Big Brother

[Feek]

Come on then, who else admits to watching it?

[leowyatt]

Well you know we were :p

[BBx]

I'll admit it without shame... there wasn't anything else on TV last night :/

What a bunch of misfits! I might put some money next week on Rodrigo, Charlie or Cairon to win. Just for the Craic.

(No I don't know their names already, I had to open the BB site :p)

BB x

[Feek]

True, true :D

Marcus to win \o/

[divine]

There's a new one?

Well I suppose if it managed to start and I hadn't heard about it, that can only be a good thing :p

[Briggykins]

I'm hoping the housemates aren't representative of Britain. What we need is a season with lots of normal people sitting around drinking tea and talking about the weather. I'd watch.
I thought I liked Freddie, but I missed him going in and having read about him since, not sure I do any more. Hmm. The bisexual (?) Brazilian chap seems quite good as well.

[Kitten]

Marcus, Rodrigo or Shavlik or whatever he's called :D

I also approve of Kris's medieval leggings.

[Admiral Huddy]

I saw 1 minute of it when some bird walked in with legs and heels that were worth stopping to look at. Apart from that BB isn't worth the time my life has given me. Complete rot.

[Justsomebloke]

I watch it & make No secret of it as I have lots of laughs not only watching it but in the BB thread on Oc an all, In fact I'd say it's the Oc BB thread that makes the show for me nowadays. ;D
I Love sitting slagging everybody off on the telly no matter what I watch so it's Great when everybody else joins in with BB.

The Russian Doris completely freaked me out, Like some sort of Vampire chococlate factory freakazoid with her weirdness down the catwalk. :huh:

Then the Hippy, What the ****, No mate long hair & a beard does not make you different it just makes you a HIPPY !!! ;D

Rodrego reminds me of Ted Bundy :D

Lesbo trys to hard & she nicks straight Doris so she can **** off.

Freddy is a Great advert for nobility & inter breeding. :p

Who else can we/I slate. ;D

[Matblack]

Is it appropriate that a single mother with two children one of who is 7 months old be allowed to take part in a program where she will be away from her family for up to 3 months? Saffia is the competitor in question.

I have to say I'm quite stunned that Endemol would consider someone like this for the show :(

I used to like BB when it was a really social experiment with real people but now its such a freakshow!

MB

[Briggykins]

Is it appropriate that a single mother with two children one of who is 7 months old be allowed to take part in a program where she will be away from her family for up to 3 months? Saffia is the competitor in question.

Yeah I thought that. Especially when she said "My children are my top priority". Bollocks, says I.

[Desmo]

Used to be good, now it's ****. I'll be forced in to seeing some of it as Sinead will want to watch it.

[Toby]

Watched the first three series religiously but have hardly bothered since then, just catching the odd news and watching the eviction shows sort of.

No live feed this year though which sort of defeats the entire object of the show.

[Kitten]

Is it appropriate that a single mother with two children one of who is 7 months old be allowed to take part in a program where she will be away from her family for up to 3 months? Saffia is the competitor in question.

I have to say I'm quite stunned that Endemol would consider someone like this for the show :(

I used to like BB when it was a really social experiment with real people but now its such a freakshow!

MB

Mat, just wondering - would you feel the same way about a bloke willing to leave his 7 month old kid behind?

I think it's a bad idea and I'd never do it... but I'd say the onus has on people to not want to do it and to really accept their responsibilities, rather than the production company stopping them from doing so. I know there's an argument for not giving people the opportunity, but I don't think that's the real issue.

Not sure if that makes sense.

[Matblack]

Mat, just wondering - would you feel the same way about a bloke willing to leave his 7 month old kid behind?

I think it's a bad idea and I'd never do it... but I'd say the onus has on people to not want to do it and to really accept their responsibilities, rather than the production company stopping them from doing so. I know there's an argument for not giving people the opportunity, but I don't think that's the real issue.

Not sure if that makes sense.

I would feel the same even if he were a father in a stable family with the child's mother with them for all the time they were away. 3 months is just two long and also feel the same way with a single father doing it. I know people work away from home and I can understand that, but leaving your child out of choice, to go on reality TV? Come on!

As it is this is a single mum with two children, one of whom is 7 months old and she is going to leave that child for potentially half of its life span to date to go on TV, what is parenting coming to in the country?

Yes people have a choice, but TV companies also have a choice and I hold them at least partially responsible. She might not have had this smaller child when she had the audition but she did have the older one and its two long to leave children of that age ley alone this younger child.

I have to say I find it pretty outrageous to be honest

MB

[Justsomebloke]

I s'pose it could be argued though that she is sacrificing the time with her children to give them a better future, She could quite easily come out of this with enough money to buy a family home out right. No kids remember the first few years so if the kids are left with the Grandmother then it could be argued that it's for the best

Just playing devils advocate here, Personally I would like the Mother of my kids at home with them.

[Matblack]

I do understand where you are coming from but she has two kids and one of them is seven.

She doesn't seem to think she should be in there either

http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/strictly-come-dancing/big-brother-saffia-corden-is-in-tears-already1/

MB

[Justsomebloke]

It's quite possible that she never expected to get this far & also doesn't expect to be in there that long either, If she lasts two weeks it'll be enough to get her some work/money.

[A Place of Light]

I think that we've reached the point where contestants who aren't wannabees are either not present of are in a tiny minority of the housemates.....which is a shame in my book.
My take on BB has never changed. Anyone who automatically dismisses it out of hand is making a rather foolish choice IMHO as is someone who thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread without seeing an episode of the current series. To state that the format itself is where your problem with the show begins is like saying you don't like stand-up comics. The content is totally dependant on the contestants and the editing staff. Sometimes it's composed of some of the funniest TV I've ever seen. Other times it's crap/boring.
That said, I can't understand anyone who watches more than the 45 minute hilight show, as the live feed redefines "slow".
The show is still social psychology 101 though, and people think this is to do with the typical personality/intelligence of the housemates but it's not. There have been serious studies involving confinement and authority delegation and even among well educated and adjusted participants the same things tend to happen. Certain traits come to the surface, alliances are formed, battle lines are divided and drawn up etc etc. As much as some of us would like to think it's true, the fact remains that deep down we're all more similar than we'd perhaps like to admit.

[mejinks]

Im afraid I share Michael Parkinsons view on this. Personally, I hate that this is what we have become, voyeurs with nothing better to do than watch other people in misery. There is nothing redeeming about Big Brother except the end of it when the winner (biggest loser) gets to become a big non entity and return to their otherwise "look at me" attention seeking life having been exploited by the media.

No, I won't be watching it.

[NokkonWud]

I don't really mind it, it's nice to have something to watch to fill in the time that nothing else is on.

[A Place of Light]

Im afraid I share Michael Parkinsons view on this.

If you and Mr. Parkinson think this is new, then you're both severely mistaken.
150 years ago, "educated" and "refined" people such as yourselves used to pay a penny to get admission to the asylum to laugh at the inmates.
What's changed, other than the fact that now they don't need to leave their homes to do so?

[mejinks]

If you and Mr. Parkinson think this is new, then you're both severely mistaken.
150 years ago, "educated" and "refined" people such as yourselves used to pay a penny to get admission to the asylum to laugh at the inmates.
What's changed, other than the fact that now they don't need to leave their homes to do so?

I believe that Michael said it was the modern version of Bedlam? Since when have I said it was a new thing? My concern is that we have regressed from days when Tomorrows world and other science programs were popular.

I don't understand what you are getting at with your comment "educated" and "refined". Are you saying you are not?

[A Place of Light]

I believe that Michael said it was the modern version of Bedlam? Since when have I said it was a new thing? ?
When Parkinson makes the transition from journalist to social commentator/analyst, his opinion may be worth more than anyone elses. Thus far, it is not.
My concern is that we have regressed from days when Tomorrows world and other science programs were popular.
Science programs have never attracted the lions share of the viewers though. While Tomorrows world was in its heyday drawing decent viewing figures, "the black and white minstrel show" was leaving it dead in the water as was such bilge as "Terry and June". If shows like dancing on Ice, BB and get me out of the jungle with a geordie accent weren't what a huge chunk of the viewing public wanted they wouldn't make it beyond their first season(s).I don't understand what you are getting at with your comment "educated" and "refined". Are you saying you are not?
You said in your post "this is what we've become", which implies we've sunk to new depths collectively. I pointed out that otherwise refined, educated and respected members of society took part in a surprisingly similar activity over a century ago.

[NokkonWud]

Parkinson is an outspoken, over-rated, doddery old fool now anyway.

If people enjoy it then there is nothing wrong with that. I shouldn't drink as many fizzy drinks as I do, but I like them. I shouldn't eat so much takeaway, but I like it. Neither beat high quality cuisine experiences, but you know what, sometimes I just like something simple. Big Brother is currently the TV equivalent of that. I've not always followed Big Brother, in fact, up until last year I privately lambasted the show, but I never once said anything against anyone who does watch it or commented on what a state the nation has become because of it.

Everyone is a little bit of a voyeur anyway.

[Justsomebloke]

Surely by Parky making out spoken comments like that about BB then he is just jumping on the BB bandwagon for publicity anyway, Stupid old Duffer.
I Never understand people that waste precious moments of there lives moaning about something they don't like, Nowadays it's even worse as people take the time to post on the interwebz. :huh:
I mean it's that bad that they waste moments of there lives creating a post berating others who enjoy it, What the **** is that all about ?
Surely if others are enjoying it & they are not harming anybody then **** off & leave them to it & be happy for them, Not try to bring them down about it or belittle them.
Really don't understand it but I am not a nasty git like that so I wouldn't would I. ;D

[Kitten]

stuff.

I've never liked Parky, thought his timing of the Jade Goody remarks was particularly distasteful, regardless of whether or not you thought he was right or wrong. He's pretty much out of touch with what the man-on-the-street wants to watch or do anyway, I can't really take much notice of someone who occasionally throws a toy from his ivory tower and expects the plebs on the street to catch it.

I tried to reply in a similar way but couldn't seem to quite get the words out properly :D It was along the lines of 'becoming voyeurs to misery' when 500 years ago thousands of people turned out for public executions to watch people suffer. Nothing changes really, people just like to pretend that they're far more sophisticated than those that came before, when in reality it's only the way that these things are done that changes.

Just look how many people have watched that Ken Bigley (hostage) video where his head was cut off. Millions watched it, and will continue to do so. I'd rather be someone who sticks on a bit of lame TV than someone who does stuff like that or throws bricks at old ladies. It doesn't make me any different to the person I was yesterday, yet you're still treated like a complete idiot by those who think they're too good for it.

All in all, I'd rather be someone who watched crap than someone who judged others for doing so. :)

[A Place of Light]

Surely by Parky making out spoken comments like that about BB then he is just jumping on the BB bandwagon for publicity anyway, Stupid old Duffer.
I Never understand people that waste precious moments of there lives moaning about something they don't like, Nowadays it's even worse as people take the time to post on the interwebz. :huh:
I mean it's that bad that they waste moments of there lives creating a post berating others who enjoy it, What the **** is that all about ?
Surely if others are enjoying it & they are not harming anybody then **** off & leave them to it & be happy for them, Not try to bring them down about it or belittle them.
Really don't understand it but I am not a nasty git like that so I wouldn't would I. ;D
You know as well as I do, mate, that the "haters" always make the most noise.

[A Place of Light]

Parkinson is an outspoken, over-rated, doddery old fool now anyway.
And someone that wants to be perceived as a no-nonsense kind of guy.

If people enjoy it then there is nothing wrong with that. I shouldn't drink as many fizzy drinks as I do, but I like them. I shouldn't eat so much takeaway, but I like it. Neither beat high quality cuisine experiences, but you know what, sometimes I just like something simple. Big Brother is currently the TV equivalent of that. I've not always followed Big Brother, in fact, up until last year I privately lambasted the show, but I never once said anything against anyone who does watch it or commented on what a state the nation has become because of it.

Everyone is a little bit of a voyeur anyway.
Agreed. For example, I can't abide soccer. Personally I think it's a deeply dull and skill-less game played by overpaid prima donnas who wouldn't know a days work if it walked up to them and punched them in the face. A huge section of the fans are blinkered feckwits who try to justify stupid and baseless arguments based on whatever shirt they prefer to wear.
Example:- Player A plays for "us", he's a living god. At the end of the season he transfers to them, so now he's talentless scum.....great logic and a well thought out argument if I ever saw one, NOT!

Do I moan constantly or post on every forum around when something like the world cup effectively takes over our TV screens/newspapers? No, I don't.

[A Place of Light]

I've never liked Parky, thought his timing of the Jade Goody remarks was particularly distasteful, regardless of whether or not you thought he was right or wrong.

I was a massive fan of Parky, and I loved his interviewing technique as he tended to get the most from his guests.
When he made those comments about JG I demoted him to somewhere below mere mortal status, as they were completely out of order IMHO.....especially given the timing.
Funny, but I didn't hear him comment so negatively about Princess Diana at the time of her death. Here's a woman who'd (allegedly) been under the odd duvet or two with men other than her husband and spent more time on holiday away from here young children than with them. If anyone remembers the time, they'll remember that the papers were just starting to turn on her. Being attractive goes a long way, and this was her only advantage over Sarah Ferguson who was, in my opinion, a better mother and far more dignified in her divorce than Diana was.

[A Place of Light]

Last night I watched the BB hilight show for the first time this year, and I'm pretty diappointed. None of the contestants grabbed my attention and they all seem to be very flighty and "wishy-washy" by way of their personalities.
This might change, as it often does in real life when your first impression turns out to be completely wrong, but I think for me this looks like being a crap year for BB (No, Mei, not you).
IMHO, there's far to much effort put into the selection process and it's here where it goes wrong. I'd have just picked 16 at random, but the social analysts try to choose the optimum mix which they invariably get wrong.

[Lomster]

What did parky say about JG?

I think I shall watch it this year after 2yr gap from it. Just couldn't get into it 2years ago and didn't even bother last year.
Seems too wishy washy atm to me to, when they relax more I think it'll be better.

[NokkonWud]

Last night I watched the BB hilight show for the first time this year, and I'm pretty diappointed. None of the contestants grabbed my attention and they all seem to be very flighty and "wishy-washy" by way of their personalities.
I said this before, but the majority of the house are simply too young and haven't had enough life experience. It might be just me, but people in there just don't seem to be themselves, or if they are, they're really bland. Sophie seems the most surprising because she seems genuinely nice which I didn't expect for the annual glamour model.

[NokkonWud]

What did parky say about JG?

I think I shall watch it this year after 2yr gap from it. Just couldn't get into it 2years ago and didn't even bother last year.
Seems too wishy washy atm to me to, when they relax more I think it'll be better.

That Jade Goody was everything that was wrong about this nation. This was just as she was at her worst with Cancer. It may even have been just after she'd died.

[Kitten]

i believe it was in the week or two after her death.

[BBx]

Haven't watched it since the launch show!

BB x

[Matblack]

Have a look downstairs for some BB gossip :D

MB

[A Place of Light]

Haven't watched it since the launch show!

BB x

I think I'll watch the odd hilight show over the next couple of weeks and if none of them have shown themselves to be funny or interesting enough I'll give up on this years.
Saying you dislike BB is a little like saying you dislike sandwiches. It's all about the filling and it's this that makes or breaks it. Without the contestants you only have a house with cameras in it and that's not enough to sway anyones opinion in either direction.

[Justsomebloke]

Characters are pretty weak on the ground this year APOL. :(
I only watch the highlight show in the evening & nobody has interested me yet. I think rather than pick all these wannabee drama queen types they should just sling 16 randoms in the house, For the first four weeks the public get to vote but the people are replaced, this should go on until we have 12-14 people in there we like/find interesting & then the competition should start.

[A Place of Light]

What did parky say about JG?
Well, let's just analyse his contribution in an attempt to see how much weight we should put in the opinion of Mr. Parkinson
He told Radio Times: "Jade Goody has her own place in the history of television and, while it’s significant, it’s nothing to be proud of. Her death is as sad as the death of any young person, but it’s not the passing of a martyr or a saint or, God help us, Princess Di
Yes, that's right, Mr. Parkinson equates the death of Princess Diana with that of a Saint or a Martyr.
That pretty much sums up how misguided he really is.

[A Place of Light]

Characters are pretty weak on the ground this year APOL. :(

I think that's the most understated post of yours I've ever read, lol.
This year, I just can't find any of them that I actually care about enough to watch. I don't even dislike any of them very strongly.
As they settle in some may start showing more of their true colours, but unless that happens I'll probably watch a different channel.

[NokkonWud]

Yes, that's right, Mr. Parkinson equates the death of Princess Diana with that of a Saint or a Martyr.
That pretty much sums up how misguided he really is.

Some people will just fly in the face of fact, you see it all the time with Princess Diana.