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Big Brother is a popular reality television format, where, over 15 weeks or so, a number of contestants (typically 12) try to avoid periodic publicly-voted evictions from a communal house and hence win a cash prize. The show, a kind of 'real life soap', was invented by John de Mol of the Netherlands and developed by his production company, Endemol. It has been a prime-time hit in almost 70 different countries, earning Endemol large sums of money. The show's name comes from George Orwell's 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, in which Big Brother is the all-seeing leader of the dystopian Oceania.
Format
The first series of Big Brother was aired in the Netherlands in September 1999, and the show was subsequently adapted to virtually every other part of the world. Though each country has made its own adaptations and changes to the format, the general concept has stayed the same: "housemates" are confined to a specially designed house where their every action is recorded by cameras and microphones at all times; and these housemates are not permitted any contact with the outside world. The housemates are allowed no television or radio, means of contacting the outside world, or other media; not even writing material. Private chats with a psychologist are a special exception, and are always allowed at any time, often by means of a telephone in the Diary Room. At regular intervals, normally once weekly, the public is invited to vote to have a housemate of their choice evicted from the House. In some cases, two housemates may be evicted simultaneously (a "double eviction"), or rarely, no housemates will be removed for that week. At the end of the game, the last remaining housemate is declared winner of that particular series, and receives prizes; often including a large amount of money, a car, a holiday, and in some editions, a house.
Besides the same living together, which is the principal axis and major attraction of the contest, this one turns concerning 4 basic props: the stripped-bare back to basics environment in which they live, the evictions system, the weekly tasks set by Big Brother, and the "diary room", in which the housemates individually convey their thoughts, feelings, frustrations and their eviction nominees.
In the first of most Big Brother seasons, the House that the housemates had to live in for the duration of the competition was very basic. Although essential amenities such as running water, furniture and a limited ration of food were provided, luxury items were often forbidden. This added an element of survival into the show, thus increasing the potential for tensions within the house. Now almost every country has a modern house for the contest, with a jacuzzi, a sauna, a VIP suite, a loft, and other luxuries.
The housemates are required to do any housework as they see fit, and are set tasks by the producers of the show, who communicate with the housemates via the omnipresent authority figure known only to them as Big Brother. The tasks set are designed to test their team-working abilities and community spirit, and in some countries the housemates' shopping budget or weekly allowance often depends on the outcome of any set tasks. The housemates have a weekly allowance with which they can buy food and other essentials.
At regular intervals, the housemates each privately nominate a number of fellow housemates that they wish to see evicted from the house. The housemates with the most nomination points are then named announced, and viewers are given the opportunity to vote for whom they wish to see evicted.
After the votes are tallied, the "evictee" leaves the house and is interviewed live by the host of the show, usually in front of a live studio audience.
The series is notable for involving the Internet. Although the show typically broadcasts daily updates in the evening, sometimes criticised for its heavy editing, viewers can also watch a continuous, 24-hour feed from multiple cameras on the web. These websites were highly successful, even after some national series started charging for access to the video stream. In some countries, the Internet broadcasting was supplemented by updates via email, WAP and SMS. The House is even shown live on satellite television (with a 10-15 minute delay to permit muting of unacceptable content in the UK).
Despite derision from many intellectuals and other critics, the show has been a commercial success around the world. Criticisms typically are based on the ironic aspects of George Orwell's dystopic vision of Nineteen Eighty-Four being consciously aped by producers for public entertainment. More generally, the voyeuristic nature of the show, where contestants volunteer to surrender their privacy in return for minor celebrity status and a comparatively small cash prize, has attracted much scorn.
While any pretences to be a cultural experiment are dubious, reports of the different results of the show around the world have been mildly interesting from a pop-anthropology standpoint. Some versions have been filled with sex-crazed housemates, whereas others decided to base the conflict within their programs around difficult or romantic personalities, as in Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Philippines or Spain. With the passing of time, it has been demonstrated that the most successful versions were the ones that emulated a soap opera, whereas the versions where the principal attraction was sex have been eliminated, as in Hungary or Poland. The amount of sex shown on the televised versions around the world depends on local and national television censorship rules, with some countries editing out all sex and nudity, while others broadcast what is considered to be borderline pornography.
Some peculiarities
- In France and Canada, the format has been developed using couples. Twelve single people stay in the same house until only the winning couple are left.
- Big Brother USA currently uses a different set of rules from the other countries' versions of the show, as it has starting with its second season (the first season followed the traditional format) In the US version, viewers do not vote for eviction; all voting is done by houseguests. Also, the nominations are done by one houseguest, the HOH (Head of Household). The US version also introduced the Power of Veto, with a houseguest having power to save a housemate from the nominations. It's been adapted in Brazil and since then some countries modified their nominations rules.
- The third Dutch edition introduced the notion of "The Battle", in which the house is separated into a luxurious half and a poor half, with two teams of housemates constantly fighting for time in the luxurious half. Separated houses have also been used in Spain, Australia, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Slovakia, Greece, UK, Scandinavia, Sweden, Norway and Germany. Australia, Italy and Mexico added punishment zones to their houses.
- The fifth UK edition introduced the "Evil" touch, where the Big Brother voice became almost a villain. He was establishing punishments and was proposing hard tasks and secret tricks. This was also seen in Australia, Spain, Scandinavia, Bulgaria, Belgium and Mexico.
- The fifth German edition, running for a full year, separated the contestants into three teams (rich, regular, survivor) and equivalent living areas. The sixth version was running in a small artificial town denominated "Das Dorf".
- The fourth Greek season introduced a new element: the mother. In Big Mother nine houseguests take part in the game with their mothers, with whom they must coexist during the contest. The "mamas" were not able to win the prize but they would stay with their children until their eviction. However, this proved to be a failure with the show's audience and the show switched back to the traditional Big Brother format in mid-season.
- There are four special panregional versions of Big Brother. All these follow the normal Big Brother rules with the exception that contestants come from different countries in the region where it airs:
- Africa: Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Middle East: UAE, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Tunisia.
- Pacific: Chile, Ecuador and Peru.
- Scandinavia: Sweden and Norway.
- Also in different countries, there is a spin-off called Big Brother VIP (Mexico, Hungary, Argentina, Bulgaria -called VIP Brother-, Spain, Denmark and Portugal) / Celebrity Big Brother (UK, South Africa, Netherlands, Philippines, Belgium, India and Australia). In 2006 a new variant appeared in the Netherlands: Hotel Big Brother. Seven B-celebrity hoteliers and a Big Boss run a hotel, collecting money for charity without nominations, evictions or winner.
- Other special versions:
- Teen Big Brother (United Kingdom, Philippines). Teenage houseguests competing in a BB house for a few days.
- Big Brother, All Star (Belgium, United States). Housemates from the different Big Brother seasons living together.
- Big Brother, Reality All Star (Denmark). Contestants from different reality shows living together at the BB house.
- Big Brother, Tilbake I Huset (Norway). Meaning Big Brother, Back In The House. The BB1 Norway housemates living together again. They also welcome 4 new housemates.
Big Brother around the world
| Region | Local name | Channel | Official website | Winners |
| Africa | Big Brother | M-Net |
| |
| Albania | Big Brother | Top-Channel |
| |
| Argentina | Gran Hermano (Argentina) | Telefe |
| |
| Australia | Big Brother | Network Ten | Website |
|
| Belgium | Big Brother (televisieprogramma) | Kanaal Twee |
| |
| Brazil | Big Brother | Globo | Website |
|
| Bulgaria | Big Brother | NTV | Website |
|
| Canada | Loft Story | TQS | Website |
|
| Colombia | Gran Hermano | Caracol TV |
| |
| Croatia | Big Brother | RTL | Website |
|
| Czech Republic | Big Brother | TV NOVA | Website |
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| Denmark | Big Brother | TV Danmark |
| |
| Ecuador | Gran Hermano | Ecuavisa |
| |
| Finland | Big Brother | SubTV | Website |
|
| France | Loft Story | M6 |
| |
| Germany | Big Brother (Fernsehshow) | RTL II | Website |
|
| Greece | Big Brother Big Mother | ANT1 |
| |
| Hungary | Big Brother Nagy Testvér | TV2 |
| |
| Italy | Il Grande Fratello | Canale 5 | Website |
|
| Mexico | Big Brother | Televisa | Website |
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| Middle East | Big Brother Al Raiss | MBC |
| |
| Netherlands | Big Brother | Veronica Yorin Talpa | Website |
|
| Nigeria | Big Brother | M-Net | Website |
|
| Norway | Big Brother | TVN | Website |
|
| Pacific | Gran Hermano | Telesistema RedTV ATV | Website |
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| Philippines | Big Brother | ABS-CBN | Website |
|
| Poland | Big Brother (program telewizyjny) | TVN |
| |
| Portugal | Big Brother Portugal | TVI | Website |
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| Romania | Big Brother Fratele Cel Mare | PrimaTV | Website |
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| Russia | Bol'shoy Brat | TNT | Website |
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| Scandinavia | Big Brother | Kanal5 TVN | Website Website | |
| Serbia | Велики брат (емисија) | B92 | Website |
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| Slovakia | Big Brother | TV Markíza |
| |
| South Africa | Big Brother | M-Net |
| |
| Spain | Gran Hermano (España) | Telecinco | Website |
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| Sweden | Big Brother | Kanal5 | Website |
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| Switzerland | Big Brother | TV3 |
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| Thailand | Big Brother | iTV | Website |
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| United Kingdom | Big Brother | Channel 4 | Website |
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| United States | Big Brother | CBS | Website |
- Panregional version with housemates from Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Greg Mathew had to split his prize with his twin, David, because they entered the house as one person, called Logan and they agreed to share it if they won.
- Versions from Canada and France have two winners, a male and a female.
- In 2004 edition, this was the first version to run for 365 days consecutively. The ultimate winner got a prize of 1,000,000 €. Immediately after, Big Brother VI started. This was the first version which has no time limit. The show was called Big Brother: Das Dorf, lit. Big Brother: The Village. The set included a church, a market place, four houses, etc. The season ended in February 2006.
- Filmed in Amwaj Island in Bahrain. Discontinued after 10 days because of religious protests. *
- Made in Colombia, this is a panregional version with contestants from Chile, Ecuador and Peru. Its name came because all of the participating countries are in the border of the Pacific.
- Co-produced version with Norway and Sweden taking part.
Big Brother facts
- General
- Winners: 67 males and 46 females
- Country with most seasons: Gran Hermano (España), 7 finished seasons
- Country with most seasons in total: UK, 11 finished seasons (6 main, 4 Celebrity & 1 Teen)
- Country with most days with Big Brother on air: Big Brother (Fernsehshow), 1,142 days
- 1999
- First Big Brother: Netherlands
- First contestant to be evicted: Martin Jonkman, BB1 Netherlands
- First contestant to voluntarily leave: Tara van den Bergh, BB1 Netherlands
- First replacement housemate: Mona Rooth-de Leeuw, BB1 Netherlands
- First Big Brother winner: Bart Spring in 't Veld, BB1 Netherlands
- 2000
- First Big Brother with all the housemates nominated: Gran Hermano (España)#Gran Hermano 1 (2000)
- First Big Brother in America: BB1 USA
- Season with fewest contestants: 10, BB1 USA, BB1 Sweden and Grande Fratello (TV)#Prima edizione
- First contestant to be expelled by Big Brother: Nicholas Bateman, BB1 UK
- First Big Brother to have BB nominating all housemates: Big Brother Portugal
- First Big Brother 2: BB2 Netherlands
- First female winner: Daniela Kanton, BB1 Switzerland
- First bisexual winner: Bianca Hagenbeek, BB2 Netherlands
- First evicted housemate voted back into the house: Marion, Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die zweite Staffel (16. September bis 31. Dezember 2000; 106 Tage)
- 2001
- Most Big Brothers to start in a year: 21
- First Big Brother 3: Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die dritte Staffel (27. Januar bis 12. Mai 2001; 106 Tage)
- First Big Brother in Oceania: BB1 Australia
- First replacement housemate to win Big Brother: Marcelo Corazza, Gran Hermano (Argentina)
- First Loft Story season: LS1 France
- First Big Brother to have more than one winner: Christophe Mercy & Loana Petrucciani, LS1 France
- First homosexual winner: Brian Dowling, BB2 UK
- First incorrect eviction: Klaudiusz Sevkowič instead of Alicja Walczak, Big Brother (program telewizyjny)#Big Brother 1
- Oldest Big Brother winner: Janusz Dzięcioł, 47, Big Brother (program telewizyjny)#Big Brother 1
- First Big Brother with Head Of House: BB2 USA
- First Big Brother in Africa: BB1 South Africa
- Big Brother winner with the highest percentage: 90.03%, Ferdinand Rabie, BB1 South Africa
- 2002
- First housemates swap: Gran Hermano (España)#Gran Hermano 3 (2002) - BB1 Mexico
- Most successive nominations survived: 8, Kiko Hernández, Gran Hermano (España)#Gran Hermano 3 (2002) & Nok, BB2 Thailand
- First Big Brother with Power Of Veto: BB3 USA
- Least eviction difference: 0.08%, Alison 38.52% vs. Alex 38.44%, Alison evicted, BB3 UK
- First pregnant housemate: Michelle, BB2 South Africa
- First Big Brother 4: Big Brother (televisieprogramma)#Big Brother 4 (2002)
- First Big Brother host to spend 24 hours in the house: Martijn Krabbé, Big Brother (televisieprogramma)#Big Brother 4 (2002)
- 2003
- First Big Brother with a couple competing: Pasquale Laricchia and Victoria Pennington, Grande Fratello (TV)#Terza edizione
- Oldest Big Brother housemate: Mihalis Apostolides, 63 years old, BB3 Greece
- First international version: BB1 Africa
- First black winner: Cherise Makubale, BB1 Africa
- First Big Brother with ex-couple housemates: Alison & Justin, Amanda & Scott, David & Michelle, Erika & Robert, Jee & Jun, BB4 USA
- First winner of Asian descent: Jun Song, BB4 USA
- First Big Brother 5: Gran Hermano (España)#Gran Hermano 5 (2003)
- First contestant to become pregnant in the house: Sissal, BB3 Denmark
- 2004
- First blood related housemates: Domenico and Ilaria Turi, father and daughter, Grande Fratello (TV)#Quarta edizione
- First Big Brother in Asia: BB1 Arabia
- First Big Brother with a praying room: BB1 Arabia
- First Big Brother suspended: BB1 Arabia
- Only contestant to win 2 Big Brothers: Jill Liv Nielsen, BB1 & BB Reality All Stars Denmark
- First "Evil" Big Brother: BB5 UK
- First transsexual winner: Nadia Almada, BB5 UK
- First twins competing: Natalie and Adria Montgomery, BB5 USA
- First Big Brother 6: Gran Hermano (España)#Gran Hermano 6 (2004)
- 2005
- Longest Big Brother: 365 days, Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die fünfte Staffel (2. März 2004 bis 1. März 2005; 365 Tage)
- Seasons with most contestants: 59, Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die fünfte Staffel (2. März 2004 bis 1. März 2005; 365 Tage) & Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die sechste Staffel (1. März 2005 bis 26. Februar 2006; 363 Tage)
- Longest time in Big Brother house: Sascha Sirtl and Franziska Lewandrowski, 365 days, Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die fünfte Staffel (2. März 2004 bis 1. März 2005; 365 Tage)
- Shortest gap between 2 Big Brother seasons: 0 minutes, Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die fünfte Staffel (2. März 2004 bis 1. März 2005; 365 Tage) > Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die sechste Staffel (1. März 2005 bis 26. Februar 2006; 363 Tage)
- Highest eviction percentage: 95%, Aline Cristina, BB5 Brazil
- First Big Brother village: Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die sechste Staffel (1. März 2005 bis 26. Februar 2006; 363 Tage)
- Shortest Big Brother: 60 days, BB3 Mexico
- First Big Brother where all the housemates have a secret playing partner: BB6 USA
- Youngest Big Brother winner: Anastacia Yagalova, 19 years old, BB1 Russia
- First gay couple: Juan Sebastián and Leito, GH1 Pacific
- First Big Brother with twins winning: Greg and David Matthew, BB5 Australia
- First Big Brother house to have an altar: BB1 Philippines
- First Big Brother ~ Big Mother season: BB4 Greece
- First Big Brother 7: Gran Hermano (España)#Gran Hermano 7 (2005-2006)
- Longest gap between 2 Big Brother seasons: 966 days, Big Brother (televisieprogramma)#Big Brother 4 (2002) > Big Brother (televisieprogramma)#Big Brother 5 (2005)
- Lowest eviction percentage with positive voting: 1.06%, Martin, Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die sechste Staffel (1. März 2005 bis 26. Februar 2006; 363 Tage)
- First Big Brother birth: Tanja Slangenberg gave birth to Joscelyn Savanna, Big Brother (televisieprogramma)#Big Brother 5 (2005)
- 2006
- Most housemates left on the final: 6, Big Brother (Fernsehshow)#Die sechste Staffel (1. März 2005 bis 26. Februar 2006; 363 Tage)
- First HIV-infected contestant: Kenny van Quickelberghe, Big Brother (televisieprogramma)#Big Brother Zero Privacy (2006)#Big Brother Zero Privacy (2006)
- Most successive times nominated for eviction: 9, Nok, BB2 Thailand
- First contestant with Tourette syndrome: John Bric *, BB6 Australia
- First contestant with Coprolalia: Pete Bennett, BB7 UK
Near copies of Big Brother
There are a number of different formats around the globe that use rules similar to Big Brother:
The Farm, created by the Swedish producer house Strix, creators of Survivor. This is the third biggest 'people-living-together' reality show on Earth, only exceeded by Star Academy / Operación Triunfo (France/Spain, 2001, Endemol) broadcast in 50 countries and Big Brother (Holland, 1999, Endemol) emitted or planned to be emitted in 68.
- Countries: Algeria, Bahrein, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Comoros Islands, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, UK, Yemen.
The Bar, another format from Strix.
- Countries: Argentina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland
Protagonistas..., a format from the Spanish producer house GloboMedia, developed by its subsidiary in America, Promofilm. It's a mixture among Big Brother and Star Academy and has had a huge success in different latin countries, as Chile, Spain, Brazil (formerly known as Casa dos Artistas), Venezuela, Colombia or Mexico. It also had its own version in USA for the Latin market airing on Telemundo.
There are also some local formats that in one or other way are pretty similar with Endemol's Big Brother:
- Albania, Kafazi i Arte
- Albania, Syri Magjik
- Albania, To Sam Ja
- Austria, Taxi Orange
- Bolivia, Uno Busca
- Bosnia, 60 Sati
- Bosnia, To Sam Ja
- Chile, La Casa
- Croatia, To Sam Ja
- Czech Republic VyVolení
- France, Les Colocataires
- France, Nice People
- Germany, Der Container Exklusiv
- Hungary, Való Világ
- Indonesia, Penghuni Terakhir
- Ireland, Cabin Fever
- Israel, Project Y
- Israel, The Yacht
- Korea, Twenty Eyes
- Latvia, Fabrika
- Latvia, Barbarossa
- Netherlands, De Bus
- Netherlands, 7 Plagen
- Netherlands, De Gouden Kooi
- Norway, Singel 24-7
- Peru, La Casa De Gisela
- Peru, Gran Hermano De Chollywood
- Puerto Rico, 360 Estudio
- FYR Macedonia, Tom Sam Ja
- Russia, 12 Negrityat
- Russia, Dom
- Russia, Golod
- Russia, Za Steklom
- Serbia and Montenegro, To Sam Ja
- Slovakia, VyVolení
- Slovenia, To Sam Ja
- Spain, El Bus
- Spain, Hotel Glam
- Spain, La Casa De Tu Vida
- Turkey, Biri Bizi Gözetliyor
- UK, Back To Reality
- USA, Unan1mous
- Ukraine, Dom
Pan-regional show with several eastern European countries taking part. M6 channel (owner of Big Brother rights) decided not to renew their contract with Endemol, then the Dutch company sold the rights to TF1, which broadcasted Nice People. An Endemol show which is almost identical to Big Brother. It was created just for satellite TV, between two Big Brother seasons. A kind of Big Brother VIP version, filmed in the house of Gran Hermano del Pacífico days before the show's premiere. Serbia and Montenegro is no longer a single nation, it dissolved to newly nations Serbia and Montenegro. Produced by Endemol, a Big Brother style show but with the houseguests competing by couples.
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"Big Brother (TV series)"