Big Brother

Well, I'm going to publicly admit that I do watch. Although not every series and I haven't started watching this years ...yet.

As long as I don't think of them as people, thinking of them as guinnea pigs instead, it's great. lol
But it does upset me when they gang up on each other.

For the very first series, my mum wanted me to do it. Can you believe it?
I don't know how many time sI have to tell people around me, it's not about getting on the telly, anybody can do that.
Anyway, she watched the first series, was uttely disgusted and has never mentioned it again..thankfully!!lol

• 15 years ago
• 1

I really dislike Big Brother. I thought it was a questionable format when it first started, but at least an intriguing one. Now, however, as years have gone by, I have become convinced that it's just tawdry, exploitative crud. In actual fact, though, I don't feel the people who take part are the ones exploited - as time has worn on, there has developed a mutual complicity between programme makers and participants - the programme makers have grown to encourage more and more outrageous applications, and the participants have responded to this; self - important publicity hounds with no shame to a man and woman; I feel these guys wish to plaster themselves across prime time television for no better reason than the wish to show off, and that they deserve everything they get.

The people I feel are exploited are the *audience* - why? Because what gets shown to us, masquerading as 'real time' development is, in fact, carefully orchestrated, pre-edited 'highlights' of the day's development...and this is just an excuse to develop 'storylines' about who we should feel sorry for, learn to hate, laugh at etc. In this sense, it's good drama (and the programme makers know this - they're not stupid!), but then why not be honest enough to make a drama in the time slot instead and spare us Big Brother! (Answer: It's a damn sight cheaper to make...etc.)

The one thing I did sometimes watch when Big Brother was on (I haven't done it for a few years now) was the all -night 24 hour coverage (I'm a bit insomniac, you see). And that was (occasionally) very interesting - because you could see what the people were actually doing and saying to one another in between the 'edited highlights'. Generally, it was never very scintillating, but it did teach me that what you see on Big Brother isn't what you got, if you see what I mean! (It was also good character study; I used to watch it with the sound off, just so I could see what sort of movements people casually make with their body language when they are having passing conversations!).

• 15 years ago
• 2

i think big brother was ok, but it is over done!


weird though 'cos i don't watch it as a rule but yesterday i was bored flipping and saw it on. and i was in shock to see someone i once worked with on it! weird!

• 15 years ago
• 3

I think its a case of flogging a very dead horse. I am definitely not a fan and it really annoys me that good programmes are taken off the TV to allow for a load of rubbish!

• 15 years ago
• 4

Must admit I'm surprised they decided to do another series, even Davina looked a little bored. Sorry Nick and Sarah I know you're fans but I don't get Big Brother and how it's managed 9 series! (Never mind the Celebrity stuff) is beyond me. They seem just desperate and deluded people, and I think the ratings this year will be particularly poor.

• 15 years ago
• 5

I have to admit that I am a big brother fan and watched every series (except the one on E4 earlier this year). The one thing that annoys me about this show is how obvious the show has become on decided who will be evicted and eventually win. Last year by the final night I was virtually guessed right about who was going to leave in the order that they did. On a personal note I do worry about the sanity of the people who go on this show and how far the producers will push it before something really bad happens on the show. Already there talking about doing a 'fake wedding' tomorrow night but all the housemates will think its real. As an added twist, once the truth about the fake couple is revealed the real couple will have the option to get married for real. Is that mad or what !!!!

• 15 years ago
• 6

This all totally shocks me!!
I didn't even know it was still going.I thought they decided it was loosing viewers, so they weren't doing another series? Who is watching this rubbish??? I must admit, celebrity 'Big Brother' was ok ( At least you new who they were!!) Bring back Jackie Stallone...She was entertaining, but 'sadly'for the wrong reasons!!!

• 15 years ago
• 7

I watched about ten minutes of it last night as the albino guy came into the house and on or two others. Why all the bleedin' screaming every time somebody new comes in? What's with this screaming lark anyway? It seems to be the thing now with young people. Is it learned from the Oprah Winfrey show or something?
Same old bunch of thickos discussing trivia. More dumbing down and distracting of the masses!!!!
Davina has done well out of it though. Good for her. She's pulled herself out of a lot of personal turmoil to get where she is today. I admire her for that.

• 15 years ago
• 8

it is the worst ever this year but I did the idents so find myself flicking over to see if the ident is on!!

• 15 years ago
• 9

I have to agree with pretty much everything Lee said.

The thing is we're in 'the business', and what annoys me, as Melanie pointed out, is that there are good writers out there and good drama that isn't being made/shown because of rubbish like BB.

I say rubbish because that's what it is. I can understand the concept of the first series and maybe even the second, but now it's just so 'LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME...I'm louder and dumber than you and I can wear fewer clothes than you can...oh and by the way I'd love to be a presenter one day'.

The question is do the 'public' watch it because they like it...or because nothing else is on? It's kind of a chicken and egg situation.

• 15 years ago
• 10

Here here.
Well, John Major wanted a "classless society"... well, we now in 2008 have a society with no bleedin' class.

• 15 years ago
• 11

Well, it annoys me that good programmes are taken off of the TV to put it on, but I suppose it is a kind of entertainment, and strangely addictive for the wrong reasons.
But these people are now just on it purely for exposure and fame. Being famous isn't what it used to be (however cliche that sounds) and therefore shouldn't be a threat for an actor as the fame side was always something I would never want.
Now i suppose we can let the loudmouthed wannabe's flood the papers, whilst we can focus purely on acting as a job and still have a normal life, if you manage to make it big.
Of course, if acting for fame is your target, that kinda blows for you.
All in all, the programme is getting pretty old now, and if it was a sitcom it'd be axed!

• 15 years ago
• 12

I think Channel 4 does us a huge favour!

Big Brother reflects what our society has become...most accurately!

Is that latest "F"ing and blinding entity an actress attempting to emulate last year's low life individual of the same ilk?

IF SO, this thread is relevant; if not, then...thank you C4...for showing us what you think is a cross section of our once solid and secure habitat!

• 15 years ago
• 13

Big Brother is ultimately voyeurism, in the hope for people wanting two people to have sex on live telly.

Its exploitative and degrading.

• 15 years ago
• 14

How is it that educated and passionate Actors are missing out on work because the general public would rather watch some idiots shag in a pool? It saddens me that the money used to fund this crap is not being spent producing quality television productions that we can all work on. Even my previous Agent was suggesting I think about reality television! What has happened to this world?!

• 15 years ago
• 15

That is a very good point indeed. And one I totally agree with actually.

• 15 years ago
• 16

I am pleased to say that I am one of those people who says they hate it and means it and therefore I don't watch it. I have watched snippets of it in the past but the contestants have gone from being relatively normal (of sorts) to pretentious attention seeking non-entities. It is brainless trash in every sense of the word and I have nothing but contempt for the participants. Ziggy/Chanelle are prime examples of why I detest it so much. It is no longer a social experiment but a fast track to 15 minutes of fame for talentless lobotimised retards. Lots of my friends however seem to love it.

• 15 years ago
• 17

re: last email. i meant to say Lobotomised not lobotimised

• 15 years ago
• 18

I am not a fan at all. Its never interested me so I've never really understood it. I would much rather see a quality movie or drama series. And what really gets me is when quality programming is bumped to show it. Euch!
However, its finally happened. And it was inevitable. That one day on the front of a newspaper you see someone you know and find out they are in Big Brother! My boyfriend directed Mikey a number of years ago for a good theatre company here. Thankfully we have enough good dvds to keep us entertained!!

• 15 years ago
• 19

I hate it. It really annoys me that people with no talent become celebrities after BB and then go on to "act" in panto etc. etc. and command massive fees. It's all about celebs nowadays, not actors, and it is reality tv's fault. I feel it negates the training and dedication we all have.

• 15 years ago
• 20