KATE GOSSELIN: HOW SHE FOOLED THE WORLD - THE RISE AND FALL OF A REALITY TV QUEEN
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But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your giving may be in secret.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
– Matthew 6:1-4
I DREAMED A DREAM
If you go back and watch episodes of Jon & Kate Plus Ei8ht or Kate Plus Ei8ht, or listen to Kate’s interviews, or read her words on Twitter, you will notice that Kate says over and over that “it was always a ‘dream’ of mine,” about everything. Every trip; every job. “A dream.”
“I have always dreamed of taking the kids on an RV trip to see this country.”
“I wanted to go to Australia because it was a lifelong dream.”
Just like the Hawaii dream, and the New Zealand dream, and on and on and on. Kate seems to start every conversation about one of her exotic trips or new “career” choices with the words “It has always been a dream of mine.”
Whenever fans tweet suggestions, ideas or hopes for shows or projects they think she should do, Kate’s standard reply, no matter what the suggestion, is that it is, or has always been, a “dream” of hers. Here are just a few of the many examples of this (Kate’s tweets here and in following sections are in bold type):
xxxxx @Kateplusmy8 The fans are hoping for perhaps a fitness show for 2012? Maybe something where you can also teach your healthy eating to fans?
a fitness show would be a dream come true- not for me only but a way to reach ALL moms who desire fitness but don’t know how!
@xxxxx @Kateplusmy8 Lol, @sesamestreet Shud have u on to do No. 8. w/Super Grover or Cookie Monster #Canyoutellmehowtoget?
at 1 time @sesamestreet @pbs was on the schedule...I dream of doing it...counting my kids would b SO much fun! Such a great show!
RT @xxxx I think @Kateplusmy8 should host @nbcsnl. I’D WATCH THAT! HOSTING SNL IS A DREAM OF MINE!
There are many additional examples of Kate’s “dreams,” but you get the idea. In Kate’s world, a “dream” is code for “I want it, so get it for me now, Julie Carson May/TLC/Discovery.”
The idea of the “dream” appears to have come about from Kirk Streb, producer/director/editor for Jon & Kate Plus Ei8ht, during a meeting he had with Jon and Kate. On September 9, 2007, Kirk sent an email to Kate, Jon, and Jen Stocks to review what was discussed at that meeting. In his “Thanks and Thoughts” email, Streb warmly greeted his “fellow diners and limo riders!” saying what a “blast” he had at their meeting with “Great company … great food … great ideas for the upcoming season.” He wanted to review what they had discussed “before the brandy and benedicting (sic) fogged memories” slipped permanently from his brain.
During that meeting, they discussed the hope that they could find “a brilliant blend of ‘big ideas’ and ‘easy/quick to tape ideas’ to help make the taping process more manageable AND more fun.” To achieve that, they divided ideas into “piles” they called Fast Dreams, Helpful Dreams, and Big Dreams. In other words, they were manufacturing “reality” for the Jon & Kate Plus Ei8ht reality show.
Here are a few brief excerpts of how Kirk Streb summarized their ideas for those big piles of dreams.
FAST DREAMS:
Fast dreams would be developing short segments that they could use to fill out episodes that didn’t have enough footage, like mailbag segments which would be Q&A answering viewer’s questions. They would focus on simple, manageable parts of the Gosselin’s lives that happen with our without cameras like doing laundry, clothes shopping, grocery shopping, dinner, house cleaning, taking the kids to school, going to church etc.
HELPFUL DREAMS:
These are ideas that would be worth filming and things that are designed to make the Gosselin’s lives less stressful. Ideas like buying Blackberry’s, getting a personal chef to prepare organic meals that are frozen to help reduce stress of shoot days or busy days etc.
BIG DREAMS:
Big dreams are ideas that will provide big opportunities for filming full episodes, in some cases, many episodes and would also give the family either great experiences or great additions to their daily life like finding a way for the family to afford to move into a house with long-term appeal. This is the top big dream according to Streb. He tells them that nothing is impossible with the right energy put towards finding in-kind help, sponsor deals etc., that would make building a house more affordable.
Another big dream would be helping the Gosselins go to Hawaii, European travel, further renovations of existing house, in-home consultation with a family expert. Streb suggested having Doctor Phil actually come to the Gosslein house, thinking his eyes would bug out of his head if he stood there for thirty minutes.
Discovery certainly did everything possible to make all of Kate’s dreams come true, even those she never thought to have herself.
“ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND”
“Kate thought they were owed stuff. The money factor was huge.”
– Angela Krall
Kate’s former nurse whom Kate loved and fought to keep by her side.
Kate kept a file on her computer with photos of the throngs of media waiting for them as they arrived at their Wyomissing home, which had just been remodeled and enlarged for them, free of charge. The file was called “Entering the promised land.”
“Money DID fall from the sky!!!!”
– Kate Gosselin
2. Manna From Heaven - a sudden happening that brings good fortune
(as a sudden opportunity to make money.)
Once Jon and Kate brought the sextuplets home from the hospital, the money started pouring in. It was Kate’s “Manna from Heaven.” But after a short time, something strange happened. Kate stopped going to church on a regular basis, and then she stopped going at all. She began happily working on Sunday and was frustrated by people who didn’t. In an email from Kate to her manager, Julie May, speaking for herself and bodyguard Steve Neild, Kate said they are both dying to dig into work because they are both thinking and working on a Sunday!
Kate had discovered a new god, and its name was DISCOVERY. And she worshiped her new god very hard and very often.
MARKETING YOUR BABIES – 101
“… if there is a way my children could be a help in
marketing your clothing lines, we’re all for it!”
– Kate Gosselin
Even before the sextuplets were born, back when it was just Jon and Kate plus two, Kate’s mind was already in full gear, working to label and market her children. Before the babies took their first breaths, Kate had directed Jon to get a website up and running to start spreading the word nationally, and more importantly, to tell the world how they could help, and to solicit donations, including a 15-passenger van.
And from the moment the news that Kate Gosselin was pregnant with six babies hit the headlines during that first press conference in April 2004 at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA, the Gosselin sextuplets were marketed to the world like a new product.
The remainder of this chapter provides details about some of Kate’s numerous requests, schemes, demands and opportunities to make money off her babies.
THE BIRTHDAY KIDS NEED A VAN!
To celebrate the first birthday of her sextuplets, Kate sent out this party invitation to some of her “closest” friends. That’s some guest list of “friends” below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 15, 2005
Jonathan & Kate Gosselin
610-374-0179
info@sixgosselins.com
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Planning Purposes Only
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOSSELIN SIX!!!
LOCATION: INN AT READING
EVENT:
The Gosselin Sextuplets (Born at Hershey Medical Center on May 10, 2004) are celebrating their 1st Birthday. All Media are welcome to a press availability beginning at 10:30am.
DATE:
Saturday, May 7, 2005
TIME:
11am
LOCATION:
1040 Park Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610 USA
(800) 383-9713 (610) 372-7811
www.innatreading.com
MEDIA ADVISORY RECIPENTS (Guest List)
citydesk@patriot-news.com
editor@hersheychron.com
juniatanews@prodigy.net
jferguson@lnpnews.com
pmekeel@lnpnews.com
citydesk@ldnews.com
sentinel@lewistownsentinal.com
news@thewgalchannel.com
newsdesk@whptv.com
news@abc27.com
fox43assignment@tribune.com
news@mcall.com
news@theallentowntimes.com
kevindonahue@cable.comcast.com
newsdesk@kyw.com
news@readingeagle.com
wcaudesk@nbc.com
news@wfmz.com
info@wlvt.org
wb17newsdesk@tribune.com
mike.neilon@abc.com
foxphiladelphia@hotmail.com
TFacc245@Fox.com
news@altoonamirror.com
A reporter who attended the Gosselin sextuplet’s first birthday party said this:
“After the Gosselins first birthday party, a final comment from Kate to the media was, “We need transportation! A 15-Passenger van, with plenty of storage!”
GIFT CARDS GLADLY ACCEPTED
Kate posted this polite little note on the family’s website informing fans about what the family needs:
Thank you for inquiring about sending our kids a gift. Due to space constraints it would help us best if you would send them a Target gift card.
Thank you for your kindness to our family.
Sincerely,
The Gosselin Family
THE FLOOD GATES OPEN
These are some brief, paraphrased excerpts from Kate’s journal that document her getting a taste of things to come, and show how she began dabbling into asking for freebies. These are the “unsolicited” freebies, as Kate likes to tell people.
July 2006
Adv Med Prod called Kate and she said it sounded like they are going to pay for their train tickets, lunch and show tickets too!!!!!!
July 2006
Kate said that Jen told them that money is involved for them and that they would be paid $1,000 for each of their 20 new episodes!!!! Kate was also told that Discovery would pay for everything whenever they went anywhere with them as an added benefit!
July 2006
Kate learned from Jen Stocks that they would be filming at the Giant grocery store and that their entire shopping trip would be donated by Giant and Kate’s lost salary for the day would also be covered!!!!!!
September 2006
Kate finds out that Discovery will be for the girl’s bedroom renovation because they’ll be filming it.
September 2006
Kate and Jen Stocks discuss episode ideas, which will include an assortment of paid excursions including having the twins head shots taken for possible acting commercial deals. They’ll also get free Christmas shopping, beds for the kid’s rooms, Valentines Day dinner at a fancy restaurant, a trip to California, Carnival-themed birthday party for the little kids, new carpet, a Disney vacation among many other things.
Kate was excited to talk about doing a product commercial saying that would get them started because Jen told her that the Gosselin family is the total package.
September 2006
Kate discusses the big business news of the day. The head of Discovery Network talent search called Kate to discuss the financial future of her family but he called at a bad time and Kate told him she’d have to call him back later. Jen stocks had previously advised Kate to ask for $1,400 per episode in hopes of getting $1,200 but Kate rounded up to $1,500. Kate was shocked and thrilled to find out that they were offering $2,000 per episode right off the bat with no negotiation. If she only knew that if she had a manager at that time she could have probably gotten more than $10,000 per episode.
Kate was so proud of herself because after this big money offer, she responded with a simple ‘OK’. She said he paused for her reaction but she didn’t give him one. She’s very thankful to God for sending the offer. Kate finds it mind boggling that the will be paid for each episode and receive the many fringe benefits!!!!! She ended it with Lord, how great thou art!!!!!
November 2006
Kate reveals that her best friend Beth Carson told her that sometimes God provides and it is right in front of us and we don’t see it! Beth also told Kate that God provided the show and money so that Kate could quit work and stay home with the kids until they went to school. That thought very much excited Kate. She said that just thinking that she wouldn’t have to go to work is sooo amazing!
After all of that good news, Kate got a check in the mail for $800 from a lady Kate had been emailing with because of the show.
November 2006
Kate describes the beginning of the church speaking engagements and how she became addicted to the fame and money. After the spoke they were immediately bombarded with people handing them cash and checks. Someone told Kate that this is a ‘Pilot’ performance! Kate said that was good because that is where she’d like to head! She talks about wanting to book a monthly family weekend to speak at a church and said that would be her dream!
December 2006
Kate finds out that Discovery will pay for their trip to Florida but is outraged when she learns that they want to go to ‘a place called Discovery Cove’ but are not interested in paying for Disney World. How lovely! Kate writes. Kate says she wants Jen to get at least Magic Kingdom included. Period.
January 2007
This month Kate will hire a cleaning lady and feels that she will be comped by the network.
January 2007
Kate takes charge saying she made Jon talk to Jen about the beds, saying I made him tell her that if Discovery wasn’t paying for the room, then they wouldn’t be filming in it. She says push has come to shove! The birth of Kate Gosselin as we know her.
February 2007
Kate got an email about possibly going on Dr. Phil! She was excited. So much so that the first thing she thought to do was write out a list of logistics for them so that there would be accommodated well. She wanted two helpers of her choice, one stop flight etc.
March 2007
Kate discusses many events and opportunities and proudly states that she has a feeling that this would be the beginning of lots of weeks like this to come!!
April 2007
Kate’s AWESOME news of the day is that the girls are getting $12,000 each of the $13,500 tuition for their school paid by scholarship…for first grade!!!!!
May 2007
Kate and Jon got a $5,000 bonus from Discovery, an offer to stay at a resort in Park City Utah with ski lessons for the kids and spa trips for Kate.
MULTIPLE BLESSINGS
On December 10, 2007, Paul J. Datte of the law firm Cerullo, Datte & Wallbillich, P.C, who represented Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson, sent a letter to Zondervan regarding Zondervan’s proposal to publish Kate and Beth’s book, Multiple Blessings. The letter included specific comments about the proposal and mentioned financial arrangements, performance and merchandising rights, royalty rates on net sales, and cover price. The letter stated that the first-time authors would require an advance of $100,000. It also covered the following:
Kate and Beth will require a royalty rate of 24% of net sales for 1 to 20,000 books sold; 27% for 2.001 to 40,000 books sold; and 30% for all books sold in excess of 40,000.
Kate and Beth will require a cover price of $21.99 rather than the $19.99 price reflected in your proposal.
GOING ROGUE
This is a good example of Kate taking matters into her own hands and going outside of Discovery’s Advertising Sales department to get her own product placement/endorsement deals. This violated the terms of their agreement with Discovery. An email from Kate to Wendy Douglas of Discovery showed that Kate very m
uch wanted to do a publicity campaign for Frigidaire. This was Kate in action, 3 months before she hired a manager to handle the dirty work for her.
On January 25, 2008, Kate sent an email to Wendy Douglas of Discovery to let her know about a long conversation she had with “Brandon,” who was a representative from Burns Entertainment. She said Brandon was representing Frigidaire and their “new, largest available to date double oven” and he had chosen her to do the campaign. Kate told Wendy the campaign would involve her doing a media tour sometime in the spring “(preferably during our filming break),” morning shows, radio, and interviews.
Kate further explained that Frigidaire had offered to supply “ALL appliances in the quantity that we desire for our new house that we badly need and desire in the form of product placement.” She said that Brandon had requested Wendy’s information and she was sure he would be in contact with her soon. She told Wendy, “This is really exciting for me. Talking about a kitchen appliance is wonderful and very comfortable for me. However, I also see this as a big way to advertise ‘Jon & Kate plus 8’ in a way that we haven’t yet had the chance! I am hopeful that we can all work together to make this happen!”