Big Brother Croatia Update: Down With Fascist and Inhuman Show!

Croatian weekly Nacional has conducted a survey among top Croatian intellectuals and celebrities in order to find what they think about Big Brother. The article was titled "Croatian Intellectuals Disgusted With Big Brother".

These are the highlights of the articles:

Djermano "Ćićo" Senjanović (Djermano "Cico" Senjanovic), humorist working for Slobodna Dalmacija, calls candidates "idiots" who "are manipulated into self-humiliation by RTL Televizija".

Matija Babić (Matija Babic), editor of index.hr, claims that none of the candidates is "interesting". He calls the show "junk", but admits that this "junk is something we share with the rest of the world".

Goran Tribuson, a novelist, claims that the candidates are "so bland that they make taxi drivers sound like ancient philosophers". He sees them as "victims" and claims that they are going to be forgotten after the end of show.

Iva Majoli, tennis player and winner of 1997 Roland Garros, is the only one to say nice things about Big Brother, but only because, according to her own admission, she saw only two shows. She is not sure whether some of the content might be harmful for children or not.

Don Ivan Grubišić (Ivan Grubisic), theologian and one of the most respected voices within Catholic Church in Croatia, doesn't like candidates' "poor vocabulary", too many swearwords, alcohol and tobacco consumption. He also claims that Big Brother is reflection of Croatian society as a whole, especially the young people to whom it sends the message of immorality.

Milanka Opačič, member of Sabor (SDP), thinks that the show, just like Story Supernova Music Talents, sends a wrong message to Croatian youth – that the wealth and fame could be achieved without hard work and decency.

Željka Udovičić (Zeljka Udovicic), drama theorist, thinks that the show is "poorly conceived" and that tasks like keeping the fire for seven days reduce the housemates to the level of "primitive cave people".

Denis Latin, host of Latinica show on state-run HRT, explains popularity of the show with decades of Communism and people's desire to be controlled and manipulated. The only good thing from this show is breaking of certain social taboos.

Damr Kajin, member of Sabor (IDS) claims that the show offers nothing but a glimpse of dominant worldview among Croatian 20-somethings. He is against the ban because it could only bring undeserved publicity to profit-hungry RTL Televizija.

Mile Kekin, member of Hladno pivo punk band, doesn't like the show, although he doesn't think that it could do much to lower already abysmal morality in Croatia. He admits that the show could serve Croatian scriptwriters and dramatists well – it could teach them how real 20-somethings in Croatia talk.

Ana Karlović (Ana Karlovic), psychologist who just happens to look as attractive as her colleague Tanja Pureta, is afraid for the well-being of children who are exposed to inappropriate content. She thinks that the evictions are "inhuman".

Vili Matula, actor best known for his left-wing activism, sees Big Brother as "disease that should be endured". He is disgusted with the way ultra-materialistic and Machiavelian competition promotes Fascism.