'Jon & Kate' Returns, With A Separation

NEW YORK — Reality TV mom Kate Gosselin says she feels a sense of peace after making the decision to separate from her husband, Jon.

So should fans of "Jon & Kate Plus 8," who may have fretted that this family oriented reality show would be jeopardized by the co-stars' estrangement. For better or worse, the TLC series is as warm and fuzzy as ever, if two new episodes that aired Monday are any indication.

The episodes marked the end of a hiatus that began in June, when the Gosselins revealed to a huge audience of 10.6 million viewers their decision to split. The TLC network said then the couple needed time to "regroup," an odd word choice for partners in a broken marriage.

But having regrouped, the show is now focusing, as before, on everyday family activities with the couple's eight kids (5-year-old sextuplets and 8-year-old twins) – even if their mom and dad are "separately parenting" (another TLC term).

With a kitchen renovation project under way at the Gosselins' Pennsylvania compound, Kate fled the chaos with the kids for a beach in North Carolina. Jon stayed home to oversee the construction.

"It's kinda strange," Jon said. "We're remodeling our kitchen in the middle of our separation."

He added, "The decision to have the kids at the beach and me at home gave us a break to think about what we need to do as parents for our kids."

Then, when Kate and the youngsters returned home, Jon had taken his leave.

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"This was my first official turn with the kids," Kate said. "It didn't feel very much different. It just felt more like the future."

Kate supervised a camp-out for the kids in the yard.

"This is a very, very difficult time right now," she told the camera from her interview chair, a change from the couch she and Jon had shared on the series in the past. "But my main goal is to make this transition as easy and painless ... for the kids as possible."

As co-stars of TLC's biggest hit, Jon and Kate also have been magnets for the tabloid press since their marriage began to crumble.

But "Jon & Kate" fans (and TLC) needn't worry about scandalmongering from the outside world. The show still tells its own squeaky-clean story. The show's opening still has Jon declaring, "It might be a crazy life," and Kate chiming in, "But it's our life."

On "Jon & Kate," it's almost as if nothing in life had changed.

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TLC is owned by Discovery Communications LLC.

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On the Net:

'Jon & Kate Plus 8': http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/jon-and-kate/jon-and-kate.html

Comments

[berrycooda]

OH BOODY HOOO HOOO....

Next years episode will probably be a big reconciliation and a great
bigggg TV wedding with all the kids as ushers and bridesmaids.

The cameraman can be the best man.

[picval]

Why all the negative? Those kids have Big Fun! They are well behaved and well cared for, jeoulousy is my thought. The media has said that it cost almost 300,000. to raise a child until they are 18, you do the math!

Go Kate!

[aquarius2001]

First Jon and Kate exploit their 8 kids...now Nadia's gearing up for her reality show to exploit her 8 kids.

When will the madness stop!?!!??!!??!!

[officer milkbone]

When the American public refuses to watch their show.

[majorcynic]

It appears that "8" is the magic number.

[rockinrod]

Another American Train Wreck...

[GoodFeathers]

If she wanted to go out with me, I would hesitate a bit because eight kids came out of her. No wonder why Jon left Kate.

[PunKinPai]

I'm sure I'm not alone when I ask, WTF???

[DeeDeeDaGumby]

well its a good thing to know you are not some shallow , empty headed je.rk ..

[VOTER]

Well said.

[Tanya Partida]

they were delivered by c section, not her cooch. lol

[Terry6202]

Six at once to be exact.

[Shzron1946]

People who love each other try to take care of each other. I saw Jon trying to do that, while I saw Kate always trying to down-grade Jon. To me, he tried always to show her respect, while she disrespected him repeatedly, especially in those little interviews where they had to sit in that chair together. I saw so many instances where Kate could have just let something go and would not--even when they were talking about things that had happened in other episodes and the audience KNEW she was wrong--even when the show would run a clip that showed she was obviously wrong. She was so intent on sniping at him that she would deny, deny, deny!

She got what she deserves--even asked for it, since the divorce is her idea. That bodyguard's wife doesn't have a thing to worry about, he doesn't want her, he has seen her in action up close and personal.

[geejai54]

What you saw was John acting for the cameras. Have you ever lived with a passive agressive man? It can be unnerving, it can can drive you to the brink. John played to the cameras as the misunderstood man. He left the majority of the care of the 8 kids to Kate , his contribution was to be the adult play leader. Kate might have some conrol issues but John's behavior did not help. You have no idea what he did when they were alone together. Yes Kate is a strong woman, but John is a weak man. Not a good combination. I beleive that if and when Kate finds a storng man, a real man , you will see a completely different side of her. As I continue to say, women dont let men be men, either they are or they are not.

[jerkzilla]

"some control issues"? She was a monster, through and through. When Jon finds an understanding caring and patient woman who doesn't treat him as if he's a child she barely tolerates, you'll see a caring and self-confident father.

[verycold]

I watched it because I use to watch it long before all the bad stuff. I get the impression that Jon is thrilled to be on his own. I get the impression that Kate is unsure of herself and testing the waters about just about everything. The idea of being lone doesn't seem to appeal to her, but to Jon he seems glad to get a break from the family. I know he keeps saying that they are doing this for the kids, and he misses them, but I am not buying it. He wants to be single and that means unloading those kids. If you look back to when they were about 3, he touched them differently. There was sheer happiness on his face when he played with them. He scooped them up often and just seemed thrilled to watch them grow. Now it is like he is a babysitter, a nice one, but one that really would rather be hanging out with grown-ups. Kate, on the other hand, is about the same with them. She has always lacked being carefree with them and still finds it hard to just plain have fun without worrying about the mess. She needs counseling about how to pick her battles.

[Shzron1946]

I think he is glad to get away from Kate. When he is on his own with the kids he is very different.

[MelodieSays]

Somebody stop this Dog&Pony show

[lukebenward]

Keight (Re: Sleeping in a tent): "I slept fine. I can sleep on a sidewalk."

Then WHY do you "require" first class accommodations for speaking engagements? Liar. Phony.

Parting shot... I mean, closing shot (Re: Her dedication to her kids): "I'll do anything for my kids."

Then WHY did you want to buy a condo for yourself in North Carolina and visit the kids at the McMansion (owned in trust by Pat Robertson's 700 Club; if you check the deed) when it's your week? The *only* reason you backpedal on it is because it makes you look like you're ALSO abandoning those kids, just like Jon is living it up in a paid-by-so­meone-else Manhattan apartment. Geez. When the (((KIDS))) essentially live alone in the house 24/7 and either mom visits for a week or a dad visits for a week, there's something wrong!

Like visiting a horse you have in a stable in the country when you live in the city and you only go on weekends to visit it.

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

I'd rather watch paint dry and peel away!

[sparky09]

I refuse to watch this program & can't wait for the day that it's cancelled.

[EJ2968]

Me too! These two are pathetic. Poor kids!

[deeppeace]

Write to TLC. I did, and they replied that they take viewer's feedback seriously. I told them I wasn't watching any of their channels until they cancel this child abuse.

[Terry6202]

Excellent. I email them but no response.

[Terry6202]

Exactly.

[StephenDedalus82]

This is the most boring show I've ever seen. "Well, we went grocery shopping today. We got yogurt." How fascinating.

[westphilly726]

LOL.You forgot "picked up some fruit leathers also"

[clearlythinking]

Jon refused to go for marriage counseling, it was stated in one of the interviews with Kate. She said she wanted to try counseling but Jon said no he just wanted out. Kate I agree was very hard on him but I think it was more than that. I get the feeling that he feels suffocated with all these kids and the responsibilities of it all. He keeps saying I am only 32 and I have eight kids. I must say Kate seems a lot calmer now. Geez the kids were getting all messed up with the marshmallows and she didn't freak out and they were shoveling down the chocolate and the graham crackers. At any rate these kids are adorable, charming lovable kids who seem to be fine. I do not think they are being hurt at all by being on a TV show. Jon and Kate made a wise decision to leave the kids in the house and the parents will be the ones to move out and rotate. If they keep handling things the way they are I think the kids will be fine in the long run. Divorce is always sad and hurtful for kids but you have to keep reassuring them that they are loved by BOTH parents and hopefully all will be well.

[KnowzyRowzy]

Who do you think you're fooling! LOL

[EJ2968]

My question is: what happens when one of them gets into a serious relationship or marries someone else? The parents are the ones that move in and out of the house instead of the kids, so does that mean, that Jon will have his girlfiend(s) there and Kate will bring her men when it is their turn in the house? And if they don't do that, it isn't "reality". I mean, if they want to be "real" then they would show Jon out on the prowl... yuck. Nevermind, that image made me throw up a little in mouth!

[Shzron1946]

I think that Jon is already having his girlfriend over. One of the boys imitated him on one of the shows about the crooked houses. He kept saying his girlfriend would be coming over. He never spoke about girlfriends before. Boys like to do what their dads do.

[nirak]

Other than having kids what did these two parents ever do to be in the news?
I am sick and tired to see them or hear from them.

[LetsGetToWork]

Second that. What a snoozefest...

ZZZZZZZZZZ­ZZZZZZZZZZ­ZZZZZZZZZZ­ZZZZZZZZZZ­ZZZZZZZZZZ­ZZZZZZZZZZ­ZZZZZ

[Linda Petuck Demas]

I've only seen tis show a couple of times and boy... what some parents won't do for the money. I don't blame Jon for leaving, Kate is such a B____. I don't know how he lasted this long, and what a slap in the face, to have your usband sneaking around with your tummy tuck doctors daughter. I feel bad for the kids, there not gonna grow up to be normal kids. They have everything they want for free right now, what's gonna happen when they actually have to work for what they want. Besides the tummy tuc, Kate has to do something about that hair. The Rod Stewart thing has got to go.

[MsKittyCat]

Yes i agree. I am over Jon and Kate....I think this has been going on for a long time. Meaning they played all of us!!!!!!!!

[Terry6202]

Actually, Kate is no different from the many wives of Hedge Fund managers - conspicuous consumption while the rest of the world tries to survive in this global recession.