Just last week I was bemoaning the fact that shows featuring abnormally large families, at least by today’s standards, such as “18 Kids and Counting” and “Jon & Kate Plus Eight” are sending irresponsible signals in an era striving for sustainability. I hoped that Discovery Communications, owner of both TLC and Planet Green, would formulate some kind of crossover event between the channels to make not only the Gosselin and Duggar families more eco-conscious, but also to educate the huge audiences that watch these shows.
From my lips to Discovery’s ears, as the saying goes.
Last night, Jon and Kate went green with the help of “Renovation Nation” host Steve Thomas, just in time for Earth Day. In between installing solar panels for electricity, solar thermal panels to heat the gallons of hot water they use for laundry and bathing, and LCD lighting to conserve energy, Steve and crew elaborated on the natural resources needed to maintain a family the size of the Gosselins, and how to reduce their carbon footprint.
In fact, the advice applied to families of any size or shape, and the episode was full of wonderful hints and tips, but Kate’s grudging attitude toward the project really diminished the effectiveness of the show. Kate states very firmly at the beginning of the show that she’s “all about the bottom line” and if this project will help them save money, she’s all for it. But she hates “dishevelment.” And she means it, telling Thomas at one point that she’d rather have a root canal than any renovation done to her home.
At times, the jovial Thomas doesn’t seem to know how to respond to Kate’s cynicism and several times gently chides, “That’s angry talk.” But in the end, Kate’s passive appreciation comes through in the form of baked goods for the crew.
I’m glad that Discovery Communications decided to do this show, but I just wish that Kate had been more excited about it. So she has some emotional baggage from her father never completing home repair projects, but try to show a little enthusiasm about helping the environment so that those of us at home might be inspired to go green like the Gosselins.
“Jon & Kate Plus 8 Go Green!” airs tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET on TLC.
posted April 20, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Although I’m starting to hate Kate the past few episodes (especially when she berated Jon for interruption) I’m now starting to understand why she behaved that way. Last night I finally figured out who this woman is all about. She’s simply someone with strong personality that doesn’t hold back anything what’s on her mind (many famous people comes to mind when I think of her Bill Maher, Joan Rivers to name a few). Especially on things that are bothering her. Obviously she’s got psychological issues dating back to childhood about PROJECTS that her father never finished.
Also, unlike others I didn’t see Kate as being mean to Steve Thomas. Because I now see that besides the strong personality, she also have this very sarcastic sense of humor and who doesn’t hold back anything. And Steve blabbering about all this geeky stuffs is making Kate bored to death and that’s why she makes fun of him. In fact, I even saw Steve as having fun with her as both of them are laughing about it. In the end, Steve even kissed her twice and seems to have enjoyed his times with the Gosselins and the kids seemed to really love the guy, especially Alexis.
posted April 20, 2009 at 7:16 pm
As I have only seen the show few times, I guess I shouldn’t judge Kate. I have heard others complain about her shall we say, personality and I wasn’t impressed with her the times I watched. If she complains because her house is being messed up to make it more earth friendly, why bother doing it….or even more important…why continue to keep them on the air? Perhaps someone can answer this…don’t they have the new house because they are on TV, house bought with money received for letting cameras follow them around?
posted April 20, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Wow. It seems to me we’re overlooking the obvious: this is a family of 10 people, and 8 children and a TV crew. It probably runs at a fairly high level of chaos on any given day. Kate’s preference for the “bottom line” and resistance to “dishevelment” may not be any ominous psychological shadow from her past as much as simply a need to maintain at all costs some sort of order in their home that makes daily life manageable. She just has different priorities/values than others, because her life is very different than others.
posted April 21, 2009 at 8:29 am
Considering this was a going green episode one would tell Kate to break out plates and real cups.
All the paper plates and STYROFOAM cups show how much Gosselin family cares about the environment, not at all! The only green they care about is money!
posted April 21, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Kate has gone over to the dark side and she has no friends or family left to reel her back in to reality. She is clearly narcissistic and over the edge of balance.
They are taping 40 episodes this year!! She is on book tour for weeks and weeks at a time. 3-4 episodes a year would nicely complement their income and still generate ratings. This Gosselin oversaturation is destined for burnout soon and I sincerely hope it happens before the children are old enough to google their names and read the blogs.
This family is in a lot of trouble and the stress is clearly evident.
posted April 21, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Kate has chosen the life she is living, and that life means filming will be done in and around her home. If she doesn’t like the chaos, she should not have signed for another season. Certainly, Jon didn’t want to do it. Considering they are being paid well, the least Kate can do is to pretend she is enjoying it. Her ‘attitude’ is spoiling everything. (Notice how Jon enjoyed doing the episode? Maybe because Kate wasn’t!)
posted April 22, 2009 at 2:11 am
I wonder how Steve felt about the Hummer and the new sports car in the garage? What does a Hummer get? About 12 miles to the gallon? How eco friendly are the styrofoam cups she served the coffee in? Or, the 1300 paper plates she goes through a month?
posted September 2, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Wait… Jon and Kate have a “green home”? I never quite understood the way the term “green” started being thrown around so loosely. So you’re saying i can do some minor renovations and I too will have a completely “green” home. Also I hardly think of Jon and Kate as efficiency roll models, after all they do have a lot of other things to worry about than how much energy they are saving.
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posted March 4, 2011 at 4:26 am
“Green Home” is more popular these days. It’s like a home that uses natures energy. Like what jon and kate had. They installed solar thermal panels to heat the gallons of hot water they use for laundry and bathing at home, and LCD lighting to conserve energy.
-Sarah
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