Author |
Message |
Debbieeeee
Member
09-16-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 2:22 pm
This is a long one but worth the effort! NEW YORK (AP) - It's just another summer in the "Big Brother" house. Or is it? Bloggers have condemned scandalous remarks about incest, race, ethnicity, sex and sexual orientation made by contestants. Message board posters have debated about a physical altercation involving two participants and a lit cigarette. And thousands of YouTube watchers have eavesdropped on one contestant's unfiltered thoughts about Jewish people. Should viewers be shocked? The CBS reality show's motto is, after all, "expect the unexpected." For the past eight summers, "Big Brother" has isolated contestants (or houseguests, as they're referred to on the show) from the outside world, while under constant surveillance. Once a week, they vote to evict each other. The "Big Brother 8" winner will be selected live Sept. 18. With several different versions of the show broadcast in different countries, the made-for-TV claustrophobia has proven endlessly fascinating across the globe - and so has its voyeuristic peep show. In the United States, outside of the edited prime-time airings is the mostly uncensored access to the house's cameras on the Internet for $14.99 a month and, for the first time ever, for three hours every night on Showtime Too. It's there that viewers can listen to 44-year-old bar manager Richard "Evel Dick" Donato's unbleeped expletive-filled tirades against his fellow houseguests. And it was on the live Internet feed that Amber Siyavus, a 27-year-old cocktail waitress from Las Vegas, told fellow contestant Jameka Cameron, a 28-year-old school counselor from Waldorf, Md., that Jewish people tend to be "really money-hungry" and "selfish." YouTube videos of that conversation ignited controversy on the Web and beyond, prompting CBS to issue a statement condemning her remarks and refusing to air them in prime time. "The producers are operating essentially two differently realities," says Andy Dehnart, who blogs about reality TV at realityblurred.com. "One is for the feed watchers and the Showtime Too watchers at night. The other is on TV. They've condensed things that aren't really representative of reality. We can show that Amber has said anti-Semitic things without having to repeat them. We can show Dick is a horrible person without including the words he's using. But the producers choose not to." If Siyavus, who's nominated for eviction this week, is booted from the house, she won't have to answer to the media about her comments. That's because the reporters granted access to houseguests-turned-jury members have been told by CBS they must agree not to ask Siyavus or Cameron about the controversial remarks. Traditionally, reporters interviewing the six sequestered evictees who will make up the show's jury and decide the $500,000 grand-prize winner usually agree to only ask houseguests about conversations that they were physically present for in the house. So why is asking Siyavus about her own comments off limits? "Big Brother 8" executive producer Allison Grodner declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press. A CBS spokeswoman said asking Siyavus or Cameron about the comments could influence the jury voters and affect the integrity of the game. "If we're going to interview them, we should we able to ask the questions that are on viewers' minds," says Dehnart. "We shouldn't just agree to participate in the production of the show and protect the participants from whatever information the producers don't want us to hear." The AP will decline to interview Siyavus and Cameron. This season's drama has boosted "Big Brother" ratings. Thursday's episode, which featured a physical altercation between "Evel Dick" Donato and 23-year-old nanny-model Jen Johnson, drew 8.1. million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Donato has taunted Johnson verbally all season. He once dumped a glass of iced tea on Johnson's head. The most-talked-about incident in the "Evel Dick" vs. Johnson feud occurred after Johnson threw away some of Donato's cigarettes. Donato blew smoke in her face. Then, Johnson repeatedly swatted at the lit cigarette in Donato's hand and kept telling him to stop trying to burn her. The tussle was originally censored on Showtime Too's "Big Brother After Dark" but was later included in the edited CBS prime-time broadcast. "It was clearly disturbing," says Dehnart. "It seemed out of left field as we watched it on TV because Jen has been mild-mannered all season long on TV. It ignored the fact that she's essentially been abused by Dick and others for weeks and weeks, and she finally snapped." Neither Donato or Johnson were expelled from the house following the cigarette incident. "I definitely think he should've been kicked out, but obviously he was definitely entertainment for the show, so that's why he wasn't," Johnson told the AP following her eviction. In the past, houseguests have been removed following incidents that were deemed violent or racist. Earlier this summer, broadcaster Channel 4 expelled a contestant from the British version of "Big Brother 8" after she used a derogatory term about a black contestant. In January, Britain's broadcast regulator received a record 44,500 complaints about racist abuse endured by Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty on "Celebrity Big Brother 5." During the U.S. edition of "Big Brother 4" in 2003, contestant Scott Weintraub was expelled following a violent outburst in which he threw furniture. After holding a knife to another contestant's throat, houseguest Justin Sebik was removed during the U.S. edition of "Big Brother 2" in 2001.
|
Delilah
Member
07-08-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 2:40 pm
Thanks for posting this!
|
Steviegirl
Member
07-07-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 3:20 pm
I just saw this as one of the top headlines in Yahoo News. Very interesting, and also good that the behaviors in the house won't be swept under the rug!
|
Nynana
Member
05-31-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 3:35 pm
Traditionally, reporters interviewing the six sequestered evictees who will make up the show's jury Typo on the number on the jury or will it be six and we get the 7th vote whether Eric is there or not? Good article but he didn't take the verbal sexual abuse of Jen by Dick into it.
|
Cricket
Member
08-05-2002
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 3:38 pm
Why does Alison G. keep hiding behind remarks like "the integrity of the game" when the FCC acknowledged it isn't a game and surely AG knows integrity left BB a long, long time ago. Who is she trying to kid? ETA: Thursday's episode, which featured a physical altercation between "Evel Dick" Donato and 23-year-old nanny-model Jen Johnson, drew 8.1. million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research According to the TV Guide Nielsen listing, BB drew 7.8 million viewers last Thursday, tying with the Power of Ten.
|
Wilsonatmd
Member
01-23-2001
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 3:38 pm
no it's not a typo...since the last jury person leaves so close to the end, they usually just wait until after the finale and interview all three then...
|
Bluejaxrock
Member
04-23-2004
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 3:43 pm
We can show that Amber has said anti-Semitic things without having to repeat them. Has the show done this? I don't remember it.
|
Kirstenk
Member
07-14-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 4:12 pm
No, the show has not done that. Nor have they showed Dick the way he really is. The entire statement: We can show that Amber has said anti-Semitic things without having to repeat them. We can show Dick is a horrible person without including the words he's using. But the producers choose not to." That last part.......the producers choose not to.
|
Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 7:43 pm
I wonder why this is the only circumstance of racism the media ever talks about. Why haven't any of them said a word about Dustin calling his dog the n word and him and Amber laughing about it? hhhhhmmmmmm.
|
Flossiebebe
Member
09-01-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 8:14 pm
"I definitely think he should've been kicked out, but obviously he was definitely entertainment for the show, so that's why he wasn't," Johnson told the AP following her eviction. Is Jen actually allowed to say this and then go to sequester? Should be interesting on the Thursday show !!
|
Tera
Member
08-10-2000
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 8:30 pm
Apparently the HGs can say whatever they want.
|
Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 8:48 pm
obviously, AG is getting the publicity that she craves from the behaviours in the house. I like how the article talked about other HGs which were booted from the house for LESS.
|
Debbieeeee
Member
09-16-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 9:47 pm
Somehow I don't think throwing furniture and holding a knife to someone's throat is LESS!
|
Carrie92
Member
09-15-2003
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 10:10 pm
I don't think it's fair that they can't ask Amber about her Jewish comments, when they've been able to ask all other HGs going to sequester any questions regarding conversations they were a part of. How is that going to affect the jury? It's bad enough that Dustin and Jen will have only Amber's word to go by on what has happened in the house this week (that, and the edited shows). And, if I'm not mistaken, Dustin was asked about his dog comments. There's an interview posted in the outside the house section.
|
Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 10:56 pm
Carrie, in that interview his comment only addressed the b*tch part. He never said a word about calling his dog the n word.
|
Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 12:03 am
dick has thrown dishes, odds and ends around the house. Scott threw over a chair and no one was even in the vicinity!! justin made a stupid stupid joke while holding a knife, Dick has waved around his hands with implements in them while yelling he wanted to kill jen. so lets consider those are equal. Where I feel that Dick's behaviour is worse is in the nonstop way he is STILL saying stuff about wanting to kill jen and She isnt even there! also he has gone into intricate detail of how he'd like to do it etc. anyways, I'm dropping the subject as Some people have missed the stuff where he is not posturing for other HGs. he would talk about it alone, outside mumbling to himself.
|
Wilsonatmd
Member
01-23-2001
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 6:58 am
I'm gonna give them somewhat the benefit of the doubt here...I mean, if you were the producers, I think you'd be a little afraid at what Amber might do to herself (because she's so emotional), if less than 24 hours after she was evicted (especially if she felt blindsided by it), she's then innundated with questions about her controversial remarks. Just don't say it's about the "integrity of the game"...say that "She needs time to decompress from the game first, and if you want to talk to her about her remarks after she's completed the jury voting (1 or 2 days before the finale, and after she's watched the tapes and gotten some information, plus had time to talk to the psych people), We'll set that up for you." That would seem a good compromise.
|
Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-31-2000
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 7:22 am
Nice post, Wilson. I agree.
|
Sammy
Member
08-21-2007
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 7:47 am
I just hope that they have the required help for amber after the show....that her seculusion would be a oh lets just say "re-hab" (thats where hollywood sends everone anyways) Dick will be okay on the streets I guess...still question why he was reamining ont he show...that man would have scared me....lots.....
|
Wilsonatmd
Member
01-23-2001
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 7:49 am
thanks kar...I actually also think that CBS just doesn't want any more headaches right now (with the Pirate Master contestant's suicide earlier and now all the hubbub over Kid Nation)...they hope that by not letting the press talk with Amber about it after her (likely) eviction tonight, it'll go away when she does become available after the finale...
|
Nick
Member
07-31-2004
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 7:51 am
okkkkkkkkkkkkk a pirate contestant's suicide??????????? who?? what?? where?? huh?? <55> ~slaps his own wrists for being offtopic~

|
Wilsonatmd
Member
01-23-2001
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 7:53 am
Nick, Cheryl (who was ousted early) killed herself a few weeks back (after the show had been pulled)..and you can go to the PM board to hear stuff on the finale...
|
Darclyte
Member
07-11-2005
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 8:01 am
I still don't know why people give Allison and CBS so much grief over the contestant's behaviors. First, BB around the world has has all sorts of sordid activity beyond what's happened here. Second, BBUS is the ONLY BB where the contestants vote against each other. Everywhere else, it's the public that votes them out. This is SUPPOSED to cause the HGs to be volatile towards each other, and is the whole REASON the game was redesigned this way for BB2 and beyond. The ratings weren't that good for BB1 and after consulting with test audiences and polls, the cut throat game that has been played for the past 7 seasons is what "we" supposedly wanted. The fact that the ratings are in the Top 20, we're going to continue to see contestants behaving badly towards each other. As for Pirate Master: Cheryl, a district attorney, committed suicide just two months after her boyfriend also committed suicide. She was distraught at his death and when CBS canceled the show to the internet, it was like salt in her wound. <spoiler info removed..55>
|
Wilsonatmd
Member
01-23-2001
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 8:10 am
I think part of it is people saw what happened in the UK with the contestant being expelled for racist language (and the producers are so afraid of reactions that that person has been banned from being on the finale this week), and wonder why no action was taken here.
|
Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 8:19 am
bear in mind the UK big brother took action this year over the racist language because of the furor over the treatment of Shilpa that went on from the minute she arrived in the house until Jade and Danielle were evicted. BBUK only stepped in because the furor was so widespread that it reached parliament. They were sanctioned by the regulators and they stepped in and warned the HGs. They did not evict Jade because of her behavior nor did they evict Danielle or Jo. I also believe though, that if Dick was on BBUK he would have been evicted from the house by BBUK. I also think that CBS has not forgotten the huge fines they got from the FCC over the wardrobe malfunction and they are very careful about what they put on the air now.
|