[=^..^=]

I prefer Big Brother UK. I am looking forward to the return of Australia's Big Brother in the new year. Big Brother US is awful... Remember Big Brother 9, the winter edition? The housemates were horrible. I remember a CBS exec commenting "put some lipstick on that pig."

[Cromwell1900]

I love the personality that is Big Bro, loses it's charm without it. So no DR chat's in the US version then, some of the best moments have come from the DR like Nicki Graham's "Who is she" and Siavash falling over dressed as a barrell

http://bigbroweb.co.uk/big-brother-1...r-siavash.aspx

Originally Posted by Damitol

I'm in the US and have watched it from the beginning, and this was my first full series BBUK experience. If I had to pick one I'd pick UK as the US has gotten very predictable. It's all talking strategy and alliances, and the tasks are short, few and repetitive. I still watch religiously and track the online feed summary web sites, but it needs some revamping.

I like the variety of tasks and audience participation of BBUK and all of the talk in the diary room. I like the feeling that they are all in it together rather then everyone in it for themselves. I like that they show tender and fun moments between couples instead of mainly talk about getting someone else evicted.

I'm sure it's a "grass is greener" situation and a long time BBUK fan would find BBUS an interesting change, but I've really enjoyed this year's series and will be watching next summer - maybe at the expense of following the US show.

Yep! from the start the Hm's are in it together, and it's all about which friends you make along the way, rather than which people will help you reach the final, it does play a part in the UK version, but only toward the end when Friendships are sealed anyway.

The Uk task's are too few and far between, daily tasks would be good.

[SoBig]

BB US and its not even close.

BB US is BBUK plus more.

[icecakes]

loved Siavash he was my fav

but Nikki grahame

[psychtracker]

Coming from BB AU to UK i was surprised how obvious the camera's are in the UK version, and really noticed HMs looking into them. The Aussie house camera's seemed very much concealed, and i think the show has a much more natural feel simply for that reason. How does the US version compare re: the camera's.

[Cromwell1900]

Originally Posted by psychtracker

Coming from BB AU to UK i was surprised how obvious the camera's are in the UK version, and really noticed HMs looking into them. The Aussie house camera's seemed very much concealed, and i think the show has a much more natural feel simply for that reason. How does the US version compare re: the camera's.

Omnipresence of the camera's yep, they could disguise them a bit, make them miss-able, instead they hang them from thick silver polls from the ceiling. "Big Brother is watching you" - one of the elements in the UK show which still legitimizes it's link to Orwell's "Big Brother" They want the house-mate to feel they are being watched, yet this conflicts with it's other elemental link "The voice of Big Brother" He seems to get less Big Brother and more Friendly Uncle. Regardless to which i prefer BBUK has been ripped out of it's foundations over the years in an attempt to dial into a populist sweet spot.

I remember when they did a similar thing with Red Dwarf, which had a huge cult following, and voided any responsibilities to become the happy medium due to it's cheapness to make. They changed it, and spent more money on it and it became not gentle enough to be popular, nor subtle enough to be cult.

Seems BB-UK are not finding this sweet spot if the decline in viewing figures are concerned, and have pretty much annoyed loyal fans this year with there extreme definition of "Artistic License" i really don't think the makers of it know what they are doing at all.

Is the Grass always greener? i think so. So is there a happy medium? i hope so because Tv that cost's as much as BB-UK don't survive on around 1.5 million viewers. And i don't like the idea that they would bridge that gap from the voters wallet.

[Marc]

Strategy/Tactics > personality and boring people.

US trumps UK

[reece(:]

im from the uk and love the usa version much more, its not only drama but strategy and tactics as well, there are also lots of crazy housemates too

bbus>bbuk

[Marc]

Originally Posted by reece(:

im from the uk and love the usa version much more, its not only drama but strategy and tactics as well, there are also lots of crazy housemates too

bbus>bbuk

Thiiiiiiiiiiiiissss

[Roy Mars III]

UK without a doubt. I haven't really liked a US season since 7.

[WARING]

The US Version is 100% Rubbish that panders to brain dead people. The UK version is far superior.

[starry]

Originally Posted by WARING

The US Version is 100% Rubbish that panders to brain dead people. The UK version is far superior.

Wow, you think the British version caters to an intelligent audience?

[PooBay]

Never watched a single second of footage from the US show nor do I intend to. It just doesn't interest me.

[WARING]

Originally Posted by starry

Wow, you think the British version caters to an intelligent audience?

Lol.. Good point, but what I meant is in the American Version, the Chen-Bot (Julie Chen) has to explain EVERYTHING to the audience. It's quite insulting and takes a lot of the surprise out of the show. The UK version is more sneaky with it's twists and turns and makes for a more entertaining show, but I must say this years UK series has adapted elements from the US which I find bothersome. Like the Highly recapped Saturday shows. I've watched all week, I know what happened, it's annoying to see it all again. The Recap on Friday live shows is boring as well.

[starry]

Originally Posted by WARING

Lol.. Good point, but what I meant is in the American Version, the Chen-Bot (Julie Chen) has to explain EVERYTHING to the audience. It's quite insulting and takes a lot of the surprise out of the show. The UK version is more sneaky with it's twists and turns and makes for a more entertaining show, but I must say this years UK series has adapted elements from the US which I find bothersome. Like the Highly recapped Saturday shows. I've watched all week, I know what happened, it's annoying to see it all again. The Recap on Friday live shows is boring as well.

They have adopted elements from the US (or the old Australian one?) and not in a good way. I totally agree about Julie Chen having to explain everything to the audience, eg before each HG votes on eviction. It's treating all the audience like they are just casual viewers. Also the narrating from the DR (something brought into the British version) just tends to repeat stuff we already know, rather than being something more personal and revealing.

Originally Posted by Liberty4eva

I think the US format is better and the concept is better because it's closer to being an actual social experiment in that it's far more self-contained than BBUK. That's because the houseguests know that ultimately they will decide who wins. BBUK ultimately is a popularity contest so the houseguests know they have to cater to the outside world as much as to each other.

That said, even though the format is superior I think the editing is bad. Hardly a minute can go by in the regular show without them using some type of dramatic music. And I hate it that the houseguests are not presented as 3 dimensional people. Instead, the people who do the editing practically decide how you feel about certain people. The "heroes" and the "villains" when in reality everyone is a mixture of both.

I don't like the use of music. But I have to say they are doing it even worse now in the British series this year. They are putting music to the most boring and badly edited montages, and are using bad music as well. The Americans actually do that part better, as well as being a bit less preoccupied with 'romances' imo.

[Diatom]

Hello! We too are watching BBUK for the first time and I must say we love it. Also, watching from the US.
I prefer the UK version hands down. Like other comments a blend of the two would be perfect. Broadcast every night? Brilliant! The US version is highly edited and only on 3 nights a week...lame. (That pisses me off about Survivor too, once a week? It could be so much better).
I love the crazy tasks they give the UK housemates VS the US competitions but again a little of both would be great.
Amazing, the amount of money spent. Don't think I'd go so far as to spend money on votes though.
Oh, and the Celebrity BB...damn! Love that Paddy!

[Liberty4eva]

I think emotions run higher in BBUSA because they are battling each other and lying to each other.

[newyorkjgjg]

Uk 100 times better < i live in the usa and this is my first season of bbuk it towers over yhe usa version

[SoBig]

BB US Season 6 was the best season ever.

Janelle was amazing that season.

That season alone>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BBUK combined

[Marc]

Originally Posted by SoBig

BB US Season 6 was the best season ever.

Janelle was amazing that season.

That season alone>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BBUK combined

was ruined by the fact Maggie won

[Liberty4eva]

Originally Posted by Marc

was ruined by the fact Maggie won

I don't think people disliked Maggie it's just that people liked the Soverign alliance better. Ivette was, hands down, the face of everything that people hated about the Friendship alliance. Ivette should have taken Janelle to the final 2 and evicted Maggie if she wanted a better shot at winning. Like James said, she chose friendship with someone she knew for 2 months over 450 thousand dollars.

[Liberty4eva]

I think the US format is better and the concept is better because it's closer to being an actual social experiment in that it's far more self-contained than BBUK. That's because the houseguests know that ultimately they will decide who wins. BBUK ultimately is a popularity contest so the houseguests know they have to cater to the outside world as much as to each other.

That said, even though the format is superior I think the editing is bad. Hardly a minute can go by in the regular show without them using some type of dramatic music. And I hate it that the houseguests are not presented as 3 dimensional people. Instead, the people who do the editing practically decide how you feel about certain people. The "heroes" and the "villains" when in reality everyone is a mixture of both.

[Cromwell1900]

Originally Posted by Liberty4eva

I think the US format is better and the concept is better because it's closer to being an actual social experiment in that it's far more self-contained than BBUK. That's because the houseguests know that ultimately they will decide who wins. BBUK ultimately is a popularity contest so the houseguests know they have to cater to the outside world as much as to each other.

That said, even though the format is superior I think the editing is bad. Hardly a minute can go by in the regular show without them using some type of dramatic music. And I hate it that the houseguests are not presented as 3 dimensional people. Instead, the people who do the editing practically decide how you feel about certain people. The "heroes" and the "villains" when in reality everyone is a mixture of both.

This sounds all to familiar to me of this years BB-UK not so much toward the end but certainly till half way through. Do you think in the US show this is done because the production chose favorites for some reason or to make their definition of "good TV" ? i.e do they pick up on natural traits in people and edit to add emphasis to those traits?

[Macie Lightfoot]

Originally Posted by Liberty4eva

I don't think people disliked Maggie it's just that people liked the Soverign alliance better. Ivette was, hands down, the face of everything that people hated about the Friendship alliance. Ivette should have taken Janelle to the final 2 and evicted Maggie if she wanted a better shot at winning. Like James said, she chose friendship with someone she knew for 2 months over 450 thousand dollars.

Not at all. If Ivette evicted Janelle, she would've betrayed Maggie and essentially gone back on everything the Friendship was founded upon, and essentially lose all her Jury votes. If Ivette evicted Maggie, Janelle would win. But if Janelle evicted Maggie, Ivette would've won. Ivette's best move would've been to throw the final HoH, especially because Janelle promised her F2. She knew she didn't have enough votes to win against either of them and just wanted second place.

[Liberty4eva]

Originally Posted by troynuncdicit

Not at all. If Ivette evicted Janelle, she would've betrayed Maggie and essentially gone back on everything the Friendship was founded upon, and essentially lose all her Jury votes. If Ivette evicted Maggie, Janelle would win. But if Janelle evicted Maggie, Ivette would've won. Ivette's best move would've been to throw the final HoH, especially because Janelle promised her F2. She knew she didn't have enough votes to win against either of them and just wanted second place.

That's not necessarily true. In BB5, when Drew won the final HOH and evicted his shocked girlfriend, Diane, she suggested she wouldn't vote for him but ended up voting for him (he won 4-3). In BB12 Hayden won the final HOH and evicted his close ally Enzo and he voted for Hayden to win. The only example I can think of where someone evicted an ally and that ally didn't vote for them is this year when Rachel evicted Adam. The only nerd herd vote Ivette got was Beau which she would have gotten anyways. The only sovereign votes Ivette didn't get were Rachel and Howie which she wouldn't have gotten anyways. Taking Janelle would have been no easy path to victory but it at least would be a pathway where victory was possible. Take a leap of faith and hope Maggie and the other nerd herders understand that she had to do what she had to do to help her family?

A lot of people did not like Ivette. The next season during all-stars James said that Rachel had threatened Howie and said if he voted for Ivette she would never speak to him again. LOL.