Dancing on a corpse's ashes - Big Brother
July 23rd 2008 09:05
After eight not-so-big years, Big Brother is finally dead, and well might you call me a fickle TV fan, but man, it's been a happy week for lovers of actual storytelling everywhere.
The flagship of the reality television cancer in Australia, Big Brother, has finally been shown the door by it's even bigger brother, Network Ten. About bloody time. Seriously, Ten. Eight seasons. Whoever bags out American TV should look at our own backyard, as is so often bleated. Especially if another network picks up the flogged-horse corpse of BB.
Please God, NO!
I'd write more but this subject isn't worth it's weight in ranting words.
Seriously, though, to be fair, and less of a snob - we are talking TV - here's my top ten reality, soap and gameshows - 'cause they should be one category (keeping in mind, I do actually try and avoid them) - in no particular order:
The Mole (Australia) - What a reality game show should be. Intriguing. Twists at every turn and clues that were difficult to pick up. Who is the Mole? Great concept, decently carried out.
Sale of the Century (Australia) - When quiz show questions were not questionable in their difficulty - they were just plain hard - the pre-'Temptation' version of the show beats out Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on my list.
Days of Our Lives (US) - A monster. It's run since the '60s and kept way too many families in the mix. It was bold and beautiful before Bold & the Beautiful existed. Not really. Actually that line made me throw up. But it's still around, my grandma likes it, so kudos to them. Also, bringing back people from the dead - now, that, they are particularly good at. To think I used to impressed by the resurrections of Jesus and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Home and Away (Australia) - Aussie soap that's run since 1987. Recycled storylines are a given. I've watched since 1993 and it's pretty hilarious to be reminded of old characters and how they dealt with the same problems in almost identical plotlines. What keeps you coming back is the lost kids and runaways theme. People (who never realise that so much shit happens in Summer Bay that they should probably NOT move there) just keep on moving there and starting anew; then get their arse kicked by small town small-minds or a natural disaster or something. Oh, and it has a beach.
Average Joe I and II (US) - affirms absolutely bloody nothing people didn't already assume as universal truth. Whether it is or not, the glamour chose the not-so-average glamour-guy 'intruder' over the heartbroken 'Average Joes' in both seasons. Painfully funny to watch. A hidden social message in there somewhere, methinks.
Family Feud (Australia) - A personal favourite. The families' celebrations were often hilarious. Guessing popular responses from people gets old, though. It got axed pretty quickly with it's second-time-lucky run with Bert Newton as host.
Wheel of Fortune (Australia) - Big wheel, not-so-big money, but good fun. A childhood favourite.
The Idol 'phenomenon' - I've watched an embarrassing number of seasons of this show. All the Aussie ones and one US. For me, it's the best talent quest I've seen on TV. Seeing amateur singers and musicians grow in confidence and in performance ability is worth the repetition and crappy reality TV cuts. Some great moments - laughter, tears (yeah, ahem, I'm serious) and a whole lot of genuine talent.
Bold & the Beautiful (US) - Another of Nana's favourites and another TV institution, there's nothing quite like Bold. Over the top, overly silly, overly comforting. The family sagas and Brooke's several marriages (read: over a dozen) sell this one.
The Biggest Loser (Australia) - Some of the most painful moments of television I've ever watched. If I wasn't morally opposed to medical 'reality' shows, that is. Some very overweight, very courageous people on this show. Guilty pleasure for all.
What do you guys think?
The flagship of the reality television cancer in Australia, Big Brother, has finally been shown the door by it's even bigger brother, Network Ten. About bloody time. Seriously, Ten. Eight seasons. Whoever bags out American TV should look at our own backyard, as is so often bleated. Especially if another network picks up the flogged-horse corpse of BB.
Please God, NO!
I'd write more but this subject isn't worth it's weight in ranting words.
Seriously, though, to be fair, and less of a snob - we are talking TV - here's my top ten reality, soap and gameshows - 'cause they should be one category (keeping in mind, I do actually try and avoid them) - in no particular order:
The Mole (Australia) - What a reality game show should be. Intriguing. Twists at every turn and clues that were difficult to pick up. Who is the Mole? Great concept, decently carried out.
Sale of the Century (Australia) - When quiz show questions were not questionable in their difficulty - they were just plain hard - the pre-'Temptation' version of the show beats out Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on my list.
Days of Our Lives (US) - A monster. It's run since the '60s and kept way too many families in the mix. It was bold and beautiful before Bold & the Beautiful existed. Not really. Actually that line made me throw up. But it's still around, my grandma likes it, so kudos to them. Also, bringing back people from the dead - now, that, they are particularly good at. To think I used to impressed by the resurrections of Jesus and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Home and Away (Australia) - Aussie soap that's run since 1987. Recycled storylines are a given. I've watched since 1993 and it's pretty hilarious to be reminded of old characters and how they dealt with the same problems in almost identical plotlines. What keeps you coming back is the lost kids and runaways theme. People (who never realise that so much shit happens in Summer Bay that they should probably NOT move there) just keep on moving there and starting anew; then get their arse kicked by small town small-minds or a natural disaster or something. Oh, and it has a beach.
Average Joe I and II (US) - affirms absolutely bloody nothing people didn't already assume as universal truth. Whether it is or not, the glamour chose the not-so-average glamour-guy 'intruder' over the heartbroken 'Average Joes' in both seasons. Painfully funny to watch. A hidden social message in there somewhere, methinks.
Family Feud (Australia) - A personal favourite. The families' celebrations were often hilarious. Guessing popular responses from people gets old, though. It got axed pretty quickly with it's second-time-lucky run with Bert Newton as host.
Wheel of Fortune (Australia) - Big wheel, not-so-big money, but good fun. A childhood favourite.
The Idol 'phenomenon' - I've watched an embarrassing number of seasons of this show. All the Aussie ones and one US. For me, it's the best talent quest I've seen on TV. Seeing amateur singers and musicians grow in confidence and in performance ability is worth the repetition and crappy reality TV cuts. Some great moments - laughter, tears (yeah, ahem, I'm serious) and a whole lot of genuine talent.
Bold & the Beautiful (US) - Another of Nana's favourites and another TV institution, there's nothing quite like Bold. Over the top, overly silly, overly comforting. The family sagas and Brooke's several marriages (read: over a dozen) sell this one.
The Biggest Loser (Australia) - Some of the most painful moments of television I've ever watched. If I wasn't morally opposed to medical 'reality' shows, that is. Some very overweight, very courageous people on this show. Guilty pleasure for all.
What do you guys think?
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