Reality News Update, March 25: Paula's Necklace, Hillbilly Protests, Evan & Zora, Big Brother 4, and a Real World Auction

This might not be news to some of you who saw Paula Abdul on Oprah's show just as the second American Idol was starting, but I think it is to most people. Remember when Simon Cowell made the comment to Joshua Gracin that he's a Marine and shouldn't be wearing the silly star necklace? Turns out that was a slam on Paula Abdul, who designed the necklace and gave one to each of the contestants (I thought I had seen one on a couple of the others, but figured it was just a generic fashion trend or something).

But it doesn't stop there. Paula Abdul is selling the necklaces on her site, www.paulaabdul.com - for 80 bucks plus shipping and handling! In fact, that's the only thing on her site, as if she never had a career or a history.

This came to my attention because a reader saw her talking about these necklaces on an entertainment show and suggested that Paula should be put into the Reality TV Hall of Shame for hawking these. However, we at the Hall of Shame decided against it because, well, everybody else is making money off of American Idol, why shouldn't she?

That said, another RealityNewsOnline writer has suggested that for 80 bucks plus shipping, it should come with Nikki McKibbin's shrunken head as well.

Because obviously the House of Representatives does not have anything better to do these days, a number of them have joined the protest against CBS plans to air The Real Beverly Hillbillies. Earlier, RealityNewsOnline reported that others have fought the idea because it would supposedly make fun of rural Americans. Since then it has snowballed, with 43 Congressmen asking CBS to put a halt to the show before it's even begun.

I'm glad they are focusing on real issues.

I was going to make a snide remark about how there have not been any organizations asking ABC to put a stop to The Family, which depicts a mostly blue-collar Italian-American family in a similar situation, often with amusing results - such as when the family was given high-class cuisine in the first episode or when they were trying to play tennis more recently. However, the most recent issue of TV Guide indicates that, indeed, there are Italian groups that are upset about the show. I guess, however, they just don't have the pull to get Congressmen involved. So either there are more Hillbillies than Italians in Congress (unlikely) or just the use of the word "Hillbilly" is really what set them off more than the actual situations they would be put in.

Yes, we'd heard it before, but now it's official - no way Evan and Zora will be together. Zora told US Weekly magazine that she hasn't talked to Evan since the reunion in February, even though they walked away from their on-camera saying they would keep in touch - but they didn't.

Zora told the magazine that she'd rather be with construction worker Evan than Joe Millionaire Evan - the man who now makes thousands of dollars for public appearances and has adopted much of the Hollywood lifestyle.

The magazine also reported that she has kept all the jewelry she won, but has not yet received the half-million dollars she was supposed to get from the finale. Considering the ratings pulled in by the show, you'd think Fox could afford to pay her by now…

Yes, it's true - applications for Big Brother 4 are now being accepted - and only for a few short weeks!

If you want to spend a few months as the center of attention for readers of this website, you can go to the BB4 website to get all the information you need for an application. But hurry, because it all has to be in by Friday, April 18.

Have you always wanted to own a piece of The Real World? Well now you can, for a price. Various items from Real World Las Vegas will be auctioned off beginning on Friday, March 28. You can go to the official site for all the details of what you can buy. The items are split up by location (Arissa and Irulan's Room, the bar, the bathroom, etc.) and include a wide variety of items such as Brynn's pillow set, Arissa's signed bear, and, yes, the condom jar (which should be mostly full still considering how infrequently Steven and Trishelle used them - then again, the others may have more than made up for that).

The items have a disclaimer in their description: "Remember, some of these items were used extensively by the Real World Las Vegas cast, so expect a little wear and tear. Items are offered and will be sold on an "As Is" and "Where Is" basis.

RealityNewsOnline writers suggest that if you actually buy anything in this auction, you have it professionally sterilized, especially anything from the bedrooms.

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at rno@pobox.com.

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