TLC splits with Jon, retitles show ‘Kate Plus Eight’

TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus Eight” will relaunch in November as “Kate Plus Eight” — with Jon Gosselin no longer a regular part of the show.

The show will now “include a deeper focus on Kate’s role in the family and her journey as a single mother building the next chapter in her life. TLC will continue its exclusive relationship with Jon Gosselin and he will continue to appear on the show, but on a less regular basis.”

Sources say the network felt the most relatable story coming out of this divorce turmoil for TLC’s audience was to focus on Kate as a single mother. While Jon Gosselin has said in the media he’s less interested in continuing on the show. 

Also, Kate couldn’t have been all that thrilled about continuing to share the show with her ex-husband. Since the network says they’re also going to develop a Kate-related project for 2010, it sounds as if she may have flexed some negotiating muscle during this shakeup.

“Given the recent changes in the family dynamics, it only makes sense for us to refresh and recalibrate the program to keep pace with the family,” Eileen O’Neill, President and GM, TLC. “The family has evolved and we are attempting to evolve with it; we feel that Kate’s journey really resonates with our viewers.”

So that’s a divorce settlement, basic cable style: Kate gets the TV show, Jon gets the co-eds.