The unsure fate of Big Brother Adults Only
March 26th 2007 04:07
gretel
Now, Ive spoken about it before, and odds are, I'll be talking about it again. By the time Im done your ears will be bleeding at my constant scream against injustice - So don't moan and roll your eyes now, save it for post number 100!
Today I revisted all the news that surrounded last years axing of 'Adults Only'. I'd read it all before, sitting here absolutely steaming in my rage, so it was nice to read it all again from a semi calm state.
So far, Big Brother itself has no official standpoint, the official BB Really Long Link is running competitions and has no say on this years programming, got to keep up that suspense!
Lets recap what went on in years past. In 2005 a massive debate ensued over Gianna having a penis unmasked behind her unknowing head. All the fat cats who talk a lot and know nothing got up in arms(lucky they didnt all have heart attacks) and made their usual "we dont like it" noises. The lovely Gretel Killeen invited one onto the show for a debate, and as so often happens, the dear man was viciously assualted by Gretel at her absolute best - The polite and lovely lady morphs into a great lioness and tears apart her prey without mercy - all the while holding up TV standards and quoting the Television Codes of Practice. As usual, it was no contest, with Gretel at our head, the great army of young society had won out against the big bad evil government who want things to stay the same as they have for the last 30 years.
This is why I was shocked - Yes, SHOCKED - to hear that Channel 10 had axed the show last year. Where were the debates? Where was Gretel standing up and championing the cause of free speech in the media? And, most valued, most treasured, her comments on the changing world, of letting the youth of today be just that....Even if it means a little FUN along the way?
The official article by The Sydney Morning Herald was not very enlightenening. It lists these names - Nick Falloon, Channel Ten executive Chairman, Grant Blackley, Cheif executive, and Helen Coonan the Minister for communications, indicating that they 'talked' at length about the problem, and that Channel Ten maintains it was "Its own decision" to axe the show. The Sydney Morning Herald has suggested that this means it will not return.
Neither Channel Ten nor Big Brother have made a definitive statement either way. It all seems to come down to these two statements -
" We are confident the show has complied with the (commercial) Television Industry Code of Practice."
and
" However, questions continue to be raised as to whether the show should be on air. We did not see that situation changing, regardless of how we treated the program"
The article indicated through these statements that too much pressure had been applied to the team, and thus, they decided to axe it.
Now, please, correct me if Im wrong, but 'pressure' and 'BB' seem to go hand in hand. There is always an outcry about it, it always pushes the boundaries and shows us things that (evidently) most people would rather not know. So my question becomes - Pressure applied TO WHOM and FROM WHOM? Its smells bad to me that only in the previous year Channel Ten fought tooth and nail to keep the show then folded so easily. So who was threatened? Who was bought out? I noticed Gretel herself went very quiet on the subject, so no fighting was sanctioned, WHY? This was the first time Channel Ten have axed a show due to political pressure since 'sex/life' (another fave of mine) in 1998. The demise of 'sex/life' can be blamed on an independant senator by the name of Brian Harradine. I suspect his reasons for hating 'sex/life' were the exact same reasons BB is now hated - How dare a TV show show REAL snippets of life with a fun edge to it?! We only want to see our sex represented in crime shows, so we can teach our kids to be sexual deviants just like the bad guys they catch on 'Law and Order'....Right?
For last years axing, I think we can very safely blame Liberal MP Trish Draper. In my opinion, you dont raise your voice to point out someone elses hand in the cookie jar until your own is safely out of it. I know she hasnt been squeeky clean herself, and certainly wasnt, just before her outcries last year. She was a great campaigner for the cause "Oh, How will I explain this to my kids?" I will have to assume that the TV is never switched on, except for BB Adults Only, at which point it is promptly switched off again! Does anyone else see the inconsistancy I am talking about here? Was Trish Drapers 14 year old girl allowed to watch 'The OC' which came on BEFORE 'Adults Only'? One scene in the OC last year depicted Marissa's young sister hitting on her boyfriend - he says, "but your only 14" With a cocky wink and slink of her hips she replies "15 next week". All the 'law and order' shows are in an earlier timeslot than 'Adults Only', also 'medium' and 'supernatural' all these shows have highly adult themes, yet are considered 'safe' for kids!
Now, to combat problems, here is what Channel Ten did. They changed 'uncut' to 'Adults Only'. They introduced a delayed broadcast, and employed two internal classifiers to review EACH program before it went to air. After the show had begun, and already recieved complaints, they knocked it back an hour in the timeslot and gave it at least two more warnings. Gretel made it very clear - "adult content, change the channel NOW. If its offensive to you, DONT WATCH" I mean, you cant get any clearer than that, really! Still, it was boycotted, so, when it was finally axed, these were the issues under debate -
- Housemates in 'real' and 'simulated' sexual situations
- detailed discussions about sexual technique.
Now, correct me if Im wrong, but doesnt NEIGHBORS contain these things? Youve got to understand, Channel Ten is the only station I watch, so Ive got a lot of research! Those particular 'issues' are true for almost every single program running on Channel Ten! Does that mean that they axe them all? In my opinion, one show should not come under fire for issues that are present in EVERY show on that station! Am I making any sense here?
The issue, that I struggle with, that I continue to struggle with, is how BB pricks up peoples ears and gets peoples backs up - the desperation to pick the show to pieces when it is more innocent and relevant than any other, because it is REAL. Do people feel pushed to attack it because they dont understand? Because they have issues with all the issues in fact but not represented in fiction?
My opinion? BB TERRIFIES the older generation because it is REAL, because it is NOW it is a snapshot, a true representation of our young society, and whether theyre just jealous that they never had so much fun, or just plain scared shitless that these are the up and comings, its not fair to force the show off the air just because YOU want to cover your eyes!
Get THIS - To us its not shocking. To us, its not extreme. To us, its not far out. To us, its not even weird. To us, settling into the Big Brother house is just like settling in at home with a few mates, seeing whats new, whats grown, and whats out.
Get it through your heads - If you dont like it, dont watch it!
BUT, for heavens sake - LET US!!!!
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Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Gretel is quite a formidable woman hey...she takes no nonsense from anyone. I heard bits and pieces about her taking her kids to Africa last year or the year before to show them how the rest of the world lives...very admirable
ash
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
... but they should still show it, if that's what people want to watch!
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Thanks again.