'Jon & Kate'
breakup draws 10.6M
Sets record for most-watched cable reality show
By Toni Fitzgerald
Jun 24, 2009
One day after “Jon & Kate Plus 8” set another slew of records for the episode in which the troubled couple announced their separation, TLC said it is suspending production of the show for the next six weeks as the couple sort through their issues.
Monday’s much-hyped episode was the most-watched show on television on any network, averaging 10.6 million total viewers in the 9 p.m. timeslot.
It became the most-watched show in network history, surpassing the show’s season premiere a few weeks ago, which averaged 9.8 million.
It also became the network’s highest-rated show across a slew of demographics, including viewers 18-49 (6.5 million), 18-34 (3.7 million) and several male and female demographics.
“Jon & Kate” even outdrew the broadcast competition en route to becoming the most-watched nonscripted show in cable history.
Still, just hours after the episode aired, TLC said it is sending the Gosselins on hiatus until Aug. 3 to give the family time to regroup. Next week the network will air a “Jon & Kate” clip show.
TLC has ordered 40 episodes for season five, but fewer than 10 have aired.
During Monday’s episode, both parents said that the show, which was envisioned as a slice-of-life reality show about the challenges of raising twins and sextuplets, will continue despite their marital woes.
Kate, who was married to Jon for 10 years, filed divorce papers on Monday. The two have been dogged by rumors of mutual infidelity and become tabloid staples the past few months.
In fact, an In Touch cover that showed Kate spanking one of their eight kids led to a record showing for the magazine, which outsold even People last week, according to the New York Post’s Keith J. Kelly.
|
|
|
