BBFC in the LIVE Audience !!

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Jombie

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 11:22 am Click here to edit this post

Hello there !!! The BB Live taping was AWESOME!!

You must arrive early - at 4:00 PM...and you go through standard security checkpoints to pick up your tickets...then you wait for a bit in the line while they check in the 'special' guests...

Then, they seat you in an audience spot of chairs and some padded seats in mini bleachers on the other side..the studio is FILLED with monitors each showing a different camera angle, and each labeled with their shown location ("Living Room 8", etc.) HUGE screens sit on either side of the VERY small studio...the tiny corner they use must be only be 1/8 of the building...

Of course the place is abuzz with crew, each wearing their special orange wristband to identify their access level...And everyone, from the camera guys, to the way lowly PA (his job - no kidding - was to hold Julie's house access button for her, and he was having trouble doing that...) was in WAIT mode, just hanging around...

The Stage manager spoke to the audience and thanked them for being there for this special live Saturday taping...He asked for 'fast' applause, because it sounds better on TV... and "Can we try it right now - Good, that's wonderful"

Dr. Drew was hanging out over on the side, keeping quiet, and to himself...The AOL Lady came in , had her mic put on and spent the rest of the time walking around in circles, like a space cadet...

Julie Chen surfaced, and after asking them to make some script changes for her, came out to the front and they did a run-through of the opening.
She is so painfully thin, I felt like feeding her on the spot...BUT she is also WAY less offensive in person than on TV...she was dressed to the hilt in a purple leather skirt, silk blouse and lavender ostrich pumps and a gorgeous sparkly bracelet...she REALLY looked good, but too thin.

She was kinda funny, watching the live feeds, waiting as the HGs prepared and gathered in the Living Room...Jamie was helping George with his space robe fashioned out of the bedspread...

Julie asked the director if she should call them in to the Living Room as the LIVE countdown started... just then Josh, then Curtis, and finally Eddie slipped into the room right at the wire...

"In 5 seconds...4...3..." [Theme Music UP]

After that, it's pretty much what you see on TV, Julie greeting them and telling them the terms of this particular show - phone call, live noms, etc.

JOMBIE [To Camera] "When we return...I'll tell you more about the 'equal' phone call, and the rest of the show, we'll be right back..."

Frome2u

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 12:51 pm Click here to edit this post

Thanks for the insight, Jombie. I'm looking forward to hearing the rest :)

Jombie

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 02:09 pm Click here to edit this post

We're back...OK, it's time for the phone call... Julie deftly explained the rules, and it's on...you could feel the anticipation from the crew as well as the audience, since it was the first time they had done this type of thing 'live'...

Curtis was genuine and sweet to his mom and very aware of the time ticking on the little monitor in front of him...Eddie's mom was so cute with "I'm gonna wash your mouth out with soap" in her darling NY accent...and when George hung up on Theresa, I thought I was gonna fall on the floor laughing !!! The audience erupted at that point, and everyone had a terrific laugh together!!!

Now, in every life a little rain must fall, and the next phone call, was the wet blanket that dampened the entire room...Back in a moment.

Jombie

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 05:28 pm Click here to edit this post

I wanted to examine the tape of the show to obtain my exact facts regarding actual time taken...

OK, so Jamie jumps into the room, and gets on the phone with her now-beloved "mommy" - who fills her in on all the info that Jamie has been wondering about out loud this week...Yes, you're still Miss Washington, Yes, you have a fan site, Yes, we had a fan party at Planet Hollywood for you...(Jamie's makes face of delight) and the clock just keeps on ticking...

This from a girl who moments earlier said "Oh, each call is gonna be like 20 seconds" The panic in the audience was palpable...is she gonna continue to use all the rest of the time by herself??? Does she even remember that Josh is left?? She immediately answers my thought with - 'We still have time and I'm gonna give Josh extra...'

Jamie had already used MORE than her fair share of time, and earlier when Julie told them the rules, she specifically told them...EQUAL time...the audience was whispering amongst themselves about this obvious violation, and it was all the more egregious when it became apparent during the next call that Joshua surely could've used those precious extra seconds during his telephone call to his family...he among the guests has truly had NO outside contact...

When we come back, we'll discuss the live nominations, and we'll find out what the crew members think of the HGs...back in a moment.

Kitt

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 05:58 pm Click here to edit this post

Thanks Jombie, I'm really enjoying your account!

Jana

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 07:02 pm Click here to edit this post

JOMBIE RULES!!!!!

Jombie

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 08:03 pm Click here to edit this post

OK, we're back with more from the LIVE BB taping...the unsung heroes...

We all have seen Julie, Dr. Drew, and the AOL Lady on the show, but there are SO many other people in the background and around the edges, the supporting players, if you will - you just might be suprised how many eggs it takes to make the BB omelet...

The first immediate ring of crew around the audience, of course, are the cameras and their operators. There are at least 3 large cameras, one smaller videocam, and one camera on a short crane, to get the sweeping audience shots...

All the cameras have a TelePrompTer attached to them...this is a system which displays a video of the script which Julie reads...the TelePrompTer system itself is all gismo'd up like a mirror, so she actually reads a REFLECTION of the display...
There is even a mini monitor with a TelePrompTer on the side of the huge video screen that Julie communicates to the HGs with...they have her covered from all angles!!!

Dashing from camera to camera is the Stage Manager, pointing the way, counting down to come back from the commercials, and sometimes giving Julie her cues while also addressing the audience - "We need some applause in 7 seconds..." He was really cool and on the ball, making certain everything went like clockwork.

In the not too far distance was the wardrobe lady, who had previously photographed everyone in their full regalia for continuity purposes; the hair guy, who looked like a grungy surfer and mostly held Julie's bangs out of the way while the make-up girl touched up the makeup on her forehead...although he DID spray hairspray once on Julie, and ran out of camera range at the last minute...

Julie's makeup girl looked normal, but AOL's makeup lady was wild!!! She had CRAZY Bozo-red hair, and it was all curly and flying - kinda like Carrot Top's sister !!(Hey, the only thing flaming about that remark was the COLOR, baby!!)

Then on the complete outskirts were a couple of "suits" dressed in their best Saturday casual, some security guys, a couple of assistants, a Fire Marshall, a few more PA's and Lighting guys...

Behind the bleachers were the technicians, video and audio - that's what it seemed like...they mostly sat the entire time watching a monitor in front of them...or pouring over the script and making sure they started the clips on time...

Before the show, as I said before, George and the others were busy getting ready...For some reason, George had begun putting make-up on his face and this drew laughter from the camera guys and other crew..."He's one odd dude", said one, as he walked away shaking his head..."I don't know if he's gonna make it..."

We'll continue in just a moment...

Bunny

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 08:20 pm Click here to edit this post

Go jombie go! hurry, hurry. I can't stand it!
You are soo good.

Jana

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 08:34 pm Click here to edit this post

Jombie! keep it coming baby! almost bedtime for me and the suspense is KILLING me! (you are EXCELLENT at drawing the suspense out!)....thanks again!!!!

Frome2u

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 09:54 pm Click here to edit this post

Jombie, where are you? The suspense is killing me :)

Bmwidows

Sunday, September 17, 2000 - 09:57 pm Click here to edit this post

I can't believe this is happening. JOMBIE !!!! I feel the way i felt when george was preparing his meeting at 10:00 sharp and when 10:00 oclock came around, Chicken cams on all feeds.!!!! Jombie why are you doing this to us???

Jombie

Monday, September 18, 2000 - 08:08 am Click here to edit this post

Good morning...we're back...

Now, we are at commercial during the taping, and the BB crew is busily preparing for the guest segments featuring Dr. Drew and the AOL Lady... The set guys who have also been hanging out around the room drag out a large counter piece with a section of it hinged to open up, and they place it around the column in the center of the room...add chairs and Dr Drew, and there you are...instant interview area!!

You cannot hear Julie interview Dr Drew from the audience, for some reason he's hooked into his own sound area, and I guess for feedback purposes, it doesn't get played in the room...

Same with the AOL lady, only she's so excited and animated, some of her superlatives manage to sneak through the soundless air..."AOL site is number one - blah, blah, blah..." I was thinking that they must've programmed their counters like the banish George site. Besides we all know it's the BBFC members who are using it for the live feeds!

Our beloved BBFC site is TRULY #1 and has been the entire time...in all actuality!!!

But I digress: When the interviews are finished the AOL lady remains in her seat until they are clear to commercial and WOOSH - like a bat out of hell, she disappears, never to be seen again...

During the commercials, Julie's just strolling around, talking to audience members, nothing big - just small talk, but she at least warmly made contact with people and did not walk around with any type of attitude...I'm saying again she was really different in person, it's not really her fault that she doesn't come across well on TV...

Oh yeah, the interviews while seemingly scripted are also seemingly done on the fly...Julie and the AOL lady have cards with "topics" on them , or some kind of outline, but they are not verbatim scripts...

The large counter piece is then quickly disassembled and taken away back to it's location to the side of the room where it will remain off camera for the rest of the taping...

We will return this evening to discuss the LIVE nominations, and the voice in the Red Room... Please stay tuned...

Bunny

Monday, September 18, 2000 - 09:24 am Click here to edit this post

Ah, MAN, we got to wait till tonight? this is worse than reading a Stephen King book, that you can't put down. Only now, I have to wait for Jombie. Ok girl, you got me hanging on the edge of my seat.

Judy

Monday, September 18, 2000 - 09:55 am Click here to edit this post

Jombie - you are the best!! Oh my god just as I typed that - I remembered you werein my dream last night!! NO SHIT!

I was in the back area of a huge apartment complex and it was pitch black - all lights were out (maybe it was because I went to bed thinking we would loose power because of the Tropical Storm headed our way). Anyway I was terrified and finally made my way to a wooden gate and just as I opened it I sensed someone standing there - I screamed out "Who is it""!!" "It's Jombie" came the reply and I fell into you're arms competely relieved!!!

Isn't that CRAZY!! I also think it had a lot to do with seeing the picture of the TP Angels too!!

:):):):)I guess you really are my Hero:):):):):)

Ccc

Monday, September 18, 2000 - 09:19 pm Click here to edit this post

We're really looking forward to your next installment. Not rushing you....just letting you know we ARE interested. :)

Voyeur

Monday, September 18, 2000 - 09:22 pm Click here to edit this post

I don't think I'm the only one who tries to keep an outside feed up at all times, not daring to do anything too far away from the computer for fear of missing "angel action".

I guess I hope that Jombie is sneaking up on the BB compound right now.

Jombie

Monday, September 18, 2000 - 11:40 pm Click here to edit this post

We're back...the most special aspect of this first Live Saturday show, was the interesting addition of holding the nominations "Live" as well...

Allowing 1 minute for each of the houseguests to announce their votes and offer an explanation proved to be the perfect amount of time to get just the names and the facts...

But first, a word about Jamie's paramour "Bob"...

In the BB world, for Jamie, the name "Bob" has come to mean 'any dude that happens to be there' -kinda in the same way that "John" is to a hooker...

It doesn't seem to matter WHICH of the "Bobs" is around at the time, because Jamie will dance for and flirt with them all...I don't know if any of the studio camera guys were "Bobs", but they sure were laughing their asses off !!! It was like their own private joke...One camera guy said "Boo!" when she looked right up to the glass...

Now, I have spoken about almost everything EXCEPT the voice in the RR...the only entity that didn't seem to belong there and the one entity who certainly didn't seem to want to be there...

It was this voice, disembodied and distant, whose very presence seems to bring out the worst in the HGs - I had never heard it in person before that day, and now, during the nominations, here it was again, just like it was in during their phone calls...

The mystery voice, the verbal representation of BB - was intruding, impatient and tainted with disdain...and not even in a majestic way...in one fell swoop, I actualized that BB is just an overworked, exasperated and average, man-on-the-street-regular-Joe guy, just doing what he obviously considers to be his God-forsaken job...

For me, the moment was tantamount to Toto pulling the curtain and exposing the wizard...

Jombie

Tuesday, September 19, 2000 - 12:02 am Click here to edit this post

Earlier during the phone calls, and now during the nominations in the RR, the marginally irritated voice of BB hurried the male HGs, consistently advising each one of the them about their limited amount of time...1 min.

With each question BB asked, it's almost as if you can visibly see each HG flinch and rear back as a molecular reaction to the negative vibe...

"I'm hurrying, Bro..." - "No, it had nothing to do with with what Brittany said..." - "Yeah, I voted Eddie 4 times..." - "I got no strategy, Chickenman's brain is toast, man..." -and then, here she comes..."I have a minute, right?...I just want the public to know some things...

OPINION WARNING: Jamie is so shallow, if she were a pool of water, you couldn't drown in her...

When we come back, we'll look at how they add up the nominations and prepare the graphics in such short time...

Fruitbat

Tuesday, September 19, 2000 - 09:31 am Click here to edit this post

OK Jombie...part of the success of your next mission depends on me. I am not above blackmail. We want the rest of the story and we want it now............or..........more later.........

Marysafan

Tuesday, September 19, 2000 - 09:45 am Click here to edit this post

Okay...I am not sure if this is the place to say this...but I can't tell you how much some of the posters on this board (Jombie and Fruitbat for example)have added to the experience of Big Brother...and like our favorite house guests...how much we are going to miss you all when this is over.

We have developed a virtual community here and even though there are those that we would like to banish (or at least nominate) the end result is that I am going to miss coming to this place everyday.

Thank you all who have contributed to this incredible summer...it has been a fantastic journey....in a world that is fraught with cynicism and cruelty,...you make me laugh!

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!

Fruitbat

Tuesday, September 19, 2000 - 11:08 am Click here to edit this post

Aw gosh, thanks. :)

Bunny

Tuesday, September 19, 2000 - 11:41 am Click here to edit this post

Ah, MAN! just when I was getting into the story (almost better than a stephen King book)Marysafan comes in and gives me a trickle of tear on my cheek. Darn it all. she is so right. Whatever are we all going to do? It has been so much fun, I am going to miss you ALL :(
But now, back to our story...I suppose I have to wait all day for, but well worth it. Jombie is going to get a job writting a book faster than JaMe becoming an actress.:)

Fruitbat

Tuesday, September 19, 2000 - 02:29 pm Click here to edit this post

Jombie may need to be punished.

Jombie

Tuesday, September 19, 2000 - 06:23 pm Click here to edit this post

Patience is a virtue my darlings...

Bunny

Tuesday, September 19, 2000 - 07:08 pm Click here to edit this post

JOMBIE, JOMBIE,JOMBIE, JOMBIE, JOMBIE:):):):)
OK< I have waited long enough, want this done before the next live show, which is tomorrow!
and to be done before you angels do it again. Then we will have a whole new story.
OK, now come on JOMBIE, PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE????

Jombie

Tuesday, September 19, 2000 - 11:47 pm Click here to edit this post

We're back...as the HG's finished their first round of live nominations there was much to be done...first, the Stage Manager needed to transfer all the information about the vote totals to the index cards that Julie reads from...
and the video technicians needed to quickly assemble the graphics which feature the marked houseguests that is projected onto the large screen...so while we waited...

The clips of Eddie's basketball team interspersed with Eddie in the house were priceless...his teammates clearly missed him and and all freely admitted the way Eddie is in the house is exactly the same as how they know him to be...and that he has a big heart...a diamond in the rough, to be sure...

Then, they show a clip of a BB type of house where the people who live there are actually in front of crowds of live people...24/7...you can literally press your nose up against the glass and look in at them, and vice versa!!! They are very carny-like and eat only food provided by the fair where this all takes place...they vote each other out and everything...

OK, the Stage Manager and Julie finish writing up the cards, and break out of their huddle...it's time to announce the results...

As she goes through the marked for banishment roll-call, it becomes more and more apparent that George has garnered a vote from EACH of his housemates...his reaction to this revelation was prolonged hysteria and frantic chopping...

At one point, he got up from the table to get an even bigger knife, which he waved about wildly as he continued his rantings about the outcome of the vote...of course, he was laughing maniacally the entire time, and no matter how many times Curtis tried to change the subject - sometimes not so subltly - George continued right along... He exploded in a booming voice, "WHO VOTED FOR ME???" and immediately thereafter erupted into peals of silly schoolboy laughter...

It continued for an almost unbearable amount of time, and finally Julie, standing in front of the giant screen showing Curtis, Eddie, George and Jamie along with the phone number for the banishment line, closed the show by making some really funny comment about George not being too upset, is he? She also said she would see us LIVE again Wednesday for the banishment. "Goodnight everybody".

Oh Oh, now they throw the feed back to Mr. Chicken and he's still cackling and crowing about these 4 votes..."I got 4 votes...I got 4 votes... heeheeheeheeheeheehee" He went on - "I don't know no strategy...heeheeheeheeheehehee" The audience had thought it was funny at first, but soon they became obviously uncomfortable...They FINALLY cut out, fade to black, and the taping was over.

Julie hung out for a very few moments, and went backstage...the camera guys pulled their cameras away from the seats and bleachers so the audience could get out...

The large lights are turned off and the studio door that we see the HGs come into the studio by is opened...sunlight floods the room as we all get up and gather our things to prepare for our exit...Security guys come forward and stand in the center of the room to protect the inner sanctum of backstage from any possible invasion...and, acting almost as sheepdogs, round up the audience and headithem out the door...

You cannot take pictures while you are in the studio, but when you get out, you can take a picture standing by the Big Brother door...(if you hurry!)

When you are finished with that, you start the long hike back to parking - passing the BB compound on the way...the video technicians and other BB workers hurry back to the house where they will most likely be editing a show for Monday...

Bye Julie...Bye HGs...Bye BB...I had a lot of fun at the taping...See you LIVE on Wednesday for the banishment... or will I? Stay tuned for the next episode... Bye for now, Jombie

Jombie

Wednesday, September 20, 2000 - 12:04 am Click here to edit this post

P.S. For all of those who are interested, I left out the part where they showed the clip about that little town adopting Mr. Chicken, because I was raised to believe that if you can't say anything nice...don't say anything at all...:)

Abitafan

Wednesday, September 20, 2000 - 12:42 am Click here to edit this post

Thanks, Jombie! Really interesting to get a "behind the scenes" look at the show. You did an excellent job of reporting. Great details!

Fruitbat

Wednesday, September 20, 2000 - 04:26 am Click here to edit this post

Great Jombie, thanks.

Judy

Wednesday, September 20, 2000 - 04:50 am Click here to edit this post

In my best Ralph Kramdon voice..."Jombie, You're the greatest!"

Rod

Wednesday, September 20, 2000 - 10:22 am Click here to edit this post

Jombie, Thanks for a great thread on the taping of a BB live show! It was great to read what happens.

Check out the "outside the house" section to see Cassandra's cousin's take on her banishment show..ie he tells how the family are treated etc during the show.Where they are taken. What they see. He also tells of a meeting with Karen at the banishment show, that's relatively amusing.

Bunny

Wednesday, September 20, 2000 - 11:41 am Click here to edit this post

Thanks Jombie, I can now take it easy for awhile, until the next installment. Sure was a lot of fun, you had us all at the edge of our seats.