Archive through August 31, 2000
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I Shook Brittany's Hand After The Show...:
Archive through August 31, 2000
Ricmunoz | Wednesday, August 30, 2000 - 11:28 pm  ...and it happened just after 7:00 PDT, a full hour after the live show ended. Here's the chronology of how I and four other fans managed to get to her (it wasn't easy). I arrived at the CBS studio on Radford Ave. at 4:45, my first time there. A BBFC poster (Jombine) posted in early August that she'd gotten to see Jordan when she emerged from the house and that she'd done it by standing at a parking structure that was across the street from the studio. It's more complicated than that. The parking structure is ON the lot itself and thus it is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to get a close-up view. I could see from the sidewalk the people waiting right outside the gate where Brittany first hugged her mom--the gate is about 150 yards from the sidewalk. It was by a huge stroke of luck that I got onto the lot. I entered a 5-story parking structure from the sidewalk, having managed to avoid being seen by the security guard working the in and out booth. I learned later that several other fans had tried to get in the same way but had been rebuffed by that same security guard. I walked in the direction of the house until I encountered a CBS person standing watch about 30 yards from the greeting gate crowd. I asked whether it was possible to go join the gate group. I was told, "You need a special ticket for that." I asked if I could walk over there to see if any extra tickets were available. [How did those "gate" people get their tickets? They were randomly distributed to them outside Mann's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. yesterday. The ticket merely allowed them access to the gate crowd, but nothing else. A ticket to be inside the studio is an altogether different and tougher ticket to obtain.] The CBS person was immediately suspicious and asked, "How did you get in here without a ticket?" I lied, "I walked in off the street over there on Radford and the security guard told me to walk through the parking lot to get to the BB House." That I got past the security guard stopped her interrogating. I pushed my luck and asked, "Can I go stand over there to see the BB houseguest come out?" [The "crowd" numbered about 20 people.] "It looks like they need more people to cheer." The CBSer then said, "You can go ask one of the guys down there if you can join the group." I said OK, ignored her instruction, and simply joined the embarrassingly small crowd. And that's where I stood until Brittany emerged. At 5:05, one of the CBS crew working the "gate" advised, "I need you all to stay bunched together and to start applauding for her when she walks out at about 5:30." I immediately asked him, "So it's Brittany who's coming out??" He corrected his slip-up and said, "Uhhh, I meant to say when the person comes out." Fifteen minutes later a van pulled up containing a single female. "That seals it," I told the others. "There's Brittany's mom." Half the people in the crowd had NEVER seen the show. The Britt fans in attendance groaned when her mom's arrival provided the final evidence. At 5:29 she finally walked out. I didn't make it into the televised crowd scene, but then very few people did; the camera went from Brittany and her mom upward to show the front door of the BBH. They didn't want to show the sparse crowd, I'm sure. What you didn't see was Brittany hugging several people in the crowd before boarding the van. The CBS crew person sternly told her twice, "Come on, come on, we've got to go NOW!" And then she was gone. I walked out the same way I walked in, except a lot more bummed--I was THAT sure George was the one who'd get booted. Back on the sidewalk on Radford I ran into four of the people who'd failed to get past the security guard. I suggested we head over to Colfax Ave., a half-mile away, where the studio is located. We got to the security gate on Colfax just after 6:00 o'clock. At the security booth, 40 yards from the sidewalk, we asked if Brittany had left yet and we were instanly told to scram by a no-nonsense guard. "You can't come on the lot. And don't block the driveway if you're going to stand out on the sidewalk." We waited patiently, studying every van that drove out. All out-going cars had to pause at the sidewalk to check passing traffic before pulling into the flow of cars on Colfax. When a white Mitsubishi SUV paused I looked through the passenger window and saw that it was Ghoulie Chen. I couldn't believe CBS makes that woman drive her own car! She had a cell phone to her ear but she looked over at us and returned our wave and smiled. Then someone came along who had a BB I.D. badge around his neck. I asked "Is Brittany still in there?" "Yes." "Will she come out of this gate?" "Yes, the studio's just over there [pointing over his left shoulder]. She'll be in a black stretch limousine." At 6:40, a limousine paused at the sidewalk and we yelled Britt's name. The window rolled down and in the back seat was Britt's mother, grandmother and the pal she hugged when she walked into the studio, the latter person aiming a CamCorder at us. "Where's Brittany?" She's still inside, they said. We waved goodbye and continued our vigil. Shortly after 7:00 a second limousine headed toward the sidewalk. While waiting, I had coached the four others to wave their portable cameras at the car to get Brittany to roll down the window. As the car drew near we started the "Brittany, Brittany" chant. She rolled down the window and waved and the car immediately turned right and went about 40 yards before stopping at the red light at Ventura Blvd. Fortunately for us, that light takes an eternity to turn green! I had warned the others this might happen and to be ready to run to the car. It took us just a few seconds to reach Britt's window, which she rolled all the way down. All I said to her was, "George's family manipulated the vote! They're the ones behind your getting voted out!" The others were getting her autograph and having their picture taken with her (as I said, it's a really long red light). The limo driver got out of the car and said, "Folks, I'm going to have to drive away as soon as the light turns green." About 30 seconds later, it did. I had time to extend my hand through the open window and wish her well and shake her hand. I couldn't help adding, "The ratings are REALLY going to go down NOW..." We rushed back to the sidewalk to avoid getting hit by the surrounding cars. People on the sidewalk asked "Who was that?" The predictable blank looks followed when we identified our fallen BB contestant. She looks MUCH better in person than she ever did on the show. She seemed in good spirits and appeared to enjoy the pack of fans, MINISCULE though the pack was. No sign of upset feelings or melancholia. So Brit-haters, rejoice. And to us George-haters, I think we're stuck with this clown until the final 3 finale. |
Laylas | Wednesday, August 30, 2000 - 11:41 pm  Thanks for the update on Brit. Happy to hear that she seemed in good spirits. |
Spaga | Wednesday, August 30, 2000 - 11:46 pm  THANKS FOR SHARING THAT. That was great. Wish you couldn't gotten her autograph - betcha she'll be a star some day. (Maybe Jamie could be her makeup girl.) |
Karie | Wednesday, August 30, 2000 - 11:48 pm  Thanks for the update Ric. I was hoping you'd give us an update. I was so upset that Britt had to leave the way she did! I wasn't a big fan of her, but a bigger fan of getting rid of George. So did Britt say anything when you mentioned the vote manipulation?? |
Suzanne | Wednesday, August 30, 2000 - 11:49 pm  Thanks,Ric. |
Ricmunoz | Wednesday, August 30, 2000 - 11:59 pm  Karie: No, she didn't because she busy signing the autographs and posing for the photos. I didn't know it at the time, but, as we saw on the broadcast, Britt's mom had already told her about the vote manipulation during their initial reunion embrace. Thanks, all, for acknowledging my report--sorry it was so monstrously long! |
Tootseug | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:01 am  What a great story Ric! Am really glad to hear here spirits were good. Did she react at all to the information you gave here about George's family getting her the boot? If so, what did she say? or was she too busy signing those other people's autographs. I think she'll do great with a career in entertainment. Think she'll beat Jamie, hands down. Might be nip and tuck with Eddie though. He could be the next Joe Pine! I am glad you got this opportunity. Makes me feel alittle better that you saw here, and her spirits were good. Thanks alot for sharing with up Ric! |
Karie | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:07 am  Thanks again for sharing! Let's hope she sends a message plane flying soon |
Sunflowr | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:13 am  That's ok, about your report being long. I loooved it. I wish I had been there. I was watching on the feed at 5. P.S: Ricmunoz.. I have a personal question to ask you, so can you please give me your e-mail address or else write me and give to me personally if you prefer. I am at: sunflowr@netport.com thanks.  |
Green | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:16 am  Awesome stealthing and sleuthing, Ricmunoz! It's fun to navigate and breach `security'! That was a nice touch how Julie Chen waved to y'all too. |
Katie | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:19 am  Thanks Ric! I always wondered what happened next and now I know about one of them at least. |
Teecee | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:21 am  Thanks for sharing your adventure with us Ricmunoz! I wonder if CBS was so adamant about the HGs NOT coming outside b/c they didn't want to pay more extras to stand outside the house :p |
Bigbrofan | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:24 am  Ric!! What a great report! I felt like I was there with you! I cried when she left so it was so nice to hear that she was in good spirits. I wonder when it will sink in that she was voted out unfairly. I feel badl for her, as I think she had a good shot at being in the final few in the house. It's really too bad it had to happen that way. I loved your report and hope if you go to more you'll keep us posted like that again! |
Scoobettenq | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:25 am  Glad to know she's happy and doing ok. Though I voted for her and I don't care for her much, I was afraid she'd be a real basketcase upon leaving. It was good to see her smiling and happy to see her family and her friend. She seemed to have a good perspective on all of it - she took it better than those in the house did, that's for sure. |
Sunflowr | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:35 am  Seriously though.. why was it that this time the HG's didn't come out?? |
Winnie | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:45 am  Sunflowr - The HG's were warned specifically NOT to go outside. The have been told this before, but ignored it and gone out anyway...BB said there would be serious consequences if they did it this time. They were upset, since they wanted to see the banished person reunite with their loved one(s) outside the gate, but they complied. |
Sunflowr | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 12:52 am  Wow.. I didn't know that. Thanks for the info, Winnie. |
Snogrl | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 01:50 am  Ric - you ROCK!!!!!!! I love your attention to details Felt like I was there. Thank you. |
Zlfd | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 04:42 am  Nice post! I am glad Britt seemed in good spirits. |
Egbok77 | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 04:48 am  Ric - I am the biggest baby in the world!! I was very upset (and yes, cried) when Brittany was the banished HG. I woke up at 3:30am PST wondering how she was doing, so I logged on and started reading the posts. I came across your post and I've got to tell you how great it was to read about your Brittany encounter!! You did a wonderful job describing your experience!! I am so glad that you went for it and got all the way to the gate. It's good knowing that Brittany was having a good time. And yes, I feel much better now!! I wish her the best. |
Webrover9 | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 04:56 am  Thanks Ric, your description put me right there! I thought she handled the whole thing like a champ! |
Casper | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 05:02 am  Hey Ricmunoz---Saw your post on another BBBoard and how you saying you're heading down to see george off on his marry little way. And there was also a spoiler on there and you were like going "noway" it can't be britt. And trustme-- my jaw hit the floor and tears fell when i saw Jamies face when she read the banished person name. (to herself). I knew then it was true. Thanks for this post Ricmunoz. I too wish her the best. You cRaZy gIrL. BRITTANY ROCKED THE HOUSE! |
Fruitbat | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 05:09 am  Thanks Ric. I cried when I heard too. I'll bet she will remain in good spirits knowing she was voted out with this plot. I assume her Mother and friend were filling her in rapid fire in the limo! I agree, she has a shinning future. Her interview with Julie was stellar. |
Twiggyish | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 05:14 am  I am adding my thanks too. Your description made it feel like we were all there with you. Too bad it couldn't have been George leaving. At least Brit knows there are people out there who wish her well. |
Geodesy | Thursday, August 31, 2000 - 05:30 am  <jumps on the bandwagon> Great job, Ric! I'm so disgusted with how CBS handled this banishment round that I'll probably stop watching. <sigh> Back to waiting for SII... |
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