Octomom lands TV, book deals | TV, movie and music news | Television | EW.com

So far no US networks have bought in but this really peeves me

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Well, if she gets a "reality" TV show, that's probably the closest she's come to "reality" in a long time....

But frankly, this may be the only viable option she has to be able to support these children...do I like it? No.

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

wont watch it, didnt watch but a show or two of jon and kate either.

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Won't watch this one at all. The woman is a few cards short of a full deck.

I wouldn't want to watch it either, the only good thing is, maybe she'll bring in some $ and the taxpayers can stop supporting her...we can hope!

I heard about this on the news this morning.....I cringed when I heard about it. No way will I watch this, you couldn't pay me to watch it.....

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Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

Unfortunately there are too many that WILL watch it - which is what keeps these current idiotic shows on AND propagating more.

It's sad how much television has degraded. 80% of shows out there now would never fall under the umbrella of "quality programming". Not much imagination anymore in that sector.

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Well for the people who like Jon and Kate and/or the Duggars, I see no reason to not watch this one. Like mentioned above, if it helps support those babies, then so be it. If you can help support the Duggars by watching why not help her support her litter. I don't see any difference.

Reality shows, whether they're competitions like AI or shows featuring litters of children cost very little to produce. And, I don't see why people should be less interested in Octo mom's litter than the Duggars or Gosselings. frankly, I don't see how she can possibly support her brood without a reality show.

I don't know if you meant this sentence as a double entendre, "it's what keeps these current idiotic shows on AND propogating more." But, I always felt that Octomom may have been influenced by those shows to produce her brood.

Just watching the show doesn't make her money - I am pretty sure. I believe it's a contract deal and the SPONSORS are the money source. So anyone who disagrees, doesn't want her to earn money in this manner, etc should contact the advertisers and tell them. Boycott, if you want, the sponsors, but you have to tell them why.

I sometimes wonder how much less I could pay for many products if their sponsorship wasn't so heavy.

dl

The sponsors pay per the amount of viewers and if she gets lots of viewers they have to pay more and the show will continue. No viewers and show is gone.

Thats what I was thinking. I live in CA and they are making deep cuts everywhere. I hope by her having the show the state doesn't have to give her any money.

Simply put, if people need a reality tv show to support the children they're having, then maybe they shouldn't be having so many children?

These situations are just another type of society having to pay for the raising of someone else's kids. In a tv show situation, corporations foot the bill, but where do you think they get that money? From the consumer when they buy the product.

Octomom was nothing but purely selfish having all these children. She llived with her parents...no money....no husband...would NOT marry the guy who was the father...had all of these ivf because she didn't want to be married. Maybe someone can explain to me WHAT part of that situation doesn't scream selfish, self-centered idiot, because I sure can't see it. Now that she created a big mess for herself, she gets a big ol' tv show and a book deal.

People do these kinds of stupid things because there will always be someone to bail them out. No one ever has to face consequences anymore. No one ever has to learn any lessons. God forbid anyone actually has to stand up and be accountable for bad decisions! Just sad, sad, sad.

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Anyone that buys the products/services from the sponsors of the show, WILL be supporting her. Taxes aren't the only way of achieving the goal.

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AND she has applied for food stamps once again.. the sad part is with all the money she is making as long as she does not "work" she will get them..
UNREAL!

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Be careful what you wish for.....

This is a legal way of watching her interact with the children. I am sure they will tell her they have to tape for a consideralbe time before anything would air and by that time social services could step in if necessary .

I know. She should let those babies starve to death rather than spend taxpayer money1

May I vomit now or do I have to wait until the premier?

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Those babies shouldn't have to suffer one ounce. They are the innocents in HER mess. They should be with people who can and will provide for them and support them, not with someone that has their hand out waiting for public assistance, whether it be via entertainment or food stamps.

She'll be making a nice spectacle of herself AND those poor babies solely because of her selfishness.

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PUT them up for adoption.. they will be taken care of.....

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Be careful what you wish for.....

Really? How do they know how many viewers or are you talking about a sampling as in the Nielsen (sp?) ratings or something like that?

I still have to believe it's a contracted deal, like $xxx,xxx.xx per show or some negotiated thing. I've read that about actors in series on tv, certainly I am not in the know.

And my point still is, we have to put our money where our mouth is and let the sponsor know of disapproval and not buy their products.

dl

Will not watch it enough is enough for anyone who uses their children to gain money and fame and fortune. I agree some of those babies should have been given up for adoption to a secure loving family who sadly just yearns for just one baby to have come into their lives...Peace. Catherine

You can't seriously believe that the state has the right to take these children from their non abusive parent to be brought up by strangers and not know their siblings or grandparents? Who are you to judge this woman?

Who are you to say what's best for them? Why don't we just get rid of all forms of public assistance (food stamps, welfare, unemployment insurance, Medicare) and see what happens?

Nielson ratings are exactly how they do it. The show will not survive if no one watches. They would have a contract with Octomom to pay her so much per episode. If the show was very popular, she would negotiate a higher dollar amount.

Why do you so disapprove of this woman making money?

kvmj - in response to your last two posts...... I do think we should limit all forms of public assistance. I know it's a subject that's been hashed and rehashed here, but in the past couple of years, I see too many dependent upon getting their hand filled when it's held out. Many now expect (or perhaps we have allowed them to become conditioned) to pay nothing, to have everything taken care of. Note that I said in the past couple of years, I am not interested in hearing about the current recession as an excuse.

As for Octomom, you are agreeing it's a negotiated thing and isn't - at least in the beginning, based upon how many watch. She can name her price.

I didn't say I so disapproved of her making money. However, when you put it that way, I approve of her doing it by working, not by birthing. The sensationalism does nothing but glorify how people can do something out of the norm (dare I say outrageous) and profitably gain from it. Yes, if they will pay, and if they will watch, then so be it.

It's madness, plain and simple to pay people to have babies, and that's essentially what any book or movie deal would be. She is pimping her kids if she does so, like the others.

dl

So you think that this woman can raise these babies on her own, with NO assistance, like a normal everyday person should?

It's so not about judging at this point, it's about right and wrong for those babies and common damn sense! You can't possibly believe that a woman has 14 kids, no real job, no husband, lives with Mommy and Daddy, had them all IVF because "she WANTS", won't marry the father - has an ounce of common sense? You really think a person with this kind of mentality will raise 14 decent human beings? Her judgments are obviously NOT intelligent and well though out - and she brings innocent lives into her bad decisions. Nice, huh?

Yes, I believe at SOME point someone has to step in and do what's best for the children.

If I'm correct in my thinking, programs like Welfare were set up to HELP in times of need. Now women pump out children just to GET more welfare. Why is that not a problem? Sure seems like it is to me.

This Octomom chick is a hot mess and she brought 14 children into her hot mess. Now it's up to the rest of the country to foot the bill? Why is that thinking okay for some people? She did this 100% on purpose, holds out her hands, waiting for someone to fill 'em up. And yes, I fully understand there are MANY circumstances where a person should have assistance. This is NOT one of them.

Call me anything you want, I do NOT understand pumping out children like your body is a factory just because you "WANT". "I want I want I want" is the great American cry anymore, what does it matter if a person can't handle it? Stick out those hands, someone will fill 'em up for you, just make sure you do what you WANT.

kvmj, what do YOU think should happen? Do you think that her community and/or country should support her and her children now? Do you think it's fine and dandy she did what she did? What if she has MORE children? Who do you think should pay for those? Do you think she should EVER have to face consequences for her actions, or just hand her millions of dollars?

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Well said!

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I don't see how anyone could work hard enough to support a family of this size without a reality show. The Duggers can't do it. The Gosselings can't do it.

All of these families will need to save their money for when the reality ride comes to an end.

I am not God. It is not up to me to judge people. I too disapprove of these large families as they are very bad for the planet. Michelle Dugger would tell you that her body is a factory for pumping ore Duggers into the world. Her daughter in law would say the same.

Rich people abuse their kids. Middle class people abuse their kids. Poor people abuse their kids. Ms. Suleman has not abused any of her kids to my knowledge. She has taken horrible advantage of her parents.

And sometimes, people who rely on public assistance make wonderful parents.

It would be great if everyone in the country had the opportunity to earn a living wage, But they don't. Will I begrudge her the 2 years that she would have been able to receive public assistance? Nope.

You would take the Duugger and Gosseling children away from each other and their parents?

Abuse takes many forms--not all of them as outwardly visible as bruises or broken bones.

NEGLECT is a form of abuse.

I don't know if this "woman" (and I use that loosely) is a "bad" parent. However, some of the things she has done and behaviours she has exhibited have not helped her cause or the argument that she is a "good" parent....

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

"And sometimes, people who rely on public assistance make wonderful parents." That is so true however just imagine the VALUES that they would instill in their kids of they worked for their money instead of feeling like it is OWED to them....

And as far as her earning a livable wage... If she didnt produce children like a PUPPY MILL then she could live on wages she makes....

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Be careful what you wish for.....

I'm not God either. But I have a brain in my head and some common sense. I agree with several points you've made, but for the most part you speak in generalities. Such as, I agree that many parents on assistance make wonderful parents. But did they pump out IVF babies like there was no tomorrow on purpose, then stand in line for their "gimmies"?

What do the Dugger and Gosseling children have to do with it? Are they the same situations as Octomom? No, they're not, so the answer is no. The subject here is Octomom and ONLY Octomom. You can't group every situation of many children into the same category. Each family is different and came about in a different circumstance.

Octomom did what she did on purpose. She had no money to speak of, living with Mommy and Daddy, no real job, NO PLAN for taking care of these children physically and financially, etc, etc, etc. These babies were NOT some kind of surprise. She planned this situation and then stuck her hand out for assistance.

It doesn't take God to see the greed, irresponsibility, idiocy, and stupidity in what she did.

If you think the best thing is to coddle and support her, great. I for one just get tired of people doing idiotic things and then facing no consequences for it, while the public pays for it. Then this "mother" - I use the term loosely - will pass on to her children how WONDERFUL it is to sit on your butt and collect, collect, collect. You don't have to work for a thing! Just create a bad situation for yourself, stick out both hands and wait for them to be filled.

If you can find any common sense in all of that, more power to you.

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There are times when one child is enough to keep someone from getting by.

I've met single moms at the poverty level who work 3 jobs and barely scrape by. Sometimes they don't make it/. At times in their lives they have sought public assistance but never once out of a sense of entitlement. It was need.

I guess you feel entitled to judge others.

Personally, I don't give a damn whether she is on public aid or not. I think some of her behaviour and actions have been questionable (at best) and have indicated that she is not mentally fit to raise one child, much less the brood she has birthed!
Again, abuse comes in many, many forms. NEGLECT is abuse. Using the children as pawns to garner attention for yourself or money for yourself is abuse (so yeah--I think the Gosselins and to some extent the Duggars are abusive as well).
I don't give a flying rip if your on govt. subsidy or independently wealthy--I've seen "welfare" moms be far superior parents than other parents.
I don't think glorifying the Gosselins, the Duggars or Nadya Suleman is a good idea. The ones who will end up on the short end of the stick in all these examples will be the children!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

How'd they do it before reality TV came along?

There was this period of time, back in the day, where multiples (of 4 or 5 or even more) were born and there were NO reality shows to foot the bill.

Why in the world is "She needs her own reality show" considered (by some) to be common sense at this point????

Unbelieveable. And un"real."

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Couldn't agree more. Well stated.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

I don't think that 4 or 5 or more multiples was common back in the day. It is a by-product of more recent advancement of fertility treatments and techniques. That many children, yes, that was more common, but not all at one time.

cj/



Multiple Births by Year and Type (Infants)
Year Twins Triplets* Quads Quints+ Source #
1980 68339 1337 4
1982 70049 1385 4
1982 71631 1484 4
1983 72287 1575 4
1984 72949 1653 4
1985 77102 1925 4
1986 79483 1814 4
1987 81778 2139 1
1988 85315 2385 1
1989 90118 2529 229 40 1
1990 93865 2830 185 13 1
1991 94779 3121 203 22 1
1992 95372 3547 310 26 1
1993 96445 3834 277 57 1
1994 97064 4233 315 46 1
1995 96736 4551 365 57 1
1996 100750 5298 560 81 1
1997 104137 6148 510 79 1
1998 110670 6919 627 79 1
1999 114307 6742 512 67 1
2000 118916 6742 506 77 1
2001 121246 6885 501 85 1
2002 125134 6898 434 69 1
2003 128665 7110 468 85 2
2004 132219 6750 439 86 2
2005 139816 6208 418 68 3
2006 137085 6118 355 67 4
*Note: triplet data for 1980-1988 includes all triplet+ birt
Sources:

1. United States Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Division of Vital Statistics, Natality public-use data 1995-2002, on CDC WONDER On-line Database

2. United States Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Division of Vital Statistics, Natality public-use data 2003-2004, on CDC WONDER Online Database

3. United States Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Division of Vital Statistics, Natality public-use data 2003-2005, on CDC WONDER Online Database

4. Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, Ventura SJ, et al. Births: Final data for 2006. National vital statistics reports; vol 57 no 7. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_07.pdf

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Wow, CJ! Thanks for providing stats!

So, if I'm reading the data correctly, we've had quads and more since about 1989...

That gives us about 12-15 years where many families did some ground-breaking, and provided for families in ways that did not included the trusty reality show option...

Wonder how they managed? Wonder if the moms had beautiful manicures and lots of other perks??

I'm of the mindset, when it comes to Octomom that she made her bed, she can sleep in it...

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

It is amazing the explosion in the rate of multiple births, isn't it?

I think the majority of these families with large numbers of kids do end up getting help of some sort (a vehicle donation, diapers for a year, some home improvements, etc), but almost all of them live quite modestly.

There are a few that are getting a lot of attention and doing things for absolutely the wrong reasons, imo. I think Octomom has some severe psychological issues. I have no idea how she is able to get dressed everyday, let alone get her nails done.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I just hope no one watches her reality show. I don't know how those kids can't be neglected when it's just her and she shows signs of instability to say the least. Another reason why I don't like IVF!!! These problems wouldn't exist then would they??

Well. Have kids, get a reality show and be taken care of, is that it? How come I can and have, always worked hard enough to support my family? Oh, because I am responsible, I am careful with my money, I don't have more than what I can afford, and I am stretched supporting people like them !!!!! Once in a while, especially at tax time, I wonder just how much I could have kept if losers of all walks would simply take care of themselves.

You must be kidding on a monstrous scale if you think they are saving their money for the end of the reality ride. I sure don't know, but I would bet you they are NOT. Why would any of them have self discipline and responsibility in that area when they don't have it in other areas?

dl

That's a worn out thing, pulling out "single moms". They didn't get pregnant by themselves and possibly if they'd gotten an education FIRST, they wouldn't be in a less than desirable economic situation. Single moms could have made better decisions regarding who to sleep with and what manner (or lack of) birth control to use.

Nope, I am tired to of hearing about single moms. Have a life, have a relationship, be responsible and take care of yourself !

dl

Legitimate fertility MDs (you know the ones who do operate on a very high ethical and moral code?) don't do these sort of IVF procedures. Legitimate women (who just want to have a child) don't go and ask to be implanted w/ 8 embryoes.

This type of thing is NOT the norm. It's a huge health risk for any woman to carry multiples. Even if those multiples are twins or triplets, and are naturally conceived. THUS...fertility doctors are hesitant to implant more than 2 or 3.

Of course, I would expect no different thinking from you.

Nadya Suleman would be crazy whether she had one child or 10! That's the other thing, most fertility doctors do some basic psych screening to make sure that the woman and/or couple are good candidates for the procedure--and all that comes with it.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

She wouldn't need a TV show, Book or even Foodstamps had she taken the money she used for IVF treatment to feed, support and put a roof over their heads. She said she spent over 100,000.00 on treatments. I wonder how anyone with a drop of morals could stick away that kind of money while drawing foodstamps . Why didn't she take that money buy a home and food for the ones she has ?... Oh I remember, because she wanted MORE kids that she couldn't afford nor feed. I wonder why there's not been any kind of investigation into welfare fraud ?.. She draws foodstamps but yet has managed to save 100,000.00 to get IVF ? If thats not abuse of the system I don't know what is. Now she's back to drawing foodstamps again ??.. Yeah guess it took all her savings to have 8 more kids so she can't feed them again.

She's a classic pro lifer. She regarded the embryos as her babies. She wouldn't destroy them. She didn't want to give them away. She didn't want them used for research. She was left with one choice. Use the last of her money to implant all the embryos at one time.

With $100K in the bank, she could not have qualified for foodstamps.

The embryos were never in threat of being destroyed. They could have stayed frozen till dooms day. She did what she did because she wanted to do it not because she was in fear. The last of her money could have been better spent on food , housing and maybe finishing her degree in college since her grants were all ending. ( which I do have to say I wonder if that wasn't a factor in her doing the IVF's since her "income" was coming to an end )

Classy statement, here.


So now you're holding up the patheticly abnormal female that is Octomom and deciding she's the poster girl for the "classic pro-lifer."

There are some equally famously freakshow celebrities who share your views on abortion. So do you seriously lump yourself in with *them* if they are "classic pro-choice?"

Careful - your ignorance is showing...

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

No, she had more than one choice. She chose the path that showed the least common sense and the most selfishness.

These children were not "little miracles" or "blessings from above" to bless a happy marriage, or enrich someone's life - these were calculated, man-made beings, produced for the "want" of one individual. She chose this route, all by herself. These children were mass-produced like in a factory - how sad!

No matter how you want to spin this, kvmj, this is not normal behavior by any means, nor should this behavior be rewarded with millions of dollars.

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I would not make this choice. You would not make this choice. She made this choice because she believed differently than we do. According to her beliefs, she had no other choice.

I'm sorry....but where are you getting this information about her "beliefs"?
Do you know her personally?

Please enlighten the group, as this is the first I ever heard about her "beliefs" being the driving force behind using all embryos at once!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Her beliefs where that the embryo couldn't be destroyed NOT that she had to use them right then and there !. Again the embryos were never in any kind of threat of being destroyed they could have kept right on being stored. She CHOSE to use all 8 of them at once And she just happen to get a nut case doctor to agree to do this. She could have if she wanted too use 4 then later use 4 more or anyway she so chooses to use them. However, she had NO JOB, NO INCOME, NO HOME, NO INSURANCE, Was suppose to be on SSI from a back injury ( yeah right ! uh huh ) Her ONLY means to cash was ending ( her grants ) and she was drawing foodstamps to feed them. I don't see how you can say we shouldn't look down on her choices.This sound like a stable person to you ?. But yet she stacked away all this money to have IVF I bet you 100.00 bucks the State of CA had no idea she had all this money for the treatment while she cried POOR ME I have no money to feed my 6 children at home. And now once again shes back to crying poor me, I have NO JOB, NO INCOME, 14 KIDS and I need help feeding them. I've seen families manage to feed, house and provide for their children ( some had 3 at home ) on 20 K a year.She used 5 TIMES that much on getitng more babies she can't afford and you think her choice was right ? Responsible people would have WAITED till they are able to provide for their ALREADY children at home before bringing even 1 more into the picture, she had 8 babies implanted, I know I know no way she knew all 8 would survive, but even if 1/2 wouldn't have made it thats still 4 more mouths to feed, clothing and provide for on a 0 Income !.... I don't understand it and thats why I'm still leaning that she did what she did because her grants were coming to an end. Well if the only source of income you have is grants and they are ending 1 doesn't use ALL the money you have to your name to bring 8 more babies into this mess. She should have used that money to secure them a home, food and Hiring a babysitter to Hmm GET A JOB to support the kids you already have. not bring in more !.. You can slice and dice this anyway you so please to do, but bottom line she wasn't able to care for her 6 at home and her choice to bring and use what money she had while crying poor me was wrong and personally IMHO was abusing a system set up to help people when they have NO CHOICE in what takes place in their life.

"She made this choice because she believed differently than we do. According to her beliefs, she had no other choice. " She made this choice to milk a system and recieve hand outs... Just like the Duggars and John and Kate...
Let me have kids like a litter of puppies and I will get my own show, a new house and fame...

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Be careful what you wish for.....