[Tom]

I used to love CBB more than main BB and I can't put my finger on but there is something greatly lacking this series. I mean the production is fine, housemates are OK. Watched last nights eviction but I dunno, something just didn't work. I just don't feel the need to watch it this time, I've watched about 5 shows so far and don't really plan on anymore ...

[Brekkie]

The production isn't fine Tom - that is one of the things lacking. I think the main thing though has been the support from C4, which has affected the show in numerous ways.

Firstly, the housemates are afraid to do anything slightly controversial (it should be remembered that apart from the race row, most issues raised to OFCOM have been cleared), and the producers are afraid to show anything controversial.

The live feed going has definately ripped the soul out of the show, but the main thing lacking this year has been Big Brother.

Big Brother is all about the nomination and eviction process - and that's been non-existent this time. It's ridiculous that with 11 HMs they've only nominated twice. Also, more recently BB has been about key twists and of the back of BB9, the Head of House element (and to a lesser extent Heaven and Hell), all of which have been missing from this series. There has just been no structure there at all.


I'm giving the housemates the benefit of the doubt - I think they're actually quite a good mix of characters both personality and fame wise, but Big Brother just hasn't provided them with the platform to entertain us. We're not interested in celebs dressing up in silly costumes and having the piss taken out of them - we want to see them tested, both through enduring the BB environment and process of nominations, plus through challenges and tasks which bring out sides of them they perhaps might not want us to see.

[arista]

Endemol cut back the funding.


this is the Result.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Brekkie
The production isn't fine Tom - that is one of the things lacking. I think the main thing though has been the support from C4, which has affected the show in numerous ways.

Firstly, the housemates are afraid to do anything slightly controversial (it should be remembered that apart from the race row, most issues raised to OFCOM have been cleared), and the producers are afraid to show anything controversial.

The live feed going has definately ripped the soul out of the show, but the main thing lacking this year has been Big Brother.

Big Brother is all about the nomination and eviction process - and that's been non-existent this time. It's ridiculous that with 11 HMs they've only nominated twice. Also, more recently BB has been about key twists and of the back of BB9, the Head of House element (and to a lesser extent Heaven and Hell), all of which have been missing from this series. There has just been no structure there at all.


I'm giving the housemates the benefit of the doubt - I think they're actually quite a good mix of characters both personality and fame wise, but Big Brother just hasn't provided them with the platform to entertain us. We're not interested in celebs dressing up in silly costumes and having the p**s taken out of them - we want to see them tested, both through enduring the BB environment and process of nominations, plus through challenges and tasks which bring out sides of them they perhaps might not want us to see.

What I meant is they aren't constantly playing about with the format like they were years ago and they're given OK tasks and things. Its had worse years in terms of production.

[Brekkie]

I'm not sure it has Tom. Granted they've never scheduled nominations and evictions that well in Celeb BB, but this series they seemed to start out thinking it was a regular series with weeks to go, then after the second eviction realised "****, we've only got a week left".

The tasks have been very formulaic and all built on the basis that "celebs + stupid costumes = viewers", which has proved to be far from the truth. Most of all though the series has been lacking a hook - CBB3 had Brigitte/Jackie, CBB4 had Chantelle, CBB5 has Jade & Co, CBB6 had... nothing.

Add to that how appallingly the shows are put together, both the cringe worthy, over-narrated "highlights", and the non-event which eviction shows have now become (nothing to do with Davina, it's just she has very little to work with!) and it's not surprising we've hit rock bottom.

[andyman]

Originally posted by Tom
I used to love CBB more than main BB and I can't put my finger on but there is something greatly lacking this series. I mean the production is fine, housemates are OK. Watched last nights eviction but I dunno, something just didn't work. I just don't feel the need to watch it this time, I've watched about 5 shows so far and don't really plan on anymore ...

Your getting older..

Cut backs and Ofcom making channel 4 walk on egg shells!

[Brekkie]

That's it - blame the credit crunch!

It makes no business sense at all for C4 to be running their most profitable programme into the ground at a time when it really could do with the cash it generates - unless of course the station was pleading poverty and hoping for a nice government handout.


Also we all blame OFCOM and the CBB5 race row for them walking on egg shells and being afraid of controversy, but surely over time that should be becoming less of an issue, not more.

It's affect this series far more than the last couple of main series, while thinking back to this time last year and Celebrity Hijack it wasn't really an issue at all.

[andyman]

Remember how new and fresh BB1 felt? Thats what they need! Maybe its time for new blood to take BB to the next level!

I don't have a clue what that could be but it needs to be fresh again to gain that buzz it had many years ago, plus great housemates and stick two fingers up at Ofcom!!

Then again some member like Ofcom to butt their mug in and suck all the life out of the show!

[letmein]

I don't know. It seems more cohesive to me.

This series, and the last, all cut down on tasks.

This series is also too short, like all the CBBs. They try to wrap everything up at the last minute, fitting in as much crap as possible since there's only a week left.

[*mazedsalv**]

I like the normal BB's more than the celeb ones.

[Spike]

I agree, something just doesn't feel right about the series it is like something is missing
Its really boring to watch, easily one of the worst CBB series yet
I think that its just the format has got old and tired, unless there is some huge changes for the summer then the main series will feel exactly the same

[~Kizwiz~]

Its the same old routine really, there re-hashing tasks and there is nothing original CBB brings

[Jackie]

This CBB is not exciting as all the others have been the tasks are rubbish most have been done before.

[Tom]

I hope they don't run scared of OFCOM during the summer because they rejected a bid from C4 for public funding. So Channel 4 should stick 2 fingers up to OFCOM and have the lot of them working overtime

Something definitely needs doing though, the show needs its spark back thats been missing fully since BB7

[Brekkie]

Fingers crossed OFCOM's decision is good news for BB. Hopefully they'll finally realise that they need Big Brother to help fund it's PSB ambitions and it makes no sense running their biggest cash cow into the ground.

Speculation is already mounting about Andy Duncan's position at the channel, and if he went and someone came in who was more focused on sorting out the shortfall themselves, rather than holding out the begging bowl, it would only be good news for BB.

[001steven]

i know i use to be a huge CBB fan but tbh its had its day now its just boring the celebrities are boring there are no real entertaining chracters in there and the production team is terrible i mean for starters why havent they used the CBB prison??? Coolio should of been in there for a long time like when he first started the insults. and Davina is BORING now she hates the women and sticks up for coolio i say get rid of her or just axe BB altogether. its not the same anymore

[bovvered?]

This series I believe it is more obvious that the 'celebs' are in the house just for the money. It has lost the real essence of 'entertainment' and noone shows this more than Tommy. For him it is just a job sit in a house for 3 weeks and collect your pay packet.
I know that noone is going to do it for nothing but I feel in past series it was more a showcase of talent & personalities.

[jonsep]

Imagine if terry an coolio were not in there.

[robb]

Would it just have been a talking shop? Or would something else have been allowed to develop?