Reality Television's Most Infamous Stars
By SAIRA ANEES
April 24, 2008
Americans love reality TV shows, and, even more, the villainous characters who inject the humor, drama and controversy that make reality television worth watching.
Some of the most memorable moments in reality television have been created by the likes of Omarosa, Puck and Simon. They curse, scream, scheme and bring a new level of competition to the reality show. Like them or hate them, they have sent ratings through the roof and made headlines.
Puck, the original villain, grasped back in 1994 that he could get more camera time by playing the bad boy. Since then, he has inspired a host of others, whose antics push the envelope of outrageousness. Today, it's hard to imagine a reality show without one of those characters we love to hate. Here, 15 of the most unforgettable evil reality stars.
Simon Cowell from "American Idol"
FOX's hit reality TV series "American Idol" has been making dreams come true and breeding stars for radio and TV fame. But first they must pass through the insult machine known as Simon Cowell. Cowell never holds back his tongue, not even from his co-judges. Once, he asked a contestant if she had a singing teacher. She replied yes, and he asked her if she had a lawyer. When she said no, he advised her to get one and sue her singing teacher. Another time, after his co-judges told a contestant that she wasn't ready yet, Simon amended that by saying, "Unfortunately, you'll never be ready. Perhaps the only thing more humiliating than Cowell's comments is the fact that, for many, they are spot-on.
Omarosa from "The Apprentice"
One of the original Queens of Controversy, Omarosa Manigault Stallworth or simply Omarosa, as she was known, helped turn Donald *****'s NBC reality TV series "The Apprentice" into a major hit in it's first season. Omarosa seemed to be carrying a mountain on her shoulder. As one co-star said: "It's either her way or it's no way." Things got really personal when Omarosa accused one of her fellow competitors of being racist. One competitor, told Omarosa that being a b--, is a problem that she will have to deal with for the rest of her life. Probably one of the best-known villains of reality television, Omarosa went on to other reality shows, where she no doubt created more enemies.
Puck from "The Real World: San Francisco"
"The Real World" has had numerous attention-grabbers who felt the need to make their mark in the show's history books, but Puck is probably the most famous among them. His poor hygiene raised eyebrows in the house, especially when he picked is nose and then dipped the same finger into the peanut butter jar. When his housemates felt they had enough, they evicted Puck from the house, but he continued to harass them with prank phone calls, many with anti-gay insults directed towards Pedro, his least favorite person in the house. When he later appeared on MTV's "Real World/ Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Sexes," he spit in the face of housemate David Edwards and tensions ran so high that producer Jonathan Murray was brought in to rectify the situation.
Vikki Lizzi from "Celebrity Rehab"
Reality TV gets a fresh coat of drama when it focuses on celebrities, especially celebrities at their worst. Such was the case when actor Jeff Conaway, who stared opposite John Travolta in "Grease," appeared on VH-1's "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" as a patient. But it was his real-life girlfriend Lizzi who shocked many with her crazy behavior. Not only did she fail to see why it wasn't a good idea to keep her PMS-alleviating prescription pills in the house until Dr. Drew gave her a stern talking-to, but she tried to sneak booze into the center in a soft-drink bottle. Not surprisingly, Conway left rehab and the show unwilling to give up the prescription drugs he took for his back problems.
Gordon Ramsey from "Hell's Kitchen"
If famous British chef Gordon Ramsey is known for one thing besides his food, it's probably his dirty mouth. What goes on in "Hell's Kitchen" is something you're more likely to find in the wrestling ring than the kitchen. Like a drill sergeant, Ramsey whip his chefs into shape with insults and curses. If the food is unsatisfactory, Ramsey has been known to throw it in the garbage or on the floor, slide it across the counter until it breaks into a million pieces or, worse, dump it on the cook. He has called his chefs every name in the book, including, "dumb blonde" and "f-ing donkey." He got one contestant so angry that she reached to slap him, but he held her hand back. Ramsey has certainly kept the steam in the kitchen and even set it on fire with his temper tantrums.
By SAIRA ANEES
April 24, 2008
Americans love reality TV shows, and, even more, the villainous characters who inject the humor, drama and controversy that make reality television worth watching.
Some of the most memorable moments in reality television have been created by the likes of Omarosa, Puck and Simon. They curse, scream, scheme and bring a new level of competition to the reality show. Like them or hate them, they have sent ratings through the roof and made headlines.
Puck, the original villain, grasped back in 1994 that he could get more camera time by playing the bad boy. Since then, he has inspired a host of others, whose antics push the envelope of outrageousness. Today, it's hard to imagine a reality show without one of those characters we love to hate. Here, 15 of the most unforgettable evil reality stars.
Simon Cowell from "American Idol"
FOX's hit reality TV series "American Idol" has been making dreams come true and breeding stars for radio and TV fame. But first they must pass through the insult machine known as Simon Cowell. Cowell never holds back his tongue, not even from his co-judges. Once, he asked a contestant if she had a singing teacher. She replied yes, and he asked her if she had a lawyer. When she said no, he advised her to get one and sue her singing teacher. Another time, after his co-judges told a contestant that she wasn't ready yet, Simon amended that by saying, "Unfortunately, you'll never be ready. Perhaps the only thing more humiliating than Cowell's comments is the fact that, for many, they are spot-on.
Omarosa from "The Apprentice"
One of the original Queens of Controversy, Omarosa Manigault Stallworth or simply Omarosa, as she was known, helped turn Donald *****'s NBC reality TV series "The Apprentice" into a major hit in it's first season. Omarosa seemed to be carrying a mountain on her shoulder. As one co-star said: "It's either her way or it's no way." Things got really personal when Omarosa accused one of her fellow competitors of being racist. One competitor, told Omarosa that being a b--, is a problem that she will have to deal with for the rest of her life. Probably one of the best-known villains of reality television, Omarosa went on to other reality shows, where she no doubt created more enemies.
Puck from "The Real World: San Francisco"
"The Real World" has had numerous attention-grabbers who felt the need to make their mark in the show's history books, but Puck is probably the most famous among them. His poor hygiene raised eyebrows in the house, especially when he picked is nose and then dipped the same finger into the peanut butter jar. When his housemates felt they had enough, they evicted Puck from the house, but he continued to harass them with prank phone calls, many with anti-gay insults directed towards Pedro, his least favorite person in the house. When he later appeared on MTV's "Real World/ Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Sexes," he spit in the face of housemate David Edwards and tensions ran so high that producer Jonathan Murray was brought in to rectify the situation.
Vikki Lizzi from "Celebrity Rehab"
Reality TV gets a fresh coat of drama when it focuses on celebrities, especially celebrities at their worst. Such was the case when actor Jeff Conaway, who stared opposite John Travolta in "Grease," appeared on VH-1's "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" as a patient. But it was his real-life girlfriend Lizzi who shocked many with her crazy behavior. Not only did she fail to see why it wasn't a good idea to keep her PMS-alleviating prescription pills in the house until Dr. Drew gave her a stern talking-to, but she tried to sneak booze into the center in a soft-drink bottle. Not surprisingly, Conway left rehab and the show unwilling to give up the prescription drugs he took for his back problems.
Gordon Ramsey from "Hell's Kitchen"
If famous British chef Gordon Ramsey is known for one thing besides his food, it's probably his dirty mouth. What goes on in "Hell's Kitchen" is something you're more likely to find in the wrestling ring than the kitchen. Like a drill sergeant, Ramsey whip his chefs into shape with insults and curses. If the food is unsatisfactory, Ramsey has been known to throw it in the garbage or on the floor, slide it across the counter until it breaks into a million pieces or, worse, dump it on the cook. He has called his chefs every name in the book, including, "dumb blonde" and "f-ing donkey." He got one contestant so angry that she reached to slap him, but he held her hand back. Ramsey has certainly kept the steam in the kitchen and even set it on fire with his temper tantrums.