[OPINION] PBB Unlimited: Lutong Bahay?!? {Comments Off}
Being an avid viewer of reality shows like Survivor, American Idol and Big Brother (US & Pinoy), I am used to disappointing results that come with it. It’s part and parcel of reality. With the aforementioned shows, there is one thing in common: voting people off the show. With Survivor and Big Bother (US versions), it is normally the cast members that vote each other off the show. The cast themselves connive, strategize and put their plans into action before and during tribal councils (Survivor) and eviction nights (Big Brother). American Idol uses a different strategy: online and text votes. However the results turn out to be, at least they are credible. American Idol sets a time frame for viewer votes to stop at least a few hours before the results show starts, and utilize an accredited accounting firm to tally the votes—the final results of which are sealed and unopened until the announcement is done.
The Pinoy version of the Big Brother franchise uses a totally different approach, adapting somewhat a mix of Big Brother US version of nominations and American Idol viewer votes as basis for who gets evicted. But what strikes me as totally odd is the manner in which online/text voting is conducted. It just seems so CONTRIVED.
Let’s take for example the results show that aired just a few hours ago, where two nominees were waiting for the announcement on who leaves the PBB House for good. There were just too many cues pointing to the conclusion that the results may be rigged.
First, the voting is done online and via text votes, but there is NO EVIDENCE that the results are legit.
- The voting ends within a minute before the official announcement is made.
- The host(s) of the show already have the so-called “results” in their hands even while they say “You have one more minute left to vote!”, and they announce the results soon after.
- If the people’s money, time and effort are utilized as a determining factor to the show’s results, the production/network should at least make sure that PROPER ACCOUNTING and a more RELIABLE means of doing so is utilized—use an accredited accounting firm (SGV or the like) to do the tallying, and have them HAND OVER THE SEALED RESULTS just moments before the announcement. Is that so hard to do?
- The results change too abruptly within minutes; and the percentage gaps are too inconsistent compared to the final result. Take tonight’s results: 3% gap 30 mins before closing; .08% difference a few minutes before closing, and finally a full 8% difference upon announcement—how did that happen??? Your online voting allows only 30 votes per account per 30 mins, and 30 text votes per SIM per day… so how can thousands of votes be the difference in a matter of minutes??? Highly questionable and unlikely!
Second, there are just too many HINTS of obvious favoritism and inconsistencies in the show that usually predetermines who gets “voted off” during eviction night. Let’s take the latest “special task” that was given to 5 out of the 12 remaining housemates inside the PBB house.
When Kuya first announced the task to the five housemates, he specifically said this (translated in English):
- To the Road Trippers: “You will be doing a task outside the PBB house and you MUST carry them out WITHOUT BEING RECOGNIZED by the public. You must be done with the task before sundown. If you FAIL this task, either Deniesse or Wendy will be evicted.”—notice that there was no mention of second chances or PENALTIES in the original instruction.
- To Wendy & Deniesse: “You are tasked to help the Road Trippers by doing a separate task that will determine whether the Road Trippers will still be able to come back to the PBB house.”—referring to the road construction that must be completed within 24 hours. If they fail, the Road Trippers will be in danger of not being able to come back into the PBB House—but what does that really mean? Automatic nominations for all three who failed? Forced eviction, since the 24-hour rule should apply since the 3 did go out of the house?
When push came to shove, the Road Trippers FAILED their task because Pamu and Tin were recognized several times. But then Kuya just gave them “time penalties” instead? Hmmmm… do you smell something fishy here? Then there was the FAILURE to finish the “road back to the PBB house” within the 24-hour period by Wendy and Deniesse. That would have already resulted in the Road Trippers’ not being able to come back. But wait… they DID come back. And get this… the 3 will be given another task to test their character? That’s it?!?
To me, FAILURE is just that, no if’s and but’s about it. Black or White… no gray areas there. And I understand that Kuya wants to test his housemates’ strength of character through the tasks he throws at them, but for Pete’s sake… BE FAIR! How can they (housemates) learn from their mistakes when you repeatedly bend your own rules? You show too many signs of inconsistencies. FORCED EVICTION for some, and just PENALTIES for others? And I remember your (Kuya’s) stern voice telling the top 12 that you “WILL NOT ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SPEND THEIR MONEY IN VOTING FOR ANY ONE OF YOU” —really??? So what’s with the 24-hour voting then? Just another one of those “well, I changed my mind” moments? Typical…
Now tell the public, who spend their hard earned money to watch the show and participate in the online/text voting, that you are being FAIR(?). You at least owe it to them to be transparent—that’s why there’s the 24/7 live feeds right? But why is it that what we see in the Unliday and Unlinight episodes aired on national television don’t reflect the real goings on inside the PBB house as shown on the 24/7 feeds? Instead, you feature nonsense events that put some housemates in a bad light, when behind the scenes it was just a small part of a bigger picture. You capitalize on drama because it sells, and you highlight events involving obvious “pets” even when what they do are just pure nonsense. And then you ask the viewers, “who deserves to be in the Big Four?”—for what? If what you air on national TV is only according to how you want to portray it rather than what is really going on behind the scenes where the REAL stuff happens, then why even offer 24/7 live feeds to the public? At least spare your viewers the drama, heartaches and headaches—if you can’t offer them the TRUTH.
Makes one wonder… should the show just be called PBB Unlimited: Lutong Bahay instead?!? Just sayin’…
Special thanks to:
- My fellow Yuujins and SlaVine Elites for the continued updates on the latest happenings in 24/7 livestream.
