Is BB no longer a 'reality' show?

[jet]

It seems that BB is not seen as a reality show any more; it is looked on as purely 'entertainment' and nothing more. I say this because there is a shift towards good 'game players' as the people who are popular and most likely to reach the finals or win. It doesn't seem to matter that a game player could be quite a bit different in real life, if they put on a good act and 'play' the HM's and audience then they are admired and loved for it.

Obviously we want to be entertained when we watch any show, but personally the winner for me also has to be 'REAL'. A person who is by and large exactly like they are in everyday life once they settle into the show. It's easy enough to tell who those people are.

My criteria in supporting someone is: is there something in them that makes them stand out from the crowd? Are they genuine at the same time? Are they good human beings? And of course - are they entertaining too?
If I wanted to watch an actor I'd watch a film instead of BB.
I think it is losing it's uniqueness and the 'reality' of the show is fading fast. It's becoming more a showcase for 'who is the best amateur actor'. I think it's fine for people to watch purely for entertainment but I think the original premise is being lost and I personally regret that.

[fingers]

It should be renamed to what it is, an overly long Gameshow.

[Vicky.]

Hasn't been a 'reality show' really since about bb5 onwards. When they stopped casting 'normal' people

[Kizzy]

This is sadly true....

[bez87]

Hasn't been a 'reality show' really since about bb5 onwards. When they stopped casting 'normal' people

completely agree

[RichardG]

I think it changed a long time ago, as did most reality tv. TOWIE, 'Real Housewives', BGC, XFactor, Apprentice etc... I don't think any of them can genuinely say they represent reality. They're all entertainment shows.

[the truth]

big brother is a stage where every actor plays his part
you simply have to bring some showmanship ....12 weeks is a long time to sit around being 100% real all the time and drinking tea

lets face it is everyone real here all the time? or do they play for shocks?

despite all this in the end I like to see some sincerity and authenticity
as posters correctly say they gave up on normal people years ago

[jet]

Hasn't been a 'reality show' really since about bb5 onwards. When they stopped casting 'normal' people

There have always been people who aren't 'normal' people from series 2. It's want the audience want to see apparently. Though many of the HM' aren't everyday people any more, they are still real enough even if they are there to gain some sort of celebrity status. Just because you may want a career in the spotlight doesn't mean you aren't a real, genuine person.
But it is only in the last few years that the 'game players' have come to the fore as the ones who are admired, which I suppose proves in a way that people don't want it to be a reality show, but truly just a game show. And I think that is a great loss.

[swinearefine]

Of course it's still a reality show; it's an unscripted show about watching real people living in a house and it's just incorrect to say it's not. It's kind of a ****ty reality show nowadays, but it's a reality show all the same.

[Nedusa]

I agree with most of the earlier posts BB has changed over the years and tbh now it is a gameshow/popularity contest and any real people in there would struggle to shine now with all the acting wannabes that are selected for BB. The show has been running so long now that everyone knows you need an edge or an angle to get onto the show then you have to stay popular, not too real, not too fake , stand out but not annoyingly so.

It is very difficult now to do well on this show without being able to manipulate, just being 100% real isn't enough and you would be eaten for breakfast by some of the characters that appear on BB these days.

Add to that the messing around with the formats, more twists than a curly wurly plus selective editing and VTE doing well or winning BB really is no more than a lottery now.

I mean take this current series and 6 weeks in we still have no clear favourite and up to 5 HM could still win, normally by now we would have two poss three potential winners but this series it still could be almost anyone. Being quiet or loud or unpopular does not now guarantee eviction as I said its a LOTTERY who wins......

[Kyle]

Of course it's still a reality show; it's an unscripted show about watching real people living in a house and it's just incorrect to say it's not. It's kind of a ****ty reality show nowadays, but it's a reality show all the same.

Apart from the fact there's nothing remotely 'real' about it.

The fact that everybody makes up some weird backstory about who they are to get on the show in the first place tells you the type of people it caters for now.

[jet]

Apart from the fact there's nothing remotely 'real' about it.

The fact that everybody makes up some weird backstory about who they are to get on the show in the first place tells you the type of people it caters for now.

Not everybody makes up a weird back story. I don't think Sam's or Dan's were weird, for example. Dexter and Gina are 2 of the most popular HM's with viewers and THEY had a weird back story, they aren't 'normal' people and they are both obvious 'game players' so you are right, it is what people want now.

I guess the viewers only have themselves to blame, but if it is what the majority want then the rest of us have to suck it up or stop watching. :bawling:

[Kyle]

Not everybody makes up a weird back story. I don't think Sam's or Dan's were weird, for example. Dexter and Gina are 2 of the most popular HM's with viewers and THEY had a weird back story, they aren't 'normal' people and they are both obvious 'game players' so you are right, it is what people want now.

I guess the viewers only have themselves to blame, but if it is what the majority want then the rest of us have to suck it up or stop watching. :bawling:

The show is on it's last legs i think. It's just getting surreal now one day they'll put a bunch of animals in or something and people will have to evict the animal that pissed them off the most.

[swinearefine]

Apart from the fact there's nothing remotely 'real' about it.

The fact that everybody makes up some weird backstory about who they are to get on the show in the first place tells you the type of people it caters for now.

What isn't real about that? It's in some people's personalities to lie about themselves to do well. Remember Nick from BB1? This is nothing new.

[the truth]

I personally think they've got it 100% all wrong...real people ultimately would be more interesting imho and more people could relate to it

[Kyle]

What isn't real about that? It's in some people's personalities to lie about themselves to do well. Remember Nick from BB1? This is nothing new.

It's more than some in that house, it's every one of them to a man nearly with the possible exemption of Sam.

[jet]

The show is on it's last legs i think. It's just getting surreal now one day they'll put a bunch of animals in or something and people will have to evict the animal that pissed them off the most.

And the most admired animal would be the 'game playing' snake. The trusty dog or the majestic lion wouldn't stand a chance. :joker:

[smudgie]

It seems that BB is not seen as a reality show any more; it is looked on as purely 'entertainment' and nothing more. I say this because there is a shift towards good 'game players' as the people who are popular and most likely to reach the finals or win. It doesn't seem to matter that a game player could be quite a bit different in real life, if they put on a good act and 'play' the HM's and audience then they are admired and loved for it.

Obviously we want to be entertained when we watch any show, but personally the winner for me also has to be 'REAL'. A person who is by and large exactly like they are in everyday life once they settle into the show. It's easy enough to tell who those people are.

My criteria in supporting someone is: is there something in them that makes them stand out from the crowd? Are they genuine at the same time? Are they good human beings? And of course - are they entertaining too?
If I wanted to watch an actor I'd watch a film instead of BB.
I think it is losing it's uniqueness and the 'reality' of the show is fading fast. It's becoming more a showcase for 'who is the best amateur actor'. I think it's fine for people to watch purely for entertainment but I think the original premise is being lost and I personally regret that.

My sentiments exactly, we were told this year would be different no wannabes.
What a joke that was.

To see people "using" other people at whatever cost shows them to be shallow, might be entertaining, no doubt about it, but not deserving of a win.

[Kyle]

And the most admired animal would be the 'game playing' snake. The trusty dog or the majestic lion wouldn't stand a chance. :joker:

:joker:

Don't forget the spitting Camel :thumbs:

[user104658]

I've been a Big Brother fan since Marjorie laid her first egg, and was ecstatic when it was picked up by channel 5. But this year... I just dont know. The biased presenters, the leaks of important info about popularity into the house from the producers to skew the nominations, the general nastiness, people being singled out and for want of a better word destroyed... It's a bit sick in the name of entertainment.

I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and watch again next year. If they haven't had a major rethink by then, I suspect it'll be the last time I can stand it.

[jet]

I personally think they've got it 100% all wrong...real people ultimately would be more interesting imho and more people could relate to it

I'd love that!!! but I'm not sure it's what most people want. Look at this year - it is the most 'unreal' people - Dexter and Gina who are the most popular. Gina is currently the fav to win, and Dexter is a big fav.
I like Gina's 'act' and I find both her and Dexter entertaining, but would I want one of them to win? Good God no.
I want a truly real, genuine AND entertaining person to win. I think the fact that most viewers support D&G show that thy don't want real people anymore. If they do, they are hiding it well from the producers of BB. :hugesmile:

[jet]

:joker:

Don't forget the spitting Camel :thumbs:

:joker:

[Vicky.]

I personally think they've got it 100% all wrong...real people ultimately would be more interesting imho and more people could relate to it

See the problem is, BB4 was the last series with mostly 'real people' in it. And people moaned that it was boring. This was a big turning point IMO, how much grief BB4 got when tbh it wasnt even that bad. I do think this is why they started to cast more and more 'unusual' people

[Kyle]

See the problem is, BB4 was the last series with mostly 'real people' in it. And people moaned that it was boring. This was a big turning point IMO, how much grief BB4 got when tbh it wasnt even that bad. I do think this is why they started to cast more and more 'unusual' people

You see Big Brother is a great idea for a social experiment, you get 11 or 12 average joes, slap them in a house full of camera's and watch humanity's darker side come out when the veneer of living in society has been cast off.

For a while now it just seems to be like the criteria for recruitment is; Supermodel? Great your in, Transvestite? Great let's have some of that. You use women as accessories? Fantastic you'll do. Fiery blonde that keeps telling people she keeps it real all the time? Your in sunshine.

[CaudleHalbard]

The reality is........ reality is very boring.

So it has to be spiced up artificially.

[jet]

I've been a Big Brother fan since Marjorie laid her first egg, and was ecstatic when it was picked up by channel 5. But this year... I just dont know. The biased presenters, the leaks of important info about popularity into the house from the producers to skew the nominations, the general nastiness, people being singled out and for want of a better word destroyed... It's a bit sick in the name of entertainment.

I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and watch again next year. If they haven't had a major rethink by then, I suspect it'll be the last time I can stand it.

Spot on. It's the culture of today - sick entertainment and sick internet vileness. BB buys into and encourages that.

[Kyle]

The reality is........ reality is very boring.

So it has to be spiced up artificially.

I'd much rather see real people showing real emotions than people who just make up who they are and change their story every 5 minutes.

Human nature means that 12 people in close proximity to each other 24/7 is going to cause friction anyway.

Maybe people just want too much 'entertaining'.

[jet]

I'd much rather see real people showing real emotions than people who just make up who they are and change their story every 5 minutes.

Human nature means that 12 people in close proximity to each other 24/7 is going to cause friction anyway.

Maybe people just want too much 'entertaining'.

I believe many do - and it doesn't seem to matter what the person doing the 'entertaining' may be really like. The finer nuances and interesting aspects of a 'real' persons personality is overlooked while the game player captures all the buzz and admiration with their next, and often infantile, attention seeking move.

[swinearefine]

I don't think the problem is with the viewers, but with the producers. They constantly interfere and manipulate it to make it entertaining, but I think if BB15 were like BB5 or BB6 with the producers stepping back and letting the housemates shine on their own it would be a massive success. All production has to do is cast well and the rest will fall in place.

[CaudleHalbard]

I don't think the problem is with the viewers, but with the producers. They constantly interfere and manipulate it to make it entertaining, but I think if BB15 were like BB5 or BB6 with the producers stepping back and letting the housemates shine on their own it would be a massive success. All production has to do is cast well and the rest will fall in place.

I would love to think that but there are loads of reality shows and it is no longer a novelty as it was in the early days of BB.

If they had BB1 on in 2013. the ratings would be near non-existent.

[MTVN]

Well it's far more of a reality show than most programs that get lumped under that title; things like X Factor, the Apprentice etc.

Even with all of the manipulation and gameplaying, acting etc. we are fundamentally still watching people live out their lives on our screens over a series of weeks, I don't see how that's not reality tv

[swinearefine]

Well it's far more of a reality show than most programs that get lumped under that title; things like X Factor, the Apprentice etc.

Even with all of the manipulation and gameplaying, acting etc. we are fundamentally still watching people live out their lives on our screens over a series of weeks, I don't see how that's not reality tv

This

[user104658]

I believe many do - and it doesn't seem to matter what the person doing the 'entertaining' may be really like. The finer nuances and interesting aspects of a 'real' persons personality is overlooked while the game player captures all the buzz and admiration with their next, and often infantile, attention seeking move.

Yes, this! And this is exactly why, from a psychologists point of view, someone like Hazel, to and extent Dan, or dare I say it, even Sam and Sofie are more interesting than a one-dimentional charicature like Gina. she's "fun" but there's no deeper feeling, no hidden emotions behind little expressions, nothing to work out... She's just an entertaining cartoon. Dexter too - though he was fun to work out at first, after the first 3 or 4 weeks when he had played his whole hand, he lost my interest.

[jet]

Yes, this! And this is exactly why, from a psychologists point of view, someone like Hazel, to and extent Dan, or dare I say it, even Sam and Sofie are more interesting than a one-dimentional charicature like Gina. she's "fun" but there's no deeper feeling, no hidden emotions behind little expressions, nothing to work out... She's just an entertaining cartoon. Dexter too - though he was fun to work out at first, after the first 3 or 4 weeks when he had played his whole hand, he lost my interest.

Exactly! :xyxwave:

[Bluerang1]

Reality shows are meant ti be entertaining so I don't know what you're on about.

[armand.kay]

Its real in the sense that it isn't scripted and these are real people, but if you think about it bb hasn't been real since bb1 because they put real people in unreal situations. Take nick for example I'm pretty sure in real life he doesn't write notes to people and make up stories about people dying, he behaved like that because he was put in a situation where he felt he had to manipulate people to win another example is all crazy emotions in the house, allot of the times housemates throw crazy tantrums and cry over little things which leads use to believe they are putting an act on and their emotions are fake but we don't consider that maybe being in that house exaggerates your emotions and makes you react differently from how you would in your normal day to day life.