And it is not pretty. Eric Deggans of The St Petersburg Times:

It’s hard to believe a family which has made a career of exposing their inner lives on an unscripted TV series has the gumption to complain about paparazzi or insist their marital problems are private business.

But the return tonight of TLC’s inexplicable hit Jon & Kate Plus 8felt like a 75-minute dissertation on the hypocrisy of the unscripted TV game and the distastefulness of watching an unsavory couple’s relationship die onscreen.

I think that last line describing the couple as unsavory is uncalled for. They were offered an opportunity to better their economic status by leaps and bounds so they took it. And with 8 kids who can blame them? I guess many people would do the same.

Having said that the Gosselins are really in a tough position to cry foul at this point. They walked into this with their eyes wide open. When everything was flowing their way no one complained.  

Yes Mr Gosselin has let it be known he was getting tired of the show. While this may have been on his mind for a while it seemed to only really surface as season 4 was coming to a close.  In the meantime Kate is by all accounts having the time of her life. 

But Deggans scathing (and it is) review is an example of classic media.  It’s a technique that they have used for years and it never fails. Build up someone as much as possible and then tear them down with everything they’ve got.

The only difference is now the  reality TV participants hand the media the keys to the bulldozer.  

Update: Eileen Fredes at Newsday takes a more even handed approach. Plus check out the poll.