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Inigo Montoya
The New Dread Pirate Roberts.
Your first look at Big Brother’s Housemates!
Presenting … Big Brother’s 2013 Housemates!
While this image may be more Picasso than picture-perfect, rest assured it does feature all of the new Housemates gracing the BB House halls with their presence this year – even it if is all at once …
Like the look of anyone just yet? Don’t worry – we promise this is one case where the whole is not greater than the sum of its parts (especially where looks are concerned)!
Tune in to Channel Nine at 7.00pm tomorrow night – Monday July 29 – to get the full view of the 2013 Big Brother Housemates.
http://www.bigbrother.com.au/news/8696945/your-first-look-at-big-brothers-housemates
Presenting … Big Brother’s 2013 Housemates!
While this image may be more Picasso than picture-perfect, rest assured it does feature all of the new Housemates gracing the BB House halls with their presence this year – even it if is all at once …
Like the look of anyone just yet? Don’t worry – we promise this is one case where the whole is not greater than the sum of its parts (especially where looks are concerned)!
Tune in to Channel Nine at 7.00pm tomorrow night – Monday July 29 – to get the full view of the 2013 Big Brother Housemates.
http://www.bigbrother.com.au/news/8696945/your-first-look-at-big-brothers-housemates
Dose of reality for Big Brother fans
Big Brother fans Shannon Carter, Rachel McDonough, Casey Conway and Courtney Dowling line up in the rain. Pic: Scott Fletcher
THE threat of rain failed to dampen audience's spirits ahead of the launch of a new season of Big Brother last night.
You heard right, Big Brother is back and with a bang, as more than 100 people lined up at Dreamworld yesterday, eager to get a seat at the show's debut.
Waiting in line, were big fans of the show Ryan Chandeler, 20, and Daniel Knowles, 23, who took holidays from work to fly from Adelaide to the Gold Coast just for the launch.
Ryan said he watched the show last year and was a big fan.
"My favourite was last year's housemate Michael Beveridge," he said.
"I like the fact he works on radio in South Australia now."
Liz Latimer from Upper Coomera, Debbie Wilson, Brisbane, and Melinda Smith, Springfield were the three lucky ladies first in line.
The women arrived at Dreamworld at noon to ensure they would not miss out on a seat.
But they came well prepared for both the wait and the weather, bringing with them umbrellas and seats and excited attitudes.
Also in line were Brisbane girls, Courtney Dowling, 18, Casey Conway, 19, Shannon Carter, 18 and Rachel McDonough, 18.
They said the gloomy weather did not deter them. The girls said they could not wait for the show to start.
Last night's live debut revealed the 12 striking housemates who were hand-picked from the 13,000 applicants.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/07/29/455396_gold-coast-news.html
Big Brother fans Shannon Carter, Rachel McDonough, Casey Conway and Courtney Dowling line up in the rain. Pic: Scott Fletcher
THE threat of rain failed to dampen audience's spirits ahead of the launch of a new season of Big Brother last night.
You heard right, Big Brother is back and with a bang, as more than 100 people lined up at Dreamworld yesterday, eager to get a seat at the show's debut.
Waiting in line, were big fans of the show Ryan Chandeler, 20, and Daniel Knowles, 23, who took holidays from work to fly from Adelaide to the Gold Coast just for the launch.
Ryan said he watched the show last year and was a big fan.
"My favourite was last year's housemate Michael Beveridge," he said.
"I like the fact he works on radio in South Australia now."
Liz Latimer from Upper Coomera, Debbie Wilson, Brisbane, and Melinda Smith, Springfield were the three lucky ladies first in line.
The women arrived at Dreamworld at noon to ensure they would not miss out on a seat.
But they came well prepared for both the wait and the weather, bringing with them umbrellas and seats and excited attitudes.
Also in line were Brisbane girls, Courtney Dowling, 18, Casey Conway, 19, Shannon Carter, 18 and Rachel McDonough, 18.
They said the gloomy weather did not deter them. The girls said they could not wait for the show to start.
Last night's live debut revealed the 12 striking housemates who were hand-picked from the 13,000 applicants.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/07/29/455396_gold-coast-news.html
Big Brother to reveal worst-kept twist in TV history
IT'S been a while, Big Brother. I thought I'd never see you again. Not that I've seen you once. Ever.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/enterta...st-in-tv-history/story-fni0cc2a-1226687713672
IT'S been a while, Big Brother. I thought I'd never see you again. Not that I've seen you once. Ever.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/enterta...st-in-tv-history/story-fni0cc2a-1226687713672
Reality show Big Brother recycles old-show twists for 2013 season
Andrew Fenton TV writer •
News Limited Network •
July 29, 2013 4:50PM
IT'S not just the Big Brother housemates who are older this season - the twists revealed during the premiere are also long in the tooth.
Dividing the house between "rich and poor", or "heaven and hell" has been a staple of the international format since 2001, when it was dreamt up for the third season of the original Dutch program.
Variations on the theme have since appeared in at least 26 international editions of the show, from the UK to Poland, Slovenia to the Philippines.
Even the name "Halfway House" and the concept of half-sized beds and doorways was inspired by last year's Gran Hermano, the Spanish version of Big Brother.
But that didn't make it any less entertaining or hilarious for viewers watching the Half Way housemates' dawning realisation they'll be forced to live in poverty and rely on charity from the better off Safe housemates just to eat.
The second twist teased during the final moments of tonight's show - in which strangers Drew and Jade will be told to pretend to be married or risk getting booted from the show - is also similar to a fake relationship/wedding stunt seen in the UK version in 2008.
The housemates are yet to learn the rules of the game, but executive producer Alex Mavroidakis revealed to News Corp Australia that each Tuesday night, the six contestants with the highest nomination scores will become the Half Way housemates.
The idea is to make nominations more personal and a much bigger deal.
"It's not just, I'm going to nominate you, it's, I'm going to potentially affect your last week in the house," he said. "If we end up again with someone like Estelle, who was nominated pretty much every week last year, it's going to test their resilience to breaking point."
Mavroidakis said the housemates had all gone through rigorous psychological testing to ensure they can cope with the potential Lord of the Flies style situation.
"And we have to remember they're not under arrest - they can leave any time," he added, raising the possibility a housemate could quit the show rather than endure deprivation any longer. It's rumoured that one of the subjects who spent a week in the house as part of the test group had to be talked out of leaving.
Read full article @ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/enterta...-for-2013-season/story-fni0b7je-1226687776976
Andrew Fenton TV writer •
News Limited Network •
July 29, 2013 4:50PM
IT'S not just the Big Brother housemates who are older this season - the twists revealed during the premiere are also long in the tooth.
Dividing the house between "rich and poor", or "heaven and hell" has been a staple of the international format since 2001, when it was dreamt up for the third season of the original Dutch program.
Variations on the theme have since appeared in at least 26 international editions of the show, from the UK to Poland, Slovenia to the Philippines.
Even the name "Halfway House" and the concept of half-sized beds and doorways was inspired by last year's Gran Hermano, the Spanish version of Big Brother.
But that didn't make it any less entertaining or hilarious for viewers watching the Half Way housemates' dawning realisation they'll be forced to live in poverty and rely on charity from the better off Safe housemates just to eat.
The second twist teased during the final moments of tonight's show - in which strangers Drew and Jade will be told to pretend to be married or risk getting booted from the show - is also similar to a fake relationship/wedding stunt seen in the UK version in 2008.
The housemates are yet to learn the rules of the game, but executive producer Alex Mavroidakis revealed to News Corp Australia that each Tuesday night, the six contestants with the highest nomination scores will become the Half Way housemates.
The idea is to make nominations more personal and a much bigger deal.
"It's not just, I'm going to nominate you, it's, I'm going to potentially affect your last week in the house," he said. "If we end up again with someone like Estelle, who was nominated pretty much every week last year, it's going to test their resilience to breaking point."
Mavroidakis said the housemates had all gone through rigorous psychological testing to ensure they can cope with the potential Lord of the Flies style situation.
"And we have to remember they're not under arrest - they can leave any time," he added, raising the possibility a housemate could quit the show rather than endure deprivation any longer. It's rumoured that one of the subjects who spent a week in the house as part of the test group had to be talked out of leaving.
Read full article @ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/enterta...-for-2013-season/story-fni0b7je-1226687776976
Big Brother enters brave new territory
ANDREW FENTON | July 29th, 2013
DARWIN beauty Tahan Lew-Fatt will hit our small screens tonight when the first episode of Big Brother screens in a two-hour special.
The Territory-raised stunner has been cast as a housemate on the next series of Channel Nine's Big Brother.
At 24, she will have a lot of older housemates in the Big Brother household with her this series - a break from tradition for the reality TV show.
Nine hopes that casting a more diverse group of housemates will attract a broader audience and pump up Big Brother's ratings towards The Block territory.
Housemate Sharon Smith, a 41-year-old former police officer and mother of three young kids, is a personal trainer from Melbourne who battled obesity in the past and has almost a full decade on last year's eldest contestant, winner Benjamin Norris, 32.
But last season came under heavy fire - even from the host, Sonia Kruger - for casting a narrow selection of mainly white-bread, 20-something housemates.
Nine director of programming Andrew Backwell said the network was targeting the key 25 to 54-year-old demographic this year.
"It's a young-skewing show," he said. "But we've cast it a little bit older, we've cast it quite diverse and we've got a bit more intelligent cast so there's more intelligent debate in the house rather than mindless chat."
Of course, anyone who saw last year's promos will know Nine made similar claims back then, but the casting of Smith suggests they might be trying a little harder this time.
Other housemates chosen from the 13,000 who applied include Ben, a 31-year-old former flight attendant from Brisbane who counts his Mum as his best friend; and Matthew, 28, a veteran who served in Afghanistan and now works as an electrician on the Sunshine Coast.
The new system this year will require viewers to "vote to save" their favourite housemate each week.
The winner stands to receive $250,000.
Even though this season's show won't air until tonight, former Palmerston High School student Tahan has already caused a stir on social media after using the word "budju" in her promotional video.
Video: http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2013/07/23/323132_entertainment.html
Originally an Aboriginal translation for "vagina", the word's meaning can be used as a social term to describe a good-looking person.
The now Melbourne-based human resources worker is also a model.
She represented Victoria in Miss Universe Australia 2010 and has won various local and interstate modelling competitions.
Tahan's sisterMonisha Lew-Fatt, 23, said she was "very excited" about seeing her sibling on television.
"She's always wanted to be on a TV show ... I think she is going to make it big after this," Monisha said.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2013/07/29/323338_entertainment.html
ANDREW FENTON | July 29th, 2013
DARWIN beauty Tahan Lew-Fatt will hit our small screens tonight when the first episode of Big Brother screens in a two-hour special.
The Territory-raised stunner has been cast as a housemate on the next series of Channel Nine's Big Brother.
At 24, she will have a lot of older housemates in the Big Brother household with her this series - a break from tradition for the reality TV show.
Nine hopes that casting a more diverse group of housemates will attract a broader audience and pump up Big Brother's ratings towards The Block territory.
Housemate Sharon Smith, a 41-year-old former police officer and mother of three young kids, is a personal trainer from Melbourne who battled obesity in the past and has almost a full decade on last year's eldest contestant, winner Benjamin Norris, 32.
But last season came under heavy fire - even from the host, Sonia Kruger - for casting a narrow selection of mainly white-bread, 20-something housemates.
Nine director of programming Andrew Backwell said the network was targeting the key 25 to 54-year-old demographic this year.
"It's a young-skewing show," he said. "But we've cast it a little bit older, we've cast it quite diverse and we've got a bit more intelligent cast so there's more intelligent debate in the house rather than mindless chat."
Of course, anyone who saw last year's promos will know Nine made similar claims back then, but the casting of Smith suggests they might be trying a little harder this time.
Other housemates chosen from the 13,000 who applied include Ben, a 31-year-old former flight attendant from Brisbane who counts his Mum as his best friend; and Matthew, 28, a veteran who served in Afghanistan and now works as an electrician on the Sunshine Coast.
The new system this year will require viewers to "vote to save" their favourite housemate each week.
The winner stands to receive $250,000.
Even though this season's show won't air until tonight, former Palmerston High School student Tahan has already caused a stir on social media after using the word "budju" in her promotional video.
Video: http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2013/07/23/323132_entertainment.html
Originally an Aboriginal translation for "vagina", the word's meaning can be used as a social term to describe a good-looking person.
The now Melbourne-based human resources worker is also a model.
She represented Victoria in Miss Universe Australia 2010 and has won various local and interstate modelling competitions.
Tahan's sisterMonisha Lew-Fatt, 23, said she was "very excited" about seeing her sibling on television.
"She's always wanted to be on a TV show ... I think she is going to make it big after this," Monisha said.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2013/07/29/323338_entertainment.html
inumeenu
Well-Known Member
So, winning the Saturday Showdown might see a Head of House scenario. Whereas the safe/half-way house is determined purely by nominations?
Hmmm... so put the people you don't like in the halfway house? And the nominated housemates will always be over that side? I don't know what I think about that...
Reality show Big Brother recycles old-show twists for 2013 season
Andrew Fenton TV writer •
News Limited Network •
July 29, 2013 4:50PM
IT'S not just the Big Brother housemates who are older this season - the twists revealed during the premiere are also long in the tooth.
Dividing the house between "rich and poor", or "heaven and hell" has been a staple of the international format since 2001, when it was dreamt up for the third season of the original Dutch program.
Variations on the theme have since appeared in at least 26 international editions of the show, from the UK to Poland, Slovenia to the Philippines.
Even the name "Halfway House" and the concept of half-sized beds and doorways was inspired by last year's Gran Hermano, the Spanish version of Big Brother.
But that didn't make it any less entertaining or hilarious for viewers watching the Half Way housemates' dawning realisation they'll be forced to live in poverty and rely on charity from the better off Safe housemates just to eat.
The second twist teased during the final moments of tonight's show - in which strangers Drew and Jade will be told to pretend to be married or risk getting booted from the show - is also similar to a fake relationship/wedding stunt seen in the UK version in 2008.
The housemates are yet to learn the rules of the game, but executive producer Alex Mavroidakis revealed to News Corp Australia that each Tuesday night, the six contestants with the highest nomination scores will become the Half Way housemates.
The idea is to make nominations more personal and a much bigger deal.
"It's not just, I'm going to nominate you, it's, I'm going to potentially affect your last week in the house," he said. "If we end up again with someone like Estelle, who was nominated pretty much every week last year, it's going to test their resilience to breaking point."
Mavroidakis said the housemates had all gone through rigorous psychological testing to ensure they can cope with the potential Lord of the Flies style situation.
"And we have to remember they're not under arrest - they can leave any time," he added, raising the possibility a housemate could quit the show rather than endure deprivation any longer. It's rumoured that one of the subjects who spent a week in the house as part of the test group had to be talked out of leaving.
Read full article @ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/enterta...-for-2013-season/story-fni0b7je-1226687776976
Oh I like that better. The poor house will not be for the same HMs
inumeenu
Well-Known Member
Agreed. Better than the same group of people always being together...
BUT the nominees always being in the half-way house. Will that get old really quick? Will the whole season feel disjointed?
‘Big Brother Australia’ Host Sonia Kruger Reveals Biggest Twist Has A Twist
“Big Brother Australia” host Sonia Kruger revealed that the big “twist has a twist!” As the country awaited the launch of the Channel Nine reality show on Monday night, the presenter revealed that, not one, but two twists are coming the housemates’ way, and they won’t like them.
No, she still won’t say what the deal is with the new season, but Sonia said that the housemates will find this season quite challenging and rewarding.
“The twist has a twist! There are two big ones that will play out in the first few days with two big reveals in the first couple of shows,” the host revealed on the show’s official Web site.
“Big Brother has also developed a brand new show for Saturday nights and whichever HM wins this – it’s not that they’ll win a nice meal or a rewards room – what they win is something that’s quite integral to th Evictions and Nominations. So they will be fighting tooth and nail."
“It’s going to get very competitive.”
"Big Brother’s 'Showdown'" will air Saturday nights and will be hosted by Mike Goldman and last year’s contestant Michael Beveridge, while Sonia will host the regular show.
“I think it will be very interesting. I really think audiences will enjoy the twist but I’m not so sure the housemates will,” she added to The Sunday Mail.
“What the housemates are playing for on that night is crucial to what then happens at nominations and evictions. With the old games they had no real consequence but this year it does. I think it will make it very competitive.”
Full article @ http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/495092/20130729/big-brother-australia-sonia-kruger.htm#.UfZdRs5--00
Yes, it could get old quickly if they can't form friendship and start real conversation
I think this year the HMs seems to be more intelligent, but with the house be divided, I don't know how they can really communicate.
Big Brother recap: Space Barbie, new housemates and that TWIST
Natalie Bochenski
I woke up with a head still throbbing from the three-hour sensory assault it had undergone the night before.
If you’ve ever wondered what the Ludovic experiment from A Clockwork Orange would actually be like, never fear: I went to the Big Brother 2013 launch taping on the Gold Coast so you didn’t have to.
I’ll spare you the hour or so of cheery prep before the show actually starts; save to say there is dancing, and pep rallies, and prize giveaways, and Mike Goldman working the microphone like a Jedi master.
Instead, I’ll jump to the TWISTed dance routine, pyrotechnics and blasting steam pumps that herald the arrival of host Sonia Kruger, looking out of this world in a sequinned silver dress with matching thigh-high boots. She’s like Space Barbie. She’s amazing. You just want to fluff her perfect hair, and make her kiss Ken...
Big Brother himself sounds a bit like Duffman from The Simpsons. I kept waiting for him to exclaim "Big Brother is thrusting in the direction of the house", but maybe he’s saving that for later in the series.
Sonia takes the audience on a brief video tour of the new abode, Big Brother "stops the signal" to prevent her from revealing the TWIST too early.
Mikkayla is the first housemate, and she’s a good choice to get out early because she’s absolutely adorable despite her terribly-spelled moniker.
The high school teacher loves her food, and when Astro Barbie tells her she’s also been carb-loading, Mikkayla answers with exactly the response I had in my head - "I don’t believe that!".
Sonia then reveals the first aspect to the TWIST. Mikkayla must choose a key, which will open one of two doors. She picks number 11, and winds up going straight into .... the TWIST.
The TWIST is the "Halfway House", a tiny enclosure within the greater BB house full of chopped-up furniture and dodgy decor. It’s Salvador Dali meets The Block. The other half of the house is the plush "Safe House", which will no doubt be home to housemates with better luck.
"I should’ve picked a better number," comes Mikkayla’s plaintative mourn as she explores her new surroundings, like a hamster disappointed its cage only has the top half of the running wheel. Her pining for the sexy side of the house, so tantalisingly within reach, is genuinely hilarious.
Xavier is next down the runway, and again, he’s very likeable. A wannabe AFL player who couldn’t kick an iron ball with magnetic shoes, Xavier straight away cements himself as The Quick Wit. He works the live crowd like Larry Emdur, hitting on The Price is Right comparison when it comes time to choose a key.
Sadly it’s the Halfway House for him too, but he seems to approach it cheerily enough, aided by a tour from Mikkayla.
Back onstage, Cosmic Barbie is introducing Tahan, another oddly-named contestant who was raised in Darwin and is a part-time model. She’s as pretty as a Kewpie doll. It’s obvious producers are going to try to paint her as The Bitchy One because she Doesn’t Have Girl Friends Because Girls Just Don’t Seem To Like Her.
I sympathised with her slightly because I too suffer from debilitating DHGFBGJDSTLH, but then I remembered I’m not appearing on national TV dressed as a canary. Shoot, maybe envy explains the DHGFBGJDSTLH?
Tahan is not impressed with the TWIST, and is devastated that she has no mirror, no shower and only white bread to feed upon. Line of the night comes from Mikkayla when she asks Tahan: "You look like a girl who doesn’t eat carbs – can I have your piece of bread?" APPLAUSE.
Xavier jokes about how much it sucks to be in the crap house, but given that he’s flanked by two hot chicks, he does not truly sound like a man unhappy with his current situation.
Contestant number 4 is Ben from Brisbane. Ben, bless him, is a beautiful, wonderful freak. He loves Kerri-Anne Kennerley. His favourite record is The Bert and Patti Family Album. He wears his trousers inside out. OK, I made that last one up, but you get the picture.
Ben is a gentle soul who is justly rewarded by becoming the first person into the Safe House. His OMG-ing at virtually everything from the furniture to the oysters is again, entertaining viewing. And his desire to stay close to the trio on the other side of the perspex is sweet.
"I like that I don’t look like a typical lesbian," says 25-year-old social media strategist Tully in her introductory package. Sadly for Tully, she does look like a typical hipster.
She winds up in the Halfway House, adding yet more bounty to Xavier’s collection. But how will she do without her phone and the ability to, as she puts it, Instagram every minute of her life? Hashtag firsworldproblems.
Next up is Tim, whose wild hair is a one-man homage to the BMX Bandits-era Nicole Kidman. Ten years into it, he still can’t finish his science degree, probably because he has about as much ability to concentrate on complicated biodiversity issues as one of his amusingly-named guinea pigs. But now HE will be the guinea pig in the sexy side of the house! Did you see what I did there?
Housemate number 7 is Sharon, the 41-year-old ex-cop, fitness trainer, mother-of-three who seems to view the BB house as a blissful escape from being the one in charge all the time. I’m so pleased she picked the fancy side; although that did put her in the same pen as Ben, who immediately attached himself to her like a limpet. He’s going to see her as a substitute Mum who can protect him, so good luck with that Shaz.
At this point, we were halfway through the housemate revelations, but almost two hours into the taping, and the once enthusiastic audience started to tire rapidly.
The last hour became an endurance event as I sat in the gathering cool, waiting for more housemates, the shrill sound of cheering boring into my brain, each whoosh-bang of celebratory steam blasts adding an extra layer of throbbing to the ache swelling behind my eyes.
Housemate #8: Ed, a blandish sports manager from Melbourne they’re trying to set-up as McDreamy. Sexy House.
Housemate #9: Matthew, ex-army dude turned tradie from the Sunshine Coast. His package focused mostly on his ... well, package, as he turned out to have mecha-abs and a Southern Cross tattoo, pre-requisite items for hotness these days, apparently.
I had pondered if the whole “choose a key” thing was set up so they’d get particular people on each side, but then why would they let Matt go in the crap house? “He’s never going to take his shirt off and swim on that side!” I said, loudly enough for three women in front of me to turn around and nod.
Housemate #10: Heidi. Gabby breakfast radio host from Newcastle. That station must be ecstatic about the cross-promotion. She seemed sweet, was slightly chubby, so I guess she’s the one I’m supposed to identify with given the state of my thighs. Sexy House.
Housemate #11: Jasmin. Flight attendant and unlucky in love. Endearing, cute, fantastic ‘fro. The final chick to go in, and like every one before her (except sensible Sharon), tottered down the gangplank – sorry, runway – in a mini-skirt and towering heels. You’d think pants and flats would be safer, surely? Sexy House.
Housemate #12: Caleb. Friendly 33-year-old fireman with a skanky sleeve tatt (yes, I’m judgmental about sleeve tatts, it’s just my thing) and a bleaching obsession. When Intergalactic Barbie first interviewed him, she said “Liz Hurley called and she wants her boyfriend back,” which WAS TOTALLY MY JOKE SONIA. Crap House.
And finally, it’s over! Over! ... Over?
Not quite.
First, the Sexy House peeps have to be briefed in their private diary room, which features the most glitteringly golden phallus-shaped chair I’ve ever seen. They’re told they pretty much have control over the Crap Housers, who must do all their laundry and only eat what the Sexy Housers provide. Nice gig.
Is it over now?
A family in front of me try to make a break for it, Von Trapp style. Except unlike The Sound of Music, time voiceover extraordinaire Mike Goldman (who’d been doing the heavy lifting of keeping the audience pumped) spotted them and demanded they remain seated. Did I just compare Mike Goldman to a Nazi?
Anyways, the final TWIST (if I never hear the word TWIST again, it’ll be a century too soon), is that MORE housemates will go in later this week, housemates who have never met but must PRETEND TO BE MARRIED. Holy smokes, it’ll be like the green card office at US Customs in there.
And then, it really is over, and the audience bleeds out of the Dreamworld live studio like a great... big... bleeding ... river....of bleediness. And that was where my brain shut down for the night, capable only of saying things like "I wish I could wear Sonia’s dress" and "I probably should pick up some merch".
Wrap up thoughts? The contestants didn’t seem to to all be self-obsessed narcissists, which is the main fault that people find with Big Brother.
Some of them seemed like human beings with whom you would genuinely enjoy sharing a meal, or at least a polite conversation in a lift.
The split house concept is interesting, but it can’t last the whole season.
Poor Tahan will go crazy without soap or a hair straightener.
My picks for first evictee? Tim, because he’s ... Tim; Caleb, because of that skeevy sleeve tatt; or Ben, ‘cause he’s a little strange.
My picks at this point for the winner? Sharon, for being tough and sensible; Mikkayla for being adorable; or Ben, 'cause he's a little strange.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainm...-that-twist-20130729-2qva3.html#ixzz2aREmbHEQ
Natalie Bochenski
I woke up with a head still throbbing from the three-hour sensory assault it had undergone the night before.
If you’ve ever wondered what the Ludovic experiment from A Clockwork Orange would actually be like, never fear: I went to the Big Brother 2013 launch taping on the Gold Coast so you didn’t have to.
I’ll spare you the hour or so of cheery prep before the show actually starts; save to say there is dancing, and pep rallies, and prize giveaways, and Mike Goldman working the microphone like a Jedi master.
Instead, I’ll jump to the TWISTed dance routine, pyrotechnics and blasting steam pumps that herald the arrival of host Sonia Kruger, looking out of this world in a sequinned silver dress with matching thigh-high boots. She’s like Space Barbie. She’s amazing. You just want to fluff her perfect hair, and make her kiss Ken...
Big Brother himself sounds a bit like Duffman from The Simpsons. I kept waiting for him to exclaim "Big Brother is thrusting in the direction of the house", but maybe he’s saving that for later in the series.
Sonia takes the audience on a brief video tour of the new abode, Big Brother "stops the signal" to prevent her from revealing the TWIST too early.
Mikkayla is the first housemate, and she’s a good choice to get out early because she’s absolutely adorable despite her terribly-spelled moniker.
The high school teacher loves her food, and when Astro Barbie tells her she’s also been carb-loading, Mikkayla answers with exactly the response I had in my head - "I don’t believe that!".
Sonia then reveals the first aspect to the TWIST. Mikkayla must choose a key, which will open one of two doors. She picks number 11, and winds up going straight into .... the TWIST.
The TWIST is the "Halfway House", a tiny enclosure within the greater BB house full of chopped-up furniture and dodgy decor. It’s Salvador Dali meets The Block. The other half of the house is the plush "Safe House", which will no doubt be home to housemates with better luck.
"I should’ve picked a better number," comes Mikkayla’s plaintative mourn as she explores her new surroundings, like a hamster disappointed its cage only has the top half of the running wheel. Her pining for the sexy side of the house, so tantalisingly within reach, is genuinely hilarious.
Xavier is next down the runway, and again, he’s very likeable. A wannabe AFL player who couldn’t kick an iron ball with magnetic shoes, Xavier straight away cements himself as The Quick Wit. He works the live crowd like Larry Emdur, hitting on The Price is Right comparison when it comes time to choose a key.
Sadly it’s the Halfway House for him too, but he seems to approach it cheerily enough, aided by a tour from Mikkayla.
Back onstage, Cosmic Barbie is introducing Tahan, another oddly-named contestant who was raised in Darwin and is a part-time model. She’s as pretty as a Kewpie doll. It’s obvious producers are going to try to paint her as The Bitchy One because she Doesn’t Have Girl Friends Because Girls Just Don’t Seem To Like Her.
I sympathised with her slightly because I too suffer from debilitating DHGFBGJDSTLH, but then I remembered I’m not appearing on national TV dressed as a canary. Shoot, maybe envy explains the DHGFBGJDSTLH?
Tahan is not impressed with the TWIST, and is devastated that she has no mirror, no shower and only white bread to feed upon. Line of the night comes from Mikkayla when she asks Tahan: "You look like a girl who doesn’t eat carbs – can I have your piece of bread?" APPLAUSE.
Xavier jokes about how much it sucks to be in the crap house, but given that he’s flanked by two hot chicks, he does not truly sound like a man unhappy with his current situation.
Contestant number 4 is Ben from Brisbane. Ben, bless him, is a beautiful, wonderful freak. He loves Kerri-Anne Kennerley. His favourite record is The Bert and Patti Family Album. He wears his trousers inside out. OK, I made that last one up, but you get the picture.
Ben is a gentle soul who is justly rewarded by becoming the first person into the Safe House. His OMG-ing at virtually everything from the furniture to the oysters is again, entertaining viewing. And his desire to stay close to the trio on the other side of the perspex is sweet.
"I like that I don’t look like a typical lesbian," says 25-year-old social media strategist Tully in her introductory package. Sadly for Tully, she does look like a typical hipster.
She winds up in the Halfway House, adding yet more bounty to Xavier’s collection. But how will she do without her phone and the ability to, as she puts it, Instagram every minute of her life? Hashtag firsworldproblems.
Next up is Tim, whose wild hair is a one-man homage to the BMX Bandits-era Nicole Kidman. Ten years into it, he still can’t finish his science degree, probably because he has about as much ability to concentrate on complicated biodiversity issues as one of his amusingly-named guinea pigs. But now HE will be the guinea pig in the sexy side of the house! Did you see what I did there?
Housemate number 7 is Sharon, the 41-year-old ex-cop, fitness trainer, mother-of-three who seems to view the BB house as a blissful escape from being the one in charge all the time. I’m so pleased she picked the fancy side; although that did put her in the same pen as Ben, who immediately attached himself to her like a limpet. He’s going to see her as a substitute Mum who can protect him, so good luck with that Shaz.
At this point, we were halfway through the housemate revelations, but almost two hours into the taping, and the once enthusiastic audience started to tire rapidly.
The last hour became an endurance event as I sat in the gathering cool, waiting for more housemates, the shrill sound of cheering boring into my brain, each whoosh-bang of celebratory steam blasts adding an extra layer of throbbing to the ache swelling behind my eyes.
Housemate #8: Ed, a blandish sports manager from Melbourne they’re trying to set-up as McDreamy. Sexy House.
Housemate #9: Matthew, ex-army dude turned tradie from the Sunshine Coast. His package focused mostly on his ... well, package, as he turned out to have mecha-abs and a Southern Cross tattoo, pre-requisite items for hotness these days, apparently.
I had pondered if the whole “choose a key” thing was set up so they’d get particular people on each side, but then why would they let Matt go in the crap house? “He’s never going to take his shirt off and swim on that side!” I said, loudly enough for three women in front of me to turn around and nod.
Housemate #10: Heidi. Gabby breakfast radio host from Newcastle. That station must be ecstatic about the cross-promotion. She seemed sweet, was slightly chubby, so I guess she’s the one I’m supposed to identify with given the state of my thighs. Sexy House.
Housemate #11: Jasmin. Flight attendant and unlucky in love. Endearing, cute, fantastic ‘fro. The final chick to go in, and like every one before her (except sensible Sharon), tottered down the gangplank – sorry, runway – in a mini-skirt and towering heels. You’d think pants and flats would be safer, surely? Sexy House.
Housemate #12: Caleb. Friendly 33-year-old fireman with a skanky sleeve tatt (yes, I’m judgmental about sleeve tatts, it’s just my thing) and a bleaching obsession. When Intergalactic Barbie first interviewed him, she said “Liz Hurley called and she wants her boyfriend back,” which WAS TOTALLY MY JOKE SONIA. Crap House.
And finally, it’s over! Over! ... Over?
Not quite.
First, the Sexy House peeps have to be briefed in their private diary room, which features the most glitteringly golden phallus-shaped chair I’ve ever seen. They’re told they pretty much have control over the Crap Housers, who must do all their laundry and only eat what the Sexy Housers provide. Nice gig.
Is it over now?
A family in front of me try to make a break for it, Von Trapp style. Except unlike The Sound of Music, time voiceover extraordinaire Mike Goldman (who’d been doing the heavy lifting of keeping the audience pumped) spotted them and demanded they remain seated. Did I just compare Mike Goldman to a Nazi?
Anyways, the final TWIST (if I never hear the word TWIST again, it’ll be a century too soon), is that MORE housemates will go in later this week, housemates who have never met but must PRETEND TO BE MARRIED. Holy smokes, it’ll be like the green card office at US Customs in there.
And then, it really is over, and the audience bleeds out of the Dreamworld live studio like a great... big... bleeding ... river....of bleediness. And that was where my brain shut down for the night, capable only of saying things like "I wish I could wear Sonia’s dress" and "I probably should pick up some merch".
Wrap up thoughts? The contestants didn’t seem to to all be self-obsessed narcissists, which is the main fault that people find with Big Brother.
Some of them seemed like human beings with whom you would genuinely enjoy sharing a meal, or at least a polite conversation in a lift.
The split house concept is interesting, but it can’t last the whole season.
Poor Tahan will go crazy without soap or a hair straightener.
My picks for first evictee? Tim, because he’s ... Tim; Caleb, because of that skeevy sleeve tatt; or Ben, ‘cause he’s a little strange.
My picks at this point for the winner? Sharon, for being tough and sensible; Mikkayla for being adorable; or Ben, 'cause he's a little strange.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainm...-that-twist-20130729-2qva3.html#ixzz2aREmbHEQ
Gap Year bumps Big Brother
By David Knox on July 29, 2013
With the arrival of Big Brother tonight there are a couple of interesting scheduling points worth a mention.
This Sunday night there is no episode of Big Brother.
This goes against the tradition of Big Brother events on Sunday nights ever since the show began in 2001. Next Sunday Nine screens Domestic Blitz, 60 Minutes and Underbelly: Squizzy.
With Australia’s Got Talent set to premiere on Sunday August 11, this further reinforces a tip on this site last week that Evictions will be a regular Monday night feature this season.
Speaking of Mondays, next week Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year Asia is bumped to 7pm with Big Brother not starting until 8pm.
Meanwhile, the first Big Brother Showdown, a revival of Friday Night Live, begins at 6:30pm this Saturday.
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/07/gap-year-bumps-big-brother.html
By David Knox on July 29, 2013
With the arrival of Big Brother tonight there are a couple of interesting scheduling points worth a mention.
This Sunday night there is no episode of Big Brother.
This goes against the tradition of Big Brother events on Sunday nights ever since the show began in 2001. Next Sunday Nine screens Domestic Blitz, 60 Minutes and Underbelly: Squizzy.
With Australia’s Got Talent set to premiere on Sunday August 11, this further reinforces a tip on this site last week that Evictions will be a regular Monday night feature this season.
Speaking of Mondays, next week Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year Asia is bumped to 7pm with Big Brother not starting until 8pm.
Meanwhile, the first Big Brother Showdown, a revival of Friday Night Live, begins at 6:30pm this Saturday.
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/07/gap-year-bumps-big-brother.html
9 best and worst things about Big Brother
IT'S back for another season.
This year the housemates are split into two sides - the Halfway House with limited comforts and commodities - and the Safe House with all the luxuries and privileges we have come to expect from the palatial Gold Coast compound.
But while some things change, some remain the same. Big personalities, big egos and big hair are the themes this year and the formula appears to have worked with most viewers sucked back into the Big Brother vortex once more.
Social media sites lit up with fans declaring how much they had missed the show and weighing in on what they rated and hated about the first episode.
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So because we hate being left out, here's a list of the best and worst bits of the opening show.
1. BEST: The house divide
While not necessarily a "new" concept, watching who would get to live on which side of the compound was genuinely exciting. The vast discrepancy in living arrangements between the two sides means it's not just a token twist either. But you have to feel sorry for the poor folk in the Halfway House, those tiny beds look mighty uncomfortable.
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2. WORST: Tim's lack of social filter
There is one in every group and this year's most annoying housemate so far has got to be 29-year-old uni student Tim. The skeleton-pyjama-wearing dude from Sydney prides himself on being honest (read rude) and has no intentions of helping out the housemates in the Halfway House with food and drinks. The housemates on the privileged side may have luxuries but they also have Tim.
3. BEST: Ben's bulldog pyjamas
Ex-cop and mum of three Sharon declared her need to look after poor Ben within the first few minutes of meeting him and when we all saw the former Flight Attendant's flannelette bulldog pyjamas, we knew how she felt. Ben, who counts his mum as his best friend, looks set to be the odd one out this year with some housemates already saying he is "too eccentric". Ben to win we say!
4. WORST: Tahan's rule breaking
It took the part time model and public servant from Northern Territory less than an hour to jump the fence. After the 24-year-old broke house rules and went for a dip in the Safe House Jacuzzi, she was forced to give up her clothes for a day as punishment. That means she must wear her itsy bitsy yellow bikini for 24 hours straight. The men in the house are devastated.
5. BEST: Host Sonia Kruger
Not only was Sonia fast, fresh and funny but she didn't hold back in ribbing housemate Caleb about his uncanny resemblance to Shane Warne. We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
6. WORST: The big, gold chair in the diary room
It looks like ... well ... it looks like something it shouldn't.
7. BEST: The second twist
In a "Big Brother first" it appears as though young singles Jade and Drew who have never met each other will have to act like a married couple when they enter the house on Tuesday night. We're sure this sounds vaguely familiar but we'll still tune in tomorrow night to see what it's all about.
8. WORST: Tim
9. WORST: Tim
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/entertainmen...er/story-e6frfmyi-1226687795137#ixzz2aTuXfw3w
Lol! They don't like Tim
inumeenu
Well-Known Member
Nor do I. Loved it when Sharon (I think) asked him why he was yelling. It's just his annoying voice!
I remember when he was on the Hit List. I think he replaced Matty on the Hit List with Matty & Renae in 2011.
He was also the guy who streaked on the plane for the Rihanna publicity stunt lol
How's this for a lovely visual...
buck07
Bucking the system
As much as I can't stand this dumb, shock-jock wannabe, there was a catalyst to his nudie run.
The plane was filled with press & media types, fed up because Rihanna would not meet with any of the press on the plane who had been on the flight to conduct interviews. Frustrated by having nothing to show for their hours, they all began chanting stupid phrases.
I guess the show-pony got caught up in the moment - the stupid bugger.
We should all be glad that it wasn't that other Australian shock-jock show-pony. ewwww..
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xv8bpu_streaker-on-rihanna-777-tour-plane_lifestyle
The plane was filled with press & media types, fed up because Rihanna would not meet with any of the press on the plane who had been on the flight to conduct interviews. Frustrated by having nothing to show for their hours, they all began chanting stupid phrases.
I guess the show-pony got caught up in the moment - the stupid bugger.
We should all be glad that it wasn't that other Australian shock-jock show-pony. ewwww..
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xv8bpu_streaker-on-rihanna-777-tour-plane_lifestyle
Ummm wtf. That's the kind of stupid behaviour which makes the show interesting. The good kind, not the performing for the camera's trying to be entertaining.
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