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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 4 of 4) Previous 15 Comments

46. What a joke. If any outside influence is in play, it is the producers this year. They outright interfered with a contestant telling her that a contestant was not involved in a twist, and they have given the supposed "america's player" too much inside information, although he has proved that he could care less about what America wants him to do. He should be fired.

Posted at 12:12PM on Aug 8th 2007 by Ali

47. Banners are still flying. lol

Posted at 4:12PM on Aug 7th 2007 by BB watcher

48. I too have been a BB fan for years.... Eric is a good-hearted young man who just wants his "chance" to play the game as "America's Player." I DEFINITELY agree that ED has set himself up as the "evil one" hoping to stay around as long as possible as one of the older people in the house this time.

As an earlier post said, the last few BB shows have been getting kind of korny.... The LNC? Isn't that it the Late-Night Crew? Puleeze. Next they'll be putting a picture of "Cappy" on the dresser and sending vibes to it!

What's up with Amber and her crock-tears? I didn't think somebody could cry that much!

Also, Danielle? OMG - she has a boyfriend outside the house, yet still is so upset about getting Nick kicked out. Get over it.

I actually like Kail. She's an older player (I mean over the age of 20 something) yet she thinks about what she's doing. I think she'll be a good one in the sequester house if ED stays, although if ED ends up in the sequester house.... its probably going to be somebody from his "crew" who will end up winning at the end.

More thoughts to come I'm sure....

Posted at 9:42PM on Aug 7th 2007 by Abby in MN

49. Sooooo what ever happened to the first amendment? I thought you could speak or in this case fly a big banner over whatever you wanted as long as no laws were being broken? Sticks & stones etc. blah blah blah I think Jerry should do whatever any other entrepreneur would do,
keep taking peoples money and fly whatever messages over whomever you want. Maybe I'll pay him to fly a banner that says "reality tv sucks!"

Posted at 5:16PM on Aug 7th 2007 by pontificating life in Lancaster

50. In the world of lawsuits and big business, it really isn't so much about who is right and wrong but who has the deeper pockets. CBS can afford to tie the plane operator up in courts for years while the plane operator goes bankrupt paying his lawyer fees. CBS has corporate lawyers on staff that they are already paying anyway.

Posted at 9:27PM on Aug 7th 2007 by zillionth to one

51. Hey, All.
I just called the number again for the guy whos media company is supposedly behind the banners...and GUESS WHAT? I actually got him on the phone. He was really very nice for someone who has probably gotton hundreds of calls by viewers by now.
He said he didn't answer most of them but had actually listened to the messages and had lots that were from people THANKING HIM because they felt it made the show more interesting now. Anyway thought people would like to know that this Will Estell from BCB Media seems to be a nice guy and that he really has a right to carry out his groups little joke if he wants to do it bad enough to spend the money. By the way, when I asked if he was getting paid by someone else to do this...maybe another network. He totally clammed up then said, "no comment, it really has been nice talking with you but I have to get some real writing done now".

Makes you wonder who is really behind hiring him maybe.

Posted at 9:41AM on Aug 9th 2007 by I just talked to the Banner guy in person

52. I have heard that not only did Will Estell and BCB Media pull the banner last night but they are going to continue until they accomplish what they set out to do.
I actually got Mr. Estell on the phone number that CBS and tmz. had posted on their sites to apparently "Put the joke back on him" by getting people from all over the country to blow his phone up with calls. I tried about 5 times myself and actually finally got him on the line. He was actually really nice and funny and admitted to being one of the three guys behind the Banner prank. I did get the feeling though that someone is paying his company to do it, no word on who though...maybe another network...NBC, ABC...WHO KNOWS? I do think thought that this guy will keep trying until he gets the message through to the housemates and blows the cover on the show. What you do? He thinks its funny and from what I've read today so do lots of others. Even some fans think that the banner is actually adding to the show.

Posted at 5:13PM on Aug 8th 2007 by Lance MD

53. Our sources tell us that Will Estell and bcb Media of Oxford, Alabama are infact behind the banner prank and actually have hired two seperate companies to continue to try to "pull off" the stunt of blowing the story to the houseguests. It seems that Hider and his company Blue Yonder Air are out due to the CBS cease and desist order but now two others with bigger banners are replacing them. We have tried to contact Estell ourselves with the number posted on CBS's web site but have only been able to get his voice mail.
I guess a couple hundred phone calls from fans will do that to you.

We have heard though that many fans of the show think the banner prank has actually added to and help the show. I guess if another network is behind getting Estell's company to do this...it may be backfiring on them and working in the shows favor.

Stay Tuned.

Posted at 5:14PM on Aug 8th 2007 by Celeb News by E!

54. I find it hillarious that CBS can order this banner stopped and give the reason of "outside influence". CBS producers influenced the game, the vote, and even the eviction this week so as not to loose thier millions of dollars in revenue from those rediculous 99 cent america's player txt msg votes. Without the "outside influence" of the people behind the scenes, america's player would have been history tonight and cbs would have lost a ton of money. So much for an unscripted reality show. If they are going to make tons of cash off this guy and in turn take the "game" and the true fair "competition" out of it for money, who cares if someone flies a banner overhead! HIPOCRITS!

Posted at 1:34AM on Aug 10th 2007 by LostSoul28

55. Disgusting that anyone would out Eric just to spoil the show. Amber is doing that with
the endless (you have allowed this way too much) God references. Nice that she has a
religion but this is saturation.

Posted at 11:55AM on Aug 30th 2007 by Rowena Travis

56. what a complete and total IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 3:02PM on Sep 21st 2007 by H

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