Behind the Mirror: Inside the World of Big Brother

We Know Big Brother podcaster Armstrong offers an extensive cultural analysis of the reality TV show Big Brother. The show, which premiered on CBS in 2000, follows contestants of various ages and backgrounds who live together in a house outfitted with cameras. Each week, they compete in challenges and someone gets voted off until, at the end of the season, the winner takes home a cash prize. Though often dismissed as trash TV, Armstrong explains, the show, now in its 27th season, has maintained a dedicated fan base, gripped by the drama, manipulation, and power plays that inevitably unfold. In addition to the three episodes that air each week, viewers can tune into 24/7 online feeds, monitoring houseguests’ every move. Drawing on his years of experience watching and discussing the show, Armstrong takes readers through its evolution and controversies, including players who exhibited violent behavior and made racist and homophobic comments. Along the way, he insightfully unpacks what makes the show appealing to its millions of viewers: Big Brother, he argues, is a fascinating, unfiltered reflection of human nature, revealing race, gender, and power dynamics that exist in the real world. It’s a penetrating and persuasive take on why viewers continue to be enthralled. (Nov.)