Big Brother is an American reality series that puts a bunch of strangers in an isolated home where they have to spend a few weeks together, living their lives while being under surveillance by an uncomfortable number of cameras.
The show has been airing since 2000 and has put out twenty-five seasons since. The original Dutch series of the same name, which came out first in 1997, became so popular that it has now branched out into uncountable versions, this American version being one from the long list.
The producers do not plan on dropping the show anytime soon. This version of the franchise has officially become the longest-running version to date. It continues to follow, more or less, the same format as that of the original show, with a grand prize of $500,000 waiting for the winner at the end.
The live cameras and the mics that the contestants or the ‘houseguests’ have to carry almost the entire time have brought fans much entertainment. Though things do get vulgar at times, it is a mindless show that can be enjoyed anytime.
With over two decades’ worth of footage under its name, the American version of the show has also branched out into its own spinoff versions, including Big Brother: Over the Top, Big Brother: Reindeer Games, and Celebrity Big Brother.
Obviously, much like any other version of the show, this one has also been the subject of utter violence and crude language and has been accused of harassment, bullying, intimidation, physical violence, and so much more.
Though it may look like gossip content to us, it does get hard for the housemates inside, who have many times complained of mental strain and pressure while inside the house. The show started off as great entertainment for fans but has become boring over the years, offering the same old arguments between members as content.
With versions that we can barely keep track of, the show has become exhausting and bland. Despite this, the producers continue to milk out new seasons, which makes us wonder just how much of the show is actually real and how much of it is acted out.
Is Big Brother Scripted?
Yes and no. The show is just as fake and real as its other versions. The house that you’ve seen on screen is, of course, a set, literally, built for the purpose of this show. Apart from this, there have been speculations quite a few times that the show is fake right from the start to the selection of the winner.
There have been claims that the show is thought out right from the start, with the winner being pre-decided already. Though we think it is a bit too far-fetched, it would not surprise us if the show was scripted, at least some parts of it.
There were rumors of the show being entirely fake, but that also does not seem to make much sense, considering how ridiculous it would be for a reality show to survive twenty-five seasons without getting caught for putting out scripted episodes.
Former contestants have revealed that there are some parts of the show, like some arguments or a romance line, that the makers deliberately start to spice things up inside the house, which makes sense. The show is a money-making machine for the producers, not just a silly source of entertainment.
It has never been fully confirmed if Big Brother is fake or not, but we would advise you to take situations on the show with a grain of salt and not trust its claims of ‘reality’ completely. Contestants on the show who garner more attention from fans end up getting more screen time on the show, and that has been the nature of such shows forever.
The series has promoted itself as a reality show, but keep in mind that it is still a television program at its core.
