Big Brother rant

[Waterwolf]

What is the continuing appeal of Big Brother? I can understand how the original concept excited the voyeur in people; but what's so exciting about watching a bunch of nobodies sleeping, cutting their toenails and arguing about whose turn it is to do the dishes?

[andy hughes]

As the 'Big Brother' and 'Pop Idol' and similar "reality" TV show producers have discovered, to their immense joy, it is possible to create a 'bonding' relationship between a massive section of the viewing public and a pre-set group of individuals, simply by prolonged exposure of one to the other. The lack of appeal in the personalities involved is irrelavent - in fact, using the 'villain' approach actually enhances a character's logevity in the show concerned. As is apparent by the phrasing of your question, you are immune to this particularly effective form of 'entertainment', and will have observed in mute wonder the length and depth of discussions about people that none of us know, beyond the few hundred hours of edited observation we have been given. The point is, you, and indeed I, are in the minority here - people can't get enough of the 'observation' style of TV, the more boring and / or abhorent the behaviour, the more people want to watch it. If anyone finds the reason why this works, a lucrative job awaits, but meanwhile, the fashion will run to its conclusion, and we will simply have to find something better to do than watch it. Tonight - 'Evicition Nomination Night' I'm placing the items in my fridge in alphabetical order - far more satisfying I'm sure you'll agree!

[ravenhair]

I hate to say it, but if they'd picked a less, er, intellectually challenged bunch of people, the show might have its entertaining moments. The thing that strikes me about all the contestants is that not one of them has either an ounce of wit or an inquiring mind. If they actually had any interesting, funny, questioning conversations, it would be a little more fun than watching a bunch of shallow dullards try to work out what country Birmingham is in, or whatever.

[firefly]

The trouble is, I suspect, that more intelligent people don't want to appear on it. Look at the barrister who got bored with it all...

[deshaft]

Following on from other answer, I think as well as the voyeuristic angle, the people who watch it do so from the premise that "Ohh, I'm so much better than the people in that house and I wouldn't be like that." It also appeals to the darker side of people's nature in that they enjoy watching people being humiliated or suffering in some way. Also, can they really be classed as "ordinary members of the public" when they have to in fact audition to get on the programme and the producers are obviously going to pick the more outrageous applicants? They would be better served going up to people in the street and offering them money to take part. I am proud to say I must have seen about 5 minutes of the entire 3 series and that wasn't by choice. Perhaps we should form a club of people who think the majority of reality TV isn't worth watching.