The Gosselins are back, with a lighter spin on dysfunction

TLC's reality series Jon and Kate Plus 8 returns Aug. 3 with fresh material chronicling the lives of the troubled Gosselin family.  Save for the two heart-wrenching breakup episodes in May, it seems, from the sneak peek TLC is back to the lighter side. But really, who cares if Kate Gosselin, now on her own, struggles to build a tent for her eight adorable kids in their backyard. In truth, as painful as it is to watch, those kids are a backdrop to the real drama unfolding. Her estranged husband Jon is the real show. Thanks to his escapades he has become a tabloid cash cow, saving the spring and summer for Us Weekly, Star and People. Star even got its own exclusive last week when its reporter resigned after hooking up with Jon. So how will TLC ride out this storm? Were cameras with Jon and his girlfriends in Saint-Tropez, the Hamptons, or at his new pad in NYC? Not likely. Unless TLC gets real, JK+8's audience will walk away. Then again, maybe it's time that we all walk away.

– Posted by Lisa Granatstein