Archive through August 01, 2003
MoveCloseDeleteAdmin

TV ClubHouse: ARCHIVES: Big Brother USA 2003 General Discussions Part 1: A sampling of comments from the Brits after seeing our own BB4 TV show: Archive through August 01, 2003

Knowledgeseeker

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 09:08 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Note: The day after their own BB4 UK ended on 7/25, our BB4: The X-Factor TV show & round-the-clock live feeds began airing in the UK on their E4 Basic Cable channel with a weekend marathon of the first 5 CBS episodes (repeated 3 times in different timeslots). The CBS show & "live" feeds are now current & are being shown 16 hrs later (8 hour time difference) so UK viewers see this the same time of day - just 1 day later.

Having watched their boring BB4 UK live feeds & knowing their BB format involves public voting with huge,enthusiastic eviction crowds, I knew this was going to be a tough sell.

So both I and pulk ( a Brit who also posts here - great job, pulk!) attempted to explain the relative merits of the BB USA format. I told them why having the HGs do the actual nominating and
evicting provides for intrigue & conflict with HGs far less worried about their public image.
But old habits die hard.


Here's a sampling of their initial reactions-after our first 5 shows aired but b4 live feeds began). If U like, I could update this when more Brit comments become available.:
=================================================
BRITS INITIAL REACTIONS TO OUR OWN BB4 TV SHOW

Source: Official BB UK Forum & my original post
at www.jokersupdates.com

=================================================
Well I watched BBUSA yesterday- the highlights and I had more entertainment in those 3 hours or so than the ENTIRE BB4 here....at last there's some action, bit*hing, bed action, a psycho, great
nomination process, far more interesting games. Love em or loathe em, at least the yanks can provide some entertainment, and are not as reserved as our sad lot.
================================================
This is just losing the concept of BB totally... they're all gameplans & strategies. I hate all that. It's basically Survivor only in a house. But it looks promising. There is a certain honesty in the open "in it to win it" philosophy of the US hm's.
================================================
With the yanks it's all about the game - I love the way the girls are all about flirting with the guys in order to get them on their side and are totally admitting it !! If someone had so much an ounce of strategy in BB UK it was like "How dare they! We're all here to make 11 newest friends!" What a load of bull! At least the yanks tell it like it is - I'm gonna be watching this one!!!
================================================
The whole X Factor thing sounded crap at first but its actually quite good viewing! But
following all the different alliances & tactics
just gets confusing- especially as we dont know who's who yet. N wots up with the presenter acting like she's reading the news- she doesn't seem interested at all! And dont even get me started on the cheesy music...thats really annoying as are the constant flashbacks to wots happened already. apart from that though ... at
least the HM's are interesting so the US show has that over us! They speak their minds and get annoyed at each other and that's what was missing from BB4 uk!!!
================================================
Hmm, now let me see...which would I prefer to watch:

A. I think it would be useful to keep X in, he could act as a double agent or...

B. Who wants a cup of tea?

Think I'll go for the one with the plot developments.
================================================
I think they could take SOME ideas from BB USA.
I LOVE:-
The tasks
The fact housemates can talk about nominations
The head of the house doing the nominating
I HATE:-
The eviction
The presenter
================================================
It's awful and the presenter has the charisma of a rubber house plant! BBUK rocks,compared to that tacky edited sh!t, the HMs are all horrible, and look like rejects from Baywatch. I won't be watching!
================================================
The HouseGUESTS, well....what a right bunch of egotistical,back-biting, under-handed,scheming, full-of-themselves, bunch of to$$ers!...

I LOVED IT!

Re:the music & editing, it does make you cringe
... right over the top. But thats just the way the yanks like it- just an attempt to add drama I guess. The BAD thing re:production values,IMHO,
is the fast paced cutting. It does get a bit confusing. Example of this, the "dude" Scott starts throwing a wobbly (& some chairs hehe) and 10 minutes later he's gone. Then see loads of diary room entries from HG's saying "yeah, he's been a right tool lately" etc.

Now, SURELY this didn't happen over one day. This Scott has been steadily going off his trolly. The yanks should have shown this over a period of a few episodes, so we get to know what he's like, and the tension builds (he's gonna lose it one day, I can see it coming).

Apart from the fast pace, I quite enjoyed it though but we knock Davina <their TV Host> . Let's face it, she's a lot better than that
Malibu Stacy (Julie Chen) presenting BBUSA lol.
BTW,- cheers to Knowledge_Seeker for bringing
this up. It didn't disappoint me.
================================================
I dont like it much when u watch bbuk for 4 years and then watch bbusa. It's soo different (no crowd when evicted. No public vote. Everyone hates each other). Its just hard to adjust to it.
================================================
The first few episodes had more entertainment value in a couple of hours than the UK version had in 9 weeks.
================================================
And i thought bb4 uk was bad. OMG, if the producers of the uk version let our BB change into the drivel that is the american format, it's doomed. It's good entertainment but it just isn't Big Brother. It's survivor in a house. The eviction was so crap. The theme tune made u realise what a classic the bb uk theme tune is.
And the presenter she had the personality of a houseplant.
================================================
It is really good and i can't wait for the live coverage to start. Bitching, backstabbing & great tasks too,and the veto thing is cool too,adds a nice twist. Ah well,there goes my free time
this summer!
================================================
Yes, the music is naff & the presenter surely
couldn't be the best they could have got, but I
think I'll like it. They're all openly competing
for the money, discuss strategies (they are
bitching like their lives depend on it!) & have
to win their food & luxuries. From the very first
night they've had to deal with challenges (living
with their exes, having to share a bed with a
stranger).

The UK execs should be made to watch the US version for ideas on how to improve BB here. It didn't take great imagination to dream up the tasks /challenges, but they make it much more
watchable & time has obviously gone into putting them together. I can do without the blinding white teeth & flicking hair though,
and I already miss the audience participation.
================================================
(Unlike our UK BB) they don't suck up to the public - they suck up to each other to survive.
And that changes on an almost daily basis. Its
not about being a wannabee after the show its
about winning the money.... they are playing a game show which is what its always been about.
================================================
It is really good. But I don't like the fact that their evicition is quite boring - they don't have an evicition crowd or anything!
================================================
BB4 USA - The Jungle
BB4 UK - The Local Zoo
================================================
It's so nice to get away from all those silly people on BBUK. This show rocks - the intrigue & scheming is fantastic...Its doing my head in trying to keep up with all the senario's - god knows what its doing to them with 500k up for grabs.
================================================
I like to see the game being played for what it is - a GAME SHOW - and the reason for playing TO WIN! This is what BBUK was supposed to be but the public totally lost the plot and turned it into something else..... boring.
================================================
Why was/is UKBB better ? No-one saying 'like' every 2 seconds. No american accents. The presenters & narrators acted like you had an IQ of over 6. No americans. Not one utterance of 'dude' without being tongue-in cheek. Conversations that actually ran above a superficial level, and were even ambiguous. People in the BB house who didn't think they were the center of the universe. At least some housemates who didn't grate to the extent where
you wanted to execute them. Did I mention no Americans?
================================================
I love it they all grovel round the hoh then when someone wins the veto medal they all grovel round them. I must admit it does fall a bit flat on eviction night. Its like dont let the door hit you on the arse on the way out.
================================================
If I wanted to watch awful, no-brainer american tv where everyone obsesses over themselves/cries every 5 minutes I'd watch Friends or Sex and the City.
================================================
Love at first sight. I love that they can talk about nominations. I love the alliances that get formed. I love the bitching & backstabbing. I don't think I will be able to go back to BB-UK ever again.
================================================
BB USA is a complete disaster! I only watched it for four hours (which i wish i could have back). We learned absolutely nothing about the housemates as all they did was talk about alliances (what the f%*£ are they ?) and their 'strategies'. It showed the fundamental difference between the US and UK. There you've
got to back bite, be spiteful and above all win
(the worst insult in America is being a loser!)
Here,you can be a generally nice person and make
it to the final four.
==============================================
The good thing was the games. That chosing head of house was really good but get that presenter out!! It's really lacking in spirit though. The Americans very rarely keep shows "gritty" it just
doesn't go down well over there.
===============================================
The network is riding the coattails of BB USA after our own sh!t BB year.They will steal ideas from US BB but it will never be the same because they want to make a mint using public voting.
I will say that if this year had used the American rules it would have been one of the best years of BB.
===============================================
So far it seems good. Like the tasks/competitions they have. Like the fact they...have to pick rooms (no boy/girl division). Not sure about no public votes though. Add to that the scheming,
bitching and Scott going crazy and it was very
entertaining. The music is better than hearing
planes or chickens. So far i think its been good
and they only showed week 1!

On first impressions the everyday life and tasks are more entertaining but the evictions are a big let down with no crowds. If the good elements of the usa show could be combined with the eviction drama of our bb then maybe it could really be
something special.
================================================
BB USA shows that the UK producers need to rethink the nature of their competition. What's BB UK all about? Do you vote for the most
entertaining/ genuine/ good looking/controversial/
/geeky/Irish/sexy...? Everyone seems to have
different views on why different contestants "deserve" (lol) to win.

I enjoyed BB4 UK but so much discussion centered around how "genuine" the contestants were being - so people were getting hooked up on something we'll never get to the bottom of, because
contestants are so clued up nowadays. They rarely
admit to wanting to win & (mores the pity) shy away from admitting to having tactics.

But BB USA contestants share their gameplans with the viewers, so we get to see plots thicken and plans come asunder! The tactical play is very
intriguing & makes steam come out of your well,my ears! If BB UK could stop being a who's got the stiffest upper lip competition,its fortunes might
revive.
================================================
Am actually quite impressed thus far with BB4 USA! OK, the americans can sometimes seem so fake etc.. BUT I think the way they are playing the game is fantastic. They have to form alliances, do real tasks, vote each other out (not the public) AND vote for the winner. It seems to me that a game is really being played here (reminds me a little of the way Survivor is played). If anyone says that it isn't more interesting than our BB then you must be blind.

Pirate

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 09:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks knowledgeseeker. That was interesting reading. Sounds a bit like us (Americans) debating the merits of BB1 and the following years. Some yearn for the BB1 days while some of us like the current format.

I lauged at the one message that said the presenter (Julie Chen) sounded like she was reading the news!

Laisey

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 09:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I really enjoyed reading these comments and would like to see more as the show progresses to see if their opinions change. I don't suppose any of those posters would believe that Julie has actually improved since BB began.

Aus10

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 09:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
"It's awful and the presenter has the charisma of a rubber house plant! BBUK rocks,compared to that tacky edited sh!t, the HMs are all horrible, and look like rejects from Baywatch. I won't be watching! "

This from the folks who gave us Benny Hill and Mr. Bean........go figure.

(no offense to our Brit friends) :)

Meme9

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 09:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Knowledgeseeker.

It was a good read.

Crossfire

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 09:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hey, excellent, I was going to post one of these, but I was not sure about swiping the posts from elsewhere. Thanks.

I spent a couple of days pouring over some UK boards for reaction, and comparison, was pleased. I just love the UK slang, I could listen to, and read that all day, very refreshing.

Jmm

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 10:00 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Crossfire, So that's why I haven't seen you in chat lately. LOL

Theowl

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 10:01 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thank you so much!! I can't wait to hear what they say about last week, with the Michelle out and the look on Jee3+2's faces. Then Dana getting HOH and then the POV. Please let us know UK's reaction to the good stuff.

Whit4you

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 10:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
My son (age 22) was willing to give BB a chance (Since he'll be staying here for 3+ weeks and has little choice) but he so couldn't bear to listen to Julie (and this without me having said a word, unlike most here I just ignore her...) but he couldn't bear her I mean really couldn't. He was going nuts having to listen to her for even a few minutes. He kept saying something about Captain Kirk.. and how she was 10X more annoying then Captain Kirk. (Was Captian Kirk annoying???) LOL

Crossfire

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 10:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hehehe, I don't like to show up without new material. Soon, real soon now. :)

Ezgoing

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 10:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Knowledgeseeker! Great to see how others perceive our little human experiment. (anyone else notice the frequent displeasure with Julie...what did one poster call her, "Malibu Stacy"?)

Be curious to see how it does in their ratings over the coming weeks.

Gypsy888

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 10:14 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Has anyone ever seen BB in Finland...now that is fun!! (I think it was Finland I tuned into last year)Personally, I love captain Kirk, but could do without J. Chen. She is very boring!

BBUK must be very boring...everyone playing to audience rather than a true game. What's the point?

Thanks for the post, very cool. Hope to see a follow up.

Hamsterville

Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 11:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks for posting the UK comments. If they liked this season for the most part I wonder what they would have said about the last 3 seasons, since they were so much better than this one.

Xarph

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 12:59 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I am curious about the "delayed" feeds the UK will be getting.

Will they included the frequent and long FOTHs?
Will they be edited for content?
Will they give them four feeds with all the same content as we frequently see?

Ladyxanax

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 06:02 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Xarph, I'm a viewer in the UK and will try to answer your questions...
Yes we see FOTH quite frequently but in my experience there's been only one occasion when it was for a long time. I could be wrong though as I don't watch for hours on end!
Don't think much editing is going on.
Four feeds? Don't know. I just watch on E4 where what you see is what you get. For our own BB however you could use your remote to go interactive and then had a choice of two live feeds.

Oh and may I take this opportunity to apologise on behalf of the people of GB for Benny Hill and Mr Bean.....

Niceguy

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 06:09 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Whit4, I think your son feels that Julie over-articulates every syllable like your typical news talking head. William Shatner had a propensity for that as well. I like Julie and I don't have a problem with her.

Some of the British comments were dead on about the cheesiness and over the top quality of certain ways Shapiro and company have evolved the show. On BB1 you saw how certain things developed in a normal time sort of fashion. Now its slam bang, high-velocity action to make what we are seeing gripping and compelling. Sometimes it works and sometimes it just sits there on the screen and you are embarrased for everyone involved. I wish they could find some happy medium with the two formats.

Naja

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 06:31 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I am so fascinated (and happy) that the majority seem to really like it. So often just the fact that something is different from what you are used to makes it hard to judge whether it is better or not. Glad to see that for most of the comments that "different" doesn't have to equal "worse".

and yes, that eviction crowd sounds like a neat idea for here!

Lurknomore

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 06:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I've always said the English don't speak American LOL...could someone please translate "naff," or will I have to email one of my friends on your side of the pond? lol

Was interesting reading. Made me wonder if the UK BB was like our BB1, which as we know some of us LOVED (present company included, excuse me while I not so silently chant CURTIS,CURTIS) and some others here hated. I still would take interesting and slightly boring over backstabbing and endless repetative plotting anyday.

BTW wonder which PSYCHO the UK poster meant in describing our HG's....so many Psycho's so little time (I shall assume she meant our beloved Dana...see I coudln't post the MT nick LOL)

Ladyxanax

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 07:04 am EditMoveDeleteIP
LOL, my dictionary is so old naff isn't in it! It's not really a very commonly used word but I guess we use it as in 'uncool' (eg. "I thought his shirt was naff") - although years ago Princess Anne famously told some photographers to 'naff off'.

Jbfrommi

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 07:42 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks, that was an interesting read! Keep em coming. How about if they got Anne Robinson from Weakest Link as a hostess?

Rissa

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 08:00 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Lurknomore said: <<<I've always said the English don't speak American <<<

Actually LNM, it's more that Americans don't speak English <ducking>.

I enjoyed BB1 while wanting it spiced up a bit, but always thought they went too far the other way by totally keeping the public out of the voting after that first year. Some sort of hybrid btn the HG's being able to scheme and the public having input would be ideal, IMO.

Philamom

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 08:30 am EditMoveDeleteIP
If I remember the first BB (US) correctly, the houseguests nominated each other for eviction, and the public voted out. Is that how BBUK does it? I think a happy medium would be to allow the public to vote ... have whoever gets the most votes from the general public count as 1 vote towards eviction. It would still give the public some input, and it might cut down on some of the scheming (but not completely, LOL).

Lurknomore

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 08:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
LOL actually I almost phrased it that way (as my UK friends have repeatedly drummed this into me hehe), but what I posted was a twist I've been known to use in similar chats.

And I TOTALLY agree with you with the vote Rissa. I still think America's vote should/could count as one HG vote. Of course since they have had the pack mentality with everyone agreeing on who is leaving it would have been useless this year to date. :(

Spunky

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 08:55 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Very interesting, thank you to the original poster!!

I can't believe how they call you Yanks,even Americans could tell you they're not ALL Yanks.

Come'on Brits, open your mind up!!

I can see how the British crowd is split in regards to US BB4. Some like it some don't, no majority however in favour.

But those posts seem to me at the time of Scott's departure and haven't seen last week. Soon they'll do a double take I'm sure.. :)

Cliotheleo

Friday, August 01, 2003 - 09:01 am EditMoveDeleteIP
<<<and it might cut down on some of the scheming>>>

Why do we want to cut down on the scheming? That's what makes the show so good.