May 12, 2001 01:38pm
Activists Try to Disrupt French ``Trash TV'' Show
Source: Reuters/Variety
(PARIS) -- Several hundred activists stormed an industrial zone north of Paris Saturday to try to ``free'' the stars of the titillating French reality TV hit ``Loft Story'' from their heavily-guarded compound.
Aurelie Bleton, a spokeswoman for ecologist group The Green Mouse, told Reuters by mobile phone that she was at a police cordon some 25 meters from the studio and that protesters had clashed with private security guards, who fired tear gas to repel them.
Earlier, the activists dumped rubbish at the headquarters of French broadcaster TV company M6 in western Paris and pelted the glass entrance to the Neuilly-sur-Seine building with rotten eggs, yoghurt and tomatoes.
While French channels initially resisted ``Big Brother''-style reality shows the steamy ``Loft Story'' has captured the public imagination, hooked millions of viewers and unleashed a national debate about ``trash TV.'' It has also raked in cash for M6.
French intellectuals have frowned at the exhibitionism of the young stars, whose frolicking is censored for public access television but can be seen day or night on the Internet or satellite pay-TV.
The protesters, mainly young communists and green activists, chanted ``liberty, liberty'' and planned to play loud music to attract the stars' attention. They also brought some books, such as George Orwell's ``1984,'' to educate the ``hostages.''
The activists claimed a victory Saturday, saying Internet access had been cut to avoid the risk of broadcasting a break-in, or showing the 10 ``lofters'' reacting to the din outside. The stars are tracked constantly by 26 cameras.
M6 said earlier that the relatively small demonstration at its headquarters showed far more people were happy with the program than not. No one was immediately available for comment on the protests at the studio.
The 10 remaining participants entered their third week of very public seclusion at the La Plaine Saint Denis studio north of Paris Thursday. The couple that survives 70 days without being booted out wins a house worth three million French francs ($401,000).
Ratings took off after one couple enjoyed a late night naked romp in the loft pool. Thursday's episode drew 7.7 million viewers, a record for M6, including more than three-quarters of viewers 15-24 years old.
There have been calls for French media watchdog CSA to ban the show, a step it has so far refused to take. However it has insisted ``Loft Story'' is being carefully monitored.
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