Jon posted a sign outside the Gosselins' Pennsylvania home saying "no film crew or production staff from TLC is permitted on this property."

Jon Gosselin has issued a cease-and-desist order against TLC, saying they must stop filming his children. Filming was in progress on the modified reality show, “Kate Plus Eight,” which was supposed to hit the air Nov. 2.

Kate Gosselin said in a statement that Jon Gosselin was being filmed with the kids as recently as Friday, and she doesn’t know why he had his lawyers order the TLC production crew to leave their property in Wernersville, Pa. The Associated Press reports that filming that doesn’t involve the children will continue, but production will be suspended until further notice.

Statement from Kate Gosselin

“It appears that Jon’s priority is Jon and his interests,” Kate Gosselin, said in a statement. “My priority remains our children and their well being.” The show, which was called “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ through its most recent season, brings in a hefty income for the Gosselins. Kate says she is saving most of the income from the show for her eight children’s educations. It certainly would be nice to be able to pay for college without needing a debt survival course, but some people argue the children are being exploited.

“I’m saddened and confused by Jon’s public media statements. Jon has never expressed any concerns to me about our children being involved in the show and, in fact, is on the record as saying he believes the show benefits our children and was taping on Friday with the kids,” Kate Gosselin said.

So what happened?

So the series of events goes somewhat like this: Jon and Kate decide they will turn their lives into a reality show and sign a contract with TLC to begin production on “Jon & Kate Plus 8.” A few years later, the Gosselins file for divorce. The show is suspended for a bit, but goes back on the air, though filming of Jon and Kate is done separately.

After the season wraps, TLC announces it will rename the show “Kate Plus Eight,” though the program will still contain limited appearances from Jon. Jon Gosselin appears to be on board, participating in filming less than a week ago. Today, he orders the network to stop filming his children. What could have happened between Friday and now to make him change his mind after five years? For the answer, we can only go to the Bible of Celebrity Smut, TMZ.

TMZ says Jon did it for the money

Apparently, Jon’s decision to order a halt to the production of “Kate Plus Eight” came after he found out that “Kate Plus Eight” would be minus Jon. Even though TLC agreed to continue to pay him and include him in some episodes, they made it clear he was now allowed under his contract to be on any other shows.

Of course, Jon Gosselin is saying that he filed the cease-and-desist order because he thought the show was bad for his kids, but why now? It only makes sense that he is shutting down the show because of the recent decision for it to go on as “Kate Plus Eight.” TLC is on the record calling Jon “opportunistic.”

Not everyone is excited about the November premiere of "Kate Plus 8." Image from Wikimedia.

Ratings for “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ on TLC are down 80 percent from the season premier. Of course, it’s tough to top a much-anticipated, public divorce announcement. However, TLC has decided that because “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ is no longer bringing home the bacon, the network will start a new show.

It should be an easy one to launch. TLC’s new show is “Kate Plus 8,” and it will be exactly what it sounds like. However, The New York Daily News reports that TLC will maintain its “exclusive” relationship with Jon Gosselin. Does that mean Jon Gosselin can’t make extra cash appearing on other shows?

Details and divorced dads

All jokes about Jon Gosselin and “exclusive relationships” aside, what does this contract with TLC mean for Jon Gosselin’s career? Daily News says Jon Gosselin will still make appearances on the show, but he will have a much more limited role. This seems to indicate Jon will get paid less, one would think, especially because TLC is altering the title of the show specifically to omit his name.

A few months ago, rumors began circulating that there was a reality show in the works called “Divorced Dads Club,” which would feature Michael Lohan, Jose Canseco, possibly Dennis Rodman and of course Jon Gosselin. However, does Jon Gosselin’s “exclusive relationship” with TLC mean he can’t be on the show? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

TLC plus Kate

The Daily News wrote about TLC’s reasoning for kicking Jon — or at least his name — to the curb:

“Given the recent changes in the family dynamics, it only makes sense for us to refresh and recalibrate the program to keep pace with the family,” TLC president Eileen O’Neill said in a statement. “The family has evolved and we are attempting to evolve with it; we feel that Kate’s journey really resonates with our viewers.”

The statement also says “Kate Plus 8″ will focus on “Kate’s journey as a single mom.” Rumors are also flying about other TV opportunities for Kate. The Daily News says it’s developing another project with Kate for next year. There have also been rumors that Kate wants — and might get — her own talk show.

Nine minus Jon

I think most people familiar with the story knew that some big changes were on the way for the show after Jon and Kate announced during an episode that they’d filed for a divorce. I was hoping they’d come up with something a little more fun for the title, like “Jon and Kate Plus 8 Minus Jon,” but the journalist in me is glad they stuck with brevity, even if it’s not funny.

Now that the rumors about Jon Gosselin starting his own clothing line have been shot down and TLC is saying it still owns the rights to Jon Gosselin, I wonder what he will do? Even though he is only 32, some gossip sites are saying he’s going through a “public mid-life crisis.” So perhaps that will keep him busy for a while. When he runs out of money or loses all of it to Kate, I suppose he can go back to whatever he did before he started getting paid to be on reality TV shows. What was that, anyway?

“Kate Plus 8″ begins airing Nov. 2.

No, Jon Gosselin isn’t fired, but it seems he’d certainly be glad if he were. Popular opinion at the time of Jon and Kate’s divorce filing was that “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ should just shut down. Or at lease change its name. Well, there is apparently a shakeup in the works now, as TMZ says Jon Gosselin is trying to start up a different reality show.

He’s also doing things that make TLC very angry, such as wearing clothing with designer labels all over so the network has to blur out all of his clothes. I guess because he doesn’t need a cash advance to get expensive clothes anymore he feels it’s his right. TLC seems to disagree. Here’s the scoop from TV OverMind:

Jon seems to be working overtime lately when it comes to pissing off TLC by dressing up tip to toe in designer duds, prompting the network to blur 90% of his body. Now word comes from TMZ that Jon has been negotiating to appear on another reality show – the negotiations themselves are probably a violation of his TLC contract – called “Divorced Dad’s Club.”

Say what? A new reality show?

Apparently TMZ has reason to believe that Jon Gosselin getting fired is exactly what he wants because he might be able to make more money on a new project. The project would still have cameras on him 24-7, but he wouldn’t have to play second string to Kate anymore. TMZ reports that Jon Gosselin is “wheeling and dealing” for a new reality show.

Jon Gosselin wants to be fired because he is talking to producers about a new show featuring celebrity divorced dads. Rumor has it he’s been talking to Michael Lohan as well as Lindsay Lohan’s manager Mike Heller  and the guy who is producing the show, which has the working title “The Divorced Dads Club.” Even if Jon Gosselin doesn’t get fired from TLC, production company Endemol says “Divorced Dads Club” will be a reality anyway.

Why does Jon Gosselin need to get fired?

TV OverMind makes a good point about why Jon Gosselin should not be working on developing a new reality show:

What would the legal ramifications be for Jon if he were to willfully break his contract with TLC to the detriment of their show. I’m no lawyer, but if Jon Diva’d out because he was scheming to pad his bank account wouldn’t TLC have legal recourse?

The answer, of course, is yes — unless Jon Gosselin gets fired. But of course TLC is not going to fire Jon Gosselin because he’s doing something they could sue him for. The network will probably just wait until he does break his contract; that way TLC won’t be financially liable to Jon Gosselin.

Money troubles

Apparently, the whole Jon Gosselin getting fired thing has been a subject on the minds of “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ producers for a while. TV OverMind says:

Turns out he quickly blew his share of the show money last season, and this season was cut out of financial control by a court order after he was found to be ‘irresponsible.’

Yikes. I guess that explains why Jon Gosselin wants to get fired.

Once upon a time...

The “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ announcement airs on TLC tonight, and it will no doubt mean a huge increase in viewers and ratings for the network and the program.

Most avid “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ fans have probably heard the news that Jon and Kate are announcing an imminent divorce. Nonetheless I believe millions will still tune in to hear the when and the why and whatever else Jon and Kate have to say for an entire hour.

Does money matter?

Even before there were rumors about both Jon and Kate having affairs, the TLC show “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ was surrounded by controversy. Many accused Jon and Kate, the Gosselins, of exploiting their children.

The TV show about their out-of-the-ordinary family, which has twins and a set of sextuplets, has brought in a ton of extra cash for Jon and Kate. Although I’m sure the kids will get their fair share of the profits when they’re old enough to manage their own money, one could argue that the Gosselin children are working some extraordinary hours.

Behind the scenes

When news of Jon and Kate having affairs hit the tabloids, more attention than ever was showered upon the show. Sometimes it makes me wonder what the conversations surrounding the show sound like nowadays.

For instance, I used to work in a newsroom. We were all aware that big, terrible catastrophes meant we’d sell a lot more newspapers. I always felt guilty, but it was the nature of the business. After all, we were only giving readers what they wanted, right? I bet there are more than a few people who have mixed feelings about the fact that Jon and Kate’s failing marriage has or will fatten their paychecks.

Mass media

The “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ announcement has been advertised heavily and has attracted tons of media attention, and all of this before it even airs. It was rumored from the beginning that the “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ announcement would be a divorce or separation, but after the announcement was announced, Radar magazine announced that the announcement was a divorce.

Part of the announcement was that Jon and Kate had decided earlier to break up, and that they would separate on July 15. However, the much-hyped “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ announcement became necessary when the couple decided to move up their separation — to immediately.

Future of Jon and Kate

Clearly, the show will undergo some radical changes, although I think it might just be canceled altogether. Well, perhaps I should say I think it should be canceled altogether.

First off, you can’t continue a show called “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ when there is no Jon and Kate. Also, just as I felt bad when the newspaper profited from disasters, I feel like it’s not right for so many people to profit from a family’s sad misfortune. Even if Jon and Kate are the ones who profit from the “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ announcement, how will their kids be able to deal with their parents’ divorce and being in the spotlight at the same time?

Kate Gosselin's most recent literary work.

Yesterday, I wrote about TLC promoting the Jon and Kate announcement special episode that will air on Monday in place of the regular show. Keeping the announcement secret was a strategic marketing move that was sure to get the big bucks flowing in.
However, the announcement has been leaked. I definitely think that the Jon and Kate announcement spoiler will have a big effect on the viewership of Monday’s announcement program. Payday loan stores stay competitive by offering lower rates, but TV shows can only compete through ratings and viewers.

Jon and Kate announcement spoiler

I wrote “Jon and Kate announcement spoiler” again just to be sure. Anyone out there who does not want to know what the Jon and Kate announcement is and wait until Monday to find out on the show should not read any further.

OK, here goes. This is from The Hollywood Gossip:

Jon and Kate announcement spoiler: definitely a divorce

The promo for Monday night’s special episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 promises that the embattled Jon and Kate Gosselin will make a major announcement.

A source close to the situation tells Radar Online that the Jon and Kate announcement is what we all assumed it to be: They are getting a divorce.

The source says that Kate Gosselin recently met with a divorce lawyer. Another source says that the couple had previously agreed to separate by July 15.

That timetable has now been pushed forward.

Radaralso claims exclusive knowledge that for all intents and purposes, the marriage is already over and Jon Gosselin will file divorce papers next week.

What becomes of ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8′?

So now we know about the Jon and Kate announcement spoiler and the impending Jon and Kate divorce. I predicted in my article yesterday that the announcement would be they were ending the show, pronto. Though I haven’t read yet exactly how soon the show will end, it is only a matter of time.

How can “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ continue if there is no Jon and Kate? Will it be Jon minus Kate? Kate minus Jon? “Jon OR Kate Plus 8″? I suppose that would be an easy enough change.

Who are these Jon and Kate people?

For those of you out there who aren’t familiar with Jon and Kate, they are the stars, along with their eight children, of a TLC reality show. To catch everybody up, after the Jon and Kate announcement spoiler, The Hollywood Gossip does on to give a great explanation of the show and the many controversies surrounding it:

The stars of Jon & Kate Plus 8 have unwittingly used reality TV to broadcast the reality of an unraveling, terrible marriage. And they’ve done it to record ratings this season as media frenzy around the battling couple grew with each new development:

• Jon was accused of having an affair with Deanna Hummel.
• Kate was accused of having an affair with Steve Neild.
• Kate’s porcupine / reverse mullet weave has been scrutinized.
• Her brother discussed the relationship publicly in a tell-all with Us Weekly, which featured the Gosselins on a staggering seven straight covers.
• Kate previously took the sextuplets on vacation to North Carolina without Jon. He was spotted hanging out with Deanna Hummel in Utah.
• Jon has also been spotted with Hailey Glassman, the daughter of Kate’s plastic surgeon, and reports say this relationship may be still on.
• Jon and Kate spent their 10th wedding anniversary apart.