Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Jamie Redknapp
CBB6 Day TwelveSeinfeld, the legendary American sitcom (although calling it a sitcom is deeply understating its significance and style) was, it was always said, a 'show about nothing'.
Generally, in a somewhat genius manifestation of clarity of writing, the main story would emerge at the beginning of the show, a whole melange of off shoots would grow in the following twenty minutes, and eventually, all routes led back to the main story for the denouement.
Day twelve in the Big Brother House was all about nothing, but sadly, there were no clever secondary plots, and there was no dramatic climax, unless we count the Michelle 'I'm leaving! No I'm not!' scene, as the big finish to the day's non-events.
In a post-modern tribute to another legend of 1970s showbiz glamour, Coolio joined in the Dressing Gown Fever with his own daywear - a (Primark?) gown in sludgy grey, the colour of which matched the mood in the house.
The nominations were a disappointment, oddly edited, and lacking any sort of tension, and without a commercial break cliffhanger. Perhaps the only surprise was Ulrika's choice of Ben & Latoya (wot not Coolio? no Terry?), but later today we shall see a general lack of surprise at the four nominations, and the now cliched 'delighted to be nominated' routine. This time, from Tina & Mutya.
Without a proper task, the housemates were found to be as moribund as the summer non-celeb crowd can be, when they are left to their own devices. Apart from the now familiar routine of watching Tina pick at herself (this time, the spots on her face), we really only had the Coolio winding up Michelle and Ben imbroglio to fill up the highlights show.
Now, the question - is Coolio 'winding up' or 'teasing' Michelle, or is this an underhand form of bullying, as there is no escape route for Michelle, other than, of course, to demand to be set free and run out into the arms of this chap, of whom she seems so fond (yet a little uncertain of the strength of their relationship)?
I apologise for being Mr Pompous, but I am increasingly heading towards considering Coolio's behaviour falls into the bullying category.
If, in a social environment, or in the workplace, someone keeps making inappropriate remarks, and upsetting the 'receiver', social normality, and common sense, would generally lead to the transgressor backing off, and, we would hope, apologising for the hurt that had been caused. Yet, Coolio, aware that Michelle finds his words and ways deeply uncomfortable, (and we must remember that he has apologised before for the same 'offence') continues to make these remarks, usually when he is bored.
Surely, no decent person can take pleasure in causing a young woman to burst into tears?
Coolio can say, all day and night long, in the diary room, that he is simply, "Telling the truth...", but it has no bearing on the nature of his actions and words whether his telling the truth, or not.
Coolio is not the policeman, or the moral judge, of Big Brother.
It is no use Ben (who increasingly resembles Jamie Redknapp with each passing day) meekly, halfway into the room and halfway out of it, with his toothbrush as his only weapon), telling Coolio he should apologise to Michelle (again).
An apology means little to the bully or the bullied. What he should do is stop.
Despite all the contracts and subclauses and agreements about when fees are payable, the producers may need to consider that they are to provide entertainment, and not necessarily a spectacle.
remotevision@gmail.com
# posted by Terence : 6:22 PM
