February 05, 2004

2004 Television Profile #1 - The Hothouse

Until I get bored, I’m going to attempt to summarise some of the shows that have hit Australian TV screens already, and a few more that are on their way. The first victim show we’re taking a look at is Channel Ten’s flop The Hothouse.

The Hothouse

We’ve already had a brief go at Channel Ten’s The Hothouse in our daily blogging activities. The first episode was as boring as batshit, and already there is fall out in the Ten offices about the dismal ratings the show has received - particularly irksome for Ten when it’s their answer to The Block and they were counting on it being 2004’s ratings winner.

What seems to be the problem? Well, for my bet, there are far too many people on the show. 26 people to get to know and care about? God, I don’t think I care about 26 people that I know in real life, why on earth would I manage to stir up any sentiments towards DIY loving strangers?

Meanwhile, the personalities on the show so far leave a little to be desired. They’ve got the standard pair of homosexual fellas (as per Wazza and Gazza from The Block and Wazza and Gazza Jnr soon to be featured on The Block II) and about fitty zillion buffed, boring straight couples who all look the same and probably have membership at Cargo Bar. For a moment there, I thought they might have actually had a lesbian couple, which hasn’t been seen on any of the DIY shows on television so far, but it turns out - of course - they’re just sisters. Attractive sisters.

This annoys me no end. I mean, why can’t we have a big butch lesbian couple on The Hothouse if there’s gonna be a pair of gym-loving, immaculately groomed gay men on every bloody show? I understand the stereotype of gay males is the fashionable interior designer kinda thing - which admittedly makes sense on The Block - but hell, The Hothouse is about construction! Lesbians love construction and building work (ny excuse to wear flannel, really)! What a missed opportunity!

As for the insightful website www.thehothouse.tv, I can sarcastically thank Channel Ten for not going overboard with the advertising. I mean, geeez, such informative profiles on each contestant! “If you could choose any car from the Ford range, what would it be?” is hardly a standard question on a psychological exam. What can we expect from this year’s Big Brother profiles? “Which piece of comfortable, stylish and yet affordable furniture from the Freedom range (catalogue available here) best describes your personality?”

The show is going to have to improve vastly if it has any chance of being a decent competitor for Channel 9’s The Block II. No doubt Ten are hoping it’ll be another grower like 2003’s Australian Idol which started slow but by the finale, was one of the country’s top rated shows.

Posted by Jess at February 5, 2004 12:37 PM
— Filed under Articles On Various Topics

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