Big Brother
Jun. 11th, 2008 03:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
emmelinemayBig Brother is back, apparently. I didn't know until Monday, when we were looking for something on 4OD or the IPlayer to watch.
My love affair with BB was over during series 6, and this was cemented in the chaos that was the last 'celebrity' BB, where they featured one of my Least Favourite Persons Of All Time, and one of the people I blame for ruining Big Brother, Jade Goody. I'll explain that later.
So we began to watch the launch show, I guess for the same reason you slow down to look at the scene of an accident.
We saw 4 people go in. A couple - she with huge breasts, the sort of women who you just KNOW has a really irritating laugh without even needing to hear it - he looking like someone has bashed his face in with a frying pan. An odd politics student with impossibly large ears, a non drinking/smoking/drugging chap with a suit slightly too large for him, an unexpected accent and a disconcerting 'it's always the quiet ones' smile. And a teenage wannabe in the making, from her blonde extensions and pearly white smile down through a 'perfect' body to her killer heels via irritatingly high self-esteem.
So far, so interesting, to be honest. They almost had me.
And then, they bring the 4 into the diary room and tell them that the couple must pretend to not be a couple, that Frying-pan-face has to pretend that Barbie is his girlfriend, while Big-boobs and Big-ears are santa's helpers. If they succeed in making the rest of the housemates believe this, they won't be up for eviction. If they fail, they will.
And we turn off.
Because, you know, I really don't give a monkeys whether they're up for eviction or not. I met them 5 minutes ago. I don't know anything about them. I haven't met anyone else yet. I've made no allegiances, I've formed no dislikes, no loves, I've not had time to have an opinion about any of them yet.
This is where I think the format has gone wrong - they try SO HARD to make conflict before it even has a chance to develop naturally, failing to realise that most of the most interesting viewing coming from BB ever has been the conflict that naturally arises when you stick 10+ strangers in a small house and film them 24/7. That ought to be enough for anyone. 'The act of observation changes that which is observed' they say, and that is what made BB series 1-3 such compulsive viewing. We were given time to get to know them, and they each other, before they started pulling crazy business on them.
Then, along came Jade. Brash, stupid, rude, ignorant and a bully to boot. She was pretty much totally hated for the whole series, until the last week, when fearing a backlash, the media suddenly switched allegiances, and she came out of the whole thing the most successful contestant of all time, having been the most hated for a good 8 weeks. Seeing her success I guess is an indication that that's what the public want. Artificial conflict, stupid people. They bring her back for the 'Celebrity' BB, and are, apparently, surprised when she turns out to be brash, stupid, rude, ignorant and a bully - all the things that made her famous in the first place.
I miss the early days of Big Brother, when they stuck a bunch of different people in a house, filmed them, let them get to know each other, let them make friends, let us get to know them, then pitted them against each other with the nominations, whilst forcing them to work together for food and rewards. That's a killer concept - simple, brutal, effective.
So why, honestly, WHY do they put in these ridiculous artificial attempts to create conflict? Where there are people, there will be conflict. Where they are being filmed, it will be INTERESTING conflict, because they will behave in a different way than they would when no one is watching (however many times they will protest 'I forget the cameras are there').
The labelling of series 4, where they did just that, as 'boring', combined with the continued success of Jade and the all-time high viewing figures for the crazy arguments of series 5 sealed BB's fate. The public don't want natural conflict or people getting on. They want screeching harpies screaming at each other in artificially created conflict. They want brash loud fake bullies. They want backstabbing and stupid tricks.
I think if they really do want to fuck with them, they should at least give us time to get to know them first. Give them a week to settle in, give us a week to watch them. THEN fuck with them.
Not that I care, because I won't be watching.
No, really.
My love affair with BB was over during series 6, and this was cemented in the chaos that was the last 'celebrity' BB, where they featured one of my Least Favourite Persons Of All Time, and one of the people I blame for ruining Big Brother, Jade Goody. I'll explain that later.
So we began to watch the launch show, I guess for the same reason you slow down to look at the scene of an accident.
We saw 4 people go in. A couple - she with huge breasts, the sort of women who you just KNOW has a really irritating laugh without even needing to hear it - he looking like someone has bashed his face in with a frying pan. An odd politics student with impossibly large ears, a non drinking/smoking/drugging chap with a suit slightly too large for him, an unexpected accent and a disconcerting 'it's always the quiet ones' smile. And a teenage wannabe in the making, from her blonde extensions and pearly white smile down through a 'perfect' body to her killer heels via irritatingly high self-esteem.
So far, so interesting, to be honest. They almost had me.
And then, they bring the 4 into the diary room and tell them that the couple must pretend to not be a couple, that Frying-pan-face has to pretend that Barbie is his girlfriend, while Big-boobs and Big-ears are santa's helpers. If they succeed in making the rest of the housemates believe this, they won't be up for eviction. If they fail, they will.
And we turn off.
Because, you know, I really don't give a monkeys whether they're up for eviction or not. I met them 5 minutes ago. I don't know anything about them. I haven't met anyone else yet. I've made no allegiances, I've formed no dislikes, no loves, I've not had time to have an opinion about any of them yet.
This is where I think the format has gone wrong - they try SO HARD to make conflict before it even has a chance to develop naturally, failing to realise that most of the most interesting viewing coming from BB ever has been the conflict that naturally arises when you stick 10+ strangers in a small house and film them 24/7. That ought to be enough for anyone. 'The act of observation changes that which is observed' they say, and that is what made BB series 1-3 such compulsive viewing. We were given time to get to know them, and they each other, before they started pulling crazy business on them.
Then, along came Jade. Brash, stupid, rude, ignorant and a bully to boot. She was pretty much totally hated for the whole series, until the last week, when fearing a backlash, the media suddenly switched allegiances, and she came out of the whole thing the most successful contestant of all time, having been the most hated for a good 8 weeks. Seeing her success I guess is an indication that that's what the public want. Artificial conflict, stupid people. They bring her back for the 'Celebrity' BB, and are, apparently, surprised when she turns out to be brash, stupid, rude, ignorant and a bully - all the things that made her famous in the first place.
I miss the early days of Big Brother, when they stuck a bunch of different people in a house, filmed them, let them get to know each other, let them make friends, let us get to know them, then pitted them against each other with the nominations, whilst forcing them to work together for food and rewards. That's a killer concept - simple, brutal, effective.
So why, honestly, WHY do they put in these ridiculous artificial attempts to create conflict? Where there are people, there will be conflict. Where they are being filmed, it will be INTERESTING conflict, because they will behave in a different way than they would when no one is watching (however many times they will protest 'I forget the cameras are there').
The labelling of series 4, where they did just that, as 'boring', combined with the continued success of Jade and the all-time high viewing figures for the crazy arguments of series 5 sealed BB's fate. The public don't want natural conflict or people getting on. They want screeching harpies screaming at each other in artificially created conflict. They want brash loud fake bullies. They want backstabbing and stupid tricks.
I think if they really do want to fuck with them, they should at least give us time to get to know them first. Give them a week to settle in, give us a week to watch them. THEN fuck with them.
Not that I care, because I won't be watching.
No, really.
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no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:23 pm (UTC);)
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:21 pm (UTC)George "I'm a cat. Is your skin crawling yet?" Galloway allegedly being there to a appeal to the yoof but being a total patronising cunt to the younger contestants.
Dennis "I'm a negative steriotype" Rodman raping all women and some of the more shapely furnature with his eyes.
Michal "Don't drop fags in the pool!" Barrymore being snarky.
Chantelle "Why has she gone down the Jordan route? She was so sweet!" and Preston "I'm in a band. I AM!!!" being lovey-dovey.
Pete "What. The. Fuck" Burns being ultra mean.
Plus some other fine freaks giving an AWESOME show of massive insane personalities locked in a house. Sod the tasks that gang were brilliant!
JmC
It even made me feel sorry for Jodie Marsh
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:26 pm (UTC)I loved it when George Galloway ripped into Preston telling him he was sly, and manipulative &c &c and not realising every word he said was about himself, not Preston.
I personally thought Marsh brought it all on herself, and have no sympathy. She said that Eskimos were unethical for wearing fur, but sees no problem with wearing leather. Dude. If you're going to have a strong opinion and bitch out others for it, THINK IT THROUGH first.
I have to say, daft though it sounds, I learnt an awful lot about myself watching that series.
Nothing Big Brother ever do will be as awesome as that series.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:38 pm (UTC)What did you learn? Never get within 27 feet of Dennis?!
And I did feel Jodie, whilst not the brightest bulb in the lampshop, didn't deserve the HUGE abuse poured on her by Burns, Barrymore and Galloway. Mainly because they were all bright(ish), experienced men(ish) ripping into a lass who did not have the mental and verbal dexterity to defend herself.
JmC
This may be my white knight complex talking
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:41 pm (UTC)although that said, i was dissapointed by the big man, he really didn't want to be there and wasn't his usuall flamboyant self...
The Rod-Man
Date: 2008-06-11 03:47 pm (UTC)JmC
If it wasn't for his perpetual confusion over Pete Burns things could have got messy.
Re: The Rod-Man
Date: 2008-06-11 03:48 pm (UTC)Re: The Rod-Man
Date: 2008-06-11 03:58 pm (UTC)JmC
All three at the same time
Re: The Rod-Man
Date: 2008-06-11 04:04 pm (UTC)Re: The Rod-Man
Date: 2008-06-11 04:08 pm (UTC)JmC
Run! Run for the hills!
Re: The Rod-Man
Date: 2008-06-11 06:40 pm (UTC)http://mrsgrapevine.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/dennis_rodmania.png
http://dlisted.com/files/rodmanrehabhotness12.jpg
Re: The Rod-Man
Date: 2008-06-12 09:15 am (UTC)And perhaps outshined by Pete Burns...
I guess you should never put two alpha trannys in the same house ;)
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:49 pm (UTC)Thus, if we are a bit manipulative and duplicitous, we will see it in others, and find it hard to understand someone doing something nice for you with good intentions, and assume they have some sort of ulterior motive. If we are quite naive and benign, and someone does something mean, we will find it hard to understand why, and assume it is a mistake, or in some way our own fault.
Looking at what we think other people's motives are for some actions can tell us more about ourselves than the other people.
From Jodie I learnt pretty much what I said above. If you are going to have a strong opinion, or an extreme opinion, think it through. Know why you have it, know the arguments against it, know the arguments for it. If you haven't thought it through, and people question you, you will get confused and upset, and will resort to personal attacks, becasue you haven't thought it through enough to respond with rational arguments.
I used to be REALLY argumentative, and trying to see if I'm getting upset and defensive about something because, really, I haven't thought it through properly, has really helped me become a much calmer person.
I guess I ought to have more sympathy for Marsh, because she reminds me a little of how I used to be, but as she demonstrated no ability for self-reflection, and learnt nothing from the experience, then I'm afraid I have none.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:50 pm (UTC)I liked the human aspect, the observational and experimental aspect.
It's so forced now, it has lost it for me.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:32 pm (UTC)And also weed out the fame hungry ones at the audition stage rather than putting them all to the front of the queue.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 03:41 pm (UTC)People that started watching at series 5, and don't remember Nasty Nick. That's still the high point of any series, I think. Can you imagine if that happened now? There's no way he'd have been quietly taken out the back door now. They'd probably construct it so he couldn't ever be up for nomination and try to make him win.
Back when it was a real game show, and not a freak show, breaking the rules was breaking the rules.
And I miss that.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 04:24 pm (UTC)This year is already SO much better than last year and although it'll never go back to the old days it passes the time when you are lying like a beached whale on the sofa ;)
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 04:39 pm (UTC)every second day secretly swap all of her clothes for some that look exactly the same but are ever so slightly smaller.
I'm still wating for the complete headf**k of people leaving the house and NOONE being outside.
...or better yet a scene of desolate carnage, smoke drifting, the odd small fire here and there and best of all a whole bunch of zombies slowly lumbering up towards them....and then let them back into house...and then cut the power.
THAT might make it watchable.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 06:14 pm (UTC)As for BB - I have never watched it.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 09:23 am (UTC)You should totally write to Endemol and suggest that.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 04:51 pm (UTC)...mainly because it never began in the first place.
And fuck 'em for ruining Orwell!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 06:19 pm (UTC)Also I liked Vanity Lair, it still had that "experimentalness" about it.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 08:01 pm (UTC)Big Brother is an ex-parrot according to John Cleese, who makes a rare public intervention to reject pleas to join the celebrity version of the show.
“They have frequently resorted to quite ludicrous levels of bribery, sending in the post entirely shameless blandishments of a most extravagant nature,” he blogs. “I have nothing against Mr Orwell. I simply do not want to appear in his TV show, neither do I wish to be interviewed by the clearly insane Davina.”
Ms McCall, whose sanity has survived intact despite presenting BB for nine years, could be the ideal host for the Python star’s own programme. “I have devised several reality shows of my own. Much like human Big Brother they are based on studying animal behaviour, but mine are more to do with genuine reality, such as chewing, grooming, rutting and spitting. My absolute favourite show is called Big Llama which is something that other llamas will surely stay up all night to watch.”
no subject
Date: 2008-07-18 02:32 pm (UTC)It's the sort of show that ate itself, isn't it? They have to keep changing the format to prevent the contestants being too knowing about the 'rules', and yet changing the format changes the show's nature.
Is BB9 even still going?
no subject
Date: 2008-07-20 10:17 pm (UTC)