‘Jon & Kate Plus 8’ Ratings Hit All-Time Low

TLC scored a major hit with the “Jon & Kate Plus 8” reality show, as it proved with each episode that the combination of traditional family values and the sweet chaos derived from raising 8 infants was a sure winner. However, things changed when the Gosselins announced their divorce and the ensuing media scandal shed light on the marital issues that had been tearing the marriage apart. Now, numbers seem to indicate that America has tired of “Jon & Kate,” Radar Online says.

Ratings for the most recent episode of the reality show have reached an all-time low, showing beyond any doubt that Jon and Kate Gosselin were popular with audiences only because they somehow managed to put up a united front. This, in turn, has led to speculation that the show might actually be living out its final moments since the next logical step for TLC would be to cancel it altogether.

“Here’s another reason to support family values: Happy marriage = high ratings. Jon and Kate Gosselin, once the reality show poster couple for the all-American family, are in danger of succumbing to – gasp! – low ratings. Since announcing their plans to divorce, the pair’s reality show, 'Jon & Kate Plus 8,' has consistently dropped in viewers. And on Monday, the show hit its all-time low, attracting just 1.714 million viewers.” Radar says of the ratings.

1.7 million viewers might still seem like a reasonable ratings figure, Radar adds, save for the fact that it means close to nothing when compared to the kind of viewers the show used to attract back in its heyday. It’s clear now that Americans are tired of Jon’s Don Juanesque ways and that no matter how hard Kate tries to keep the family going despite her soon to be ex’s actions, something has been irremediably lost.

“To put it in perspective, when the reality show returned for a one-hour special on June 22 following the Gosselins’ announcement that they were separating, 10.6 million people tuned in to watch. That’s an 84 percent plunge in viewership. And the drop has been consistent. Since August 3, the show has lost 62 percent of viewers. According to TVByTheNumbers, 4.2 million people watched ‘Jon & Kate Pus 8’ on August 3. On Aug. 10, 3.4 million tuned in. 3 million watched on Aug. 17, and this last Monday, the show got just 1.714 million viewers.” Radar concludes.