In a video released by the cable network, Kate Gosselin says that she and her husband have made some "life-changing decisions" that will affect the family. And that she hopes that this decision will "bring each of us some peace."

The speculation, of course, is that the Gosselins will announce that they're getting a divorce. Which wouldn't surprise anyone who's paid any attention to all the tabloid stories. Or anyone who's watched the show this season.

Or anyone who's ever watched the show, for that matter. Long before it became clear that there were problems in the Gosselin marriage, you had to wonder how Jon could put up with the constant condescension and all the belittling.

That's not just my personal opinion. Remember, on the season premiere Kate said, "Have I been hard on him over the last almost 10 years we've been married? Absolutely. I would never deny that. You have it on tape!"

As for the rest of it — all the various allegations about their personal behavior — I have no idea what's true and what's not. I don't want to know. It's none of my business.

I'm just a little disturbed at the almost sports-event like atmosphere that the coverage of "Jone & Kate Plus 8" has taken on. We've got people rooting for this side; people rooting for that side; Monday-morning quarterbacks who think they know how each side should have played things.

If the Gosselins are indeed getting divorced, that's sad. Anytime a marriage fails, it's sad.

Anytime there are children involved, it's a whole lot of trauma. If it's one child or eight, it's an enormously difficult time for any family.

Again, I'm not sitting in judgment of the Gosselins for their decision to do the show in the first place. I have great sympathy for them at this point, caught in a contract they probably wish they'd never signed to do more episodes of the TV show.

I hope everything works out for them and for their kids.

And I hope that anybody considering doing a reality TV show that involves children in any way, shape or form learns from this. And reconsiders.

e-mail: pierce@desnews.com