Anybody remember a 1968 programme called The Year of the Sex Olympics? Basic plot: population of the world starts to get out of control so the powers that be decide to keep the populace in check by beaming them pornography all day. But guess what? They get bored. There's only so much porn people can watch before it gets a bit dull (take note Men and Motors). So the powers that be come up with a new idea: reality TV. Stick a family on an island and monitor them 24/7. Then, to really shake things up, stick a criminal on the island and see what happens. The result? People get glued to that all day instead.
It was a remarkably prophetic piece of television, albeit quite dull to watch, unlike the rest of writer Nigel Kneale's output. What's even more remarkable is Channel 4's decision to compress The Year of the Sex Olympics' plot and stick all its elements into one programme: Celebrity Big Brother.
So we have a bunch of dull people, aka 'the family' (Rula Lenska, Faria Alam, Preston Samuel, Maggot, Pete Burns and Chantelle the stooge), pornography (Jodie 'glamour model' Marsh, Traci 'Baywatch' Bingham) and criminals (well, alleged criminals Michael Barrymore and George Galloway as well as the definitely criminal Dennis Rodman), all stuck into handy half-hour segments for our exploitation/tranquillisation. How Brave New World of Channel 4. I guess our attention span ain't what it used to be.
Even so, the irony is that given the complete Z-list nature of the 'celebrities', I'm pretty sure it's going to be a ratings flop. Our attention span really ain't what it used to be and minor celebs just don't aren't enough any more.
Still, my prediction for the winner? Maggot. All of Wales will be voting for him. Let me know if I turn out to be right: I won't be watching...
Updates and related entries
January 7, 2006: 'Celebrity' Big Brother vindicates Nigel Knea...
January 20, 2006: I have to confess that despite my previous snootiness, I have been watching bits of Celebrity Big Brother. It always work out like that. I say I won't watch it; Sarah starts watching it; I start watching it over...
January 4, 2007:
First reactions to Celebrity Big Brother 2007.
January 9, 2006 | Reply
Ah, The Year of the Sex Olympics. I had to watch that back when I worked in TV and was making a doc about its unlikely star Leonard Rossiter. It was dreadful. My hourly rate was not enough. On the other hand, I was also paid to watch every single episode of Rising Damp and Reginald Perrin, so on the whole I think I did OK.
January 10, 2006 | Reply
Poor you! I walked out of the showing after 20 minutes, I was so bored.
July 31, 2006 | Reply
WISH TO COMMENT FOR THIS PAGE
July 31, 2006 | Reply
Go on then.