Jon and Kate Plus Eight

[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.

[gee_ess]

You are right, OTW. The older girls are very good about letting the adults know when they don't want to participate. I think that has been a really great way for Jon and Kate to give the older girls more autonomy and a "say" in what goes on around them. And that is my point regarding the younger ones. For someone to think a 2 year old, or even a four year old, is going to say "no" to a day at the zoo is kind of silly. They are just not able to do that..yet. But I think we will see it more and more.

[gee_ess]

I think this is, without a doubt, one of those "you can't really know unless you are in their shoes" type of situations.

I tend to agree with SWTXBelle in thinking that if your family is fortunate enough to get a book deal, and some tv specials, by all means cash in, but A) if family relationships are suffering,B) your children are being filmed more often than not, C) your other children are becoming resentful, D) you are the subject of secret beer pong photos and media scoops... then it is time to back off a bit.

IMO - the tail is wagging the dog at this point. Plenty of people have large families. They figure out how to do it. And 6-8 children of varying ages cost just as much, if not more than 6- 8 that are all the same age. I am not blaming J & K for being enterprising and smart - just finding fault with what it and they have turned into.

[MaggieXi]

And actually the Dilley sextuplets were the first set. They had some publicity, but not to the extent of J&K+8.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

B) your children are being filmed more often than not

You do know that they don't film everyday, right? They have only certain days that are "shooting days" so the kids aren't on camera every single day.

Originally Posted by MaggieXi

I work with a woman who goes to the first church that Jon and Kate went to.

Although there is probably some truth to what this woman says, i'd also take it with a grain of salt. People are always going to spin their story, so unless you you to the church as well, I'd be a little leary.



Mady is a brat, I completely agree. But then again, she's at that age. I know plenty of 8/9 year olds who act like Mady. Kate can be a bitch at times, but I know plenty of women who act like her---even my mom!


People are always going to say things about Jon & Kate, even if they stop filming---I doubt the media will just leave them alone if they see Jon & Kate somewhere. But it isn't hurting the children, they are getting to experience things that they normally wouldn't have. Shoot, they are experiencing things I never did!

[agzg]

But Kate CAN'T shop at Goodwill! How would she be able to dress them all alike that way?!

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by MaggieXi

I work with a woman who goes to the first church that Jon and Kate went to. This was the church that helped raise money, solicited donations from local businesses and provided 24-hour help to the family when the 'tups were born. According to her, back then J&K were pretty normal, had a lot of support from both sides of their families. But Mady was a brat.

After the J&K got the contract with TLC, they basically abandoned the first church - turning their backs on the people who helped them in the begining. They moved, joined another congregation, but apparently they were not receiving the attention or freebies that they had gotten at the first church.

They have since returned to the first church, Jon sits on some sort of board and Kate yells at the parishoners for "looking" at her children. My co-worker says most of the kids are sweet and very friendly, but Mady is still a giant brat. She says alot of parishoners have turned their back on J&K because they don't agree with them doing the show and treating the people who did help them (like Jodi- who also goes to the church) like poop.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Kate's a bitch.

[VAgirl18]

Kate's controlling, but I think she has to be to keep a somewhat orderly household. I'm sure that many of us would go to great lengths to be able to do the things that those kids are able to do. How is having them on tv different than having the Olson twins grow up on Full House during their lives?

[AGDee]

If I had 8 kids, I would be totally insane, especially if 6 of them were the same age. Shoot, some days, I'm insane and I only have two! I have two great kids who are really good in school, don't get into trouble, teachers always tell me what "nice" kids they are (even my almost 13 year old boy!) but there are still days I want to kill them because they pick at each other constantly. I know it's sibling bickering and it's really not that serious but it drives me absolutely BONKERS! I think a lot of Kate's "controlling" is simply trying to keep some order in a household that could be total chaos. Trying to keep track of that many kids would be tough. It was tough keeping track of two at times, especially when trying to make dinner or take a shower and get ready to go somewhere! I can't imagine 8, I truly can't.

I will admit I've only watched the show a handful of times. I saw the Valentines show and the one where they picked up the puppies. I know everybody says Kate picks on John and maybe I haven't watched enough, but during the Valentine's show, I thought he was kind of a jerk. Oh yeah, I watched the one where she took the girls out and he took the boys out. He reminded me of my ex-husband in that one because his "boys day out" was all about him and hers was focused on the kids. I tend to find myself not liking John. I saw one episode where he took the kids for a walk in the woods. I think I would have been more creative with that one, but then again, I tended to be a creative parent. I got my kids to pick up their toys by making a game out of out. I probably would make a game out of a walk in the woods "Who can see the most birds?" or something like that.

I don't think I'd choose to put my family on TV to make ends meet, but I can't really say if I had that many kids to raise and put through college. I try not to think about how much money I would have if I didn't have kids!

[KSigkid]

Ok, my wife was watching this while I was working. Can people in their situation seriously sit there and complain about the notoriety that accompanies their show?

I can understand an athlete or even an actor that wants some privacy. It's not their fault that attaining the heights of their profession is equal to completely losing their right to privacy.

Jon and Kate bargained for this, though. They've apparently benefitted in a number of ways, whether it be financially, or in terms of opportunities for their children. The trade-off is that they lose their privacy when they go out in public. They might not like it, but if they hadn't considered that when they started the show, then they were seriously naive.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by VAgirl18

Kate's controlling, but I think she has to be to keep a somewhat orderly household. I'm sure that many of us would go to great lengths to be able to do the things that those kids are able to do. How is having them on tv different than having the Olson twins grow up on Full House during their lives?

The Olson twins were actors, playing a part. Their personal lives didn't become fodder for the tabloids until they were teens and sought publicity themselves. I'd also like to point out that many child actors have NOT turned out well - there is a hidden cost to the publicity and attention.

[LucyKKG]

OMG all of the previews for last night's show totally had me convinced Jon and Kate were separating. I'm sure that was their goal, but ahhhh! That's not the case at all, but darn sneaky advertisers!

[Honeykiss1974]

lol Would you seperate if you had all those kids? I wouldn't - we'd get seperate bedroom first!