Big Brother is watching you! But are you watching back?! (Big Brother (TV Series))

Member Name: McBeer

Product:	Big Brother (TV Series)
Date:	10/06/09 (140 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Entertaining, unpredictable, on almost every night

Disadvantages: In it for fame, fake, attention seekers, boring housemates and tasks

So it's the time of the year for the Big Brother of the UK to lock his eye firmly onto a new potential group of stars... Well maybe that's what you could of said several years back when the housemates actually had a chance of fame.


'What is Big Brother?'

The simple answer isn't even that simple itself. To put it in its simplest form it's a reality TV series. If you want a further explanation you can add that it's a National experiment in the form of housemates, a house and cameras. Finally you can answer it in all of its glory...

Big Brother is the all seeing eye of a delicate but modern, open plan house, supplying the living needs to a number of housemates (usually between 12-16), chosen from thousands of nationwide applicants to participate in a real world isolation experiment combining tasks, evictions and a final prize fund.
It's a long winded explanation I admit, but it's only touching the bare basics. The real deal to this series is the people selected for entry.

'But who would want to watch that?'

Who really would want to watch a group of ordinary people from everyday life living together? Surely you've seen it all before when you go to university and living in halls of residence? Surely you see it at work? The big difference is the compatibility of conflict.

You may walk into work, walk down the street or even be walking by a radio. You see or hear a rant or two, followed by shouting and then even a couple of threats are thrown. How many of you stop and watch or listen? How many of you sit and think 'Oh my God what's happening?' I'd think quite a lot of people do and these are the exact people who watch this show. Now I'm not trying to generalise the people of the UK, or even the world. I can admit I'm one of this people. If something's going down I'm there to see what's happening. The biggest worry however is what if you get brought into it somehow. Then maybe that's a danger. Not if you're watching it from your living room sofa though!
That's what makes this show so great. Its full of conflict that can last from the very first day to the very last.
Then how often do you get to see people get messed around in tasks? You're not likely to see someone fight their way out of a giant paper bag on the streets surely? So why not watch this on the tele! I sure did and I couldn't stop laughing along with my family. These are the exact reason it is such a nations favourite.


'So you argue and get made a fool? Who would want to audition for that?!'

Each contestant is picked after a rigorous audition with show producers. The ordinary aren't selected for this show, after all it wouldn't be that exciting. It seems the auditions are getting more and more fake with every series however. Each audition video goes from one extreme to the other, then on entrance to the house and after a week or two you see really who these people are.

"I'm crazy! I love to start arguments. I don't care what people think of me. I'm a bit of a bitch."

Maybe two weeks in and you're still the conflict free housemate, only making a slight appearance on the final edit? How many times have you seen this in the series?

"I'm a real go getter. If there's any good looking gals I'll sure be trying it on."

Maybe you're a liar? Perhaps you're all mouth and at the sight of a good looking girl you turn the other cheek trying not to drive her away with your ego?

Once again, another popular audition tape. Nonetheless these people are still nominated for this everlasting show.


'So practically most seem to just make a fool of themselves right? What's in it for them?'

Surely it's the prize fund at the end of the 3 month journey? Not always anyway. In fact probably not in most cases now. The original series was a true experiment of reality on TV. Auditionee's didn't know what to expect. They purely entered for the experience and the cash prize at the end. Since the first few series made several famous however with BB becoming the 'next best thing', its made people seek a world of fame purely from this one show. This has even been admitted by some housemates'.
As it's now known the amount of attention that is received for being on this reality show, a lot of housemates now seem to act up to the cameras with attention seeking and fakery. Now it's not just reality, but reality mixed with what could be seen as game plans to win around the audience.

There are many genuine people however, I can't deny that. These people may want to just have a break from life, realise where they are and what they want to do or even get to know who they really are. Or it could actually be the big prize fund at the end of it all. After all money's money and can get some people a lot of places.


'What exactly are they living in then? Surely it's going to be real nice if they're in there for 3 months?'

For a group of up to 16 housemates it a very small space. It is a confined house and small garden, with usually a tiny pool or hot tub. In the more recent series there have been two bedrooms, one for luxuries and double beds while the other is a basic bare bone bedroom. The kitchen, eating area and lounge is all one big open space. This obvious makes it harder for people to stay out of the way of others. Once again an ideal opportunity for conflict, and in the producers eyes, more conflict more viewings, more viewings more ratings. There's no communication with the outside world. No music, no TV, no computer, no pens or pencils or paper for writing. There's pretty much nothing at all to do! This is when most housemates have to find things to do themselves. While a lot of male housemates tend to use it to exercise, many females find the time for pampering and sunbathing during the summer months. No stereotype implied I must say.

There is one room of confidence however, a room which no one can hear what you want from the house. The Diary Room.
The Diary Room is all confidential from the house and at any time a housemate may go in and talk to 'Big Brother' about general feelings, emotions or a general chit chat. Housemates may even be called in to have either tasks set, or maybe just a catch up. It's the room with all the secrets!


'So how's it shown?'

BB is usually broadcasted every night with the previous days living. It'll be the highlights of the last day, whether its tantrums, arguments, romance, flirting or tasks. The only day this varies however is usually on a Friday (UK series). This is eviction night.

Once a week a housemate (or maybe more) is up for eviction after getting nominated midweek by the rest of the house. The public have the will to vote for who they want out and the person with the most votes is evicted the following Friday. This is always a live show with a few highlights from the day before. Once Davina (UK series) talks to the house from the outside world on a readymade eviction night stage, the housemate gets to enter reality again. A crowd of fans are positioned outside the house ready for the exit while the evictee walks the dreaded walk. The night usually concludes with a live interview so the housemate can explain what 'really' happened.


'Sounds interesting, but what's your view?'

So I give this 3 out of 5 stars. For the amount of bad I've said about it 3 might seem quite high, however its not all negative. There are many ups and downs with this show. While one series it might be a complete bore due to a bad selection of housemates, other years and the house is full of entertainment for the viewers' day in day out. It does show a reality of such a mixture of different ages, genders, races and religious put together and how they each act and interact with each other. At times it shows how people can abuse alcohol and what it does to people. It has periods of showing emotions people might not understand and even romance with different housemates, whether its straight of homosexual.
It shows the UK that there is such a big difference in some people in this area of the world. With them being the serious issues covered there's many more not so serious.
The main viewing points I'd have to say are watching the housemates entrance and actually seeing who's going in. It's always a good laugh to see the type of people you'll be watching for 13 weeks. After a few weeks and you see who really is who and see relationships building in pairs or groups. Its a laugh with the humour some of the housemates have and mixed with BB's tasks they get set its full of laughs most of the week. Finally its a tense ending to the week with the eviction. Will it be the one you hate go, or maybe the one you love will do the famous walk? It keeps you anxious and that keeps you more and more hooked. The new series has just kicked off and after watching the first episode I don't think I'll be watching the first few weeks. I like to wait until a few of the zombies have gone and the real characters are left and have finally unwound. Thats when I think the real action starts.

Big Brother is definitely an entertaining program I admit and I know I will end up watching it towards the end, its just a shame it isn't as real as its meant to be. With all of the fake's and wannabe's entering it kind of misleads what's actually real. Nonetheless, it keeps me watching!


BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU.

Big Brother (UK):
Started in 2001
10 Series to date
Can be watched on C4, E4, T4.
Related shows include: Big Brothers Big Mouth, Big Brothers Little Brother, Teen Big Brother, Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Hi-jack Big Brother.

Summary: A great daily show which usually contains atleast one exciting event per episode!