"I think one always kind of wonders, when one's writing, who'll be reading what you have to say. I wondered if any of the Big Brother 8 House Guests would see, and read me. But I especially wondered what EvelDick would think, and say.
EvelDick himself provided this opportunity the other day.
Many of my early articles were Pro-EvelDick. Many others were not kind at all. Then my editor forwarded a comment from EvelDick to me about my "Fox Reality Really Awards Show" article: "Bonaduci, Fights, Forgiveness & Fairplay.""
"The announcement of the latest ratings win by CBS came on the same day that the company disclosed that it had signed a new long-term contract with its president and CEO, Les Moonves. Although the pact reduces his annual compensation to $3.5 million from $5.9 million over the next four years, it adds incentives tied to the performance of CBS Corp. stock."
"Here it was. A quiet Friday morning and I'm toiling away at work while listening to my favorite podcasts. At the time, I was listening to the latest Reality TV Podcast by Rob and Trevor. Now at the beginning of their latest podcast, they announced that they had interviewed CBS' Big Brother 8 contestant, Jessica Hughbanks and that her interview would be played after their regular show. They kept dropping teasers about something that floored them halfway through the interview. I couldn't wait to hear it!
And so it began at the 59:52 mark in their podcast. OMG!!! Go listen to it yourself if you can immediately! If you can't, I've transcribed that part of the conversation the best that I could below. It's a relatively long read but definitely worth it. You're just not going to believe it. Or perhaps you will."
"HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLO! I have been dying to come and post for the longest time! I was going to wait for my head to stop spinning from all of the great insanity surrounding this experience, but I realized that if I waited for that, I'd be waiting for the rest of my life.
First of all, I'd like to sincerely thank all of you so much for your outpouring of support. The way in which you've embraced me, the show, my role as America's player, my family, etc. has been incredible. This site is absolutely amazing - what a great resource for me to have and it's a real honor to have this sort of tribute to me.
I'm the world's biggest reality TV fan and this opportunity was truly a dream come true (or as I said so many times in the house, "it's a dream come true and my worst nightmare all at once" haha). I never thought that I'd be lucky enough to be selected out of thousands upon thousands of people - it's been fantastic!
I'm wildly back-logged on e-mail/myspace etc., but I'd love to answer some highly anticipated questions or maybe blog about some of the things you guys would like to hear about the most. Long before I came on this show, I was a HUGE fan myself, so I hope I can be as accomodating as humanly possible in showing my appreciation to you all.
Since I know this is one of the hottest topics, let me just say that Jessica and I are doing great. I'm soooooooo gay for her and I love every second with her.
Hopefully I'll be able to stop by more frequently now that the dust is settling a bit. Thank you all so much!
"I've got another Wrap Up Q&A this week and it is with Big Brother 8's Jessica. Jessica was part of the rival twist at the beginning of this season being paired up with Carol. Jessica was a two time head of household winner and made it to the final six before being evicted. Jessica and Eric, who was America's Player, started a romance in the house that has continued on outside of the house. Jessica and Eric were my favorites of the houseguests this season and I cheered for her and Eric all season. So, this was a pleasure to have her answer the questions for the Wrap Up. A huge thank you to Jessica for responding and taking the time to answer!!"
"Ok, I just read a link to Adrianne Curry's blog where she seems to be taking "credit" for the mess at the Fox Reality Awards show.
Let me start off by saying that I met Adrianne and she was cool as fuck, but wtf with taking credit for the bullshit that happened on stage. It was her fault? Come on....
From my perspective.....
Fairplay came up to me and told me that he was presenting the award for Best Entertainer of the Year and that I was going to be winning it. He told me he wanted to jump on me and act like he was humping me, as part of some sort of schtick he wanted to do. He asked me to catch him. I said fine, I would....
Danny had no fucking business getting on the stage. Now if she feels like she egged him on, fine. But Danny was leaving the stage when Fairplay tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around and Fairplay jumped on him and did his humping deal. Danny threw him over his head, fucking asshole thing to do. They had both been drinking, because of a power outage that lasted over an hour and an open bar... well, I am assuming it was alcohol anyhow. And what Fairplay did was harmless. What Danny did was fucking bullshit.
So, I don't understand Adrianne's blog at all.
I guess to her credit she posted an edit that said she was drunk when she wrote it. And mentioned me and something about the set up at the end.
I do want to say, like I did in the beginning.... I thought she was cool, to me, anyhow.
If she wants to talk about this thing, I am more than willing to. Maybe she just is reading way more into a few words she said than what was really going on. Who the fuck knows........
Nick and Dani..
They are driving back from Minnesota as I write this, well probly in a hotel this late. They are taking the northern route and taking in the sites like Mt. Rushmore. I am happy for them. Yes, I like Nick... just not in a gay way, lol. Don't ask me about her old boyfriend, I don't know shit and don't care. And all I have to say is it was just a boyfriend, not a husband. And BEFORE she moved into the Big Brother house, the lease on their place was up. It was planned that her stuff would be put in storage and he was moving back in with his parents.
Daniele text messaged me today and apologized for some of the things said on the show, which meant a lot to me. Not so much did the things said bother or hurt me... her saying she was sorry for them just meant so much. She said that she is happy with where our relationship is and she wants it to get better. She also asked if we could take a trip to NYC together soon. I will be looking forward to the trip.
More radio interviews today and tomorrow. Lots of other shit going on. LA Ink is on, just getting the date soon.
That's the bullshit of the day in the life of EvelDick.
Are you a "Big Brother" fan? Could you succeed on that reality show?
Here's your chance. Auditions will be conducted Friday and Saturday at the Southern Women's Show at the Orange County Convention Center.
The times: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What to do beforehand?
You can log on to www.Local6.com -- the Web site for CBS affiliate WKMG-Channel 6 -- for more information.
The station urges hopefuls to download the application, fill it out and read the rules before arriving at the convention center. This will save you a lot of time, WKMG warns.
Auditions will be in the West Concourse. Contestants cannot line up before 5:30 a.m. both mornings. They will be kept near the Ashley Furniture booth, which will be near the main entrance.
Here's another important bit: Each contestant receives a comp ticket to the Southern Women's Show. Anyone accompanying a "Big Brother" hopeful must buy a show ticket."
"What are your plans for the future? Currently I am home with the family and relaxing, But I’m working on Dolphincrash. Getting the web site up and running. Should be up this week and the clothing line debut is for the 28th of October. I can’t wait to get dolphincrash.com up and running, I’m sure there are a lot of fans that want the clothes."
"In recent years, producers and networks have increasingly pushed the boundaries of television voyeurism in search of another ratings hit.
At times, this has proved problematic for television networks. There have been several lawsuits related to shows like “Big Brother” and more recently, CBS found itself facing accusations that it had created dangerous working conditions for children in its reality program “Kid Nation,” in which children aged 8 to 15 toiled in the New Mexico desert to build a working society on their own.
...
To make a case for negligence, legal experts said, the accusing party would need to prove that the reality program created a situation that put its subjects in jeopardy. A “Big Brother” cast member (Krista Stegall) sued CBS, for example, in 2002 after another cast member with a criminal record held a knife to her throat. CBS settled the case for an undisclosed amount."
"Where do things stand with Eric? Eric and I are dating. I am anxiously awaiting his first trip to Kansas.
Are you back in school? I had to take this semester off because Big Brother lasted too far into the school semester for me to attend this fall. I will be back at Wichita State starting in January 2008."
"Reality TV has bimbos, bugs, battles and now its own honors: the Reality Remix Really Awards, at which Waldorf's Jameka Cameron won for "best moment of prayer."
"I think it's a category that was just added," says Cameron. "But I'll take it." "
Backcountry snowboarding where only helicopters can reach the summit, ice climbing some of the most difficult routes in existence, jumping out of a plane to skydive to the ground below. Weather impacts them all, and if these are viewers’ normal weekend hobbies or if they just want to experience the vicarious thrills of these exciting activities, the new HD lineup from The Weather Channel (TWC) is made for them.
The second season of Epic Conditions features those perfect moments when the right weather creates dynamic sports opportunities, and a new series, Weatherventures, travels to the most dramatic climates in North America to showcase playgrounds of all types. Starting October 1, the two series will air every weeknight from 7-8 p.m. ET and will re-air in the 11 p.m.-12 a.m. ET hour.
“These series showcase the perfect content for high definition programming,” said Kaye Zusmann, VP of programming strategy and development at TWC. “The dramatic scenic photography and spectacular action will give viewers their daily shot of weather adrenaline.”
Epic Conditions, which will air at 7 p.m. ET, is produced by Warren Miller Productions, known for jaw-dropping visuals in the extreme sports arena. The new episodes follow world class athletes and acclaimed scientists as their worlds converge, wherever “epic conditions” occur.
In another series merging weather, geography and activity, Weatherventures offers viewers a chance to explore the most iconic landscapes in America while learning how weather has shaped them, people have been impacted by them, and nature has adapted to them. Airing at 7:30 p.m. ET and hosted by TWC meteorologist Jeff Mielcarz, the show is sponsored exclusively by Nissan during the month of October. Produced by Horizon Entertainment, Weatherventures will visit the Florida Everglades, Colorado Rockies, Grand Canyon and Catalina Island, among others.
Along with the new shows, The Weather Channel Interactive will re-launch the Epic broadband site at www.weather.com/epic in mid September. The site will include features such as video clips from each episode, some original content and an online episode guide with links to full episodes. Also available on the Epic site will be an interactive map called “Epic Escapes” charting all of the episodes’ locations and their current weather conditions as well as more information on each extreme sport. Weatherventures video will be available on weather.com®. New Epic Conditions episodes on Ouray, CO, ice climbing, Alaska Heli-snowboarding, and freeride mountain biking in Canada, among others, will join in the programming lineup along with exhilarating episodes from last year, including Steamboat skiing, Chesapeake Bay sailing, Hawaii big wave surfing and more.
CONTEST
Win a Weather Channel/Epic Conditions branded raincoat and beanie exactly like the kind that were used on set!
It's over, congratulations to Michelle D.!
(All emails will be deleted after the contest and your email address and real address will not be used for any other purpose. Only winners will be contacted. Contest starts October 1st, 2007, and ends October 5th, 2007. Only one entry per home address permitted.)
· Big Mountain Skiing in Sierra Nevada, California Living up to its name, which is Spanish for Snowy Range, California’s Sierra Nevada receives 450 inches of annual snowfall. Resorts such as Heavenly offer up big mountain skiing with legendary cliffs and chutes. However, epic snowfalls and steep terrain raise the risk of avalanches. One Tahoe local knows this all too well as he survived being buried in an avalanche. (First airing: Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. ET)
· Ice Climbing in Ouray, Colorado Ouray has been nicknamed the “Ice Climbing Capital of North America” in part due to the hugely popular Ouray Ice Park. Aside from this man-made ice climbing playground in downtown Ouray, ice climbers can find even more epic, naturally formed climbs in the surrounding San Juan Range. The 900-foot Stairway to Heaven route is one of the area’s most famous climbs with a moderately difficult WI 4 rating (out of 7). (First airing: Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. ET)
· Surfing in Mavericks, California The legendary paddle-in surf spot known as Mavericks breaks one-half mile off of the coast of Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Surfers use their bare hands to paddle into this fierce wave, which consistently reaches heights of 20 feet during the winter months. Its speed and steepness in addition to its size make Mavericks an exhilarating ride, but also a dangerous one. Cold water, strong currents and sharp rocks are some of the hazards surfers face at Mavericks. In 1994, legendary big wave surfer Mark Foo drowned at Mavericks. (First airing: Thursday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. ET)
· Heli Snowboarding in Valdez, Alaska Some of the most epic snowboarding conditions in the world can be found in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains outside of the port town of Valdez. Positioned along the Gulf of Alaska, the Chugach Mountains receive over 600 inches of high-quality powder snow. These amazing 3,000 to 4,000 vertical runs are only accessible by helicopter. Some of the best snowboarders in the world ride helicopters to the top of these jagged summits to ride acres and acres of untouched powder. (First airing: Monday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. ET)
· Skydiving in Arizona Arizona is home to the largest skydiving center in the world, Skydive Arizona. With over 340 days of prime flying conditions, the desert location offers a perfect drop zone year round. As weather plays a prominent role in their safety, Arizona has suitable conditions where clear skies and low breeze levels occur on a regular basis. Top athletes and novices alike use Arizona as a training ground because of its supreme year-round conditions. (First airing: Friday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. ET)
· Whitewater Kayaking in Montana Montana is home to countless creeks and rivers for world class kayakers to explore. Free-flowing rivers in Montana, such as the Yellowstone, are not controlled by manmade obstructions and rely solely on the weather. There are many hazards, including log jams, huge boulders and floating debris, on Montana’s wild rivers. One mistake could lead to being sucked into holes or swimming in frigid water. (First airing: Monday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. ET)
· Rock Climbing in El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California For many climbers, El Capitan is the ultimate big-wall climb. Located in Yosemite National Park, this 3,000-foot granite monolith tests climbers with dozens of long and difficult routes. Climbing has inherent risks including loose rocks, gear failure and rapidly changing weather conditions. The park service conducts 15-25 climbing rescues out of more than 100 climbing accidents in Yosemite each year. (First airing: Monday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. ET)
· Mountain Biking in Whistler, Canada In the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Whistler Mountain is home to one of the first – and best – mountain bike parks in the world. British Columbia is recognized as the birthplace of “freeriding” – a discipline of mountain biking that combines the skills of downhilling, jumps and stunts. Weather conditions in the North Shore Mountains can vary drastically from the usually mild weather of nearby Vancouver, so mountain bikers must come prepared. (First airing: Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. ET)
· Windsurfing in Hood River, Oregon The Columbia River Gorge has become a mecca for windsurfing, and the town of Hood River is the center of all of the action. With over 30 popular launch sites within minutes of Hood River and a 50-mile stretch of sailable riverfront, it’s a windsurfer’s dream. With daytime temperatures averaging in the mid to upper 80s and water temperatures in the 70s, windsurfing conditions here are ideal. (Air date TBD)
· Kiteboarding in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina Kiteboarding is a water sport that involves using a power kite to pull a rider through the water on a small kiteboard. Kiteboarders are fully dependent on reliable and strong winds, and Cape Hatteras is one of the best places in the country to find such conditions. Cape Hatteras has been noted for its susceptibility to hurricanes, which tempt the most extreme kiteboarders to brave incredible winds generated by impending storms. (Air date TBD)
"Big Brother 8 winner Richard Louis “Evel Dick” Donato and his runner-up daughter Daniele leave WeHo’s Les Deux nightclub on Tuesday after a double date with their respective significant others.
The Donatos left the club hand-in-hand with their dates. Dick looked quite cozy with his girlfriend Reanna Mae.
Daniele, a former Hooters waitress, is still going strong with her Big Brother hook-up Nick, aka Nicholas Starcevic.
For the ultimate Nick and Daniele fans, you can bid your heart out on Danielle’s BB8 duffle bag and Nick’s football shirt that they both wore on the show.
As of this posting, the shirt (autographed by both Daniele and Nick) is up to 47 bids with a hefty $2,000.00 price tag. The bag (autographed by Daniele) is up to 44 bids with a whopping $2,800.00 price tag. Talk about cashing in!"
"For instance Big Brother has had an "All-Star" show. Now, a real Big Brother All-Star show lineup would be Tonya Harding, Mike Tyson, Ron Artest, Pete Rose, John Rocker and Bob Probert. Rose would be hustling, Tyson and Rocker would come to blows, Artest will be Artest and Harding will be plotting how to get the attention on herself."
REALITY PERFORMER OF THE YEAR Adrianne and Chris Knight from "My Fair Brady" Sanjaya from "American Idol" New York from "I Love New York" Len Goodman from "Dancing with the Stars" Evel Dick from "Big Brother 8" Ant from "Celebrity Fit Club"
FAVORITE SHOWMANCE Eric and Jessica from "Big Brother 8" Nate and Jenny Lee from "Beauty and the Geek" Jackie and Rebecca from "Work Out" CT and Diem from "The Real World/Road Rules Challenge" Dr. Will Kirby and Mike "Boogie" Malin from "Dr. 90210" Danielle and Nick from "Big Brother 8"
FAVORITE FIGHT "Chance" Kamal Givens vs. "Mr. Boston" on "I Love New York" Rocky vs. Dreams on "Survivor: Fiji" Sharon Osbourne vs. Piers Morgan on "America's Got Talent" Leilene vs. Pumkin on "Charm School" Evel Dick vs. Jen on "Big Brother 8" Saaphyri v. H-Town on "Flavor of Love 2"
FAVORITE TEARS Jen on "Big Brother 8" Aaron on "Hell's Kitchen" Paula Abdul on "Hey Paula" Amber on "Big Brother 8" Ashley Ferl on "American Idol"
FAVORITE WINNER Tyler and James from "The Amazing Race" Rock from "Hell's Kitchen" Evel Dick from "Big Brother 8" Traci Bingham from "Surreal Life: Fame Game" Yul from "Survivor: Fiji"
FAVORITE VILLAIN Dustin Diamond from "Celebrity Fit Club" Cecille from "Beauty and the Geek" Johnny V from "Scott Baio is 45... And Single" Evel Dick from "Big Brother 8" Renee from "America's Next Top Model" Larissa from "Charm School"
FAVORITE HOTTIE Bridget from "The Girls Next Door" Jen from "Big Brother 8" Brooke from "Hogan Knows Best" JP Calderon from "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" The "Olley" Girls from "Sunset Tan" Bob Harper from "The Biggest Loser"
FAVORITE POTTY MOUTH Chef Gordon Ramsay form "Hell's Kitchen" Dustin Diamond from "Celebrity Fit Club" Evel Dick from "Big Brother 8" Adrianne Curry from "My Fair Brady: We're Getting Married"
AMERICA'S FAVORITE REALITY SHOW "Survivor" "Dancing with the Stars" "American Idol" "America's Got Talent" "Big Brother" "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
FAVORITE MOMENT OF PRAYER Jameeka from "Big Brother 8" Saaphyri from "Charm School" Dog from "Dog The Bounty Hunter" Amber from "Big Brother 8" Sister Patterson from "I Love New York"
FAVORITE COMPETITION PROGRAM "Hell's Kitchen" "Big Brother" "I Love New York" "The Biggest Loser" "So You Think You Can Dance" "Survivor"
"When Big Brother finally ended two weeks ago, the spotlight was naturally on its eventual winner, Dick Donato. But aside from the limelight coming from his somewhat controversial triumph, numerous questions arose surrounding the true nature of his relationship with his daughter and regarding the abuse he heaped profusely on practically all of his fellow houseguests."
"Hey everyone its Jen! Just wanted to let you know that I am home! Finally! :-) Anyways everything is great here; I still have my job (just in case anyone thought I didn't). I have been trying to see my friends, family, etc. I just went to my cousin's b-day party yesterday and saw my whole Dad's side of the family, it was great....I even brought Gigi and Nikko, the kids I part time nanny for. I just wanted to send a mass message out because I have been trying to answer some/all emails, but I just keep getting more and more and I don't have the time...I have really been trying though. I have been getting a lot of request for Jensa Member and I'm Jenuine shirts...I am trying to trademark and produce those right now..I will post it once I get that done...I just have never done anything like that before and I am really busy so it's hard to get them started. Another top note, I am not planning on suing CBS or Big Brother, I realize that what went on with Dick was unacceptable and should not have been allowed, but I am just not that kind of person and on top of that I just don't have the time. I am so glad that I have inspired so many of you women...I think that is awesome, I really am not use to so many women looking up to or even liking me, so it is really cool!! :-) I also want to thank everyone for being supportive and for sending me soooo many positive letters, I love them all....hopefully I will eventually get a chance to read them all. :-) Well I just wanted to send out a mass blog.... so I could explain everything that I am being asked about without instantly replying....Thanks and have a great day! :-) Jen"
"So i thought i would give a run down of my thoughts for the week, forgive me if i run off on a tangent. To be honest the week before i left for the finale i had never been so nervous or scared in my life, yes even more so than the days before entering the house. For a good long minute i even considered not going simply because there were people who i shared this experience with that i would have prefered never to have seen again. As some of you may or may not know there were some very hurtful and untrue things said about me. Also since being the first person out i would tend to be the focus of a good majority of the jokes made within the house. I have never associated myself with people who would do this to me and did not plan to do that now. Maybe i was just afraid my anger would have gotten the best of me and i would have lost in front of Julie Chen and the rest of America Lol. I ultimately decided that i needed to go for those who did want me there and i also needed to get some closure to the whole experience.
The first two days there were absolutely amazing! I had such a great time just hanging out with the other first evicted houseguests and the friends and family they had brought with them. I had the most amount of fun with Joe and Nick. It was so great to spend time with them and not have the stress of being in the house resting on our shoulders. Kail's family was great, i loved meeting her children and I see now why she missed her husband so much (they are perfect together). It was also great to see Mike break out of his shell a little bit, i think he may have been more gorgeous than i remembered from the house.
The day of the show was pretty interesting, it was filled with tons of awkward moments and many things left unsaid. it was so obvious to see who was friends with who and who everyone would be staying in contact with. I had several apologies made and was able to move past the petty, childish events that had occured within the house. There were only 3 people who i chose not to talk with (or just ignore), but i will just let everyone else guess who they might have been. It was so great to FINALLY talk to my girl Jen and tell her how proud I was of her and the way she handled the Dick situation. I had a great time dancing with Dustin at the wrap party, definitely left me with a few memories lol.
I loved also meeting the cast members from previous seasons. Since season 7 was the only season i had watched previously, they were the only ones i got excited about. Janelle and Erica are just as gorgeous as ever. Howie and Chicken George turned out to be exactly like they were on the show, so entertaining and so much fun to chat with. Dance it out HOWIE, dance it out But of course i got the most excited about meeting Marcellas, in case you cant tell by my picture!
Now lets not forget Vincent, son of the notorious Evel Dick. Before the finale we actually talked a little bit in regards to the show, i was the one who informed him that his dad and sister were the final two. Sorry to spoil it for you. I had a great time getting to know him and because of him i can now say there is some good within the Donato clan. JK
Well there is so much more i could write about in regards to the events of the week and so much more i could say about the houseguests from my season (wouldnt you like to know my honest opinions about everyone) but i am just going to leave it at this for now. i have midterms this week so i really should study. For those of you sending me messages, i am so sorry but it will take me a while to respond to everyone. Thanks so much for the support i have gotten, it is the only thing that brought me to the finale. I truely appreciate all the messages and kind words of encouragement i have recieved the past 3 months. take care and god bless"
"Prospero-powered sites topping HitWise's most-visited list include CBS's Big Brother (which holds nearly 30 percent of the total market share of visits) and Pirate Master; and FOX's America's Most Wanted, The Simpsons and So You Think You Can Dance. For its clients, Prospero offers an expanding suite of social media applications and services, including blogs, forums, widgets, wikis and moderation. For example, for CBS's Big Brother 8, Prospero powered the chat that appeared alongside four continuous video feeds from inside the house where the show is produced, allowing viewers to talk with each other while watching."
What does the California prison system have in common with Harvard University? It costs precisely as much to house, feed and guard one prisoner for one year in a California state prison as tuition, meals and housing cost for a student enrolled for one academic year at Harvard. As far as California taxpayers are concerned, it gets even worse. Their prison system is so overcrowded that it’s reached a breaking point. Either the state finds a long-term solution, or the federal courts have warned that they’ll begin ordering the release of inmates, just to ease the crush.
In this two-hour broadcast, Ted Koppel examines how California got to this point and presents an inside view of the crisis through in-depth interviews with inmates, guards and prison officials at California State Prison Solano in Vacaville. KOPPEL ON DISCOVERY: BREAKING POINT premieres on Discovery Channel on Sunday, October 7 at 9 PM (ET/PT).
Designed to accommodate no more than 100,000 inmates, California’s prisons now hold 173,000, each at an annual cost of $43,000. How did things get so out of control? Mandatory sentencing is a big part of the answer. When California voters threw their support behind a get-tough-on-crime bill that came to be known as “three strikes and you’re out,” the state prison system filled up and is now overflowing.
While shooting this latest installment of KOPPEL ON DISCOVERY, Koppel spent a number of days among the general population at Solano. His reporting focuses on the inhabitants of H dorm, where inmates are stacked in triple-deck bunk beds on an old indoor basketball court. Correctional officers are so badly outnumbered that prison officials keep inmates segregated by race and gang affiliation in a desperate effort to avoid friction and maintain control. Even so, Solano still sees three to four race riots a year. Using smuggled cell phones, gang bosses continue running criminal operations on the street from behind prison walls. At the same time, they’re running drug and prostitution rings inside Solano.
Koppel will introduce viewers to many of Solano’s inmates, including Travis Tippets, Joseph Mason and Brian O’Neal. Having completed a 6-year sentence for assault with a deadly weapon, Tippets is being released from Solano and sits for a brief “exit interview” with Koppel. The last time he was paroled, it took Tippets less than a day to get arrested and sent back. Knowing that a third strike could land him back in prison for life, Tippets finds out how hard it is to get a job with no skills and a criminal record. Joseph Mason is a third-striker. He’s been arrested and convicted three times for non-violent burglaries, and he won’t be eligible for parole until 2019; the ultimate irony is that he voted for the Three Strikes Law. Brian O’Neal is also a non-violent repeat offender. He has been to prison 11 times, and nine of those sentences were for violating parole. Koppel’s cameras track O’Neal’s 11th release from prison as his pregnant girlfriend picks him up and the two drive out of Solano. Within weeks, O’Neal is arrested again for violating his parole.
The executive producer of KOPPEL ON DISCOVERY: BREAKING POINT is Tom Bettag. He and Discovery Channel Managing Editor Ted Koppel are joined by a team of some of the best researchers and producers in the industry. Together they are producing a slate of long-form programming exclusively for Discovery Channel that touches on some of the most important events, people and places changing lives today. From field reporting to script writing, every aspect of the series is shaped by Koppel’s 44 years of experience and unparalleled journalistic integrity. Previous KOPPEL ON DISCOVERY broadcasts include THE PRICE OF SECURITY, IRAN: THE MOST DANGEROUS NATION (nominated for an Emmy), OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN’S WAR and LIVING WITH CANCER.
On September 24, Ted Koppel will receive the lifetime achievement award at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards in New York. Koppel and his team also received Emmy nominations for IRAN: THE MOST DANGEROUS NATION and PETRA: A QUEST FOR HOPE.
"As I promised, here’s that something special from the Kansas Cutie herself, Jessica! She’s ever bit the delight we came to know and love all season long, and I’m so glad she chose to interview with us! Enjoy!"
What are their true feelings towards each other? Was their first kiss a part of Eric's task or was it heartfelt and honest? Do they see a future for themselves? How hard was it for Eric to not tell Jess about his role as America's Player? Did Eric's role as AP cost him his as well as Jess's game?"
"Man Oh Man... What a great feeling and great week finally getting to see Daniele... She means the world to me and it was so super to finally get to see her and talk to her... I will be posting pictures of us at a later time :D I'm putting my EWU shirt back on ebay... The person who first won it at like 2,000 dollars didn't pay so I'm putting it back on there... Just search my ebay name: starcevic11 ..... I'll be putting more stuff on ebay too at a later date as well :D
"Amber Siyavus still seems a little gun-shy, talking about her just-ended, sometimes tumultuous stint on "Big Brother 8." "This isn't going to be edited, right?" she asked last week at the end of a telephone interview from Los Angeles.
Siyavus' concern with editing is understandable: She, like, every other reality show veteran, has learned firsthand how real life can be sliced and diced to create televised drama."
"Q: How much do the contestants get for being on Big Brother? —Sue, Oregon
A: The houseguests receive a stipend for each week they’re in the house, and also for the time they spend sequestered as part of the jury. Thus, the houseguests tend to be anxious to make it least to sequester; there, they get paid to just relax, not play a game or eat oatmeal “slop.” If they’re evicted earlier, they don’t get that additional jury-duty pay.
This season, Jen confirmed that the stipend was $750 per week when she was considering refusing to go to the sequester house, and that’s been the standard stipend for nearly every season (for last year’s all-star season, the stipend was reported to have increased to $4,000 per week).
A jury member for “Big Brother 8” would be in the house for 81 days as of Tuesday, the live finale. That’s 11.5 weeks, not including the time they spent sequestered before the series began. So, jury members would receive somewhere around $9,000 for their work, plus any prizes. America’s Player, Eric, earned $40,000 performing his tasks, for example, while Dustin took $5,000 during a competition. And, of course, there are the prizes: $500,000 for the winner, Dick, and $25,000 for the runner-up, Daniele. —A.D.
Q: After being evicted from the Big Brother house, how do (contestants) receive their clothing? They always just have the one black bag upon eviction. —Hillary, Massachusetts
A: When the houseguests are evicted and go to meet Julie Chen, they take with them a single duffel bag, one that looks good on television. But it’s not enough space to pack all of their clothing for the summer.
After Eric was evicted during the surprise fast-forward episode, live feed viewers watched as Zach and Jameka packed Eric’s belongings. Zach was asked to do that by the producers while he was in the Diary Room because Eric didn’t pack before the live show, as nominees usually do.
Nominated houseguests’ luggage is placed in the storage room, the room where deliveries are made to the house; there, producers can remove it and give it to the evicted houseguest. —A.D."
"Dick Donato's celebrity connection came as promised, to support one of Big Brother history's most controversial winners. The multi-tattooed, chain-smoking, cuss-popping, spitting, hacking, flatulent elder Donato proudly declared to his daughter ahead of Big Brother 8's finale, that one of his special guests would be the frontman of the band, Suicidal Tendencies. True enough, the idol showed up to cheer for the man many have come to call Evil."
"Big Brother 8 has come to a close and CBS is already taking applications for season 9. Last week I got the chance to attend the live Big Brother 8 finale, head into the backyard and interview the cast. Below is my chat with the Big Brother 8 winner Dick Donato. There is also a video clip below of Dick talking to Real Networks I shot with my digital cam while waiting for the interview."
"Any hope that the new week would bring a fresh start and absence of Big Brother 8 has been lost, as Amber has now decided to restate her stereotypes about Jewish people and New Yorkers, instead of just shutting the hell up after apologizing the first time."
In my wildest dreams, I could never have anticipated the outpouring of love and support, compliments and good wishes you have shown for me and my family while I was on the Big Brother 8 show!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!!!
I have received literally thousands of comments, emails, art work, and tributes that are simply amazing, and I love every single one of them. Thank you to those of you who came to the airport to welcome me home, and to the Liquid Limos for the party bus, and to the Patriot Guard for the beautiful escort you gave us the night of my return.
I would love to respond to each and every one of you individually, but due to the overwhelming amount of mail I have received, that is simply not realistic at this time. I hope that you will accept my genuine heartfelt thanks in this note, and I will now try to answer the questions that I received most often:
The best thing about the experience for me was: the challenge of the game itself. I am a very competitive person, and BIG BROTHER is a once in a lifetime opportunity that very few people will ever get, and I was honored to be selected for this season and loved every minute of it.
My least favorite thing about living in the house was: the boredom. As a houseguest, you are not allowed to bring any reading or writing material with you. In the house, there is no music, television, computers, or communication of any kind with the outside world. If you sign up for this show, you need to be prepared to make your own fun and keep yourself entertained as there is quite a bit of down time when there is no structured competitions and all you have is time fill, think & talk about the game/strategy, and think about everything you are missing back at home.
Given the opportunity, I would absolutely do it again!!
I learned that I need to listen to my own instincts more; and other people less. Obviously hindsight is 20/20, but I did make my decisions based on what I believed was true at the time.
My personal bond with Eric was both amazing and strong. He was my best friend and ally in the house. I had so much fun with Eric, and loved every minute I spent with him. Now that I am back in ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Kansas and he is in New York, it is hard to predict what the future holds for us. We do still talk on a very regular basis, and have agreed to just take one day at a time, and see what happens. (Thank you all for your good wishes for us!) You will be able to keep updated on us if you want to, through our fan sites.
Thank you to all of you who have signed the petition for Eric & me to be considered for the next edition of The Amazing Race. If you have not done so yet, and would like to support our effort, here is the link: http://www.petitiononline.com/JericTAR/petition.html
My best advice for those of you wanting to apply for the show is to completely fill out the application forms in great detail. Do not leave anything blank. The casting crew is looking for people who are able to entertain, and have stories to tell. So don't be shy!!! Good luck to all of you ~ I'll definitely be watching for you on the show next season!
Thanks again for all the prayers, support, kind words, tributes that you sent to me! It was so awesome to come home to see it all!
"Mike Muir of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES was in the crowd for the finale of "Big Brother 8" — the eighth season of the U.S. version of the reality TV show "Big Brother" on CBS — supporting Richard Louis "Evel Dick" Donato, who was one of the finalists. The entire final episode can be seen at this location and a screen shot of Muir can be viewed here. Every time the crowd is shown, Mike can be seen wearing his bandana and SxTx shirt."
"She spent the summer living in the Big Brother house competing for a half million dollars. Haysville native Jessica Hughbanks is back home. She's now spending time catching up with her family and watching episodes she lived through. "It looks so much easier when you're just watching, but when you're living it, it's so much different.""
"It's been another crazy, fun-filled summer inside the Big Brother house. It all began with 14 Houseguests and two interesting twists and each week the drama intensified. Dick Donato emerged triumphant last night as the Big Brother 8 grand prize winner of $500,000 based on the votes of his former housemates on the jury. Daniele Donato will receive $50,000 as the second place winner."
"What are the qualities and main personality traits you look for when you cast BB? People with strong opinions…. I don’t care what their opinions are as long as they stick with their true feelings and are able to express them clearly. People who say they’d be good on Big Brother “because they get along with everyone” is first of all lying and second, not a great candidate. I look for people who are gonna shake it up! "
"Big Brother 8's Amber Siyavus was one of the most controversial houseguests in the show's history. Based on the way the episodes were edited together, you'd think she was crying every moment of the day. She polarized viewers with her openness regarding her history of drug abuse and is responsible for one of the most infamous moments of the season with a derogatory comment about Eric and the Jewish people."
"So this is going to be quick and random. A flow of...stream of consciousness.
THE FINALE I went to the finale with Kennedy. I so enjoyed Reality Remix this season. I missed my Gretchen but the opportunity to be on TV each week was one I could not pass. And I learned a lot from Kennedy. She has been doing what I want to do for years. And she does it well. Going to the finale with Kennedy and her husband was the best way to go. I didn't have to hang with past house guests. I didn't have to talk game or recount what I'm up to now. It was just nice to be there, low-key and enjoy it for what it was. I thought the finale was one of the best in years. Though it wasn't my fave season, I did enjoy the finale.
Kaysar brought his cute little mama.
Chicken George was low-key in the green room wearing a "Got Dick?" tee. CG is one on my fave peeps from the show. Until he hooks up with Howie. He's a good man though. Very kind.
Howie was Howie. Loud. Crazy. A handful. Don Wollman came over and took his sign. And then came over again and tried to quiet him down. What can you do?
Janelle wore the dress she wore to the vh1 awards thing. We were in a fight. Well I was in a fight with her. I avoided her and her clique as much as I could. @ one point I was face to face with Beau. Strained hellos. He still doesn't like me. And I could care less. Janelle makes me sad. She lied about Gretchen and I during a chat and said something mean about me. After the finale I walked by her after staying as far away from her as possible. She stopped me and said "Marcy don't walk by me and not say hi." "Are you mad @ me?" Um mm... Yeah Janelle, I am. Stop talking trash about me. The game is over for us. Either truly be my friend or don't mention me. It's easy.
I had to scram after the finale. I had red carpet @ "The Advocate" hosts the 40th Celebration to benefit The Point Foundation event. Before I left I got to talk to Carol who is one of the most beautiful girls to ever enter the game. She gushed about me and I gushed about her. She was my fave though she didn't stay long. I could tell she wanted to be on BB 8 about as much as I wanted to be on All-Stars. It's strange to get something and realize it was a mistake. But you learn and move on. I know people who would love to be on BB hate when House Guests say it's not all that. But it isn't. Deal.
Kail was sweeter than I expected. Warm.
Dustin said the "gays always self evict." Um mm... No Dustin. I would never have volunteered to go on the block. The key to staying in the game is to not get nominated. I didn't use the veto on myself after 69 days when I was lied to by my alliance who I'd dragged to final 5. My best friend in the house voted against me. I was nominated against someone I loved. It was the 1st time the veto was introduced! I could go on. After 5 years what are you gonna do? It is what it is and I did what I did. A reality star was born.
Joe said he was a big fan of me. He was over-the-top and full of energy. Happy. It's so funny how people are edited. I'm sure that was how he was in the house but it didn't translate.
Jen was blah. I expected more. I liked her last season. Maybe she was like me after All-Stars? Just over it. She was also wearing too much body glitter which got all over my H&M blazer after hugging her.
Mike is taller than he seems and better looking.
Nick is huge and hot. A big boy. Yum.
This is where I left with Howie and CG trying to scam their way into the backyard. Security wouldn't let them in. Our season ended guys. Let them have their moment. Go here and click on Marcellas Big Brother Review. The one dated Sept. 19th should be up soon. You'll see a funny bit between Kennedy and I about the finale, the season and everything. Ooh and some behind the scenes dish no one knows but me!
THE WRAP PARTY All day long I debated about going. I told Gretchen Monday I wasn't going. Diane (my dearest) called me this morning and asked if I would come with her. "NO", I said. "Maybe?" "I don't know." "I'll call you later." Erika texted, "Are you going?" "Come with me baby. I'm going with my man. It'll be fun." "I'm not up to it E," I reply. "I don't want to see the ex-HG's and I'm not interested in the new ones." "Well if you change your mind, we'll pick you up" says Erika. UGH. Now I have 2 rides.
I decide to stay home. I spoil myself. I have a me day. I take a conference call about a show I'm pitching. I take a tan. Make an appointment for AmeriLight skin tightening (it's supposed to be fab). Call t-mobile because Lisa went over on her texts this month (we share an account). And by 7 I'm @ the gym. After the gym I get a text from Carol asking where I am. I say I'm waiting for Diane to call me and then I may come to the party. She says I'm standing right next to Diane. And then I get a text from Diane. And then Erika. I literally walk out the door in shorts and a hoodie. Sweaty and shiny and smelling like funk and tanning lotion, I show up to the Big Brother 8 wrap party. People are stunned. "You're not wearing a blazer" is what I hear all night. Actually it was the perfect outfit. I got to smile and be happy and not so damn formal. And since it wasn't my moment, what difference does it make what I'm wearing?
Who is the first person I see? Dick. Dick was nice. He asked if I hated him. I don't. I didn't like him calling me dumb on TV. He apologized and I accepted. I also told him that I'd heard he and Danielle said some very nice things about me too. It all balances out. It turns out Dick and I met at a Shannon Elizabeth Animal Avengers party in 2002 @ the Key Club. Dick is a true BB fan. He was a finalist for seasons 5 and 6. He said he narrowly made it on this season. He was asked back after the finals to meet the bigwigs @ CBS again. @ this point we were interrupted by a fan. This is where Dick was Dick. He said, "hold up before we do anything this is the pic I want." He hands the fan his camera. He wanted a pic of me, him and Diane. I gotta tell you I like him. As with most of the House Guest they are much different outside of the game. Or the exact same but with roundness. More dimension. Did you follow that?
Jen was nowhere to be seen.
My lil Diane was there. I didn't get to hang with her too much in the picture crush.
Howie and CG had hats and photos to sign. You know that stuff is on eBay already. Speaking of which Dick said his son has made $10,000 on eBay. Hm mm... He said America loves him.
Do they? Or did they just hate Jen, Jessica, Kail and Dustin more? Who knows?
Erika looked gorgeous. Her beau is beautiful. They should have kids soon. Period.
Jameka was so excited to see me. It's so funny how the newbies are fans of the other HG's. I think it's because they still give them season 3 in sequester. She's so much prettier in real life. And she straightened her hair. Her skin was lovely.
I met Carol's mom which was like meeting royalty. Carol's beauty comes directly from her mother. Her mom wanted to take a pic with me and I asked Jameka's sister to hold my beer. I didn't want to be trashy in front of the mom.
Another crazy, rushed conversation with Dustin. Truth be told Dustin and Will from season 5 are my type. A girl stepped in front of me, told Dustin how cute he was and asked if I would take a picture of them. I found it funny because well... You know. I'm reality royalty and if there is an All-Stars deux I doubt Dustin would make the cut. I'd still be the only gay asked back. And the only Black man. It is what it is.
Where the hell is Zack?
I never talked to Jessica, Jen, or Eric @ the wrap party. Kaysar was there but I never made it over. I saw Marvin from a distance.
I spoke to Amber. I wished her grace and strength and told her it would pass. She seemed happy and wasn't crying thank God! My fave line from BB 8 was "God bless God." Either that or Jameka's "Danielle was the pimp and Dick was the ho." Brilliant.
On the way I out I saw Danielle. She is tiny. Like the Olsen twins tiny. Which makes her veto wins even more of a feat. She gave me a big hug and asked if I liked her. "Of course I like you," I said. "Oh good," she replied. "I was worried because in the house Jameka said you would hate me." "I have a thing for blonds," I replied. "Janelle, Amy and now you." We laughed. She was sweet. I told her she was robbed. She put too many girls on the jury. She said she put too many people who didn't have a brain on the jury. We laughed again. She's a sweet girl y'all. Yeah, she got mean and it cost her the game but that's done. Let's give her and the rest of the cast the latitude to be human. To err and to get back up and try it again.
Nick was right there. Apparently he's moving to L.A. This seriously smacks of Eric and Lisa. I hope for the best yet foresee the worst.
What else? Hung with Sarah. Had a pointless conversation with Holly. She looked pretty. Someone took a pic of me while eating as Janelle and I reconciled and I pulled a Naomi Campbell. But I mean they didn't even ask. And Janie and I were having a moment. And the chicken and salmon was good as hell and I was starving after the gym. What can you do? I've spent a total of 15 weeks living in a fishbowl.
Who do I see myself speaking to now that the season is done? Hm mm... I see myself getting seriously drunk with Dick. I see myself shopping on Melrose with Danielle. Being email buddies with Jameka. And I'm having a huge bday party in Chicago in November. I've already invited Carol to come up from Kansas. She said it's an 8 hour drive. I said I'd fly her in.
So that's it. Another season bites the dust. 14 new members join the sorority (believe me it's more sorority than frat). Welcome to the club.
Who in the fuck goes on one of those shows and tells all of the other people on the show to go fuck themselves sideways and then tells half of the jury that they do not deserve to be in the final two because their game play was shit??? And wins....
I do!!!
Hope you had as much fun talking shit about me this summer, as I did talking shit about them.
Thanks to the supporters and lick my ball sack to the haters. "
Congratulations to TheKdd for winning this year's BBQ Pick'em Game! The Runner-Up was Jnuc113 & in 3rd place was basecamp_mom! To view the final results, go HERE.
Thank you to everyone who played this year. You made it fun. Take care!
"In a peculiar move, the Big Brother producers left Julie Chen's mic on as the closing credits rolled on the Big Brother 8 finale, allowing audiences a candid listen into a conversation between Julie and the Donatos. Although it mostly centered around their schedule for the following two days, Julie ended up asking the Donatos about their possible interest in teaming up for The Amazing Race. Such cross-breeding CBS reality star speculation has occurred before, most recently with Dr. Will and Mike Boogie, but the prospect of a double Donato Amazing Race team is exciting nonetheless. "
"There was Evel Dick Donato sitting in the Big Brother House, waiting out the final triumphant minutes when he would reconnect with the outside world. The Donato's carpet-bombed Season Eight!. Beside him was his beautiful daughter, Daniele, elegantly perky. Dick's hair was freshly painted and hued its sinister best; he was shaven, and some delicately applied make-up made sure his cigarette-smoke-sapped face was as refreshed as possible. A promotional Suicidal Tendencies shirt stamped, once again, upon his willowy frame."
"Reality show fame has its limits, as Zach from "Big Brother 8" learned Wednesday when he tried to get into L.A. hotspot Hyde.
Zach made the final three in this year's installment of the CBS reality show, but he apparently couldn't make the list at Hyde. When the bouncer sent him on his way, expletives were hurled back and forth, including the classic insult, "You're going to do big things with your life!"
When reality show wannabees fight with bouncers, the real winner is comedy."
"I got some good Amber scoop on the BB8 set last week: Amber doesn't know it yet but while in the house she was fired from her cocktail waitress job in Vegas because of her vocal hatred of Jews. (Actually by the time you read this she's probably in tears... then again she's always in tears...) I am glad that with the removal of Amber and conclusion of Celine Dion's three year run, Vegas has finally rid itself of the last traces of anti Semitism. (I am kidding about Celine, of course.)"
"Big Brother 8 is over, Dick won, and now all that’s left is to pretend the season never happened. But first, the contestants have to do a bunch of interviews where they answer the same questions over and over again."
"As everyone knows, the best defense against claims of bigotry is to insist that one has friends who are members of the group that person has disparaged, and that’s exactly what Big Brother 8’s Amber Siyavus has done in defense of her comments that Jews are “money-hungry” “assholes”: claim she has Jewish friends."
"Ok, I am still in a hotel room and finally starting to take it all in..... although it seems very unreal to me still at this point. I want to thank all my friends for their love and support during this (to quote Dustin) "interesting" summer.... To all my "fans" (fans.... very strange and odd term for me to use, and still not quite comfortable with.) Thank you very much. I am very surprised that so many people enjoyed my antics on the show.
Going into the final two with my daughter was the highlight of my summer for sure...
THE BEST TEAM TO EVER PLAY THE GAME!!!
I will be back soon.
I am off to the wrap party now and will have even more to say later.
"Jameka was notable for many things in the Big Brother house, but her religious beliefs were featured on numerous occasions. What does she think about this? With Dick, of all people, winning, does she still think God had a hand in the results or in the magic ping pong ball? What does she have to say about other players, including America’s Player, Eric? Read on for Jameka’s answers to all of these questions and more!"
"Zach had an interesting ride in the Big Brother house. He helped create the first alliance, but then was a man without a country for most of the rest of the game. What were his plans? How did they change? How did he survive so long essentially by himself? And why did he think it was like a freak show? Read on to find out the answers to these questions and much more!"
"Were you surprised they picked your dad Dick? Did you think you had it in the bag because of all of the mean things he had done? Daniele: I told him a couple of weeks before, if I'm sitting next to you you're going to win. Halfway through the show I would've thought I would have won, but as it got closer I knew. When I heard the jury questions, I was positive he was going to win. All my questions were personal stabs at me just to be mean, pretty much showing who these people really are. My dad's questions were irrelevant and plain stupid. "
"And the winner is...: He berated nearly everyone in the house, save his one blood relation, and still managed to win over the majority in the end. Somehow Dick's ruthless rants worked for him. And he’s due one credit: when Dick wasn’t busting humps, he was bonding with some of the houseguests in his own odd way. And with his in-your-face style, at least they all knew what to expect from Dick. With only Jameka and Jen voting against him, Evel won 500 Gs."
"Big Brother: Couldn’t have been more thrilled to see Dick take the title from Daniele. Her whiny, I-must-always-get-my-way reaction to his prevote speech is a perfect example of why she sucks. That, and having to watch her secretly enjoy seeing the other housemates struggle. She may have tied Janelle in veto wins, but to liken them is an insult to the All-Star.
Dick, on the other hand, was outright despicable. He had insulting words for almost every player in the house. His verbal abuse of Jen was particularly disturbing. However, he put his cards on the table from day one. He played a fairly straightforward game. You almost always knew where you stood with him. He put his butt on the line for the good of his ungrateful daughter on several occasions, and he made strategic moves when necessary. He was also a solid participant in the house competitions. That’s why he was deemed the lesser of two evils last night, and that’s why, today, he’s a half-million dollars wealthier.
First of all, now more than ever, Jen SUCKS. She's the only one who wouldn't sign our shirts. (we tried with 3 different people [myself, a girl named Janelle and BB8 houseguest Joe] no dice...)"
"So tonight was the Big Brother 8 wrap party, which was soooooo much fun...it was so bittersweet though because it means that now the show is officially done, and I must move on with my life lol. it was such a fun summer though, both watching it every week with daniela, lily, and lina and working on it...anyway, there are lots of really cool pics after the cut!
So the publicist and i got there right when it started at 7:00, before anyone else got there lol. but soon enough it was pretty packed...supposedly tons of people had tried to get in but they were really strict about who they let in and said no to tons of people, so i was happy to just be there.
so throughout the night, i eventually got to talk to each of the 14 houseguests and got my picture with them, so without further ado, here they are in the order they were evicted lol:"
"Against all odds from predictions the first week, Big Brother 8 ended with a father-daughter pair sitting in the final two, prompting the second-place winner to say after her father was announced as the winner, “We won.” After watching Dick progress through the season with a foul mouth and an incessant spitting habit, and seeing Daniele whine and complain her way through much of the summer, on the phone I found them to be…shockingly likeable. They were funny and passionate and ramped up from their win – and ready to bash on Jen for one last time."
"After shaking hands with Eric and saying "Great JOB!," we (LTB and I) followed Naters, Janelle, and Beau out of the studios after meeting Don Wollman (BB exec. Producer) and other staffers. Thankfully, they said we were with them so we were able to get into the Green Room where all the houseguests, staffers, friends and family go after the show to watch the finale, have free food and partake of the OPEN BAR! That's what I'm talking about!"
"About 11:30am, we got the call that Janelle's best friend Naters was ready to be picked up from LAX. (He's visiting lovintheboogie (LTB) for the finale.) They're pretty good friends, but it was my first time meeting him. I love him! He's so sweet, so energetic, and it was the perfect start to a perfect day! I'm so lucky we were with him or the rest of the day wouldn't have been half as good as it was!"
"Big Brother 8 will forever go down as the season of the Donatos. The father/daughter duo, with their big personalities and enticing back story, stole the headlines for much of the summer, a fact that likely pleased CBS to no end. Big Brother 8 had more to offer than just Dick and Daniele and, when looking back on the season in its entirety, it's fun to realize just how much went on for those three long months in the Big Brother house. There were severe tonal shifts from a number of players and a striking amount of faulty first impressions. Alison Grodner's first season in charge of the franchise was rocky at times, and while her maiden voyage cannot be deemed a complete success, the ratings were up and loyal fans remained loyal."
"Amber has only been out of sequester for a day, but she has already heard about the way she was portrayed on TV and the controversy that a couple of her comments caused – and she wants to set the record straight. She also talks about her strategy in the house, why she was so upset with Eric, and her thoughts on the whole America’s Player twist. Read on to find out all about it! "
"If you were to ask any regular viewer of Big Brother 8 who the all-around best person in the house was, the answer would almost universally be the same: Jameka Cameron. Jameka, although she did play the game harder than many give her credit for, kept her dignity intact and did so in a way that endeared her to fans around the country. Jameka also made it much further in Big Brother than anyone could've expected, finishing in fourth place and coming very close to the final three. We had the pleasure of speaking with Jameka yesterday, one day after the Big Brother 8 finale. "
