mass poisoning to boost ratings?

'Island of the Famous' No Paradise

Tue Sep 28,11:19 AM ET

 Oddly Enough - Reuters


ROME (Reuters) - It didn't take long for the celebrities on the "Island of the Famous," a popular reality show broadcast on Italian state television, to figure out that they hadn't found paradise.

 

First, Hurricane Jeanne crashed the party ravaging the tiny Caribbean island where the 12 famous personalities were due to compete in "Survivor"-style tests for top honors. The show's launch was delayed for 10 days.


Then on Monday, less than a week after the program kicked off, seven of the 12 stars were evacuated to a nearby hospital with food poisoning after eating nuts found on the beach.


Among those who needed treatment were former Italian soccer star Toto Schillaci and Indian-born actor Kabir Bedi, who has appeared in numerous soap operas including Dynasty and The Bold and the Beautiful.


"They should start getting better in the coming hours," said the program's Web Site.


However, a skeptical consumers' group asked if the mass poisoning wasn't actually a bid to boost ratings.


"Up to what point can the competition for audience share be played out at the cost of its contestants' wellbeing," Codacons said in a statement.

-- XXOO Tanya