Big Brother: Excusing bad behavior?

(Warning: The majority of the links below have NSFW language. Follow any link with caution.)

Sorry, everyone — I thought a weekend would be enough to get me to cool down after CBS' infuriating non-response to the anti-semetic remarks made by Amber in the live feeds. Basically, the network said that they're only responsible for what they put on the airwaves and not for the content they sell to internet users. Hmm ... sorry, that doesn't work for me. In both cases they're both being packaged as entertainment and sold to the public, right? Don't they have someone determining which cameras live feed and ShoToo subscribers can watch?

As I was trying to cool down, however, things got even worse. Dick, who's been presented as a blunt rebel who "tells it like it is," has spent the past few weeks verbally harassing Jen with threats of rape, insults focused on her sexuality and hopes for her death. While not as severe, the way he treated Kail left her asking to drop out of the competition. This weekend he added homophobia to his repertoire.

While trying to prevent Dustin from sleeping, he says that "...all the gay guys in West Hollywood used to go around and say 'I'm clean, I don't have HIV' when they weren't," and makes sexually charged insults. He also takes on a yellowface accent, adding racism into the mix. Lovely.

Perhaps CBS has a point when they say that not airing some of the most bigoted comments made in the Big Brother house keeps those bigoted attitudes behind them from becoming more widespread. However, this side of Dick is minimized on the broadcast edition. The show gives more screen time to his relationship with his daughter than his abusive side, emphasizing the redemptive storyline even though he shows no sign of letting up on the harassing speech. In primetime, Dick's story is that of the guy with the rough edges and a sweet, sentimental side (especially where his family is concerned) that he hides behind a rough exterior — he's one of the good guys of the season.

Because of the way he's been portrayed in the primetime edition, Dick is currently ranked as the most popular houseguest (his third victory in a row) in CBS' "Love 'em or Leave 'em" poll (he was also the most popular cast member for another period of four consecutive weeks). So far, CBS has stuck with their mostly sympathetic characterization of him — on Thursday we got a segment on the bar where he works, with glowing testimonials from his friends including one where Dick is described as, "a sap and a sweetheart of a guy." Last night's episode gave more screen time to his desire to protect his daughter from getting evicted than to the fights he's stirred. (A fight with Jameka was also edited to change the tone in Dick's favor. In the actual argument, Jameka reacts to his comments about her Christianity by bringing up his mother's religion, saying that any insult he makes to her on the basis of her faith also applies to his mother. However, in last night's episode the episode pretty much cuts right to Jameka saying "Your momma is a bitch.")

By continuing to portray someone who's making increasingly blatant displays of homophobia, racism and misogyny as a good guy, I can't help but feel like CBS is excusing his behavior — they're telling us that in the end, it doesn't matter that he spews all kinds of hateful, threatening speech because he loves his daughter and adds drama to the Big Brother house.

CBS hasn't broadcast his comments on the airwaves but they have broadcast them on the internet and, this year, those comments are easily found thanks to a large number of fans posting clips from the live feeds and from Big Brother After Dark. Anyone who falls for CBS' presenting Dick as a rude and crude man who's got a heart of gold can easily find out what kind of language he uses when his "tell it like it is" personality is left uncensored. If you look at the comments for some of the above clips, you find stuff along the lines of "(Dick) is the man! Rock on, dude!" and "Dick you are the BEST!!!"

CBS may see a divide between the live feed footage and what they air in primetime, but I wonder how much of the audience looks at Big Brother with that kind of intellectual detachment. How many viewers who enjoy Dick's rudeness on the show and see his abusive behavior as something that's an extension (instead of a alternate depiction) of the anti-hero seen on CBS?

So ... I'm afraid I will have to duck out of trying to make light of recent Big Brother events once again. The environment there is too ugly to have fun with it. Hopefully, the outlook will improve in a couple days.

I am curious to hear how our readers feel. By portraying him positively, have the Big Brother producers made Dick a more popular houseguest than he deserves to be? Once they've let people see how he behaves in the live feeds, does CBS have any responsibility to address it in the primetime edition? Is there an unfortunate message when viewers who see Dick as their favorite houseguest seek out more Big Brother and find their favorite houseguest says that all gay men in West Hollywood have HIV and lie about it? Tell us what you think in the comments section.