myerstownherald.com

By ASHLEY DOS SANTOS
Oh Jon Gosselin, your Vegas parties and coed girlfriends have finally caught up to you.
On Tuesday, the TLC network announced that they were dropping Jon from “Jon & Kate Plus 8” to focus on Kate’s new life as a single mom in the revamped Kate Plus 8.
TLC President Eileen O’Neill said “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” and that they now intend to focus the show on “Kate’s role in the family and her journey as a single mother building the next chapter in her life.”
Not too long ago, Kate was being vilified as the overbearing control freak who pushed Jon too hard. Fans of the show lauded Jon for taking his life into his own hands and moving on without Kate looking over his shoulder.
Fast forward to the present day. Jon Gosselin has taken on the role as America’s most pathetic father (sorry Michael Lohan) who abused his newfound fame by womanizing, partying and choosing Saint Tropez getaways over quality time with his children.
When the news broke that TLC was dropping Jon Gosselin from the show, I think we all breathed a little sigh of relief. No viewer could believe that Jon is a dedicated father when he’s pictured lounging at a Las Vegas pool full of coeds at the MGM Grand.
Plus, with the show’s dwindling ratings, the announcement came at the perfect time to revitalize viewership before the series is canceled altogether. “Jon & Kate’s” ratings now thrive on the melodrama of the Gosselin divorce and not on the health and happiness of their eight children.
Speaking of melodrama, Jon Gosselin made his own announcement on Tuesday that he wants to slow down his divorce proceedings to reconsider his relationship with his family and atone for his behavior. Before you start thinking this is genuine, please note that on Wednesday he also filed an injunction stating that no camera crews are allowed in the family home effective immediately. Sounds like someone is a little bitter that his 15 minutes of fame is screeching to a halt. And all thanks to the same network that made him famous in the first place.
Jon’s latest attempts to cling to his fame mean that he is even sleazier than we thought. How about taking your kids to the park, dad, instead of sending away the family dog because it isn’t allowed in your new Manhattan bachelor pad?
By using his notoriety to land college girls and attend C-list parties in the Hamptons, Jon has managed to destroy his public image completely, making his very presence on the show not only a liability to TLC but, more importantly, to its advertisers. It’s clear that Jon Gosselin gave TLC no other choice than to drop him.
And where’s Kate in all this? Kate Gosselin appears to be positioning herself for the end of “Jon & Kate Plus 8” as well. Kate co-hosted ABC’s The View for two days and it’s an open secret that she wants to host her own talk show, possibly with celebrity chef Paula Deen. But you have to wonder if this show will have any appeal without the tawdry gossip associated with the Gosselins.
As America watches the Gosselins’ unraveling, I ask just one question. How is all of this affecting the kids? There would be no Jon & Kate without their eight. Being thrust in front of TV cameras at a young age is one thing, but watching your parents’ catfights in the media will add on many more months of therapy to what I’m sure will be a hefty bill once the children come of age.
So Jon, to borrow a line from Prince’s song “Kiss,” act your age and not your shoe size. Your kids are depending on you.
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Ben Grinspan contributed to this article.—
Ashley Dos Santos serves as a senior account executive at Crosby~Volmer International Communications in Washington D.C. She received her bachelor of arts degree in women & gender studies and romance languages from Dartmouth College.