BY MARILYN BECK and STACY JENEL SMITH Internet reports that a "Big Brother" contestant dropped the N-word live online the other day are "completely unconfirmed at this point" says executive producer
Allison Grodner.
"I'm not even saying the word was used, but it's being said that it was used in terms of a bunch of guys talking, and it wasn't use of the N-word in the way you would think but as a colloquialism," she adds, referring to the racial epithet. The contestant was off-camera, but that's not keeping the suspected culprit's name out of blogs.
Last year, contestant
Amber Siyavus was heard making anti-Semitic remarks on the CBS show. It led to a public outcry. Says Grodner, "These are people in a very intense situation who bring in their own points of view and prejudices, and sometimes they are things we certainly don't agree with." At the same time, she says, "We're not looking for anyone spreading hate speech."
As far as the most recent lapse, Grodner indicates there may be some sort of network statement forthcoming, but don't look for anyone being bounced off the show. What would cause a "Big Brother" contestant to be ousted for behavioral reasons? "Physical violence is not tolerated in the house, as we saw on Season 2, and then of course on Season 4," Grodner says, referring to
Scott Weintraub's expulsion after a violent outburst.
The current Season 9 group is comprised of singles partnered with a potential "soul mate." They're younger than past groups, and "more emotional," Grodner finds.
At the same time "Big Brother 9" is playing out, Grodner and partner
Rich Meehan are gearing up for "Big Brother 10" this coming summer. "We are casting, so people who are interested should submit their information," she says.
DIRECT(ING) EXPERIENCE: Former "ER" regular
Gloria Reuben says being a hands-on executive producer of the indie Sundance Film Festival winner "Padre Nuestro" provided a revelation. "It really taught me a lot. I was on the other side of the casting table, and when these actors would come in, you automatically knew if they were right for the part of not. I realized it just may be the essence and it has nothing to do with your talent. It was interesting to experience that on that side." She adds, "I remembered that lesson the next thing I auditioned for. As an actor, you can't try to figure out what they want. You do what you do, and either it fits or it doesn't."
Reuben -- who's breathing a sigh of relief that TNT has ordered 10 episodes of
Stephen Bochco's legal drama "Raising the Bar" with
Mark-Paul Gosselaar and
Jane Kaczmarek -- says they've found "an international distributor for 'Padre Nuestro,' and it's going to be released this spring." The film is "about betrayal and family and looking for a place in the world. Two young boys cross the border illegally, one running away from a crime-filled past, the other one with a letter of introduction to his father in New York from his mother who's passed away. The father doesn't even know he has a son. They befriend each other, and then the young man who is the criminal steals the identity of the other to steal his fortune, and that boy is left on the streets of New York."
GREEN SCENE: Former "Malcolm in the Middle" star
Bryan Cranston tells us he's one of the latest celebrities to go "green" as he spent time off during the writer's strike working on an environmentally friendly home. "I'm designing a house for my family. It's a vacation house. I'm going to draw the design myself and have it built in green with solar panels, recycled materials and things like that," says Cranston, who will be following in the footsteps as such stars as
Leonardo DiCaprio and
Darryl Hannah. As for his professional endeavors, Cranston -- currently starring in AMC's "Breaking Bad" -- says his next project is with the famous husband/wife team of
Helen Mirren and
Taylor Hackford in the movie "Love Ranch." "I have a nice role in that," he adds.
CHA-CHA-CHA: "Dancing With the Stars" recently announced its new set of celebrities with the likes of
Priscilla Presley, Adam Carolla, Monica Seles, Steve Guttenberg and
Mario among the bunch. Original cast member
John O'Hurley says he looks forward to each new season, as he believes the show brings out the best in its participants. "It's a wonderful tribute to ballroom dancing and to great television in that you are rewarding talent as opposed to ambition. Sadly, we've kind of retreated into social voyeurism with things like 'Big Brother' and that 'Lord of the Flies' show they tried. I just turn my head in disgust," claims O'Hurley, who's been busy as a successful author and host of the "Family Feud."
"Every time they do 'Dancing With the Stars,' there's some wonderful, audience-provoking controversy, yet the heart of the show remains constant."
With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster.
Photo of the "Big Brother 9" cast courtesy of CBS. Photos of Gloria Reuben by Evan Agostini, Bryan Cranston by Stephen Shugerman and John O'Hurley by Ethan Miller, all from Getty Images.
