I’ve been watching Bravo’s The Reality of Reality, and it’s actually pretty good. I mean, we already knew that a lot of manipulation goes on behind the scenes of so-called “reality” shows, but the extent to which it goes on is pretty eye-opening. The episode I watched today (“America’s Instant Idols”) emphasizes how potential contestants will say and do anything to get on the air, and how TV executives eat it up. Remember Will Kirby, villain extraordinaire from Big Brother 2?
Will: I went to meet [CBS executive] Les Moonves, and they said, “What are you going to do to win the half-million dollars?” And I said, “I’ll do whatever it takes.” And he said, “What does that mean? What will you do?” And I said, “Les, I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”
And he said, “What if it’s [down to] you and a gay guy? What will you do?” And I said, “I’ll f—k him in the ass and go make a sandwich.” The room erupted in laughter, and I was like, “See you in two weeks,” and I walked out and slammed the door.
Narrator: But a CBS spokesperson says that Les Moonves has no recollection of that conversation.
Well, okay, then. (I’ve read that later on Will recounted this story in the Big Brother house, and fellow houseguest Bunky quipped, “What kind of sandwich?”)