'Jon & Kate Plus Eight' dumps Jon

Kate Gosselin and three of her children

Like Kate Gosselin herself, TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" has decided to move on with life without Jon.

TLC announced on Tuesday (Sept. 29) that the popular series is evolving into "Kate Plus Eight" starting on November 2.

"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.  The family has evolved and we are attempting to evolve with it; we feel that Kate’s journey really resonates with our viewers.  Additionally the network is in development on a Kate project for 2010" states Eileen O’Neill, President and GM, TLC.

As for poor Jon? First the on-air shame? Then the tabloid shame? Then the legal shame of divorce? Now the shame of being relegated to a guest starring role in his own life.

TLC says that although "Kate Plus Eight" will become the story of a newly single mother raising five-year-old sextuplets and eight-year-old twins, Jon will continue to appear on the show, just "on a less regular basis." 

"Jon & Kate Plus Eight" has been TLC's most popular show, but ratings have been increasingly erratic in the wake of the couple's marital discord. The show's fifth season premiere drew 9.8 million viewers and, as recently as early August, the show was still drawing more than 4 million. But last week's episode was down to only 1.7 million viewers.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.