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TwitterRecord ratings for 'Jon & Kate' divorce episode
After several weeks of declining ratings following a huge season premiere, "Jon & Kate Plus 8" racked up more record numbers Monday -- for what turned out to be the last new episode for some time.
Nielsen figures put the audience for Monday's "Jon & Kate" -- during which Jon and Kate Gosselin announced they were separating and an on-screen card said that divorce papers were filed Monday -- at 10.6 million people, which breaks the show's record of 9.8 million for the season premiere.
The episode marked the culmination of days of speculation -- fueled by promos from TLC, which airs the show, about "an announcement" from the couple -- that the couple would split up. They finally said as much about 40 minutes into the hour-long episode, which also featured an extended sequence about playhouses for their eight kids being delivered to the house.
Monday's show will also be the last new episode for at least a month. The production has been working on very tight deadlines as it deals with the intense outside scrutiny of the Gosselins and therefore doesn't have enough footage to put together new episodes. So after a clip show next week that includes some new footage, the show will take a break until early August.
TLC still has 34 of the 40 episodes in its order left to air. The show's ratings have been on a roller coaster so far this season, dropping each week after the season premiere (to as low as 2.9 million, which is still pretty strong for a cable show) before skyrocketing again Monday.
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And this is scary for a show like this, which has been nothing short of a train wreck, to garner such high ratings. Are Americans seriously in need of such trash TV as this, especially on a once-proud netwok like TLC? Unbelievable!
10 million lame people who like to watch divorce wars for entertainment.
I still think this is one big ratings ploy. Play up the divorce proceedings for a few months, and then start a "will they, won't they" get back together teaser as the show goes along.
These people and TLC will do ANYTHING for ratings. People who keep watching this show a trash, just like the parents.
Just goes to show what the world is coming to.
Really sick and sad .... What happened to "What's best for the Children" These parents are not even thinking about them if its not a ploy for more ratings .... I think these kids are already going to be messed up with the cameras in their faces all the time. My heart goes out for the kids...
oh, just zip it. just because they're celebs people think it's the worst thing in the world that they're splitting. maybe you guys should open your eyes and see the real world. it happens ALL the time!
no, not "just because they're celebs," Jessica. because they have 8 kids. and because Kate and TLC held them out as some kind of "super family."
these people arent real celebs they just have alot of kids which used to be the whole point of the show. It needs to be off air forever
This is all so terrible...for the children. The adults...it takes two to wreck a marriage, and neither one are claiming responsibility for their actions. Kate, wake up and realize that your attitude and emasculation of your husband has contributed to your marriage's demise. Jon, your low sense of self-worth does not give you the freedom to carry around like a beaten child...you knew what you were getting into when you married her. To the two of you, your childish behavior and sense of entitlement has now affected your children in the most profound way. Congratulations on proving the statistics right rather than working hard to make your family stays a family.
SO THEY DNT EVEN WANT TO BE TOGETHER SO WUT??!! ITS NOT LIKE JUST BECAUSE THEY GOT DIVORCED DOESNT MEAN THAT THE KIDS WNT EVER BE HAPPY OR ABLE TO SEE JON. AT LEAST THEY DID IT WHILE THE KIDS WERE YOUG THAT WAY THEYLL BE USE TO THEYR PARENTS DIVORCE BY THE TIME THEY GROW UP :/
JUST THINKING POS