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Big Brother: The Reality Of Big Brother Bites!
Commentary by Cindy Rutolo Dietrich
September 21, 2007

CBS, your reality's a lie. Give me a little truth cause your reality bites.

You edit, and mold.
You hide. You don't scold.
You reward abuse.

It was almost show time. It would be the last show of the BB8 season. I couldn't think of one single reason why either of the Donatos should win. But the reality was that the Donatos would win because CBS's reality bites.

I was originally a big Daniele and ED Donato fan. But then ED became increasingly verbally abusive. No one was safe except for his daughter. By the end of the season, it was hard to tell which of the two enjoyed talking about others more.

(ED) Evel Dick and Daniele Donato have been vicious, heartless, and cruel. Watching them win over a half a million dollars, felt like a validation of their abuse. Plus, in the end ED emerged, as I predicted, a new reality TV star.

Bravo, CBS, you should be so proud.
NOT
You've created two more Reality TV monsters.

Considering the controversies concerning inappropriate speech, you'd think CBS would have at least tried to reign in the foul mouthed star of their reality show. Instead, they condoned his actions by editing them out and rewarding him instead with fame, money and glory. Online readers and viewers know the true story. Big Brother simply turned a blind eye to the truth. They seemed to have had a whole 'nother set of rules for the two evil stars of their show.

That's just one of the many reasons why their reality bites. Here's another: Not one question.

Julie Chen did not ask ED one single question about the train wreck things he said to everyone else in the Big Brother House except to his darling daughter, Daniele. She did not ask ED to validate, or explain one single thing that he did to 'win.'

I don't get it!

Houseguests in the past were always forced to face clips of their most embarrassing, or humiliating moments in the house. Not the Donatos.

They're shown no beeped out clips of ED's obscenity laced, vicious, verbal attacks. No clips of him planning his race baiting strategy, to throw off Jameka and Zack. Neither of them are asked to explain even one single, horrible thing they've said about Jen, Kail, Dustin, Amber, Zack and everyone else. I don't get it!

Why not? It's a complete departure from the past. Why use such a volatile, ticking bomb and not feature, or confront him with the very things that kept people riveted, and furious, and upset all season?

It's as if they decided that the only interesting, or important thing about this Father/Daughter Duo, was their manipulated, faux, forced reunion.

Is there a legal reason for this baffling cover-up? I just want to know why? Why weren't they confronted, or even asked to explain anything?

Their tactics were not even mentioned on the Early Show. The brief clips that they did show - feature only the brief moments when ED was not verbally lashing out against Zack, with his daughter cheering him on.

It was if none of that happened. Or, if it did, none of it mattered. It didn't matter how they got there. Nor what they did to win. They only thing that seems to matter is that they're together again. And even that is a lie.

I think CBS is just so proud that they managed to manipulate everyone. They wanted this 'allegedly' estranged Father and Daughter to reunite on their show, and win the money and all the glory.

A reunion, my ass.
If that's your reality, I think that I'll pass.

There's no accountability.
There's no heart. There's no justice.
There's no kindness. There's no truth in your reality. And that bites.

It was a fabrication from start to end. But I still wanted to see how it would end. In the end I thought that you would let the jury have its say. I thought you'd reveal the lies and game play. I thought you would expose the hurtful, cutthroat nature of your stars. No, I hoped. I knew you wouldn't do that. But I hoped.

Wouldn't that have made good TV?

Instead, ED, the Father, won a half a million dollars, despite the abusive horrors he inflicted on everyone else but his daughter.

You even managed to edit, and handle the big 'reveal' of your lame secret this season; about a hidden player being directed by caller's votes. Instead of that 'truth', coming out like a shout, it was edited, and warmed up, and served up as dessert. You even managed to make Eric look good. I didn't think that was possible. You muted any residual affect his actions should have had on the others by waiting to the very end to tell the jury.

You didn't tell them that he was paid $40,000.00. You saved him, just like you saved ED and Daniele. You protected your stars from retribution. Yet you let the rest of the cast be eaten, cannibalized. Of course that's what you've done this whole season. I don't know why. I'm sure you have reasons. I just don't know what they are.

The night before the show's finale, Daniele seemed down right giddy. ED seemed happy as well. The Donatos were doing what they seem to love most: cutting everyone else down. They were also sharing a special meal to celebrate their last night in the BB house. I was pretty happy as well. It would soon be over.

Daniele welcomed Showtime viewers. Then she tells them that 'we promise to cut down the other houseguests for your enjoyment.' I wonder where she ever got the idea that doing that brings enjoyment to anyone. Was this her idea? Or, was this due to her Father's influence? Or perhaps it was something whispered in their ears by CBS and Big Brother.

Daniele felt Julie would make some ugly comments to them. Apparently they think everybody is as cruel as them. ED seemed relatively quiet and reflective that night. I wondered if it was because he realized that Daniele had surpassed her Father's penchant for cruelty. ED at least lashed out in anger. While Daniele had begun to do it constantly. She really seems to think it's funny. Makes me think maybe she should rethink her teaching goals. Young kids can be so easily undone. ED did seem happy though. He had every reason to be. But there's really no happy for Daniele.
 

There are times during that last Showtime feed, when I wondered if he even was starting to realize that. But, just like everything else about her, he doesn't know what to do about it. He can't, or won't criticize her for putting people down. That would only set her off. Then she'd take in out on him. So, he smiles, with that slightly frustrated, puzzled look on his face. After all, she is the monster he helped create.

Besides he was just so damn happy that she was being nice, and still speaking to him. He was willing to let everything else slide. He'll probably let it out later. He'll unload all of that impotent frustration, grief and rage onto someone who's caused none of it. Just like he did with Jen and others for days.

By the end of their last night in the Big Brother house ED's black nail polish glittered, but his eyes tried to hide the hurt. Because she continually diminishes him. They stare into each others eyes. There are no smiles to share.

She flicks him a card, like she's spitting on him. She spews out her words, like she's shitting on him.

He tries so very hard. Can you imagine if someone else was still there? Can you imagine what he'd say if she wasn't his daughter?

I don't know if there'll be a happy ending. I just wanted it to end. I doubt if Daniele will stay in touch with her Father. But if she does, I hope they can manage to find more loving reasons to stay together, than to stay apart.

I hope that there's still time for them to realize that love doesn't have to work cruelly. Maybe someday they'll also find a past time to share that doesn't include putting other people down.

I wish as her Father, ED could have taught her that. But first he has to learn that himself. Maybe he did realize it by the end. Because by then she was as much, if not crueler than him. So, I didn't care which one of them won the money. Neither of them is a winner to me. Neither of them will be a winner until they realize that love isn't cruel.

ED may believe they'll maintain their relationship outside of the BB house. Even though he probably senses the truth. But most people think that Daniele can't wait to get as far away from her Father as she can.

It's just that he won the cash. So she must be 'nice' to him. At least for awhile.

Being Nice for Daniele. Hmmmn. That's a little like torture for Daniele. I bet that is Hell. So maybe there's a little bit of justice there.

Naa. It's still not fair.

So, we had finally come to the end. We just had to see which of the final two evils would win. It didn't really matter. The good guys lost. But the network scored. I hope they're proud of themselves, and their stars. Reality reflects leadership.

Of course the only thing that counts is ratings to them. So I guess they got what they wanted in the end.

CBS wins.

But what did they win? They let truth die. Let good people get slimed. Let innocent people get hurt, abused and reviled.

ED Wins 'cause CBS's Reality Bites.

I put it off as long as I could. Finally it was time to watch the final show. By then I was basically filled with disgust. I've never seen two people more undeserving of a half million bucks. Not only were they not censored, or penalized for their blatantly abusive, slanderous attacks, They now get to walk away with buckets of cash.

This is Simon Cowell TV. This is the reason 'House" is a hit. America makes heroes out of people who treat others like shit.

I at least hoped the jury had a chance to cut the Donatos down to size. These people were abused and slandered. The Donatos made it a sport. What kind of family does that for fun? I would like to see the jury feed on Donato bones. These people should have been shoved off the island. They should be ostracized. Ridiculed. No, not really. I just hoped that someone confronted them; held them accountable for the ugly things they'd said. Instead, they'll become reality stars. I sadly shake my head.

I at least expected that the first cast members would get to let loose. I was still hoping the jury would confront them. But pretty much nothing's said. What a rip off end of the season. This entire season was a lie.

Show host, Julie Chen immediately points out the one thing they've planned from the start, that for the first time in BB history, two relatives have made it to the end.

How could they not?

It was what CBS planned and maneuvered. Julie's standing there with ED's Mama. She raised Daniele. Julie asks her what she thinks about ED and Daniele's 'reunion?" "It's a miracle." she says. I give up! Everything that's a lie is being held up as the truth.

Vincent, looking terrified is asked about his Father's game. 'Game' has become a euphemism for cruelty and abuse. "It was just a 'game' and it got him far." Vincent sums it up.

It's hard to watch. This spectacle's a farce. It really is the Simon Cowell/ Survivor Syndrome. The uglier you are, the brighter your star. What kind of screwed up values are those?

I just wanted a little justice. Even poetic justice would be sweet. I just hate when things feel so unfair. Reality shows chew up the weak. They reward the ugly. Spit out the meek. CBS, your reality really does stink.

Any decent person would hang their head. But not these two. The Donatos didn't seem to care that they'd soon face the people they kept talking about. They never edited, nor regretted one, ugly thing. In fact they seemed to relish the thought. The ugly never stopped coming from the king and queen of mean. The only sign that they knew at all, that what they said was in any way wrong, was cowardly bully, ED Donoto's insistence that CBS provide security for them. He worried that he might need shielding from angry relatives who've had to listen to his attacks upon their loved ones.

Oh God, I almost forgot all about America's Player. Late in the show they finally do the big 'reveal.' about their lame secret. Every time Julie's ever said "Eric has been playing this game for you, America," I've wanted to scream!

Because Eric has Never been this American's player! I found his evil, verbal attacks, equally as vile as ED's attacks. No one said this little creep had to constantly make personal attacks against Jen. Like she looked like a man, and had a tail. He's such a little man. And I don't mean physical size. I'm talking about his bravado and lies. Eric acted like a fool. He most definitely was not this American's tool. So please don't say that again!

And Jen, poor Jen. Everything they've done to her. Everything they've said to her, about her, and behind her back, makes me soul sick for her. This girl has been vilified beyond all reason. They seemed to need to do this, for some ungodly reason.

The show's over and it's still going on. What a mess. Such wickedness. I wish they could have been punished, instead of being rewarded for it.

It's the injustice of things that infuriates me.

I've never understood why some people think it's funny to make fun of others. When I was a little girl, I went to school with a boy born with deformed hands. It was a horrible thing for him to have to endure. But he bore it bravely, and well. Then the kids called him horrible names. I couldn't understand why for the life of me. I didn't understand why they would say anything that would make his life any harder than it already had to be. Their need to be mean baffled me. It simply didn't make sense.

So I came into this with strong feelings about this. I also know ED. Well, in way. I've been around some version of him most of my life. I know Daniele too. She's the one who eggs him on. She's the air - that fans the fire. She's the hand pulling the trigger. ED is the gun.

So, I know a few things about verbal abuse. I was an advocate too. So to see those two emerge unscathed; to have them not have to answer for anything, not even in their interviews, it's such a bitter pill.

Excuse me if I choke on it.
Excuse me if I cough it up.
Excuse me if I don't rejoice in a victory of Evel - over - right.

I really think they're all good people, all 14 houseguests. I just don't like the ugly things that were said by a few people.

But they all tried their best. They all did well. It wasn't their fault. They survived Hell. And I give them kudos for that.

Finally they come to the part with the jury in the BigBrother8 Finale. I was relieved, initially, to hear Dustin, Jen and Zack espouse clearly defined reasons for not rewarding Dick for his despicable behavior. I was also pleased to hear them tell Zack that he would have won, six to one. But now I just wanted Eric to shut the f** up. I want someone to call him out. Because, I couldn't believe it, even then, America's Player was once again manipulating the jury!

That felt unfair. Hadn't the jury been through enough? Why couldn't CBS let the jury at least deliberate without intervention, and manipulation?

Amber pissed me off when she accused Jen of doing the very same thing she did with ED. Apparently she forgot that ED bashed her, and she forgave him too.

But I was happy and relieved to hear Jen sounding so composed and clear. That's not imply that she has not been hurt by ED's lies, but she still stood strong. She faced him, more bravely than anyone else.

I actually wish she never had to find out how long the Jen bashing continued. Nor how it escalated with America's Player continually adding vicious barbs, and threats of violence like; I would like to punch her in the head. or, Kill her. or feed her to the sharks. The more vicious his remarks the more quickly his beady, little evil eyes bounced around the room.

Even after the show, the bashing goes on. E.W. and TV. Guide online gave Evel Dick and his petulant daughter yet another forum to espouse their hatred of Jen. Because, why? She's self absorbed, they whine. Are you serious? Have you ever met people more self absorbed than the Donatos?

They seemed to think Jen was put there to take their crap. They think their crap doesn't stink. And everyone has to take it.

They don't seem to have feelings of empathy or remorse. Seriously maybe Daniele should consider Dominatrix as a career path. I can literally see her cracking that whip. All tight in leather. Foot stepping onto the chest of her victim. High heels digging in. Phone's in her hand. She's so detached, she's making dinner plans, while she melts out her clients abuse.

Kidding.

But seriously, the truth is that Jen did nothing to them. They've done and said more horrible things to, and about this girl than anyone should have to endure.

Maybe they should spend some of their unearned money on empathy lessons.

The only good thing I can say about ED's tactics is that he seems to think that he did things out of love, and for the money. Daniele has no love, and not as much as money.

And even though they ended up winning all the money they still can't stop talking about Jen, and how hard it was for them. And how they're the greatest team since sliced bread.

Please!

Amber's going to die when she hears how the DD's described her, and how the show portrayed her. I wonder if anyone in BB history has ever committed suicide after a show, because that's how devastatingly bad, and low BB and Eric, and Daniele and ED's remarks have been about others. CBS even felt the need to rerun their horrible montage of Amber again. I'm not a big Amber fan, but I don't understand. Such needless cruelty from all of them.

In the end I was upset because no one really confronted ED or Daniele. There were no big moments. It was completely anticlimactic.

I must say I thought Jen was brave! She restored my faith in victims. While I was writing about the injustice and harm Eric's skewed influence had been, she was standing firm. Jen stood up to the jury, and to Daniele and ED. She said she didn't think ED should be rewarded, and that "Daniele should win. Because Dick is an asshole."

"Can we look past Dick's words, and look at the amazing game Dick played?" Dustin asked. Zack said can we look at what a fierce competitor Daniele was. Amber was on Dick's side. Jameka said Daniele was the pimp, and ED was her Ho.

I guess I expected more.
I want truth and justice, and reality.
I want retribution for the deceived.
I want retribution for being deceived.
I want some accountability! I want some truth in this reality!
I want BB to stop messing with reality.

I wanted at least an acknowledgment of the ills those two inflicted. I wanted the jury to see some of the live feeds. I wanted justice for their victims. But there's not enough truth for justice. There's not enough truth in CBS's version of reality. CBS's reality is a fabrication. CBS's reality bites.

Cindy Rutolo Dietrich is an entertainment writer, reviewer. rock journalist, poet, hotel reviewer, pianist, singer, songwriting artist from Pennsylvania.She welcomes, and enjoys hearing from you. Please email her at rovingreporter@webtv.net.