Why No Hurry to Nab Dr. Murray? And other Michael Jackson updates.

It's hard to believe, but Michael Jackson died in June and it's November. Someone please remind me why Dr. Conrad Murray isn't in jail yet.

The only talk to the effect of his arrest hasn't even been in relation to killing Michael Jackson, but rather locking him up for not paying child support. During the trials, police marched straight over to Neverland and handcuffed Michael and dragged him out of bed, throwing him in the slammer on someone's word alone immediately (he was cleared of any wrongdoing). Two autopsies have been performed, it has been confirmed that Dr. Murray's lethal dosage of Propofol killed Michael Jackson, and he's still going wherever he wants, doing as he pleases while Michael lies beneath the ground permanently. Hypocrisy much?

I realize it takes a while to build an investigation, but they did find the vials of Propofol and traced them back to him and appear to have all the proof they need. Regardless, does it take six months to make this connection? Why is everyone taking their sweet old time? Why does no one appear concerned about this whatsoever? FYI: Conrad Murray has been jailed before, for domestic violence.

As a fan and concerned citizen, I'm sad and disturbed by this, and I can't imagine how furious Michael's family and friends are. Naturally the media isn't bringing up any of these issues and just want to talk about all the people suing Jackson's estate.

I can't help but feel if this was any other celebrity, Dr. Murray would have been in jail overnight. I really shouldn't be surprised, yet I am. That Michael Jackson is the victim in this case does certainly change things. When the ambulance arrived after Michael's cardiac arrest, the LAPD didn't seal the crime scene, as they were supposed to in an event when the cause of death is unknown, especially in a situation with so many possibilities. Again, they failed to even suspect it could be a crime scene and didn't take the appropriate action to secure the evidence. After all, it's Michael Jackson.

Dr. Murray had the paramedics continue to give him CPR for an hour even though he was already dead before getting in the ambulance, and he staged a scene giving Michael CPR and calling his son Prince to watch, even though again, Michael was already dead. Can you imagine the psychological trauma that poor kid has to live with on top of what is inherently already going to be there? Then, Dr. Murray fled the scene and left his car there, and had the Propofal FedExed to his girlfriend. Naturally, the YouTube video came thereafter where he tried (and failed) to make himself a sympathetic character. Propofol shouldn't even be administered outside of a hospital setting under any circumstances, nonetheless to someone in relatively good health.

There is no reason this thing is still even going on, if anyone's even keeping up with it anymore. I truly hope justice prevails, no one deserves to die at the hands of another. I was sincerely hoping this case would blow the lid off of the multitude of criminal doctors who endlessly flood celebrities with any prescription they want for their own gain. Too many stars have died needlessly and a case of this magnitude truly had the opportunity to make a difference so this fate would not befall another. It would be nice to say one good thing came out of the tragedy, but it appears another golden opportunity was lost to do something truly noble.

I hate to even stoop to the level of addressing this, but TMZ's recent "article" suggests that Michael's accuser from 1993 was able to accurately describe in detail Michael's genitals. (This, by the way, is untrue. Michael was subjected to a thorough strip search and it was revealed the description was inaccurate, which also accounts for this 'evidence' not being introduced in court for the later case.) TMZ goes on to say that Michael's plastic surgeon Arnold Klein says the reason the boy could describe this (which again, he couldn't) was because Michael liked peeing in front of people. I really don't know how much money Dr. Klein is getting that he's galavanting around town on every news show with one BS story after another, but it's so sad to think someone Michael Jackson trusted so much was so pathetic. (If Dr. Klein did indeed say any of this). With the constant Dr. Klein interviews, it's safe to say they serve to distract the authorities and public from the fact that he was also responsible for prescribing Propofol and other drugs to Michael outside of his practice, something he has since admitted yet vehemently denied at the time of Michael's death. And, not surprising that TMZ is wasting everyone's time dragging up lame gossip that completely desecrates the memory of a fallen entertainer. For in-depth information on the trials (as I seriously hope I don't have to address any more ridiculousness regarding them, there is a post available on this page which provides any thought/analysis I have on the topic).

One more blog fact-check - Perez Hilton has been continuously reporting that "This Is It" is bombing at the box office and made $2 million dollars. It has made over $100 million worldwide in a week, hence the extended release. Perez also pointed out that Fandango is giving out tickets for $1, which, by the way, they do for new releases all the time.

The Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts vs. Abigail Breslin

Oscar-nominated Little Miss Sunshine herself, Abigail Breslin, is set to play Helen Keller on Broadway. Not everyone's a happy camper.

Sharon Jensen, exec director of the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, has this to say: “We do not think it’s O.K. for reputable producers to cast this lead role without seriously considering an actress from our community. I understand how difficult it is to capitalize a new production on Broadway, but that to me is not the issue. There are other, larger human and artistic issues at stake here.”

The media is overhyping this statement, suggesting that Deaf and Blind advocacy groups are upset by this casting choice. Really, Sharon Jensen just needs a Xanax. If casting a hearing and seeing child actor in a play is the biggest human issue happening amongst people with disabilities, we're living in a pretty rad world.

People can be so sensitive about casting. I remember when Zhang Ziyi (world-famous Chinese starlet) was cast in "Memoirs of a Geisha" and there was a huge uproar over her casting. China banned the film, calling Ziyi "an embarassment to China" for playing a Japanese Geisha girl. Do people not understand the definition of "acting"? Should Ted Bundy be cast in any role involving a serial killer? Should royalty be cast in Disney productions? Do gays have to play gay roles? Who cares. The whole point of acting is to find a kernel of truth in playing a character other than yourself. Transformation. Somehow, that got lost in the mix.

I remember playing Helen Keller on stage. It was one of my favorite performance memories, and the role and courage of Helen Keller inspired me to tempt to learn American Sign Language, with which I thought about being an ASL interpreter. The role had a strong impact on my life, you don't have to be blind or deaf to be inspired by this brave woman's journey.

I agree that it's unfortunate that certain minorities and the disabled community don't get more work in Hollywood or on Broadway. This has been an issue from the beginning affecting countless groups of people. It is not an inclusive industry and stereotypical depictions abound. Aside from the amazing Marlee Matlin, few of us can name a slew of deaf or blind actors.

While I encourage all minorities and peoples of every background and walk of life to share their experience with the world and pursue their dreams, I highly doubt a statement like this made after-the-fact makes much difference. I am reminded of Marlon Brando's then-wife Sacheen Littlefeather (an Apache Indian and president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Comittee) accepting rejecting his Oscar for "The Godfather" at the Academy Awards as a statement of opposition to Hollywood's exclusionary casting of Native American actors. She was promptly booed off the stage, and decades later I can't recall many Native Americans in film since. This doesn't mean minorities and actors with disabilities should cease the fight for recognition and casting. Change never occurs without opportunities for raising awareness and demanding your voice be heard. Hollywood may be a fast town, but it's slow in fundamental areas.

While I respect the idealism displayed here, I disagree with the idea that deaf or blind actors should be cast in the role of Helen Keller as much as I see no point in any actor being boxed in for any reason. There is much we can all learn from this character, regardless of whose eyes she is shown to us through. I also disagree on this level of attention being brought to a matter that pales in comparison to the inequalities in the educational system for the deaf and blind or the numerous health and social issues regarding minorities and disabled individuals face on a daily basis. Let's get the focus back on the real "larger human issues" at stake, not the sideshow diversions.

"This is it."

For once, I am not going to leave a movie review. But rather, scattered thoughts, and "This Is It" conjures many.

If it's a review you want, Roger Ebert will give it to you as only he can:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091027/REVIEWS/910289999

I really don't have much to say. Perhaps I never did, yet I felt some responsibility to defend Michael against talk that will never cease. His work speaks for itself, his humanitarian efforts stand alone, and this film says the rest. I pondered many of the questions Ebert did, yet I know how sensational the media has always been, and I know the results of the autopsy which confirm that most of the talk is just that. The film absolutely backs up the idea that no one can be heavily drugged and do even a fraction of any of that. It's safe to say the media embellished quite a bit, as usual. The intense concentration and ability to focus on every little detail is a Michael Jackson trademark, and only possible with him at the helm, where he remained.

I had the great fortune of sitting next to a woman who had nothing but backhanded comments throughout the entire film. The irony is that she paid money to see it. That says a lot. Sometimes people don't get it or "claim" not to. Instead of "This Is It", they ask "What Is It?" In a way, I think the title is brilliant, it is what it is. Not everything in this world can be explained or needs to be dissected into oblivion. If you don't get what the big deal is with Michael Jackson by now - who he was, why people cared, what he accomplished... you never will, and no explaining will suffice. Genius on that level comes around once in a lifetime, and is always misunderstood and undervalued until it's gone, and even then it flies so high above the radar most people miss everything. I'm proud to be one of the legions of folks touched by this man and his work, and I get it. I can truly say with complete honesty that without Michael Jackson, I would not be the person or artist I am today. He inspired something in me that continues to burn, much like millions of creative people around the world.

There was so much love and positivity, hope and inspiration in this film that if you failed to receive that, you are officially "Not It". The more light a person has inside with which to shine, the more others feel dimmed and have to charge up their destructive tendencies, yet it isn't enough to quell their appetite or turn them into better people. We all have choices to make and it is our responsibility to chose wisely, and I chose to be a positive force in the world and an artist that makes a difference, partially thanks to a person who needs no introduction.

I must say, in all of my movie-going experiences, I've never seen people spontaneously whip out lighters and wave their hands in the air. There were random fedora-wearing viewers and sparkled out audience members, and an audience sprinkled with every age group and color. One could expect nothing less. If a small conservative town can even get it, there is hope for us all to just get along, by golly.

I don't think Michael would have wanted this film released as he was too much of a perfectionist to want an audience to see an incomplete product, yet it's all we have for his last show and it's enough. I'm grateful this film was made, it answers a lot of questions and gives the fans one last peek at a man so hard to say goodbye to.

Michael was truly It, and It will be sorely missed.

Thumbs Up for 'Paranormal Activity'

As an avid movie watcher (all genres, all time periods, all countries), I have to count horror among my least favorite genres. Not because of the gore factor or subject matter so much as the difficulty of finding a horror film that actually gets under my skin. I can honestly say no movie has ever scared me since Poltergeist when I was 5 years old. My favorite horror films are more psychological thrillers than sheer terror, including Jaws, Rosemary's Baby, and Alien. I can't stand slasher films, they aren't intelligent enough to capture my interest. A climbing body count will do nothing for me unless there is a tight script and fascinating characters to follow, as in The Silence of the Lambs.

There are several elements I consider necessary to create a great horror film and "Paranormal Activity" had too many slices of genius for me to deny it a shout out. Let me start off by saying that docu-reality in horror hasn't worked for me prior. I rolled my eyes at the Blair Witch (though I did appreciate we never saw her). Cloverfield did nothing for my imagination. The only time I saw docu-reality working recently in a somewhat effective way was in District 9, where I thought it blended well with the storyline. Paranormal Activity on the other hand could not have been filmed any other way.

One of the most effective tools in the creation of a horror film is a fantastic villain. And by that, I mean one that is virtually impossible to get rid of. When I think back to Alien, I see all the elements in place for a terrific sci-fi horror extravaganza. You have the Nostromo, a salvaging ship, and its crew passing through the voids of deep space, essentially mimicking a gang of truckers in space. Their job is not to discover and fight aliens but rather do their contracted work, collect galactic trash and go home. They are stuck in the middle of the universe where 'no one can hear them scream' and confined to a large ship with no shortage of nooks and crannies for a species to hide. Not to mention, this is no ordinary creature and something they are completely unprepared to handle, and it has acid for blood. With respect to Paranormal Activity, what better predator is there than one you can't even see, nonetheless begin to comprehend? And if you need a hand, sorry - your only help is on vacation.

A favorite weapon of mine in the filmmaking arsenal is the skillful use of allowing the audience's imagination to wander as opposed to showing the audience everything in the screenshot. What one can't see is far more terrifying than what one can. In 'Signs', M Night Shyamalan masterfully employs this concept by hiding the alien from our view. We feel its presence in the wind blowing through the trees or the dog barking outside. The brief glimpses of its hand popping out from under the door or running in the background of a children's birthday party *cringe* are enough. These techniques were so perfect that seeing the alien was a massive letdown. Our imaginations conjure up far worse. (Remember Rosemary's Baby?)

Throughout the course of Paranormal Activity, we encounter an average couple who have just moved in together. Unlike most actors employed in docu-reality (always unknowns, of course) these two were completely believable as the ordinary couple they appeared to be. Docu-reality takes a risk as the characters aren't often developed or fleshed out enough to pull me into their personal story prior to the involved plot, and if this isn't successfully accomplished, we fail to care about the character's inner experience. We can all relate to Micah and Katie; we've all been in a close relationship and if we don't see ourselves in these two, we certainly know someone just like them.

Like The Blair Witch Project, we are observing an experience after-the-fact, captured on film. We already know it didn't end well. We come to learn that Micah and Katie are not the only inhabitants in their new house. This is news to Micah but apparently not to Katie, who has felt an entity with her since she was a girl she was powerless to explain. Micah is the stereotypical young male, more curious than fearless, more concerned with his new camera and filming the possibilities than his girlfriend's emotions. He is convinced he is in full control and can handle any situation that arises, if there's anything to even be concerned about in the first place. His camera rolls non-stop, capturing the mundane details of his domestic life with Katie. While they sleep at night, the camera vigilantly captures every detail.

The true prodigy of this film is that it capitalizes on all of humankind's biggest fears harking back to our earliest nightmares as children: Things that go bump in the night, what might be hiding in our closet, attic, or under the bed, what our eyes can't see, what really happens when we are asleep and helpless in a dark room, our sleepwalking activities, and why we always have that incessant urge to keep our toes hidden underneath a blanket. Like a good Stephen King production, we are inherently disturbed because the piece has tapped into the dark recesses of our psyche to dance with our most instinctual disturbances.

I can't say I was truly terrified (movies just don't do that to me), but lets just say I was more disturbed than anything I have seen in a long time. I truly enjoyed it as a picture as the cleverness was too pronounced to ignore, not to mention it was mad fun to listen to the audience gasp and squirm in their seats. I especially loved walking out of the theater to nervous chatter among grown men who wanted to wet their seats. Now that's entertainment.

The Real World: New York vs. Cancun

My, how we've changed.

While I admit reality TV isn't generally something I go out of my way to watch, I remember enjoying the early years of the genre. Specifically, the first seasons of MTV's "The Real World". The show rapidly went downhill within a few seasons and I stopped watching. Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to give Real World: Cancun a try. BIG mistake. I revisited the very first season (Real World: New York) in an attempt to see the origins of how it all began and to understand how it could have possibly ended up as hideously bad as it evolved into...

Flashback to 1992. 7 strangers were picked to live in a house...

In Episode 1, we meet the housemates. Among them are:

Eric - A troubled-teen-turned-model who despite popular misconception appears to be far more than just a chiseled face and cut six pack.

Becky - An outspoken folk-singer who is unafraid to defend her views and develop a relationship with the ("ex") Real World director.

Andre - The guy rocking out with his band Reigndance who provides the house with a much-needed mellow roommate.

Heather B - The rap singer who powerfully flows on the mic and wears her opinions on her sleeve.

Norman - The bisexual man who is always on hand to provide a good laugh and a warm hug.

Julie - The Southern girl with the overprotective parents who wants to see and experience the world.

Kevin - A gifted poet with a penchant for stirring up intense debates in the house.


Flash forward to 2009, when MTV has premiered the 22nd season of the Real World filmed in beautiful Cancun. Our cast of characters (yes, characters, i.e. not real people) include:

Ayiia - A bisexual Hooters waitress who creates no end of drama for her roommates and is revealed to be a cutter.

CJ - The Football player who has bad pick up lines (yes, this is as deep a description as we could conjure up for him).

Jasmine - The former cheerleader with a Napoleon complex that drinks far too much and never lands her crush despite the best of efforts (i.e. being a creepy stalker).

Bronne - The loud-and-obnoxious-yet-relatively-friendly house goof

Emilee - Another bisexual Hooters waitress with A.D.D. and two therapists for parents (*paging Dr. Freud*).

Jonna - A multiracial girl who loves to befriend men and steal them away from her housemates.

Derek - Your friendly neighborhood homosexual who worked at a bar with Jonna prior to filming.

Joey - A three-time high school dropout in a punk band who sleeps with anything he can get his hands on while sadistically egging on his roommates.

If the casting breakdown doesn't scare you enough, read on.

In the original Real World, there were truly 7 distinct people and personalities all thrown into a fishbowl experience without any expectation of what the experience might hold. The only similarities they all shared were that they were all artists and had aspirations to work in entertainment. After an entire season of Cancun, I really couldn't tell you much of anything about who these people were and what they thought (if they indeed had any rational thoughts at all) other than at least five of them appeared to be the same person, i.e. naggy, bratty, overly self-involved, and immature. These were people I wouldn't want to share an apartment with, nonetheless a city (save for Derek, who was smart enough not to get entangled in the drama, which is probably why we didn't see much of him - much like Season 1's Andre). I am praying that the production team of Real World just did a horrible job and have let the show be reduced to utter nothingness rather than believe that the generation gap really has widened that much and that this show is somehow reflective of its present generation (If this is the case, bring on the asteroid - we're done for).

In Season 1, we were presented with a group of determined young people ready to make their mark on the world. They were interested in learning about one another and engaged in intellectual discussion while concerning themselves with political and global issues. They attended human rights rallies (Julie wanted to understand others so much she spent the night on the street with a homeless drug addict) and the roommates worked through their issues to try to find common ground and live together in harmony so they could actually enjoy the experience, and best of all, they were real people we could connect with and relate to. Their arguments weren't always the most sound, but at least they were about real things that were relevant to our population. While they learned about eachother, we learned about them, and cared.

Interestingly, the original season took several months to film while the latest was filmed in one month (I'm sure the people in the control room were regretting the day they were born). Even in one month, these kids couldn't come up with one interesting thing to say. They were contractually obligated to work for Student City, a program designed to help vacationing college students have a fun and safe Spring Break. The cast members had no trouble immediately breaking all the no-no's they were given by the company, couldn't show up on time, didn't always fully participate, and Joey couldn't even be bothered to take responsibility for setting his own alarm clock and was fired from the job and ultimately the show, only to return on the last episode in the 'twist ending' where the sleeps with his sworn enemy and housemate, Aiiya. I wonder if they even contemplated that this was a real company with a real reputation that was giving them a real opportunity. If I were Student City and somehow still managed to be in business after the airing of RW: Cancun, a serious name and identity change would be in order.

The only seeming priorities of the Real World kids (whom I refer to as kids, because they look and act like them in every way) has been to drink, have sex, fight, and party, which basically reminds me why I stopped watching a decade ago. Watching this show, it's apparent most of these people can't be in committed relationships, control themselves in any form (drinking, sex, public urination, etc), have zero motivation, and can't perform jobs responsibly or share a house for five minutes without WWIII. The tagline should be changed to: Seven losers picked to live in a house to create pointless drama that bore us to death. I can't even conceive of a person who steals her 'friends' romantic interests, a person who encourages a cutter to cut herself again, or a person who sleeps with the individual they hate the most. I honestly think the visit to the welfare shelter they were assigned to must have been designed to make these characters look semi-sympathetic and to take their minds off of their own endless selfish desires. They came across as completely sociopathic and emotionally damaged and void of logic across the board. A reunion was aired, upon which I hoped watching the season would have embarassed them into a life-altering experience but to no avail (I should have known). I absolutely hated watching this, I'd rather endure torture than sit through it again. PLEASE give me those hours of my life back. However, I did overcome, just so I could write this for all of you.

I shudder to think that there are young people out there that enjoyed this. If this is you, just know that your generation is capable of so much more and that there is nothing real about any of these people. It's obvious they had a non-stop bid for camera time and nothing else. They kept accusing eachother of being fake, all the while being forgeries themselves. They didn't take the time to learn about eachother, presumably because that required actual intellect and took away from their precious time to party on a beach and shout at eachother. Even from a selfish perspective, wouldn't it have made more sense to get along with your roommates so you could really enjoy time spent in Cancun?

I'm not trying to reduce these people to stereotypes though the Real World has long been known for enjoying perpetuating them. I realize that these people must inherently be multi-dimensional and could very well be different if a camera wasn't taping their every move, however it is, which naturally makes it the Unreal World. Blame must fall on the production crew of the Real World who clearly made the choice to not only cast these immature charicatures but also have allowed once multi-dimensional people to be selected and edited into one-dimensional cardboard cutout puppets not worth the view. Watching this was truly like pulling teeth, I couldn't fathom what the producers were drinking thinking when these were the folks that appeared on their casting couch. Did they draw names out of a hat?! With the exception of Aiiya, who was selected by the MTV audience (Way to go). The producers have realized some inherent value in instigators, most likely stemming from the most infamous casting choice in Real World history: FPuck. Imagine having five of him in your apartment and you get the idea.

I honestly don't believe that this generation of teenagers resembles anything close to this colossal mess. Their generation was truly jipped with this presentation and I feel sorry for that. They are living in times of change and reconstruction and I hope they stop to reflect on something other than the beverage they have later. Perhaps the apathy so proudly displayed on this season's Real World is the same attitude that has contributed to some of the current problems our country finds itself embattled with. There are young people out there at this moment leaving their fingerprint on the world through volunteer work and the creation of ideas and art. Where is their representation? What about all the great minds and interesting young people populating this world? I'm guessing they didn't send in a tape. If they did, I'm sure they would see this opportunity as a unique time to learn from others and value their time at a new exciting locale instead of squander it away with petty insignificant arguments and illogical decisions.

Better luck next year (I won't be watching).

Vitiligo: Confirmed

To debunk further rumors:

Michael Jackson's autopsy confirmed he did indeed suffer from the skin disease Vitiligo (refer to photographs from my Vitiligo post dated 2007). The autopsy also revealed that he was balding, something I suspected as when I saw MJ in 2004, he was wearing a clearly wearing a wig.

The autopsy showed him to be healthy otherwise with no other drugs/alcohol in his system other than what was injected, contrary to reports that he was too weak to perform. He was 5'9 and 136 lbs (light, but still considered normal). He had ostheoarthritis on a few fingers and his lower back and a healthy heart.

In other words, his skin disease was real (as we reported years ago), he was healthy enough to perform, and he wasn't riddled with drugs or alcohol. I hope that settles that once and for all, though as we know, rumors will always persist.

Oh, and the autopsy also revealed he was actively producing sperm. I certainly feel if this was any other celebrity it wouldn't have even been mentioned, I don't see any of Hollywood's leading ladies being questioned about their ovaries when they are parents, biologically or otherwise.

Yes, I did get tickets for 'This Is It' and can't wait to see Michael in action!

Jon & Kate Plus Real Jobs (we can only hope)

Yes, this is the return of the Jon & Kate thread (in which, ahem, I humbly called the demise of this entire family months before any public reports of marital trouble. I may not be Madame Cleo, but exercising common sense goes a long way. If you watched one episode of this thing, it was so predictable.)

I was trying to hold off on posting about these two because I'm as tired of them as the rest of you are, but it has simply come to the point where something must be said, yet again.

The latest updates are that the show's name was changed to 'Kate Plus 8' as TLC had been having trouble with Jon since these two split. It's gotta be hard promoting yourself as a family channel when you have a guy running around town drunk with ladies half his age, spending his CHILDREN'S earnings on a phat bachelor pad in NYC, and wearing those god-awful Ed Hardy shirts. Clearly, PopSpiracy could not let this charade go unnoticed! I am not, in any way, on Team Kate either, as you all well know. I think we should put them on a desert island and tell them it's a new reality show and forget to bring the cameras (and crew). Oops.

Within moments of the show's name being changed and Jon's obvious deletion, he is now taking legal action to stop the show, his lawyers sent TLC a cease-and-desist order which claimed police would be called out if anyone stepped onto the property.

According to Jon's lawyer, "Jon realized his family was like a train wreck, so he decided to put the brakes on the divorce and on the show..."

Let me get this straight. Jon Gosselin is just NOW realizing his family is a train wreck?!!
Ok, gimme back my Madame Cleo title, please. Either I'm a rocket scientist or Jon Gosselin is a tool. Or, in this case, maybe both. Kate is not halting the divorce, and dare I say it, I actually agree with her for once.

Jon's lawyer's continued statement:

"I am totally confident that [Jon] will be completely successful in his quest to take back control of his family and preserve, protect and ensure their future and well-being by putting the brakes on his divorce and pulling the plug on TLC, the media giant that he perceives as a monster that has exploited and manipulated his family and has been partially responsible for the breakdown of his marriage. Jon is resolved not to allow the TLC Corporate machine to devour his family and promote the monster's best interests over those of his family. TLC and Discovery have been reputed to have generated approximately $186 million dollars for the quarter – compliments of the Gosselin Family, and Jon firmly believes that their greed to continue that cash flow will be trumped by his courage and determination to protect his family."

First of all, I take it this lawyer hasn't seen one episode of the show or he would know Jon Gosselin was never once in control of his family and the notion that he could protect his children is highly implausible. He couldn't even stand up for himself once the entire time the show taped. If Jon and Kate were concerned with their children's wellbeing whatsoever, this show would have never taped a single episode.

Secondly, to hear Jon Gosselin whine (once again) about TLC exploiting and manipulating his family, contributing to his dissolving marriage, and describing TLC as a monster devouring his family is the best I've heard yet. (In case he needs to be reminded, the Gosselins are the ones who decided to drag their 8 children through this nightmare, no one else. It's not as if there aren't plenty of examples of reality television families torn apart or sextuplets thrown into a circus atmosphere and the long-term devastating effects of this many times over for them to have made a more informed decision.)

Now, I'm not absolving TLC of any blame here. While it has brought us entertaining shows like 'Police Women of Broward County' and 'LA Ink', it definitely had this one coming with all the constantly exploitative shows involving children. From Gosselins and Duggars to 'Toddlers & Tiaras', the whole thing couldn't be more designed to ensure a horrible fate for its young performers all the while masquerading as a wholesome family network. (Note to TLC: What's up with your programming in general? All these awful children reality shows and then rad shows about police women and tattoo shops? A sense of direction is in order here!)

In this statement, I must say I especially love the part where Jon's lawyer mentions the hundreds of millions of dollars the show has raked in for TLC 'compliments of the Gosselin family' as if this were all a wonderfully packaged gift the family never profited from in any way. Meanwhile, Jon is off buying a new car, an NYC apartment, and entertaining clearly desperate young women. (By the way, Jon doesn't work. And he mentions TLC being greedy!)

I think it's highly amusing that he decided to halt this show the second his name was dropped off the title. Egotastic! That said, I have been calling for the cancellation of this show for a year now. Jon's first logical (and correct) decision, made for all the wrong reasons. It's about time those poor kids get off the air and try to have a normal life, though growing up with Jon and Kate will guarantee that can never happen. I can't imagine what these kids have had to go through. Divorce is hard on any kid, and the actions parents make after the divorce have a large impact on how children will feel and cope. Jon's actions have not at all reflected any concern for his family, if what he's been doing the past few months is 'protection', we all have cause to be concerned. Everytime I think he can't possibly make himself look worse, he finds a way to outdo even my next-to-nil expectations.

I seriously hope the Gosselins can get their children into therapy and stop spending their money like it's going out of style. Those kids have been working since they've been in pampers and deserve a stab at normalcy like any other kids. Instead of focusing so much on this nightmarish couple, their children should be the first priority they deserve to be.