Despite the fairly low ratings, there is something compelling about Big Brother 2. Besides the show itself, there are the live feeds, the live feed logs, the discussion boards, etc. All work hand in hand with the show to create an addictive atmosphere.
I'm not typically a fan of reality shows on television, but from the moment I heard the gossip about Big Brother 2, I was drawn in. Is it any wonder really? In the days since it aired, it has sparked controversy with its live web camera coverage of nudity, sexual innuendos, and violence. Throw in the fact that the one of the houseguests was expelled for threatening to kill another member of the house (even though he was supposedly joking) and you have a show with enough drama to capture the interest of viewers nationwide.
I've spent the past few days poring over message boards maintained by the lucky few with access to the live internet feed. They've been kind enough to keep the rest of us informed of the ongoing events in the house. When Krista nominated Autumn and Kent to be evicted, I was enraged. I couldn't begin to comprehend why Krista would choose these two who posed such little threat. I flew to the boards to find out what others thought of the announcement. There wasn't much posted in relation to that topic at that point, but I did find some interesting speculation about who the potential nominees should have been and which names were actually the most likely to come up. There were several people who felt that pitting Will against Shannon would make the most sense and be the most entertaining to watch. I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly. Others felt that by eliminating the members of the "Brat Pack" early on, the house would become boring and sedate.
By putting Autumn up for the vote after the events that have transpired all week, she's almost certain to be evicted and few will be sorry to see her go. In the meantime the dynamic alliance between Mike, Shannon, and Will survives another week and gives them the opportunity to seize control of the house again next week. If that happens I predict that Nicole might find herself up for the vote again, especially after she spurned Will's attempts to befriend her.
Despite those who argue that the show is unnecessarily provocative, I feel like this is something that prime time TV has needed for awhile. It is a reality show that isn't edited to resemble something else entirely. The Internet works hand in hand with the show, providing extra insight into the character of the houseguests and revealing things that CBS intentionally leaves out. The live feeds provide the ideal platform for the voyeurs among us to truly become absorbed by the 24/7 drama of real people. The message boards connect people with other likeminded individuals. Perhaps it's the chance to become personally involved with the unfolding plot that makes this particular hour of television so compelling. Or maybe it's just true when they say that sex sells.
Sabrina Preville is a stay-at-home military wife and mother to two boys, living in North Carolina and waiting for her chance to be on a reality show.
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