Monday, June 15, 2009

Rumors of infidelity have taken over the lives of Jon and Kate, with mixed results.

The Gosselins, stars of TLC's reality TV series Jon and Kate Plus 8, have been objects of intense interest for several weeks.

Jon is rumored to be cheating on Kate with 23-year-old schoolteacher, Deanna Hummel.

Kate is rumored to be cheating on Jon with Steven Nield, the family's bodyguard.

The dual allegations of infidelity that have plagued Jon and Kate for weeks on end are actually responsible for their reality TV show getting its highest ratings ever.

Infidelity – The New Spectator Sport

New York infidelity expert Ruth Houston, who is frequently called on by the media to comment on celebrity infidelity, high profile infidelity court cases, and infidelity breaking news, explains why.

"Infidelity has become the new spectator sport," says Houston, the founder of www.InfidelityAdvice.com and the author of"Is He Cheating on You?– 829 Telltale Signs.

Houston observes, "No matter who is cheating, or accused of cheating, the public always wants to know more. People have an insatiable appetite for anything related to infidelity, cheating spouses, and extramarital affairs – especially if celebrities, sports figures, politicians and others in the public eye are involved."

The Power of Infidelity

"We are witnessing firsthand, the power of infidelity," says Houston. "Adding an infidelity angle to a TV show almost guarantees an increase in viewers. The media circus surrounding Jon and Kate is a perfect example of how the mere hint of infidelity can boost the ratings of a TV show, and keep even pseudo-celebrities in the public eye for weeks on end. Because of this, many people feel the infidelity rumors may have been a publicity stunt."

Houston contends that Jon and Kate owe their new-found fame to the rumors of infidelity surrounding their marriage. But Houston also points out how the accusations of infidelity that have plagued this couple for weeks on end have turned out to be a two-edged sword.

On the plus side, Jon and Kate Plus 8 reaped a ratings bonanza. People who previously had no interest in the show, tuned in to watch the season's premiere, just to satisfy their curiosity. Although the show's ratings are now starting to slip, the season's premiere had an estimated 9.8 million viewers -- the highest numbers in the history of the entire TLC Network.

However, on the down side, all this publicity has caused Jon and Kate to come under public scrutiny for alleged exploitation of their children, pet abuse, and alcoholism on the part of Kate.

How TLC Can Use Infidelity to Keep the Ratings Up

"If the TLC Network wants to keep the ratings from slipping any further, they need to capitalize on the infidelity rumors by putting a positive spin on things," says Houston. "Handled properly, there are valuable lessons that can be learned on Jon and Kate Plus 8."

Here's what Houston suggests. "Since the public is interested in whether or not the Gosselins' marriage will survive, TLC should bring in a marriage and family counselor to work with Jon and Kate. (Provided they can get both parties to fully cooperate.) After all, Jon and Kate Plus 8 is a reality TV show. Let the viewers see the reality of how counseling can help a couple solve their marital problems and get their troubled marriage back on track."

Is It Too Late for Jon and Kate?

But Houston observes, "Judging from the latest reports that Jon and Kate spent their 10th anniversary apart, TLC needs to act quickly if they have any intention of helping this couple save their troubled marriage. If the rumors of infidelity, separation, and 'lawyering up' are true, it may already be too late for Jon and Kate."

Go or Stay? Should You Give a Cheater a Second Chance?

Have Jon and Kate cheater on each other? What should a couple do if one spouse has had an extramarital affair? Should they stay together for the sake of the children? Or should they terminate the marriage and go their separate ways. Much depends on the circumstances of the infidelity, and the attitude of the spouse who had the affair.

Houston's Go or Stay Tip Sheet covers some of the factors that should be considered when trying to decide whether or not to leave a cheating spouse or stay in the marriage and give the cheater a second chance. For a FREE copy of the Go or Stay Tip Sheet, e-mail InfidelityAdvice@gmail.com with the words "Go or Stay-Xjk" in the subject line.

For more information about infidelity, cheating husbands, or extramarital affairs, visit www.InfidelityAdvice.com or http://infidelitynewsandviews.blogspot.com

About Ruth Houston:

Infidelity expert Ruth Houston is the founder of www.InfidelityAdvice.com and the author of" Is He Cheating on You?– 829 Telltale Signs which covers practically every known sign of infidelity, including the subtle signs people usually overlook. She has been researching infidelity for over 15 years.

Frequently called on by the media to comment on celebrity infidelity, high profile infidelity court cases, and popular infidelity issues in the news, Houston has been a repeat guest on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Fox & Friends, Fox News, The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, CBS News, BBC, CBC and over 480 other radio and TV news and talk shows in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, New Zealand, Australia, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Houston has also been quoted in USA Today, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Daily News, Cosmopolitan, the New York Post, the Chicago Tribune, FoxNews.com, ABCNews.com, msnbc.com, Reuters, the Associated Press, UPI and numerous other print and online media worldwide.

To interview infidelity expert Ruth Houston, call 718 592-6039 or e-mail InfidelityExpert@gmail.com

For more information about infidelity, cheating husbands, or extramarital affairs, visit www.InfidelityAdvice.com or http://infidelitynewsandviews.blogspot.com