TLC Has No Problem Milking Jon, Kate and Their 8

While Jon & Kate Plus 8's Monday premiere scored big, TLC denies it's milking the couple's troubled marriage for ratings

By Josh Grossberg May 27, 2009 6:40 PMTags
Jon Gosselin, Kate Gosselin, Jon and Kate Plus 8Karen Alquist/TLC

Jon & Kate Plus 8 plus a record 9.8 million equals no regrets.

That's the word from the suits at TLC, who have apparently no problem milking Jon and Kate Gosselin's alleged marital misadventures for all they're worth.

"The show's ratings have grown consistently, as there has been interest in these real-life issues of this real-life family," TLC said in a statement. "We will continue to air as the interest continues, and the family wants to do it."

In the wake of the monster season premiere Monday—the most-watched program of any channel on Memorial Day and the best ratings ever for TLC—and perhaps knowing that this could be the season, the network also confirmed that there would be a whopping 40 episodes, double the previous season order.