Can BB become a show we want to watch again?
TV ClubHouse: Archive: Can BB become a show we want to watch again?
Kk4 | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 08:57 am     I have found that the hg have increasingly become more cruel and vicious with each year of this show. During BB1 we were all rooting for our favorites, the boards and the chatrooms were packed. Fastforward 3 years. Not only are we 'debating' the lessor of the 3 evils but the boards have become less frequented and less friendly. This only makes sense. We are a reflection of the mood in the house. What is going on? Why don't they show all of this on the shows? Editing!! Are we doomed to vile & venom? Maybe not. The major difference between the first year and the last 3 shows is how people are evicted. The hg have had to change their strategy.. manipulate the other hg, they will never know till they see the show in the end, and who cares! They'll never have to see them again. Were the hg more kind the first year because WE were watching? Do you think this years hg would act differently towards each other if the viewing audience was voting? Absolutely. Solution? Should they go back to viewer participation like many very popular shows (American Idol, Cupid, Fame etc)? Should they stay with the Survivor type eviction that they feel works better because it causes more conflict in the house? I say DO BOTH! Mix it up Arnie! Who will be evicting this week..... the hg or the viewers. Think of the possibilities. Not only would they have to play each other, but they would have to play us at the same time. Could this hurt their ratings? I don't think so. Would people tune in just to see if it was their time to evict? Would they follow the show waiting for their chance to rid the house of someone like Ali? Absolutely. Could the POV be used to veto the hg votes in favor of the viewers? Not only do I think that this would increase ratings, making Arnie happy, but it would also bring more people to the internet to see the 'real' people that we would be voting for. Most importantly, the show would go back to who really has 'played' the GAME the best, not the ultimate lier. |
Monalisahi | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 09:09 am     Kk4, I'm all for America being an extra vote. But I don't think America should be the sole vote because the majority of viewers don't have live feeds nor do the majority come to websites. The majority only sees what CBS chooses to show on TV, and we've seen that can be a little skewed. |
Atjoybell | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 09:25 am     I think America should nominate who goes on the block and there is no POV and then the HG vote to evict |
Kk4 | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 09:32 am     Has CBS shown us people to root for? Have kept all of the negative comments the hg are making to themselves? No. They show us the ugly side too. I do agree that the majority of the viewers don't have the feeds. I also believe that they are making a good amount of money on the feeds, if they didn't they would stop offering them. Feeds or not, I don't think it matters. Just using this year as an example, think of each houseguest. Would Robert, Allison & Jun have played differently? Would Justin, Dave or Erica? Some yes, some no. I find it interesting that the hg we don't believe would have changed 'their game' are the ones who most likely the viewers would have voted to keep in the house. Would this bring back a show where you actually would be excited to see a winner instead of the lesser of 3 evils? I think so. |
Crazydog | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 09:35 am     Regardless of how much I like or dislike particular houseguests, I have always been interested and excited to see the finals. So I think the title of this thread doesn't apply to me, because I always want to watch BB. The problem with having America nominate is then we get back to the problems they had in BB1. The houseguests were SO afraid of irritating internet viewers that they just became so boring. The ones that dared to confront others or get nasty were the ones that got voted out. |
Mack | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 09:39 am     Mixing the vote would certainly be one key to getting me back into BB. BB1 was too much of a "love-in" with the show evolving into the HG's versus BB. Probably OK for us viewers but in the long run it lacked the dynamics that BB wanted. BB2 was a good change and that, more or less, continued in BB3. Seems to me that there are at least two major problems with BB4. One, the format has gotten old and, the "twists" notwithstanding, it's pretty much the same old scenario. Problem is that enough folks have seen previous BB's that they now think they all know the game and how to win it. Second, BB blew it this year with the HG's. Not a good mix. I'd "vote" for a mixed process where HG's and viewers would have the elimination power...maybe without telling the HG's just when or where public vote would be used. At least for one year the HG's would have to balance not only the interaction in the house but also the public view of their behavior. |
Mystery | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 09:48 am     CBS has shown us the ugly side of the contestants but on its own timetable. Robert was saying ugly things for weeks before they put it on the show. So I agree that people voting only from what they see on the show would not be voting with full knowledge of what's going on in the house. Since most viewers don't have feeds I'd just as soon have NO outside input into the house, including America's Choice voted by the viewers. I'd like to see the HGs compete for any possible prizes. |
Cliotheleo | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 09:49 am     I like the idea that some have suggested of giving America one collective vote to cast along with the other HGs. |
Spunky | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 09:54 am     It's like one of those bad picks, some apples look great on the outside but they're rotten inside. How could Arnold know?? Maybe next time he'll get luckier and have real good ones... |
Puzzled | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 10:04 am     With the three left in the house, I just don't care who wins. As far as I'm concerned it is a disaster. However, BB4 has had the highest ratings. Obviously a *lot* of people love the back-biting and nastiness, so for AS, CBS, and the advertisers are concerned, this sort of thing has been a great success. I like the idea of one of the nominees being the next HOH--that would really make them think about what they were doing. Also like the idea of having the viewers vote once in a while--would force them to watch what they say. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if, for next year, they are looking for the most contentious people they can find.  |
Monalisahi | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 10:12 am     Kk4, let me give you an example. The week Jun won HOH, my husband (who does not watch live feeds) was rooting for Robert to win the HOH comp. Now, after I told him about Robert, he changed his opinion. Now he asks me each week, "who are we rooting for this week?"...LOL. And I really confused him that next week when I told him we were rooting for either Erika or Robert to win HOH...LOL. I think the LF viewers have a more accurate picture of what's going on in the house than those who don't have LF's. |
Spike763 | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 10:22 am     I'm done. I have been watching the feeds for 3 years now. And this is the last year I will. I'm very dissapointed in this final group. Chiara and Danielle weren't this bad last year. Seems they have more respect for people than what's left here. I truly don't care anymore who wins. I believe that what I am watching is NOT the way I would want to live, see my children live or act. So I will not endorse it by watching it after this year(ok, there may be a little interest left just to see who DOESN'T get the big pot and their reactions). Thank god it's almost over. |
Way2prissy | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 10:45 am     If they go back to the BB1 Format, my answer is yes. If the producers persist with keeping game guidelines where mean-spirited, ignorant and immoral houseguests prevail over those who know how to play the game without compromising their personal integrity...I will not watch again. I've already missed several episodes the last 3 weeks because I am simply disgusted with the remaining houseguests. I understand being in the BB house is a stressful environment but the constant threats of violence, hateful words, racial remarks and overall ugliness is unacceptable behavior. Giving someone like Ali $500k for displaying such behavior is a disgrace to the "American Dream." I remember when I thought Richard Hatch from Survivor 1 was despicable...he's a saint compared to these three. In retrospect, I think he won for the right reasons. He was the survivor everyone loved to hate because he played the game so well. Please bring back people like Curtis, Josh, Brittany, Kent, Hardy and Bunky! We want to see people with good hearts win these games! |
Crazydog | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 10:48 am     I disagree with the characterization of Kent and Hardy as being those with "good hearts". I think the solution if you are disgusted by the houseguests is just to not watch the live feeds. I feel the show is very entertaining and I trust the editors to do their jobs. Even if there is a comment or two, there would be nowhere near the amount of trash talk that you see on the feeds. The biggest problem is that they are so bored they have nothing to do or talk about, so they just talk about other houseguests. |
Mystery | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 11:01 am     The "bored" point is a good one. When I think back on what the BB1 houseguests had to work with (collecting eggs from the chickens, having to figure out what they could get each week from their budget, the sudden late-night wakeup calls to dance) I think that maybe some of that stuff should be brought back. I'd love to see the HGs have to work together to get what they want, and maybe see some HGs eliminated when they fail to do that. |
Jagger | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 11:15 am     Well I still want to watch the show, but yes it could get better. I did like the aspect in BB1 where is was more the HGs vs BB, they seem to have lost that over the years. Last year there were people you loved to hate, this year that hasn't happened for me. I really don't give a rats a$$ who wins or looses this year, none of them have made an impact on me like in previous years. Do I have an answer to what would make for a perfect show that I couldn't bear to miss a single minute....... NO...... but I know if they implament some of the suggestions that others have offered it may help to make it a more interesting show. |
Way2prissy | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 11:19 am     Do you remember on BB1 when Will Mega purposely fouled up the memorization game for the food competition during the week he was nominated? It was a perfect example of teamwork. He didn't want to be part of the team and he sealed his fate when he caused the HG's to lose the competition. That was a classic BB season with only one perceived "bad egg" as I recall... |
Ark | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 11:19 am     "The biggest problem is that they are so bored they have nothing to do or talk about, so they just talk about other houseguests." I don't think that most people take into consideration how stressful this must be for these people, Crazydog. Look at how bored we are watching them and we can get up and leave any time we want. Living this boredom must be hell. I also have no doubt that some of them are depressed. Remember when Jun used to stay up late and get up early. Now she's doing just the opposite. Robert was depressed when his buddies were still in there with him, imagine how depressed he must be now. Do y'all remember George losing his mind during BB1? That was painful to watch and he was in a house with people that he truly believed cared about him. Imagine what it must be for these people that don't have anyone in there that truly cares for them. I think BB1 was a showcase for how depressing this situation is. There was someone in that house crying almost everyday and that was the friendliest BB house to date. The people in that house are not necessarily acting or reacting the same way they would in the real world because they aren't in a real world situation. I know depressed people and some of them do things when they are depressed that they would never do or say when the depression lifts. I'm not trying to talk anyone into liking any of the remaining HG, I just want y'all to be open minded and realize that you can't say how you would act in this situation unless you've been in this situation. |
Eeyoreslament | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 11:21 am     I personally would like to go back to the nominations/voting style of year 1. I like that the game wasn't SO self-contained. When the houseguests don't have their game-future resting a little in OUR hands, they become oblivious to how to act like a human-being, and they forget about how they are perceived on the outside. What proves this to me is how Jun and Ali were interpreting the America's Choice results on last night's show. They thought the result was due to Robert being a father, when in reality, I'm sure a lot of people voted AGAINST Ali and Jun, because many people think they are too awful to deserve any more rewards. (ed. - I also can't believe they were bashing Robert for name-calling, when name-calling is something THEY do just as much, if not MORE) sigh...this show is killing me. I loved it SOOOOOOO much the first year. These people just become more and more surreal. I also think that as every year of any reality show goes on, the dynamic gets more cut throat and "game" oriented. I think ratings would not be compromised in future years, because most people applying for reality shows are ready to be evil, with their "alliance" catch phrase in their pocket and their game face on. PLEASE give America the eviction vote back. I still think the show can have the cut-throat dynamic, but at least is guarantees a MORSEL of social responsibility on the part of the HG's. It would also guarantee I would watch next season. If they bring back the America Votes option, they can charge us for the vote, and we also wouldn't have to see so many CHEEZY product-placement segments on the show. And maybe they could afford to give the HG's something to do, or some week long challenges again. |
Vskatefan | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 11:27 am     I think the audience having 1 eviction vote would work. Just add it to the number of Houseguests voting. |
Vskatefan | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 11:31 am     My first post was composed earlier but I forgot to send it. I guess I am in good company with my opinion, though What will ultimately make BB watchable is having a better cast. Make the people more varied in age, experience, etc along with getting good "characters" and things will be better. When I first took a look at this group(even before the show aired) I was fearful of what junk we would be subjected to. |
Mystery | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 11:38 am     I too was dismayed as soon as I saw this year's HGs. I'd love to see more varied people but as long as Arnold wants people to hook up (which it seems to me that he does) then he's going to pick what he thinks are young beautiful people. Older people with some life experience might do better if there were tasks that had to be accomplished; as long as the program mostly involves sitting around, though, that type of person is not going to be valued much by the other HGs as far as I can see. |
Ophiliasgrandma | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 12:01 pm     How about giving each person 10 votes, or 100 votes, each time to distribute as they see fit. I think that would work well with the jury also. |
Gen | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 12:16 pm     I think part of the problem with the HGs is that the majority of them are not really very intelligent nor creative. Early in the game, someone came up with the idea to play ping pong on the kitchen island and playing marbles on the floor. Several had fun with this. Whoever came up with these ideas was probably bored and came up with a way to entertain themselves and others. Remember the "academic" discussions Rod and Gerry had last year? Another example of finding their own entertainment. Jack tried to start some discussions, but no one but Erika really participated. The current HGs want it all handled to them on a silver platter rather than using their brain and entertaining themselves. Jun kept herself busy planning meals and cooking, but it involved only her. Let's have some HGs that are functioning beings instead of a bunch of lazy morons. I also would like to see viewer participation. It would make these people more aware that they are being watched for who they really are and not just in there auditioning for the Hollywood moguls. |
Sunshyne4u | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 12:24 pm     Jack TRIED to start up some intelligent discussions, TRUE. But I felt really ripped off when he started spouting off various facts about the JFK case....then confessed he wrote a book on the subject! His legitimacy on the show dropped in my opinion. Just another person like Roddy trying to get publicity for his 'work' outside the house. This thread is quite similar to another thread about changes we'd like to see in BB5. First big change?? IMHO casting REAL people...no more actor/ writer wannabees Jun has not stated ONCE she has any interest in acting etc (Both ali and rob think this show is their big ticket!) |
Oscrapit | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 02:16 pm     I agree that the HGs need more to do. Have them stuff envelopes for charity (if such a thing is still done) or something with the most productive HG getting a perk each week. I don't like how nasty they've all become but I think it would be a little easier to take if they were fun (kind of like Dave doing cannonballs in the pool, jumping upside down on the punching bag, making faces at the camera, etc). They might be more fun if they weren't so bored. I think a requirement of being selected should be that they have interests in something (movies, books, whatever) and an ability to carry on a conversation about something other than bashing evicted HGs. Let them be evil, just make them be entertaining while they're doing it! |
Auntie | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 02:30 pm     like many of you, this season hasn't done it for me. my sister and i were discussing this morning that we really don't care who wins, we just want it to be over so we can look forward to something better next year. i've thought a lot about why this year was so awful. my sister pointed out that this year, the hgs really didn't get many treats to look forward to, and as a poster up topic mentioned - they rarely had to work TOGETHER for anything. in bb1, knowing how to cook was a definite advantage, as they didn't even have bread unless they baked it themselves. once karen showed the others how to do that, she was toast herself. i miss the mind-numbing challenges like the dance contest that FORCED them to interact with ALL of their fellow houseguests. but really, there is one big difference this year. in previous years, hgs have cut each other up pretty neatly, amy and marcellus were masters of the tongue sword last season... HOWEVER - in previous seasons, the hgs all did their digging in ways most of us can empathize with - in ways we've all done ourselves - hanging out in the mall and pointing out the ugly people, in school digging at the cliques... but THIS year, there is more to it than that. this year, the hgs have gotten so vindictive and personal, it's not comfortable to watch, listen to, or even read about on live feeds or in discussion forums. racial epithets are a lot different from "polish jokes" - the mean-spirited jabs of this groups of hgs has been more than i can stomach, and as a reality teevee junkie, that's saying a lot. i haven't even logged into real player in days, and i PAY MONEY for that service! there are three reasons why this year has been so bad, and all of them can be traced back to alison grodner: 1 - the ex-factor brought the REAL world into reality teevee, which is NOT a good thing. 2 - the hgs were apparently chosen with sex in mind, which is short-sighted, as there are only three kinds of people willing to have sex on american teevee - exhibitionist sluts, those who are not smart enough to think through what this sort of behaviour might cost them in the long run, and people who have become deluded. we WANT our hgs deluded, it's makes it more interesting, but stupid and.or slutty reaches over the comfort factor for middle america. 3 - it's pretty obvious to all of us that bb producers have treated this year's cast much worse than any cast that went before them. they have been more manipulated, more pressured, than bb1-3, and the games are more rigged than ever before, too. so rigged that we can't help but notice, even those who don't have the internet are aware that something is not kosher in the contests. i don't care if they are wannabee actors. i do care if they are vile money-grubbing parasites who would sell their family and friends down the river for money. i don't care if they are working the cameras for future contracts, but i DO care if they say or do hurtful things that make me uncomfortable to listen or watch. |
Laffy | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 02:33 pm     i don't think the audience should nominate or vote off the HGs, but i do think the POV should be ours. let them nominate and give us a veto of one person. i'll bet the audience would override one nominee almost every week. |
Sunshyne4u | Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 04:43 pm     Interesting concept LAFFY The AMERICA CHOICE POV!! someone in another thread talked about the VETO being changed to an IMMUNITY challenge so that ONE HG would be exempt. Two others would be nominated.....THEN your idea could be done a few times randomly during the season to 'shake em up'! |
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