Although TLC is known as The Learning Channel, reality shows like as “Jon and Kate Plus 8” aren’t teaching audiences anything valuable. It seems the only thing people are learning is that two parents with eight kids starring in a hour-long show will more than likely lead to divorce and heartbreak after only two seasons.

When the show first aired, Jon was a laid-back, mellow father who adored his children, while Kate was the antsy mother who wouldn’t even allow her children to play with crayons.

While Kate is still as high-strung and controlling as ever, Jon’s persona has done a complete 360.

Jon has eclipsed Kate in the public eye, appearing with different women each month in various gossip rags. He recently contacted Michael Lohan, Lindsay’s father, to plan a reality show collaboration about fathers in the news overseeing famous families.

Conspiring with Michael Lohan? His mind is obviously not in the right place.

TLC also agrees, as they’re currently in the process of suing Jon for not following the terms and conditions of the contract.

Instead of the personable attitude he once had, he now has an obnoxiously cavalier manner. During most recent interviews, he shrugs his shoulders and pulls an immature facial expression.

While Jon has a studio apartment to himself and by reports is living the bachelor life, Kate is still calling a mansion the network gave to them for the third season home. She is currently alone in caring for all eight kids, but it’s not all that bad for her, apparently—notorious celebrity gossip Web site TMZ has numerous photos of Kate sunbathing with some of her friends out on the front lawn.

Because of the constant spot in the public eye, many wonder what will happen to the Gosselin’s children as they get older. The twins, Mady and Cara, have just turned nine. For their ninth birthday, they were given a cake from their dad decorated with both of their names. Sadly, Jon spelled Mady’s name incorrectly.

Because of their exposure to the media, the children are literally able to watch their family fall apart on television. Their faces are all over the Internet and trash magazines, their story all over radio talk shows. On a common day, the paparazzi camp out near the front gate of their home for hours, hoping to get a snapshot of the family. What will all of this attention do to the children?

Jon and Kate agreed to the show to help pay for the expenses of having to raise eight kids. But now that America has gotten to watch their family become torn apart, is it possible that the money maybe wasn’t all worth it?