In the series finale Kate and the kids milk cows at a dairy farm. Jon and the kids learn about firefighting and help out at a fire station. Then, Jon and Kate speak about recent life events, the series and the ups and downs of the last few years.
Photo credit: TLC
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56 Responses to It’s a Crazy Life, But it’s Our Life – Series Finale
I am so sad that the show is ending after the last episode tonight I might cry after it’s over!
So sorry the show has to end. I wish Kate and the kids the best.
Cheer up! Kate has a show in the spring, and I am pretty certain that she will share updates.
I’m sad that another family falls prey to divorce. Show or no show, this is a real family with real issues — happy and sad. God Bless you Kate!
I agree with you all friends! Looking forward to watching tonight although I’m sure it will be a tear jerker for those of us who have watched those kids grow up before our eyes!
Kate…if you ever see this, You have handled yourself with grace, class and dignity. Your children will continue to be so proud of the Christian lady that you have been and continue to be. May God Bless You with the greatest of blessings and the sweetest of joys that only God can provide!
Now that it’s here, I’m really sorry to see the last show. I’m all set to watch.
just finished watching…it was good. really good. it’s sad to watch the ending…the clips of different times. the song is very appropriate…and sad.
i think it is more apparent to me than ever that kate loved (and may still love) jon even through these last few months. god bless them all.
I agree with that kimmie.
Aww! Such sweet kids. That was a nice thank you from Kate at the end. I’ll miss the show.
Ann, that was a nice thank you that Kate gave. Kimmie, I really really liked it too. I’m going to watch it again for the reshow. I missed why the Mady and Cara didn’t go to the firehouse. It was a nice ending, especially given how it happened all so unexpectedly.
Thanks for posting a little preview, ladies. Those of us on the west coast are looking forward to it!
I teared up a bit – especially seeing the clips of J&K laughing together, hugging or kissing. My, how those kids have grown. Seems like only yesterday when I watched the first documentary. No matter how much people slice, dice and over analyze the children, I think they are very happy, well-adjusted kids and are going to be just fine. I will miss seeing them grow up.
I made sure I could sit down and watch the whole episode tonite. I didn’t like Kate to much in the past. However my thoughts about her have changed in this past year. I feel for her and the kids. I think it has been very important to show what really goes on in a divorce. I myself am going through a divorce. This was bittersweet for me to watch, I agree with Kate it is too soon.
I wish the kids and Kate only good, and happiness.
Nancy I totally agree with your post. I believe they are happy, well adjusted kids who will be just fine, too.
I thought it was sad to see the clips of a happier times, but it was good to see. I think it was important to see how Jon was around his family then. Huge difference now.
Kimmie, I think Kate loved and may still love Jon. But, I think her desire to have a man who is capable outwins that love. I also think that she’s so hurt by what he did (not only his cheating behavior, but his psychological behavior/warfare) that she is resigned to raising the kids as a single parent in a thriving and healthy atmosphere.
I think Kate and the kids will do just fine. With her new show, I’m sure we’ll see the kids again, if not in person, but pictures. By the way, did anybody get the feeling that maybe Kate Plus 8 will be the new show after all? The way she said at the end “it’s not over”?
Yeah..I really loved the episode too! And Theresa, you were so correct about the importance of seeing “the old Jon” versus “the new Jon.”
Lily, I hate to tell you this, but the reason that Mady and Cara didn’t get to go to the firehouse with the everyone else all (IMO) all boiled down to the fact that Mady was whiny and said, “I like making projects with Mommy.” Immediately, he jerked the marker away from her, said, “You’re done! Go inside, you’re not going and your poster is going in the trash!” Or something to that effect. Then he pretty much did the same thing to Cara and wouldn’t let her go either. That REALLY struck me the wrong way and had both me and my daughter’s jaws on the floor.
Also was anyone else taken aback when he mumbled something in the interview chair about “losing his twenties to kids” and now he has “matured” and “knows what it takes to make things work with Hailey???” I felt that was sooo inappropriate to mention PERIOD (by the way Jon…YOU ARE STILL A MARRIED MAN!), much less on a show as sentimental and sweet as this one was.
One more question for y’all that I should know the answer to since I was in the television business for several years…however I’m drawing a blank…since the show is over, will TLC still be allowed to show reruns? My thinking is yes, because TLC owns the episodes; however since this situation has gotten so sticky…I’m not sure! If one of you intelligent, lovely, imperfect ladies out there could let me know, I’d so appreciate it!
God Bless You All!
lily in case you miss it again, cara and mady were fighting over the markers and cara was really grousing…i kept expecting jon to tell them to stop but he didn’t. then mady said *i like what we do with mommy better* and jon told them both they were done. he said they were rude and weren’t going to the firehouse and made them go in the house.
i think kate has matured a lot and has gotten gentler. i think she is still opinionated and likes to be in control but i think the circumstances she has had to contend with has made her relax her attitude a lot.
i don’t know about the kate + 8…from what i’ve read it seems they are talking about the show that kate was going to do in addition to kate + 8. but i wouldn’t rule out anything until the divorce and the lawsuit against jon is over. i think those two things will be instrumental in the filming of the kids.
since i think jon is using filming of his kids as leverage with kate and tlc i think we will see a version of kate + 8 and then another show of just kate doing adult kinds of things w/o the kids.
i guess we’ll all find out soon enough.
jacquelyn i think tlc will still be able to run reruns…look at all the old shows we see…beverly hillbillies, andy griffith, 90210 etc.
also i was amazed that jon called himself divorced. and then kind of mentioned some of the things he did after they separated. i guess when he left he felt himself already divorced. he seemed to think that excused things. i think they filmed him before the lawsuit and before he and hailey split up.
i don’t think he has matured at all…i think he is less responsible than when he and kate were together.
what i didn’t like was how he talked about new york and said when things get crazy then he can come home to his country house….he makes things sound so much better than they really are. the fact is he is coming back to the kids’ house to have his custody time with them.
Lily, I hate to tell you this, but the reason that Mady and Cara didn’t get to go to the firehouse with the everyone else all (IMO) all boiled down to the fact that Mady was whiny and said, “I like making projects with Mommy.” Immediately, he jerked the marker away from her, said, “You’re done! Go inside, you’re not going and your poster is going in the trash!” Or something to that effect. Then he pretty much did the same thing to Cara and wouldn’t let her go either. That REALLY struck me the wrong way and had both me and my daughter’s jaws on the floor.
Also was anyone else taken aback when he mumbled something in the interview chair about “losing his twenties to kids” and now he has “matured” and “knows what it takes to make things work with Hailey???” I felt that was sooo inappropriate to mention PERIOD (by the way Jon…YOU ARE STILL A MARRIED MAN!), much less on a show as sentimental and sweet as this one was.
Jacquelyn, that struck me the wrong way too. He took a hissy fit because she said she liked making projects with Mommy. Mommy, who he hates. And, that hatred really came out. Instead of diffusing that comment with humor (which he doesn’t have) or common parental sense, he flips off. Man, this guy is a piece of work!
I also was taken aback when he mumbled his diatribe again about not “living” his twenties. It was very innapropriate indeed. What gets me is that’s his whole excuse for how he has behaved this past year and what was the main catalyst of their divorce. ..”I didn’t live my 20′s”. Bullshit. It makes me sad because when the kids see this in print, they may take it as their dad didn’t want them and their life or didn’t love them enough to choose them. If he remembered he was a married man in the first place, he would’ve put his God, his wife, and his kids first and most likely would be living at home in a happier family life.
lily in case you miss it again,
Kimmie, how’d you know? Lol, I got all ready to watch it again and heard the ending song and saw the end clips instead.
Thanks for the fill in guys. I had the idea that something happened because one of the little ones said Mady and Cara weren’t there because of their attitude. I hope Jon regrets it. I thought Jon was a little short w/the younger ones getting in and out of the van but not enough to tell anything. I thought he was in a bad mood that day and of course, he was wearing the Lies Lies Lies shirt. It was interesting to see he’s still singing the same song about changing his ways and what he has to do that he has been singing all this time. It would be nice to see some genuine attempt from him.
It does bother me that Jon keeps going on about his lost 20′s. I’m not sure what he thought his 20′s were supposed to be, but being a parent isn’t a lost time. Buck up, Jon, not everyone is a partying frat boy all during their 20′s. I’m not sure when the last time I heard him say it, but I hope this is an attitude he puts behind him.
I was so impressed at the short clip of one of the girls and I’m guessing Hannah because the hair was so long (but maybe Lexy). But she was in the calf barn and being so calm and getting closer to one of the calves. He/she was letting her get near. I think I heard the calves were only 4 days old? That was so fun for the kids. But being so young, calves prob would have been scared at first by so many children no matter how calm they were. The one who wanted to bring the kitten home at the end was adorable. I miss being able to tell them apart as easy. I know them when I see them (I think) and then I forget when I’m writing.
Nancy, besides seeing the younger shots of the kids, I was sad when I saw the clip of Kate leaning over and putting her head on Jon in the boat on their trip to FL.
Just offering a different perspective. I don’t think that either parent has been a good role model on parenting. I don’t think leaving a child on the laundry room floor when they are sick or ignoring their pleas when they are constipated so you can shop for furniture is acceptable behavior as a mother or nurse. Kate also continues to sneak in subtle remarks about how boys are different from girls in a negative manner. If she continues to engage in this type of divisive dialogue, I think those boys will have issues with women later in their lives. Who tells a five-year boy to “be a man” after making them walk in cowboy boots, which no doubt are not designed for walking?
All the while John has retaliated to Kate’s oppressive lifestyle by acting in a completely inappropriate manner. If Kate had been the one to stay at home all these years with John criticizing her in every episode about her choice of words, her weight and parenting techniques, I think the majority of viewers would have been more empathic when Kate finally “freaked out.” There is certainly some truth to not “living his 20s.” I don’t find that vulgar or surprising. An individual’s early 20s is a time of self-discovery. He married very young and has relied on Kate to call the shots for the past decade, never having a chance to live freely. He has admitted in past episodes that he did not want to pursue a third child. Granted, their decision to dally with fertility treatments was a mutual decision. By the way, who seeks fertility treatments in their 20s less than six months of being married? That is not within the medical guidelines for someone that young, even with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). And after being hospitalized for over-stimulated ovaries when trying for the third child, just how did they become pregnant when most physicians would have skipped an IUI that cycle due to a high probability of multiples? Just some food for thought. This isn’t a rumor, they have documented this on their own web site.
If he needs to be away from a toxic environment perpetuated by her growing animosity toward him and invasive television crews in their home, I don’t think we can fault him for being finally being honest with himself. If he is a complete goof or deadbeat – then that is who he is. Accept it and move on. If we can accept imperfect women, why not imperfect men? I can think of other more accomplished women who have really taken the high road in light of impending divorce and they didn’t need to televise every waking thought. (I’m thinking of Melissa Mathison, Harrison Ford’s second wife. And yes, he did cheat on her too) . At this time, Kate and John are both guilty of over-exposure and will probably suffer the same fate as “Bennifer” as there is nothing more they can offer the public at large. The show ran its course and simply needed to end.
It was a bittersweet episode. Kate’s time with the kids was pleasant to watch, Jon’s less so. I thought his threat to throw away Mady’s poster was unnecessarily cruel and especially thought that punishing Cara was, at least from what we saw, really unfair. I got the sense that Jon just didn’t want to take all eight kids to his little lemonade stand photo-op and saw an opportunity to unload a couple of them.
Not surprisingly, given the fact that it’s an edited show and that TLC has ample reason to feel less than kind towards Jon, I thought Kate came off very well in the couch interviews and Jon came off very poorly. I’m actually not sure that you can blame editing for Jon’s demeanor. I’ve said it before but ever since the split he’s had this constant low-energy, passive-aggressive self-centered vibe in interviews, and I find it tremendously unappealing. I’m also sick of hearing that he was “only 22″ when he got married. 1) He was 22, not 16 – he’d had several years of wild oats sowing; 2) no one put a gun to his head and forced him down the aisle; 3) Kate was only 24 and though some would make you believe that qualifies her as a cradle-robber, I don’t hear anyone lamenting her lost 20s.
Furthermore, though I do believe he loves his kids, he comes off a lot less convincing than Kate does IMO when talking about them and about doing what’s best for them. Whatever is going on with Jon now, I don’t know that he’s capable of putting the kids first. I hope he gets his act together soon.
I thought Kate really struck just the right note in almost all of her comments in the interview chair tonight. Whereas last week there was some sniping (albeit humorous sniping) at Jon, this week her criticisms were measured and appropriate. I thought she was being honest. Yes, you can still take issue with her even talking about Jon and their issues on TV, but I kind of feel that’s a pointless argument to have at this late date.
I don’t think we’ve seen the last of the kids. Jon, obviously, is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. When he runs through his money(and he will), he will figure out that the kids were the draw–not him. How he is going to maintain his lifestyle is beyond me. I would like to see Kate be able to support herself and the kids on her own. That way Jon can’t get his hands on her income. I never cared for the way Kate spoke to Jon, but I think it was much more of a two way street than TLC ever showed.
I wish Kate and the kids all the best. I wish Jon would really grow up.
I totally agree Wendy!
Barbara, many of your points are well made. Just a few comments.
While I understand the suspicions about the fertility treatments starting 6 months of marriage with the twins, I also know other women who habe begun fertility treatments young and quickly when they believe they are infertile. Some women are desperate to have a child and know it takes many infertile women years to concieve. They do not want to start trying when they are 30 and lower their odds even more. Good or bad, I don’t think it is usual for a woman to do what Kate did regarding fertility treatmnts.
You may justify Jon’s whining about the loss of his 20′s but I don’t. Even if I had any sympathy for Jon regarding his “lost” 20′s, it is his children who will some day know (if they don’t alrready) that he resented having so many children so young. Yes, Jon may have NEEDED to get away from Kate. But he is expressing a dislike of being with his children so much, a choice to live 3 hours away and have a far escape from his kids, etc. Even if Jon wants a party life when not with his kids, I feel sad that he did not choose a city closer to where the kids are and a home that would accomodate visits from them. Clearly now, we see he wants to keep his kids seperate from his new life. From personal experience, I think that will utlimately mean, he will find less and less reason to go back to his old life and spend time with the kids.
As for parenting choices, they aren’t all the ones I would make but I don’t think they are as horrible as some people make out either. But that is an old argument and not worth going into yet again.
I also believe that TLC played up Kate’s shrewness and Jon’s passivity. It made for good ratings. Even Jon has said they went with the “good guy bad guy” angle and did not show completely how it was. I think we are now seeing more of a balance in their parentin
I just watched the last episode and there were several times I would have liked to reach right through my TV and smack Jon. He was really mean to Mady and Cara, he should have stopped the fighting over markers when it started. It was wrong of him to leave them out and threaten to throw away a poster.
I will not miss hearing his weekly whining about getting married too young and have 8 children.
I’m not sure how much of what Kate said was truly from her or scripted from TLC, either way I’m sure I will watch whatever new show she is on.
The poster making scene struck me the wrong way as well. Mentioning Hailey was ridiculous- apparently he doesn’t read her twitter updates. Kate is only 2 yrs older than he is (correct?)- she spent her 20′s the same way he did. At for that matter so have I- and I haven’t “lost” anything.
Jon really was a jerk to Mady and Cara, expecially considering that was filmed a few months ago, when they were still getting used to the separation. Sure, he was feeling stressed, too, but they were only eight years old.
The way he talks, it sound like he is more excited about getting away from his kids, than he is about getting to his “job in the city” (what “job” is that, again?). If he doesn’t get his priorities straight, he’s going to miss a lot of his kids’ childhoods, which is worse than missing his twenties, imo.
On a lighter note, “That’s not his privacy, that’s his udders”. Lol. And, Kate, I don’t think “organic” cows actually look any different than regular cows.
Kiki I thought the same thing about the organic cows! Aaden called the udders “milkers”- too cute.
I saw the part I missed w/the twins on youtube. Given the timing of what they the children were going through and that it was immediately after Mady’s remark that Jon punished both of them, it made me really sad to see Jon act that way. The children were getting used to the idea of their parents being apart. Mady and Cara could have been squabbling all day, but w/what I saw, Jon’s timing was bad and the punishment too severe.
I’m going to say the following coming from a place of having watched the show and supported the Gosselin family for going on two years now….
This show finale was depressingly sad.
The kids, at least the sextuplets, were as cute and charming as ever. (I wish the show had ended for the twins on a happier note.) I really adore them. They are outspoken, inquisitive and adventurous for 5 years olds, and I think a large part of that is due to the advantages of the show. I can’t say I think the parenting they’ve had lately is probably the best it’s ever been, but they’ve certainly been given a good base to be, overall, as sweet and loving as they are.
But, except for the cute kid moments, I wasn’t impressed.
Jon comes across as a childish dipwad. I think that’s how he probably behaves in general these days, but I also think there was plenty of advantage taken of that fact by TLC and Kate. In fairness, it’s obvious the clips of Jon on the interview couch were spliced together from whatever they had of Jon from August or so, so it’s hard to guess what he might have said if he’d been interviewed more recently. Jon, of course, removed any control he had about what he might have said recently or how he’s portrayed on the show when he stopped production.
I just honestly didn’t see the point in TLC airing this old footage of Jon except to make it clear they think he’s as big an idiot as most people do….nothing more than a parting shot, IMO. Hardly the act of good memory making.
Kate….well, I essentially like Kate. Always have. I just didn’t see a whole lot of “there” there in what she had to say in last night’s show. Except for one brief flicker where we might have gotten a hint that Kate didn’t really want her marriage to end, all I heard was a lot of lamenting that the show has ended, and not the way she would have wanted.
The whole thing just seemed an exercise in TLC making it perfectly clear, to any viewer who isn’t aware of why the show has ended, that Jon pulled the plug. I’m as sure as any of you that Jon ended the show for his own selfish reasons, having little or nothing to do with his kids’ wellbeing. But the TLC sponsored sales pitch I watched last night is hardly a fitting final send off for this family and the show’s fans.
The few snippets of old show moments seemed like filler and an afterthought. Instead of Kate doing so much “tsk, tsk, isn’t it too bad, folks, that Jon has disappointed you viewers and the kids?” and that she was just “grateful” for the show, (plus, a heavy dose of “high road” taking about Jon, ahem) I wish I’d heard how she truly felt about the past five years, their lives, how their lives have changed and where she sees herself and her family going.
A five minute synopsis by Kate and half and hour of old clips of the kids being cute would have been better than last night’s show, IMO.
I’ve really enjoyed this family and the moments they’ve shared with us through their show over the years. I’m very sad for them that they seem to have lost as much as they gained. I wish, as a viewer, that the show finale had been a more fitting tribute to what the show meant to its fans, and to the family that brought many of us joy to watch.
Peace, Gosselins! I wish you all the best!!!
What I want to know is how are the haters on GWOP going to handle not having Kate to kick around anymore? Will this be the end of it or will their hate move on to Table of 12 and the WE networks “Raising Sextuplets”? It will be interesting to see, especially since their whole motive was exploitation of the kids…..NOT!
I too was appalled at Jon’s treatment of the twins. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that it was punishment for what Maddy said about liking her mom’s projects better. What a wimp! He should be ashamed but doubt he is.
I agree wholeheartedly with Barbara. The show did need to end and viewers’ enjoyment should absolutely be a non-issue. Both parents have had their moments of harshness and insensitivity towards each other and, most importantly, towards their children. While we all have our moments of regrettable poor parenting, we do not have these moments filmed for posterity. This may not have been foreseen at the beginning but should have become obvious as time went on. The decision to film was a choice which could have been reconsidered every time the contract was renewed. I too shudder at Kate’s sexist remarks and wonder about how it will impact all of the children. To be honest, I don’t care at all about Jon and Kate but I care very much about the eight children and how they will navigate the coming years. with two parents who seem oblivious to the damage of words. I am most afraid that they will just go from one stage to another.
Cella, nicely said. I think my overall opinion was a little more positive than yours, but I agree with many of the points you made.
I did enjoy the clips of the kids (even if they were spliced together). They were just typical inquisitive and joyful five-year-old’s at both the fire station and the dairy farm and it was really adorable to watch. I particularly liked how they went all the way to the farm and the main attraction was —- a kitten!
I love how Collin has become the little narrator for the six for the couch interviews. So cute.
I thought Kate came off well. However, by the 4th time of her repeating, “it all ended too soon,” I was thinking TLC could have done a better job editing her comments.
Barbara, I don’t agree with you on many points, but I appreciate you weighing in with a different perspective on a board that slants pro-Kate. I also think you make an excellent point – men should be allowed to be imperfect too! I just wish we were seeing a bit more of Jon moving on from his mistakes and acting more responsibly.
“but I care very much about the eight children and how they will navigate the coming years.” — whatabouthekids
I think this is something we can all agree on.
I also agree that the viewers enjoyment shouldn’t be the primary issue. Obviously, those of who enjoyed the show will miss it (if it’s really gone), but we too want the best for the kids.
As for Kate’s “sexist” remarks, I have always been struck by the rigid gender roles that both Kate and Jon subscribe to. My thinking is this probably has a lot to do with how they were raised themselves. It’s certainly not my own philosophy, but I think it is probably still prevalent within many quarters of society. I actually have a bit of hope that Kate and Jon traveling and meeting new people with more diverse backgrounds might expand their worldview a bit and they might incorporate some of this in their parenting…? Just my thoughts…
My thoughts about the Series Finale are once again captured in many other posts. I will take this time to confess that last night was the first time I’ve watched it on t.v. since Dancing With The Stars started back up. My husband and I are bonding over that show.
Monday Night Football pre-empted DWTS in my area, so I skipped an hour of the game to watch J & K. I will probably watch it a few more times on the Gosselin Family Fansite, YouTube, or wherever I can. I look forward to Kate’s new show and any controlled glimpses (meaning non-paparazzi) we get of the kids.
I cried…like a little baby! I have so enjoyed getting to see these kids grow up and I am going to miss the little glimpse of their lives we got to see every Monday night.
To reiterate previous posts: Jon was a complete and total jerk to Mady and Cara. He needs to grow up and stop whining about the loss of his 20′s! Most people view their 20′s as a time of self discovery and growth: what can make you learn more about yourself then getting married, having twins, then sextuplets and losing your job, father, etc. etc? If that doesn’t make you grow up and show you what kind of strength you have then I don’t know what will. For him turning 30 shouldnt be that big of a milestone, he already knows who he is and is relatively settled into his “own personality.”
The lemonade stand was a total publicity stunt, and how disgusting was he flirting with all the young girls who were on a field hockey? team!! I can’t believe he actually told his kids to “go do whatever you want…oh but be sure and listen…” I mean he did give the money to the fire department, which was nice, but I feel like the kinda earned it since they had to supervise and entertain the tups while Jon was off in his own paparazzi stunt.
Aaden saying “I wish I was a cow so I could just chew away,” was my hands down favorite moment. I so so hope we can see more of them and see what kind of people they are turning in to. I think Kate’s new show will provide some of that.
RE Jon getting angry when Mady said she preferred doing things with Mommy: Didn’t one of the boys say something like “I like doing things with Daddy better” to Kate during the battleship trip? I remember Kate saying that the kids sometimes tell her they doing things with Daddy better than with her, and her reaction was that they probably tell Jon the same thing about Mommy when Kate isn’t there. She also said it was to be expected that the kids would say such things to each parent, as the adjusted to the new state of things, and didn’t seem to let it upset her. Contrast that with Jon’s reactive, not proactive, behavior. Even if Mady and Cara had been misbehaving terribly enough to deserve being left out of the lemonade stand, the impetus for punishment was when Mady went pro-Mommy on him…
Yes, Eydie, I remember the battleship discussion about the kids talking about Jon when they’re with Kate and vice versa. When he threw his little hissy fit last night while the girls were making the posters, I thought back to when Kate was trying to put up the tent for their camp out (Season 5…just following the hiatus after the separation) and Hannah repeated two or three times, “Daddy knows how to do it really well.” Did Kate throw down the tent, yell at her and send Hannah inside?? No, she simply said, “yeah, I know, but Daddy’s not here right now.” That’s the adult way to behave in that type of situation…however, Jon has made it abundantly clear time and time again that he is not capable of behaving as an adult. He’d better hurry up and get with the program or he will be very sorry to have missed out on a lot in the life of his kids.
And yes, Morgan, when he started flirting with the field hockey team girls, my 15 year old daughter even said, “Ewww….that’s gross!”
Apparently, Kate is one of Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People for this year. Who would have thought, last year at this time, that something like that would happen? What a crazy year!
gossipcop.com/news-barbara-walters-most-fascinating-people-of-2009/
Aaden saying “I wish I was a cow so I could just chew away,” was my hands down favorite moment.
Morgan, I agree, that was great! One of the reasons I want to see it again.
I was surprised that I was sad, watching this show last night. I’ve been mentally preparing myself for the end of this for so long, and I felt like it was time for the show to end, so the little tear in my eye surprised me. But then, I usually get emotional when my shows end.
Little moments that made the show one of my favorites came up again (“you’ll hurt the birds!”) and provided a fitting close. Because I was a devoted fan, I liked the little montages of earlier seasons of the show. Watching Jon and Kate act loving toward each other wasn’t as uncomfortable as I thought it might be– it was actually nice, because I tried to remember who they were, not who they are now. Because who they are now is utterly apalling.
Some people think it’s a bit refreshing that Jon is so unpolished and natural, but I don’t completely agree. I wish he would clean himself up a little, and I’m referring to both his clothes and manner of speaking. IMO, he comes off as a completely ridiculous man-child. I don’t know to what degree TLC editing helps with this image, and I’m guessing its a lot considering what they’re going through right now, but Jon is not and never has been an appealing human being to me. He makes me glad I’m not married to him or was fathered by him.
As for Kate, I think she was a bit too polished last night. (Jon = not enough polish. Kate = too much.) It’s obvious that she’s really angry why the show ended– she’s angry at Jon. The annoying thing is that she couches this anger in subtle little digs at him. Talking about how she won’t speak negatively about him, even when there’s so much to talk about… then don’t bring it up at all. Just don’t touch on the subject at all, as difficult as that would be on an interview couch. Actually take the high road, don’t just say you are. She alludes, she hints, she suggests… it’s absolutely maddening. It’s just a sneaky way of being as immature as Jon, but perhaps the veneer makes it worse. While Jon comes off about as mature and articulate as [insert non-offensive term here], Kate comes off as incredibly calculating–and that’s not appealing either.
As for TLC editing, I don’t think I’m being absurd when I say that they are on Kate’s side. I see no other reason why they would air her saying something along the lines of, “I wonder if he uses the kids for publicity stunts” right before his segment with the kids. Of course, my roommate and I watched Jon’s segment with the kids with that running through our minds. I’m not saying Jon was or wasn’t using them for publicity–probably yes– but putting Kate’s words in our heads right beforehand was very under-handed, and IMO, made room for no other possible interpretation of the scenes. On another note, how can Kate have said that sentence with a straight face? This is what, the fifth season of her reality show? Sixth? Their marriage was a big part of the reality show, but for me, it was about showing the family, of which those kids are central. Right? She has to realize that the show for the past few years has been about using the kids for attention, for a t.v show. Whether or not it’s actually as bad for them as is popularly believed, that is the premise of the show. IMO, of course.
I think their selfishly unaware, appalling behavior perfectly encapsulates why this show HAD to end, not why it did. (Plus, they can’t act like the likable people they were in the beginning, because man, this is a difficult time. It’s a messy, messy divorce and no one should be watching.) The show has run its course. I’m sad about it, but I’m sadder about what those two became. Yuck.
But of course, I’ll miss watching those kids.
I just want to say that I know someone who took fertility treatments before she was married. She and the father married during the pregnancy and they have one child.
I still havent’ watched the whole thing…. it’s on DVR so when I get time I plan to sit and enjoy the last show. I caught a few clips on a re-run in the middle of the night when I forgot to turn the TV off last night. Hubby said he “could hear those kids all night”. Ha ha. I’m not reading all your comments so it won’t spoil the surprise. I hope everyone enjoyed the show. I’ll pop back on at a later time.
The way he talks, it sound like he is more excited about getting away from his kids, than he is about getting to his “job in the city” (what “job” is that, again?). If he doesn’t get his priorities straight, he’s going to miss a lot of his kids’ childhoods, which is worse than missing his twenties, imo.
Jon’s talk about getting away to the city and then being able to get away from the city to his “country home” struck me, too. Maybe because I’ve seen him talk like this before on at least one occasion and he just comes off as completely clueless – it’s like he thinks everyone should be most concerned about how HE is adjusting to the changes the divorce has brought about, when most anyone watching is most concerned about the kids, and would rightly expect him to be as well. I don’t know if he was always this self-centered, and we just didn’t get to see much of it, or he’s been listening too much to the freaks that tell him he’s an abused husband who deserves to sow his wild oats, etc. Either way, the talk is extremely unattractive IMO.
The worst part was when Jon was talking to the paps and those young girls. Then, they panned to the children who were lined up against the wall, just watching it all. Don’t you know they wondered why he was wearing a t shirt with lies, lies, lies on it. Good riddance Jon Gosselin.
I’m really going to miss these kids and the funny things they say.
What struck me odd is all the young girls wanting to talk to Jon. I saw him on Entertainment Tonight, and all these young girls wanted to get their picture with him. There is no accounting for taste. Women write to prisoners in jail, too. Sometimes makes me ashamed of my gender
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I really understand and agree with your comments, Claire, though you’re a tad bit harder on Kate than I am. I hadn’t thought about her being too polished as what I am uncomfortable with, but I think that may just be it. I agree with what you said about editing, too. TLC is part of the story now, not just the story-teller, so the editing does feel unfair on some level. One more comment about editing: you said, “I don’t know to what degree TLC editing helps with this image, and I’m guessing its a lot considering what they’re going through right now, but Jon is not and never has been an appealing human being to me.” I would be more suspicious that TLC’s editing is responsible for Jon’s sloppy, inarticulate portrayal if I didn’t see the same thing from him when TLC has no control at all. He’s given about 2 interviews since the spring when I thought he sounded OK and didn’t sound like a jerk. Every other interview with tabloids or online magazines has been a disaster for Jon, IMO. He can’t string a thoughful sentence together and walk down a NYC street at the same time, with or without TLC’s involvement.
I have thought several times when listening to Jon that he sounds like someone fresh from or still in therapy. The focus there is usually on yourself, and unfortunately he’s carrying that attitude into some of these interviews (and apparently into his life, too, from what we saw on the show).
”you’ll hurt the birds!” was another great line, Claire. The excitement they showed during the ladder climbing scene was extremely cute.
I wasn’t going to watch, I was going to just delete my recording but I did watch. The tups were so cute and their comments at the fire station and farm were very cute. I became physically ill when Jon was talking to the very, very young girls while selling lemonade. Can we say jail bait Jon? Basically after that I fast forwarded anything pertaining to Jon. IMO the fire station was pure publicity on Jon’s part (paps coverage, his “lies” t-shirt, him the only one selling lemonade) tups in background being babysat by fireman’s families and fireman. IMO the show has helped the tups develop their social skills in meeting new people. They are cordial and friendly, ex. one of the tups laying his head on Forrest’s daughter’s leg on the wagon trip back. I had a lump in my throat when Kate said that the show ended too soon, because I also think it did. But, the tups will be in f-t school next year so filming was undoubtedly going to end in the near future. Hopefully the Gosselin children will have a blessed upcoming holiday season.
Alas, it will be the last we see of “playboy of the year” Jon w/the lawsuit and all those “tawdry” witnesses testifying. Uggghhh.
I’m sorry not the last we see of Jon.
I really enjoyed the last show and I think they did the best they could with the tape they had left. I know people go back and forth on how TLC has favored Kate through this divorce these last few months and how she comes across to polished at times, but this became thier careers and I think she has tried to be professional for the most part and represent TLC and her contract.
Late July and August TLC were concerned about Jon and his behaviors and were sending letters to him. By the middle of Sept he had change lawyers and publicity managers. This is also the time Kate was traveling alot with media appearances. So at this point I think Jon was pretty angry with TLC and Kate. It does not excuse his actions with Mady and Cara which was very harsh and sad since it could have been handled better. But I think it shows the part of Jon attitude and actions that the network were concerned about. Considering all the crude remarks he has made about Kate , I think this was pretty tame on Kate’s and TLC outlook on the whole thing.
The farm episode was really cute btw, don’t you just love seeing the world thru 5 year olds eyes.
Alas, it will be the last we see of “playboy of the year” Jon w/the lawsuit and all those “tawdry” witnesses testifying. Uggghhh.
Now, that’s funny BMBMGoBlue. Who knows, maybe he’ll be on Dancing with the Stars.
I guess my biggest problem with the way Jon treated Mady and Cara is he KNEW he was being filmed, if thats the way he treats them on tape, how does he treat them when the film crews aren’t around?
Who knows, maybe he’ll be on Dancing with the Stars.
LOL and
(even that just doesn’t express the laugh I got with that comment, Theresa)
I’ll be giving you kudos for your prediction next DWTS season, I bet.
Does anybody know if they are still doing Kate Plus 8? I just can’t get enough of Cara, Mady, Alexis. Hannah, Aaden, Colllin, Leah, and Joel! Wish it would go on forever…
I just watched the show. Boy was that sad… cute but sad. I did not enjoy the Jon parts, to me he seemed so selfish….. the kids got to hang around the firehouse while he had to run the lemonade stand (the one he chose to do). He just seemed to whine alot about himself, his choice to marry at 22, his country home/city home, his choices. He really urks me and I really used to like him. I also didn’t like the way he snapped at Mady and Cara. Yes, they were not happy campers, but if your time is limited don’t you think you would have came up with a better way to settle them.
I enjoyed the farm part with Kate and the kids. The clips of the “happy” family made me sad. I still think Jon and Kate did have something special between them and to see them smile at each other makes the whole things so sad.
Oh and a morning thought as I relax with the bird in the oven. I remember seeing Jon in photos wearing that T-shirt and what was going on at that time. I agree that he acted like a person in therapy, the self expression. If I recall, that was a time that he was dateing multiple women, if you listen to the gossip, and hanging with Lohan. Jon was in the middle of his transformation. Sad, sad and sad. I know people go through that in relationships, marriages fail, but seeing those sweet kids makes it hard to watch. Dispite the fact that I’ve enjoyed watching the show and the kids grow up (yes seeing the world through their young eyes) I now feel it’s time to end the show. It seemed to begin to feel like voyerism, peaking in the windows of a family in crisis. I hope to see updates and a new project for Kate. I also hope Jon finds his calling. I doubt he will go into a “real job” as he started out to find or be able to stop wooing the paps he blamed for his discontent with his life. I do wish his happiness for him also, it will make him a better father. If he’s lucky, TLC won’t recoop the money they paid him in the lawsuit leaving him having to sell off his new life. Do we think he and Hailey could be done and he might think buying that apartment in NYC a quick decision??