Scoop

Freebies and the Fate of Jon & Kate

Will a hiatus bring the reality celebs a reality check?

-Stephanie Elliot

As much as we want to, we just can’t tear ourselves away from the reality TV family that has become a sensational train wreck, and every day some more news on their relationship, their family and their future surfaces. Yes, we’re talking Jon & Kate. Again.

TLC is finally showing some moral direction though and has halted the filming of the show. Jon & Kate will take a hiatus until filming begins again August 3, just in time for the sextuplets to start kindergarten.

The LA Times reported that, “Because of all the turmoil in the Gosselin’s marriage, TLC does not have enough footage to put together new episodes right now as its production schedule had become very last minute. Episodes this season were often completed as late as the day of airing.”

Maybe that’s because we didn’t know if Jon would be in Utah snowboarding, or if he’d be out with his ‘girlfriend,’ 23-year old Deanna Hummel, with whom he still denies there has been an affair. But recent rumors swirling from The New York Daily News suggest that she may make some guest appearances on future episodes. I can just see Deanna and Kate traipsing off for mani-pedis while Kate demands Jon stay home with their brood. Now THAT would make for some fabulous reality TV.

While divorce proceedings have already started, it remains to be seen if the freebies for the family will continue. And if you’ve heard so much about Jon & Kate lately that you can’t stomach any more, the amount of freebies they receive for doing their show will really make you ill.

It’s no secret that all the events they attend are comped, from cake-decorating excursions, to Crayola Factory and Chocolate World visits. Kate’s tummy tuck, Jon’s hair implants (that don’t seem to be working very well), and the couple’s teeth-whitening were also free, but did you know the family received an organic COW, the kids’ beds and their two purebred German Shepherds (that Kate didn’t want) gratis? And that for each show they film, the family is paid $75,000? Do they need any more money or swag? Or is greed pushing them to the outer limits of reality?

Other freebies throughout the show’s five seasons include carpeting, solar house panels, musical instruments, tickets to events such as ball games, amusement parks, theaters, zoos and museums, all their vacations (including the 30th birthday trip Kate surprised Jon with to Key West), grocery gift cards and diapers their first year. Come to think of it, I’m wondering if they ever had to purchase a single diaper for the sextuplets.

With so much free stuff, it’s hard to feel sorry for the family. It’s also hard to imagine them ever wanting to quit doing the show. It is THEIR reality, and unfortunately, at the expense of a marriage that might have survived otherwise, there’s no stopping the Gosselins from reaping the rewards. As Kate said in Monday’s episode, “The show must go on.” The marriage can end, but the show must go on? That is a pretty warped reality if you ask me, but once again, this is reality TV.

I am just waiting for the marriage counselors to step in and offer their assistance for free, or maybe they already know it’s a lost cause. No matter, because you can bet there’ll be more people than ever tuning in when they begin taping again in August to find out the Fate of Jon & Kate!

Stephanie Elliot is an associate editor at Betty, and she also answers your parenting questions at Just Another Manic Mommy. Visit her at manicmommy.blogspot.com or stephanieelliot.com.