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''Big Brother'' is an American version of the ''Big Brother'' reality television show based on the Dutch television series of the same name originally created in 1997 by John de Mol. The show is based on a group of strangers, known as HouseGuests, living together twenty-four hours a day in the ''Big Brother'' house, isolated from the outside world but under constant surveillance with no privacy for three months. In ten seasons, 118 different people have entered the Big Brother house.The HouseGuests compete for the chance to win a $500,000 grand prize by avoiding weekly eviction, the last HouseGuest remaining at the end of the season wins the $500,000 grand prize. The American series is hosted by television personality, Julie Chen. Produced by Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan, it currently airs in the United States on CBS and in Canada on Global respectively.

Main series

In all seasons, eviction night has been hosted by veteran television personality, Julie Chen, wife of CBS President Les Moonves and co-host of the network's ''The Early Show''. Television critics gave Chen largely negative reviews during her first season (2000), citing wooden delivery, stilted interaction with the studio audience, weak interviews with evictees on the live programs, (The term ''eviction'' was not used until season two.) The two or more HouseGuests with the most nominations are then revealed to the House and were ''Marked for Banishment'', During the Live Eviction show, HouseGuests individually go into the Diary Room and cast their vote to evict. Julie then reveals the results of the vote to the House, and tells the evicted houseguest has only a few moments to leave the house. In the event of a tie a HOH breaks it. When two HouseGuests were left, the evicted HouseGuests voted for the winner and in the event of a tie the public would have broken the tie.

During season three a new power was introduced called the Power of Veto (PoV). The Power of Veto winner can choose to veto one of the Head of Household's initial nominations. The winner is also protected from becoming a replacement nominee for the week. Originally, the Power of Veto was silver and if a nominee won the Power of Veto the nominee could not save themselves. The ''Golden'' Power of Veto, introduced in the last veto competition in season three, could be won by a nominee and used to save themselves. The Golden Power of Veto is now the standard veto since season four.

Live show

The live show has been broadcast live on Wednesday nights since Season 9 and was on Thursday nights for the first eight seasons. After a few weeks into the Tenth season, the live show was moved back to the original Thursday showing. During the first season the live show would feature highlights, nominations and banishments. Originally, the live show featured a studio audience along with guest commentators Dr. Drew Pinsky, best known for ''Loveline'' on MTV, and (sponsor) America Online ''Internet Advisor'' Regina Lewis.

Beginning with the second season Julie presents the live show in an empty studio overlooking the house. Highlights are shown during the live show, then one (or two in the couple's edition) HouseGuest is evicted and briefly interviewed by Julie. Then, the Head of Household competition is held. For the most part quizzes are held to determine the next Head of Household due to the show's running time. Some Head of Household competitions do not finish during the live show and are broadcast on the live Internet feeds with the results and highlights of the Head of Household competition broadcast on the next episode. Starting with the tenth season the live show will feature a studio audience during the live eviction shows.

Live Internet feeds

Each year CBS has made live streaming Internet video feeds from the Big Brother house available through RealNetworks. The Internet feeds were free during season one but became a subscription service beginning with season two. In order to preserve the drama for television broadcasts, CBS does not webcast certain moments that transpire in the house, including weekly competitions and the nomination/eviction process. Slanderous statements and singing of copyrighted music is also blocked for legal reasons.

Seasons and twists

Ever since the show began, ''Big Brother'' has had a central twist every season. The twists are:

International broadcasts

Two seasons of the American version of ''Big Brother'' have aired in the United Kingdom in addition to airing in the United States and Canada. ''Big Brother 4'' aired in the United Kingdom on E4 after the fourth edition of the British version ended. E4 aired the three weekly episodes and live footage from the House. The live footage was a time delay so viewers wouldn't be confused between the episodes and the live footage. Later seasons did not air in the United Kingdom due to conflicts with the British version. E4 announced on February 8, 2008 that ''Big Brother 9'' would air on the channel. The ninth edition of the American edition premiered on February 14, 2008 two days after its American/Canadian premiere. Unlike with ''Big Brother 4'' E4 did not air live footage from the House during ''Big Brother 9'' instead only the three weekly highlight shows were aired. The tenth season didn't air in the United Kingdom due to conflicts with the British version.

Shows

''House Calls: The Big Brother Talk Show''

''House Calls: The Big Brother Talk Show'' is a live Internet talk show hosted by Gretchen Massey and focuses on events in the Big Brother house as well as taking phone calls from viewers. The show started in 2004 during ''Big Brother 5'' with Marcellas Reynolds as host/co-host, and became quite popular. ''House Calls'' has returned during each season of ''Big Brother''.

The popularity of ''House Calls'' has spawned other Internet talk shows, including ''Survivor Live'' for ''Survivor'', ''Finish Line'' and ''Elimination Station'' for ''The Amazing Race'', ''Talk Model'' for ''America's Next Top Model'', and various Aftershows on MTV Overdrive for MTV programming.

''Big Brother: After Dark''

''Big Brother: After Dark'' airs nightly from Midnight to 3:00 a.m. Eastern time (9:00 p.m. to Midnight Pacific time) on Showtime 2 and featured footage from the same live camera feeds that were made available to subscribers of the shows 24/7 live Internet feeds. This program featured house activity happening between those times, and was edited only for slanderous statements and music copyrights. According to executive producer Allison Grodner, these three hours are entertaining as ''That's prime time for the Big Brother house. It's when our HouseGuests are most wide awake and having fun, talking about strategy and playing the game. People are going to see quite a bit.''

Competitions

Competitions have been part of the show since season two. Various competitions force the HouseGuests to work together, in teams, or against each other for prizes or power. There are three different styles of games: endurance contests test which HouseGuest can last the longest doing a certain task (such as holding a key); games of skill test the HouseGuests' athleticism, ingenuity, or luck; and quizzes test the HouseGuests' knowledge of each other and the house. All three styles are used to varying degrees in the weekly competitions. Sometimes, a recycled competition that has appeared in a previous season is used. For example, the game ''Majority Rules'' (in which the HouseGuests have to answer questions with opinions while trying to stay with the majority until the tie-breaker question), which debuted in season five, has been recycled into the sixth season and the eighth season, each time being played for Head of Household.

Head of Household (HoH)

After each eviction (except the first week), HouseGuests compete to become the Head of Household. Due to the live show's time limit, quizzes are normally used for this competition. Games of skill also appear as HoH competitions occasionally, while the endurance contest is only used two to three times a season.

The HoH receives perks such as their own private bedroom, photos or gifts from home, and maid service. The HoH also nominates two HouseGuests for eviction. If one of the nominees is removed via the Power of Veto, the HoH will name a replacement nominee. The HoH reigns until the next eviction in which he or she may not vote except to break a tie. The HouseGuest may not participate in the following HoH competition unless only three HouseGuests are remaining.

The final HoH competition occurs when only three HouseGuests remain. The competition is held in three parts. For the first stage, the HouseGuests compete in an endurance contest requiring the HouseGuests to hang on to their keys in the face of some unusual circumstance. The second stage is commonly a game of skill between the losers of the previous stage. The winners of first and second stage face off in a quiz where the participants must guess what departed HouseGuests thought. The winner of the third stage becomes the last HoH while the two other HouseGuests are automatically nominated. As none of the trio are eligible to vote, the last HoH breaks the 0-0 tie and chooses who to evict.

Although normally one HouseGuest normally retains the Head of Household rewards and responsibilities for the week, exceptions have occurred. In a ''double eviction'' week, the first HoH only reigns for a short period (between an hour and three days) while the second HoH reigns for the rest of the week. When this occurs, the first HoH is normally not provided the benefits such as use of the HoH bedroom. Another exception is when two HouseGuests share Head of Household, such as in the first week of ''Big Brother: All-Stars'' as well as the first few weeks of ''Big Brother 9''. The co-HoHs had to agree on two nominees or else become the nominees themselves and lose their HoH privileges. The winner of the Power of Veto competition would break a tie on the eviction vote if it had occurred that week.

The HoH has been adopted by some other countries with different rules, including the Australian version and the United Kingdom version.

Power of Veto (PoV)

Each week after the Head of Household has announced the week's nominees the six HouseGuests (the nominated contestants, the current HoH, and three other housemates, if possible) compete for the Golden Power of Veto. The winner of the Golden Power of Veto can choose to veto one of the Head of Household's initial nominations. The winner is also protected from becoming a replacement nominee for the week. This competition is more often a game of skill instead of a quiz or endurance contest.

Food competition

Food competitions allow the HouseGuests to win food for the week. Most food competitions are games of skill, although the HouseGuests may work individually, in teams, or as one group. The Head of Household hosts the Food Competition and can eat any food the winners would earn. Winners eat a variety of food during the week. Losers go on food restriction, which usually lasts until after the next eviction and HoH competition. However, food competitions may not be held every week. For example, no food competitions were played the latter half of season six.

During seasons two through six, the food restriction was a diet of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, milk, water, and condiments. Starting in ''All Stars'', the sandwiches were replaced with ''Big Brother Slop''. The slop looks (but doesn't taste) like oatmeal and has essential nutrients, but it is not appetizing. If the HouseGuests are glycemic, they may request a sugar substance to mix with the ''Big Brother Slop''. In Season 9 Amanda Hansen fainted from a lack of sugar from her diet of ''Big Brother Slop''. This is when the show stated that HouseGuests may request the sugar substance. The HouseGuests can win ''passes'' to escape food restriction once. The passes are transferable until used or its holder is evicted, so trading the pass became a tool in strategy.

When all HouseGuests compete as one group, the competition changes slightly. The competition is not for all food or food restriction for the whole week. Instead, the HouseGuests may compete to earn different food groups. Alternatively, the HouseGuests may compete to earn the full food diet for each day of the week.

To date, HouseGuest Jen Johnson of Season 8 is the first house guest to defy the slop rules, eating a turkey burger, cottage cheese, and an apple. By doing so she originally received a penalty nomination for the following week but this was later replaced with a penalty eviction vote during Week 7 due to the original punishment being found unfair to the week's other nominee Jameka Cameron. This is the first and only food penalty in ''Big Brother'' U.S. history.

Luxury competitions

The Luxury Competitions allow the HouseGuests to win special prizes. They usually involve games of skill. Examples of previous luxuries earned include margarita parties, movie screenings, and access to newspaper clippings. This competition occurred frequently in the earlier seasons. In later seasons, Luxury Competitions are held less frequently as the show began giving prizes away during the Head of Household and Power of Veto competitions. An example of this is the backyard's hot tub. The first Luxury Competition in seasons two through five were to earn the key to the hot tub. However, the hot tub's key was hidden in the Gold room in season six, and the hot tub was not locked at all in seasons seven through ten.

America's Vote

America's Vote, formally titled America's Choice, allows the viewing public to select a HouseGuest to receive a special opportunity not available to other HouseGuests. Voting is done through the CBS website and text messaging. Though HouseGuests do not actively compete for the reward, it is essentially a reward based on viewers' opinions of the HouseGuests. America's Choice contests begin midway through each season and occur weekly. Previous contests have allowed HouseGuests to make a mobile phone call to family, have a walk-on role for a CBS soap opera, and conduct an internet chat with fans. In season six, the first America's Choice contest was to vote a previously evicted HouseGuest back into the house. America's Choice is not always a choice between contestants to earn a special opportunity. Sometimes viewers are asked what challenge the HouseGuests should play or what kind of appliance would be given to the HouseGuests. In season eight, America's Choice spun off into America's Player, where Eric was chosen to fulfill tasks voted on by the public for financial reward. During Big Brother 7: All-Stars, America's Choice was renamed America's Vote.

Criticisms and controversy

Lawsuit

After the premier of the first season Chicago attorney Marvin Rosenblum filed a lawsuit against CBS, then corporate parent Viacom, and the production company Orwell productions for alleged copyright infringement. Rosenblum, a producer of the film ''1984'', owns the film and TV rights to the novel ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'' and claimed the show ''illegally borrows from it.'' Rosenblum accused the network of illegally using the ''Big Brother'' moniker from the novel ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'' and ''deceiving the public into thinking the author's classic novel was the origin of the show.'' CBS, Viacom, and Orwell Productions filed a motion to dismiss the $20 million lawsuit. The dismissal was denied on January 4, 2001. In 2001 Rosenblum, CBS and Viacom settled the lawsuit under undisclosed terms.

Big Brother 2 (U.S.)|Big Brother 2

HouseGuest Justin Sebik was expelled on Day 10 for breaking ''Big Brother'' rules. Justin threatened his fellow HouseGuests with physical violence and intimidation, a violation of one of the most serious House rules.

Julie Chen, host of ''Big Brother'', explained that Justin was given an official warning that such behavior was not appropriate in the ''Big Brother'' house. Justin repeated the warning, proving that he understood the rule. His behavior included destruction of house property, culminating in a final incident during which he and Krista were kissing on the kitchen table. He picked up a metal carpet sweeper and asked her, ''Would you get mad if I cracked you over the head with this?'' He swung the carpet sweeper towards Krista but put it down and kissed her. He walked away from her in the kitchen and asked, ''Would you get mad if I killed you?'' He then picked up a large knife, returned to Krista and, while they kissed, placed the knife against her throat. He briefly took the knife away from her throat but, with Krista's encouragement, returned the knife to her throat and they begun kissing again. As the kiss ended he put the knife down.

After a confrontation with the show's psychologist, it was decided that Justin would be expelled from the Big Brother house. Krista Stegall later sued CBS over the incident.

Big Brother 4 (U.S.)|Big Brother 4

HouseGuest Scott Weintraub was expelled on Day 8 after having a violent outburst in the house, related to the season twist, X-Factor. Scott tossed furniture around the House, delivered an expletive-laden rant, and refused to go to the Diary Room when called. He later apologized to his fellow HouseGuests who were uncomfortable with his actions in the house. Once Scott went to the Diary Room he was removed from the house and expelled.

Big Brother 6 (U.S.)|Big Brother 6

HouseGuests Eric Littman and Michael Donnellan got into a confrontation regarding comments Michael made about Eric's family. Earlier in the evening, Rachel who was eavesdropping on Janelle and Michael in the Gold Room overheard Michael make a poor joke about Eric's grandparents to Janelle. Rachel told Eric that she heard them badmouthing his family. Later that night Eric and Ivette were outside discussing the incident when Michael went outside. Eric provoked Michael who retorted, calling Eric ''a midget with a small penis.'' Eric lost all control going after Michael. The other HouseGuests blocked Eric's attack at Michael. Big Brother intervened, telling Eric to leave the backyard and go to the Diary Room, and telling Michael to go to the storage room. Shortly afterwards, Ivette attacked Kaysar's beliefs and made racial remarks. Big Brother intervened again giving warnings to all HouseGuests. Eric apologized to his fellow HouseGuests, saying he would never hurt anyone.

Big Brother 8 (U.S.)|Big Brother 8

HouseGuest Richard ''Evel Dick'' came under some controversy for his loud abusive behavior towards female HouseGuests; especially Jen. This culminated in an event in which Dick poured iced tea on Jen's head while she was engaged in an argument with HouseGuests Nick and Dick's daughter Daniele. This led some fans and the National Organization for Women to call for his expulsion from the house. He never was.

Another HouseGuest, Amber, who has admitted to a previous addiction to meth, garnered national attention after making what were considered anti-Semitic statements. Hollywood news conglomeration Defamer criticized Amber's sentiments. Notably, aggregate TMZ reported about Amber's remarks, especially those about being able to recognize a Jew by the size of their nose or their last name. Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League told the website:

''It's offensive. It's part of the unintended consequences of the communications revolution. Anybody can say what they do - but reality shows are now giving license to these expressions of anti-Semitism. Now, all of a sudden, the world is privy to their bigotry and it's on national television... then enhanced on YouTube. What they've done is distributed anti-Semitism -- which started as a private conversation -- and by putting it on a reality TV show broadcast it to the world at large. I want CBS to understand they are facilitating anti-Semitism. They should act responsibly to the community; they are legitimizing bigoted conversation.''

On Day 52 Jen, who was named as a replacement nominee for Amber, packed and scattered her belongings through the House, destroyed and bleached Dick's cigarettes. Big Brother later informed Dick they would replace the cigarettes. Jen began to cook food while on a slop restriction Big Brother told Jen she would receive a penalty nomination, she must be a nominee for the entire week and cannot win HoH or Veto for Week 8 if she survived Week 7. This was found unfair to Jameka, the other Week 7 nominee, and the penalty nomination was removed. Jen would instead receive a penalty eviction vote for Week 7 plus any votes cast against her by her fellow HouseGuests. or even companion show ''House Calls: The Big Brother Talk Show'' to interview evicted HouseGuests who are a part of the jury of seven to vote for the winner of ''Big Brother 8'' beginning with Amber. They were allowed to interview the HouseGuests after ''Big Brother 8'' was over. During the first Wednesday episode, after the Power Couple Competition, Adam stated he worked for an autism foundation and would spend his winnings on a hair salon for people with developmental disabilities ''so retards can get it together and get their hair done.'' His partner in the House, Sheila, told him not to ''call them that,'' to which he said he ''can call them whatever I want'' because he ''work[s] with them all day.'' In a letter obtained by TMZ from John Gilmore, Executive Director of Autism United to Sumner Redstone, Chairman of CBS Corporation, Gilmore demanded action be taken after the Wednesday episode. Gilmore claimed that the network chose to air the segment for ''their own personal goals.'' The organization also called for the show to be canceled and the organization has contacted advertisers over the issue. Due to the controversy, Lowe's has decided not to advertise during future ''Big Brother'' episodes, but it was unclear whether or not they were currently advertising during the program. Autism United has also contacted other advertisers, such as Campbell's Soup, Claritin, Geico, McDonald's and Taco Bell. Autism United and various parents in South Florida are calling for an investigation into Adam Jasinski and the United Autism Foundation. The organization claims to be a 501 c3 charity (deductions made to the organization would be considered tax deductible under current IRS regulations.) The website for United Autism Foundation has an apology regarding Adam's behavior and states he will no longer be working for the company.

On Day 31, Matt used the word ''nigga'' when referring to another (white) HouseGuest. The incident in question was aired on both the live Internet feeds and the spin-off show ''Big Brother: After Dark'' on Showtime 2.

On Day 70, there was a controversial Head of Household competition. In the competition, Adam, Sharon and Ryan were read a series of seven statements relating to events in the game. The HouseGuests were to determine if each statement was ''fact'' by stepping forward or ''fiction'' by stepping backward. Each HouseGuest had their own section, so they could not see the answers of other HouseGuests. Many fans of the show, including ''House Calls'' co-host Evel Dick, were displeased with the final ''fact or fiction'' statement. The controversial statement -- ''Everybody knows that Jacob/Sharon and Ryan/Jen were two pre-existing relationships in the Big Brother house, but there is a third pre-existing relationship still in the house'' -- was considered ''fact'' due to the guinea pigs knowing each other prior to entering. Many fans considered this question unfair due to the fact that the guinea pigs are not actual players and just house pets. While many other fans considered the statement not only unfair but deceptive on the part of ''Big Brother'' producers as the relationship between guinea pigs is not equivalent or comparable to players of the game. If the question had pertained to only human relationships, Sharon would have become the new Head of Household. Ryan won, however, and Sharon ended up being evicted that week.

Big Brother 10 (U.S.)|Big Brother 10

Other media

DVD

A 9-disc set from the third season of the show, in its entirety as well as edits, have been released on Region 1 DVD. A supplementary included is the house guests' original casting tapes. These casting tapes are taken from preliminary interviews rather than the tapes that the house guests sent in. All episodes on this DVD were the actual edited broadcast versions.

A 2-disc Highlights set from the fourth season has also been released. With the release of the fourth season highlights, the clips would show un-aired footage, ostensibly racier than what CBS would allow to air.

Games

Virtual Me is a new digital entertainment concept that bridges the divide between traditional TV and videogames is being developed by Electronic Arts that will allow people to play games based on Mediaset game shows.

Online games

Tengaged is an online multiplayer game based on Big Brother that allow people to play against other users in a virtual house. The game duration is 7 days and evictions occur each day.