<p>“I don’t get “reality shows.” Aren’t reality shows for people who live empty, unfulfilled lives themselves? It is all so sick.”</p>
<p>The same could be said about any scripted show. I won’t go into this because it’s a waste of time especially if you’re another artsy type who believes in “the art of a good script” over all else … but really these are meant to: A) Entertain B) Document lives that common folk would otherwise never have access to.</p>
<p>What I don’t get is why the media blows this show up into something major like 9/11.</p>
<p>Okay so I am watching early re-runs, and now I realize that Maddy has always had an attitude. I am not sure whether she complains for attention or just because that is her. I had a friend with a DD, and she would say don’t mind her, she has a chemical imbalance 365 days of the yr (the child didn’t, but that was her joke).</p>
<p>Maddie = Evil Incarnate
LOL, I’ve been telling my husband that for a while & the more we watch the show, the scarier she gets! They better watch that one…</p>
<p>“Leah, I have to disagree absolutely with this. Jodi was never paid by the show, and when they suggested that she receive some remuneration for all her time on the show early on, Kate said absolutely not. That was the end of Jodi on the show, and the end of those beautiful children having a loving aunt and uncle and cousins in their lives. That was totally Kate’s doing, not Jodi’s. This all happened LONG before J & K moved to their new house. It’s the same thing that seems to happen to anyone who associates with them, they get cut out of the picture when they happen to cross Kate. Nothing new, she did it to her parents years ago.”</p>
<p>Actually, we don’t know if the kids keep in contact with Jodi anymore and if so, how. Just because something isn’t aired on tv, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. </p>
<p>You really believe Jon & Kate never paid Jodi? I disagree. And Jodi didn’t need the show to pay her too, I mean she wasn’t on THAT many episodes and it’s not like it’s her show. Lots of people on tv wish they got paid. She’s feels entitled and bitter. Suddenly she has to bash them out of no where (when they could have brought this to the media ages ago) being payed thousands of dollars ($30k for that one interview article) to create more buzz. Well, mission accomplished Jodster. You’re a good opportunist, I’ll give you that.</p>
<p>Kate has pushed everyone out of her life. Her family doesn’t want anything to do with her. She’s an ungrateful witch. Rather than accept donations from her Dad’s church, she took those donations to a consignment shop, sold the clothes, and kept the money. She felt the donated clothes were beneath her style and quality for the infants. The nerve to keep the money rather than to donate either the clothes or money to a family that would actually appreciate and give thanks for the donation. Jodi and Kate’s brother want those kids to have a normal childhood. They’ve seen what goes on behind closed doors. </p>
<p>Kate is a money sucking narcissist who pimps her family out for her own publicity and money. I haven’t seen one loving moment on camera from her that hasn’t been staged or forced. I can only imagine how cold she must be off camera. Thank goodness those kids have Jon in their lives (even though Kate has managed to push him out of the door too). He’s the warm, caring, adult to whom those kids seek comfort and love. I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran to the camera crew for hugs and praises rather than Kate.</p>
<p>I’ve stopped watching the show. It makes my skin crawl. The kids deserve a normal childhood. What Kate seems to think is normal doesn’t jive with I believe is normal.</p>
<p>Leah, you’re mistaken. I know someone who knows Jodi’s sister and, unfortunately, it’s true that Kate has cut Jodi and Kevin, and their children, out of the Gosselin kids’ lives. This behavior has been a pattern for Kate, and it baffles me as to why people then blame anyone other than Kate for what she does. The Carsons have been cut off in a similar way. Who treats their family and friends like this? It isn’t normal behavior. If you have been a fan all along, you know how often on the show (not even including the extensive amount of time prior to the show) that Jodi looked after those kids. She never asked for any remuneration, it was offered by the producers of the show because that’s how things work once a certain threshold is reached for appearance time. One would think that Kate’s response would be, oh how wonderful that these terrific and helpful family members would be compensated by the show, even to a small extent. Wrong. Her response? Absolutely not! No one is going to make $$ off my children! (Except her, of course!) No more show for you!</p>
<p>Jodi and Kevin have been trying for a long time to get Kate to reconsider the effect that this show is having on the children. Jon came to the realization last fall that not only was the show adversely affecting the children but also the marriage. It’s why he had no desire to continue doing the show for another season, and made that perfectly clear. Kate, clearly, had other plans. And now the fallout is being broadcast throughout the media, and the episodes are rife with the disintegration of this family. It’s very sad, but the fault does not lie with Jodi.</p>
<p>At the risk of being very unpopular, I have to speak up for Maddy. I don’t think she’s evil, bad, or even abnormal. I do think she’s a strong-willed child. I had one much like her. He’s now a wonderful 24 year old young man, nearing the completion of his master’s degree, and is very thoughtful and caring. It really sounds like all of you must have had ALL perfect children who were perfect ALL of the time. Unfortunately, I guess mine just weren’t born that way.</p>
<p>I am sure that if ANYONE had attacked your perfect child in a forum such as this, you would have been very upset. I feel the need to speak up for an innocent child here. I just don’t think it’s appropriate for a group of adults to take shots at a 8 or 9 year old child. If you want to talk about the parents, fine. But I just cannot stand by and not defend a child.</p>
<p>Our children can be miniature versions of ourselves, bad qualities and all. I can get pretty “witchy” at times, but it took me 51 years to get this way. My D can get almost as “witchy” as me, and it only took her 16 years to get that way…she learned from my (bad) example. That’s my point about Maddy…she is learning to be a mini-Kate, which is not the most attractive way to behave.</p>
<p>Thoughts on the pre-interview footage of Kate requesting a bottled water for herself, but not sharing with the kids several of whom had asked for something to drink immediately prior?</p>
<p>I just saw that footage! I think it’s terrible. Your child is thirsty give her a drink forget about going on air. I don’t like the show anymore it has become to much about the fame and the money than the kids. I watch the earlier episodes of the show and wonder what happended to that family? Is loosing your family really worth the fame!</p>
<p>Nope. Not at all. But, if I put my strong-willed child on TV and exposed her to 10,000,000 viewers I’d have to understand that she may be labeled bad or bratty - fair or not.</p>
<p>This is the danger of TV. Maddy has shown some personality so each episode must capitalize on it - for the viewing pleasure.
The poor kid is forever branded as a brat. There is nothing she can do and when she is 16 years old and going to the prom this is how she will be portrayed. How sad for her.</p>
<p>“Nope. Not at all. But, if I put my strong-willed child on TV and exposed her to 10,000,000 viewers I’d have to understand that she may be labeled bad or bratty - fair or not.”</p>
<p>I think you are missing my point. I just do not like to see it directed toward Maddy. If you want to slam Kate, then fine. She’s an adult, she signed the contract for the show. Maddy did not. Kate may understand that she’s exposed her to 10,000,000 viewers that might label her; Maddy will not. </p>
<p>Things written about the child today WILL hurt her tomorrow, and I simply think all of the kids should be “off-limits”. </p>
<p>I will just proudly be the advocate of children–perfect, bratty, and everything in between. I think they all deserve a chance, and it should be up to all of us to protect and defend all of them.</p>
<p>I love bratty kids, Maddy is the most fun to watch! And talk about making me unpopular, I like Kate also. You have to be somewhat of a drill sargent to keep a brood that size in line. Spunky women rule the world…</p>
<p>All signs indicate Kate is far more Prima Donna than family mentor. From rejecting a big van early on because it was the wrong color to pushing everyone for “love offerings” at every speech she is just in it for the implants.</p>
<p>Did any of you see the tabloids about Kate spanking one of her kids? I don’t have much of an opinion on spanking itself, but if she does not want to get anymore negative attention she should know better than to do that in public. It would be really dumb of the media to make a big deal about this though.</p>