[Jack_]

I typed all this out before the other thread was closed and it's not going to waste (plus it's a genuine, civil response so)...

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

I'm not attempting to tell any of you GC supporters who to support, but I would genuinely welcome any of you enlightening me as to just what it is about her that you find admirable or worthy of support, because I am genuinely baffled.

Let's see.

She has openly admitted she is just trying to 'make good TV' and is purposely exaggerating herself and to an extent playing a character in order to do so, which to start with is extremely commendable. It is about time more celebrities learnt that they need to earn their fee, instead of sitting on their arse and contributing **** all to the series, often sailing their way through undeservedly to the final and completely wasting the budget. The fact she realises this is an entertainment programme and is consciously providing both the viewers and producers with material is something to be applauded.

Furthermore, her ridiculously over the top outbursts and meltdowns that are so obviously fake - for reasons outlined above - are absolutely hilarious and what makes them so funny is not just because of their nature, but because the other housemates foolishly keep lapping up everything she is doing, when she categorically keeps spelling out to them that she is just 'trying to make a TV show'. They are playing right into her hands and it's so very silly.

I am sure someone will be quick to point out that this is not 'an act', and even if this is the case, this is a television show and not real life, so it doesn't matter. Nobody is denying that acts such as accepting a blow dry in return for sacrificing hot water for the rest of the house, or refusing to take part in tasks etc etc is selfish. Of course it is selfish, and if it weren't within the confines of an entertainment programme it would be condemnable, but there are of course two ways of seeing this since we're talking about such actions in the context of a TV show - one, on a personal level as something that is 'morally' wrong, but on the other as something that needs to be applauded for being something that 'rocks the boat', causes a discussion, pisses people off.

There would be nothing duller than in such situations for housemates to go 'nah guys I'm not that selfish, let's just keep the hot water' or 'I am going to be a team player guys!!!!'...because that's the scene over, and how boring is that? You need housemates that don't play ball and are difficult to live with. We, as viewers, are not living with them - and it's important for us to remember this. I am damn sure that if I were living with someone like Gemma I'd be pissed off at her actions, but I am not and this is not a morality competition, it's an entertainment programme. I am not seeking new friends or people to hang out with, so why would I judge housemates in such a way? You need housemates like Gemma (and countless others) to keep what is an entertainment television programme interesting.