Jon & Kate Plus 8 started out as a TLC documentary which somehow blossomed into the flagship reality series for the station. Now, the cable reality show has suddenly become extremely important…because suddenly, it’s become extremely interesting. Even the hint of infidelity is enough to create a media firestorm.

This has made Jon & Kate Plus 8 the nation’s newest obsession, but only TLC watchers will get the inside scoop. “I didn’t think it would escalate into what it’s become,” said Jon Gosselin, who sparked the original rumors by appearing in public with a female companion, aged 23.

“Just the allegations make me furious,” Kate responded to the media gossip. When asked about the future of her marriage, she replied, “I wish I knew.” Ah, the future is an uncertain mistress. “Very swiftly we turned into two people,” she said during the TLC special.

TLC offered Jon and Kate’s sides of the story for the season premiere of the show, which conveniently falls right when media attention is at its hottest.

…Isn’t it funny how these things work out, sometimes?

MSNBC has reported that the reality series is “staged,” which adds another twist. They cite Julie (last name unknown), sister-in-law to Kate Gosselin, as their source.

“EVERYTHING that you see them do or buy is completely paid for out of the budget for the show or traded for free advertising,” reads the quote from her blog. “The episodes are also staged,” she alleges, saying that “there is a staff of people reading these blogs and they base the shows around what people are talking about.”

Meanwhile, Yahoo! is still reporting on marital trouble with the couple. According to them, Jon and Kate Gosselin recently celebrated their sextuplets’ fifth birthday…just not really with each other. They said the pair barely spoke to one another during the party, to which they arrived separately.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 premiered two years ago and is TLC’s number one show. The new season will air

Sunday

Monday nights this summer.