People complaining about 'Z list recruits'
 

One of the biggest gripes in the last few years have been people complaining that the housemates are all from media backgrounds

Are we really surprised by this? only two (3 if you discount Jackson's modeling profile) of the housemates left this year have agents and have even admitted themselves that BB recruited them.

I understand the argument that BB tend to pick bad auditionees but the casting will never change when the most popular characters with the greatest support/hate garner such attention

Also, surely hardly anyone auditions for BB these days, and those who do are of a very similar ilk.

When a series can turn out as good as this one has when the HMs have already had a bit of exposure, I don't really care.

Normal people are usually boring anyway tbh

This is true. But also I think it's just the nature of modern day reality tv, rather than it being a fault of BB, or something they can easily get around, in that most people who want to be on RTV (and would be entertaining on it) will have already had some form of exposure on something because there are so many shows out there. It wasn't the case back in the day because there weren't as many opportunities for those types of people.
Added to the fact that the show is no longer mainstream, so your 'average joe' is far less likely to want to apply for it.
So there's not a lot they can do about it really, as long as the industry as a whole is the way it is, it's not going to change back to how it was, and it's not the producers' fault imo.

Yep, you're spot on.

yeah, someone being a recruit doesn't make them a worse HM and someone being a superfan doesn't make them a better HM

Yes I said on launch I've never cared about the background as long as once they are in there I like them and find what they do entertaining.

If you work at Argos and are a great housemate, then good for you? If you're a terrible one then I'll be rooting for the previous X Factor contestant who made bootcamp in 2008 if they're better x

I don't think it's a big deal, but it is harder to find great contestants now no matter how they do things. At least with a contestant with an agent, you know they'll fight for it and that they are more likely to overvalue their own worth or impact which is the kind of naivety that makes a great HM... ones more likely to do something that backfires and will create more natural drama.

When BB and reality TV was newer, it was a lot easier to find the naive and ignorant HM who was more likely to come in completely un-rehearsed and be a fresh face to TV. Now TV and media exposure is at our finger-tips, people are used to acting and creating personas to a degree on social media and just about everyone knows the power of going viral for the wrong reasons on the internet/media now... so people are less likely to do anything that would lead them to being bullied/accosted online.

So it's a lot harder to find that naive person who would make great TV because they are so gullible to producer manipulation. People just aren't as gullible or naive as they used to be. This world is much more cynical than when reality TV was a new(er) thing...

Another scorchingly excellent post Jamie, with every point valid. :clap1::clap1::clap1:

I don't even think the recruiting is as bad as people think. I was surprised to hear Jayne say she applied for the show. I guess having a media connection just makes you more likely to get in.

Hmmn. It p1sses me off.

I think at most execs should compile a list of qualities they want in people in order to kinda guarantee friction. Not manufacture it completely.

I used to think about auditioning lol but wouldn't now.

Sure agreed... and yet after about a week I find that they have already burned out their story line... the one the producers over produced in the first place... and they were interesting on the surface and vapid in personality and character otherwise.

It's why I start watching these series and give up by the end of week two now... but 5 years ago i couldn't watch enough. They just are not that entertaining :shrug:

I think your post mostly refers to the arguement in the BBUS BBCan section and is not as applicable in the BBUK one because the game play isn't the issue here

didnt bbuk auditions have a group of people and go through a task together or something?

who said anything about gameplay?

seems like too many other reality show rejects..
i'm sure ryan, lateysha, hughie, sam etc auditioned for every reality show..