Sunday, July 02, 2006
GAME OVER, ENDEMOL
An outbreak of unpleasantness on reality show Big Brother:
Ashley and John have been unceremoniously escorted from the Big Brother house after what can be described as feral - if not illegal - behaviour.
The producers of the show say only that the pair have been evicted over a “serious incident” but early morning viewers have been more graphic.
The producers - already under fire over Big Brother: Adults Only - are in damage control, shutting down the official Big Brother forums.
Damage control continues:
Producers Endemol Southern Star refused to say what the incident was ...
But details of the incident are already widely known; hit the “graphic” link above. Opposition leader Kim Beazley:
“If my advice is worth anything to the folk who run Channel 10, and how they choose to conduct themselves is their business, I’d say ‘make this Big Brother the last’,” he said.
Queensland Labor premier Peter Beattie doesn’t agree:
Queensland taxpayers will continue investing in the production of Big Brother, despite the program’s latest controversy ...
State Premier Peter Beattie says the financial incentive has helped secure lighting and camera jobs on the Gold Coast.
"We do not have enough television production in this country,” he said.
"And frankly I’m sick of the sort of American crap we get on our television every night and I don’t mind seeing a little bit of Australian rubbish - it can’t be any worse than the sort of American rubbish we see.”
Good call, Pete. Let’s remove West Wing from the ABC! Internet forums are running hot, while Big Brother now has viewers from outside the target demographic:
Footage of an incident which led to the removal of two contestants in the reality television show Big Brother will be reviewed by Queensland police, the Federal Government said today.
UPDATE. No charges: “A Queensland police spokesman says there is insufficient evidence at this stage for any criminal investigation.”
UPDATE II. A description of events.