The Golden Cage (television)

Infobox Television
show_name = The Colden Cage. (see also children's book - The Golden Cage - written by Ivan Jones; published by Andersen Press 1994)


caption = Logo of "The Golden Cage"
genre = Reality television
presenter =
creator = Talpa Media
country = Netherlands
language = Dutch
producer =
location = Eemnes
network = Tien (2006-2007)
RTL 5 (2007-2008)
website = http://www.tien.tv/degoudenkooi/homepage.html

In 1999 "De Gouden Kooi" (The Golden Cage) used to be the original concept and working title for Big Brother. In 2006 it has been turned into another format of Reality Television. The Golden Cage is also the title of a children's book, published in Sweden, Britain and France. It was written by Ivan Jones (author) in 1994.

The idea for "De Gouden Kooi" was born on Thursday, 4 September 1997 during a brainstorm session at the production house "John de Mol Produkties", an independent part of Endemol. Participants were John de Mol himself, Patrick Scholtze, Bart Römer and his brother Paul Römer. After John de Mol left Endemol he reintroduced the original format for his TV-station Talpa.

ynopsis

The first Dutch episode on 23 September 2006 had slightly less than 1 million viewers (10-15% market share, it was programmed right after the Dutch Eredivisie soccer show, which always attracts many viewers); the two subsequent episodes received around 500,000 viewers (5-10% market share). Thereafter, the audience dropped to about 350,000 [http://www.kijkonderzoek.nl/] . The setting was a €2 million capital villa in Eemnes. After a few months the uglier sides of the participants came to light. A lot of "millionaires" were constantly plotting how to get rid of the others. Natasia, who had left behind her two young kids, refused to return home when her boyfriend who cared for them asked her to. She wanted to reach her goals first: a boob job and a drivers license. One participant regularly ordered the use of (masked) prostitutes. Some participants started (loveless) sexual relationships, which led to jealousy and much verbal abuse. Another contestant, Nena, had to be disqualified on 2 February 2007 after she kicked another participant's leg. 2 days later, Nathanael kicked Huub and they both got into a fight. After much discussion between the directors, Huub got back into the house because he didn't physically attack Nathanael. On 30th November 2007, "miljonaire" Dennis was about to be voted off by all of the other contestants in the house and would not be replaced by another contestant, during the vote, Dennis grabbed a chair and demolished a camera in the house, causing him to be disqualified, but also so he would be replaced with another "millionaire" [http://www.telegraaf.nl/prive/2696739/_Geklooi_in_Gouden_Kooi__.html?pageNumber=2] .

Contestants

Guest players

Criticism

The concept has been heavily criticized. Because there are no nominations or votings off like in Big Brother, psychologists assume that harassment and bullying will be the only ways of getting rid of one's rivals and obtaining the reward. This would provide a very wrong role model for the youth of the Netherlands. John de Mol therefore promised to introduce a "bully referee". The producers rather expect that housemates will leave if they experience homesickness or family-complications will occur (death, birth or sickness).

Other countries

John de Mol, who used his own television station (Tien)as a testing ground, sold the concept to the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on 2 February 2007 .