Paris Hilton is set to show the world that she is more than just an “heirhead socialite†on the hit British reality show ‘Big Brother.’
The initial figure being talked about for Paris to live it up in the ‘Big Brother’ house is $600,000. Paris is rumored to accept the deal because she is “desperate to raise her profile in the UK – and is prepared to be locked up for another 3 weeks in the Channel 4 house.â€
“Paris is keen to do the show because she wants to show people the real her. She wants to show the British public that there is more to her life than shopping and partying and show would certainly make an interesting housemate. It all depends on whether they can afford her,†a source claims.
But Y! India Movies reports producers will do whatever it takes. “We told Paris, ‘Name your price’. We’re in firm talks, and it would be a fantastic coup to get her.” The $600,000 offer would make the hotel heiress the highest paid celebrity on the show so far, and Paris says that she is keen to show people that she is more than “just a bimbo or a wildchild.”
I think that’s a great way to change your image — go on a reality show where drinking and sex is prevalent and it’s filmed for the whole world to see. Wait a minute, haven’t you already done that?
A court issued arrest warrants for Hollywood actor Richard Gere and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty on Thursday, saying their kiss at a public function “transgressed all limits of vulgarity“.
Judge Dinesh Gupta issued the warrants in the northwestern city of Jaipur after a local citizen filed a complaint charging that the public display of affection offended local sensibilities, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
Gupta earlier viewed television footage of the event, which he called “highly sexually erotic,” saying the pair violated India’s strict public obscenity laws.
Gere and Shetty “transgressed all limits of vulgarity and have the tendency to corrupt the society,” PTI quoted the judge as saying.
Such cases against celebrities – often filed by publicity seekers – are common in conservative India. They add to a backlog of legal cases that has nearly crippled the country’s judicial system.
Gere left India shortly after the kissing incident and it was not immediately clear how the warrant would affect him.
Gere is a frequent visitor to India, promoting health issues and the cause of Tibetan exiles. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has his headquarters in the north Indian town of Dharmsala.
Under Indian law a person convicted of public obscenity faces up to three months in prison, a fine, or both.
Last week, crowds in several Indian cities burned effigies of the 57-year-old star of “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “American Gigolo” and “Pretty Woman” after he embraced Shetty and kissed her several times on her cheeks during an HIV/AIDS awareness event in the Indian capital.
Photographs of the clinch were then splashed across front pages in India – where public displays of affection are largely taboo.
The judge lambasted Shetty for not resisting Gere’s kisses and ordered her to appear in his court May 5, PTI said. A spokesman for Shetty declined comment.
The event’s organizer, Parmeshwar Godrej, called the controversy a distraction from more important issues.
“It has detracted from and undermined the value and success of the event, which was concerned with creating AIDS awareness and promoting AIDS prevention among truck drivers,” CNN-IBN quoted her as saying.
Shetty, 31, has said the embrace was not obscene and that the media should instead focus on HIV/AIDS awareness.
“I understand this is his culture, not ours. But this was not such a big thing or so obscene for people to overreact in such manner,” she told PTI last week.
“I understand people’s sentiments, but I don’t want a foreigner to take bad memories from here,” PTI quoted her as saying.
Shetty, already well-known in India, became an international star after her appearance on the British reality show “Celebrity Big Brother” – another controversial public appearance. A fellow contestant, Jade Goody, sparked international headlines by making allegedly racist comments to Shetty. Mobs took to the streets of India to denounce Goody, and Shetty went on to win the competition.
He may have a reputation as a ladies man – but Richard Gere is now public enemy number one in India. Maybe he should have stopped with kissing her hand.
Effigies of the Hollywod actor have been burned after he repeatedly kissed Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty at an AIDS awareness event.
He had joined Shetty, the winner of the “Celebrity Big Brother” in a safe sex campaign for lorry drivers.
The 58-year-old shouted in Hindi to thousands of truck drivers who roared with delight and whistled loudly as Gere swooped down to kiss Shetty to kiss her on her hand and a number of times on one side of her face.
But it started to go wrong when groups of men turned on him and started shouting “Down with Richard Gere”.
They burnt the Hollywood star’s effigies and kicked the smoking remains in the northern Indian cities of Kanpur, Meerut and Varanasi as well as in the central city of Indore.
The protesters said Gere’s kissing of Shilpa was against Indian culture.
Some burnt Shetty’s posters, shouting “Death to Shilpa Shetty”, and danced around the smouldering ashes, TV footage showed.
The kissing scenes were repeatedly being run on TV news channels with viewers commenting on the Hollywood star’s actions.
Others said there was too much fuss over a few kisses.
“I think he responded as an actor. He was playing to the gallery,” said Anjali Gopalan, head of Naz Foundation India, an anti-AIDS prevention and care group.
“I don’t see anything bad,” she said on Headlines Today television.
Shetty’s spokesman said TV networks were going overboard.
“The media should concentrate on promotion of the cause of AIDS awareness rather than make ‘issues’ out of Richard Gere’s kisses,” Dale Bhagwagar said.
The Shilpa Shetty frenzy is still sweeping the globe, two days after her release from the Big Brother house. Today the UK Papers reveal Shilpa’s reactions after seeing the full extent of the bullying she endured in the house. She squirmed and held back the tears as she witnessed on film how several contestants sneered hurtful comments behind her back.
I didn’t know all that had gone on. They are so mean. Why didn’t someone stop them? It hurts me deeply. Look at me…I’m shaking.
After reliving Jades attack, she then witnessed Danielle say “that was f**king fantastic, that made my day†and later “she cant even speak English properly.â€
Shilpa’s response was to shout at the film:
I speak 10 languages and I think my English is great…It isn’t just one or two attacks – its incessant.
Shilpa praised herself for keeping her dignity throughout her stay in the house. As she left Big Brother she was still unaware of the uproar the Shipla debate caused in India, and the Channel 4 offices.
Britain’s media on Saturday welcomed the eviction of a reality TV show contestant accused of racism and bullying, but criticized the television channel over a show that has whipped up an international storm.
“Celebrity Big Brother” has dominated headlines in Britain and India this week after former dental nurse Jade Goody and other contestants ganged up on Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, calling her “the Indian” and “Poppadom” and saying “She should fuck off home.”
Britain’s media watchdog received around 40,000 complaints from viewers, top politicians weighed into the row and a major sponsor of the program withdrew its backing.
Internet chat rooms have been abuzz with debate about whether what was said on the show constituted racism, and to what extent Goody and her allies reflected prejudices in society at large. Many people felt the story was exaggerated by the media.
The show’s producers said 82 percent of voters had chosen Londoner Goody for eviction over the other nominee, Shetty, in what may be seen as a stand against racial intolerance.
A contrite Goody, 25, denied she was a racist or a bully in her post-eviction interview late on Friday, when the extent of the controversy was revealed to her for the first time.
Contestants are sealed off from the outside world in a house where cameras follow their every move 24 hours a day.
“I can’t dignify myself because that video footage of myself is nasty,” she said. “I’m not going to sit here and try and justify myself. Yes, I said those things and they were nasty.
“I am not a racist and I sincerely … apologize to anybody I’ve offended out there.”
Goody rose to fame after taking part in a non-celebrity version of “Big Brother” in 2002, and suggested even before leaving the house that she would pay a price for her behavior.
“It was the beginning of my career and it’s the end of my career,” she said.
CHANNEL 4 UNDER FIRE
Mass-circulation newspapers aimed their headlines at Goody, with the Sun declaring “Goody Riddance” and the Mirror saying “A Bigot and a Fake.”
But they also had harsh words for Channel 4, which airs the show, and the production company Endemol, saying Goody’s exit appeared to have been stage managed.
They also criticized the decision to ban the crowds that traditionally greet evictees outside the Big Brother house, and to cancel a press conference.
Channel 4, which saw viewing figures jump by over 2 million after the furor erupted, had been under pressure to act.
A poll conducted for the Guardian newspaper suggested that most people thought the channel should have intervened to protect Shetty. Some 55 percent believed the insults directed at the 31-year-old Indian film star were not typical of modern Britain.
But Trevor Phillips, head of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, saw the show as evidence of a wider problem.
“This program has laid bare the dark heart of private prejudice that all too often sits behind the public veneer of tolerance,” he said this week.
Commentators reflected on a week in which events on a reality television contest dominated the news and triggered a serious debate about racism and bullying.
“BB (Big Brother) satisfies our taste for cruelty,” wrote David Aaronovitch in a commentary in the Times. “But what is so odd is that to discuss real things we have to make them unreal first, and then describe them as reality.”
BEST CELEBRITY REALITY SHOW PARTICIPANT (COMPETITION)
Stacey Keibler (Dancing with the Stars) – 39.13%
Monique Coleman (Dancing with the Stars) – 17.39%
Mario Lopez (Dancing with the Stars) – 13.04%
Alfonso Ribeiro (Celebrity Duets) – 8.70%
Drew Lachey (Dancing with the Stars) – 8.70%
Joey Lawrence (Dancing with the Stars) – 8.70%
Emmitt Smith (Dancing with the Stars) – 3.45%
Jillian Barberie (Skating with Celebrities) – 0.00%
MOST DOMINENT REALITY SHOW PARTICIPANT
Janelle (Big Brother)- 43.33%
Ozzy (Survivor: Cook Islands) – 26.67%
Melrose (America’s Next Top Model) – 10.00%
Terry (Survivor: Exile Island) – 10.00%
Will Kirby (Big Brother: All Stars) – 6.67%
Yul (Survivor: Cook Islands) – 3.33%
Mario Lopez (Dancing with the Stars) – 0.00%
Tyler & James (The Amazing Race) – 0.00%
MOST ANNOYING REALITY SHOW PARTICIPANT
Mike Boogie (Big Brother)- 41.38%
Peter (The Amazing Race) – 17.24%
Allie (The Apprentice) – 10.34%
Cao Boi (Survivor: Cook Islands) – 10.34%
Brent (The Apprentice) – 6.90%
Erika (Big Brother) – 6.90%
Kai (The Biggest Loser) – 3.45%
Nathan (Survivor: Cook Islands) – 3.45%
PARTICIPANT(S) THAT PLAYED BETTER THAN EXPECTED
Cirie (Survivor: Exile Island) – 35.71%
Emmitt Smith (Dancing with the Stars) – 21.43%
Wes & Casey (Fresh Meat) – 17.86%
David & Mary (The Amazing Race) – 10.71%
Lyn & Karlyn (The Amazing Race) – 7.14%
George (Big Brother) – 3.57%
Mike Boogie (Big Brother) – 3.57%
Jerry Springer (Dancing with the Stars) – 0.00%
PARTICIPANT(S) THAT DIDN’T PLAY AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD HAVE
Yul (Survivor: Cook Islands) – 46.88%
Aubrey (Making the Band) – 25.00%
Bianca Ryan (America’s Got Talent) – 15.63%
BJ & Tyler (Amazing Race) – 12.50%
Emmitt Smith (Dancing with the Stars) – 0.00%
Heather (Hell’s Kitchen) – 0.00%
Taylor Hicks (American Idol) – 0.00%
Tyler & James (The Amazing Race) – 0.00%
LEAST DESERVING WINNER(S)
Mike Boogie (Big Brother) – 39.39%
Taylor Hicks (American Idol) – 36.36%
Sean (The Apprentice) – 9.09%
Aras (Survivor: Exile Island) – 6.06%
Caridee (America’s Next Top Model) – 3.03%
Jeffrey (Project Runway) – 3.03%
Josh Blue (Last Comic Standing) – 3.03%
Cher & Josh (Beauty and the Geek) – 0.00%
BEST MOMENT
Chris Daughtry is Eliminated (American Idol) – 25.81%
Becky & Sundra Not Being Able to Start a Fire (Survivor: Cook Islands) – 22.58%
Pumkin Spits in New York’s Face (Flavor of Love) – 16.13%
Janelle Votes Out Will (Big Brother) – 9.68%
All Aitu Final 4 (Survivor: Cook Islands) – 9.68%
Kim Gets Pelted with Tomatos (The Amazing Race) – 6.45%
Candice and Jonathan Flip Tribes (Survivor: Cook Islands) – 3.23%
Erik Losing 214 Pounds (The Biggest Loser) – 3.23%
Jonathan Baker & Joe Rogan Fight (Fear Factor) – 3.23%
Billy Declaring his Love for Candice (Survivor: Cook Island) – 0.00%
Dustin & Kandice Get Last After Yielding Lyn & Karlyn (The Amazing Race) – 0.00%
WHINIEST
Marcellas (Big Brother) – 32.14%
James (Big Brother) – 25.00%
Candice (Survivor: Cook Island) – 17.86%
Anchal (America’s Next Top Model) – 10.71%
Monica (The Amazing Race) – 7.14%
Jaeda (America’s Next Top Model) – 3.57%
Monique (America’s Next Top Model) – 3.57%
Heather (The Biggest Loser) – 0.00%
BIGGEST BITCH
New York (Flavor of Love) – 40.68%
Monique (America’s Next Top Model) – 18.75%
Andrea (The Apprentice) – 12.50%
Beth (The Duel) – 6.25%
Candice (Survivor: Cook Island) – 6.25%
Coral (Fresh Meat) – 6.25%
Jade (America’s Next Top Model) – 6.25%
Monica (The Amazing Race) – 3.13%
MOST OVER THE TOP REALITY SHOW PARTICIPANT
New York (Flavor of Love) – 32.14%
Howie (Big Brother) – 21.43%
Jade (America’s Next Top Model) – 14.29%
Erica (The Bachelor) – 10.71%
Melrose (America’s Next Top Model) – 7.14%
Shane (Survivor: Exile Island) – 7.14%
Cao Boi (Survivor: Cook Islands) – 3.57%
Zayra Alvarez (Rockstar: Supernova) – 3.57%
THE “WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND” AWARD
Candice (Survivor: Cook Island)- 50.00%
Dustin & Kandice (The Amazing Race) – 12.50%
Will Kirby (Big Brother: All Stars) – 12.50%
Jonathan (Survivor: Cook Islands) – 9.38%
Erica (The Bachelor) – 6.25%
Melrose (America’s Next Top Model) – 6.25%
Keith (Hell’s Kitchen) – 3.13%
Joseph & Monica (The Amazing Race) – 0.00%
FAVORITE REALITY SHOW
Survivor – 31.25%
The Amazing Race – 18.75%
America’s Next Top Model – 12.88%
So You Think You Can Dance – 12.50%
Big Brother: All Stars – 6.25%
The Apprentice – 3.13%
Project Runway – 3.13%
Rockstar: Supernova – 3.13%
American Idol – 0.00%
The Bachelor – 0.00%
Beauty and the Geek – 0.00%
Dancing with the Stars – 0.00%
Flavor of Love – 0.00%
LEAST FAVORITE REALITY SHOW
Treasure Hunters – 22.22%
Celebrity Cooking Showdown – 18.52%
Unan1mous – 18.52%
American Inventor – 14.81%
The One: Making A Music Star – 11.11%
Skating with Celebrities – 7.41%
The Biggest Loser – 3.70%
Flavor of Love – 3.70%
Celebrity Duets – 0.00%
FAVORITE REALITY SHOW HOST
Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race) – 34.38%
Tyra Banks (America’s Next Top Model) – 25.00%
Julie Chen (Big Brother)- 15.63%
Jeff Probst (Survivor) – 12.50%
Heidi Klum (Project Runway) – 9.38%
Ryan Seacrest (American Idol) – 3.13%
Brooke Burke (Rockstar: Supernova) – 0.00%
Donald Trump (The Apprentice) – 0.00%
LEAST FAVORITE REALITY SHOW HOST
Laird McIntosh (Treasure Hunters) – 40.00%
Ryan Seacrest (American Idol) – 13.33%
TJ Lavin (The Duel) – 13.33%
Tyra Banks (America’s Next Top Model) – 13.33%
Donald Trump (The Apprentice) – 10.00%
Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars) – 6.67%
Diddy (Making the Band) – 3.33%
Caroline Rhea (The Biggest Loser) – 0.00%
BEST REALITY SHOW BASED ON CELEBRITIES (NON-COMPETITION)
The Simple Life – 32.35%
The Surreal Life – 17.65%
The Girls Next Door – 16.65%
Flavor of Love – 14.71%
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List – 11.76%
Gene Simmons Family Jewels – 2.94%
Hogan Knows Best – 2.94%
Breaking Bonaduce – 0.00%
The third cycle of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars had its biggest start yet as 20.2 million viewers tuned in Tuesday. I’ll have to admit, I haven’t been able to catch it on TV yet… but I’m dying to watch Jerry Springer cut a rug! He just looks so out of place to me.
•Dance fever. That’s up from 17.5 million for January’s opener and 13.5 million for its start as a regular series in summer 2005, and trails only the two previous finales. Wednesday’s first results show averaged 16.3 million.
•Survivor race. Despite massive publicity from its controversial sorting of teams by race, the Survivor: Cook Islands premiere averaged 18 million viewers Thursday, down from 18.4 million last fall to the smallest opening audience since the series’ first season. The Amazing Race 10 opener averaged 10.1 million viewers Sunday, also down slightly. Tuesday’s Big Brother finale averaged 8.4 million, up from 8.1 million last September. And Wednesday’s Rock Star: Supernova capper (7 million) was down from 7.8 million.
•Gridiron. ESPN’s Monday Night Football debut (12.6 million) set a channel record; a late second game was solid at 10.5 million. NBC’s Sunday game drew 18.4 million, vs. last week’s 22.6 million.
•Trees fall. A special preview of ABC dramedy Men in Trees averaged 11.7 million viewers following Dancing on Tuesday, then withered to a still-first-place 8.1 million in Friday’s regular time slot premiere.
•House divided.Dancing also proved potent against Fox’s Tuesday dramas: House fell to 15.2 million, down 23% from last week’s season opener, while Standoff (9 million) dropped a steep 34%.
•Katie comedown. The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric clung to a razor-thin lead last week, averaging 7.9 million viewers, down from 10.2 million for Couric’s much-hyped debut a week earlier. NBC finished second with 7.83 million, up from 7.1 million; ABC had 7.53 million, up from 6.9 million. (Night by night at right.)
•Whose network? The debut week was weak for MyNetwork TV, which replaced WB or UPN programming with telenovelas on many stations. Desire averaged 1.2 million for its Sept. 5-8 premiere week, and Fashion House claimed 1.3 million, little more than half the audience for UPN summer repeats.source
“Paris is keen to do the show because she wants to show people the real her. She wants to show the British public that there is more to her life than shopping and partying and show would certainly make an interesting housemate. It all depends on whether they can afford her,†a source claims.
Judge Dinesh Gupta issued the warrants in the northwestern city of Jaipur after a local citizen filed a complaint charging that the public display of affection offended local sensibilities, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. 
Effigies of the Hollywod actor have been burned after he repeatedly kissed Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty at an AIDS awareness event. 
