Both shows are social experiments, but my take is that while Survivor is more physically grueling, anyone who lasts the full time in the Big Brother house is going to need serious mental therapy after being locked up in such an artificial setting for 3 months with all those people, with absolutely everything they do and say being fair game for public broadcast (the only thing that's seemingly not on display is certain bathroom matters; they're even shown taking showers).
At least now they provide more mental stimulation in the Big Brother house - no more special competitions to see if they get any fitness equipment or permission to use the swimming pool. And they're provided with a chess set and, if I'm not mistaken, a copy of the Bible (saw somebody reading one a few seasons back).
Given a choice between the two, I'm not sure which I'd choose (assuming I was 30 years younger and much healthier). Some of the night sky views from those Survivor locations must be amazing, so southern hemisphere stargazing would be a powerful inducement for me. But of course the flip side is that while I grew up in a time when not everyone I knew had indoor plumbing and running water (when we went to our summer cabin for holidays, that was the case, not to mention no electricity; any light at night was provided by a coal oil lamp), I've since become accustomed to city comforts.
But if I had the chance to do the Amazing Race, I'd grab it.
On the issue of who should win this season, I think Vanessa should. Regardless of her penchant for throwing crying tantrums, the fact is that she engineered every single ouster, and when it looked like her time was up, she pulled out enough reasons for people to keep her there. She hasn't coasted or floated, and I think she's been as loyal to her allies as she's been able to, under the circumstances. The only real things about her that annoy me are these:
1. The phrase "blood on my hands." Somebody should go back and count how many times she's said that; it's a dumb phrase to use in this game and it's been overused to a ridiculous extent. Vanessa: Nobody is being physically attacked this season!
2. Those silly hats. What is up with those toques she wears? Is the air conditioning turned up that much that she's cold and has to keep her ears warm?
3. Are those suspenders she has hanging around her knees? If she's not going to wear them properly, why wear them at all? She looks ridiculous.
At least Survivor actually happens outside. On Big Brother, I can't actually tell if the "back yard" is really outside or if it's just another room in the building that's lit to look like outside. The grass isn't real, the weather is always perfect, and nobody seems to spend any time there after dark.
Oh, and when they showed the Moon on Thursday, the phase was wrong. It was a half-moon on Thursday, not a full one.
Unless someone stands out right away, I don't even bother trying to remember peoples' names for at least the first couple of weeks. Same with Survivor. I think they were down to the final 8 or so this time before I could finally be bothered.
Contrast this with the very first season of Survivor. I still remember most of that cast, even the ones voted out in the first few weeks.
There have been plenty of Big Brother seasons I've missed either because I forgot or just plain didn't like the people on it, but I've seen most of the Survivor seasons. Next to the first one, my favorite is the pirate-themed one that was Rupert's first time playing.
What happened? I never heard about this.
I still snicker over that smug idiot James, so sure that he was safe that he got voted out with TWO immunity idols in his pocket!
They should switch up the hosts. Phil had his few minutes of hosting Big Brother, so they should switch Jeff Probst with Julie Chen. Let him prance and glide around the studio, and let her actually get her hair and clothes and hands dirty in the outdoors. Kinda hard to sashay around a beach or diving platform in high heels and designer dresses.
