I hate blogging about pop culture things anymore. There’s so much subjectivity there, not to mention that a bazillion and one other people are already talking about the same thing and my voice is only white noise. And then there’s the whole thing where the topic is completely STUPID. But I find myself strangely compelled today because I can hardly think of much else (thanks, modern media, for blitzing me with this crap as soon as I was awake!). And I’m trying to become a better blogger so it’s time to start writing and stop thinking so damned much.
I watched the “special” show last night. Because I’m stupid I had this morbid curiosity to see what the heck was going to happen. Even though we all already knew. Still, I hoped for a fraction of an instant the “announcement” would be that they were stopping the show, fullstop.
That was apparently WAY TOO MUCH to hope for.
The whole episode made me want to throw up, basically. I watched it now and then a year or so ago, back when things were “hunky dorey”. Remember, back when jokes about Kate harping on Jon were lighthearted beause OF COURSE their marriage could take it? Back when the kids were all still little and far less annoying (I’m looking at you, Maddy). But I would say I was far from a fan. Watching “Jon and Kate + 8″ was akin to rubber necking an accident on the interstate. Yes, even then. Now? It’s not an accident.
It’s a freakin’ train wreck.
And yet, has anyone said, “We should turn off the cameras!”? NOPE. Oh, it’s too late for that. They’re rolling in the money and fame and attention now. They can’t see the forest for the trees anymore. I’m more convinced of that than ever after watching last night’s show.
These are selfish, selfish people. Both of them, though Jon apalled me by saying he was EXCITED for this new chapter in his life. Excited? To leave his home and his children behind? He even admitted on camera that he wouldn’t be seeing them every day. And he’s EXCITED? I gaped at Kile when this scene aired and asked him if he would be “excited”. Kile said no, that he couldn’t imagine not seeing his children every day and certainly couldn’t grasp being excited about it.
These two clearly are incapable of dealing with their issues in a mature fashion. They bicker in front of the children constantly. The backbiting is horrific. This is a FAMILY show?
Their insistance that the show is not the cause of their problems made me literally guffaw out loud. Sure, I can see where their personalities would clash on or off camera regardless, but I don’t believe for an instant that the pressure cooker that is having your life filmed and broadcast to the world at large as well as the media and paparazzi circus that has followed them hasn’t contributed towards this. And for whatever reason, I think that this whole show has caused them to forgo the reasonable avenue of seeking counseling and go straight to divorce. They claim to be doing this for the children but I think either way you play it, the kids are the ones losing here.
I feel so sorry for these children. I’m sorry their parents can’t put aside their pettiness and try to work together. That their parents won’t turn off the cameras for the betterment of the family. That these kids will have an extensive record, on film for posterity, of the demise of their family. And so will everyone who ever interacts with them in the future. People say blogging is not good for children for the “exploitation” that occurs. Blogging has NOTHING on a reality tv show. And I don’t know any blogger worth their salt that wouldn’t shut things down if they thought for an instant that it was harming their children.
My greatest hope is that now the couple is quitsville, that the audience will soon follow. After all, people have been gawking at these two and their clearly fragile relationship. Now that the two will not likely be on camera much together or even reference the other all that much, the gawkers will fade into the woodwork. And with the audience, goes the ratings. And when the ratings flatline, perhaps TLC will finally have the good sense to pull the plug.
Me, I’d just like to forget that I ever watched it.
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5 Responses to “Jon Minus Kate equals Hate”
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I think Jon is a selfish ass, but that’s just me
. Seriously, though, he’s complained very vocally about how he’s “only 32″ and stuck with all of the responsibilities he had. Um, yeah, that’s what happens when you have kids, no matter how many you have!
And I don’t necessarily think it’s the camera that caused this. I’m sure it didn’t help, but I think it probably would’ve happened regardless.
Randi´s last blog ..Jon’s An Ass. ‘Nuff Said.
I think they’re both assholes. The fact that they didn’t shut the cameras off the second they started having problems proves it. And, I hate the fact that those little kids will have to wonder if their parents sacrificed their family for a television career.
(also, I really wanted to watch this last night, but the Bachelorette was on. Clearly, I have set HIGH standards for myself)
Amen. It says a lot about who they are that they chose to have their lives televised in the first place.
I found myself strangely sad today too. I hardly ever watched the show, just every now and then on reruns. But like you I had been (naively) hoping most of the tabloid stuff was just blown out of proportion and they were going to announce a hiatus or something (although I guess tlc did that for them). Anytime a family breaks up it’s awful. For the children, for the adults, just awful.
I never watched the show, but I saw the family on other shows, and I saw the commercials for “Jon & Kate” every time I had TLC on. And I’ve been buying every People and US weekly magazine lately (for Twilight/New Moon info) so I’ve read a bunch of stuff about them in magazines. If I remember correctly, Kate said in one of the interviews (and I freely admit I could be misquoting, don’t get mad if I am) that the show was her job. And I wanted to say “NO – being a wife & mom is your job and you need to freaking do it!”
I’m wondering when people are going to learn their lessons. Do romances on the Bachelor and/or Bachelorette work out? Not normally. And what gets the blame? the cameras. the media attention. the show. Other shows where couples and/or families have put themselves out there for “reality” have seen the couple and/or family slowly crash and burn. So seriously, when are people going to learn that doing a reality show is not necessarily such a good idea for your life??