After weeks of tumbling ratings and a never ending barrage of tabloid stories, TLC announced today that they have decided to take the show in a different direction – minus Jon!

“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,” TLC president Eileen O’Neill said in a statement. “The family has evolved and we are attempting to evolve with it; we feel that Kate’s journey really resonates with our viewers.”

Also in the works is a project with Kate for 2010, possibly the talk show we’ve heard rumors of?

“Kate Plus Eight” will continue to focus on the eight Gosselin children — 5 year-old sextuplets and 8 year-old twins — but now “include a deeper focus on Kate’s role…and her journey as a single mother.”

Last week, only 1.7 million viewers tuned in to “Jon & Kate,” nearly 80 percent down from the season premiere.

TLC also said that they would continue their “exclusive” relationship with Jon Gosselin and that he would continue to appear on the series but on a less regular basis.

“Kate Plus Eight” will premiere Nov. 22.

Will you watch?

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Tonight, for the first time since June 22 when the couple announced they were separating, Jon and Kate Plus 8 will air on TLC .

In that time, Jon has been to France with Hailey Glassman, dated Kate Major and moved to New York City.

This is definitely not the family we met 3 years ago. They use nannies when the other is not around and only appear to be having a good time when they’re filming.

TLC president Eileen O’Neill spoke last week about upcoming changes for the show.

“Jon and Kate have never said they were perfect, which has made them relatable and created an undeniable connection with the viewers. We will continue to capture this family’s journey in a respectful and sensitive way.”

“You’re still going to see two parents that love their kids, but you’ll be seeing them parenting separately,” she went on. “You’ll see what it’s like when Kate has to put up a tent for a backyard camping experience by herself. Or, you’ll see Jon trying to cook up a pizza for the kids.”

Viewers may even see Jon and Kate date, O’Neill said.

Added O’Neill, “As far as new people and places that may be cycling into Jon and Kate’s life, we are taking it on a case-by-case basis.”

I guess viewers will have to figure out why they fell in love with this family and see if the new format fits into their values.

I’m still not sure why the ’show must go on’.

Will you be watching?

{SPLASH}

According to People.com Jon and Kate filed documents to initiate a legal split at the Bucks County Courthouse in Reading, Pa., this afternoon.

This will not come as a surprise to anyone who has watched the show. The pair, who long maintained a tense relationship, have recently been divided on whether or not to continue their TV show, with Jon wanting a less high-profile life, while Kate appeared to remain committed to staying in the public eye.

Today, Jon told RadarOnline.com that he has “no idea” when Kate would be coming home.

“I’ve been by myself for four days,” he said. But when asked if he’s happy she’s gone, he said: “No, because I’m down a person.”

He did say the kids were anxious for their mom to return, although when asked if he knew where she is and when she’d return to their $1.1-million estate, he answered “nope” to both.

Additionally, Jon gave another impromptu press conference to fans and reporters Sunday afternoon in fron of his property.

He told onlookers that he wasn’t speaking to Deanna Hummel — the school teacher with whom was reported to have had an affair with — “as much” since “the things went down.”

Very Sad. No one wants to see a family torn apart.

PHOTOCREDIT:SPLASH

The Gosselins are once again at the center of the media limelight, after Kate was seen allegedly spanking one of her eight children.

In pictures obtained by In Touch Magazine, The mom of 8 is seen grabbing her daughter, Leah, by the arm and smacked her rear end before walking away from the crying child.

The photos show Kate holding her squirming child by the arm, and the next image of Leah crying and holding her rear. The photos do not actually reveal her hand touching her daughter.

According to the magazine, Leah had been asked to stop blowing a whistle and was not listening.

“The girl was screaming and crying. Kate just pushed her away and walked off with her coffee,” a witness told the magazine. “Her older sisters were trying to make Leah feel better.”

In response to the recent controversy, Gosselin is defending her actions.

“Whether the paparazzi are there or not, I am a mother first,” Gosselin told Life & Style Weekly. “I love my children and when they misbehave, I discipline them as I deem appropriate for the situation.”

As a mom, I know that it can be very frustrating when one of your children won’t listen, especially when the others kids are watching.

I guess for most people, its just uncomfortable to see someone punish their child whether they scream at them or tap them on the butt. This is something that she should have dealt with privately.

One thing that Kate needs to remember is that because she allowed cameras into her home for the last 3 years, the world is now watching all of the time – and scrutinizing everything she does.

This may be the cost of Reality TV…

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Reality star Jon Gosselin is firing back at new reports that he was cheating while his wife Kate was across the country promoting her new book.

The latest controversy came after the busy dad was seen leaving a bar at 2 a.m. with a mystery woman and without his wedding band.

“Like most people, I have male and female friends and I’m not going to end my friendships just because I’m on TV,” he says in a statement. “However, being out with them late at night showed poor judgment on my part. What makes me sick is that my careless behavior has put my family in this uncomfortable position. My family is the most important thing in my life and it kills me that these allegations have hurt them.”

The Gosselins, who are raising 8-year-old twins and 4-year-old sextuplets, have dealt with similar allegations in the past. In February, Jon was spotted hanging out with a couple of female college students from Juniata College, located near his hometown in Pennsylvania.

While the world condemned him, a College student who was at the bar defended Jon by saying,

“He was very well-behaved, a gentleman. He talked more about his wife than his kids. He was very friendly, very approachable.”

Shortly after the controversy, the couple admitted that raising their children in public has been stressful for their marriage.

“Kate’s career is taking off and I’m a bit lost,” Jon admitted. “This struggle has definitely put some tension in our marriage.”

I feel bad for Jon because he’s the one that is always getting a tough rap. Everyone goes out sometimes and has a few drinks. Chances are his friend pool has gotten smaller since the kids arrived and the show started.

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• The Gosselins Talk To Ladies Home Journal
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• Jon and Kate Catch Up With Oprah

Jon and Kate Gosselin pose for the cover of Ladies Home Journal with their 8 children. The couple spoke to the magazine about the ‘breakup’ rumors and their hectic life.

Here are some highlights:

The full interview and many pictures are available in this month’s issue of Ladies Home Journal

VIA POPEATER

Amidst rumors that they are headed to splitsville, Jon and Kate and their eight kids appeared on Oprah yesterday to update her on how things have been going and offer some advice to a family that is about to welcome quadruplets.

Since their last visit the sextuplets turned 4 years old and started preschool. The family moved into a new home and took a special trip to Hawaii, where Jon and Kate renewed their wedding vows in front of their eight children.

And if eight isn’t enough…they recently welcomed two new members to the family, puppies named Shoka and Nala.

During filming fo their popular tv show, Kate keep’ some semblance of order in their Pennsylvania home by having everyone follow a few strict rules.

1. Cameras aren’t allowed past the island in Kate’s kitchen.
2. Shoes off. Crew members shoot footage for the show in their socks.
3. No filming in the bedrooms. The kids—and parents—need privacy.
4. Typically, there’s no shooting on Sundays because the entire family goes to church.
5. If there’s something they don’t want to be filmed, the Gosselins can put up their hands or ask the cameramen to go away.

Jennifer and Kevin, a couple from San Antonio, Texas, appeared via Skype to ask Jon and Kate for some advice. Jennifer is pregnant with quadruplets—two boys and two girls—and the couple already have two other children!

“I would say it’s definitely doable,” Kate says. “As our babies were coming home, I remember when we got up to four—we brought two and then one and then the fourth one home—things started to get a little hairy. But I’ve always said, ‘Between us, we have four arms.’”

Kate says parents of multiples may also need more time to bond with each child. “I can honestly say, looking back, it took a full year until I felt solely and completely bonded with each of my babies,” she says. “You don’t have enough time in the day to sit and do that bonding.”

While there’s never enough time, sleep or money, Jon says he wouldn’t change a thing. “That was our decision [to keep all the babies], and we would never take it back ever,” he says. “Never regretted it.”

In addition to the advice and update, Oprah also posted a lengthy excerpt from the couple’s book Multiple Blessings.

The couple sat down and answered all of the questions that have been sent to them by viewers.

Here are some highlights:

Are you worried that the exposure the kids have from being on TV will keep them from having a ‘normal’ childhood?

K – Our kids lives are amazingly enriched. They have traveled more than they would have ever traveled for a family with 8 kids.
J – They are so well adjusted now and so warm and friendly. You walk into a room and they’re like “hey”.
K – People think that our kids will be scared for life in doing this show. They are learning incredibly more than they would have ever ever learned. It’s been a good think over all. Do we think they will be upset with us? No! They will be thrilled that they will have the funding to go to college when we are done with this. the kids are positively effected if anything. We don’t worry about them.
J – They’re fine.

I have always wanted to know if are going to let your kids get involved with different activities or if you think it would be too hectic?

K – They are already involved in sports. Kara and Maddy already do sports. Kara does soccer and Mady does clay class
J – and skiing
K – Kara does skiing and rollerblading Mady does spa and beaching(?). Is that a sport?
J – No that is not a sport – next!

When your kids turn 18 will you buy them a car or make them get a job?

K – 8 kids will we buy them a car? I don’t think so. As soon as we can have them out there. They can make their own money. Maybe we’ll match it. They’re gonna share a car.
J – They’ll have mopeds by then. They’ll be like a gang.

What are your favorite things to do together?

K – I feel like we do everything together.
J – I like Friday night movie night with my kids. Just hanging out watching whatever. We have dinner together.
K – That’s nice. We talk about the events of the day.
J&K – We travel together.
J – Going to Utah together as a family. Going to Hawaii. North Carolina.
K – That was awesome. Perfect

I would just like to know if you would like to have any more children? Just checking…

J – I ‘m not hoping to get pregnant again.

K – Yup, I lost all my weight just to turn around and gain it.

J – We don’t plan – we don’t know.

K – I think eight is enough. Wrong show!

Could you go through each kid and name one thing about them that makes them to easy to parent and one thing that makes them hard to parent?

Kara:

J – Very easy going.
K – Sweet and Kind yet she holds her feelings in when she’s angry.
J – Then she explodes

Maddie:

K – She never holds in emotions or feelings, but she’s nice when she wants to be.
J – She has a big heart – a really big heart
K – Yes she does

Alexis:

K – Alexis is smart, catches on fast she will ask what she doesn’t know.
J – She’s very..
K – sneaky
J – devious and naughty
K – but very cute

Hannah:

J – Big helper, but she can have a huge attitude.
K – She thinks she rules the world

Aiden:

J – Everyone thinks he’s cute and cuddly
K – Yes, and he is – yet he can’t do anything include dress himself. He likes to be a baby.

Colin:

K – I could talk an hour about Colin.
J – He’s a caring guy
K – He’s very sweet
J – But, he’s the most stubborn person.
K – Honestly the most stubborn person I’ve met in my lifetime. Colin is going to give us a run for our money – for sure

Leah:

J – Cute
K – She’s just nice
J – I know. She’s the mastermind
K – She’s secretly naughty
J – She’s the mastermind behind all of it.
K – I know, but I buy all the cuteness
J – Yup

Joel:

K – Joel is a good kid J – He’s a little winey
K – ehhh -

The couple and their 8 children (sextuplets and twins) have been very busy filming their hit TLC show Jon and Kate plus 8.

If you caught last night’s episode than you were able to see the chaotic footage from the Good Housekeeping cover photo shoot. The article also features an exclusive excerpt from The Gosselins’ new book, “Multiple Blessings”

Here are some quotes from the interview:

During the First Months with Eight Children
KATE: “There were days I just wanted to cover my head with a pillow. But I knew my babies were counting on me, and I had to keep it together. I had to keep it together for Jon, who was falling apart – he’d been laid off when I was pregnant and was applying for every job under the sun.”

The Strain on their Marriage
KATE: “But our marriage is going to go through many more years of fine-tuning. Right now it’s taking a beating, because we have a house full of children. People see us arguing, and they say ‘When will Kate and Jon split up?’ Well, never. He’s the only one who’s been by my side through all of this.”

Life Will Never Be Normal Again
KATE: “People come here and say, ‘I feel like I’m watching your show.’ That’s because this is our show. We will never feel normal again, TV show or not. Does anyone see a family with twins and sextuplets every day? No. It took me until the little kids were almost two to completely accept it.”

Parenting Eight Kids
KATE: “I’m trying to focus on the enjoyable moments, rather than keeping them clean every minute. You have to realize you’re setting the rules for life. With six, we have no room for error.”
KATE: “It’s hard to turn my brain off at night. When I choose Leah to take to the grocery store, and I don’t know when I can tell the rest of them when their chances will be, that’s guilt.”
KATE: “Mady will come in and close the toilet lid and sit there and talk to me while I’m in the shower. I like to hear what they have to say. For me, that’s more like normal parenting.”

When They’re All Grown Up
JON: “I suddenly realized that I’m going to have five son-in-laws.”
KATE: “I have very vivid dreams of our family in the future – a house full of love, laughter, and lots of grandkids to spoil. I’m already worried about that empty-nest syndrome. Just as they came in a big group and overwhelmed us, they will likely leave in a big group, and the quiet will be even more deafening.”

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• Oprah Speaks With Jon And Kate Plus 8
• Jon and Kate Renew Their Vows In Hawaii
• More Jon and Kate in Hawaii

SOURCE:JUSTJARED