source: People Magazine
Out of the ordinary makes good reality tv material. Like how a bunch of people survive on a piece of deserted land (Survivor), the more recent Everest: Beyond the limit shows a group of climbers with mixed personalities trying to conquer Everest. Viewers like to see and visually experience the different sides of life they would most probably not experience in their lifetime.
source: tv.popcrunch.com
So when the series of Jon & Kate Plus Eight was up, what better way to push it up a notch by announcing a divorce. Potential issues like how would the kids be managed through this (considering their young age) and the media would be most interested in the 'WHY/WHAT' portion. Why split now? What's the cause?
... and the list goes on
If you have watched the show more than once, you would have noticed that Jon is actually quite a lovable person. Young at heart, relates well with the kids, but probably not the best husband around. I remember watching this episode when he took the kids out for skating, all 8 of them. Well, actually only 2 or 3 because the rest are at their toddler age. The remaining kids were having fun at the front yard with their toys (I think).
The next thing you know, Jon scoots off with his rollerblades, leaving his miserable kids behind who are struggling to keep up. All this happened along the empty carpark strip outside their home.
Then the mom has to shout for Jon to wait up, only to fall on deaf ears because he was already far ahead. When Jon U-turned, he received a long piece of lecturing from Kate for what he did.
There were many more similar situations, which led me to this conclusion.
Kate is domineering in this relationship while Jon has been very accomodating. That was my impression if the couple after watching several episodes of this reality tv series. It could be different story off camera.
So if you ask me if I'm surprised that they split up, my answer's no. Should they have stayed together? I would say yes, at least for the kids.
But from a television-marketing point of view, this could be a new series in the making.
