The Coogan Act (AKA California Child Actor's Bill) was first passed in 1939 in response to the plight of Jackie Coogan, who earned millions of dollars only to discover, on reaching adulthood, that his parents had spent almost all of it.  To date, neither The Coogan Act, or any other laws protect the children of today's reality television programs from the emotional scars that are sure to form.  With the help of 'Jon & Kate' hopefully this will change, and soon.

 'Jon & Kate Plus 8' is a reality television program about the Gosselin family, consisting of parents Jon and Kate and their eight children--a set of fraternal twin girls and a set of sextuplets (three girls and three boys, all fraternal). The show follows the family through their daily lives, focusing on the day-to-day challenges of raising multiple children.

The Gosselin home has been converted into a production studio:

Between the specials and the series, permanent light fixtures were installed in the Gosselins' home to facilitate filming, and prevent the children from tripping over the wires and cables of temporary lighting. Jon & Kate Plus 8 is filmed three days a week, with one day set aside for the interview sessions where Jon, Kate, and occasionally the children, discuss the events which take place in each episode. In the house that the family lived in before their move in late 2008, the "interview corner" was located in the basement, and was transformed from the playroom when needed. It was painted green, unlike the rest of the playroom. In their new house, the interview set was reproduced and constructed in an unfinished area of the basement. At the conclusion of season four's finale, Jon and Kate said they will be making a new set for season five.

Jon and Kate also work closely with producers to decide what themes will be presented in each episode. Jon and Kate have remarked that over the years the production crew has become part of the family.  (WikipediA)

Recently there has not been much joy and light in the Gosselin house.  First, the tabloids headlined Jon's indiscretions, then it was Kate's turn. Then, the inevitable rumors of a split followed by blame the media, and what a bad person she is, all leading up to the season premier, where of course the not so loving couple, blame the media.  Of course the ratings were through the roof.  The critics weren't very kind:

At one point in the show, Kate complained that her life was "just so hard" due to media attention and pressures on her marriage.  "Is it really, Kate?" sniped the Baltimore Sun's David Zurawik. "Tell that to a family in which the breadwinner has just lost her or his job, you silly, self-absorbed fool."

There was a lone blogger asking viewers not to watch the show, Kate's sister-in-law Julie.  In her blog she exposed the inner workings of the show:

"When the show first started, Kate made a wishlist of things that she wanted, and that became the theme of each episode--the carpet, twin's room, bunk beds, cow, hairplugs, teeth whitening, trips, etc. EVERYTHING that you see them do or buy is completely paid for out of the budget for the show or traded for free advertising. Kate went on and on about saving up for special days, you saw her paying for things, she talked about budgeting, etc. It is all for the appearance that they are a struggling family with 8 children. They needed to be relatable. They didn't pay for any of it.

And, would you believe it's scripted?:

"The episodes are also staged. Here's how it works...there is a staff of people reading these blogs and they base the shows around what people are talking about. I haven't watched many episodes, but I do know some of the behind the scenes events.

"The Christmas episode from 2007. Producers told Kate that the viewers wanted to see her show appreciation to their helpers. They told her what the episode was going to be. I think they baked cookies and then went caroling (of course this was probably one of their many 'traditions"--those are all fake too). Kate threw a fit. She didn't want to do it, but she did...because they were trying to pacify the viewers.

"Don't believe everything you see. The children are also being prompted to say or do certain things. They signed their lives away to TLC and they will continue to spin the show to keep the viewer's interest. I don't believe this show will go away until the viewers decide that they don't want to be played anymore.

Through all this there has nary been a mention of the real victims here, the children.  Today, that changed when Kate's brother and sister-in-law, Kevin and Jodi Kreider, appeared on the "The Early Show" to tell Co-Anchor Harry Smith that they believe "Jon & Kate Plus 8" is child exploitation:

SMITH: This is very interesting because over the weekend a lot of people were saying, I don't even know who these people are, and suddenly they have really exploded into the American consciousness. And years ago, when this reality show started, you all were sort of involved in it, weren't you?

K. KREIDER: yes, we were.

J. KREIDER: We were.

SMITH: And what was the idea initially? Here's this family. They have eight children. We'll do a reality show. Was it almost like a -- sort of a documentary process?

J. KREIDER: Exactly. It started out that way. And that was a really neat thing to be a part of, thinking that, you know, the children are -- a little bit of their life is being captured, but it quickly -- we thought it was very innocent at the time.

And it -- the first season started, I think, eight episodes. And it quickly turned into more and more demand from Jon and Kate from the network, and it turned into 40 episodes in a six-month span. And also it -- there were cameras in the children's bedrooms at one point. And they were filming all year around. And these were very huge concerns for us.

During the interview Kate's brother became emotional, wiping away a tear:

K. KREIDER: Well, I think we're speaking out now because we want to be the voice of our nieces and nephews. And we're seeing it turn tide that they're being viewed as a commodity, that -- I'm sorry. That they...

SMITH: This is clearly an emotional issue for you. Do you want to go ahead?

J. KREIDER: They're being exploited. And it's time for America to see the situation for what it really is, which is unfortunately, there are to laws protecting children in reality TV shows. And it's time for the public to be aware of this.

And that these children are very aware of the cameras in their homes. Their home is their workplace. And this is not a healthy environment for kids to be raised in.

It's about the children:

J. KREIDER: Like they don't want the cameras around. They have told me personally, I don't like...

SMITH: Your nieces and nephews.

J. KREIDER: Of course, yes. We watched them quite a bit about a year ago and further back. And, you know, they would say, Aunt Jodi, I don't like the cameras on every vacation with us. I don't like them, you know. And, too, you know, kids have bad times, bad moments, they cry, and having the camera zoom in on a crying child. I mean, this is just -- this is -- this should not be a form of entertainment.

Just as there are laws on who can drive a car there needs to be laws on the exploiting of children on reality television.  With Octomom, Nadya Suleman out there pitching scripts, and heaven knows how many woman artificially inseminating as many eggs as possible, who knows where, or how this will end.  Hopefully without more innocent children being exploited, and damned to a life of endless therapy, or worse.  A childhood is a terrible thing to lose.