TV news

[upsticks]

Having one more series is not 'axed'. But yes, the news we've all been waiting for: Big Brother's 11th series will be its last.

In other tv news: the dancing couples have been released for Strictly Come Dancing, of which I am a seasonal fan. It's your usualy mix of soap stars and sports personalities with some odd individuals thrown in for variety.

Natalie Cassidy looks particularly amazing in the release photos, but has also revealed she's in it for the weight loss *sigh*



They've changed so much about the show that I loved. And I loved it because it was a bit old-fashioned like that. It was something that I could be sure of, and unlike a lot of other celebrity reality tv, it was mostly about talent and trying, rather than popularity and looks (although there were times those things were included with the votes). And what does Alesha Dixon know about dancing? Srsly.

I didn't watch last years'; I dunno if I'll watch this one. I enjoy the dancing I s'pose. And at least I'll have a tv this time :P

Comments

[wsdante.livejournal.com]

You had to ask... lol

Just be aware, this is going to be a rant of sorts so I'll understand if you don't bother to finish reading ;)

From my own LJ: "TV progs of that type are not called 'Fly-on-the-Wall' for nothing. Flies are, after all, known for congregating around that sort of material."

I'm saying it definitely IS a positive thing that BB is being axed - but it's a case of closing the barn door after the horse has fled.

Any prog that gets it's ratings from broadcasting, 24/7, groups of scarily fame-hungry social inadequates (or the 'my-agent-said-this-would-restart-my-career' c-class 'celeb') being made to 'perform' for the public makes me very uncomfortable. My feeling is that a lot of these people need help not exposure of their desperation on national TV.

Now TV is filled with hours of wannabe Maria Careys, Ronan Keatings, Josephs and Olivers during prime time while daytime TV suffers a rash of self-appointed, self-important arbiters of all that is decent and moral such as Springer, Kyle, Trisha, etc & etc & ad. inf.....

To my mind, it's a deeply disturbing con trick where one sadly desperate member of the public gets to achieve their 'dream' of fame and popularity (maybe) while hundreds get rejected by the viewing public and the panel of 'judges' in various disparaging and soul-crushing ways.
Thing is, the only people who truly gain from these abhorent spectacles are the panel of 'judges' by the exposure/infamy they revel in and the prog makers who rake in the proceeds from getting the public to do all the work for them. Low outlay but massive returns - that's the way to do it!

It's all like some Milgram experiment gone wrong or the 21st C version of the Colliseum (and we all know what that was a symptom of and how that ended for the roman empire).
In fact, these progs give viewers the thumbs up/thumbs down power over the fate of the pitiful participants just by dialling a number. How empowering is that to your average joe or jill? How irresistable it is to be able to either mock from afar with our friends the unfortunates we condemn or take some needy inadequate to our bossom because of just how much they are prepared to do in their quest to be 'popular'.

There you go - that's my tuppence-worth anyhow :p

Again, sorry if it's 'ranty'...

*hugs*

[glitterfairy25.livejournal.com]

"TV progs of that type are not called 'Fly-on-the-Wall' for nothing. Flies are, after all, known for congregating around that sort of material."


Oooh, bitch! :P

More a case of axing a show after everybody's stopped watching, you mean?

Me and my friends were talking about Big Brother. At the beggining, it at least pretended to be a show with psychology, a sort of social experiment. That was cool. It was people watching in the extreme I guess. I lost touch with it when it started getting silly. Poor side and Rich side and what not.

All those fifteen minutes of fame? I think it'll die down, eventually. BB got the lowest viewing figures ever this year, and I think a lot of people are snapping out of its hold. And a lot of the other reality tv. Although where the line between reality tv and other types of tv is, I don't know :/ The "self-appointed" thing does make me wonder though. I mean, who is Jeremy Kyle to tell people to "get a job!"? Not like his is that worthwhile is it? He's just a glorified careers advisor. And everyone knows that doesn't count.

On your judges opinion, I have to disagree, however. Obviously everyone has different views, which they're totally entitled to. But... well, take a look at Simon Cowell. He's earnt a lot of money from judging people. I accept it as a thing to do (and occasionally watch) because he judges how well they'd work in the music industry (usually), not always how good they are as an entertainer/singer/whatever. And if you can have a skill at that, he has. What Danni Minogue or Piers Morgan are doing there though is anyone's guess.

You're relateing this to Milgram? That's sort of inspired. But also perhaps a little harsh. One thing to remember is that people are putting themselves up for this. Not for the humiliation (X-Factor is rife for that) but for this "chance" to follow their dream; show off their talents; try their hand at things. I agree the whole power thing is a little far, but I think that's part of the status that celebrity has developed anyway. Which is a whole other can o' worms. Anyway, my final two cents/tuppence-worth is this: I mock when people don't know how poor their abilites are; I support when judges don't know how poor their abilites are.

Thanks for your rant. I enjoyed it. Always nice to hear a bit of anti-passion and well-written vent :) Feel free to rant again :)