Jon Gosselin - looking worse every day

A while back, before news first broke of Jon Gosselin and Kate Gosselin divorcing, I took a position that the media was being unfair to the couple. I defended his ability to go out with friends to have a drink. To have time to just be around friends and have a little time off from the 8 children that required 98% of his time everyday. At that time it looked like the media was just dad-bashing.

Since that time Jon Gosselin has done just about everything he can to make me feel bad about the position I took. He has flaunted the broken marriage, separated himself from his kids, and allowed the media into a divorce that is anything but friendly. He has become more of a louse than anything else.

I still believe that the media intrusion into the life of the family did not help anyone in the Gosselin family. Maybe they would have stayed together without the cameras, maybe not. But there is no question that the added stress of public life did not help the situation.

That said, this is even worse for the kids than I imagined. Not only are their parents divorcing badly, essentially before millions and directly in front of those they live around, but they will have the added issues that any child goes through when parents divorce. Plus there is the fact that neither parent seems to be a shining beacon of decorum..

Perhaps the thing that upset me most is the fact that Jon Gosselin took $180,000 from the joint account he had with Kate. I doubt if that was every penny in the account, at least I would hope not as the needs of 8 children require ample funds available. Such an act irritates me, and I have to comment on it though I prefer to leave the private issues of celebrities alone.

It is a sad statement of our society when a man can remove the security blanket of his family solely to cause pain and anger to his wife. Especially when the media is there to watch it all happen. It's a negative message at every level. Young men are being taught that fame and money are far more important than marriage and family responsibilities.

I like to think that Jon Gosselin is above that. But that is not what is being reported. And the media is all over both of the Gosselin's enough that even if there is a media bias against all fathers, his actions still stand as problematic.

Even his recent cease-and-desist letter to the TLC network about filming his children takes on a disingenuous tone. It seems more akin to a punishment for Kate Gosselin than to protect his kids. The money and fame was fine while he was there, but suddenly when he is not it is too much. That may not be the way it is, but it does look that way.

Ultimately I feel bad for the children. If there were no other reason for the parents to be quiet publicly, to appear amenable, it would be for the sake of the kids. Because while the tabloids are laying the groundwork for a lifetime of painful memories for the children, none of them will be around for any positive effect on those kids. Once all this is over, the tabloids will walk away, and wait for the poison they have injected to these kids lives to surface so they can cash in again.

Jon Gosselin is not helping this. Kate Gosselin has issues as well, not least of which is continuing with the show (to be called Kate plus 8). But as a man, I look at Jon and know that men are supposed to behave better - even in a bad situation. He has made the worst of the media hype believable and fair.

I said this before, there is no upside from all of this. The media and the Gosselin's combined are in the wrong. I just hope they all can shut up publicly and do what is best for the kids. Because when its all said and done, they are really the only ones that matter at all.

Paris Hilton may not be a slut, but...

So for the record, Paris Hilton has stated that she is not stupid, or a slut. She felt compelled to mention this before the MTV premiere of a documentary on her life hits the airwaves in a few days. I suppose that answers that.

But having read her response, and the fact that she claims that the image the public has of her being a rich, bratty, idiot is all an act, I thought a comment was necessary. I can use a quote one of my oldest friends once said (not sure if he made it up or heard it somewhere) that I have never forgotten

“You may not be a ho. But you are in the clothes of a ho, you act like a ho. So you can understand if I am confused and treat you like a ho.”

Paris Hilton acts like a slut. She acts like an idiot. In fact if this is just a marketing scheme the woman needs to be provided an Oscar. If this is an act, then why the hell did she not use all this massively incredible skill in any movie which she has appeared in?

As I recall, the coverage of her arrest and imprisonment all stemmed from a single act. Hilton was so incapable of normal responsibilities that she failed to heed the notice of suspension of her driver’s license that was in the glove box of her car when she was arrested. So either that was a brilliant plan to drum up media coverage of her flippant disregard of the law, and the excess of her wealth trying to abuse the legal system, or she is just too dumb to drive.

Look there are just too many reasons why this extremely skinny, extremely spoiled, extremely lucky heiress can be called slut, idiot, airhead, fool, brat, and insignificant. And I can only think of 1 reason why she would like to change that image (reality). The trust fund that ensures she never needs to work or live in the real world, can be taken away if the family get upset enough. In fact, such rumors were swirling just before Hilton stopped being the tabloid pin-up girl about 1 or 2 years ago as I recall.

Perhaps jail brought a dose of reality to Hilton. Perhaps the fear of losing more money than some countries GDP sobered up her actions. Or perhaps this is an elaborate marketing trick to make her popular, again (for whatever reason find her interesting in the first place). Whatever it may be, the end result is the same.

Paris Hilton ‘wears the clothes’, and has the mannerisms of a prostitute. She appears to be about as business minded and intellectual as a crackhead (and to me a similar figure). She has almost as much acting ability as the former Taco Bell Chihuahua. But if I am mistaken, you can understand why.

And what in the world justifies a documentary on Paris Hilton? Beyond having a sex tape, going to jail because of her own stupidity, and having been the progeny of a very blue-blood lineage, there is nothing interesting about her. It might just be me, but Anna Nicole Smith contributed more to the world, and will have a more lasting effect than Hilton. The standards at MTV really have just gone to ground.

Entertainment Tonight goes too far with Michael Jackson photo

I understand that the death of Michael Jackson is enormous news. There has been nothing else on the cable news networks for the last 2 hours. Every entertainment outlet is searching for a story and angle on this. Including myself to a degree.

But Entertainment Tonight has gone too far. They went to a place that the realm of good taste forbids. Even tabloids tend to not tread this path - at least not hours after the death of a celebrity.

Entertainment Tonight has placed on it's website a photo they claim is the last ever taken of Jackson. Jackson was intibated and on a strecher. Some time shortly after this photo he was dead.

I find photos of dead celebrities to be disgusting. It is an insult and a disrespect. It does not shed new light on the event, it does not inform. And I can imagine the horror it can evoke to the family and friends of the deceased. Especially 2 hours after the news has just broken.

Imagine that if for some reason you were a friend of Jackson and you turn on your TV or computer and that ewas the first thing you saw. Imagine if you are a family member and you get to see that after the wake or funeral. Imagine if you are one of his children some years from now, and you get to see that this was how some exploited your dad after death.

Entertainment Tonight has acted as only scum would in my opinion. I accept that the photo was taken while Jackson was alive, with expectations that he would survive. But ET knew he was dead when they published this photo. So their only decision was to release this photo in an effort to profit off of his death. It's the modern equivalent of grave robbing.

Tabloids and paparazzi act in low manner all the time. They have the least respect, unless a dollar is attached. But this is inexcusable. I mean can't they let the man's memory, family, and friends have even 1 night before they disgustingly hustle for a buck on his grave.

I too am a member of the media. A small part, but still part all the same. And I deplore and am insulted by this desecration of Michael Jackson. The executives that ok'd this decision should get beaten with a stick by the Jackson family.

Maybe I am too sensitive (which may be the first I would be called that) or my morality is too high. But I think the outcry from the public should remind the media that there are limits. That the chase of a buck does not justify everything. That good taste still is more important than a scoop or quickie journalism.

Do you agree?

Jon & Kate Plus 8 – the show must go on

Actually it shouldn’t. I have been disgusted with the tabloid coverage of this couple. The media frenzy over their marital difficulties was abominable. And it all culminated with the show this evening.

After the endless speculation and paparazzi attempts to confirm the worst of thoughts, Jon and Kate Gosselin have publicly declared they are getting a divorce. And television, especially reality television has found a new low in its search for the common denominator.

With the pressure and unforgiving presence of the media, a family now is broken. And millions got to watch it happen. It is perhaps the largest mass media sadomasochist event so far in the history of the medium. The money generated by this event will never make up for the lives that have been ruined.

The lives I’m speaking about are the 8 children of the Gosselin’s. None are old enough to full understand what has happened. But they are old enough to feel every repercussion of this event. And thanks to television and the media at large, they will be able to relive this all their lives. A fact that television executives I am sure are happy about.

There are so many reasons why this is wrong. The effects of this will last far longer than the “reality” show. In the end, the pain inflicted will likely not be seen until it hits a headline down the road. Yes, all 8 children are now 1000% more likely to become part of a more tragic statistic than growing up with divorced parents. They may become part of the child stars that have lives damaged permanently – like Dana Plato, Todd Bridges, Lindsey Lohan, Tatum O’Neal, Danny Bonaduce, Britney Spears, Brad Renfro, Michael Jackson and so many others.

Just for the momentary amusement of the public. The joy of letting someone feel better about their own lives by watching someone else’s problems. And it only took the infliction of pain on the minds and lives of children that can’t even understand what has happened.

Would this have happened anyway? Maybe. But there is no question that having the parents chased down by the vulture hordes of cameramen looking for any failure in their lives made raising so many children just that much more difficult. There is no question that the pressure of having their lives documented for the watercooler commentary of the masses did not make it easier. Not getting a chance to just be loving parents, or a married couple, just ensured what was announced today.

Yes, over 50% of the people married today get divorced. Yes, society does not view divorce the same as say 30 years ago. In fact, it is now considered as much a part of marriage as anything else. But do we really need to be a part of this happening? Do we really need to know intimately how this happens to a family in weekly episodes?

But millions have gotten their pound of flesh. They are reminded that the Gosselin’s are just like them. Television has found a new low to sink to. The commercial success of this family breakdown guarantees executives duplicating the events for even higher profit.

So when you see the Gosselin kids in the headlines in 10 years, don’t be surprised. When you see the paparazzi chasing them down courthouse steps, or seeing their mugshots, feel as smug as when you watched their parents announce their divorce. Because every viewer, the cable network, television, the tabloids, the major media, all helped it to happen.

What a proud moment for the tabloids. What a grand experience for America. What a heyday for the viewing public, indeed.

Yahoo goes off the deep end with Jon & Kate Gosselin

Oh this is just not funny. In yet another example of why I hate the way the media exploits situations today I saw one of the worst cases.

On Yahoo, in the front page news headlines at 10:27 am, there is a video clip of Jon and Kate Gosselin. The headline reads

“Jon & KatePlus 8 parents have open marriage contract?”

Such a headline is a surprise. It implies, in conjunction with the recent allegations by tabloids, that both the parents are swingers. Such a subject is taboo among the mainstream of America, and rarely ever mentioned in the news without negative implications.

The video clip then shows you the Good Morning America show, and Robin Roberts introducing a video report of the status of the show. We see that the new season has started, that Jon and Kate appear but separately, and that the children are now 5 years old. In that video report the allegation that the Gosselin’s are contemplating splitting up is covered. And it is stated that Kate requested Jon to sign a contract that he could date as long as he appeared for the shows taping.

So immediately we get one thing clearly set before us. Yahoo is sensationalizing the situation. They are taking a step towards a tabloid in creating a headline that has virtually nothing to do with the actual information. At best, the entire 6 minute video clip – which includes an interview with a black family that has sextuplets and an older son, and has had limited exposure to the pressure of reality television – covers all of 7 seconds on what the Yahoo headline proposes.

Only in Hollywood does the alleged contract equate to an open marriage. Only in the worst of news media is such a connection become the driving force of the story.

In fact, Robin Roberts covers how the media, and reality television itself, are major factors in causing the family to have difficulty. That is it the existence of the cameras non-stop that is harming every person, notably the 5 year olds, for no reason than the fascination of the public.

I understand that the Gosselin’s need the financial help to raise the 8 children, and to have any income left over. I understand the extremes that they undertook to ensure that their kids would be guaranteed absolute needs. But there is so much more damage that the media is causing here.

A friend of mine stated about this Yahoo headline and the show

“What is wrong with them [Yahoo]. That doesn’t help anyone. It just gets more people into their business, running around and jumping to conclusions everytime they do anything. If either of them walk into a store and ask for directions, and walk out with someone to show them where to go – there go the cameras and gossip about being up to no good.

And you know, when was the last time that they [Gosselin’s] had time together? I have never seen a show where the company [producing the show] say ‘Hey, why don’t you too just go off for a dinner or on a little weekend trip on us so you can have time to be together and alone.’ I have never seen that. There is always a camera on them. It’s not healthy.”

And there you have it. The family of sextuplets stated directly to Robin Roberts how they needed to get away from the reality cameras to save their marriage – which is not completely fixed years after the fact. My friend sees it. I think you my readers see it. Robin Roberts sees it I think, and thus the nature of her on-air discussion.

But Yahoo wants to exploit the Gosselin’s. It wants to take a serious question and turn it into tabloid fodder. Did the headline garner my attention? Yes. But it is my job to comment on the media and celebrity news. Beyond that it only furthered my anger. Especially as Yahoo actively sought to warp the situation. And think, if Yahoo will go this far with its reputation how far will a tabloid go?

I say again that the news media needs to get their noses out of this family’s lives. There is no positive in what is being done. There is no need for the virtual yellow journalism here.

If Jon and Kate Gosselin do split, I blame the media as much as the show and the pressure of so many children. In fact I blame the media and reality television more. The Gosselin’s deserve better, but paparazzi and ratings whores just won’t let them get that. It truly is a shame.

Tabloids not done with Jon & Kate Plus 8

Last week Jon Gosselin was the target of accusations of cheating. This week People has targeted Kate Gosseling. I expect that next week both will be accused by some tabloid of being swingers. And in short order stories of abuse of their 8 children will appear.

It's ludicrous. Not just because the stories appear to be completely fabricated and meritless, but because the tabloid media is building upon the fluff that it is hyping. And the damage of their actions seems to be inconsequential to the ratings and sales they hope to make of this family.

The price of fame these days seems to include the destruction of any semblance of normality and happiness. Paparazzi vultures circle the even quasi-famous, searching for a photo that can be taken to have duplicitous meanings. Tabloids exploit any action that might present even a hint of negativity.

I realize that 'reality television' is the new 15 minutes of fame. I recognize that tabloids are being hit in this economic struggle as much as any other media. But do we all really need to bask in the difficulties and hyped fantasies of failure of even the most obscure celebrities? Does anyone's life become enriched by pondering a photo of a celebrity doing something as normal as getting a ride home from a bar, encircled by text declaring it may be a sexual jaunt? Will any person's day become miraculously better because marital strife is decried to have occurred in the life of someone on tv?

Aren't we all better than that? Or have we sunk to a point where anyone who makes more money, or is more famous, than the average must be displayed with flaws and riddled with barbs of anger. Could the lowest common denominator of tabloids and television scraped so low that this is considered fair treatment and entertainment of the masses?

Look, if Jon and/or Kate are having difficulties they should be left alone to resolve them. It's not like the media does not have enough access to their daily lives. The small bit of privacy they have should remain theirs.

Better yet, I would love to hear from anyone in the tabloid industry, or the paparazzi, that is willing to explain the reason why we need to know these things about any entertainer. Why the potential destruction of a family is justified for ratings and sales. How the private lives of anyone is less important than the ability to infer disharmony and flaws projected to the masses. And if any of them do respond, I dare them to place their names on such a response.

Honestly, I don't expect them to answer. They are to cowardly, in my opinion, to dare face the masses with honesty or an explanation. Rather they would prefer to hide behind their business and cameras, maintaining their anonymity, and collecting money.

Still the largest blame might be best left to the masses themselves. Because if no one purchased the trash they produce, out of necessity it would have to end.

Jon and Kate plus 8 - the tabloids are the real problem

What is it with the tabloids? Are they getting in too much trouble with the paparazzi circling stars like vultures that they now are after reality tv stars? And what cost does this all have?

Case in point is the drama surrounding Jon and Kate plus 8 stars Jon and Kate Gosselin. They are the parents of 8 children, and have a television show that highlights their daily tribulations in taking care of their little troop. I’ve seen the show from time to time, it’s not great television but it does surpass most of the ‘reality’ television fare out there.

The Gosselin’s are not a perfect couple. They get tired, stressed, and annoyed. Just like parents of far fewer kids. And like every other parent in the world, they occasionally look forward to having time away from the kids. But they are good parents in a good marriage, from what can be observed.

That of course is motivation enough for the paparazzi and the tabloids. Any successful relationship seems to be the fodder of their ire. And now they are stirring a hornet’s nest of trouble.

If you haven’t heard, recently Jon was photographed in a car with a woman other than his wife. He was exiting a bar. His wife Kate was on a promotional tour for her book at the time.

Does that sound like a scandal? That he was out cheating on his wife? To the tabloids it does. Though all the people involved insist that it was merely a night out away from the kids with a friend. Still they twisted the wording and laid down accusations all the same.

Of course this has lead to the usual paid dirt. You know, when someone related to or familiar with someone in this situation sell a story to the tabloids that backs up or infers truth on some part of the paparazzi driven drivel. You would be amazed what some people will do for $10,000 (a common amount paid for such “inside” information), or just a few moments of fame.

But what is the ramification of all this? Has anyone at these tabloids stopped for one moment and thought how this could affect the 8 children?

I mean the best thing that a tabloid could have happen is that they instigate a marital fight. They put undue pressure on the already difficult task of raising so many children, and hope that something pops. And if it does the paparazzi will be there in droves to film every second of it.

But what if this tabloid driven version of a married guy going out for a drink with a friend, who happens to be a woman, in a public place by the way leads to divorce? Neither of the parents are millionaires or even rich (8 kids will do that I am sure). Life for either Jon or Kate will instantly become more difficult.

But the real losers will be the young children. None are old enough to understand divorce. Hell, grown kids often don’t understand it. What kind of trauma might this mean for 8 innocents, still learning the basic building blocks of life.

Maybe it’s just me, but the private lives of entertainers and celebrities are private. Paparazzi and tabloids are a poison to the lives of everyone they touch or go after. There is no justification for what they do, nor any way to determine the damage they create in their wake of going for the photo.

Maybe Jon is innocent. Maybe he is not. But no matter which is the case, having the lesser part of the national news media (if such a thing exists) exacerbating the situation makes it all worse.

No child deserves this. And even if I am the only one to think so, I will say that the media needs to back off. Some things aren’t worth a minor bump in ratings or an extra couple of dollars in profit.

Texting gets a tabloid flavor

From time to time, basically every day, I get emails from various PR groups promoting this party, that gadget, or a request to place ads for some insanely high interest loan company (which I will never allow as I disagree with the business model of such companies). But occasionally I get something that perks my interest and makes me take a second look.

So I checked out Predicto, owned by NextWeb Media. This purports to be an mobile text survey system. I don’t care what they charge or the free gifts they claim to provide to winners of contests they run. So don’t ask me if any of that is real or useful.

But what I did want to look at were a couple of the claims they made. It seems that their subscribers vote on various question posted each day. This is supposed to reflect the opinion of the nation. Whether it does or not I cannot say. But the questions intrigued me.

Top surveys as of this moment:

If Johnny Depp will get married to long-time girlfriend by April 25th – 61% yes

If Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez will announce a divorce by Feb 25th – 57% yes

Will President Obama add an indoor basketball court to the White House – 52% no

Will Eddie Murphy be the next Riddler in the Batman Begins series of films – 70% yes

Honestly, does anybody really do this? Is there anyone who is so without purpose that they spend their day just texting in responses to polls on their phone?

Look I am not against polls. Nor am I saying that mindless trivia is without merit (well maybe a little). But I really have to ask why anyone cares about the lovelife and/or marital problems of Depp, Lopez, and/or Anthony? Even if you are right, what does it change? This is just mostly interactive tabloid trash. As a friend once told me

“It’s the worst form of mental masturbation.”

Why am I speaking on it then? Because I discuss movies, and the question on Eddie Murphy looked like it could be relevant. But I was wrong. The poll had no facts, and would not even provide the number of people that voted. It could be 10 or 100 or 1 billion. The votes might even be by 1 person a dozen times. So it’s a useless poll.

But mostly, anything that engages in tabloid fodder – exhibiting paparazzi pictures that are clear violations of privacy, anything interfering with the children of entertainers and celebrities, attempts to invade the marriage or sex lives of anyone, ect – is something that I feel is unworthy of reading. In general I feel disgusted by it.

You may disagree. You may want to know what Joe Bob in Montana and Daisy Sue in Kansas think about some aspect of unimportant issues of a celebrity they have never seen. I really don’t care. You may want to invade the privacy of entertainers. I do not.

So for me Predicto is a unique gimmick meant to up-sell various products. Nothing more. I don’t recommend it to my readers. But you can make the choice for yourself.