Jon and Kate Plus Eight

From LoveToKnow Reality-TV

Jon & Kate Plus 8 is a reality show on TLC that follows the lives of Jon and Kate Gosselin and their children. They have one set of fraternal twin girls and a group of sextuplets consisting of three boys and three girls.

A quick history: The show was first in the Discovery Health lineup, but with the start of the third season, the show went to TLC. The show relays the challenges of raising twins and sextuplets by simply following the lives of the Gosselin family.

The Parents

Kate and Jon first met at a picnic in 1997 when Jon worked at a hotel. Kate just graduated from a nursing program and two years later they married. At first, Kate was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, which made it appear that Kate could not have children. So with fertility treatments and intrauterine insemination, Kate became pregnant with twins. The girls, Cara and Mady were born in October of 2000.

Three years after that, Kate wanted to have another child, but Jon wasn't so sure. They thought about adopting because a Korean baby was available when Kate was working as a nurse. Instead, Jon and Kate returned to fertility treatments. This worked again and they soon found out that she was going to have six babies.

At first their emotions were mixed and running the gamut of despair, sadness, and finally hope. As the news emerged that they were going to have sextuplets, their community banded together and gave their support and prayers.

In May of 2004 the sextuplets were born, all within three minutes of each other.

The Children

Born on October 8, 2000 (Twins)
  • Madelyn "Mady" Kate
  • Cara Nicole

Born on May 10, 2004 (Sextuplets)
  • Joel Kevin
  • Leah Hope
  • Collin Thomas (the largest at 3 lbs 5 oz and 15 inches in length)
  • Aaden Jonathon
  • Hannah Joy
  • Alexis Faith

Jon & Kate Plus 8 Show Format

Jon & Kate Plus 8 is not filmed 24/7, because it would be harder for the Gosselins to care for their children. The show is actually filmed three days of the week, with one of those days dedicated to interviewing Jon and Kate and/or the children on the weeks events or events in a specific episode. Just as the crew is an integral part of the Gosselin family, Jon & Kate are an integral part of the production crew. The producers, Jon and Kate discuss what kind of events should be filmed and what kind of edits (if any) should be made.

About the Gosselins
  • You can purchase a book that Jon and Kate have written called Multiple Blessings. It was co-authored by Beth Carson.
  • Seasons One and Two are available for purchase on DVD with the Third season being released in February 2009.

You can visit a few websites to learn about the Gosselin family or learn more about the show on TLC:

Controversies

There have been many issues with the family's need for "hand-outs." When Jon & Kate launched their first website they continually asked for things from the public in the way of prayers. They would pray for financial contributions at first, but then started to ask for more and more as people started to overwhelmingly give them everything.

In 2005, Medicaid no longer was going to pay for a full time nurse when the sextuplets hit one year old. Kate appealed the decision because, as she said on her website, "I cannot do it five days a week."

Probably the biggest controversy or problem is the product endorsements they voice on their show and on their website. In 2008, Jon got a free hair transplant from The New Hair Institute in L.A. If you look on the "Our Favorite Businesses" tab on their website, you will find that this company is listed.

Love It or Just Like It

No matter if you think they are using the public, or if you just adore the family, Jon & Kate Plus 8 is a family facing interesting challenges. The parents bicker, but love each other (and it shows). The kids are cute and fun to watch and if you've been following the show from the beginning, you might feel like you've been watching them grow up..

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Comments

Jon and Kate may be contractually obligated to continue filming, or perhaps they simply don't feel that now is the time to end the show. Either way, it certainly has brought plenty of attention to this already popular show.

-- Contributed by: Tamsen Butler

I've watched Jon and Kate plus 8 since the beginning. I think Jon and Kate are a fun loving couple who, at times, seems stressed out, but who doesn't have stress with 8 kids underfoot? Me and my future husband, are a lot like Kate and Jon, me like Kate and my honey like Jon. I think that as soon as these "alligations" have started about Jon and Kate, I think they should have put a hold on the show to resolve any issues, regardless if they are true or not. I watched the premire last night and was like, THEY SHOULD JUST END THE TAPING NOW, since the kids are all now aware of the "P" word. No children should be exposed to that, and Jon and Kate both did an excillent job on keeping the kids, both theirs and the friends, in a somewhat close area. My heart goes out to them, they have raised wonderful kids. Perhaps let's stop taping and have an update on where they are in say 5 years, when the kids are 10 and 14. Or when Cara and Maddy are seniors in highschool and the youngesters are in junior high. The added stress of the photographers must put a number on all "celebraties" even if they are just a "regular" family. God Bless Gosselin Family!

-- Contributed by: Viewer in New Hampshire

Carol, gossip magazines have been reporting marriage problems between these two for some time now. Viewers will have to stay tuned to find out if these issues ever make it onto the screen.

-- Contributed by: Tamsen Butler
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