# Big Brother (TV Show) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 6, 2000, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797 "2000-07-06T23:27:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/21 "2000-07-24T23:59:31Z")
Ratings aren’t exactly going through the roof. It seems as though they’re already running out of “material” (i.e. getting more and more boring with each episode). It could be a very long two months for all involved, including the TV audience… ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2000, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/22 "2000-07-25T15:25:02Z")
THat must be why all the sex scenes laterly, omni. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/23 "2000-07-26T12:26:12Z")
Well, well… George the Manipulator: who woudda thunk? ---
**Author:** ![ponch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@ponch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ponch)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/24 "2000-07-26T12:38:22Z")
for my vouyeristic pleasures I’ll take the Real World. THey leave the house, they interact with the world, they are all attractive (so what, I’m shallow), and it is well directed and entertaining… Saw big brother twice…a bunch of folks sitting around talking about what they think…lots of silence…dull. I’d rather look at the Corn Cam that someone posted elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/25 "2000-07-29T17:18:11Z")
Josh got confronted by Brittany & Jord on why is he flirting with both of them. Next time we hear from Josh, he says the real woman for him is Jamie. Yeah, right. ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/26 "2000-07-29T17:26:20Z")
How could anything this utterly dull get ratings? I heard some good ideas to make it better… Add an ever rising water level throughout the house. Introduce some vicious animal, fire ants come to mind. Drugs Put the lame hosts in there with them. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2000, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/27 "2000-07-29T18:44:02Z")
Seems to me the show’s greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. **ponch** mentioned “Real World” – they’re all young, attractive, blah blah blah. On “Big Brother,” they didn’t do that. They picked totally ordinary people from various ordinary walks of life. That’s what I think it so amazing about the show: It’s totally unlike what you’d expect from American TV, putting normal, average people on national television five or six nights a week (whatever it is). That’s unique and amazing. Unfortunately, that’s also the show’s biggest problem: It’s populated by totally ordinary, normal, average people. They don’t have any special qualities, any unique talents; they aren’t ridiculously attractive (have you seen the latest batch of Real Worlders? jeez). They’re just regular people. So if you can get over that, the entire interest of the show is in two areas: (1) how conniving and manipulative ordinary people can really be, and (2) how sadistic the “Big Brother” producers can be in setting up torturous challenges. The table of dominoes is pretty cruel, but for existential torment, the bit about imitating one another, i.e. parodying each others’ personalities, was incredibly mean. So given all of that, it doesn’t surprise me that the show hasn’t caught on here. We like our entertainment slick and easily consumed, from movies to TV. Look at European film; from Dogme '95 to slice-of-life movies like _When the Cat’s Away._ We don’t like unpolished, unpredictable stuff. “Survivor” is a hit because it’s simple and easily reduced to sound bites: did they catch the fish? did they start a fire? is Richard naked again? “Big Brother” is primarily about human behavior, as artificially constructed and presented it might be. Anyway, I’m ranting. I’ll stop. My question: What if the show takes a real dive in the ratings? How do they get cancelled? Does the network just open the front door and tell the remaining participants, “Sorry, you weren’t entertaining enough, you’re all free to go”? “Everyone who’s left splits the half-million”? Or is it in their contract: “If the show doesn’t do well in the ratings, it means you people were dull, and we don’t tell you you’re cancelled; you live in the house forever.” Hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/28 "2000-08-03T01:56:57Z")
You know what would have made great live TV? Jordan walks out of the house and into the arms of her boyfriend, and all of a sudden he commences to bitch slap her around. “So ya wanna fuck Josh, huh?” (Whap, whap, whap). “Think you want what he’s got? _I_ got somethin’ for ya.” Security guards converge. Melee ensues. Maybe Julie Chen gets her blouse ripped off in the scuffle. Now _that’s_ gripping TV! ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/29 "2000-09-18T18:49:03Z")
Anyone notice that George seems to be losing it? everyone voted for him & he asked ‘did anyone vote for me?’ then he was laughing manically for two minutes. odd. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/30 "2000-09-18T19:02:04Z")
Damn, Divemaster it seems like you have the same idea as me. Take all the Jerry Springer guests for a week and stick them in a house together. Not only would it be truly entertaining, you could take one camera for a day and get episodes of Jerry Springer, Big Brother and COPS all on the same tape. So who wants to front the money for my idea? anyone? anyone?? On the negative side the aliens who are watching to see Humans muture, would probably decide we are a lost cause and blow up the planet. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/31 "2000-09-18T19:12:37Z")
> [@](#): > > **handy:** Anyone notice that George seems to be losing it? George is clinging to reality by his fingernails. I couldn’t **believe** what a jackass he was on the phone with his wife. I know the Vegas odds-makers don’t see Jamie lasting much longer, if there’s any justice, George will be the next one booted. And **divemaster** , may I respectfully direct you to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=31627)… ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/32 "2000-09-18T20:26:31Z")
> [@](#): > > Yes, they have a bathroom toilet cam. No, we can’t watch it. Who does get to watch the toilet cam? Is it live, or do they just have a camera in there for aesthetics. BTW, I’d hate to be the schmuck whose job is to monitor the “Big Brother” toilet cam–if it is active. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/33 "2000-09-18T23:17:08Z")
Silo, they said at the start of the show there would be a camera in the toilet room but they wouldn’t show it unless people spent a lot of time talking there. One time Karen got drunk & was on the toilet & opening the door again & again and then she came out, bent over & showed the world her ass which they censored. ---
**Author:** ![kellibelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kellibelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellibelli)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/34 "2000-09-18T23:28:11Z")
Jaime HAS to go this week! If she goes, that leaves: george josh eddy curtis they will all vote for george, then he can get the boot. If george goes, that leaves: jaime josh eddy curtis and none of them will vote for jaime, except maybe eddy - which means than jaiME finishes in the money! ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/35 "2000-09-18T23:49:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silo \* > \*\*Who does get to watch the toilet cam? Is it live, or do they just have a camera in there for aesthetics. BTW, I’d hate to be the schmuck whose job is to monitor the “Big Brother” toilet cam–if it is active. > \*\* Yes, they showed Karen and Brittney in there once when Karen was crying. The cameras in the potty and the shower are there to keep them from going in there to hide and talk. I hope George goes this week. He is such a freaking idiot. I think he seriously wondered who nominated him…took him a minute or two to realize…4 votes…4 other people…duh, I guess they all nominated me!! Cervaise…what did he say to his wife? It was really quick, wasn’t it? I missed that part; had the TV on but was distracted. ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/36 "2000-09-19T02:10:39Z")
I really don’t see what is so repugnant about this show. People hated survivor partly because it was popular, (I liked it a lot, I’ll admit it.) and I imagine BB is garnering some bandwagon hatred. But really, I think the sitcom sludge produced every year is much more deserving of our resentment. BB is far above and beyond that crap. ---
**Author:** ![kiffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d78d45/32.png) [@kiffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiffa)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/37 "2000-09-19T02:42:03Z")
Sigh, Cassandra’s gone. What would happen if George did go amok? Gives me the creeps just thinking about him. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/38 "2000-09-19T03:38:49Z")
**Kinsey:** George got on the phone with a full minute to say hi to his wife, to tell her he loved her, to pass a message to the kids he supposedly misses. He picked up the phone and said, “Doahavyrprmshhntorecrdy?” Beat, she comes in, says like two words like she’d going to start a real conversation, and he interrupts: “Zitokaytostay? Miokaystaying?” She says, “Ye–” He says, “Thanks, bye” – and slams the phone down as she’s trying to say another couple of words. Jerk. In tonight’s show, Jamie interviews him, dressed up as a spaceman with clear plastic pop bottle goggles, and asks him point blank: “Are you losing your mind?” He, of course, says no. Then he goes into the shower stall, shakes up two soda bottles, and covers himself with foam, saying he’s “blasting off.” It doesn’t work, but as he steps back out of the stall, he slips and falls on his ass. We have two possibilities before us: One, he’s cracking up. Two, based on the fact that every other person in the house nominated him, he’s worried about being voted out, so he’s putting on these little shows to entertain America. He thinks this schtick will endear him to viewers and make them not vote for him. In other words, option two is that he’s a moron. Seriously, if you guys aren’t watching this show, I have to say, I take perverse glee in watching the train wreck of a human that George has become. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/39 "2000-09-19T14:52:59Z")
George has a roofing company. I can just imagine him trying to get customers now. But the game with all the pugs in the yard was funny. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797/40 "2000-09-19T15:10:35Z")
I just LOVED your litteral transcript of George’s phone conversation. Yep: That was about the gist of it. Sadly, I’ve grown to hate this man. Probably an all-around decent fellow, pre-BIG BROTHER. But he _could_ have concocted a plan with wifey before entering the house, the beginning of which we saw about a month ago when his whole town tried, successfully, to eliminate the competition (who happened to have been voted the most popular member of the group – bad timing). That really backfired (plane with banners, telecon between Brittany and Josh, etc. – BTW, did you happen to hear what Brittany’s mother said to her as she stepped out of the “compound” about George’s town strategy? Ma was a bit PO’d, to say the least). What **would** have been interesting, would have been to hear what wifey had to say to George before he cut her off. Plan B, perhaps? I think he’ll be toast in a couple of days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-tv-show/24797.md?page=3)