Monday, October 20, 2008

One New Episode 10/20/08






Oct 20, 9:00 pm
(30 minutes)


Baseball Game with Daddy
.

It's a day of ballpark fun when the Gosselins are invited to a Phillies game by the manager. Jon takes the boys and Cara to see their first baseball game. After the game, they get to run around the bases, meet the mascot and even meet one of the players!

72 comments:

Nina Bell said...

GO PHILLIES

EveryoneLovesErin said...

All I have to say before the episode airs is....

GO PHILS!!!!!!!!!!! World Series starts on Weds!!!!!!!

EveryoneLovesErin said...

Oh, and if anyone at the other site makes a comment about the Philly Phanatic...it's on, LOL!!!!

Anya@IW said...

Looking forward to this episode. I wonder who the player they will meet is?

I bet the kids will get a kick out of running the bases. My team, the Giants, allows kids under 14 to do this after every Sunday home game and I remember it being a lot of fun when my daughter was small.

Go Phillies! I gotta say I think the Tampa Bay Rays are a great story and am glad they won the AL, but I am going to show my GDNNOP loyalty and root for the Phillies!

Anonymous said...

They meet Charlie Manuel and Shane Victorino. Two class acts!
(As reported in Sunday's Inky-dink).

Darlene Williams said...

I'm not for baseball but I enjoyed going to some professional sporting games as a kid so I look forward to tonights episodes. I like watching any child face who can experience this kind of thing.

Mary said...

I loved this episode. My kids used to enjoy the perks that were leftovers that nobody else wanted at my husband's company LOL! If nobody wanted the seats to a baseball game/football game/hockey game, we sometimes were able to get the tickets via a lottery at work. Funny how sometimes one of our boys would be kind of shy and retiring when someone special came to greet us even though they were out of their minds with happiness to be at the game. Anyway, I thought it was a fun episode and I like it when Jon is on his own with the kids. Seems like he really gets into the sports stuff.

Anonymous said...

I think the kids would have enjoyed the game more if they had either gone to a minor league game (there are three teams within a 30 minute drive) or at least sat in seats. You don't get engaged in the game so far away. Also it was a shame they had to go in thru the offices because it is such a neat experience to walk up to the stadium and take in all the sights and sounds. There is a small game area for kids in the stadium too. For all their "experiences" the kids don't seem to really get to participate like normal kids would. The boys didn't seem to know how to hold a baseball bat.

EveryoneLovesErin said...

Shane Victorino is an amazing guy. He's awesome..such a good sportsman.

The boys were too young to get what they were doing. Cara, on the other hand, was shy.

I agree that part of the experience is being in the stands. However, they also got the opportunity of a lifetime to be in one of those boxes and hang out with Charlie Manual's wife.

cincymom said...

It did seem like the boys didn't know what to do with the bat, but who knows...the video is short and there could have been more going on. Anyway, I don't even know why I think it's worth commenting on. Jon does seem to have a lot of relaxed fun when alone with the kids or with some of them.
As far as the freebies, I'm sure a lot was offered, but I would hope at some point, Jon would say thanks for what you've offered, but now I'm going beyond that to get extras (to bring home, which is sweet), so I'm going to pay for the rest of it.
I think I need to spend more time with my husband than I am watching this show. Anyone else?????

merryway said...

I'm wondering if Philly fan dads are secretly wishing their wife had eight kids so they could do what Jon did.
I liked it and enjoyed seeing Jon act like a big kid.

Kel said...

Go Dodgers...oh wait, the Phillies kicked their butts! Congrats Phillies! Someday I'll get to go to a game in a sky box. Those kids have no idea! But it looked like they had a blast!

The Travel Mom said...

I have "heard" that the jealous haters had a field day with this one. I thought it was so great that they got this great treatment and I don't even know or like baseball!
All people were griping about was how Jon ordered all this food..Isn't anyone aware that the food is INCLUDED in Sky Box seats? Not that this matters, but since it was the ONLY thing people could complain about other than the gifts...

Guinevere said...

I think the kids would have enjoyed the game more if they had either gone to a minor league game (there are three teams within a 30 minute drive) or at least sat in seats. You don't get engaged in the game so far away. Also it was a shame they had to go in thru the offices because it is such a neat experience to walk up to the stadium and take in all the sights and sounds. There is a small game area for kids in the stadium too. For all their "experiences" the kids don't seem to really get to participate like normal kids would. The boys didn't seem to know how to hold a baseball bat.

Well, most kids wouldn't get to meet players or mascots or managers, so if they gave up something in the experience, I think they gained something, too. It's not like they can never go to a baseball game again and this was their one and only chance to do it "the normal way".

I love baseball (go Giants!) and would love to sit in a luxury box at some point - I've managed good seats a few times (like, first few rows, near the dugouts), usually when a vendor has given them to me. I guess I need to start working with a better class of vendor to get actually luxury box seats.

I don't understand the point about the boys not knowing how to hold a baseball bat? Why should they? They are barely four. That seems a little young to expect them to have mastered the full complement of manly athletic skills.

Lonnyswife said...

Hi-hope no one minds my butting in briefly.
Guin-I believe the boys are almost 4 and a half and could have been involved in a T-Ball league when they turned 4.

Anonymous said...

"but since it was the ONLY thing people could complain about other than the gifts"

Nah, I complain because the parents of little four year old boys (ie Joel) just can't help themselves and make fun of him whenever they can. Dirt on the shoe of a four year old boy? Stop the presses, this is unprecedented! Let's make fun of him for it.

Anonymous said...

"I don't understand the point about the boys not knowing how to hold a baseball bat? Why should they? They are barely four."

Actually, they are 4 1/2. If they had ever watched baseball before, they would have had a general idea of what to do with a bat. 4-year-olds in my hick town do. BUT, this was a nice episode and I liked seeing Jon enjoy his kids! NO BIBS, yayy! I wonder if Joel would have been bothered by "dirt in his shoes" if he'd been wearing socks? Just a thought. They certainly did get a LOT of freebies, but I don't mind seeing stuff given to the kids.
Kate seemed medicated in the loveseat interview. Interrupted Jon as usual, though, and complained that the kids' hotdogs weren't organic. Other than the Kate part, I liked the show!

Nina Bell said...

Well Lonyswife,

In my neck of the woods(where baseball is played year round and produced many major league players) they can't play t-ball until next spring. Unless they joined a fall ball league and that would be right now for them since they are 4 1/2.

My son was a very talented baseball player and played college level. He didn't start playing until he was five. He was the only child his age in his league who knew how to hold a bat and catch and throw a ball when he started. That was because he had a father who loved baseball and also played college level baseball. I will have to say the other kids that had an interest, caught up quickly. As did the ones that started at age 6, 7, 8 or 9.

merryway said...

Lonnyswife said...
Hi-hope no one minds my butting in briefly.
Guin-I believe the boys are almost 4 and a half and could have been involved in a T-Ball league when they turned 4.


Some boys/girls never play organized sports. The page for mandatory t-ball must have been ripped out of my parenting manual.

Lonnyswife said...

Sorry Nina-I come from an area where T-Ball starts in May so the boys would have been eligible to play if they had signed up. It is a small town and we often had kids who would be 4 by the time league play began start when practice started, about a month prior to opening day.
My husband worked nights so I was lucky enough to be assistant coach through out all 3 of my sons bb playing.

Lonnyswife said...

Sorry MW-
I was only referring to the comment guin made about the boys not having "mastered the full complement of manly athletic skills".
You are correct in saying some children never do get involved in organized sports. T-ball and similar activities certainly aren't mandatory. You parenting manual isn't missing any pages so no worries there.

Anonymous said...

Where I live, kids cannot be involved in t-ball until they are 5.

The fact that the boys (or girls for that matter) are not particularly adept at swinging a bat isn't a big surprise to me. However, there are those who will hyper-focus on it as an example of of the Gs supposedly bad parenting.

It reminds me of how some posters focus on how the tups and twins play primarily in the front driveway as an example of Kate being obsessed with cleanliness and stain-removal.

Where I live, mothers of young children do the same thing as Kate. They play in the driveway rather than their backyards. I would never wag my finger at them to suggest that they are doing this for the sake of avoiding grass stain removal. Kids that age like to be on things that move. They like to ride their bikes, scooters, skates, etc. for hours upon hours in their driveways.

Kids that age typically have better gross motor skills (pedaling, running, etc.) than skills that involve hand-eye coordination so it isn't surprising to me that the kids wouldn't be adept or particularly interested in swinging a bat.

cincymom said...

My comment about holding the bat was only meant as some confusion because Jon said they knew what baseball was because they play t-ball in the backyard. Not really meant as a criticism, because zillions of kids at that age I agree haven't learned many things about many sports. I was just confused because I thought they HAD held tball bats. No biggie....

The Travel Mom said...

I'm also kind of confused as to why people are saying Kate seemed medicated. I think its just another way to bash her. It looked like it was late at night. Jon was excited about talking about his experience, but poor Kate looked like she needed to go to sleep. The interview looked forced.

I think the bigger problem was people saying the kids didn't get to expierence a real ball game. Sorry but I for one dont think the sitting in the "cheap seats" equates having fun at a game. Wether or not they can hold a bat shouldn't be an issue either. They got to run on the ball field which I KNOW nost people dont get to do, nor play with a Mascot.

People take so much of what this family does out of context. I think it was more of Jon wanting to bring something back for the girls that missed out rather than "grabbing up the freebies". But you know the haters will not see it that way.

EveryoneLovesErin said...

I'm not convinced that they couldn't hold the bat. They seemed like they were being shy. Plus, we're talking a pretty heavy, major league bat. The bat was probably almost the height of some of the kids. Now, if it was a plastic bat..or a t-ball bat, that would be another story.

MoreCowbell said...

I'm also a baseball snob (and currently ticked off Cubs fan) and think baseball is meant to be experienced in the SEATS (just like the Miller High Life guys say)! However, at four years old, the boy's attention spans wouldn't have lasted through nine innings and in those cases, you also need to think about the people around you who are trying to watch the game, not put up with three pre-schoolers jumping around and whining when they get tired. So, in this case, the sky box was probably best. I made the mistake of taking a four year old to a major league game. He couldn't make it through the innings. Luckily, the people around us thought he was quite cute and entertaining. I can't imagine what would have happened if he had been cranky and whiny.

Also, my son played baseball until he graduated from high school, also never picked up at bat until his first year of t-ball at age 5. So, the age limits depend on the leagues where you live. Where I live, it was t-ball for ages 5-6, Little League with a pitching machine for ages 7-9, full Little League with pitchers throwing from ages 10-12, and senior or Babe Ruth leagues for ages 13-18 (or high school baseball).

Nina Bell said...

MCB,

Talking about my son playing baseball brings back a lot of good memories. My husband and kids are die hard Cubs baseball fans also and we take several trips a year to Wrigley field. They currently are not happy campers either.

MoreCowbell said...

Besides, why is the fact that they can't hold a bat a "bitching point" for the "advocates?" I also must have missed the page in the parenting manual that says "boys must playeth the small ball when the flowers bloom and the grass is green and dad's come out of football hibernation to pusheth sons to greatness."

If I'm not mistaken, Jon and his brothers were soccer guys. Since both sports are played in spring and summer, many families make their kids choose between the two sports. I didn't, and I spent way too much money on gas, cases of Gatorade and fast food dinners on the fly as we ran from game to game or practice to practice. Luckily, I was only doing that for ONE child at a time, not eight! It may be that the Gosselin kids who WANT to play sports (most likely Cara, Collin, Alexis and perhaps Joel, given his bicycling prowess) will play soccer, not baseball. It seems like Cara already is. My guess is that Mady, Hannah and Leah are non-sporty girly girls, and Aaden doesn't seem to be that interested in sports. I would also guess that the transport to and from sports activities will be Jon's domain. I'll bet that Kate secretly hopes none of them want to participate in sports because eight kids in sports would cost a fortune. It's not cheap, anymore, especially if your kid is actually good at something. If they're good, there are summer sports camps and travel teams to go along with the local leagues. Cha-CHING.

merryway said...

I am usually bored with their celebrity outings. But, I liked this one. I'm sure Cara will remember this the rest of her life. Other than it being publicized for us all to see, it's hard to knock a dad taking his kids to a game. I'm sure people have great memories of sitting in the seats. That's all that's usually available to the general public, but it's hard to make four year olds sit that long. Viewing this family as a member of the public is not the case anymore.
As far as the freebies, I thought it was nice that Jon was taking something home for the ones that didn't want to go. I used to try to bring back souvenirs for different things. Their free stuff has never bothered me anyway, especially the corporate gifts. Kate did act tired. IMO she wasn't into the interview much at all. I'm wondering what's up with Maddy not being seen. I can't remember if she was in last week's show.

merryway said...

MoreCowbell,
You made me laugh so hard I spilled my tea.

P.S. I must tell you that I smile whenever I see your name and think of Will F. with that tight t-shirt.

Dina said...

I too enjoyed this episode. I love going to baseball games.
Being able to sit in a box seat is an amazing treat. My dh and I have been lucky to sit in box seats before at an Oakland A's game. Thats a memory I'll never forget, it was such a cool treat for us.

I also wanted to mention, I am getting that Playskool Cherry blossom market for my 3 yr old for Christmas...hee hee. :-)

Anonymous said...

I have played with my nephews t-bal and one reason that the boys couldn't hold that bat good was because it was a metal bat!! have you ever held a metal bat???? they are heavy plus they didn't really have a chance to hold it Jon took it away ASAP because it is a METAL BAT!!!! if the boys wouldv'e held the bat and taken a swing i wouldv'e been reading "OMG Jon let four year olds hold a metal bat" blah blah blah. i'm sure teh boys do great with a nice plastic one suited for their size and age!

Anonymous said...

Moreover, I loved the episode baseball is my sport of choice to watch and play my bad had me in little league (I only played 3 years though I opted for ballet lol) and my boyfriend co-coaches his sons in their little league games. We have a princess on the way and she'll also play for as long as she wants. That was a great experience for them to go to the baseball game and the Phillies made it to the World Series they must be so happy! I’m a Yankee all the way but I’m rooting for the Phillies this year!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

They weren't in sky boxes, they were in the Hall of Fame Club. Some include food which would have been in the boxes. They had to go out with the general population to a concession stand. I guarantee if Jon was paying he would not have been getting so much food or things at the stadium store.

Mary said...

How do we know that if Jon was paying that he wouldn't be getting so much food or things at the stadium store? Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't. There were 4 kids, not 8. Re the bat, my kids were not given the opportunity to play t-ball until 5. If I had given my sons a metal, professional bat, they would have been dragging it on the ground to try and handle it. Sheesh. Nit picking anyone? These kids had a good time with their dad. People were kind enough to invite them. They said thank you. Can't you just be happy they had such a nice experience? Oh, and I have 2 nieces who take turns acting like Cara and Madeline. Never know when one will have a long face or the other will act out. it goes with the territory.

MommyZinger said...

I am not a sports person so I thought this episode was boring.

I thought it was a great opportunity for the kids though. They got their own box, they got to eat junk food, they met some important baseball people and the mascot and they got to run and run and run.

I don't see the big deal about kids not knowing how to hold a bat. Each kid develops differently.

I did not notice Kate being wierd but then I don't look for those things either. I guess that's why I'm here and not "there".

MoreCowbell said...

I laughed at Jon when he was in the gift shop and spied the little wooden souvenir bats and prayed the boys didn't see them. They're just the right size for a four year old, too. Oh, and yeah, they're PERFECT weapons. They're only about a foot long and light and swingable, particularly when your sibling's head is in arm's reach. Yep. Somewhere in the deep recesses of my now grown son's closet, is a wooden mini-Cubs bat, a wooden mini-Sox bat, and a wooden mini-Brewers bat (the three stadiums he has been to). He'd come home with one EVERY time and every time he'd swing it and break something (or someone), I'd take it away and put it where he couldn't reach. Someday, if we ever move, we'll find them (along with the missing progress reports and report cards that the school "must have forgotten" to send). God only knows where he hid those.

MonicaW42 said...

Argh!!! It's a tv show. Of course they are going to get freebies. And the manager and his wife of the team are fans of the show and "invited" the Gosselins. As stated before Im not a hater or super fan of them, however it seems to get a little petty about them. Yeah the normal family would spend about $100 for the food Jon took back to the suite. Big deal. As far as the "not knowing how to handle a bat".... the bat was quite large and if you saw the kids and the time, it was very late at night. They were probably so tired they didn't care about a bat, baseball player or anything else. Now the bad part me wishes the kids would have gotten some really nice grass stains to take home to Kate ha. I just really don't see I need to bash them for going to a game and experiencing that. They got free stuff and the world continued to turn. And as far as Kate goes in this episode, she seemed a little off. Maybe they are recording their couch session at 1am and she was out of it. Medicated? I don't know. Back to the game though, Aaden wrapped up in the managers wife's arm like a baby was just to cute.

merryway said...

I just did some reading and apparently, it's not hard to knock a dad for taking his kids to the ball game. Some of them are so angry if people don't line right up in their cause, no questioning allowed. It's not righteous indignation, some of them are zealots. How do they keep the momentum going for so long? The anger would exhaust me. The wave has to crash sometime.

Anonymous said...

I have been lurking both site for awhile now but have not commented. I missed the epi last night but I dowonder where everyone's hatred fort he G's comes from? Are these people that unhappy in their own lives that they need to bash others? If cameras were on in my home you would not see a happy family all the time. I commend the G's for what they do. I don't agree with everything they do but I am far from a perfect mom myself. As for freebies I would take every one that came my way!

Darlene Williams said...

I liked this episode. It was fun to watch. Now my daughter wants to go to a game so now I'm trying to think of someone to pon her off on to take her to a game but then again she's 3 and the closest professional team is Seattle. My daughter thought it was funny I knew the baseball song. I couldn't believed I remembered the baseball song. With everything Gosselin it's a given someone will have a negative thing to say.

Kuromi said...

My favorite moment: When Shane-The-Ballplayer asked the kids to gather 'round for a group photo with him. Joel, standing a few feet away, eyed him warily and drawled, "I'll stay right here." I laughed out loud at that!

Anonymous said...

Major league baseball uses wooden bats, not metal. There are no "cheap seats" in Citizens Bank park and there are many families who cannot afford tickets. I did not hear Jon say that the boys played t-ball in the back yard.

Samantha@IW said...

I try to stay away from gwop but after all the references I couldnt help but peek. I didn't know such jealous/petty adults existed in such large numbers. The theme seems to be "WE couldn't afford that, I'VE never been in a luxury box, THEY got too many freebies, wah, wah, wah". Oh and also "Kate was drugged". I don't suppose she could've been tired? I know I personally look like that every night by 10!

Anonymous said...

I just started watching JK+8 recently and I'm pretty much addicted now. I didn't think this episode was particularly exciting but I (having grown up in Philly) I thought it was great that they were at a Phillies game. Go Phillies! I'm also looking forward to an upcoming episode where they are going to the Sight & Sound Theatre in Lancaster. I love that place!

Nina Bell said...

Sorry we are not accepting anonymous comments at this time. Please pick a name when you post. It makes it easier for people to respond and have a conversation if necessary.

erin said...

SamanthaNC said: "I try to stay away from gwop but after all the references I couldnt help but peek. I didn't know such jealous/petty adults existed in such large numbers. The theme seems to be "WE couldn't afford that, I'VE never been in a luxury box, THEY got too many freebies, wah, wah, wah". Oh and also "Kate was drugged". I don't suppose she could've been tired? I know I personally look like that every night by 10!"

I have to agree with you, I've never seen anything like it on quite that scale. I find it kind of fascinating and disgusting at the same time. (It is such a car wreck I can't avoid it or look away!)

I have to say, I actually really enjoyed this episode. I have been to baseball games in the cheap seats and I have to say it sucks. I would much rather sit in the luxury box any day. Who needs the cheap seat experience? And weighing in on whether or not they should be able to hold a bat, it has been a while since I was in t-ball but I'm pretty sure I didn't play until I was five, and I just made the cut with a May birthday. Also, t-ball bats are considerably smaller than a major league bat, and probably a lot lighter. I think that was the reason for the inability to swing the bat.

I loved Jon and all his Phillies regalia displayed. I thought that was funny, and very fan-ish.

Ann said...

We hate baseball. Boooorrrrring!

I come from a big, mid- and south-east PA family, most of whom are THRILLED about the Phils. When my husband gets free tickets at work, he passes them along to one of my brothers and their kids, b/c they appreciate them more than we would.

Of course, while we criticize Jon for not sitting in the stands, or letting someone film their stadium experience, we're all remembering that the Gosselins might just have bought tickets to another game without telling any of us? Maybe even the in the Minor Leagues? Maybe they liked it so much, they DO know what the stadium seating is like?

Or maybe they secretly thought,
"Booooorrrring!"

Anonymous said...

I've been a fan of this show for awhile. I am one of those viewers who neither love or hate them. I enjoy the show, some of their decisions make me cringe and some I agree with. But that is true in "real" life too; some of the choices my friends and family make make me cringe too, but I don't snipe and snark at them for it.


Anyway, I've been reading this blog and "the other one" for awhile. For the longest time I was sucked into the "we love to hate them" attitude over there. But recently, like many of you, I've noticed many of the posts and comments over there becoming very mean spirited and snarky...and for what? It's like they are looking for something to complain about.

Here's a comment I just sent over there about the Phillies show. I don't know if it will get published because it's not Hate filled...so I'm going to share it here too:

While I don't agree with much of what J&K do, I felt that many of the comments here were just picking for the sake of picking or to just be mean.
For example:
1. There's a lot of snark about Jon buying "all that food" and being greedy. If you listened carefully, he didn't buy more than they needed. He bought 3 chicken fingers w/fries (one for each boy), 2 hot dogs (1 for him, 1 for Cara) 1 cheese fries (for him and Cara to split), drinks for all and dessert for all.

How is that buying too much? Many here complain that they don't feed the kids enough, so now, when they do feed them enough, there's still more complaining.

2. There is also distaste expressed at Jon being greedy in the store. Again, watching carefully you see that Jon only bought enough for each kid to have 1 or 2 gifts (don't jump on me for using "bought" I'm aware that it was all free). Each kid got ONE foam finger each, he bought a hat for Kate, a hat for Cara, a tshirt for him-Jon saying "I need another tshirt" was obviously meant that he had one at home that was probably old, hat for himself.

Yes, the kids did get goodie bags from the owners, but that was OFFERED not asked for, not looked for. And Jon was grateful and appreciative of everything the Phillies did for them. You could hear it in his voice when he said, "Thank you soooo much for doing this for us." He said it quite a number of times. He also said about the kids getting to run the bases "that's a big thing, thanks so much".

I also noticed in the store when the kids were trying to take more toys Jon kept saying, "No, put that back".

Now, I do agree Kate was a little odd on the couch and I thought her comment, "thanks for taking care of HALF our family" was very mean spirited. Almost as if she were saying sarcastically, "thanks for nothing." That was in bad taste. I also picked up on Kate getting all excited about the bat being signed, you could almost see the dollar signs in her eyes as she thought what she could get for that on ebay.

Nina Bell said...

Actually Anonymous,

I would have posted your comment if you would have followed the prompt above the comment box and posted with a name.

Anonymous said...

"Actually, they are 4 1/2."


Didn't watch the epi, but around here, sports follows school cut offs. I don't remember what month the sextuplets were born. But if they didn't make the cutoff, that could explain maybe why they aren't participating.


However, my son won't be playing baseball unless he begs. I can't stand the game and am bored by it. No, I will not make him beg shamelessly. We have other sports that he already shows potential at his young age.

He has been dribbling a soccer ball since 12 months or so. He can dribble down the field during his sisters practice and he isn't even 2. Crazy!

However, he will miss the age cut off and won't be able to start playing until he is 4.5.

Lastly--not all parents enroll their kids in activities right when they come of age.

I always found that to be a strange anti-Gosselin argument. To take note of their extra-curriculars and getting upset that the kids aren't doing any.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed watching this episode -- probably because Kate wasn't in it.

With the Drama Queen out of the picture, the kids seems to have more fun.

dawn9476 said...

Probablyshouldgivethis: And do you know who those seats that aren't cheap go to? Corporations who buy them, then pass them out for free like candy to their very wealthy clients.

Anonymous said...

Dawn9476: What is your point/problem Lots of small companies, individuals AND corporations buy seats in the ballpark. The cheapest seat in Citizens Bank park is $15.00. My point was that many families can't afford to go to the ballpark and certainly can't get all the swag the Gosselins got. And for the record, my son worked in professional baseball and alot of those "corporations" give their seats back to the teams to give to kids who otherwise could not attend.

Anya@IW said...

Annie, I enjoyed your post. It was thoughtful and objective.

I haven't seen the show yet (DVR issues), so I am sure your thoughts and others will be running through my head when I finally do sit down to watch.

Anonymous said...

I thought this was a fun episode to watch. I live and breathe baseball so I definitely appreciated this episode. I don't see why some people on that "other site" are griping about this experience. Shoot, if someone offered to let me hang out in their luxury box at Petco Park (FO' FREE!), I'd be hella down! And I would have loved for my first baseball game to be in a luxury box, but obviously we're not as lucky as the Gosselin kids are. This was definitely something that they will never forget. And just to counter some of the "other site's" argument, they do these special things for a lot of kids all of the time. Granted it's not televised, but there are a lot of kids that get to experience the same thing that the G kids got to do.

And who's to say they're not deserving of it? It's ONLY A BASEBALL GAME. Who gives a hoot?? And as for the food, I thought that was enough food for 4 little kids and an adult. Trust me. Now if you were talking 5 adults, I think that'd be barely enough... But anyway, enough about food.


P.S. Thank you for this site =)

Guinevere said...

My point was that many families can't afford to go to the ballpark and certainly can't get all the swag the Gosselins got.

...and?

I'm sorry, but I don't really see that as a "point". I'll never understand the fixation/resentment some viewers have about the Gosselins not being or no longer being "average" or "relatable". I mean, if you don't like it, if you resent people get freebies that you wouldn't be given, wouldn't it be better just not to watch the show?

I've said it before, but honestly, I would guess 99.9% of the people who post here have it much, much better materially than most people in the world. So I can't understand the carping about the Gosselins being given opportunities or things that you are not given. Count your blessings and quit whining.

Anonymous said...

For me, it was more enjoyable when the show was about what it was like for an an average family trying to get by with a truck load of kids. Now it's not all that different than the other reality shows about celebrity families. I am not jealous because I do find it interesting to see how the other half lives. I guess it is inevitable that once you have a reality TV show you are famous thus changing your life and what your show is about. I still watch because I don't give up on my reality TV shows easily and the kids are very cute.

Angelica said...

rain88,

I'm just like you. While I still like the show, I did enjoy it more when the kids were younger, when we got to see Nana Janette, etc. I just miss the kids being young. And I think it's just me feeling the pangs of getting old. Heh. But at the same time, because a lot of people like this show, the Gosselins have been fortunate enough to experience some worthwhile things. Life's just not fair. I want to meet Shane Victorino, even though I'm not a baseball fan. He's hot.

Anonymous said...

Guinivere: I have stopped posting under my regular name because everytime I do, you seem to jump all over me. I have posted under three different "anonymous" names the past couple of days and again, you seem to single out my posts. Why? I have just as much right to a point as everyone else.

Anya@IW said...

I think Rain88 and Angelica make very valid points about the way J&K has evolved. There is no doubt that it is a different show than it when it first came on. I think each person needs to decide if it's still a show that entertains them for the most part (as opposed to making them feel bitter and resentful) and make their decision whether or not to keep watching. Years ago, I watched "The Real World" until it became a show solely about hooking up and drinking and I stopped watching because I didn't find it enjoyable anymore. Even though J&K is a different show from the one I first started watching, there is still enough there that entertains me that I continue to watch.

Probablyshouldgivethisup, it goes without saying you have as much right to post here as anyone. I wish you would expand a bit on your opinions and views instead of complaining that you are being picked on. Also, it's a bit easier to have a dialogue and to understand where a poster is coming from when they stick to one screen name.

I hope you will continue posting. I can assure you just because another poster challenges your views does not mean that all views and opinions are not welcome and wanted.

Angelica said...

Anya,

This is off-topic. I'm with you on the Real World show. I watched probably the first 5 or 6 seasons, but I stopped. I just felt with the seasons after that, MTV was casting only attractive and very fit people (most of whom seem to have an aspiration to be in showbiz), and it was hard for me to penetrate their visage and take them seriously as being "real." I'm all for sexual revolution, but the show kind of roused my conventional side.

crcham said...

I would kill to get those seats! I'm up here in Boston and I can't afford to take my girls to a ballgame...waaaaayyyy too expensive. Good for the Gosselins for getting the opportunity to do stuff that I can only dream about. If I had the opportunity to do half the stuff they are able to do, I would totally jump on it! The things these kids will remember when they're grown is how much time and how many fun things that Mom and Dad got to do with them. All I remember from my childhood is how I always sat at home...my parents never did anything with me. So now that I have my own, I definitely take advantage of every opportunity. You go Gosselins!

crcham said...

and one other thing...
So the Rays got us in the end. We'll just start working on next year! Go Phillies!!!!!!

Anya@IW said...

Angelica, exactly, regarding the RW. In the past, there was some attempt to cast diverse people, even some people who clearly had brains (i.e. Kevin, Judd, Pam, etc.). These people would never make it on the show today.

People who are cast today have seen the show for years and usually have an agenda, i.e. to parlay this "gig" into some further stints on MTV or even something bigger (in their mind anyway).

It's not just "The Real World", but "Big Brother" and others that started when reality t.v. was first becoming big have all gone to the same basic model for their casts:

-early 20's
-attractive in a fake sort of way (hair, boobs, etc.)
-loud and obnoxious
-obsessed with sex
-dim

I will give "Survivor" credit for continuing to mix in some folks of different backgrounds along with the pretty young things.

Anya@IW said...

crcham said..."The things these kids will remember when they're grown is how much time and how many fun things that Mom and Dad got to do with them. All I remember from my childhood is how I always sat at home...my parents never did anything with me. So now that I have my own, I definitely take advantage of every opportunity. You go Gosselins!"

Interesting point because I have heard Kate say similar things in the past. Didn't she say she had never been on a plane before her honeymoon?

She seems very intent on giving her children access to many different places and experiences that she didn't have as a child. I understand some have an issue with how J&K are able to finance these trips, but I truly believe in her heart, she wants to give her kids what she didn't have growing up. I can emphasize with that because don't we all want more for our kids than what we ourselves had?

Guinevere said...

Guinivere: I have stopped posting under my regular name because everytime I do, you seem to jump all over me. I have posted under three different "anonymous" names the past couple of days and again, you seem to single out my posts. Why? I have just as much right to a point as everyone else.

Are you assuming that I recognize you? Because, honestly, I don't. I know there was at least one poster in the past that felt I picked on them, but I don't recall the user name. So you'll have to assume that there is something about your views that engenders a response from me. In this case, the idea that there is some significance to J&K getting opportunities that you don't get, or that many families don't get, is one I disagree with.

Of course you have the right to post. I don't understand why you think you have the right to post and not be disagreed with. I certainly don't feel that *I* have that right, and people are free to disagree with anything I have to say.

Anonymous said...

Guinevere: With the exception of Sight and Sound and Hawaii, I have given my children many of the same experiences that Jon & Kate and the kids have had. Difference is my children did not have to "work" for them. I find the promo for this show very telling, "Our children have a great life and we have a great life because of them" I am not jealous. Maybe having already raised children, I see this different then you.

Anonymous said...

I loved this episode. It reminds me of the time my family got a baseball freebie...perish the thought...My cousin has connections and got the whole family free tickets to see the O's play the Yankees, we got great seats, free food, hats and a jersey. The family had a terrific time!! Freebies rock!

Samantha@IW said...

Anya-
About the RW: I agree, most of the kids cast today were babies when it started coming on and my how the cast has changed. Remember John the country boy? I loved him! They've ruined the show in my opinion with the way they cast now.

Anonymous said...

I don't think J&K were making fun of Joel...I think they just know their kid and his personality and were having a chuckle...and no, not at his expense. My husband and I do it ALL the time. We know our kids and find the things they do amusing...I see other parents do the VERY same thing ALL THE TIME!!

Anonymous said...

"Our children have a great life and we have a great life because of them"


I feel I have a great life because of my kids.

Wouldn't any parent want to enjoy their life once they have kids?

If you don't think your life is better WITH the children, then why would one bother to have them in the first place.

It doesn't mean that they think the kids are a cash cow.

This is simply reading what you want into a statment b/c it fits the objective of what you wish to believe.

I would hope that a parents first thought regarding their kids is:
"Our children have a great life, but we don't because of them."

Yeow--talk about the kids requiring therapy later on if that is what mom and dad truly thought.