Tom Hanks' niece reflects on emotional 'Claim to Fame' outburst: 'I can't regret it'

Spoiler alert: This story contains details from Monday’s Season 2 premiere of “Claim to Fame,” including the eliminated contestant.

It was a mystery much easier to solve than "The Da Vinci Code."

ABC's "Claim to Fame" contestants quickly identified Tom Hanks as housemate Carly Reeves’ celebrity relative on Monday's Season 2 premiere. The elimination came as a complete surprise to Reeves, Hanks' niece by marriage, who is the daughter of Rita Wilson's sister. Wilson and Hanks have been married since 1988, but producers and ABC executives suggested Reeves identify Hanks as her relative because of his fame.

"I was in a complete fog," Reeves, 39, tells USA TODAY. "I don't even remember … Tom's picture showing up. My eyes were so full of water. I was crying so much, I couldn't even breathe. I just was hyperventilating a little bit because I was shocked."

"Claim to Fame," hosted by brothers Kevin and Frankie Jonas, assembles a dozen relatives of celebrities in a house filled with clues about their famous family member. The contestant who can successfully conceal their identity for the entire season wins $100,000.

Reeves resented the obvious tips about her celebrity relative on the clue wall: a park bench and ping pong paddle referencing Hanks' Oscar-winning 1994 film "Forrest Gump." She voiced her frustration in an emotional rant after her housemate Hugo correctly guessed her Hollywood connection and eliminated her from the competition. If Hugo would've been wrong, he would've been eliminated instead.

"His freakin' clues are so freakin' obvious," Reeves sobs in the premiere. "There's literally no reference to benches on any other movie. Even (her fellow contestant) Gabriel found that out. He’s not even, like, smart.

"I didn't even get to do any challenges!" Reeves continues. "I don't deserve this! I should have more camera time! I should be here longer!"

Reeves reveals why she was so upset, whether she has any regrets and tidbits you might not know about her famous uncle. (Edited for length and clarity.)

Question: How were you cast in the show, and how did your family react?

Carly Reeves: I actually applied myself. I didn't even know what the show was, and everyone was sending me messages and DMs and being like, "You should do this! You would be great for this!" And I love reality TV. (Also) I am an actor ("Larry Crowne," "Charlie Wilson's War"), and I thought absolutely it would be great exposure, even if it was just that people knew me from my uncle. I've always wanted to be outside of the spotlight from him, but now I'm like, "Well, I guess we're doing this. We're sharing (it) with the world."

Tom was just like, "Best of luck! That's awesome!" (He and Wilson) were both really happy for me. I told (Hanks' sons) Colin and my cousin Chet (Hanks), and all of them, they were all happy for me.

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Why were you so upset about being eliminated?

I went through all the emotions. I was first shocked, then I was sad, and then I was really angry because I thought that my clues were just super easy. I felt like I didn't get as easy a game as everyone else. They could have used a million different clues from all of his different movies, but they decided to use the biggest movie of his and make three clues about that. I thought I didn't get a good shot at it, and I just felt like it was all kind of planned to make me go home. But in reality, I know that it's just a game, and people had their theories about me, and they were right.

Do you have any regrets about how you reacted?

No. Honestly, I'm an emotional person, so I'm obviously going to react in a big way because that's just how I am. And because this was so special to me, and it was so exciting for me, I was upset. Could I have handled myself better and been a little bit more graceful with it? Yes. But as far as being upset and sad, that was all real. So, I can't regret it.

Is there something that people might be surprised to learn about your uncle?

He really hates raspberries (laughing). It's a really random thing, but he hates raspberries. He's hilarious. He doesn't like crowds. He hates going to award shows. Anytime he can avoid a red carpet, he does.

How did you decide what you would do for the talent show competition?

I love to perform, and I love singing and acting and dancing, and I just am a goofball really at heart. So I thought it would just be really funny if I did something that they wouldn't expect, and so I just made up a rap because I really like making up songs, anyway. And then I heard someone say, "Was that a clue to Chet Hanks (who also raps)?" And I was like, "No! It wasn't." The talent show was trying to throw people off because I wanted them to think that (my relative) was in the music industry in some way.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Hanks' niece Carly Reeves on Claim to Fame exit: 'Can't regret it'