Jon & Kate Plus 8 no more: Jon Gosselin’s out

Well, I can’t say I didn’t see this one coming a million miles away.  I’ll admit, I’ve been a viewer since the beginning, although I’ve only watched the show on and off for the last couple of years.  I always sympathized with Kate, having to stay home and take care of 8 kids.  I barely manage with 3.  After her noticeable transformation and apparent need for celebrity entitlement, I decided she was the one who was responsible for their marital problems.  But when I see pictures of Jon with his ears pierced, chain smoking, cavorting around with various women, while the only pictures I see of Kate show her at home with the kids or taking them to the grocery store, I can’t help come to my own conclusion as to who is the better parent.  Who is apparently thinking of the kids instead of themselves.  And while I can’t say that Kate is perfect, either — she’s had her share of accusations — I can say that actions speak louder than words.  Jon can deny it all he wants, but he’s youngest person I have ever seen have a mid-life crisis.  He’s a 30-something trying to be a 20-something in the worst way.  He’s trying to capture the 20′s that he feels his wife and kids stole away from him.  I just wonder how he plans to explain his behavior to his kids.  No matter how many magazine covers Kate turns around at the store, the kids are still going to find out, one way or another, whether it’s today or in a few years from now.  I will say in Kate’s defense, no one told Jon to tolerate her behavior laying down.  I’m a firm believer in communication.  If something bothers me, I say it, because if I don’t, the person won’t know that whatever it is that they’re doing bothers me, and they’ll continue to do it and bother me even further.  Because Jon never said anything before, he reached his boiling point and exploded.  Big time.

At least TLC wisened up.  I was wondering how long they planned to keep him on the show, considering their reputation as a “family” channel.  They issued the following statement on their web site.

We are aware of Jon Gosselin’s recent statements, and remain deeply disappointed at his continued erratic behavior. He and the family were shooting as recently as last Friday, without incident, and his latest comments are grossly inaccurate, without merit and are clearly opportunistic. Despite Jon Gosselin’s repeated self destructive and unprofessional actions, he remains under an exclusive contract with TLC. Direct filming of the children has been currently suspended, pending further conversations between both parents.

TLC has announced that JON & KATE PLUS EIGHT will adapt to the changing Gosselin family and relaunch in November under the new title KATE PLUS EIGHT.

The program will continue to capture the incredible lives of the eight Gosselin children and their family but will now include a deeper focus on Kate’s role in the family and her journey as a single mother building the next chapter in her life.  TLC will continue its exclusive relationship with Jon Gosselin and he will continue to appear on the show, but on a less regular basis.

“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.   The family has evolved and we are attempting to evolve with it; we feel that Kate’s journey really resonates with our viewers.  Additionally the network is in development on a Kate project for 2010″ states Eileen O’Neill, President and GM, TLC.

The series will continue to chronicle the Gosselin family as they go on outings and tackle daily challenges and adventures. It will also document Kate’s journey as a newly single mother raising 5 year-old sextuplets and 8 year-old twins.

It’s now rumored that Jon is rethinking his divorce, which is set to be finalized in November.  Looks more to me like he’s rethinking his wallet and that TLC paycheck he won’t be getting anymore.  Either that, or the aliens have released him from the mother ship.