Interview with Arnold Shapiro
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TV ClubHouse: ARCHIVES: Big Brother USA 2003 General Discussions Part 1: Interview with Arnold Shapiro
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Archive through August 08, 2003 25   08/08 08:47am

Onlyhuman

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 08:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Costacat, I agree with you on the conspiracy issue. I didn't think that there was one before, but after reading the interview, I really do think they try to push things in the direction they want to go.

With AS saying that he is disappointed in the POV not being used, I was taken back to conversations between Ali & Nate, during which Nate told her over and over how excited they were in the DR about him using the POV to save Ali. He was also VERY confident that Ali would win HOH that week. Not himself...Ali. It was during their "date" that he made remarks about the producers fixing the games so that they could get the outcomes they desired. My suspicion is that the DR hinted that if he used the POV, they would make sure that Ali won HOH. She did, of course.

Looking at it, I think that the producers LOVE Ali and are going to make sure that she makes it really far. She brings sex, deception, sex, calculation, sex, drama and, most importantly, sex into the game. It was not a coincidence that the week she needed to be saved, POV was not a game where you could block people from winning. I will not be surprised if she gets HOH next Wednesday, though she may not need it. I think they will see where the alliances stand and decide from there whether or not she will win.

Lovedana

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 08:58 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I said already that based upon past results, I suspect Nathan/Alison are the Jason/Danielle and Hardy/Nicole of this year. Therefore, I believe Nathan will survive this eviction and will stay loyal to Alison. He's questioned Alison's commitment before. However, if she saves him either by POV or by votes, which I suspect will happen, then it reaffirms his alliance with her.

However, at the end Nathan will get kicked out at or about 3rd or 4th position. Then Alison will make it to the final two. Jee will take 3rd, 4th, or 5th. I think there's a pattern in the show.

Maris

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 09:00 am EditMoveDeleteIP
In her walk last night Alison was making the beginnings of her pitch to Erika to get Jee out. She asked Erika who do you think will win this whole thing and Erika said Jee. Alison said that is what I think too. We need to get him out. Alison understands that she needs to have someone in the final who is as nasty as she is so I am thinking she wants Jun with her. I could be wrong.

Lurknomore

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 09:24 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Ok in fairness because I'm already sick and not feeling well PART of the queasiness I'm feeling might be because of that, but so help me I couldn't make it beyond the first question without a barf bag. Maybe I'll read more when I'm stronger lol.

But if Arnipoo actually believes the X factor worked and that bringing back Amy was good twists then I should run a network if they let this dude produce. I think I need to go rest now.

Eeyoreslament

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 10:12 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Did anyone else hear a "German philsopher's accent" when reading the AS interview? Like all S's were pronouced with Z's, and all W's were V's? I have no clue why.....perhaps the grammatical errors of typing the interview ver batim. But that's how I read it. Tee hee.


Mozt eenterezting eenterview.

Demsome

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 10:24 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thank you Xarph! I found that interview very interesting and appreciate your letting us know about it.

Gina8642

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:01 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks for the links to the interview, that was great!

Wow, I guess I'm not a conspiracy type of girl, because I didn't read any of above conspiracies into anything AS said. LOL

I thought it was a great read, and that he was pretty forthcoming.

If anyone from the BB staff is reading this thread - one request. PLEASE IMPROVE THE FEEDS. Since Dana's eviction it's like you guys laid off half your staff. It is rare for the feeds to follow more than one event at one time. Please try to follow two or more. It would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank You!

Laisey

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Gina, nice try. But AS just brushed off this problem, so I doubt anyone will care.

Cricket

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Great article Xarph! Thanks.

I liked the name Platinum Veto. AS said it would take away the power of HOH, but since HOH seems to contrived lately, it would add so much more excitement to the game if the Platinum Veto were in force. It would make the HOH think more carefully whom he should put up, etc. Sure wouldn't be as boring and predictable as it is now.

If any of his people are reading these boards, maybe they will decide to give it a try before the show gets too boring.

What was interesting was the fact that he kept referring to the videos sent in and yet some of the houseguests say they were contacted by BB (not the exes.) I guess agents sent in videos for some people...like Erika maybe?

Gina8642

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
That isn't what he said. I honestly felt bad for the guy. Everyone is always bashing him for a show they are completely and totally addicted to. If he is doing such an awful job at everything, why is anyone watching? It is pretty ironic.

Kellirippa

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Nicely put Gina8

Also, when someone is promoting something, they can't do an interview and say, "well yes, we're midway through this Xfactor show, and clearly this isn't working". He has to show that he has confidence in his product. The BB show is always changing and trying new things, it keeps it fresh, some ideas are better than others, but if he would have been negative about this season I can just imagine how folks would have jumped all over him.

Lurknomore

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'll answer for me Gina...I'm watching because with BB1 I became addicted to the concept of BB. Because I lurked here I felt I missed out most of the fun and was ready to jump in with BB2. Then came Arnie and the changes. I didn't personally care for them but I had a blast with the board (ATTN: Lesson for Lurkers) and at least with BB2 even though I didn't like the people they were interesting and there were interesting things to talk about, and the quality of the TV production improved greatly.

Then came BB's 3&4 which TO ME were cast worse and worse with Arnie seeming more and more clueless on how to make it work. So I watch because I love this board, I love the concept of BB, and it greatly saddens me that Arnie cast it the way he did...which is my biggest complaint. Because if we had interesting, funny, diverse people all the rest wouldn't matter as much.

The only thing I feel bad for Arnie about is that he still has this job...give him a new show, let him come up with it's format and I wish him the best. But let someone run BB that gets the concept and isn't trying to change it into something it's not.

So...that is why I am personally still watching, though not nearly as much as any season past.

Lurknomore

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Kelli...let me tell you something as a PR person with more years experience than I'd like to admit. Arnie has never once properly promoted this show. That has always been a pet peeve of mine for obvious reasons. He alienated his strongest fan base, the internet audience, the first year he took over by saying he wished it didn't exist and that he could stop the feeds. He did and didn't do a million things that a clever and creative publicist should have him do.

I do agree with you that he could't say the X factor wasn't working. And since I still haven't made it past the first question I can't comment on much more of that article, beyond why go for a whittle article on a little known BB website as a means of press? There were many ways to make the BB CBS site much more interactive and interesting, yet they haven't done any of them. I could give you a solid 5 page report on PR blunders AS productions and CBS have made with BB, but I could do the same with ways to improve the show. But it would serve little purpose, as clearly they have their mindset and that is that. I just think it's a shame, not to mention a waste.

Gina8642

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:28 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
He has a top 10 tv show that is in it's fourth season. That isn't a failure.

Laisey

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Lurk, it's an interesting article (once you get past the opening). The interviewer asked a lot of questions we've asked. Will the house be on the CBS lot, why four feeds on the same scene, and a few others. You are just going to "love" some of the answer. He had his tap shoes with him.

Csnog

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
If Arnie could explain why only some of the HG's had X's and others did not I could understand but I think it was wrong that some had to deal with this issue and others did not.

The DR has loads of influence and I consider that to be wrong also.

Gina8642

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
it's should be its in my above post - I hate that mistake and I just made it. I'm so bad at grammer and spelling, I hate it when I make a mistake on something I actually know. LOL

Lurknomore

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 02:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Gina...no where in my posts did I say he was a commercial failure. What I said is I do not like what he has done to BB, his choices in casting NOR his respect for the internet viewers.

I will, based on my considerable professional experience, say he IS a promotional and PR failure however.

Costacat

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 03:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Actually Gina, I have never said I'm addicted to this show. Not once this season have I said that. And many folks who I know were addicted (possibly) in past years are definitely NOT this year. I watch the LFs for less than an hour a day. I may or may not watch the Tuesday or Friday show. I do spend time at TVCH, but that's mostly to chat with my friends.

I think Arnie Shapiro and Co are doing one of the worst jobs ever (and I would argue how "effective" that X Factor has been).

And by the way, BB4 is *not* in the Top 10. One show was #11 last week, and one was still in the Top 20. I don't recall the other show's location.

Woodpecke®

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 04:26 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
The show is in the top 15 because nothing else is on. If it weren't for this site and others like it, BB would get the same ratings as reruns of "The Family". I guarantee if I was put in charge, the show would be Top 5 and a new season staple.

Costacat

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 05:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I nominate Wood to be in charge!

Twiggyish

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 05:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Excellent interviews. Thanks Xarph. It puts it into perspective.

Beruthiel

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 06:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Just thanking Xarph for the links, because it's obvious Arnold isn't as hands on as he thinks, and Allison is. If he denies that the HGs have eaten things they shouldn't when they have, and we know it, then someone is giving him a load of bull. Reminds me a bit of "Yes, Minister." The Boss thinks he's in charge and knows all, but behind the scenes there's a lot happening of which he's unaware. Perhaps they're scared he'll shoot the messenger. Too bad that he dismisses the internet fans so cavalierly, because we DO know more than he does, sad to say.
Well, back to bed, I'm sick too, and just came to see who won POV, but saw the thread title, and had to read it - wish I hadn't now!
But still thanks for the link!

R151996

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 06:32 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
One poster over at the UK Digital Spy board hit the mark by saying that Big Brother in the US is just a TV show, while Big Brother everywhere else in the world is a phenomenon.

Arnold Shapiro's meddling with the format and CBS forcing the show into an off-season period are main reasons that Big Brother has not come close to its potential.

It doesn't matter what the ratings are. Considering the competition, the show should be considered a ratings failure if every eviction episode isn't Top 5 every week with all other episodes Top 10. In most countries Big Brother produces just about the biggest ratings of the entire year for the network that airs it. No reason that couldn't have happened here if it had been run correctly from the start three years ago.

Aus10

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 07:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Just a thought....but if CBS were to cancel BB which puts AS out on his butt....would another network, like FOX be able to put an Endemol BB back on?

Twiggyish

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 07:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
R151996, the person who said that about ALL North Americans watching BB did not meet any of us. To us it's a big deal. We look forward to it every year. It's a phenomenon to some people.

Xarph

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 07:57 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
"A phenomenon to some people?"

That is like saying Ross Perot, Ralph Nader and Al Sharpton are a phenomenon to some people.

Woodpecke®

Friday, August 08, 2003 - 07:59 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I could do background checks on 13 people from this board, throw them into a house, make Bunny the host, put Ryn in charge of the internet portion, then make one person responsible for Diary Room discussions. Instead of one-sided conversations, we would get to hear what questions are actually asked to elicit their responses. The challenges and games would all be on the internet, and many would be marathons that last 3 or more hours. There would be at least 2 live shows a week, and the host would be live for all 3. I have tons of ideas to make this show better. Arnold has no imagination.

Chy

Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 07:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Okay, Wood. You're hired!

Scandalousplaya

Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 12:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I do expect Arnold to do an All Star Edition of Big Brother. I'm sure when he was asked that question, I can just see dollar signs popping in his head. Knowing Arnold and company; he is probably waiting to see how well Survivor turns out. Unfortunately, I don't forsee Arnold casting anyone from the Big Brother 1. I'm thinking there will be an All Star Edition after Big Brother 5.