for one of them to really leave the group. Now, I think in another year or so that might change but the chances of one of them bucking their parents in any real way is rare for a preschooler.

I think we need a Barbara Walters interview to get to the bottom of this..lol.

I can't remember when it happened (2 seasons ago, maybe? - so they must have been 6 or 7), but I know for a fact that if Mady and Cara don't want to be filmed, they say so. I know Mady's made "No Cameras Allowed" signs for her room before. AFAIK, Jon, Kate, and the crew have been respectful of that. Mady and Cara's room (after the renovation in the old house) did not have the bright filming lights the other rooms had because they often retreated to their room for privacy.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by OTW

I can't remember when it happened (2 seasons ago, maybe? - so they must have been 6 or 7), but I know for a fact that if Mady and Cara don't want to be filmed, they say so. I know Mady's made "No Cameras Allowed" signs for her room before. AFAIK, Jon, Kate, and the crew have been respectful of that. Mady and Cara's room (after the renovation in the old house) did not have the bright filming lights the other rooms had because they often retreated to their room for privacy.

That works - as long as the 6 don't mind being filmed. What happens if 1 of the 6 doesn't like it? Or just 2 of the 6? I find it difficult to believe that Kate would be okay with stopping then. But maybe I'm completely wrong, and they are not exploiting the kids for financial gain, but with the childrens' best interest in mind.

Maybe.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

That works - as long as the 6 don't mind being filmed. What happens if 1 of the 6 doesn't like it? Or just 2 of the 6? I find it difficult to believe that Kate would be okay with stopping then. But maybe I'm completely wrong, and they are not exploiting the kids for financial gain, but with the childrens' best interest in mind.

Maybe.

Just curious...

Say you had 8 kids. You're a nurse and your husband's a computer dude. How would the two of you manage to pay for all 8's college tuition? Food and clothes for the next 10-15 years? Would you rely on government assistance and pray like hell they get scholarships and other free money?

I'm wondering how the McCaugheys did it with their septuplets. While they didn't have a reality show, I remember reading they did have music and book deals.

[SWTXBelle]

The same way I do my 4 - um, work? Get help from family and friends? (I have always relied on family and friends for childcare help.) Perhaps write books about it, maybe do a special or two, but I would not have my home become a television production set. As to college, colleges seem to have this thing about scholarships for multiples - I know of several sets who have been given scholarships seemingly because of their "multiple" status. I'm sure they were otherwise qualified, but still.

And let me point to the Duggars, who until recently HAD no television show, and yet they've provided all these years for all of theirs.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

The same way I do my 4 - um, work? Get help from family and friends? (I have always relied on family and friends for childcare help.) Perhaps write books about it, maybe do a special or two, but I would not have my home become a television production set. As to college, colleges seem to have this thing about scholarships for multiples - I know of several sets who have been given scholarships seemingly because of their "multiple" status. I'm sure they were otherwise qualified, but still.

And let me point to the Duggars, who until recently HAD no television show, and yet they've provided all these years for all of theirs.

The Duggars live debt-free because they have several commercial properties they rent. Do we know if their families are wealthy? Michelle's dad looked like he lived on a sweet piece of property. Maybe the parents gave em a wad of cash to buy property? While they were young when they married, they didn't have all 18 at one time. I just don't buy the fact that Jim Bob and Michelle didn't get a lot of financial help from their family, especially in the early years.

Sure, you work. But would you work so much that you couldn't spend time with your kids? There's only so many hours a day you can work to earn that money. Methinks that still wouldn't be enough.

The show started out with just those first two specials. America became so fascinated with them that the show was created. I don't think J&K are the only ones to blame.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

The same way I do my 4 - um, work? Get help from family and friends? (I have always relied on family and friends for childcare help.) Perhaps write books about it, maybe do a special or two, but I would not have my home become a television production set. As to college, colleges seem to have this thing about scholarships for multiples - I know of several sets who have been given scholarships seemingly because of their "multiple" status. I'm sure they were otherwise qualified, but still.

And let me point to the Duggars, who until recently HAD no television show, and yet they've provided all these years for all of theirs.

Were your 4 born at the same time? I've heard it a lot that the Gosselins should be able to do it themselves because other people have X number of children and they did it themselves. But these people didn't have 6 kids that were born at the same time, needing the EXACT same things at the EXACT same time.

I don't see what the big deal is, because I'm pretty sure that a lot of us (if presented with an offer like Gosselins) would take it. I know I would, especially if I was in Kate's situation. I can't imagine what life would be like for them if they did not have this TV show. Jon & Kate would not have made enough money to take care of these children. I don't see the problem with the TV show. It allows Jon and Kate to stay home with their children, giving them the time & attention the children might not have otherwise gotten w/o a TV show.

In my opinion, you CAN NOT compare the Duggars to the Gosselins. In fact, I hate comparing, in general. But since you brought up the Duggars let's compare. Within the first 5 years of marriage, the Duggars had 1 kid (Josh), the Gosselins had 8.

Originally Posted by OTW

Do we know if their families are wealthy? Michelle's dad looked like he lived on a sweet piece of property. Maybe the parents gave em a wad of cash to buy property? While they were young when they married, they didn't have all 18 at one time. I just don't buy the fact that Jim Bob and Michelle didn't get a lot of financial help from their family, especially in the early years.

If I remember correctly, when I read how Jim Bob & Michelle got together, Jim Bob did mention that Michelle came from a more wealthy family (that and she wasn't religious at all). I do think that, at least at the beginning, Jim Bob & Michelle's family helped out.


According to this article, Jon & Kate parents don't help out because they "disapprove" of and don't want to take part in the show.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by epchick

Within the first 5 years of marriage, the Duggars had 1 kid (Josh), the Gosselins had 8.

NIGHTMARE.

[SWTXBelle]

Other famlies of multiples have managed without subjecting their children to the rigors of filming.(I'm thinking of the family here in Houston who also had 6 after having 2 - no television show - HOW DO THEY DO IT????) It can, and has been done. I think it was less intrusive when the children were smaller. Now that they are getting ready to all be in school, I think it's too much. I answered the question I was asked, and I stick by what I said. Whether you have yours all at once, or spread 'em out, you've still got to provide for them, and most families manage without a television show. I really hate the way the Gosselins continue to plead poor, when we know they are doing quite well for themselves. As to the Duggars - let's just point out that once all 6 were potty trained, Kate was done with diapers. Michelle isn't out of them yet. I've long said it would be easier to have a few at the same developmental stage - taking naps at the same time, going to bed at the same time - then to have several at totally different stages. My two sets of two were 24 and 15 months apart - and a newborn and a toddler will eat your lunch!

If you enjoy the show, by all means continue to enjoy it. I just see a future "Child Stars Follow-Up" in the offing, and wish the Gosselins would consider scaling back. They've got two books out - and I think follow-up specials would be appropriate. But those kids need some time to REALLY be just kids, imho. That doesn't happen with a camera pointed at you.

eta - And do you really think Maddy or Cara should have to stay in their room behind a NO FILMING sign? Is that fair to them? Even if they aren't filmed, their lives are affected.