Reality hits Jon and Kate Plus 8

In the 70’s, one of the most popular shows on TV was “Happy Days.” The show became a huge hit growing bigger and more popular every year. But with all good things, something happens to change things.

In the case of “Happy Days,” the producers had the brilliant idea to have Fonzie and the gang at the beach. And in an even more brilliant move, the writers decided that somehow or another, Fonzie ends of jumping his motorcycle over a shark.

It was a turning point that inspired a TV catch-phrase that I absolutely love…”Jumping the Shark.”

So whenever a TV show is now referred to as ”jumping the shark” (much to Henry Winkler’s chagrin) it’s short-hand to say the show is on the way down.

I watched “Jon and Kate Plus Eight” on Monday night. It has jumped the shark.

The sad part is it isn’t a TV show that has hit the skids…its a marriage.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock recently, it would be hard not to have heard about the rocky relationship between Jon and Kate Gosslin, the couple that had twin girls and then found themselves having six more!

The couple’s extraordinary birth and subsequent raising of the eight kids has been documented for the past four years on TLC. The show has been a warm and wonderful insight into how the simple tasks of raising kids…is multiplied by eight. Simple and sweet, the program was terrific family viewing for my family and kids.

But after seeing the fifth season premiere, I don’t want my kids to watch anymore.  

The harsh reality of reality has hit what used to be an innocent (and I will say it again) sweet escape that showcased the wonderful ordinariness of having eight kids.

I will give the producer’s credit, they did not shy away from the tabloid rumors dogging the couple. They faced the controversy head-on allowing Jon and Kate, usually sitting together but now, awkwardly and painfully sitting solo, speaking to an unseen producer/interviewer about their very personal issues.

But one of the most disconcerting changes this season is the introduction of the off screen interviewer…and Kate’s constant mentions of tabloid photographers and “the show.” Before, the program operated like it really was a peek inside this home life.

I feel guilty. And very sad. Watching on Monday night, it felt like I was listening to friends in therapy. This marriage has issues. And I’m afraid this marriage is doomed.  

Because I have so enjoyed the show in the past, I’m disappointed to literally watch the couple’s marriage falling apart. They are not TV stars…they are a real, honest to god family – - – just a very large family. I want these guys to get help and stay the hell off of TV and out of the limelight while they work out their issues.

But ratings will be huge, I am confident that this show will shatter all ratings records. (UPDATE: Nielsen says nearly 10 million watched…almost twice that normally watch this show.)

Everything changes. That’s life. I’m just not sure I want to watch this painful and dysfunctional dynamic on TV. It’s no longer about a couple functioning with eight kids…its now about watching this couple just trying to function. And

Me with EXTRA host Mario Lopez at the Track

that’s not what I fell in love with on this show. 

So I’m changing too…changing the channel.

*****

Did you see Mario Lopez and the show EXTRA at the Speedway last week?

RTV 6 employees assisted the show, taping segments with Danica Patrick and taping  segments in one of the suites during Carb Days festivities last Friday.

It was a lot of fun having the entertainment show showcase the Greatest Spectacle in Racing AND the hospitality of Hoosiers in Indiana.

*****

Helio drinks milk with the 6 NEWS crew

Finally, a congrats goes out to Helio Castroneves for his remarkable third victory at the Indy 500 on Sunday.

Many of us at RTV6 have a special fondness for Helio because he was our Trackside 6 driver analyst during last year’s 500. His is a great story about overcoming obstacles and never letting his spirit get down.

A great story for all of us!

I’ll chug a milk for that!

By the way, the primetime replay of the Indianapolis 500 dominated the ratings on Sunday night with nearly a third of all TVs in central Indiana tuned to the telecast. I’ll chug a milk for that, too!

Saw “Indiana Jones” on Friday (see my thumbs up review in the previous post) I enjoyed a rain free “Indy 500″ in High Def on Sunday night. Then spent Monday evening watching a “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ marathon on TLC with my kids.

If you’ve never seen “Jon and Kate Plus 8,” it’s a documentary/reality show following Jon and Kate Gosselin and their eight kids. 

They had twin girls (now aged six.) Then had sextuplets! Eight kids total!

Each 30 minute show is brilliantly simple.

Just show what day to day life is like for parents trying to care for eight very young children. Potting training, mealtimes, traveling, sleeping…anything you do with so many kids is filled with drama (and lots of laughs, too.)

As a parent, my wife and I have shared stories with our friends. Jon and Kate are basically sharing their stories…times eight. 

The most interesting thing to me…to see how absolutely fascinated my kids were watching this show. They really related to it.

*****

I love “Lost.” 

And I can’t wait until Thursday night. 

ABC has scheduled a special all night “Lost” event, repeating last week’s episode at 8pm followed by the two hour season finale beginning at 9PM.

This is the best show on television. Period. 

Since the producers and ABC announced that the show would end in 2010, this show has gotten even better. Before it sometimes seemed like the show was making it up as it went along. Not anymore. It’s now obvious that the producers have the show’s storyline all mapped out. And man is it good. But for all the story pyrotechnics and logistic sleight of hand the production team has concocted, the show works because of the characters they have crafted over the past three seasons.

It’s like a really good novel. And I can’t wait till the next chapter.

*****

Sad news from Hollywood…Late word on Monday night that the director/sometime actor Sydney Pollack has passed away from cancer at the age of 73.

Pollack, born in Lafayette, Indiana, was one of the best. He directed “Tootsie,” “Out of Africa,”"The Way We Were” and dozens of other outstanding movies. He also acted in “Tootsie” (playing Dustin Hoffman’s agent) and most recently appeared opposite George Clooney in “Michael Clayton.”

I had the good fortune to see him at a Heartland Film Festival seminar a few years ago talking about his movies and the creative process. He truly was an outstanding filmmaker and storyteller. He’ll be missed.