I have been a big fan of this show from the beginning. I do not like the way the Roloff marriage is being played this year. And, yes I believe it is being played by the producers. The reason I have always liked this show is because it is inspirational. If I want to see conflict and whining, I can watch Jerry Springer. I believe TLC thinks the people who watch John and Kate Plus 8 are the same fan base for the Roloff's but I for one, have never watched J&K+8 and don't care too. Matt & Amy..stay true to yourself! That is what we have always loved about you!

I don't know if it's the producers or real (personally, I think it's real), but I am SO disappointed in Amy. She's never been my favorite - Matt always has been my fav - but she has sunk to a new low. She claimed to be SO sad she couldn't go to the British Virgin Islands because she scheduled a "trip" during that time. However, why would she - the mom - schedule a trip on her own during Spring Break when she knows the kids are off? And now she's going around convincing Zack, Molly, and Jake not to go and smiling the whole time? Really, is she 10? they've been through so much and have a wonderful family!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mod_ivy,

Amy had speaking engagements during this time. So it was a work trip not fun.

I was just watching a couple of the afternoon shows today that were from last season (season 4), filmed in October. This was the same school year (senior year for the twins) as the one that this season's shows depict. I noticed that there were no conflicts, no fighting, no name-calling or anything similar that we've been seeing nearly every week in season 5's shows. The episodes I watched today were filmed during pumpkin season '08, when a lot was going wrong, and they showed Matt and Amy clearing out some junk from the pumpkin barn that had come from the house during the remodel. I saw Matt and Amy cooperating and sifting through the items. There were no disagreements between the two, even though they were going through quite a heap of items. Neither one blamed the other for the mess; neither one got angry at the other.

Flash forward to season 5: Now we see Matt and Amy having conflicts over every little thing, from missing remote controls to the twins' grades. Funny, isn't it, how this season is focusing on negativity and the previous seasons didn't, even though there were still a lot of similar stressors? Makes me believe that, as you say guatmom, some of this is trying to draw in the J&K viewers, especially the latecomers to that show who were drawn in because of the feud between the parents.

I think some of the feuding is real. I'm sure Matt and Amy have always had disagreements. What couple married that many years with that many kids doesn't have conflicts? But this year those issues seem to be the main focus.

i think it's always been obvious since season 1 that there is absolutely no chemistry between Matt and Amy. But I do think the producers are not so heavy on the "edit" button this season thanks to losing JK8

The show has definitely changed, and not for the better. What happened to the theme song from previous seasons?

We are not liking the tone this year either. Especially Matt this year seems to be acting like a spoiled brat. What is this last year he couldn't spend time with the family on vacation this year he takes a vacation by himself with out any of the family? Then there was the vacation without Amy, Molly or Zack because he didn't remember that Amy told him she had a speaking engagement for that time. If it is for real there is a marriage in trouble. If it is not for real then TLC should be ashamed.