Kate Plus 8 - General Discussion

[Maharincess]

Can you picture her making coffee for Jon and leaving it next to the bed for him while he slept?

I laugh so hard just thinking about it.

[Just24]

Didn't he point a gun at a tabloid photographer? He's unhinged; I don't see how Kate is okay with his having a gun around her kids. Yes, there are responsible gun owners (so this isn't a dig at all gunownership, not opening Pandora's box)  but this is Jon Gosselin, a man in his thirties who acts like a middle schooler.

In 2009, he fired shots at the family home, and then a judge banned him from having a gun on the property. In 2013, he fired a warning shot, supposedly into the ground, to get the paparazzi off his property when they followed him back to his cabin in the woods. Kate is not ok with Jon's gun use.

[TEEVEE]

I 100% believe Mady isn't just a brat. She is not being a typical teen. That girl cannot control her emotions. She is inappropriately giddy one minute and off the charts bawling the next. She shows sign of clear bi polar disorder. It has been said Kate has it too. But Mady's signs have been around since age 7. I feel sorry for her because I feel she could hurt herself for attention. She clearly needs help and off tv.

[TEEVEE]

I have rewatched the recent episodes and I don't think the little girls have much sisterly love for each other. I think Hannah is quite mean. Leah seems distraught a lot and they treat Alexis, the most interesting girl, terribly. One thing I noticed was when Hannah declared and pointed her finger at Alexis and said, "she's nuts". As most of us know it was Alexis, and Collin who were kicked out of kindergarten for aggressive behavior, hitting adults, and scaring the other kids. They both underwent therapy, per Kate's admission. Alexis has an angered look in her eyes, and Collin has nothing left in his. I think both those kids are heavily medicated. The amount of hitting, screaming and inappropriate emotional breakdowns is heart breaking. I dread to see what the Mother's Day episode shows.

I agree. I couldn't imagine my kids not feeling comfortable coming into my room. They were taught to knock first but they were always welcome in my room.
They would sleep with me if they were sick or we would watch TV or read in my bed. Great memories. Now my granddaughter sleeps with me when she spends the night.

I think Kate's exact words when they moved in that they were to never, ever under penalty of severe consequence to be in her room.

That was because the marriage was already over and Jon was staying in the garage apartment. She was just trying to keep that from the kids. I think the kids, especially Mady and Cara are in her room at night, a lot. She can't keep secrets anymore without bribing those 2. We have already seen evidence of that.

[Maharincess]

This woman is horrible. I caught part of the Sextuplets turn 3 episode today.

In one scene she ripped a toy out of Colin's hand, yelled "that's not your toy, boys don't play with purple haired dolls" and threw the toy.

Then at the party in the next scene Mady had been waiting in line for her turn to ride the pony, Kate jumps on the pony in front of the waiting Mady and said "too bad, I haven't had any turns yet". She then, after Mady rightfully got upset about it, told Jon to come and get his "problem child".

She keeps going on and on about how exhausted she is but she does NOTHING! Bitch doesn't even fold her own laundry.

The episode where the boys can't have their birthday cupcakes is on now. The way she let Hannah have hers because she "tried" to eat but didn't let the boys have their BIRTHDAY cupcakes infuriates me.

To make sure I don't shoot my TV, I think I'll skip this episode.

She had the kids make cupcakes in their church clothes and bitched about the mess instead of changing them because it would be a "hassle" and she didn't feel like changing them. It's not like she dressed them anyway. Jon always did.

Edited May 11, 2015 by Maharincess

[SoSueMe]

Well, it's been a little while since I've seen Kate and the kids so I just watched the Mother's Day special.

 

Interesting to see the kids getting bigger. Sad to say that I still don't like Kate any better. She's raising them all by herself you know and she still seems to like to snark at them. Mady takes after Kate more than the rest of the kids, poor thing.

[ByaNose]

I always hated (strong word) Kate and just happen to see the show tonight. This must have been new because I thought this show wasn't even on the air. Anyway, she used a lot of words such as "I". I had the kids. I did this. I did that. Apparently, she forgot she had a husband at one time. The younger kids are cute but those two older girls are pretty retched. Granted they are typical teenage girls but they sure are a pill, aren't they?

[Micks Picks]

Oh no, she did all alone.  She made that perfectly clear.  That guy you saw hanging around years ago who the kids called "daddy" was a figment of your imagination.

 

I didn't watch much of it, but did see the breakfast.  It looked great and too much for me to eat, but wow, what a treat.  But the kids should have been yelling at her and slamming stuff around like she does to them at mealtimes.  

 

They also showed a potty chair with a bubble over the poop.  Classy.  And part of a swimming party.  Gads I'm tired of reality TV parties for everything.  And what I did see of Kate she was making things much harder than they needed to be.

[gingerormaryann]

I thought TLC was doing some damage control.  Kate trying to say how she's misunderstood and their attempting to show a softer side.  It was a very long episode for a home made breakfast.  I actually thought the twins were more tolerable than before but you can see the trouble really amping up with the sextuplets.  It might make for some hilarious, train wreck TV but we dont need to see that.  The only one she might not have a problem with is Aaden, although she reiterated in this episode that her favorite is Joel.

 

The positioning of the talking heads with Kate really looked like they just cropped Jon out of the shot, which served to reinforce that this is a sad American story that is not being portrayed as such.

[QuinnM]

If all the old footage of Kate doing things that previously weren't shown like hugging and kissing and playing tickling game is considered damage control then TLC owes her that.  They made a fortune off that family.  So if they made it by only showing those moments when a high strung type A mother goes off the rail trying to parent 8 children, 6 in diapers then yes they owe her the good stuff.  It appears to me we saw a very negative edit.  But then anytime you watch reality tv you have to remind yourself of the edit monkeys.

 

I think the most important footage was the current footage.  Those are good kids, complete with flaws and virtues, but good kids.  So if she raised them then good job.  I know people with 2 kids that haven't done as well.

[Maharincess]

I don't think we saw a negative edit as much as a negative person. Editing doesn't put words into your mouth or show you doing horrible things you didn't really do.

A few kisses and a tickle doesn't make up for the shit she's put those kids through.

Poor Colin always looks so sad. He's always been Kate's whipping boy and it seems like he's the whole family's whipping boy now.

Mady told Joel to do something, Colin perked up and asked if he could help him. He just got a snotty "no" in return. His smile disappeared so fast. Just from what I've seen, I think he gets the brunt of his mothers emotional abuse, and he always has.

[walnutqueen]

I never hated Kate (there, I finally said it!).  I couldn't stand Maddie, and thought Jon was an ineffectual dud.  Still watching years later, and not much has changed.  Not that I ever gave half a turd in a training potty about this family - get back to me when you figure out truly dysfunctional, TLC.  ;-)

[gingerormaryann]

TLC owes her nothing.  She's also become rich off their network.  It seems as if they're trying to prolong her shelf life by trying to make her more palatable.  At the same time, her kids are entering their most difficult phase so the focus of their specials is definitely being changed.

 

It would be different if she were ambushed by celebrity, but she doesn't just invite it, she seeks it out.  For her to complain she's being misrepresented while still taking money from the network that misrepresented her is trying to have her cake and eat it at the same time at it's worst.

[Ceruleana]

Are we discussing Monday's Mother's Day episode here?

 

I really enjoyed watching the kids be creative (I even enjoyed Kate Jr. delegating and everyone handling their tasks well) and putting together a wonderful meal for their mother.  It's hard for me to root for Kate but she IS their mother, the only one they've got and they do love and want to please her.  Very endearing.  I also liked Mady putting Collin in charge of card-making because he's artistic, and he seemed to really appreciate that.  It's nice when your older bro/sis can stop kicking your butt to deliver the occasional compliment, lol.

 

Cara did a great job on the pancakes...I would have preferred them a little browner, but the entire spread looked great.  Such good work for eight kids under the age of 15.  How cute was Alexis?  "I got to make the pancakes with Cara, with Cara!"

 

What I DIDN'T like was Kate actually saying that she keeps her standards low, and how she seemed shocked that the kids could be well-behaved and play nicely.  Like, really, Kate?  Do you think you're raising monsters?  Is that what you think of your children?  My God...and she kept going on and on with it.  They should have given her a mug that said "World's #1 Pessimist" with those flowers.  In my experience, children reflect and react--show them chaos and mayhem and that's what you'll get from them.  Love (and a fair bit of even-handed discipline) will get you children who'll be cooperative and affectionate.  This life thing really isn't that hard, and she seems to make things harder than they have to be.

 

I left this show around the time when Jon began to snap (I still feel kinda sorry for him; Kate truly appears THAT bad), but peeking in on these updates, the kids seem okay.  The boys seem like they may have issues with passive-aggressiveness, though.

[SoSueMe]

Are we discussing Monday's Mother's Day episode here?

 

I really enjoyed watching the kids be creative (I even enjoyed Kate Jr. delegating and everyone handling their tasks well) and putting together a wonderful meal for their mother.  It's hard for me to root for Kate but she IS their mother, the only one they've got and they do love and want to please her.  Very endearing.  I also liked Mady putting Collin in charge of card-making because he's artistic, and he seemed to really appreciate that.  It's nice when your older bro/sis can stop kicking your butt to deliver the occasional compliment, lol.

 

Cara did a great job on the pancakes...I would have preferred them a little browner, but the entire spread looked great.  Such good work for eight kids under the age of 15.  How cute was Alexis?  "I got to make the pancakes with Cara, with Cara!"

 

What I DIDN'T like was Kate actually saying that she keeps her standards low, and how she seemed shocked that the kids could be well-behaved and play nicely.  Like, really, Kate?  Do you think you're raising monsters?  Is that what you think of your children?  My God...and she kept going on and on with it.  They should have given her a mug that said "World's #1 Pessimist" with those flowers.  In my experience, children reflect and react--show them chaos and mayhem and that's what you'll get from them.  Love (and a fair bit of even-handed discipline) will get you children who'll be cooperative and affectionate.  This life thing really isn't that hard, and she seems to make things harder than they have to be.

 

I left this show around the time when Jon began to snap (I still feel kinda sorry for him; Kate truly appears THAT bad), but peeking in on these updates, the kids seem okay.  The boys seem like they may have issues with passive-aggressiveness, though.

Oh well, seems that Jon and Kate are butting heads again.

 

http://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/exclusive-jon-gosselin-seeking-full-custody-of-11-year-old-daughter-hannah-58279

 

I thought that Kate really overdid it with the "I'm raising all these kids by myself" schick on the Mother's day episode. I always thought that she made their relationship a me vs. them deal fairly early on. Always talking about how outnumbered she is.

 

Apparently they still spend time with Jon and on this occasion, Hannah didn't want to go home to Kate...

[Maharincess]

When a child acts the way Mady acted, I blame the parent more than the child. Mady was a young child.

Walnut Queen I love ya but Jon was anything but ineffectual. He did every damn thing for those kids. All she did was sit on her ass and bitch and complain. He even made her coffee before he left for work and left it by her bed while she slept.

I don't consider Jon ineffectual at all. That's their mama.

Edited May 14, 2015 by Maharincess

[Maharincess]

I'm not surprised at all. We've watched her verbally and emotionally torture those kids over the years.

Bitch. I hope Jon gets all the kids and the house.

She deserves nothing.

[Ceruleana]

Wow, but are we really surprised though?  There is such a nasty undercurrent with Kate, chockful of megalomania and a dash of bitterness.  Too bad Jon didn't have that moxie when the kids were a lot younger.  IMVHO, he waited too late to start pulling rank.  I'll back off though, because I didn't live in their home so who knows what it actually was like.  I wonder how many of the others will want to join Hannah...she can't be the only who would rather stay with Jon.  Plus, it's always weird when someone leaves the ensemble, how will the others feel with her being gone (if that were to happen)?

 

With all that said, I kind of understand her attachment to TLC (aside from her being a famewhore).  This is EXCELLENT money for her and those kids, money they'll need if she wants to keep that house and keep the kids in private school and then college.  What about cars for the kids (although she can get them used starter cars)?  But knowing Kate, she can try to get some kind of endorsement and get them newer model, freebie Toyotas or something.  So I get why she wants this so badly, even at the expense (no pun intended) of the children and their emotional well-being.  What a mess.

[Micks Picks]

So where are the pictures of her and this Jeff guy out at the casino and the restaurant?  I haven't seen them.

 

Kate can't and won't endorse her way out of a paper bag.  She had failed endorsement deals with several outfits years ago, and has been called out for not promoting her own show.  One would think she would liberally use her twitter feed to promote herself, but nope, and it really strikes me as extremely odd.

[SoSueMe]

So where are the pictures of her and this Jeff guy out at the casino and the restaurant?  I haven't seen them.

 

Kate can't and won't endorse her way out of a paper bag.  She had failed endorsement deals with several outfits years ago, and has been called out for not promoting her own show.  One would think she would liberally use her twitter feed to promote herself, but nope, and it really strikes me as extremely odd.

I am baffled as to how anyone, let alone a millionaire, would consider Kate a valuable or desirable romantic soulmate. I just saw the headlines though. I have no idea what he looks like or what baggage he might be lugging around. Who knows, maybe he has mommy issues and she reminds him of his mother..... 

[Calibabydolly]

Jon filed for sole custody of Hannah! I just saw it on Yahoo. It does not say why but I would have suspected it would be Cara. Anyone know any more?

[Ceruleana]

Jon filed for sole custody of Hannah! I just saw it on Yahoo. It does not say why but I would have suspected it would be Cara. Anyone know any more?

 

In the Season 3 thread, SoSueMe posted this:

 

Oh well, seems that Jon and Kate are butting heads again.

 

http://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/exclusive-jon-gosselin-seeking-full-custody-of-11-year-old-daughter-hannah-58279

 

I thought that Kate really overdid it with the "I'm raising all these kids by myself" schick on the Mother's day episode. I always thought that she made their relationship a me vs. them deal fairly early on. Always talking about how outnumbered she is.

 

Apparently they still spend time with Jon and on this occasion, Hannah didn't want to go home to Kate...

 

I'd like to know what'll happen to the other kids if Jon manages to get custody of Hannah?  How many more of them will want to follow suit?

[SoSueMe]

 

I'd like to know what'll happen to the other kids if Jon manages to get custody of Hannah?  How many more of them will want to follow suit?

Sad to say, I doubt that Jon has a chance. Money talks and I don't believe he has managed to find a job that would bring in enough to challenge Kate in that dept. Jon emerged as just more collateral damage in this situation. Too bad, he had the potential to be a really nurturing parent. More so than narcissistic Kate in my opinion.

[gunderda]

After the mother's day episode Maddy is now my favorite.  I love her dry humor. Before this she was my least favorite. 

[MarysWetBar]

I don't understand how that works. In a lot of cases when couples split up and the woman gets custody,she doesn't make more money than the man but she still is granted custody and he pays her support. Wouldn't it be the same in this situation?

[kathe5133]

Kate tweeted a picture of her and smiling Hannah at some sort of activity today. It could be damage control, and probably is, but why does anyone even know about this? Why should they? As the six approach their teenage years there will be lots of fights, accusations that their mother is "ruining their life" etc. of course the press will report on it as Jon, who in my opinion acts like an emotional teenager, will make sure it is known. Not really demonstrating sound parenting ability!

[Maharincess]

I'm sure Kate got to Hannah and told her if she didn't stay home and film they would lose the house and won't be able to eat

According to the Hoffman book that's how she's always gotten them to film.

[DkNNy79]

I'm surprised it was Hannah.  Hannah was always attached to Kate's hip when she was younger.  I always thought she was Kate's favorite.

[sandyskyblue]

I used to watch Jon and Kate Plus 8 all the time and followed the Gosselins Without Pity blog also.....I watched the

Mother's Day show with Kate and the kids and I was impressed with the kids....my heart bleeds for Hannah, though, I

recall that she used to be Kate's favorite....

[MarysWetBar]

Yes it confused me that Hannah is the one wanting to stay with Jon as she was always Kate's favorite. If she can't stand to be there, imagine what it must be like for the others, especially Colin and Alexis who were treated on par with the way she treated the dogs.

[Adiba]

Yes it confused me that Hannah is the one wanting to stay with Jon as she was always Kate's favorite. If she can't stand to be there, imagine what it must be like for the others, especially Colin and Alexis who were treated on par with the way she treated the dogs.

Yes, Hannah was treated better than the other children, imo. I wonder what happened for her to lose her "most-favored- nation" status?

Also, I remember Kate treating poor little Joel like crap in some early episodes--wonder if that has changed any?

[mangosplums]

Anyone have any idea where I can watch the mother's day special online? I've searced everywhere, but no one seems to have uploaded it, which is weird because all the other episodes are uploaded.

[Absolom]

Oh, no, please, no.  I don't want the screaming witch even on as reruns.  

[mbutterfly]

I guess the screaming got bad in a few episodes, but I kind of enjoyed them when the babies were really little. I wouldn't mind seeing some of the old ones. 

[ChicksDigScars]

Alexis has lighter colored hair than the other two girls.

 

This makes me think of the Korean Dinner episode in the old house (before divorce) when all the other kids declared that Alexis looked the "least A-gin."  She's the only one where Kate's physical features seems to have snuck their way in.  Mady, of course, got her mother's personality.

[jcbrown]

I watched the "sneak peek" last night with Kate delighting in torturing her kids by making them think she was leaving them at home and going to Mexico. What a narcissistic horrible excuse for a human being she is. She made them cry! She kept whining about it being her 40th birthday and oooooooh woe is me turning 40 and single oh nooooooo. With her over-tanned skin she already looks much older than 40. I never completely hated her before on the shows but last night's peek into the new season (or special?) made me despise her as never before.

[OnceSane]

Tuesday's episode is considered part of season 3.

[OnceSane]

Forgot this…

Episode 6:

"Mother's Day Surprise"

A Mother's Day breakfast is organized by Cara and Mady, so Kate is banned from the kitchen and is completely in the dark about what's going on. Also: Kate reflects on her time as a mother.

Aired May 10, 2015.

[OnceSane]

Episode 7:

"The BIG Four Oh!"

Kate takes a trip to Mexico with the kids to celebrate her 40th birthday in Cancun.

Airs June 23, 2015.

[Honey]

I never hated Kate (there, I finally said it!).  I couldn't stand Maddie, and thought Jon was an ineffectual dud.  Still watching years later, and not much has changed.  Not that I ever gave half a turd in a training potty about this family - get back to me when you figure out truly dysfunctional, TLC.  ;-)

I feel exactly the same way about them.  Ineffectual is a good name for Jon's parenting.  I don't hate Kate either, and most of the time I wanted to smack Mady into next week.

I wish that now that TL C has time to fill, because they are not running 19 Kids and Counting reruns, that they would fill it with the old Jon and Kate Plus 8 episodes. Even though I know that this family has flaws, I think it would be nice to see the old episodes again.

I too would like to see this happen.

[walnutqueen]

I feel exactly the same way about them.  Ineffectual is a good name for Jon's parenting.  I don't hate Kate either, and most of the time I wanted to smack Mady into next week.

I too would like to see this happen.

 

There is a 3 hour "special" airing tomorrow night called "A Decade of Kate", showing favorite moments and memories from the show.

[walnutqueen]

"A Decade of Kate"

 

As Kate Gosselyn prepares to turn 40, she looks back at her 30s before she leaves them behind forever, giving viewers a chance to relive a decade's worth of happy memories and moments caught on film and shared with the public.

 

Airs Monday, June 22, 2015 - for 3 hours!

[ShaNaeNae]

God the commercial. I can't take another day of it playing. Her fakey fake "I cant believe I'm 40...and please say you can't either" or "I'm having a party and yooooou're invited". As is Kate Gosselin is the only woman to reach 40. Then, we're going to have to witness the bitchery of " why did I have to bring them with me? It's soooo hard! I'm outnumbered!"

[MarysWetBar]

God the commercial. I can't take another day of it playing. Her fakey fake "I cant believe I'm 40...and please say you can't either" or "I'm having a party and yooooou're invited". As is Kate Gosselin is the only woman to reach 40. Then, we're going to have to witness the bitchery of " why did I have to bring them with me? It's soooo hard! I'm outnumbered!"

Preach, sistah!lol

Edited to add: boy oh boy there has been some amazing editing tricks performed for this special!

Jon? Who's Jon? Haha

Edited June 23, 2015 by MarysWetBar

[Honey]

There is a 3 hour "special" airing tomorrow night called "A Decade of Kate", showing favorite moments and memories from the show.

I'm watching it right now.  :)

[walnutqueen]

I'm watching it right now.  :)

 

I have a DVR recording conflict, so jettisoned it.  Then I relented and decided to record the early am non-HD airing, just in case something comes up in this thread.  I'll either delete unwatched, or ff through most of it.   Let me know what you think, Honey, 'Kay?   :-)

[Absolom]

No earthly way am I spending/wasting in my view three hours on rehash of Kate.  it was bad enough the first time.  I still have the Mother's Day round cooling on the DVR. 

[SoSueMe]

I'm watching it right now.  :)

Me too and I find it hilarious that they are airing Plan B commercials, lol.

[Micks Picks]

I have to agree about the editing.  From what I saw, it was totally different than the originals.  This was more boring than wanting to smack Kate and Mady across the room.

[farmgal4]

Airs Monday, June 22, 2015 - for 3 hours!

I've watched bits and pieces. It's nothing but a replay of the old show.