Big Brother

Since the beginning of this 21st century, reality shows have become very popular all over the world and let’s not even talk about Argentina, where all kinds of experiments have proliferated: Big Brother, Robinson Expedition, The bar, Reality reality, Popstar, The voice, Blind trust, Matter of weight, Master chef, Dancing for a Dream, among others. Despite the diversity of proposals, public interest diminished over time. While the heat between them was rising, there was an attempt to differentiate between talent shows and those of people who “do nothing”, as in the case of Big Brotherwhich is no coincidence that it is the only one in the genre that has lasted through the years. Today it is broadcast on Telefé with high rating points.

Big Brother It went through two channels and different drivers. Who doesn’t remember today the historic television phrase “Go ahead, my brave ones,” which Solita Silveyra, the only woman and actress to host the series, repeated at each gala?

Over the years, there have been many controversies. Among the reprehensible things that the cycle maintains are on the menu the light stance against fatphobia, homophobia, xenophobia, verbal violence and sexual harassment. Current currency in the different galas. Although it is a television phenomenon, there were few changes it brought, one of the best, in my opinion, is the thumbs up to confirm consent to have relations.

Let’s not forget that several sexual scandals occurred and not only in Argentina. Alfa, a GH 2023 participant, was sanctioned for having harassed Coty Romero with sexual comments. “I will not in any way allow you to express yourself in those terms or maintain that type of behavior in my house,” stated the voice-over of the game.

In Brazil, a very serious incident led to the expulsion of two participants, the singer Mc Guimê and the wrestler Antonio Carlos Junior, after being accused of committing the crime of sexual harassment against the Mexican influencer Dania Méndez. In Big Brother Spain, Carlota Prado denounced José María López for having sexually abused her inside her house. The provincial prosecutor’s office requested two and a half years in prison for José María and compensation of 6,000 euros. This episode led to the incorporation of the thumbs-up gesture today.

On the other hand, although it is true that Big Brother triggered the careers of several Argentine participants, the truth is that exposing one’s life 24 hours a day for an economic prize or to achieve the much desired “fame” leads many to cry. , sweat and blood in pursuit of the television show. The flip side is that this bet has also destroyed the lives of others, according to some former little brothers, as they call each other.

In the 2024 edition, the one who has evidently been doing everything to gain popularity is the participant Juliana, known as Furia. She is a CrossFit trainer who became known for a very violent game that causes fascination among fans of the program, or at least that is what the high audience margins she manages on a daily basis seem to indicate. The high rating seems to be sustained by the televising of this violence. What many are wondering is how far this escalation will go. What is the limit? We know that television is willing to do anything for a few rating points and we have already seen it. We all have discussions and we cannot be afraid of that, but what happens when the words inside the house reproduce hate speech, xenophobia, fatphobia, homophobia or aesthetic violence? It is worth clarifying that Furia is not the only participant to have these outbursts, there are several who expose these issues daily.

I think that there are two possible positions regarding this. Or we consider that a reality show only reflects reality and that it is up to the viewer to judge what is good and what is bad. Or we think that gender should not be the excuse to let violent and discriminatory situations pass, because it is still a television program that millions of people watch.

Should everything be allowed in a reality show? No! And she showed it Big Brother When Agustina made a joke about the attack on the AMIA and Santiago del Moro, host of the cycle, had to make a clarification and shared a video to raise awareness about the seriousness of what had happened that day.

Given the criticism in recent days for the lack of restraint in the face of so much violence, Santiago made a statement emphasizing the rating and how other programs feed on Big Brother. According to Del Moro, it is a very expensive project, with technical shifts in permanent rotation. He recalled that thanks to GH, many others can be financed and it gives work to many people. It makes a lot of money, it is true, but it is also evident that it raises just as much.

In short, the explanation he found for the critics was that of success. Big Brother It measures 20 points, but if they made 7 or 8 they would be claimed to be doing little. In the latter, you are right, but what is not clear to me is why this scheme of being raw material for other programs should restrict their ability to express their opinion freely?

I wish it were just a rating issue. I think what happens is the opposite: the larger the audience, the greater the demand, because a high rating implies greater responsibility. Not in terms of “educating” people, I wouldn’t even agree with lowering the line. But television always worked within some limits. Why not put them in now and use this possibility so that winning the game also implies knowing how to moderate one’s own violence?

No one can dispute the success of Big Brother or that Santiago del Moro is one of the best hosts on television. Nor is it questioned that he is a source of work for many people. We also know that violence is used as entertainment. Nobody denies the success of the program and who would modify something that works super well? I just think there are several precedents that show that despite success, there are always things to improve. Don’t let reality surpass fiction.