Jon Gosselin brought his campaign to have his eight children removed from the cast of TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8 — soon to be Kate Plus 8 — to Larry King Live on Thursday night. According to Gosselin’s attorney, Mark Heller, TLC terminated Jon’s contract on Tuesday — read: He was fired — because Jon was planning to go on the show and announce he was no longer allowing his children to participate.

“The reason I don’t think it’s healthy for them is that we’re going through a divorce right now, and I don’t think it should be televised and I think my kids should be taken off the show,” Gosselin said.

While his estranged wife Kate allegedly wants to keep the show going “for financial reasons,” Jon told Larry, “I need to be a father. I need to take my kids off the show.” He also said he wants to put the brakes on his divorce.

“I’m here to apologize to Kate,” he continued. “I’ve made mistakes.” When asked if he has spoken to Kate recently, Jon said, “I’ve tried. She doesn’t want to talk to me.”