Remember how Jon Gosselin is a douchebag and started traveling the world with his young girlfriend who he may/may not have had an affair with and all those other girls coming out of the woodwork to say they've slept with Jon (gross) since he broke up with Kate? (Exhibits A, B, C and D). No? Well, TLC remembers. They remember it really well.
So well, in fact, that they've basically kicked him off his own show. A while ago Jon was all "yeah, I want off the show because I think I can pursue opportunities elsewhere". Normally I would say that Jon really has NO opportunities elsewhere, but in a world where people like Heidi, Spencer and Paris Hilton still somehow have a semblance of a career maybe I'm overstating that assumption.
But that's all besides the point, because TLC got wise to the fact that it's a family-friendly channel and Jon and his particular brand of douchebaggery is not conducive to the image they want to project:
TLC has taken Jon Gosselin out of the “Jon & Kate Plus Eight” equation.
Battling falling ratings and the very public divorce between the Gosselins, TLC will relaunch the show on Nov. 2 as “Kate Plus Eight.”
According to the channel, the show will now focus on Kate Gosselin's journey as a now-single mother of eight kids.
Jon Gosselin will continue to appear on the show, “but on a less regular basis,” the channel said. TLC's “exclusive” relationship with Jon Gosselin continues, the cabler added.
Jon Gosselin's decreased role comes following media reports that suggested his off-camera antics had violated the “morals clause” in his contract, and that the channel was looking to boot him off the show.
“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,” said TLC topper Eileen O'Neill. “The family has evolved and we are attempting to evolve with it; we feel that Kate’s journey really resonates with our viewers. Additionally the network is in development on a Kate project for 2010.”
The show, originally about a young couple raising 5 year-old sextuplets and 8 year-old twins, was a ratings smash for TLC. Earlier this year, news of the Gosselins' breakup made them tabloid stars, and briefly made the show an even bigger smash. But since then, the show has seen its viewership rapidly erode.
Separately, Kate Gosselin has taped a talk show pilot with TV chef Paula Deen, while Jon Gosselin is said to also be shopping other TV projects.
Oh, TLC, how I love you…. you make it sound like you're doing this for creative reasons, but we all know you're as grossed out by Jon as the rest of us. Word on the street is that Jon is also trying to shop around a show about divorced fathers, which might co-star Michael Lohan, the other nominee for Father of the Year. If, God forbid, anyone decides to take him up on that, I hope TLC will pull out the "exclusive" card and put the kibosh on it.
So be warned, kiddies, sometimes there is justice in the world and acting like a douche won't always make you famous. Or, at the very least, it'll result in your a** getting kicked. Oh, happy day!
Source: Variety
