NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK - KNIGHT QUIT FAME GAMES AFTER HEARING OF GRAN'S DEATH

Former NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK singer JORDAN KNIGHT was forced to pull out of reality TV show SURREAL LIFE FAME GAMES after hearing about the death of his grandmother. The pop star's grief was caught on camera and aired on Sunday night (07JAN07), when the celebrity TV contest debuted in America. Knight sobbed, "I knew something was going on with one of my loved ones and after a while it just started gnawing at me." He was filmed calling his wife EVIE, who told him about the tragedy. Knight then addressed his fellow Fame Games contestants, including BRIGITTE NIELSEN, porn star RON JEREMY and former BAYWATCH star TRACI BINGHAM, letting them know his reasons for walking out. He said, "I've got to get out of here. There's a death in my family and my heart is just not here." Knight was replaced on the show by AUSTIN POWERS star VERNE TROYER, who initially signed up to co-host the reality show with TV personality ROBIN LEACH.