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Big Brother.
 Love it or loathe it, there's certainly no avoiding 'Big Brother' and it seems that everyone has an opinion to share; even (especially?) those who claim to never watch it. The grandaddy of all reality shows, 'BB' has become a TV fixture in around 70 countries since 2000, with the Australian series first opening up for residency in 2001. With 'BB05' coming to an end after 100 days of occupancy, all that now separates the last two contenders from the outside world is an extravagant affair known as The Final Eviction Show, which I was determined to be a part of.
Fellow BB enthusiast Jen and I arrived early at The Gold Coast's Dreamworld Adventure Park, where the house and specially built television studio/auditorium is situated, bypassing the massive line-ups to be led by one of the publicists inside the complex where technicians, stagehands and the merchandising crews were frantically adding the final touches and stocking shelves in readiness for the large influx of fans. The anticipation in the air was already electrifying.
As the last of the audience were taking to their allocated sections, voiceover guy and 'Big Brother Up Late/Friday Night Live' host Mike Goldman appeared to much applause and began rousing the crowd in readiness for the live crossover for the people at home. Throughout the night, each time the televised version paused for a commercial break or footage of housemate highlights, Goldman would once again step to the stage edge or take to the ramps and randomly toss T-shirts, beanies and other BB paraphernalia out to the eager throng, making some punters earn their prizes or his attention by stirring them to publicly dance, strip, hold their babies high in the air or simply clap and cheer. He hilariously singled out those who weren't showing their enthusiasm, even confiscating some popcorn because the offender wasn't paying enough interest. As one group of people unanimously rose high to grab an airbourne prize, their efforts were met with the sound of a loud crack as the back of a hard plastic seat gave way.
All this frivolity was to keep us primed during the show and to ensure that our presence would also ultimately add up to good television each time the overhead cameras swept down upon us. Multiply this by the amazing atmosphere already created by the buzz of just being there (God, I love this job!), and the overall fun and excitement factor went clear off the scale! By the time host proper Gretel Killeen appeared to begin the programme and to remind us and the rest of the country that there's two blokes awaiting their fate with $836,000 at stake, I was pathetically (as eventual runner-up Tim said of the best thing about being in the house), "being 15 again." Both Tim and winner Greg Logan were allowed, for the first time, to be an active part of the whole telecast by watching it from the garden, able to interact with Gretel and their loved ones. However, strangely enough (and this didn't come across so clearly on the TV) the one that commanded the rowdiest adoration from most in attendance was the previous night's evictee: the Macedonian moaner (and Sara-Marie's long-lost evil twin) Vesna. Every time Vesna's name was mentioned or her image was shown on screen, the crowd went absolutely nuts, screaming and chanting her name, and as she stepped to the couch along with the other expelled housemates as part of the night's proceedings the larger majority of the audience stood to their feet. So why was she not the chosen one? Go figure, Australia.
Now with Greg, his identical twin David (together they formed one entity, the 'Logans', according to the show's rules), and Tim before us on stage, mere seconds before the opening of the winner's envelope, two members of Brisbane band Kill TV took the opportunity to rush the stage to make their anti-prime time statement, but were heavily tackled by security. Then came those now immortal words: "The winner of 'Big Brother 2005' is... the Logans", and the deafening sounds of cheers combined with disappointed jeers rang throughout the auditorium as the whole place was showered with shards of shiny silver paper.
End of transmission. A quick off-air speech from the Logans, a photo shoot, and then it was back to the media section for a brief press conference. At 9 next morning, a surprisingly clear-headed Tim and Greg were shuttled to Dreamworld for a quick photo opportunity on 'The Claw' (the ride featured at the beginning of the show) and more interviews with the press. After that it was straight to the airport and up into to the dizzy heights of instant, if short-lived, stardom.
Steve Jones
 | Photo: Steve Jones, David Logan, Tim Logan, Jen Cunningham. Photographer: Angela Bishop (yes, really) |
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