TV Moment of 2009: The Jon and Kate Gosselin Saga

For four seasons, the TLC reality series 'Jon and Kate Plus Eight' offered viewers a glimpse into the busy lives of Jon and Kate Gosselin, parents of adorable sextuplets and two older siblings.

The series was popular but never penetrated the pop culture like 'American Idol' or 'Survivor' -- at least until the tabloids began speculating about Jon's alleged cavorting with women who weren't his wife. Within weeks, the state of the Gosselin marriage was a cover story on every magazine at the supermarket checkout stand, and a topic of discussion on 'Entertainment Tonight' and its countless clones.
For four seasons, the TLC reality series 'Jon and Kate Plus Eight' offered viewers a glimpse into the busy lives of Jon and Kate Gosselin, parents of adorable sextuplets and two older siblings.

The series was popular but never penetrated the pop culture like 'American Idol' or 'Survivor' -- at least until the tabloids began speculating about Jon's alleged cavorting with women who weren't his wife. Within weeks, the state of the Gosselin marriage was a cover story on every magazine at the supermarket checkout stand, and a topic of discussion on 'Entertainment Tonight' and its countless clones.

Suddenly, the fifth season debut of 'Jon and Kate Plus Eight' was must-see TV, but for all the wrong reasons. More than 9.8 million viewers, twice as many as tuned in for any previous episode, watched as Jon and Kate, interviewed separately, discussed the state of their marriage and family. "Very swiftly we turned into two different people," Kate said, while Jon wondered what sort of stories his kids would read if they Googled his name.

Footage of the sextuplets' fifth birthday, during which Jon and Kate rarely spoke, only confirmed was what revealed in the interviews -- this was a marriage that would not last.

Jon, who was almost single-handedly responsible for returning the word 'henpecked' to the lexicon, had been the sympathetic figure for much of the run, while brassy Kate came across as shrill and demanding. But over the next few weeks Jon was hammered in the media for his philandering, while Kate was portrayed as the victim, albeit one whose blatant quest for fame was still criticized for the impact it may have on her children.

Once their story reached its inevitable end, most of America decided they'd had enough of both of them. A proposed follow-up series, 'Kate Plus 8,' was announced and then canceled before the first episode. The Gosselins are now divorced, TLC has filed a lawsuit against Jon, Jon is suing the network and Kate is supposedly trying to get on 'Dancing With the Stars.' Meanwhile, former viewers can only wonder who's watching the kids.