TLC has signed up Kate Gosselin for a new reality series that will feature her "trying new things" without Jon or her brood, TheWrap.com reports. The reality star and her new litter of hair extensions has been reclaimed by the network "because they are worried if they don't do it with Kate, someone else will," according to a shady-sounding unnamed source.

The new show, which is slated to debut in late spring/early summer, will supposedly have an "interactive" factor in which viewers can suggest new challenges revolving around Kate trying various different professions. I'm picturing something kind of like "The Simple Life," only set on a farm for one week, then a restaurant the next, and perhaps a hardware store after that. I'm sure there will be plenty of fame-mongering businesses that would love to have her around. No fashion-related jobs, please, though -- for all our sakes.

The show is unnamed as of yet, but hopefully will be titled something like, "Kate For Hire," or "Working Mother of Eight," or "Jon Doesn't Pay Child Support." I'm going to make a totally wild prediction that the series ends with Kate getting "challenged" to host her own talk show, and then...she gets hired! Pure conjecture, though.

You know how Kate Gosselin is on the cover of People magazine this week, posing with hair extensions, even though her show has been canceled and nobody wants to think about her or her ex-husband anymore? Oh, you didn't know that? Well, that's to your credit because technically, it doesn't matter. But nobody got around to telling Jon Gosselin's ex-girlfriend, Hailey Glassman, about things that do and don't matter. Because if they had, she'd know that she was one of the things that didn't.

And yet, here is Hailey on "Entertainment Tonight," opining on Kate's appearance on the cover of People because somebody asked her what she thought. I didn't ask her what she thought, so put down that polo mallet, or at least redirect it. But after she went public with her opinion that Kate looks "really good," Glassman started yammering about other things nobody cares about, like her own hair color being brown now, and how she's trying to get "back into [her] old self," which doesn't mean anything.

So, there you have it. Another 'Aughts phenomenon that everybody tried really hard to leave in 2009 that hasn't gone away yet: The Gosselins and their collateral damage. But stand by, because the year is just getting started, and it's a marathon, not a sprint.

Last night, Barbara Walters' "10 Most Fascinating People of 2009" special aired on ABC. She is proud of her selections and calls it the most "provocative" group of people she's ever had. Watch the clip above from "The View" to hear her thoughts on her interview with the fifth most fascinating person, and click "continue reading" to see who else rounded out the list (but maybe shouldn't have).

Last night's series finale of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" was depressing in as many different ways as there are Gosselin children whose lives will be negatively affected by the public crumbling of their parents' marriage. That's right, it made me sad in eight different ways. At least!

A bit of news today from TLC's other mega-breeders (Gallant to Jon and Kate's Goofus), the Duggars. Jim Bob and Michelle got their first grandchild last night. Little Mackynzie Renee weighed in at an even eight pounds, and you can watch footage of her birth above, if you really want to. The birth proceeded without complications, despite mother Anna's advanced age of 20.

How desperate is Jon Gosselin to hang on to his fame? So desperate he's willing to submit to televised tongue-lashings from the likes of Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel and vile law harpy Nancy Grace.

Meanwhile, a sign that Gosselin has really made it: his demonization in an upcoming epsiode of "Law & Order."

"The Oct. 16 episode -- titled 'Reality Bites' -- centers around a reality show, 'Larry Plus 10,' which documents the struggles of a single dad who's raising 10 adopted special needs kids by himself -- after his wife, Joy, is bludgeoned to death."

Rumor has it, Jon himself was up for the role of "Larry," but had to skip the audition due to a body spray injury.

Hmmm. Not long after TLC's announcement that they'd be relaunching "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" as "Kate Plus Eight," Jon Gosselin has lawyered up and banned any production crews from the Gosselin McMansion (see the "Insider" scoop from this morning's "Early Show," above).

So maybe Jon didn't want to get kicked off the show after all. Or maybe he's actually a stand-up guy who's finally realized that his kids could use a little break from showbiz. Either way, count on Jon to give his version of events early and often. The guy ain't giving up the spotlight this easily.

Above: Jon Gosselin's next project?

Nice try, Jon Gosselin! If you thought all your public carousing with Lohans, creepy Euros and nubile twentysomething airheads would embarrass TLC into releasing you from your boring reality show so you'd have more time to "host" horrible pool parties and smoke cigarettes on your ATV, you...were right, it turns out. According to The Hollywood Reporter, TLC plans to relaunch "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" as "Kate Plus Eight" in November.

TLC says the new show will "include a deeper focus on Kate's role in the family and her journey as a single mother building the next chapter in her life. TLC will continue its exclusive relationship with Jon Gosselin and he will continue to appear on the show, but on a less regular basis."

Good to know TLC stlll retains their "exclusive relationship" with Jon. Just in case they want to do a line of body sprays or industrial-strength condoms somewhere down the line.

In her long and scandalous career, Kathy Griffin has talked smack about Oprah Winfrey, Lindsay Lohan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Barbara Walters, the Olsen twins, and many other famous ladies. But in the clip above, from "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Griffin takes aim at a target that can't really get attacked enough -- starting with her haircut, and moving on through all her other attributes.

CBS has renewed the American edition of "Big Brother" for a 12th season. Meanwhile, a Turkish "version" of the show has been abruptly cancelled:

"Nine women tricked into thinking they were reality TV show contestants and lured into an Istanbul villa were rescued by Turkish military police after two months' confinement, a police spokesman said Thursday.

"Cameras in the villa filmed the women 24-hours a day, providing a live stream of images for Internet users who had paid to access the footage, the spokesman said.

"The women, all from Turkey, according to the Turkish press, had answered an advert seeking contestants for a 'Big Brother'-style television show. They passed an audition and selection process before entering the house."

Sounds less shady than your average VH1 show, but whatever. Anyway, let future aspiring reality contestants be warned: the REAL Jon Gosselin only wears AUTHENTIC Ed Hardy.