14 DAY TRIAL // Jon and Kate Gosselin have been engaged in what is deemed one of the most public and bitter divorce battles in showbiz and it has eventually taken a toll on their joint reality show as well. After TLC, the network producing and carrying it, let Jon go, more or less unceremoniously, and he blocked production, a decision as to the future of the series has been made: it will end this November, the New York Post says.
Inside sources are telling the media TLC is in quite a pickle as to what to do with the show next, and has therefore come to the conclusion that the safest bet at this point in time is to end it altogether. Although the initial plan was to continue shooting the reality series with the focus mostly on Kate, for which purpose it was renamed “Kate Plus 8,” Jon’s decision to ban cameras from his children’s life made it crumble to pieces.
“It’s the end of the line for ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8’ in its present form. ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8’ is ending in mid-to-late November, as previously reported,’ a TLC spokeswoman said yesterday. TLC announced last month that the once-popular show would be renamed ‘Kate Plus 8’ beginning Nov. 2 to reflect the acrimonious breakup of Jon and Kate Gosselin. That date has now been shifted to later in the month. But sources say TLC is waiting until the bickering couple sort out some of their personal problems before reassessing the situation.” the Post writes.
At the moment, rumor has it, TLC is comprising more episodes for the show from left-out footage in the hope that, come November and the last episode aired, it will be able to resume the show only with Kate, namely that the two will have worked out all their differences by then. However, given the bitter dispute between the two soon to be ex-spouses over money and expenses, the odds are inclining towards TLC going forward with a show with Kate alone, no Jon and no children included.
Jon Gosselin, on the other hand, is also believed to be working in the direction of getting his own show. Reports say he and new friend Michael Lohan, father of legally troubled actress Lindsay Lohan, are shopping around a pilot for a show called “Divorced Dads’ Club.”