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Bollywood Kiss Too Hot To Handle

The Bollywood actress who was the center of controversy in the UK Big Brother program finds herself in more hot water. It is interesting to see how conservatives in other countries get themselves in an uproar just like here, albeit for somewhat different reason. story of outrage not everyone upset

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is in the news again -- this time though for some wrong reasons -- as her kissing act with Hollywood star Richard Gere at a function on AIDS awareness has led to widespread protests from several quarters.In Varanasi, Shiv Sena and Bande Mataram Sangharsh Samiti activists as well as Muslims staged protests in various parts of the city and burnt effigies of Gere and Shetty to protest against their "indecent behaviour" which, the protesters claimed, was "an attack on our cultural ethos".

Bollywood actress wins UK "Big Brother"

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, at the centre of a raging race row, has been crowned the winner of British reality television show Celebrity Big Brother.

The 31-year-old Indian actress burst into tears on hearing she had won the public vote.

The experience on the Channel 4 show had been "incredible and overwhelming", she said after winning the show last night.

story

Big Brother Bully Booted

Jade Goody (L) and Shilpa Shetty are seen in a composite handout photo. 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. (Channel 4/Handout/Reuters)

UPDATE! The chairman of Channel 4 (UK)ordered an inquiry last night into whether underhand tactics had been used by the producers of Celebrity Big Brother to stoke up the race row between Jade Goody and the Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.

Big Brother UK Controversy

As many of you know I have been a long time fan of the TV show Big Brother. As far as reality shows go, BB has the most interesting concept: Lock people in a house and watch them 24/7 - pretty much slowly going nuts for 100 days. Big Brother 1 in the USA was great and the contestants nearly revolted against the producers because of the harsh treatment. Unfortunately since that time, Big Brother in the USA has been becoming less of a social experiment and more of a beauty pageant for attractive back stabbers. Each year of BB USA has been less interesting and less entertaining than the last.

You may also know that Big Brother did not start here and is on all over the world. It is a Dutch production that is wildly popular everywhere. In fact, I think BB USA is the least popular of the shows. Anyway, there has been a huge controversy in this years Big Brother in the UK. Controversy is no stranger to this show and every country seems to have their share but this time, the ripples are being felt in broad areas of international relations.

You can read this link to get all the details but a quick summary is that a Bollywood Star (Bollywood is the Hollywood equivalent in India and the surrounding area. It is massive and Bollywood stars are almost as well know as our own top matinee Idols) is in the house and has been the subject of racist taunts. Read up on how much of an international furor this has caused.

Last night she and her Nemesis Jade were up for eviction. With a record 38,000 complaints - security was such an issue that there was no live audience allowed near the booted contestant (Jade) and the police are needed extra security and a safe house to evacuate the evicted house guest.

Now, I don't support racists taunts but I do like good TV. If a show is going to call itself a REALITY programs then, dammit, it should actually reflect reality! Here, BB USA is full of beautiful people scheming to win the money. It has been sanitized beyond any recognition of reality. It seems that overseas, there is still an edge to the show with the producer not fearing controversy but dealing with it head on. That's reality my friends!