Jon And Kate

Along with the titillating question of whether Jessica Simpson might reunite with her former husband, Nick Lachey, the news coming out of Us Weekly this week is the departure of editor Janice Min, who levitated Jann Wenner's gossip rag into a phenomenon, inspiring a new generation of celebrity-obsessed publications that have gobbled up American newsstands.

The best things on TV this year, in no particular order. David Letterman's dalliance. Whether you think he's an average erring human or a power-wielding lech, Letterman's dignified delivery of the news that he was being blackmailed for an affair he had with an employee created a welcome new standard for coping with such things. Tiger Woods needs to watch more TV. FOR THE RECORD: Sullenberger flight: An item in TV critic Mary McNamara's Best of 2009 list in today's Calendar section refers to the airplane that went down in the Hudson River in January as United Airlines Flight 1549.

Entertainment reporters keep talking about "Jon & Kate Plus 8" like it's unique ["It's a Breakup for 'Jon & Kate' Stars," by Yvonne Villarreal, June 23]. Does anyone remember the PBS series "An American Family" in 1973? The Louds had five kids and, over 12 highly rated episodes, we watched this family come apart and the parents announce their divorce. When it comes to Jon and Kate, there's nothing really that new. R.J. Johnson North Hollywood

Listening to Kate Gosselin stutter and sniff her way through her recent chats with "Today's" Meredith Vieira, it was hard to keep a straight face. Kate doesn't blame the decision to participate in TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" for the disintegration of her marriage; it probably would have happened anyway. Really? Your husband would have left you for a Star reporter and/or the daughter of the plastic surgeon who gave you a tummy tuck (free, because it was filmed), even if you had just remained some obscure church-going Pennsylvania family with a bunch of kids?

I enjoyed the article about Jon and Kate ("Jon and Kate and Real Reality," May 24). Somewhere in all of the wild rumors that are everywhere, there must be the truth about the couple. I prefer their show to almost anything that is on TV. The talk is real and sincere, and the children are also very special. It is the perfect reality show that is a slice of life people can relate to. How does anyone begin to understand who would burst this bubble? Personally, I cannot believe that Jon or Kate would do this.

The TLC network says its biggest stars, Jon and Kate Gosselin, will announce a major decision on their reality show, "Jon & Kate Plus 8." TLC isn't commenting on what the news will be from these parents of 8-year-old twins and 5-year-old sextuplets. But viewers who have witnessed the Gosselins' marriage coming unraveled are clearly welcome to draw their own conclusions leading up to Monday's episode. And to show up in droves to see it. In a promotional video posted by TLC hyping the special one-hour edition, Kate Gosselin says, "Recently, we've made some life-changing decisions . . . ones that we hope will bring each of us some peace."

Jon and Kate ready to litigate? After months of speculation, the famed reality couple from TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" is heading to divorce court. In a much-promoted episode of the hit series Monday night, Jon and Kate Gosselin, the parents of eight children, announced in separate interviews they were separating; seconds later, text appeared on a black screen to add that the couple had decided to "legally dissolve" their 10-year marriage.

Listening to Kate Gosselin stutter and sniff her way through her recent chats with "Today's" Meredith Vieira, it was hard to keep a straight face. Kate doesn't blame the decision to participate in TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" for the disintegration of her marriage; it probably would have happened anyway. Really? Your husband would have left you for a Star reporter and/or the daughter of the plastic surgeon who gave you a tummy tuck (free, because it was filmed), even if you had just remained some obscure church-going Pennsylvania family with a bunch of kids?

The best things on TV this year, in no particular order. David Letterman's dalliance. Whether you think he's an average erring human or a power-wielding lech, Letterman's dignified delivery of the news that he was being blackmailed for an affair he had with an employee created a welcome new standard for coping with such things. Tiger Woods needs to watch more TV. FOR THE RECORD: Sullenberger flight: An item in TV critic Mary McNamara's Best of 2009 list in today's Calendar section refers to the airplane that went down in the Hudson River in January as United Airlines Flight 1549.

"Jon & Kate Plus 8" returns from hiatus Monday night, and TLC wants you to know that the network has taken "great care and thoughtfulness" as it shoots the couple in the middle of a highly publicized divorce. "It's a subject many, many Americans are familiar with," President and General Manager of TLC Eileen O'Neill said Thursday during the semiannual gathering of the Television Critics Assn. in Pasadena. "And we're dealing with it in a respectful and sensitive way." Otherwise, the episodes remain "works in progress," she continued and offered at least one big change for the cable show that drew more than 10 million viewers as the couple's strained relationship became tabloid fodder earlier this year.

"Jon & Kate Plus 8" returns from hiatus Monday night, and TLC wants you to know that the network has taken "great care and thoughtfulness" as it shoots the couple in the middle of a highly publicized divorce. "It's a subject many, many Americans are familiar with," President and General Manager of TLC Eileen O'Neill said Thursday during the semiannual gathering of the Television Critics Assn. in Pasadena. "And we're dealing with it in a respectful and sensitive way." Otherwise, the episodes remain "works in progress," she continued and offered at least one big change for the cable show that drew more than 10 million viewers as the couple's strained relationship became tabloid fodder earlier this year.

Along with the titillating question of whether Jessica Simpson might reunite with her former husband, Nick Lachey, the news coming out of Us Weekly this week is the departure of editor Janice Min, who levitated Jann Wenner's gossip rag into a phenomenon, inspiring a new generation of celebrity-obsessed publications that have gobbled up American newsstands.

Entertainment reporters keep talking about "Jon & Kate Plus 8" like it's unique ["It's a Breakup for 'Jon & Kate' Stars," by Yvonne Villarreal, June 23]. Does anyone remember the PBS series "An American Family" in 1973? The Louds had five kids and, over 12 highly rated episodes, we watched this family come apart and the parents announce their divorce. When it comes to Jon and Kate, there's nothing really that new. R.J. Johnson North Hollywood

Jon and Kate ready to litigate? After months of speculation, the famed reality couple from TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" is heading to divorce court. In a much-promoted episode of the hit series Monday night, Jon and Kate Gosselin, the parents of eight children, announced in separate interviews they were separating; seconds later, text appeared on a black screen to add that the couple had decided to "legally dissolve" their 10-year marriage.

The TLC network says its biggest stars, Jon and Kate Gosselin, will announce a major decision on their reality show, "Jon & Kate Plus 8." TLC isn't commenting on what the news will be from these parents of 8-year-old twins and 5-year-old sextuplets. But viewers who have witnessed the Gosselins' marriage coming unraveled are clearly welcome to draw their own conclusions leading up to Monday's episode. And to show up in droves to see it. In a promotional video posted by TLC hyping the special one-hour edition, Kate Gosselin says, "Recently, we've made some life-changing decisions . . . ones that we hope will bring each of us some peace."

I enjoyed the article about Jon and Kate ("Jon and Kate and Real Reality," May 24). Somewhere in all of the wild rumors that are everywhere, there must be the truth about the couple. I prefer their show to almost anything that is on TV. The talk is real and sincere, and the children are also very special. It is the perfect reality show that is a slice of life people can relate to. How does anyone begin to understand who would burst this bubble? Personally, I cannot believe that Jon or Kate would do this.

For the last couple of weeks, the faces of Jon and Kate Gosselin have been everywhere -- peering out from tabloid covers, flashed on celebrity gossip shows, picked apart by blogs. Monday night, though, their TLC reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" returns for a fifth season, and the couple will reveal which face they'd like the world to see and to judge them by. (Kate's hair, of course, transcends medium.) Last weekend the couple filmed segments for the premiere at their Wernersville, Pa.

THE HEADLINERS Several names from the news, including Conan O'Brien and Jon and Kate Gosselin, are Emmy hopefuls. Tom O'Neil assesses their chances at the Gold Derby blog at goldderby.latimes.com. TONY TRIUMPHANT The Tonys were just hours ago, but it's not too soon to relive the night. Check out our red-carpet gallery, best and worst of the show and backstage reports delivering juicy details the TV cameras didn't get.

For the last couple of weeks, the faces of Jon and Kate Gosselin have been everywhere -- peering out from tabloid covers, flashed on celebrity gossip shows, picked apart by blogs. Monday night, though, their TLC reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" returns for a fifth season, and the couple will reveal which face they'd like the world to see and to judge them by. (Kate's hair, of course, transcends medium.) Last weekend the couple filmed segments for the premiere at their Wernersville, Pa.