TLC: 'Jon & Kate' dates shown on 'case-by-case' basis

TLC president Eileen O'Neill read a statement on "Jon & Kate plus 8" at its press tour panel that addressed the divorcing reality couple's current situation with all the profound importance that the public has bestowed upon it.

O'Neill said the duo will be interviewed separately on the show moving forward (no more couch) and that "new people" (ex. dates) will be shown on a "case-by-case basis."

The show returns Monday with two new episodes, with the production continuing week by week without a firm episode count in place due to the shifting situation.

After the panel, O'Neill said that despite intense viewer interest in the couple's new personal lives, the show will continue to focus on parenting.

"The show has always been about the parents' relationship with their children," O'Neill said. "This is a family show."

Here's the complete statement (sorry for all caps, I'm kinda busy):

I HAVE A SUSPICION THAT JON AND KATE MAY BE ON YOUR MINDS SO BEFORE I INTRODUCE TODAY'S PANELS LET ME GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE.

OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND THROUGH 100 EPISODES, WE'VE CAPTURED THIS REMARKABLE FAMILY'S ENTERTAINING CHAOS.

VIEWERS FELL IN LOVE AND THE SHOW DEVELOPED A PASSIONATE, LOYAL FOLLOWING.  BUT THIS PAST SPRING - LIFE INTERVENED AND THE FAMILY'S STATUS CHANGED.  IT WAS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE NEVER EXPECTED NOR PLANNED TO HAVE HAPPEN.  BUT THIS HAS RESULTED IN UNPRECEDENTED TELEVISION.

OUR APPROACH TO THE CIRCUMSTANCE WAS SIMPLE: TO COVER THE FAMILY WITH GREAT CARE AND THOUGHTFULNESS AS THEY DEALT WITH A SUBJECT THAT IS ALL TO FAMILIAR TO MANY AMERICAN FAMILIES TODAY.

JON AND KATE HAVE NEVER SAID THEY WERE PERFECT WHICH HAS MADE THEM RELATABLE AND CREATED AN UNDENIABLE CONNECTION WITH THE VIEWERS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO CAPTURE THIS FAMILY'S JOURNEY IN A RESPECTFUL AND SENSITIVE WAY.

THE SHOW COMES BACK ON MONDAY AND MOST NEW EPISODES   REMAIN A WORK IN PROGRESS.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THE ICONIC COUCH IS GONE. JON & KATE WILL NOW HAVE SEPARATE CHAIRS FOR THEIR INTERVIEWS.

YOU'RE STILL GOING TO SEE TWO PARENTS THAT LOVE THEIR KIDS, BUT YOU'LL BE SEEING THEM PARENTING SEPARATELY.

YOU'LL SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN KATE HAS TO PUT A TENT UP FOR A BACKYARD CAMPING EXPERIENCE BY HERSELF. OR, SEE JON TRYING TO COOK UP A PIZZA FOR THE KIDS.
AS FAR AS NEW PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MAY BE CYCLING INTO JON & KATE?S LIVES, WE ARE TAKING IT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

THIS IS REAL LIFE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT OUR CAMERAS ARE ONLY THERE FOR MOMENTS IN TIME, AND THOSE MOMENTS HAVE LIMITS.