I don't really understand the point of the show anymore.
It seems to be that most fans are OK with whatever concessions it will take for them to watch their favorite blorbos live in relative comfort for 60 days (looking at Jon and Josie fans here).
I understand the necessity to slow-burn things like TTS but you throw that concern out the window when you have Sam come in like a wrecking ball and cause massive drama. Which leads to the fish needing "time off" and "relaxing" which we don't even get to observe. Seems like maybe this could have waited? I'm also somewhat bothered by the producers snitching on Vance/Letty for their tricks because nobody told them sabotage was off limits. TTS snitching is fine because it's unreliable. But this will have a cooling effect on anyone doing anything similarly entertaining in the future.
Personally I didn't find the Simmons kicking all that gratifying - he could have been tortured via TTS, challenges, fishtoys, etc- and the producers could have disseminated his embarassing books to the other fish (pedo, tiny penis), etc. I don't really believe there was a "legal liability". Could have still had him kicked in an explosive manner when he was either naturally voted off, or closer to the end if he got close to actually winning (lol).
But they do all that, and now Jon needs to be treated with kid gloves on top of his headgear to keep him around, because they know the show is going to be a lot more boring without him. And that's probably true. But how much do you sacrifice to keep everyone's faves on?
I wonder if they should just give up the idea that there's even a contest going on and just put these goofy people in entertaining (but less stressful) situations, since people seem to just enjoy their favorites interacting. But without a contest, I don't think people would be as aggressive at picking faves.
I just don't know, fishbros...
