Hall of Shame Moment: I'm a Whining Child - Get Me Out of Here!

What did the celebrities of I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here! think they were signing up for? Apparently, they thought that since they are celebrities (and for most of them, I use that term very loosely), this would be more like a fun camping trip or spa vacation than a show similar to Survivor. Since the very first Bush Tucker Trial, where Melissa Rivers had various creatures dumped in special pants, they have acted like they simply could not believe what the producers were doing to them.

After that first trial, Melissa whined that the producers were trying to humiliate them. To this I had to wonder: "Yeah, and?" Had she never seen a reality TV show? Did she not know that challenges were often designed to put people in strange situations? The seeds for fighting with the producers had been planted.

Fighting with the producers really took off after Nikki's "Croc Pit" Trial. Was it really a fair challenge? Well, frankly, no, I don't think so. It could have been if some changes were made, such as having the stars attached to the buoys rather than buried "somewhere" around them. That challenge would have been difficult to do in two minutes even without the crocodiles there! But the way some of the contestants - and we shouldn't forget that they are indeed contestants - decided to give the producers a piece of their mind showed that they thought themselves above the average reality show participants. Would contestants on a regular show do that? Almost certainly not. Yet these particular ones felt entitled because they are used to being in control.

And the producers gave in. For Nikki's second test, which had been announced at first as needing two minutes per star, she suddenly only needed one minute each when it came time to do it. Thus, a pattern was born. The contestants complain, and the producers give in. Unfortunately, as with raising children, this is a bad pattern to get into.

So when the rain came pouring down - and pouring and pouring and pouring - the celebs decided it was time for more demands. How dare it rain in the rainforest?! Certainly, even the producers have admitted that it doesn't usually rain quite this much, but, hey, they can't control the weather (well, unless somebody was praying to an immunity idol…). The celebs need to realize that part of the game is being in the elements. After all, that's how it was billed - as John Melendez has repeatedly noted. The show is not called, I'm a Celebrity - Isn't This Fun!. The reason they would want to "Get Out of Here" is because it's a test for people who are used to a life more of luxury.

So, yes, their bedding is wet. Their clothes are wet. Why don't they do something to fix it? If Cris can build a cutting board table, why can't they gather supplies to shield themselves somewhat from the rain? Are they forbidden from doing any actual work? What do they do all day besides sitting around?

Also, even if they wanted to address the producers about it, why not do it in a productive way rather than with demands? It's one thing to say, "Hey, nobody expected this much rain and the camp is a mess due to nobody's fault - can you help us a little bit to fix it up?" It's quite another to say, "We demand wine - and make it a good year - plus crystal stemware, plus a nice steak to go with it, and another thing…"

Things have not gone perfectly on the show, to be sure. But the producers have gone out of their way to make things more bearable. But the celebs want more and more and more. Besides all of this, let's face it, some of what they have asked for just goes beyond the pale. They used a whole bottle of dishwashing detergent in four days and then wanted more. What the hell were they washing - themselves?! We keep hearing about how they only have rice and beans unless they win the Bush Tucker Trials - but then they demanded food from the producers and they got it! Kind of kills that whole concept, doesn't it?

And then, to top it all off, the producers gave in and provided some of what they wanted, and they still wanted more! They weren't going to eat the food until the producers gave them everything on the list. Are these really adults here? Next I expect them to hold their breath until they turn blue. So what happened? The producers gave in yet again.

I should note, of course, that not all the celebs have been acting this way. As mentioned already, John Melendez has consistently been the voice of reason throughout this, and several other celebs have sided with him. Tyson's attack on Cris for daring to join the group who said they wouldn't be walking out was simply ridiculous and, again, childish.

Indeed, "childish" describes their behavior best. They don't like a situation and so they make demands and throw tantrums and threaten to walk out if those demands aren't met. So there! Nyah nyah! Then the producers give in and it only gives the children, er, celebrities more incentive to do it again. Frankly, several of them need timeouts!

Overall, a number of the contestants on this show have acted like the bratty stereotype we often see for "celebrities." They are not doing themselves any favors. Instead, they are just adding to a shameful stereotype.

David Bloomberg is the Editor of the Reality TV Hall of Shame, and can be reached at rno@pobox.com.

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