We can only hope her next husband beats her kids who all grow up to be strippers and dope fiends.

These parents have failed their children in the most basic ways, using them as a cash cow and a means for self-promotion.

besides the fact that I watched it, is that Kate doesn't realize that the show is over.

It is about a prophetic (not to mention quite mad) artist named Tom Harris who saw early on just how disturbingly distopian a society into "reality entertainment" has the potential to become, and has made communicating this central to his projects.

It works. One cannot see the film without admitting that this can be an awfully scary trend, and America is headed right into the heart of it.

Lately, I often seem to be remined of this film every time I open the newspaper. Or the web browser.

Actually I'm thinking that this new twist in the JK+8 saga will serve only to prolong America's misery. Divorce, counseling, temporary reconciliations, ever more heinous countercharges -- they can spin this thing out for years.

I've never watched these two monsters of avarice or any other reality show denizen at work but unless you live in a cave it's difficult to escape their noxious presence. So I'm resigned to years more of dodging them on 30-second HGTV promotional spots and checkout stand People magazine covers. It's just part of living in America today, like E-coli poisoning.

Did they do it for the money? If you had 8 kids to pay for, and a modest income at best, you would probably be tempted too.

At first, it was just a show about parents being parents, which was fine. But after all while, the observer effect kicked in, and it wasn't so much a show about parents as a show about people living in front of the cameras. They probably thought they could manage it, that the cameras and the attention wouldn't change them, that they could provide for their kids and stop the show when they needed to; if they had stopped it a year ago, they might have made it.

Fame and attention seems to amplify the qualities of people, turning them into caricatures of themselves over time. Plus, America seems to love putting people up on pedestals, only to relish knocking them down.

I think you've failed as a thoughtful critic here - being high-handed and using snap judgment instead of the insight and criticism for which you're being paid.

I say you try it again and try to rise above the same old stuff.

It looks like John is already having a mid-life crisis. Those two new diamond stud earrings of his look like a reach for his lost youth.

He is as much a child as those kids are.

If TLC had any compassion they would call a halt to the show for the good of those kids. How they will support 8 children without their TV money will be interesting to see.

Before these two take the drastic step of ending a marriage, they should consider having another child. A new baby can really bring couples together!

Now get on the phone, get some nannies lined up. I have a meeting with some producers for a new show.

Heather, this is the most astute analysis I have seen of the Jon and Kate phenomenon and also of the break-up. Yes, those fawning young female fans clearly didn't help the marriage any. It is questionable when people go the press instead of to their own family when they have concerns. And reality show stardom has got to play havoc with a person's personal life, because the personal becomes professional. I am reminded of the porn stars who only have sex at work. When your life becomes your work, who you are becomes lost in how you want to seem. I think the entire disintegration of the Gosselin family was unnecessary and rather a shame. I worry for those adorable children. But then, I realize my two oldest children were the products of a broken home, as are most kids in America these days. With their family's millions, I expect the Gosselin brood will get by. I hope the show will fade away now that its basic premise has evaporated. It would be a good thing for all of them if it does.

I watched the show last night and thought it was extremely sad. No matter what anyone thinks about the fact that Jon and Kate decided to do a reality show about their family and subsequently became celebrities with all the dysfunction that entails, it was undeniable that these were two people experiencing the destruction of their 10-year marriage. They're both obviously in a lot of pain. I'd probably have the same robotic tone Kate did if I was trying to keep it together while describing that kind of pain and loss to a television crew. Poor Jon seems to be indeed going through some sort of mid-life crisis that can't turn out well for him, at least in the short run. Yes, their show won't last much longer, but for now it's going on (does anyone stop to think that they might be under contract with TLC?). So let them do their thing and stop being so judgmental and hateful. That goes especially for you, Havrilesky. Your snark is entertaining when you're writing about I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here or America's Next Top Model. But when you're dealing with people going through a very real loss, it just seems like kicking them when they're down.

A few weeks back, Salon ran a cartoon about this very idea. Link at signature.

TLC (which, amazingly stands for "The Learning Channel", a name now as vestigial as MTV or VH1) has the biggest show in its history. Kate will still need the money the show brings in to take care of her kids. The show will not end anytime soon, mark my words.

watched this last show (or at least the actual footage where they announced their split - than God for TiVo).

I cannot pretend to understand the premise of the show since I have not watched it until last night, but my 14 year old daughter TiVoed every episode. She really liked it. I think she liked the thought of having so many sisters (she only has a little brother and has never forgiven my wife and I for inflicting him on her).

Anyway, I liked the reference by Jon to doing "whatever was best for my kids" and then of course the answer to that is to divorce and then I read move to NYC to be an absent father.

I think that in reality this show is actually a pretty good reflection on our society as a whole - parents have become obsessed with THEIR happiness at the expense of the KIDS' happines. You know, when you have eight kids (or even one kid some would argue), you put your own self interest - and HAPPINESS if need be - aside and do what is right for the kids.

There is something to be said for "suffering in silence". That is a virtue that no one follows anymore. Nowadays, if we are unhappy we believe that there is no way that those around us can possibly by happy unless we are happy. Therefore, since we are not happy, it is best to walk out of the marriage so that the little ones will ultimately be happy.

Insanity! Shut your ass up around the kids, and then leave the bitch (or bastard) when the kids move out. Until then, do not inflict your misery on them. Take it from someone who has been through alot of marriage counseling - it can be done.

And in the end, you might just find that your marriage comes back around and you will definitely have a feeling of satisfaction in yourself as a parent. After all, we may fail as a spouse, but don't most of us still believe deep down inside that our most important job is being a good parent?

Oh well, I believe that this show will be off the air within a year and we will never hear of Jon and Kate again. At least I hope so.