Tom Doyle :: TALK

I wrote an article the other day about how I felt Big Brother’s producers (Endomol) were letting the whole bullyig and racism taunts go a little too far by continuing to show these scenes on TV.

At all times they could have simply edited the show with these scenes removed. But for some reason, they thought it would be great to get the publicity from it. Now it seems it’s backfiring.

Carephone Warehouse have suspended their sponsorship of the show with immediate effect. Jade Goody and Danielle (whatever her name is) have also lost some lucrative contracts because of the whole episode. I still blame Endomol for all this, they should have had more common sense.

Not many people admit to watching Big Brother, so it should come as no surprise when I say that I haven’t been watching it this year. But I admit to have watched it in the past.

This year, I really just couldn’t get into the people that were lined up to appear in the show. With the return of Jade Goody to the show, it just shows how ridiculous reality tv shows have got. Jade Goody a celebrity? ok, fair enough……

Anyway, after watching Sky news yesterday and how people were protesting at the shows producers, claiming that there was bullying and racism taking place on the show, I couldn’t help but laugh. Last night I decided to watch the show to see what all the fuss was about, bear that point in mind as I go on.

After a few minutes, I felt myself falling asleep in boredom. I was quickly woken by a foul mouthed scream from Jade Goody, “Go back to the slums and find out what real life is about, lady!!!!!”. To some, that may sound like a racist remark, but for me, knowing that it came from Jade Goody, just confirmed that the girl is a slight bit dumb and completely ignorant to what is going on everywhere else in the world. It certainly wasn’t meant as a racist comment in my opinion, it was just a stupid girl that knew little of anything outside her own little world. I have to admit, the few scenes I saw of Shilpa instantly gave me a disliking to her. She herself is arrogant and believes she is above everyone else.

But neither Jade Goody or her two partners in crime are to blame for all this hype that is surrounding the show at the moment. I put the blame entirely on the shows producers.

Yesterday must have been a dream come true for the presenters. Their show was mentioned on news stations across the world, all bringing a huge amount of publicity to the show.

And rather than trying to deflect the criticism from the public, they just added more fuel to the fire by carfeully selecting more scenes of bitching, bullying and fighting between the 4 women.

This is reality tv gone too far.

The guys behind the VoIP success story - Skype - are involved in creating a new project, one in which they profess will change the way we watch TV. Originally names “The Venice Project” has now relaunched with the new name Joost.

According to their website:

“Joost™ is a new way to watch TV, free of the schedules and restrictions that come with traditional television. Combining the best of TV with the best of the internet, Joost™ gives you more control and freedom than ever before - control over what you watch, and freedom to watch it whenever you like. We’re providing a platform for the best television content on the planet - a platform that will bring you the biggest and best shows from the TV studios, as well as the specialist programs created by professionals and enthusiasts. It’s all overlaid with a raft of nifty features that help you find the shows you love, watch and chat with friends, and even create your own TV channels.”

I tried to sign up for a beta test, but you are put on a list of I’m sure thousands to get a first look at their new application. After signing up, they suggest another way for getting a look, which is to get an invitation from an already selected beta tester. Well if there are any of you out there - I’d be a willing receiver of an invitation donation!

Every morning of my working life, I have listened to The Strawberry Alarm Clock on FM104. Colm Hayes has to be one of the greatest morning radio presenters of all time. There have been many sidekicks that hosted the show with him over the years, but if he wasn’t there, the show just wasn’t the same.

Now the news is that 2FM have fired Marty Whelan, to be replaced by the award winning duo, Colm Hayes and Jim-jim Nugent. For me Jim Jim is just a clingon, if he wasn’t there you wouldn’t miss him. In fact you probably would because the show would be a lot better.

Either way, I will have to change my allegiance now from FM104 in the morning now to 2FM. I just hope they don’t ruin the show just like they did with Rick O’Shea!!!