Author |
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Marksman
Member
05-04-2007
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 12:04 pm
Why did anyone think BB was a game show to begin with? It has never been a game show. They have never been governed by the rules of a game show, and neither have other reality shows. I am not sure why anyone would have ever thought this was viewed as a game show. That has never been the case. I would also add to many people are reading into the pre-determined thing. That is part of the definitions they use to determine what something is. It does not mean the producers pick the winner in advance.
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Beekindpleez
Member
07-18-2006
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 12:04 pm
That CBS forum site seems to me to be nothing but a bunch of lies. Nothing I've seen from there ever seems to be true. Examples: Dick is Jen's father; Carol is Eric's Girlfriend; Dick has domestic violence record, etc. I really don't like it when people take info posted from an unreliable source and run with it. Bad gossip like that is one of my pet peeves. Thanks for sticking that "allegedly" in there, mods. I wish people would try to verify something before spreading it around.
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Saguaro
Member
06-21-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 12:15 pm
Assuming this is true and the FCC likens Big Brother to professional wrestling and state that the contest is not real and that the outcome is predetermined ... I think this would be a general term to the fact that unlike a game show their is no random winner. I think if there is just a little influence from the producers, you could say the show is predetermined to some extent. That doesn't mean they final 4 or final 2 is on a script somewhere in Studio City, it just means more manipulation is involved then what would be allowed on a true game show.
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Nyheat
Member
08-09-2006
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 12:25 pm
Thank you Rose. It's an interesting tidbit--food for thought. I love the movie Quiz Show based on the real-life rigging of the game show 21 in the fifties. The topic is always interesting. 
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 12:29 pm
Whether the article is true or true doesn't mean the show is rigged. The article just explains what a "for entertainment only" show is and the extent to which it can go. Just because a "for entertainment" show can have predetermined results, doesn't mean it does. I would think (if the article is true) that BB uses that definition for legal purposes, for a fail-safe and so it can have twists in the show that make things unequal (people who know each other, AP...).
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Ambi
Member
08-11-2007
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 12:31 pm
Of course the outcome is predetermined. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. Just like the statement says, they liken it to wrestling. Nobody thinks wrestling is real do they? The FCC statement speaks for itself.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 12:40 pm
If the outcome is predetermined, why do they have such unpopular winners so many years? Surely they could change it so that someone popular would win a little more often. Past winners were: Boogie, Maggie, Drew, Jun, Lisa, Will and Eddie. Who among them was popular and who was extremely unpopular. Popular maybe Eddie, Will and perhaps Lisa. Very unpopular would be Boogie, Maggie, Jun and possibly Drew. They have had unpopular winners for the last four years in a row. Not a great strategy for a "fixed" show.
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Nyheat
Member
08-09-2006
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 12:40 pm
I didn't say I thought Big Brother was rigged. I said I was interested in a landmark case on the subject, one that probably has something to do with establishing with the current-day FCC definitions and parameters.
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Ambi
Member
08-11-2007
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 12:48 pm
For whatever reasons, obviously BB has choosen the winners. Maybe Vince McMann is the secret producer of BB? lol I would guess BB does this hoping viewers will keep coming back to see someone "good" win. Then of course the opposite view would be to look at the CBS popularity polls. America loves ED so CBS can't lose either way. BB does what they want just like Vince McMann does with the Friday Night Smackdowns.
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Carmenv
Member
04-14-2006
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 12:56 pm
That is what I've been trying to say, Jimmer! I have no doubt they INFLUENCE the outcome, but if they were actually predetermining the winners, you would think they would do a better job....
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Just_gail
Member
08-25-2007
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 1:01 pm
Hmmm. Maybe that explains why some players (ED) can get away with outrageous abuse towards other players. Is BB protecting him?
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Rosem4243
Member
06-27-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 1:29 pm
.
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Battlestar
Member
07-27-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 1:31 pm
Being a game and being a game-show are not the same thing
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Rosem4243
Member
06-27-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 1:31 pm
Thanks, Mods for qualifying my topic thread. I did indicate in the body of the message that I found this on another board, but I appreciate how the topic title can be misleading. Sorry if I upset anyone by not checking it out thoroughly before posting it, but I just assumed people would take it with a grain of salt since it was found on another board. The reasons I think it should be categorized as a 'game' show is: 1. There is 'prize' money for the 'winner'. 2. The houseguests and Julie refer to it as a 'game' all the time. (ie: "its just a GAME") and that's that!! 
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Aurora
Member
11-24-2006
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 2:46 pm
Scroll down to page 160 to read how the law pertains to Reality TV. http://www.cardozoaelj.net/issues/07/Podlas.pdf
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Smokey
Member
07-08-2003
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 3:28 pm
Isn't part of the premise of "Big Brother" the fact that Big Brother is in control? That in itself would change things. They have to do what Big Brother says or suggests. I never considered this a regular game show or equal to the laws of a game show. It isn't the same at all. I don't know that I think the winner is completely predetermined, either. I do think BB influences the game in whatever way they see fit to make it more entertaining and gather more viewers.
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Lafatme
Member
06-23-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 3:44 pm
c'mon people, EVERY reality show is manipulated. if it wasn't there would be no need for "producers" because the cast would be doing the "producing" by their words and actions. BB just has producers who are a bit more "hands-on" than some other shows. and yes it is a game but not a game show. there is a difference. on a game show the outcome must be determined by the talents, or knowledge of the contestant. if BB was nothing but a series of challenges then it might be a game show since the outcome of the competition would determine the winner. in this case the outcome is affected by the comp winners but not entirely relying on them. human interaction has a major effect on the outcome and the most talented or smartest doesn't always win. why does this come up each and every year? haven't we discussed it to death already?
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Blowtorch
Member
07-27-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 4:58 pm
A Big Brother winner can't be determined in advance. BB can do all kinds of things to make the outcome go the way it wants, and it's obvious they try. BB, Survivor, and other reality shows routinely have contests that favor the contestants that are behind or losing. And obviously from what the house guests have said BB tries to influence their thinking and votes. However, unless all contestants were under contract to vote the way BB wanted there would be no way to predetermine a live eviction vote. Even then it wouldn't be a sure thing. For instance, some contestants really get angry at each other. So, people being people there is no way BB could control a live vote. If they tried we would hear about it. The very fact that the house guests talk about BB influencing them shows that the outcome is not predetermined. And the way some house guests leave the BB house, shows the show is not predetermined. Myself, I don’t mind that BB tries to keep things interesting. What I dislike is the show has went Jerry Springer on us. As a long time BB watcher, (from season 1) I’m not planning on watching subsequent seasons. I want to be entertained, not upset!
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Gemma120in2002
Member
07-05-2003
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 5:52 pm
I went to the FCC website and tried to find information about reality shows. There was nothing more than an op-ed piece about reality shows. It wasn't policy or anything remotely official. I couldn't find anything about manipulation of reality shows at all, or how they are classified. That doesn't mean that it doesn't exist, but if it does exist, it's buried pretty deep.
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Rosem4243
Member
06-27-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 6:18 pm
Thanks for posting that link, Aurora. I think BB seems to fall into a grey area!
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Rudychloemom
Member
08-12-2005
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 6:34 pm
there's no way the winner is pre-determined. they couldn't write all this stuff that the hg's come up with as reasons for voting so and so out, or for liking or not liking one another. how could amber cry so many real tears? seriously, this show is not written.
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Spear
Member
08-06-2001
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 6:59 pm
Thanks, Aurora. It's nice to read a well-researched opinion on this matter. I don't think it's as obvious as some are claiming that BB is not a game show. What was the outcome of Stacey Stillman's lawsuit (Survivor 1) against CBS anyway? While CBS may claim that shows like BB are not covered by game show regulations, I'm thinking they aren't really eager to test that in court, so their lawyers advise the show producers to avoid any blatant manipulation of the outcome.
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Nickovtyme
Member
07-29-2004
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 8:34 pm
Wasn't the actual premise of BB to put normal, everyday people, in one house to live together without any outside influences to see how they coped? Then the audience decided who went home....there wasn't as much room for BB to interfere/manipulate then...that pretty much was the reason to revamp for season Two. So they could have more control over it.
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Ambi
Member
08-11-2007
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 9:38 pm
Of course the outcome can be determined. If the FCC is likening BB to wrestling, then it can be predetermined.
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Robin42
Member
07-20-2007
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 10:19 pm
I really don't think they meant "predetermined" in the way some of you are thinking. I just don't think it is that devious! I'm sure it just means the producers can put more input in than, say, the producers of "The Price Is Right". You never see a contestant getting advice on a price pick. Who knows what the producers talk to them about in DR sessions! They could be putting thoughts and ideas in their heads. They might be saying things like, "Dustin, wouldn't you rather see Kail go home instead of Eric (wink wink)?". But ultimately I believe all of their choices are of their own free will. How else do you explain the Boogie and Erica final two??? 
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