When private problems become public entertainment
June 24, 2009
I am going to try to comment only once more on the Jon and Kate situation (see previous post HERE). I confess that I did watch the fiasco Monday evening. As every person in the known world knows by now Jon and Kate are pursuing a divorce.
It seems that Kate will continue to build her empire while Jon gets busy sowing a few particularly wild oats. Kate is clearly the driven partner in the arrangement while Jon is the passive agressive man-child. Last evening's episode, built around the ratings bonanza of their big "announcement" was also a tool for promoting a company in Maine that builds high end play houses for children. Yet again the ever present and profitable product placement. While mom and dad spent what was surely a small fortune for most of us on custom designed play houses their marriage was breathing its last. The irony does not get much more ironic.
One of the things that the estranged couple said repeatedly throughout the episode was that the most important thing was their kids. It seems that everything Jon and Kate do is for the kids. Kate explained that they did the show and built the big house for the kids. Jon said that he had to what was best for him...and the kids. They celebrate holidays for the kids, have picnics for the kids, and go on vacations for the kids. The only thing they are not going to do for their kids is the thing their kids need most: stay together.
