Salman Khan’s Bigg Boss 17 to launch this weekend but where is the buzz?

Bigg Boss’ OTT hangover

Bigg Boss 16 wrapped up on February 12 this year and even before people could get over it, Bigg Boss OTT 2 was announced. Launched in June, it was originally planned as a six-week series but was extended to eight. And it’s not even been two months since it ended when a full-fledged season is all set to launch. A senior executive from Endemol had once shared with us how the first season of Bigg Boss OTT did quite well but Bigg Boss 15 failed to take off. “After the show is over, fans do feel FOMO for a while. Hence having a shorter season after the main show works but not otherwise,” they had shared. And it seems like the makers have the same issue in hand this time.

Primarily featuring YouTube stars, the OTT version went on to become the talk of the town while housemates Elvish Yadav, Abhishek Malhan, and Manisha Rani became fan favourites. With them still trending on social media and fan wars keeping them in the news, no one seems interested in investing more time in another contestant or another season.

No big name on the list this year

Even with the names of contestants in the reckoning, nobody is sparking excitement. Bigg Boss is about breaking that glass wall between a celebrity and their fans while they showcase their real side. But be it Ankita Lokhande or Isha Malviya, people already have seen them be candid on social media. Also, since the last few years, the show has been dominated by TV stars, and most are on the show to break out from their ‘bahu image’. We miss the times when cricketers, singers or even politicians entered the house. So is there anyone who we want to know up close and personal anymore? We doubt it.

Couple vs singles theme

Adding to the show’s woes is the supposed theme of ‘couple vs singles’. Bigg Boss is a show where one gets to see the real, unvarnished side of the celebrities. There have already been shows like Splitsvilla, Love School, etc that deal with romance and chemistry. Most fans have shown their displeasure over this format on social media. As per the promos, the game would also not be the same for everyone as a few contestants would get some special power. Fans have called out the makers that they have always been biased toward a few contestants and with this new addition in theme, they will get a free hand to push a few celebs ahead in the game.

Too much content

While there were already too many TV shows to choose from, even they have competition from OTT and web shows. The World Cup launched on October 5 and films are running once again to packed houses. There are just too many options for people to choose from. Also, one would always want to see something new rather than just watch the same thing over and over again. Also, another reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is set to launch soon on Sony TV with some big names from the entertainment industry.

Bigg Boss fatigue

Most fans of the reality show have been talking about the ‘fatigue’ that has engulfed them over the years. Celebrities now come prepped up having watched the successful journeys of previous winners or popular contestants. They then try to mirror the same on the show, making themselves come across as fake. The format too has become repetitive with two contestants either falling in love or starting a war. Then of course there are a few, who are backed by makers to remain on the show for a long time. Given audiences already know how the season would pan out, why would they like to watch Bigg Boss for three months?

If you are still interested in Bigg Boss, share your reasons with us.