[Maru]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

That makes the assumption that the "change" is purely down to C5 and an agenda. I would counter that, in fact, C5's agenda is simply to cater to the change. The audience is changing... BB is desperately trying to change with them and dragging old fans along for the ride and the effect is fascinating; i.e. Bear winning despite the fact that a large majority of This forum (of long time fans) hate him almost unreasonable amounts.

And WHY do they hate him so much? Is he really as loathsome as they scream? Is he scum? Is he the worst human alive when the world is full of very real sociopaths and "monsters"? No... he's relatively harmless, if slightly immature and mean-spirited. In my opinion, the hatred stems from that very fact that Bear represents a change that many people do not want... And THAT is what they "hate".

For me personally as always I enjoy BB for the psychology, and this show's effect on housemates (Sam, Ricky, Renee, Katie, Frankie and Aubrey standing out especially) has been interesting... But his effect on the public (e.g the forum) has been solid gold. If this series does end up being "the death of BB" (unlikely, as people say that at least once every year) then I'd be fine with that... It will have gone out poetically and closed the loop perfectly.

Probably the best counter response really, even if I don't agree with some of it. Especially good the last paragraph.

The show is certainly changing, but we can't dismiss the sour grapes it's left with the old base. Only time will tell if the new base is capable of replacing it. BB needs to be careful how it re-brands itself. It's not good to damage their old expectations as that's not what viewers were originally told to expect... they may detect a farce which could damage their trust with it's existing base.

In another thread I wrote about how the experience has went sour because of the handicapping of the game itself. Another con is the excessive manipulation by production.

For you it is interesting because of the psyche element. That's the same way I can watch some low brow shows that my husband detests. I'm not really watching them the way they're meant to be watched, but I gather interesting tidbits from it... like the study of odd characters and even the fandom surrounding them.

Though, it ceases to be interesting and productive for me if that wall between the viewer and that external reality is otherwise obscured, compromised or increasingly sabotaged. This is where the line is for me. Too much production and our ability to disseminate what is going on and our ability to relate to the medium in a quality way is hampered. At worst, it destroys any sense of depth and only creates surface level tension in order to force a constant reaction from the audience. This last bit it's already crossed for me.

Don't know the UK's situation, but in the US I can find people like Bear, Marnie and Chloe on every channel (and we have a lot of TV here...). That said, to BB's credit, they are trying to re-engineer BB using a proven formula among the greater viewing audience...