It's a little embarrassing to share my addiction to Big Brother -- the summer reality show on CBS that drops 14 strangers or houseguests into a fake house on a TV set for three months to compete for a $500,000 prize. I could blame my addiction on my husband, but I have to admit I'm hooked. It can be considered mindless entertainment, but believe it or not, Big Brother is loaded with what 'to do' and what 'not to do,' if you want to be a successful leader and win!
I especially love last week's dramatic episode where Rachel, the brilliant chemist from Las Vegas, who looks like an over-cosmetized "girl with big boobs" by her own description, gets evicted. She is a terrific competitor, has won several HOH competitions and is in a showmance with Brendon, who has a PhD in Physics, but who is a high school swim coach (try to figure that one out). Their strategy to win was more like "you and me against the world" and it certainly didn't work.
But I want to focus on Rachel, who I believe had the smarts and drive to win, but her leadership style caused her to be a loser. In my opinion, three of most important characteristics of successful leaders -- and winners -- are communication, collaboration and courage. Rachel failed at all but courage. Her communication style was aggressive and dishonest and she never truly listened to what one person said to her. Her collaboration was limited to her showmance partner. In addition, she was a stereotype of the worst kind of woman leader in the workplace -- the female bully boss. Rachel was against all the women in the house -- pretty much assuming they were all weak players -- and undermining them at every opportunity. She cried when she didn't get her way, and demanded apologies from the women if they showed enthusiasm for their own victories over her (rare as they were).
Rachel pretty much displays all the characteristics of a bully boss -- verbally abusing her competitors, attempting to humiliate them in public, putting others down with snide remarks and harsh, repetitive, and unfair criticism. I'm sure it makes for good TV and higher ratings. However, if you've ever experienced a bully boss at work you know how excruciating it can be. I was actually contemplating giving up my secret summer pleasure to avoid the pain I was feeling, just by observing Rachel in action on TV.
Fortunately, the Big Brother houseguests gathered their courage and booted her off the show and good triumphed over evil. Pop culture can sometimes be a valuable teacher, especially in the summer, when it's too hot to go outside. Reality shows like Big Brother can offer a respite from the weather, but not necessarily from office politics and leadership snafus.
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I am always grateful when my readers share stuff from the feeds, for a clearer picture of who these people are.
It is a shame that CBS doesn't edit the show more clearly.
As for Rachel being a "brilliant chemist", well first off, she's not a "brilliant" anything. Secondly, she's a "VIP Cocktail Waitress". There's another name for her job: prostitute. Her self-told tale (not broadcast by CBS, but shown on the live feeds" about passing out from too much Tequila while"partying" with a "client" and waking up covered in vomit and with her fist stuffed full of $100 bills is not a tale many "chemists "tell, though it's a common tale for hookers with fake hair and boobs. Why Brendan would still be "in love" with her after hearing this disgusting story, WHICH SHE HERSELF TOLD, casts total doubt on his having any brain at all.
The only thing "brilliant" about Rachel is her day-glo fake hair.
But your points about her as the "bully boss" are well-taken. She is a paranoid narcissist: everything is ALWAYS all about her, and she's convinced that every woman, and some of the men, were after Brendan for themselves.
But then, I've written several columns on the dopey woman so far, and am sad to hear now I will have to write about her once more this week. Gack!
Filmex, I completely agree with you about Britney, if she is booted because of Rachel's return, then she should feel cheated. I hate when they bring HG's back, not fair to the remaining. I also don't like the sabatour angle at all. Lame. It feels like they are just making up ridiculous twists because the original sabatour was the first one kicked out.
The houseguests are paranoid and nervous just by being in the BB house, they really don't need anyone coming in to 'mix it up'. That is what I liked about this show at the start, they had to deal with their own mind games without the outside world. That made it an entertaining show.
That she took great joy when Brendan attacked Ragan and Britney for "tag-teaming" her, when in reality regarding the discussion in question Britney had bent over backwards to refrain from entering the conversation, was astounding.
More incomprehensible was CBS' decision to bring Rachel back to the BB house this past weekend for 24 hours (while Brendan was removed from the house) to spread even more lies and deceit. It appears this arbitrary action by CBS has totally corrupted this season. By spreading lies and rumors, after having been removed from the house, it appeared as if it may very well cost Britney her spot in the game.
Enzo lied to Rachel about Britney, and Rachel in turn lied to Enzo about Britney, all of which was passed on to Brendan upon his return. Fair is fair, and for CBS to allow the detestable Rachel, of all people, to return after she had been eliminated, has spoiled the game.
Britney will probably be going home on Thursday, and once she has viewed the tapes, it's hard to believe she won't feel cheated, having wasted her summer in the Big Brother house.