Big Brother Australia...A Positive Experience

Word of the day..."Chipper", which is Aussie slang for cheerful and lively.

Katie and Lucy, who happily embraced the Sugar Sisters moniker bestowed on them, were quite possibly the most chipper contestants to ever appear on a reality show, where strong emotions, particularly inexhaustible cheerfulness, are difficult to fake for any length of time.

Mean girl Tahan could not conceive of anyone being that chipper, which led her to question whether the Sugar Sisters' matching sunny personalities were genuine and then set herself in hostile opposition to them. She took pleasure in nominating them for eviction at every opportunity because she felt threatened by something that she couldn't understand...genuinely happy girls incapable of saying an unkind word about anyone.

Whether you found the bubbly Sugar Sisters, with their matching outfits and penchant for speaking in unison, annoying as Tahan did, or lovely as Ben, Jade, and Mikkayla did, you have to concede one thing.

They were the real thing.

Big Brother Australia...Beautifully Twisted

Word of the day..."Ace".

"Ace!" is Aussie (pronounced Ozzie) slang for "Excellent!" or "Very good!".

Examples include, but are not limited to the following...

Sonia Kruger is everything that a host of a reality game show should be. She is warm and engaging, possesses a great sense of humor, and is always up for a good time, which she generously shares with us. She also always looks smashing. Could somebody please arrange for her stylist to speak to Julie Chen's (Big Brother US) stylist? The poor thing is obviously in need of some assistance.

This season's slogan is "Let's Do The Twist" and, so far, has delivered on its promise.

A house divided into haves and have nots created literal and figurative divisions between the housemates that generate the kind of tension that could survive the Plexiglass walls coming down.

Nothing messes with the housemates, and amuses the rest of us, like people who pretend to be something that they're not. And nothing is more awkward for two strangers (Jade and Drew) than having to fake their way through being newlyweds.

Of course, the twists are useless without a proper cast. These people are funny, obnoxious, quirky, controlling, kindhearted, rude, silly, and seemingly incapable of making a simple shopping list. This likable lot is entertaining, and generates drama without being offensive, which, to a thoroughly disgusted blogger of Big Brother 15, is greatly appreciated.

Saturday Showdown wraps the housemates in plastic or dangles them over pools full of eels and pits them against one another for cash, luxuries, and power. Mike Goldman and Michael Beveridge (BBAU 2012) provide the commentary and additional hilarity. The only thing this imitation of Wide World of Sports weekly episode needs is a better host than Shelly Craft. Could somebody please inquire if Benjamin Norris is available?

Which brings us to Big Brother himself, whose wicked sense of humor is trumped only by his quick and deadly punishments for naughty behavior. For example...Tahan breached the wall separating the Halfway House from the Safe House to take a much frowned upon dip in the Safe House hot tub, earning an immediate scolding from Big Brother and the forfeiture of all her belongings, most notably her favorite hairdryer. Thanks to Big Brother, a housemate is penitent and ready to behave, and we get to be entertained in the bargain.

As we should be.