Jon and Kate Keepin It Real[ity TV]

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by Lamar Tyler | on March 17th, 2009 | 18 comments

Over the weekend Ronnie and I stumbled across the TLC show Jon and Kate plus 8. We’ve heard of the show before, especially recently because of the octuplets but have never watched. I have to be honest, it was refreshing to see what seemed like real life on reality TV.

Now I love Rev. Run and his family like the next person but it’s just too scripted for me. It feels like I’m watching a sitcom. The product placement, sales pitches for their ventures, staged camera angles etc… etc… etc… When we tuned into Jon and Kate it was an episode where they were getting the kids ready for the 4th of July. Kids were acting crazy, parents were stressing, dad got jackets for all of them but they didn’t meet mom’s approval, mom was taking too long and dad was ready to go. BMWK that’s what I’m talking about, some real life stuff and it was refreshing to see it on TV considering how unreal reality TV has become. Later on in the show Jon, the dad was disappointed because he had to work a Saturday and was going to be away from the kids. Kate the mom is at whits end everyday by the time Jon walks in the door from the kids abusing her all day. Sound familiar anyone???

Here’s a clip from the show when they try to get the kids to clean up:

Do any of you watch the show? If so what do you think?

About the author

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler are the creators of the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com . They also are behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVDs Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me and Men Ain’t Boys that explores manhood in the African American community. The Tylers are also the proud parents of four children.

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Comments (18)

Tara Pringle Jefferson Tuesday - 17 / 03 / 2009 Reply

Y'all are so late to the game! LOL. I've been watching those kids since they were actual BABIES, going on three years now. And yes, the show is very real, which is one of the things I love and hate about it. Yes, they show the every day struggles of families but at the same time, they fight a lot and it's loud and I'm just like, "Arghhh!" by the time the show goes off. :) I could without some of the fights. LOL. Also, I tried to get into Run's House and it....just...wasn't for me. Too fake. And what is wrong with Rev. Run? He's positively crazy and his wife always looks confused, like "Is he for real or is he acting?" I don't know about that one.... Tara Pringle Jeffersons last blog post..Can someone get this girl an agent?
Regina Tuesday - 17 / 03 / 2009 Reply

I actually find it disturbing. Nice family and all, but those are real kids -- how dysfunctional to have their whole childhood a reality TV show? I mean, we squirm about the media getting to the Obama girls. Doesn't J&K+8 seem a little WRONG? I'm disturbed enough not to watch it, so those who do, feel free to point out anything I'm not taking into account. Reginas last blog post..Reflections on Eucharist
Lamar Tuesday - 17 / 03 / 2009 Reply

@Regina- At the age they are at now they probably don't even realize what's going on around them or that it's different. I see it as a way for the family to be able to support themselves so I'm not so much against it. I can only imagine what it takes to care for a family of 10. @Tara- they were arguing just a bit much but I still appreciated the realness of it but with 10 kids yelling 24/7 I can imagine everybody is on a short leash.
Tara Pringle Jefferson Tuesday - 17 / 03 / 2009 Reply

@Regina - I think it's okay. They do have more rules now that the kids are older, like the cameras can't come in the bedrooms and they pick which days they will be filmed. Plus, these kids have been EVERYWHERE - Disney World, California, Colorado, Hawaii, South Carolina, etc. You honestly think they'd do ANYTHING if it weren't for the show? I heard their new house cost $1.3 million (could be wrong) but that house is what they need with all those kids running around. They wouldn't have been able to afford all those kids without the exposure.... Tara Pringle Jeffersons last blog post..In Good Company: Reese Witherspoon
T. Rogers Tuesday - 17 / 03 / 2009 Reply

Lamar is right. This show comes off as totally real. I don't watch it much anymore, but my wife and I were really into it at one point. We were getting ready to have our second baby in two years. We wanted to see Jon and Kate's experience. We figured if they can do with eight surely we could do it with two. My everyday experience is a piece of cake compared to theirs. It is probably the only real "reality" show on TV. Run's House is a little too popcorn for me. I do like Snoop Dogg's Fatherhood simply because its funny. Yes, I know it is just as scripted as Run's House. And no, I am not taking daddy lessons from Snoop. Dude is just entertaining.
Anna Tuesday - 17 / 03 / 2009 Reply

I discovered this show in December. I love it. I enjoy the relationship that Jon and Kate have. They keep it real and what you see is what you get. As mentioned above, this is the only "real" reality tv. What amazes me is that Jon has some strong genes, all the kids look like him. LOL. @ T. Rogers, I was just talking with hubby over the weekend and I mentioned that Snoops wife and Runs wife both talk like they are some what sedated.
Nkem Chukwu (Octuplets mom 1998) Wednesday - 18 / 03 / 2009 Reply

I have never HAD TIME to watch their show. I don't even know the last time I watched TV even with our own sudden coverage during Nadya's history making birth. Kate Gosselin sort of offended us on Larry King Live (and we were on the same show) when she said "it's like we're raising Octuplets literarily." SHE IS NOT RAISING OCTUPLETS! She is raising sextuplets and twins and if anyone thinks it's the same thing, they better join me here for a weekend and I take off to a resort. I feel all her coverage on TV shows around Nadya should not really be so negative and then turn around saying she is raising "octuplets sort of." GREAT SITE BMWK! Nkem Chukwu (Octuplets mom 1998)s last blog post..Woman delivers sextuplets • First in Nigeria.
T. Rogers Wednesday - 18 / 03 / 2009 Reply

@Anna, You are very right. I think it is because they have cameras in their faces. In both cases the wives are not the ones who are the media stars. They don't have a defined public persona like their husbands. So they both seem a little uncomfortable in front of the camera.
MissJay Wednesday - 18 / 03 / 2009 Reply

Is it just me or does Justine (Run's wife) and all the kids sound like they have really raspy voices? I've never caught John and Kate + 8. Shows like that after a while tend to make me lose interest. I can imagine thought that they would have an interesting life to watch.
Mocha Dad Wednesday - 18 / 03 / 2009 Reply

Sometimes the show is a little too real. John and Kate can get really nasty with each other. I know that it's the stress of raising eight kids, but their outbursts make me a bit unconfortable at times. Mocha Dads last blog post..Wednesday Wisdom - The Secret to Happiness
Anna Wednesday - 18 / 03 / 2009 Reply

Mocha Dad said: Sometimes the show is a little too real. John and Kate can get really nasty with each other. I know that it’s the stress of raising eight kids, but their outbursts make me a bit unconfortable at times. ~~~~~~~~~ "Sometimes the show is a little too real" it is, they are not acting. Kate does not care, when she is mad at Jon she makes it known. Jon likes to hide or not help at all. (I watched shows from 2007 They had a marathon over the weekend). It does not make me feel uncomfortable to watch, maybe because I am a woman and I remember getting fustrated with my kids. Why do some woman have to ask for help from their own husbands? He is not blind, he can see she needs help, pick a kid and help out and then repeat step one with a different kid. LOL
Mom of 3 Thursday - 19 / 03 / 2009 Reply

I have been watching J&K +8 since 2007 when I was expecting twins. Everyone is right, it is one of the only "real" reality shows on TV. I did watch an episode that was around Christmas 2007 where Kate totally flipped out on Jon in Wal-Mart or some store when the kids were doing their Christmas shopping. Other customers were turning around and looking at him because Kate was really lashing out at him in public. That might have been a little too real for me because she was literrally disrespecting her hubby not only in front of the cameras and the children but in public. I love Kate anyway though, dealing with that many small kids would drive me insane.
Daisy Tuesday - 24 / 03 / 2009 Reply

My co workers think Kate is a mean Bitch..lol I have watched she show from day one. The kids are too cute. I must add that I LOVE Runs house..lol Justine and Digggy are my FAV! Yes they do have raspy voices. The first few seasons of Rev Run were more real vs the last few but either way that Justine and Diggy keep me laughing.
camila Friday - 24 / 04 / 2009 Reply

los adoro porfavor pasenme videos de sus capitulos me encanta su programa los adoroooo posdata:tengo 10 años jamas me pierdo el programa los amo¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
Nieja Friday - 01 / 05 / 2009 Reply

I think Jon and kate are great.I like that they act like a real family. Kate seems to be a bit too high strung at times (like the time she freaked out cuz the kids got icecream on their shirts at Disney World....DUH! they are kids, thats what happens when you give them icecream on a hot day and really who cares if the make a mess? Give the kids the icecream, loosen up and have some fun) Still, I guess with that many kids you have to be somewhat of an organization freak. What couple do you know that doesn't argue? I am sure that what we see isn't as real as it gets. Who knows what goes on when the cameras are turned off. Maybe some of their differences concerning how the kids are raised are cultural. Maybe Jon gets sick of having his life filmed but can't really afford to quit. So they are getting paid for it but imagine their lack of privacy. I don't mean to be disrespectful in any way but when is the last time you think they snuck in a lunchtime quickie? Think about it. Lack of privacy would lead you to be grumpy too!
Papi_JT Tuesday - 08 / 09 / 2009 Reply

I have watched the show in the past but have turned it off since the separation and now divorce proceedings. Having gone through a divorce involving a child I feel that it is imperative that the co-parents make it a private matter and spare the children all of public discourse. Keep in mind that you may really despise your ex but your ex is the child(ren) mother or father and that child loves their mother or father.
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