I think I was dead right when I announced yesterday that the Gosselins’ divorce announcement will have a weird effect on the title of their hit reality TV show, Jon & Kate Plus 8. Though not supporting my views entirely, the experts have finally jumped in to support my views that Jon & Kate Plus 8 will not remain the same after the divorce announcement. And to further strengthen my belief, TLC has already halted production of the show until August.
Robert J. Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, has made my work easy by explaining this weird situation in a couple of simple words. According to Thompson,
I don’t know if the show can make that new transition. It’s like if The Cosby Show, mid-season, suddenly became Married With Children. The show has already lost original fans who initially tuned in to watch this cute little show about parents changing diapers and feeding their kids.
As the couple’s crumbling marriage made headlines, the show attracted a new fan base looking for drama. But even those new viewers haven’t stayed glued, as ratings continue to dip significantly since May’s season 5 premiere. And those new viewers likely aren’t going to tune into a show about eight little kids for very long.
Moreover, Jon Gosselin gave a clear message on Monday’s episode that he may not do the show anymore. So now we are left with only the selfish half of the Gosselins, i.e., Kate Gosselin, who wants this show to continue. Hence, I would like to suggest a no-nonsense title, in case TLC decides to resume production of this almost-dead show. Here’s the title – Jon’s Gone… But Kate Still Has 8!
Source: Us Magazine
