Posted on 09/14/2001 9:27:52 AM PDT by Methos8
'Big Brother' Participants in Dark
By PAUL GEITNER, Associated Press Writer
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Many people can't get enough news about the terrorist attacks in the United States, but a few are getting absolutely none: those locked up in ``Big Brother'' houses.
Producers of versions of the reality-TV show running in Belgium, Denmark and South Africa have decided to stick to their rule forbidding participants from learning about anything outside the house.
Only the Netherlands, where the show originated, made an exception for the 18 contestants in the Dutch house.
``This is such a great disaster, it has so much influence on society, that we decided to break the rules and tell people,'' said Endemol Netherlands spokeswoman Sammy Saal. ``They have a right to know what happened.''
But in Belgium, a psychologist for the ``Big Brother'' producers advised against letting the 12 people in the house know, said Kristina Vanhaute, spokeswoman for Belgium's Kanaal 2.
``It's one of the basic themes in 'Big Brother' that they have no contact with what is happening outside of the house,'' she said. ``If you show them these images, you immediately create a panic situation because they won't know how things will evolve.''
She said the producers checked with contestants' families to make sure that no one inside the house had ties to victims of the attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
As contestants are voted off the show, which began Sept. 3 in Belgium and runs until mid-December, they will be informed about the attacks by a psychologist, she said.
``Big Brother'' in South Africa also checked with families before deciding not to tell their contestants. However, producers said they would probably inform the house if the aftermath were to turn into a war during the 87 days the contestants have left.
Eric Engesgaard, spokesman for the Danish show, said the producers there also had concern about crossing a line, given the emotional impact of the images.
``There could be some sensationalism in breaking our promise and informing the people inside the house to see how they react,'' he said.
Saal said an episode showing how the Dutch residents, who have been in the house for a week, reacted to the news would be edited and broadcast ``in the coming days.''
No one decided to leave because of the news, she said, although one did drop out for other ``personal reasons,'' she said.
No updates on the events in the United States are planned.
``They now know what happened and that's it,'' she said. ``If they really want to know what happens next, they will have to leave the house.''
The show, versions of which have been produced around the world, involves locking participants in a large house and recording their activities. Viewers vote on which candidate must leave the house each week. The last one to leave the house wins a cash prize.
But the rest of me just shakes my head disgustedly. Oh well, what should I expect from TV producers? Talk about an inflated opinion of you self worth. Who gives a f*ck about holding true to the premise of your show? Be a human first - who's to say these people don't know a victim?
"Big Brother" may be watching, but I won't be....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.