You may never have seen a show called "Jon & Kate Plus 8", but if you've been anywhere near a supermarket checkout in the past week you've seen their faces plastered on the tabloids.

Jon and Kate are a couple from Pennsylvania with twin girls who are 8 years old. They also have 5 year old sextuplets--3 girls, 3 boys--who landed them a reality t.v. show shortly after the litter was born.

I usually avoid reality shows like the plague. The entertaiment value of Donald Trump yelling at someone or Tyra Banks shaking her fivehead (think forehead, but bigger) during a lecture is lost on me.

But both the show and the recent media frenzy has caught my attention. It's not just the tabloids following their every move; Kate's geometric hairdo is popping up on talk shows from coast to coast. Blogs and websites devoted to praising them or roasting them are on full alert.

Watching the show is actually a bit painful. Sometimes we see the family having fun. Other times, we see Jon and Kate sniping at each other, with Kate usually getting the upper hand. The rest of the time we see Kate ordering Jon around and Jon doing as he's told, usually with facial expressions that are reminiscent of commercials for animal rescue groups.

Part of their schtick is their image as a regular, wholesome family who just happens to have twins and sextuplets. This mom and pop image has been blown out of the water by recent allegations that both Jon and Kate have been having affairs, suggesting some skeletons in their closet. Every family has skeletons in the closet, and affairs usually don't nab headlines unless there's an A-list celebrity or politician involved.

So why this fascination with Jon and Kate?

Why do millions of people watch a show about mundane family life? Yes, 8 kids is hardly mundane, but the exicitement of watching a family go grocery shopping with 8 kids really isn't that much more thrilling than watching a family with 2 kids.

And why is Kate occupying more media time than every thirld-world crisis combined? No matter how good her publicists may be, the amount of airtime she gets depends on how many people want to know more about the circus her life has become.

I did a thoroughly unscientific Google search to see why this family has captured America's attention, and here's what I found:

1) People Like the Snark Factor. Let's face it, it's far more entertaining to see the ugly realities of a marriage than a bland marketing version. Ever seen Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes talking to each other? Yawn. Kate hollering at Jon in Toys 'R Us? Much better.

2) People Don't Like Kate. She has her die-hard fans, but she also has a considerable cluster of haters. She's often described as overcontrolling and emasculating, and she definitely gets the lion's share of the blame for the friction between her and Jon. Let's just say there are people lapping up the recent media attention due to a spiteful glee about seeing Kate get what they perceive as her just desserts.

3) Cute Kids. Even when they're throwing tantrums, these are 8 cute kids. I read more than a few online posts about the show that included "awwwwww". People like "awwwwwww" shows.

4) Too Big for Their Britches. A big part of the show's appeal in the beginning was its emphasis on Jon and Kate as just a regular couple who happen to have a huge family. Viewers could relate to Kate's grumbling about the house not having enough space. Friends and family were a big part of their lives, the same as in many households across the country

Now, the family has a huge new house and they've been treated to numerous goodies over the past years, including a luxurious ski trip to Utah and a fun trip to Disney World. Previews for the next season show celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse dropping by instead of Nana. Viewers feel alienated, and watching the couple struggle with their recent scandals generates more dispassionate interest than sympathy.

5) If They Can Do It, I Can Do It. Parenthood isn't easy. One child can turn two adults' lives upside down. The fact that Jon and Kate keep plugging along with 8 young offspring provides inspiration. No matter how many meltdowns occur during an episode, or how many times Jon looks like he's daydreaming about getting a new identity and running away, the show ends with a sense of peace and satisfaction. Parents will keep tuning in for gentle reminders that they actually have it easy compared to some people.