CBS to bring back "Big Brother:" Chenbot to the Rescue!

CBS may rely on its “Big Brother” as a strike contingency.

Usually a summer staple, the series has started staffing up for an in-season run that could be on the air as soon as February, people familiar with the situation said. Indeed, in anticipation of a strike, Eye quietly began casting for the next edition of the show a few weeks ago.

Exec producer Allison Grodner is also said to be working on a new creative twist for the Julie Chen-hosted skein, in which a group of strangers lives together in a house for three months.

There’s been buzz that the next edition of “Big Brother” might actually use celebrities as opposed to civilians. A long strike might work in favor of such a plan, since some celebs normally busy working on sitcoms and dramas might have some time on their hands.

Possibility of an early “Big Brother” popped up on Tuesday’s edition of the Eye’s “Early Show.” Anchor Hannah Storm joked that the show might be back sooner than the summer, prompting a roll of the eyes from Chen. Chen then expressed her hope that the strike is settled soon.

“Big Brother” would be a perfect strike weapon for CBS since it airs three times a week, filling three key hours of primetime.

--Josef Adalian

Comments

[Marian E. Martell]

I have to say that the execs at CBS are morons if they think that bringing back a tired lame 'Big Brother' is going to do them any good. They don't recall that it was canceled because of poor ratings? NOBODY CARES! No one is going to watch this drek.
People want scripted shows, the new season got off to a powerful start, and the execs have no one to blame than themselves and their greed if those shows are lost. Personally I'll read a book before I'll tune into a 'reality' show.

[Chad]

Dear Lord. Does CBS honestly believe that "reviving" Big Brother will actually do good for the network? Everyone I know cracked jokes about what a horrible show Big Brother was when it first began airing. We would watch episodes out of sympathy of what a bad show it was, and just to laugh at it's awfulness. Many seasons later, none of us ever turn in, and in many cases we change the channel to NBC or ABC when promo spots for an upcoming season and a TWIST YOU WILL NEVER SEE COMING of the awful show. If CBS really does go through with this, they might as well shut down for good, because not only will the writers guild see this as a petty 'slap in the face', but viewers such as myself will see it as one too. "If you won't write for us, we'll go produce cheaply made crap that serves no purpose or entertainment" ... oh, wait, isn't that was the majority of your viewers tune in for? .......

[Dave]

1) Exactly when was Big Brother ever canceled? The show has aired summer editions every single year since its initial Summer 2000 edition.

2) "The new season got off to a powerful start" -- really Marian? How so exactly? Apparently you've missed all the news about how lackluster the last couple of months have been.