Big Brother: can someone explain it's appeal?

[LeMarchand]

I can't stand the show myself, and cannot see any valid reason for why anyone would want to watch it. In fact, I believe that BB and it's ilk have contributed to a downturn in the quality of TV and maybe even had a negative impact on society.

 

Millions love the show, however. Could someone who likes BB please explain what the draw is? (In terms other than "I like it" or "It's good"!)

 

Apologies to all the other BB haters, but I'm genuinely curious - and have yet to hear an intelligent reason for watching the show.

[marcoddy]

LeMarchand, thanks for your question... the reason why people enjoy it is because you get to study people. Most people enjoy people-watching in some form or another, and this is just a version of that. it's good to see people's true character's shine through, allegiances (sic) forged, back stabbing, friendship, lies, honesty... basically the full spectrum of human emotion, all wrapped up in a neat little show.

 

I often don't like it, and I have only watched a couple of the previous series, however this year has been great, as there's some horrible people in there.

 

The reason why it's enjoyable for me, is that it makes me feel glad that i'm NOT like that... My hero is NOT Abi Titmuss, I do NOT have such low self esteem that I am desperate to be famous... i do NOT lie to people, and stab them in the back. So to see these people doing it, and to see fellow watchers react badly to it, in some ways restores my faith in the british public. We WANT nice people, genuine people... people who will be good friends. And inversely, we love to see those with poor personalities get booooooooed out of the house.

 

yes it's fashionable to not like it, and to say so. "I've got a life, i don't need to watch other people in a house" but is it really any different to watching Eastenders? or Corination Street? Or a movie? Surely that's all people watching... the only difference is, that it's actors and a script, and not real people.

 

If people don't like it, then there's many other questions to answer, and many other channels to watch.

[jimmer]

LeMarchand

As a fellow BB hater I can sympathise. However, my GF insists on watching it and slowly, slowly i have got a faint whiff of interest in the outcome. Its quite interesting to see how different people cope in the increasingly oppressive atmosphere of living like labrats and inparticular the strategies they adopt for winning. Some are supportive to a fault some are very divisive; some become very loud and try to dominate and some shell-up. I have found myself wondering what i would be like in such an intense atmosphere and  i have seen myself in some of the contestants, both positive and negative aspects.

It seems to me that despite your fears of a negative impact (fears that i share up to a point) The person most likely to win will be the most natural and well adjusted member of the house (Eugene or ant). It is fascinating to see that peoples perceptions of themselves can be so ill informed (craig) and that in the end the truth will out so its best to be yourself. Its still a bunch of s*** though.

jim

[Gooner_Badge]

I am a huge fan of the show ... and I'm a pub loving geezer .. but a slave to big brother .. and I don't hide the fact either.

The appeal is just down to good ole human nature ... voyuerism basically ... being nosey .. seeing if there are people worse than you!

[Andy008]

Orlaith.

[ermintrude35]

..I like it because I'm a nosey cow.... I have watched Big Brother since the first series, the first being the best in my opinion, why?..because the housemates genuinley had NO idea what was ahead of them inside the house or out... since then we have had many housemates who just want the fame, and that has marred it slightly for me,some years have been truley dire  however I love it for what it is trashy car-crash tv, here today and gone tomorrow , no big deal, and just like Marmite sandwich....

[Philtaz]

Hear hear LeMarchand.  Why anyone would want to watch a bunch of tiresome wannabe's trying to outdo each other in a 'look at me, aren't I shocking and controversial' competition is beyond me.

[Buddy]

Its got to you though LeMarchand because if cant really see the appeal you wouldnt have been bothered to post this question!

[bernardo]

(a) Because it's entertaining
(b) Because I'm a sad anorak with no life otherwise

[LeMarchand]

Thanks to everyone for their answers! 3 stars all round.

Longer post when I have time!