digicasts

Dead Set by Charlie Brooker - E4.com

So Dennis was booted, and rightfully so. Spitting in someone’s face is a pretty low low thing to do. The fact that he did that and his excuse was “I did what came naturally” (or something alone those lines) means that he has done it before, and probably will do it again. He was an interesting character, one minute really nasty, then the next seemingly sincere.

The whole night was a good watch, and I have to give a little praise to Dull aka Dale. After Darnel heard of what happened he stormed into the room asking people who thought it was ok for someone to spit in another’s face. He was quite aggressive, and Dale kept trying to approach him. Sylvia was being all dramatic and screaming trying to keep Dale and Darnel apart thinking they would start fighting. Darnel was getting more and more stressed and when Dale finally broke free of Sylva he went to Darnel and hugged him tight and told him to calm down, that he didn’t see what happened etc. It looked like Darnel really appreciated that, it was what he needed and he quietly settled down. Prior to that I didn’t like Dale. He was a pretty boy who didn’t do much, and I feared (and still do) that that will be a reason for him to potentially win.

Though I will never know why he chooses to wear wooly hats and scarfs in the house with shorts and tshirts in what has been if not sunny, a relatively warm June and July. He just looks stupid.

So we also saw the eviction of Sylvia. I enjoyed her interview, she seemed fun. She did do some stupid things in the house “I will steal cookies if i wanna steal cookies, have you got a problem with that???” was I think her trying to fill the void left by Alex. The strange flirting going on between her and Stuart (sharing a bath on the first night, and her pestering him in bed) was a bit forward. But rumors have it, that her and Stuart took part in a dry run of the house before the show started. A dry run is where they give the house a chance for things to go wrong, test equipment, see how tasks work and warm up the team etc But he definitely was not interested in her when they were reunited.

She came across well, laughing at her silly antics, and not taking anything too seriously. She didn’t use that awful excuse “I was being honest and speaking my mind”, she seemed to accept that she had behaved badly at times but was all part of the game.

This is a reason why I look forward to the interviews. They provide closure. I have said many times that I whilst the housemates are there, they become fair game to take the piss out of, to love or to hate (more commonly hate). Once they come out, that’s it game over.

Bex, who was a favorite of mine has shown a nasty side, but she still entertains. Her comment yesterday about how she smelt like something with a really big vagina had sat on her (they were covered in fishy water as part of a task) made me lol. We shall see if she can redeem herself. Seeing Bex and Jen together bitching and moaning how people are fake and not being themselves and that the house is no fun whilst the rest of the house were all next door having lots of fun amused me.

I have voted for Jen to go, she is a bitch, and really brings things down. Couldn’t care less about her playing off the to guys who fancy her. The lame attempt at trying to persuade the public last night crying saying “and there’s the thing with me a Dale you cant vote me out” annoyed me and made me want to vote again. The rest of the house are sure Rex will go, and he may, but odds are against Jen. Yay!

Silly girl, there is a reason all your group are leaving, cos they are all pretty nasty.

The comments in this video (one of a million examples) are hideous. I had a You Tube video removed because it was “inappropriate” and there was nothing saucy about it whatsoever (actually I think the person that was in it may have requested it to be removed). They also have issues on protecting copyrighted material, but nanny some of it and then let users post profanities so freely?

My first post about BB9.

So, Alex. What a minx she was.

Last year Charley was the mouth, and had her fair share of rows, too many, as it did become the Charley show for the first few weeks. Her arguments, although however loud and stupid always were amusing. Her speed when she gets going is incredible.

Then we had Alex. Someone who on wednesday was removed from the house. Her arguments were nasty and offensive. Does she know she is doing it? She is quickly picked up on Rex’s suggestion to Mohammed to not put raw chicken on the counter and keep it on the board as degrading and dictating. Yet only yesterday (on the highlights show) she calls Rachel a stupid dumb girl because she left some spaghetti on the heat for others to eat when ready say it was disgusting and how tramps live.

Grrrr, she really got on my wick, to the point of getting physically stressed and tense. Alex started with her onslaught when Becks tried to cook oven chips and some of them were less than perfect. I just can’t understand her attitude. Saying how other people in the house will never survive on the outside world (”remember I told you, you will never be ready, remember I told you!”), and how she has fought for everything. Fair enough that she felt she had to fight, but she is living with 15 people who do survive on the outside world. I survive on the outside world and I do so by not treating people like shit.

She had mixed values, doesn’t like seeing people be degraded, yet she humiliates and aggressively degrades others.

Bye bye Alex. BB did make the right decision, her gangster talk was too far. She was not “talking to Darnell” and was not saying “I get to see your friends and family” in a good way. I think the Big Big Brother (Phil Edgar-Jones) gave her a chance to realise what she had done, to perhaps be shocked by her actions and apologise. But no, she was certain she was not in the wrong, and everything was taken out of context.

Judge for yourself, if these were not threatening words:

Apparently her car had was vandalised this week. Whilst she made me angry, this was too far. I enjoy hating or loving the housemates each year, but once they are out of the house, that is it. Leave them be (if they want to).

It might have been another factor to the removal decision that Alex could have been attacked at the eviction. It was rumored that extra security would be on if she was up and audience members would have to be screened. Poor BB and C4, at the moment everything the housemates do, the press hold them responsible. If someone threw something when she was evicted, it would have caused an uproar. Ofcom already had hundreds of complaints about Alex, it seems the average BB fan uses Ofcom instead of a forum to moan about something. Trouble is, Ofcom have to take things seriously and follow up on complaints.

It is good tv, and does encourage discussion, but are BB responsible for the housemates actions? I don’t think so, and did well pulling Alex when they did. If not the complaints would have soared and once again BB blamed for not intervening, and perhaps BB would have to be closed down and end on such a bum note.

Ho hum. Would like to hear what Alex has to say tonight in the Davina interview. Seeing her watch herself. But these things are highly prepped, so we shall see. New housemate tonight. Not a great idea. But they might inject some life into the house to fill the massive hole Alex has left.

Peaches and Fifi, what a couple of nobs.

Worst hijack yet, and I’m not even gonna tell you why, cos it just dredges up the memories that I want to forget.

Perhaps a bit of an overstatement but Big Brother is back, and there is a welcome change to the format. After the hoo har of last year’s Celebrity Big Brother, Channel4 announced there would be no CBB this year. Instead we were to be treated with a new format show, all we knew was that the housemates would be between 19 and 21, and highly talented in their field. We were also told celebrities would take the role of Big Brother. I was not too hot on the idea and thought it defeated the point. I pictured a team of celebrities working Apprentice style thinking up and sourcing stuff for tasks, arguing about punishments etc.

This was not the case and it was revealed that only one celeb would take the hijack role per day.

“Oh dear, this is not going to be good” I thought. How wrong I was.

Firstly we have a great set of housemates, BB picked and sourced the housemates rather than open auditions, this got prevented all the wannabes who blag their way on, but in reality become boring and reveal that they said whatever they thought the producers wanted to hear to get them in the house. This 12 are already confident successful people, including a successful dancer, a young entrepreneur, a fashion designer, a youth politician, a racing driver, a beauty queen (who happens to be a child genius) two circus performers (brother and sister) a R&B singer, a musician, an artist and a boxer. All have achieved plenty, won numerous award in their field, and generally have good careers. It does make a nice change from the typical selection of housemates, these people have interesting conversations and even though they are young, they do have a mature approach to things. Saying all that, they are not dull, they are creative and amusing people and currently seem to get along quite well.

The first night treated us to Matt Lucas taking the BB chair, he set the first housemate (John the young politician from Edinburgh) a task where he had to wear an earpiece and do and say things as Matt commanded. I won’t go into the whole scene as it was one of those things you had to watch to see how John reacted when told to do such things like massage the boxers shoulders after meeting him for 10 seconds and fall to the floor claiming you had cramp and asking the new guy to rub his legs. (though one of the funniest things was when John had to start randomly Irish dance on the spot in the group, then Matt told him to go to the other side of the room and continue dancing on his own. Poor guy, but very amusing.

Ian (cockhead) Wright was the next guest. A person I really don’t like, he effort was unenthusiastic and dull, he mumbled and was just rubbish. As much of BB fan I am I did have to fast-forward through most of his bits. I simply can’t stand him.

But at least he was one of the first and hopefully he wont back. Alan Cumming was very good and surprising as he is a real celebrity, he also gave the house their first fail. A task to create a play, and they did the usual housemates messing about, which probably would have passed with the real BB but not Alan.

Russell Brand did product the most laughs, his constant mini tasks to the house were funny as well as his task of sending in an actor playing an angry cameraman. What was alo nice was him chatting up Amy in the diary room, asking what her boyfriend does for her. “flowers” was one answer so Russell shouts “can we get some flowers for amy” and soon enough flowers came to the house, as well as coffee etc. Doesn’t read very funny, but was to watch. His teasing of fashion deisgner Jon was very good, who asked how Russell chose his style. Russell answered that it was all through a research group to find an outfit that would make him stand out, and poor Jon was believing it all. Russell then said that it was the same for Winehouse and Stephen Hawkins “he doesn’t need that chair”

Hehe. John Macurick (the nasty ugly Channel3 racing pundit and ex housemate) was last nights hijacker. He wasn’t too bad, but is generally a disgusting man who picks his nose and eats it. He told all the housemates in secret that they were bookies favorites to win. He also played Jade footage of housemate Victor slagging her off, she was quite upset about this, he then play Victor the same footage and his task was to make Jade believe he had changed and just be nice to her.

Phew, I think that has covered it. It is eviction number one tonight and highlights of Janet Street-Porter’s hijacking… oo i forgot Kelly Osbourne. She was good, and was very friendly with the housemates, she took the weeks nominations. Her “moshing” task was a bit crap, but her banter was good (I like Kelly, she’s spunky)

So it is looking good, the forums are actually enjoying the show rather than the usual bitching, they are enjoying the good selection of housemates and the hijacking slant on things. It does make the show more watchable, as you want to see who is hijacking, and they get a task everyday (a big complaint with the summer show is that they do not give the housemates enough tasks)

Not sure how they will get down to a winner from 12 in just four weeks though.

I will keep you posted.

Enjoy

It’s all over. Another year, and finally I can get an hour of each day back. Always mixed feelings about the end, glad that its over as three months of any show when you watch each episode is a bit of a struggle. But I will also miss the show, miss talking about it, deciding who I like and who I hate.

A good finale. Interviews always tend to be a bit rushed with a crowd distracted interviewee. And they were, but somehow they are so excited it’s tricky to do a serious interview bringing up various topics. Carole would have had a lot more questions about her intense desire to control given the time and a quieter setting.

Oh well. The twins and Brian’s interviews were better, they didn’t really have any serious bits to talk about and the whole Brimanda thing was very cute. I thought that BB would not have never put such a fan into the house. He didn’t come across as being a anorak about it, when they went back in time to BB3 with Alex and Adele and they played the music, he was jumping about and singing along. He was also watching the AU BB so I’m guessing he download it from somewhere which is pretty hardcore.

A deserved win, a nice guy who was a bit stupid. This made us laugh but he also had some very tender nice moments, the time when he was upset in the diary room with his one man back thing on, and BB was trying to cheer him was really nice. His comment about making love to Amanda, where angels would come down and play harps and monkeys feed you grapes was also very genuine. But you can beat his little face when he won, smiling for all the right reasons. The best winner since Nadia, Anthony’s “cringe posing and dancing” and Pete’s “ooo I’m falling down the stairs - how whacky am I” wins were naff and so forced.

Lets just remind ourselves of Nadia:

Anyway, its over, no end show with my fave bit of them showing the empty house, turning of the lights one by one with all the echoy voices. Which is my closure. My Sky+ has picked up next saturday’s BB just about what happens to the housemates in the winners week. Will watch that and the BBLB BBQ in the house tomorrow.

Till next year, they have started promoting the auditions already, does this mean an earlier start, or a longer show, different format. Who can say. Perhaps I will audition this year

Nearly there, my 13 week relationship with a house in Elstree Studios is coming to an end. I’m still gonna vote for Brian to win, he has provided the most entertainment, both in his innocent stupidity and general personality.

Brian or the twins will win, Liam does seem to have lots of support but only cos of his looks, and he does have a nasty side to him. This week he made sure Jonty didn’t get the prize of the photo album, Ziggy gave it to Jonty, yet Liam kept taking it back and giving it to Ziggy. And when Ziggy and Liam were looking at it and reminiscing, poor Jonty was left in the cold again. Liam then defended Jonty saying he was a top bloke, but completely ignored him and spoke to Brian when Jonty tried to express his feelings. Not cool.

It has been a quietish week, but very amusing, BB has given them good tasks every day such as the BB quiz and the BB movie, both raising laughs and highlighting the many things that have happened in what seems a quieter than usual BB.

C4 have pulled CBB next year, they say its for “creative breathing space” but also due to the Jade and Shilpa issues this year. Could this be the end of Big Brother. It seems if they are quick to pull CBB they may pull the regular BB. This year has not been as high profile as previous years, again this is C4 not wanting any more bad publicity with the press waiting for them to screw up somehow. But has the format run it’s course. I personally would like them to bring it up to ten seasons and then be done with it. Would be nice to follow the US version as have an allstars series with people from all previous years back together. It could work. Or some more bigger twists like two houses each full of ex partners of the other house.

I was quite excited about the potential of the house this year with rumors of stairwells, lofts, tunnels, indoor pools connecting rooms etc. Perhaps this will teach me to not read so much into the internet hype before the season starts.

Oh well. I am looking forward to not having to watch BB every day (saturdays off this year was a blessing). Not looking forward to changing my wallpaper from the BB eye and removing the two quick links i have in my browser to the C4:BB site and the digitalspy forums.

/cry

I wonder how many “dirty macs” will be pausing that moment and “enjoying it”