Houseguest Hunk In Hot Water

One of the "Big Brother" contestants is in big trouble at his hometown job. As Early Show National Correspondent Jon Frankel reports, coworkers are trying to help him out.

Eric Ouellette may have brought beefcake to the Big Brother house, but he's in hot water at the firehouse in Connecticut where he works.

"I think Mr. Ouellette showed poor judgment," says one of his firefighting colleagues.

His bosses have accused the 27-year-old of insubordination. They say he failed to get permission to swap three months of shifts with fellow firefighters before leaving for Big Brother 3 taping in Los Angeles.

"You run by rules and regulations, standard practices and procedures," his colleague explains.

Ouellette's union reps say he did nothing wrong, and that his co-workers were happy to cover for him.

Tom Eldridge, another friend at the firehouse says, "We call him Hollywood" and adds that other firefighters are happy to cover for him.

Bill Geising of the Pequonnock Fire Department says, "It's a swap - I work for you for free and then you come back and work for me later on."

Ouelette is clueless about the controversy. Fire Department officials claim they wanted to get a message to Eric, but Big Brother contestants are not allowed any contact with the outside world.

Arnold Shapiro, executive producer of Big Brother 3 says, "The only exception to that rule is a family crisis or a national emergency similar to that of last Sept. 11."

Ouellette is not the only contestant on the reality show with real-world problems.

Chiara Berti faces arraignment in September for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

"Chiara was told by her attorney as well as we were, that any hearings that required her presence, he can actually be there in her place, and that's perfectly legal," says Shapiro.

Back in Connecticut, fire officials will not take any action against Ouellette until he comes home and they admit he won't lose his job.

Daniel Hunsberger, Sr., a member of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut, says ,"It's not often you get a firefighter on a national show,…and the chief has made a total negative out of it."

They won't get a cut in Ouellette's possible $500,000 award but Eldridge says, "We'll probably partake in the party afterwards."

Ouellette is still getting hometown support. A sign that reads "Support Eric Ouellette" used to be across the street but was moved, with department management approval, to in front of fire headquarters.