Is BigBrother the worst show ever?

Thrawn

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#26
Originally posted by Dan26
Thrawn, I don't know why you find so funny the thought that wrestling is like a soapie. I've you've ever bothered watching wrestling, (like it or not) you'll realise that the weekly shows are based aroudn soapie style storylines. Always have been. You might hate watching it, and that's fine, I don't care, but the fact is that wrestling has always based it's weekly programming around soapie style storylines.
It's just that thinking of people in tight spandex who are even worse actors than the ones in shows just like "The Days of Our Lives" makes me laugh.
 

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Dan26

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#27
Originally posted by Thrawn


Most reality shows (if not all) are pretty darn simple
BB is the simplest, in terms of its structure.

Originally posted by Thrawn
... but that does not explain why it is successful. Why does it's simplicity and 'characters' make it such a huge hit Dan? Why?
Easy. Most simple things are successful. Look at Soccer. What is it's greatest asset? It's simplicity of course. This combined with the fact that BB focusses on the charcaters rather than "gimmicks" in regards to the show's structure ensures its popularity.

Originally posted by Thrawn
Why are the contestants there in the first place, and what is their aim?
The aim is to win (Duh!), but the daily programme is not designed around this. When we watch the 7pm show, we just see people living their lives doing whatever they want to do. This is totally different to all other reality shows, where the gimmick drives the structure of the show.

Originally posted by Thrawn
Don't give me this rubbish that there are no gimmicks in regards to the concept of the show.
Other than the fact that somebody will win the show there are no gimmicks in regards to the concept. There are weekly tasks and "mini gimmicks" within the show, but these things are done to increase the level of interest. You could dispense with those "tasks" and the "Miriam intruder" thing, and the concept of the show would still remain unchanged.

Originally posted by Thrawn
Do you honestly think that when they announce the winner people who watch the show are going to suddenly turn off?
Well, given that the show will conclude once the wnner has been annouced I'd be very surprised if people are going to watch it, given that it won't be on. :rolleyes:
 

Dan26

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#28
Originally posted by Thrawn
It's just that thinking of people in tight spandex who are even worse actors than the ones in shows just like "The Days of Our Lives" makes me laugh.
What's that got to do with the fact that Wrestling is storyline based? Are you disagreeing? This isn't about whether you like it or not.
 

Freo Big Fella

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#29
feh, It's TV. If you don't like it, don't watch it. I tune in to Big Brother now and then and I'm neither here nor there about the whole thing, if people enjoy watching it, why criticise them? It only makes the person criticising seem like a moralistic idiot.
 

Thrawn

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#30
Originally posted by Dan26
BB is the simplest, in terms of its structure.



Easy. Most simple things are successful. Look at Soccer. What is it's greatest asset? It's simplicity of course. This combined with the fact that BB focusses on the charcters rather than "gimmicks" in regards to the show's weekly structure ensures its popularity.
Soccer is a far cry from BB, considering it's a sport and has been around for over a century. Use something more relevant, like another TV show for instance. And just like BB, it's simplicity was not the only reason why it has become so popular. Exposure for one thing is a huge factor. And you still even haven't answered my question Dan - how does its simplicity make it a hit? You've given me an example but yet haven't explained how, hence you haven't answered my questions. Just dodging again Dan.

The aim is to win (Duh!), but the daily programme is not designed aroudn this. When we watch the 7pm show, we just see poeple lving their lives doing whatever they want to do. This is toally different to all other reality shows, where the gimmick drives the structure of the show.
The daily programme may not be, but the show is. You said that there were no gimmicks in the show, that was your statement. You are wrong.

Other than the fact that somebody will win the show there are no gimmicks in regards to the concept. There are weekly tasks and "mini gimmicks" within the show, but these things are done to increase the level of interest.
They're still gimmicks Dan, no matter how big or small. You said there were none.

You could dispense with those "tasks" and the "Miriam" and the concept of the show would still remain unchanged.
You said these were done to increase the level of interest. The show's ratings would certainly not remain unchanged.

Well, given that the show will conclude once the wnner has been annouced I'd be very surprised if people are going to watch it, given thatit won't be on. :rolleyes:
Ah, I think you mis-interperted me Dan. Do you think people will switch off when they announce the winner? Not after! I think most BB fans are waiting for the winner to be announced... they are not going to miss the last episode. They have been waiting for this announcement the whole time... "forget the characters" they think, "I just want to know who is going to win as I cannopt wait". Evident in all reality TV shows - no point just watching it for the "characters" Dan, it's all about the winner. And that is the whole point of the show - BB, Survivor, The Apprentice, et al.
 

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Thread starter #31
Re: Re: Is BigBrother the worst show ever?

Originally posted by aesop
I like it. I know you don't like it. I don't care that you don't like it. Why do you care that I like it?
I just wanna know what you see in that sort of reality TV.
 

Dan26

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#32
Originally posted by Thrawn
And you still even haven't answered my question Dan - how does its simplicity make it a hit? You've given me an example but yet haven't explained how, hence you haven't answered my questions. Just dodging again Dan
What do you want me to say? I answered you. The simplicity of the show is its appeal. That combined with the fact that the show focusses on the characters rather than gimmicks. When we tune into the 7pm show Thrawn, it isn't about who is going to win - it's just about what they did in the house today, which gives the show a sense of normality which people identify with. That's how its simplicty makes it a hit.

Originally posted by Thrawn
The daily programme may not be, but the show is. You said that there were no gimmicks in the show, that was your statement. You are wrong.
Of course the "show" is. It goes without question that there is going to be winner. The concept of the show, however, does not rely on gimmicks at all, other than the fact somebody will win, but you're stretching things to suggest this is a major gimmick. A gimmick that someone wins? Hardly earth shattering, but if you want it you can have it as your gimmick.

Originally posted by Thrawn
They're still gimmicks Dan, no matter how big or small. You said there were none.
Fine, the gimmick is that there is a winner. :rolleyes: You seem to have missed the point. Big Brother has a simple structure that does not rely on these wacky and weird gimicks such as "There's something about Miriam." And that is why it is successful, irresepctive to your feelings on the show.

Originally posted by Thrawn
You said these were done to increase the level of interest. The show's ratings would certainly not remain unchanged.
Having a "clock watching task" last week was hardly done to increase ratings. Promoting the movie "The Day after Tomorrow" in the house might make people, go to the movies but it won't help BB's ratings. Obviously the producers are going to introduce things (such as the transexual) to make people watch the show and drive ratings, but those things are irrelevant to the structure of the show. You could take the tasks and Miriam out of the show and the structure and concept of the show is still identical.

What drvies 90% of the ratings are the people in the house. They are the stars of the show, whether you like them or not is not the point.

Originally posted by Thrawn
Ah, I think you mis-interperted me Dan. Do you think people will switch off when they announce the winner? Not after! I think most BB fans are waiting for the winner to be announced... they are not going to miss the last episode. They have been waiting for this announcement the whole time... "forget the characters" they think, "I just want to know who is going to win as I cannopt wait". Evident in all reality TV shows - no point just watching it for the "characters" Dan, it's all about the winner. And that is the whole point of the show - BB, Survivor, The Apprentice, et al.
When people watch the Apprentice, it is all about who is going to get fired. It is driven around who is going to win. Whilst there is obviously going to be a winner in BB, this isn't what drives the 7pm show. The people in the house have no say over who goes unlike Survivor or the Apprentice. The viewers decide who goes. The 7pm show (and the 24 hour live streaming on the web-site) is simply people living their lives doing whatever it is they do, hoping that the outside world doesn't vote them out. It isn't up to them.
 

Dry Rot

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#33
Can you define "simply people living their lives doing whatever it is they do"?

Most people live their lives going to work or studying or interacting with their families at least leaving the house for a while, and interacting within all sports of heirachies.

Contained in a big house totally supported under known surveillance doesn't seem to me to be "simply people living their lives doing whatever it is they do"
 

Dan26

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#34
Originally posted by Dry Rot
Can you define "simply people living their lives doing whatever it is they do"?

Most people live their lives going to work or studying or interacting with their families at least leaving the house for a while, and interacting within all sports of heirachies.

Contained in a big house totally supported under known surveillance doesn't seem to me to be "simply people living their lives doing whatever it is they do"
Okay then. "Living their lives, whilst in the confines of the BB house doing whatever it is they do"
 

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#35
Originally posted by Dan26
The point is the show, unlike other reality shows is about the people - not the prize.
Then why was the '1 million dollar secret' such a massive part of the concept?
 

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#36
Originally posted by Dan26
What do you want me to say? I answered you. The simplicity of the show is its appeal. That combined with the fact that the show focusses on the characters rather than gimmicks. When we tune into the 7pm show Thrawn, it isn't about who is going to win - it's just about what they did in the house today, which gives the show a sense of normality which people identify with. That's how its simplicty makes it a hit.
Dan, at the end of the day... it is about who wins as that is the purpose of the whole show. Normality? Like when they are talking to a camera? Or when they are prohibited from doing things that you do in real life? Running around with your underpants on your head isn't considered normal. Do people identify that with normality? Or not going to work or school? Or acting like a total git with strangers in a house that is supervised 24/7?

Normality? Don't think so.

but you're stretching things to suggest this is a major gimmick. A gimmick that someone wins? Hardly earth shattering, but if you want it you can have it as your gimmick.
I'm not stretching anything. I just want you to admit that you were wrong about BB having no gimmicks at all...

Fine, the gimmick is that there is a winner. :rolleyes: You seem to have missed the point.
My point was that there were gimmicks in the show, you said that there were none.

Big Brother has a simple structure that does not rely on these wacky and weird gimicks such as "There's something about Miriam." And that is why it is successful, irresepctive to your feelings on the show.
You are taking it like it's the only reason it's successful. Utter rubbish.

Having a "clock watching task" last week was hardly done to increase ratings.
No, but those small 'gimmicks' you said that promote more interest would certainly have an affect on ratings. They will always go to lengths to attract new viewers. It's not the same old, same old stuff because people want change every now and again. And that's exactly why they introduce new things.

Promoting the movie "The Day after Tomorrow" in the house might make people, go to the movies but it won't help BB's ratings. Obviously the producers are going to introduce things (such as the transexual) to make people watch the show and drive ratings, but those things are irrelevant to the structure of the show.
Agreed.

You could take the tasks and Miriam out of the show and the structure and concept of the show is still identical.
I'm not arguing against that Dan, but you did say that there were no gimmicks. Don't change the topic - there are and I'd like you to admit that your original statement was wrong.

What drvies 90% of the ratings are the people in the house. They are the stars of the show, whether you like them or not is not the point.
Of course, but to be consistent with ratings they have to add something new or change something, gimmick or not.

When people watch the Apprentice, it is all about who is going to get fired. It is driven around who is going to win.
Same with every other reality show.

Whilst there is obviously going to be a winner in BB, this isn't what drives the 7pm show. The people in the house have no say over who goes unlike Survivor or the Apprentice.
Hang on... I thought the 7pm show was Big Brother? I thought that the actions and thoughts of these people during that time frame would influence people's votes and in turn who wins or gets evicted? They may not have a say, but that doesn't mean the ultimate conclusion doesn't drive the show. It does, with every other reality show Dan. The characters and people "living their lives" it all but a part of it, and it all has a conclusion. It is all set up for this conclusion.

The viewers decide who goes. The 7pm show (and the 24 hour live streaming on the web-site) is simply people living their lives doing whatever it is they do, hoping that the outside world doesn't vote them out. It isn't up to them.
Their actions and words have an influence. They are all driven by that prize Dan, the whole point is to find a winner, gimmicks or no gimmicks.

However, saying that there are no gimmicks and that people can relate normality to this show is laughable. People relate normality to documentaries, and BB is NOT a documentary.
 

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Dan26

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#37
Originally posted by mattyc2422
Then why was the '1 million dollar secret' such a massive part of the concept?
It was made a big deal, to increase ratings, but in reality it doesn't change the show at all.

$250,000 is a lot of money, and whilst one million is a lot more, there is nothing the housemates can really do about it because it's not up to them. It's up to the viewers to vote. So, what the housemates do in the house on a day to day basis is going to be pretty much the same regardless of how much money the winner gets.
 

Dan26

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#38
Originally posted by Thrawn
Dan, at the end of the day... it is about who wins as that is the purpose of the whole show. Normality? Like when they are talking to a camera? Or when they are prohibited from doing things that you do in real life? Running around with your underpants on your head isn't considered normal. Do people identify that with normality? Or not going to work or school? Or acting like a total git with strangers in a house that is supervised 24/7?

Normality? Don't think so.
I think watching the characters gives the show a sense of normality, because they are not "acting." They are just a bunch of normal people, and history tells us that the genuine ones usually last to the finish, because people identify with that.

Originally posted by Thrawn
I'm not stretching anything. I just want you to admit that you were wrong about BB having no gimmicks at all...

My point was that there were gimmicks in the show, you said that there were none.
Oh, for God's sake, give it up. Stop trying to hang your hat on irrelevant details. You know exactly what I was trying to say. BB does not rely on gimmicks like other shows even if the one "gimmick" of the shoiw is the astounding fact that somedody actually wins. Big whoop.

The point is, that unlike other shows the contestans have no say in who wins. There is nothing they can do, because it isn't up to them! We just watch them going about whatever they do each day. There are no major gimmicks, just a simplistic concept.

Originally posted by Thrawn
No, but those small 'gimmicks' you said that promote more interest would certainly have an affect on ratings. They will always go to lengths to attract new viewers.
Of course they want ratings. Duh! More ratings doesn't change the rules and the concept of the show. It just means more people watch.

Originally posted by Thrawn
Hang on... I thought the 7pm show was Big Brother? I thought that the actions and thoughts of these people during that time frame would influence people's votes and in turn who wins or gets evicted? They may not have a say, but that doesn't mean the ultimate conclusion doesn't drive the show. It does, with every other reality show Dan. The characters and people "living their lives" it all but a part of it, and it all has a conclusion. It is all set up for this conclusion.
We watch the 7pm show and vote off who we don't want in there, but the people in the house don't know we are doing this, they don't know what we are seeing, and who we are voting for. They are just living their lives doing whatever. Obviously there is going to be a winner, but that fact doesn't drive the 7pm show in the same fashion as when you watch the Apprentice. Instead, it's simply us, the viewer, watching them do what they do, and then deciding who is going to go.

When we watch BB we are voyers, but when we watch the Apprentice we are watching people who are plotting and aiming to win. People often say this about BB, but in reality the contestants have no say, and we simply watch them live their lives in that environment.

Hence the show is different to other reality shows, because the contestants don't have a say.

Originally posted by Thrawn
Their actions and words have an influence. They are all driven by that prize Dan, the whole point is to find a winner, gimmicks or no gimmicks.
The words they speak, will detemrine their character, but it still isn't up to them. It's up to the viewer to assimlate all that info and make a choice to who they want evicted. My point is, that the show's concept is simple, whcih is what I was referring to when assessing why it is successful.

Originally posted by Thrawn
However, saying that there are no gimmicks and that people can relate normality to this show is laughable.
I think people can relate to it, because the charaters are normal people, not actors, and unlike Surviror, or The Apprentice, we are watching them just living. All they can do is "hope" the people in the outside world like them. It's not often you can watch TV and see people talk and swear, when they're not actors. Its like how your mates might talk.
 

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#40
Originally posted by Freo Big Fella
feh, It's TV. If you don't like it, don't watch it. I tune in to Big Brother now and then and I'm neither here nor there about the whole thing, if people enjoy watching it, why criticise them? It only makes the person criticising seem like a moralistic idiot.
Exactly, and that's pretty much what I said before, only I added that if people wanna watch it that's ok but they don't have to tell me all about it. :p

Each to their own.
 
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