As expected, TLC has announced that its top-rated Jon & Kate Plus 8 reality series will be returning for a fifth season.
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The network announced Jon & Kate Plus 8's renewal as part of a 2009-2010 season programming announcement which also included the announcement of new seasons of several other returning series -- including 18 Kids and Counting, American Chopper, LA Ink, Little People, Big World, Say Yes to the Dress, Toddlers & Tiaras, and What Not To Wear, among others -- as well as plans to premiere at least 19 new series.
The future of Jon & Kate Plus 8 had initially been called into question when the show's fourth-season finale -- which aired on Monday, March 23 and drew a series record 4.6 million viewers -- featured the show's star Jon Gosselin openly speculating whether or not he wanted to continue with the show for future seasons.
"Maybe we'll be back, maybe we won't," he said on the finale.
"It's hard being on this side of the camera... and trying to live your life, and people see your life as episodes, and you see it as a date on the calendar," the 31-year-old stay-at-home dad said.
"It's tough. I can't be 'Jon.' I have to be 'Jon & Kate Plus 8,' which is a real hard thing for me and I still haven't come to grips with it."
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According to The New York Post, Jon's comments were filmed on the same day that tabloids began reporting an alleged February incident in which Jon was seen partying with college girls at a Huntington, PA, bar that is located three hours away from the new $1.3 million home he and his family recently bought.
While at the bar, he reportedly met some girls from Juniata College -- who subsequently invited him to a house party where he played beer pong.
Although Jon later denied that his marriage was on the rocks and called the reports "rumors and lies," the Post reported that the couple has recently been trying to heal their relationship.
"They're working on it," the source told the Post. "After the finale, they spent some time alone -- without the kids."
About The Author: John Bracchitta