WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Sept. 20, 2001 — The houseguests from the CBS reality series Big Brother 2 were finally let out last week, and what was the very first thing they all decided to do? Watch themselves on TV, of course.
Almost every contestant from the popular series showed up at Belly, the hip West Hollywood watering hole owned by one of the show’s cast members, Mike “Boogie” Malin, to view the West Coast airing of the much-ballyhooed finale episode–mere hours after they enacted it live for the East Coast audience.
A horde of hot young bodies (many decked out in red, white and blue adornment, including stick-on American flag tattoos) was crammed into the club, enjoying jazz fusion and complimentary cocktails served by a stable of sexy bartenders whose taut tummies were an even better advertisement for the bar’s name than the tiny “Belly”-emblazoned cropped tees they wore.
A handful of veterans from other TV reality shows were on hand, including Kaya and Valerie from Temptation Island (yes, still together) and Dan from the Miami incarnation of MTV’s The Real World.. Other up-and-comers such as Shane West (Once & Again) were also spotted at the bar.
The vibe got really festive with the arrival of the “houseguests.” Easily the most popular was Monica, who in the show’s final days coped with the fact that one of her close cousins is among the missing in the World Trade Center attack. Still, Monica was a picture of strength, spirit and good humor, and she told me that although she didn’t win the half-million, she was already a winner before she even walked through the door.
The roof was practically blown off the nightclub when the crowd watched Belly owner Mike propose to his housemate Krista on TV, and the couple snuggled as the partygoers gave them a round of applause. “Boogie” told me that the second best thing to come out of his experience was a big boost in business for Belly. “I’m getting phone calls from all around the world, request for T-shirts, all kinds of things,” he said.
[PAGEBREAK]
The stunning Krista gave me a BIG hug when I told her I seriously thought about giving up the show when she got the boot. She said she and her young daughter become full-time Los Angelenos in early October, and she was on the verge of signing with a top Hollywood talent agency. Of all the Big Brother 2 gang, the very likable and down-to-earth Cajun gal seems to have the best shot at a showbiz career.
Kent, the house’s middle-aged voice of Middle American values, was immediately surrounded by an admiring bevy of D-girls and actress-model-whatevers (and no, the newly non-smoking dad never once sneaked a smoke break). House hunk Hardy and his knockout girlfriend also caused a sensation, and he and Kent seemed to have gotten over the hostilities they felt in the house.
Bunky, the sensitive, often-tearful gay houseguest, had his husband in tow and was at last all smiles, telling me he emerged from the house stronger than ever. Sheryl, the “hot mom” who was the first to be evicted, proved popular with the young men, and Autumn, the aspiring singer, looked appropriately rock star-ish, but leaned on me to adjust her chic but oh-so-hard-on-the-toes shoes–ah, the price of glamour.
And yes, the night’s big winner, “Evil Doctor” Will was in the house, playing it cool for all who didn’t know he’d won the $500,000 prize until it played out on the TV screen. His victory was wildly applauded, but the doc seemed more concerned with giving his sexy housemate (and new girlfriend) Shannon a tonsillectomy with his tongue. As soon as the show was over they split the scene–at last, their chance to be alone where no one could watch.
