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"Big Brother" Wings Pilot

Posted Aug 6th 2007 7:00PM by TMZ Staff

Big Brother 9UPDATE: To be absolutely clear, the banner that appeared on last night's show was NOT pulled by Jerry.

The producers of the CBS reality show "Big Brother" have grounded a pilot they say planned on ruining the show.

Lawyers for Endemol USA Inc. sent a cease and desist letter to Jerry Hider of Blue Yonder Air, to stop him from flying his plane over the "Big Brother" house. According to Endemol, Hider was planning a flyover carrying a message that told the other players in the house that Eric is "America's Player" -- essentially ruining part of the game.

Endemol alleges that by doing this, Hider's proposed actions would violate a "tort of intentional interference of an advantageous business relationship" -- or, in layman's terms, "Dude, don't ruin the game!"

Hider alleges that he's not trying to ruin the game, and that he was simply paid to do a job. The peeved pilot wouldn't release the name of the person who has been hiring him to make "Big Brother"-related runs, but said that up until now he, CBS and Endemol enjoyed "a symbiotic relationship." In 2001, Endemol even produced a story about the banner operation.

In a statement to TMZ, CBS says: "It's always great to have fans that are this engaged and passionate about 'Big Brother.' However, we also need to protect the integrity of the competition, which does not allow any outside influence on the houseguests who are sequestered from the public broadcast and therefore unaware of some of the secret twists in the show."

Is Hider going to try to fight Endemol and CBS? Not likely. He told us "If I had a bunch of attorneys I would fight this, but it's not worth my time."

Tags: big brother, BigBrother, cbs, endemol

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(Page 3 of 4) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. I THINK EVEL IS GREAT AND THAT NASTY BITCH JEN DESERVES TO BE PUT IN HER PLACE.

Posted at 8:15PM on Aug 6th 2007 by build the wall higher and with concertina on top

32. show my last comment please

Posted at 7:26PM on Aug 6th 2007 by Michelle

33. Evel Dck Donato is a bully - Obviously, the producers of the show do not agree with your thoughts or he would be gone. Maybe you should write them. Ya think!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 8:05PM on Aug 6th 2007 by Spurs

34. eric is not going home if you watch the live feeds amber dustin jess and jameka are going to keep him that means kail is out ..

Posted at 8:12PM on Aug 6th 2007 by lara

35. The only reason CBS cares this year is because they have these stupid 'twists' going on. During BB1 and 2 MANY banners were flown. It didn't matter during BB1 because the public voted people out, it didn't matter as much (but did have an impact) during BB2 because there was no 'twist.'

I hate the "America's Player" and even thought I like Eric I laughed to see CBS messed with. That was the 4th banner flown last week. And by the way - the banner in question was flown on Thursday night (right after the live eviction show) - seems to me the pilot quoted above said he flew a banner on Thursday - so how does that prove it wasn't him?

Posted at 8:33PM on Aug 6th 2007 by Ryn

36. That banner may have been unfair to Eric, but it certainly helped us fans at home. The bit about Eric being a liar really stirred things up in the house. The days since have been the most exciting so far this season. Perhaps CBS should consider flying their own banner to spice up the plot. Maybe something about a player trading their vote for $. I'm surprised nobody has considered that CBS is lying about one of the votes. After all, the votes are cast in private. CBS could be altering the final tally just to raise suspicion. If I were in the house, I like to believe this thought would have crossed my mind. The idea of America's Player certainly wouldn't have.

Posted at 4:05AM on Aug 7th 2007 by stephanie

37. from one side, any airplane pilot has the space to fly and have whatever message trailing behind. he is not bound by any cbs contract and CBS legally can't do a thing about it. ( tho sleazy for ultering the game ). It is up to CBS to protect itself in this matter whether it's having lookouts ( which i mentioned in an earlier post ) where paying a couple guys to keep an eye out so the producers can wisk the house mates inside in a timely matter. Or perhaps as someone posted a tarp. Maybe a retractable tarp they can put up and take down at the push of a button. I myself enjoy watching the show the last couple seasons and don't want to see things like this influence decisions between the house mates. If CBS has incountered this type of interference in the past, they should have made the alterations needed for future events. Big money should know this by now. simple law

glimmerdrive @ yahoo

Posted at 10:40PM on Aug 6th 2007 by Glimmerdrive

38. I'd Like to see Dustin on TV in somthing when this season's show is over.

Posted at 1:36AM on Aug 7th 2007 by Ted

39. I honestly wish people would stop trying to get messages to the players. This is THEIR game, we just get to watch. You wouldn't cheat and reveal someone's hand to the whole table if you were watching a game of poker, and it's the same idea. Stop trying to reveal people's secrets and game-play tactics through banners. It ruins it for both the players, and the viewers. If you really want input that badly, then just audition for the show. Otherwise, please sit back and don't ruin it for anyone else.

Posted at 3:13PM on Aug 7th 2007 by Aliza

40. It is malicious and unfortunate - what this pilot did. I think Eric also will have a right to sue this pilot for tortious interference and libel... (maybe).... His character was assailed and his right to have a chance at the $500,000 is now shot. Whether you like Eric or not -- it is a game - and no outside pilot should feel that he had the arrogant right to ruin it. Note if a suit is filed -- the Eric would have the right to supboena the name (or names) of the persons responsible for paying.

Posted at 4:56AM on Aug 8th 2007 by fin

41. While there's no law against advertising in public airsplace, there ARE game-show laws that would prevent CBS or its agents from flying banners themselves, unless such events are in the written pre-established rules of the game.

As for outing Eric as America's Player, he can do that to himself any time he wants, if he thinks it would help. But a scripted lie is still a lie, and Eric would have been proved to have lied, both on a game (votes) and an emotional (Jessica) level. He'd be more screwed than he is now. If he'd just admitted the votes were his earlier on, he'd be better off than he is at the moment.

Posted at 5:32AM on Aug 7th 2007 by Different Eric

42. This is my first season of watching Big Brother, I'm a Survivor fan, but that banner was way out of line, it planted seeds in everyones head especially E.D. and his daughter. On the other hand if Eric gets evicted I don't think it will be about the banner, that boy is playing so many sides of the fence it's not funny, he eventually would have gotten caught anyways, being America's Player was a great twist, but Eric has done crap that has nothing to do with that, he dug his own eviction papers...

Posted at 9:36AM on Aug 7th 2007 by Kandace Fish

43. Ted

If you are a fan of the show then you know the nickname that Dustin has for his black puppy dog. It is the n word. Dustin would be shunned by the general public.

Posted at 10:45AM on Aug 7th 2007 by BB watcher

44. They couldn't avoid the "Eric and Amber are liars" banner. They were in the middle of the HOH comp. Who ever flew the banner picked a great time.

I don't think Eric is going home. I'll be surprised if he's "fired" this week.

Posted at 10:56AM on Aug 7th 2007 by Mike

45. If I didn't know better, i'd think "Joe" posted :

39. Ted

If you are a fan of the show then you know the nickname that Dustin has for his black puppy dog. It is the n word. Dustin would be shunned by the general public.

Posted at 10:45AM on Aug 7th 2007 by BB watcher

...... who else would know that unless i missed that from the show or the live feeds?

Posted at 3:32PM on Aug 7th 2007 by Glimmerdrive

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