Julie Chen kicked off the seventh season of Big Brother Wednesday night with a casting special that revealed the identities of the 20 returning housemates who will vie for a chance to be in Big Brother: All-Stars.
Of course, CBS.com revealed the same names earlier this month, effectively rendering last night's reveal a bit anticlimactic.
In April, the network announced that this season of the house-arrested reality series will be an all-star version, with viewers being able to vote for which blasts from the past will make it into the house.
CBS and show producers said they would whittle down the six seasons of contestants into a pool of 20, from which viewers will be able to give between 12 or 14 of the housemates a second shot. The 20 will vie for the audience's vote by campaigning on the CBS Early Show and various other outlets, including personal Websites.
The contestants who comprised the 20 finalists were warned not to do anything to reveal their identities prior to last night's casting special. Unfortunately, CBS.com didn't get the memo.
Earlier this month, the network published a survey on their Website, posing the question, "Which of your favorite Big Brother contestants would you like to see compete again in Big Brother: All-Stars?" The query was followed by a series of what appeared to be blank buttons, however, as many fans quickly found, simply highlighting the page revealed a list of 20 names which, as verified last night, happened to be the finalists.
However, presumably catching on to their mistake, the site quickly pulled down the names and decided to have a little fun with die-hard fans, swapping out several of the names from the original list and republishing it back to the site.
But viewers weren't quick to buy it. Posters to the Big Brother fan site JokersUpdates.com quickly pointed out that one of the contestant's names, "Erica," was misspelled--it should be with a "k"--leading them to believe the second survey was a quick cover-up for the earlier mistake.
That wasn't the only thunder stealing that preceded that casting special.
On Tuesday, just one day before the contestants were due to be named--officially, anyway--season two contestant Mike "Boogie" Malin posted a video on his personal Website campaigning for viewer votes. Not only did the premature announcement verify his own status as a participant, but he also said fellow season mate Will Kirby was in the running as well.
"You may remember me from five seasons ago when me and Dr. Will and the whole Chill Town alliance were running stuff in the Big Brother house," Malin said in his video message. "Well, guess what? As you may have seen on Wednesday's broadcast, we are back. We are coming back for Big Brother: All-Stars."
Irrelevant though Chen's Wednesday announcement may have been, she nonetheless went through the motions of confirming the already-outed contestants, allowing each of them time to say why they should get the public's vote.
Season one brings back "Chicken" George Boswell, who made his plea to viewers by saying, "When we did Big Brother 1 we were just a pool of people that really didn't know quite what we were even doing, but now the game has changed an awful lot. I want to play the strategy, the backstabbing, the lying, and I'll do whatever I've got to do to make it to the end."
His online plea played to different sensibilities, imploring people to give him their vote because "I look great in a Speedo!...Give a 47-year-old guy a chance at half a million."
Season two contestants Kirby, Malin, Bunky Miller and Monica Bailey are in the running, as are season three's Marcellas Reynolds, Lisa Donohue and Danielle Reyes.
"You've seen the show, read the press," Reynolds writes online. "It's me, Marcellas! You know you wanna watch. Who else is gonna bring the drama? The tears? The crazy one-liners? That house needs me! I'm fun! Please!"
Season four returnees include Erika Landin, Dana Varela and Alison Irwin, one of the season's most hated contestants.
Varela, like Reynolds, chose not to take the humble approach.
"Why wouldn't you want to watch me tell it like it is? Don't you want to watch me lose it? Count how many times I get pissed off. You don't want to miss this. I'm telling you, I have a lot of unfinished business to take care of! It's time to play the game for real!"
Season five welcomes back Jason Wirey, Michael "Cowboy" Ellis, Jennifer "Nakomis" Dedmon and Diane Henry.
"I want to go back in and I'm playing for the money and that's it," Henry said on the special. "I don't give a [bleep] about anybody else in their but me. That's why I want to go back in."
Season six has the most players vying for a chance to return, with five of its housemates in the running: Howie Gordon, Kaysar Ridha, Ivette Corredero, James Rhine and Janelle Pierzina, who caused off-screen drama when she was accused of shoplifting in 2005.
"A Big Brother without Howie is like a day without sunshine," Gordon said on air. "Let's just vote, get it done, get me in there, and let me find a new Busto."
Web voting is open to viewers until Wednesday, June 28, at midnight.
Not yet, we have a week to vote right? I am voting for Howie, even though his group ticked me off at times. The Nerd Herd was lame too. Ivette was dope, I will vote for her. Janelle is lame.
As for the rest I have no clue, as you know I only watched last season. I am going to vote for that one pompous guy so he can go head to head with Howie, that would be great. Guess James would be a good crap starter, too. Should be interesting but I wish I had watched this show in seasons past.
I don't mind it so much, at least I will recognize more people. Plus the average TV viewer isn't known for their long term memory. I've forgotten what I'm watching during the commerical break.
Plus I think the ratings were pretty huge last year, have to bring back what works. Glad they didn't bring back the dumpy blonde who won though.
Lawless said this in post #2 : They did all of that to just get more 'air' time, in the news....
Did you vote online, last night? I did... for James, from last season. I just loved him.
OMG...I did too!
I got online at midnight and started voting for James...and then the next night as well. He was definitely the king of the HOH! I hated it when he left!
I also cant stand Howie...and I cant stand Janelle...Oh...and I cant stand Kaysar. I imagine however that we will somehow have to suffer with the all three of them this season. I hope Im wrong though.
I was hoping that Eric would have had a chance to come back. He was one of my favs as well.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
I remember that you and I, both, couldn't stand that little "click" of ego's.
Unfortunately, they will be back... and we will have to suffer through them.
But, I think that Howie will be okay, because at least he will be our comic relief.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
Lawless said this in post #13 : But, I think that Howie will be okay, because at least he will be our comic relief.
Thats true.
Heres a bit of trivia if none of you knew this.
Before Big Brother, I was up late one night watching Elimidate (dont ask...I was bored and nothing else was on)...anyhow...there was a couple guys fighting over some bimbo. It got down to the last two guys...(ONE WAS HOWIE!!) Anyhow...she didnt pick him because all he did was talk about Star Wars...it was wierd.
Then when I started watching Big Brother...I thought to myself "where have I seen this guy before." Then came the light sabers...and it all came together.
Heh...Howie got shunned by a bimbo on Elimidate! Great stuff!!
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
Now THAT is funny as hell. He's a geek, and couldn't even get a date on that show. But, he did make it to the final two. That says something... because those chicks are desperate ho's.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
06-22-2006 06:34 PM
I hope Im wrong though.
Anyhow...she didnt pick him because all he did was talk about Star Wars...it was wierd.
