Somebody is floating the idea of a reality show that can actually produce - as a winner - an Olympian.
So... what kind of sport would work for that? How about... curling!
Now, it has turned into a American Idol reality thing with five male and five female slots to produce the entries to the Olympic tryouts.
The cool thing, that was unfortunately false, is that at one time they were talking about "closet curlers" that are rockstars would be involved - specifically John Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. How cool would that have been? How cool would it have been for those guys to expose more people to the sport?
]]>One: I've missed some of these shows over the summer. CSI is one, with House and Lost... and as always, The Amazing Race (my favorite reality show) (not Survivor.. I think I'm not as attached to that show as I once was)
Two: I'm not as obsessed in watching other shows as much as I used to be. I am not sure why.
]]>So, I was all excited to sit down in front of the TV and watch the Season Finale of The Amazing Race. (Those of you that have been here before know that this is my absolute favorite reality show right now. I've been longing and yearning to try-out for the show and be on it... Why don't I? I need a partner and NOBODY I know wants to do it...)
So, I'm all geared-up to watch the show and...
I fell asleep.
At least I woke up at the very end to see who won.
Thank God for TiVo. I'll probably watch it sometime this weekend and get caught up and enjoy it. Awake.
I LOVE THIS SHOW.
]]>Very bizarre seeing the most popular daily video podcast cross-over into Prime Time drama!
]]>It was last night's Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
I've come to really enjoy this show and specifically Craig. He's a wonderful host. I mean it, this guy should be the next host of the Tonight Show, not Conan O'Brien. He's a wonderful interviewer. He really listens to his guests and doesn't work off of cards with scripted questions. He researches the guests and really engages them. It's for these reasons we set a Season Pass on TiVo for him - it's worth it.
And then, this show happens.
Lately, when he comes out, he's been wearing a jacket but no tie. This started happening when he stopped doing a monologue and actually started telling stories, something unique and more effective for his style. Tonight, he's in a black suit and tie. He's not the same. He doesn't even sound the same. His Scottish accent is noticeably thicker.
He warns the audience that tonight's show won't be the same. Tomorrow, everything will be back to normal. But for tonight, he had a special thing he had to do.
On Sunday, his father died. The show was in reruns all last week (so were other late night shows, so it wasn't unusual). Craig had gone back to Scotland with this young son, to effectively say goodbye to his dad who had been struggling for a long time with cancer. He was 75 when he died.
The rest of the open was, in effect, a wake for his dad, with Craig telling many stories.
I friggin' cried like a baby throughout the whole friggin' show. I mean, snot oozing from my nose, ugly crying.
Craig - never once shed a tear. He broke once, though - pausing a long time to compose himself - telling a story... "When I was watching television with him, I used to sit in front of him and he would sit behind me and he would put his hand on my head. And I loved that. And he did it last week in the hospital."
Craig picked his guests just for tonight, "friends" he called them, because it's in times like these you just want to sit with friends and talk.
First guest - Dr. Drew Pinsky. The two talked about the grieving process and you learn more about the inside of Craig than any interviewer could have.
His second guest - Amy Yasbeck (you know, the wife of the late John Ritter) - also, perfectly selected to talk about loss, grieving, and how they don't want "closure".
The musical guest - yes there was one - was the Wicked Tinkers, a rockin' Scottish pipe and drum band, that Craig joined in at the end of the show (he plays drums as one of his many talents), playing a tune that I think is called "Highland Laddie."
(See TV Squad for more info about the show.)
If you get a moment and have Real Player, go to the CBS website and watch his tribute. See and experience what I'm talking about.
It's worth it.
Rest In Peace, Big Scrubber
]]>Good ol' Richard Hatch, winner of the first series of "Survivor" back in 2000 was found guilty of tax evasion for not paying taxes on his $1 Million prize (not to mention of evading taxes on $327,000 he earned as co-host of a Boston radio show and $28,000 in rent on property he owned). He had seven bank, mail and wire fraud charges that he was acquitted of. He was deemed a flight risk an immediately taken into custody.
His future? Possible maximum 13-year prison sentence and $600,000 fine.
I mean, this guy had a deal on the table last March and he rejected it.
What an idiot. Outwit? I don't think so...
Somewhere, Susan Hawk is laughing her ass off...
]]>The show is called Cash Cab.
Imagine this - you're in New York City (probably just Manhattan). You're looking for a cab to take you somewhere. A van-style cab pulls up. You get in and tell the driver your destination.
Suddenly, you hear a musical "sting" over the speakers in the cab and the ceiling of the cab lights-up (it looks like the dance floor from Saturday Night Fever, only upside down and on the ceiling). The driver (the host, Ben Bailey) turns to you and welcomes you to The Cash Cab which is a rolling television game show inside the cab. And asks you if you want to play. The cab itself has at least 4 cameras hidden in the interior of the cab and up to two others buried in the advertising sign on the roof. The cab does have a medallion on the hood and it does have a fare meter. In fact, there's no way you'd know it wasn't just a normal cab. However, it appears that the people that show-up in the cab do not have to pay a fare.
Basically, the show is just a question and answer show. If the passengers want to play, Ben will ask them a series of questions while on the way to their destination. A graphical map pops up that shows you the route Ben is going to take and how many blocks away they are from their destination. the longer the drive, the more opportunities the passenger(s) have to win more money. Or, they have to pray for a traffic jam.
The first 4 questions - on the easy side - are worth $25 each. Each round the difficulty goes up, along with the cash - $50 for the next 4, or $100 for the rest. Answer the questions - you get the cash. If you miss the question, you are awarded a strike. If you get three strikes, Ben pulls the cab over, and kicks you out - without winning any cash, no matter where you are (you'll have to catch another cab to get to your destination!) There are sound effects and the ceiling lights with each answer.
Now, if the passengers get stumped, they have 2 one-time "options" (think "Life Lines" from Who wants to be a Millionaire): One is a "Mobile Shout-Out" where you use Ben's Motorola Razr phone to call one person to get the answer, or the "Street Shout-Out", where Ben pulls the cab over to the curb and you find someone (and only one person) walking by on the street to answer your question (could you imagine a cab pulling over to the curb as you're walking by and the passengers ask you to answer a question for them?)
If the "contestants" get up to $200 and Ben has to stop at a red light, they qualify for a "Red Light Challenge". The get 30 seconds to answer a question that will have multiple answers ("other than Rudolph, name all of the reindeer"). If they get the question right in 30 seconds, they get $250 - if not, there's no penalty (no strikes), they just don't win any additional money.
If the passengers make it to their destination without getting kicked-out, they win their money in cash on the spot, doled-out by Ben. HOWEVER, Ben offers them a Double-or-Nothing chance on a "Video Bonus Question". Ben flips-up a little LCD monitor for the passengers, they watch the clip and try to answer the question (it's always the hardest question of the trip). If they win, they double their winnings; if they lose, the get nothing but a free ride and the experience of playing in the Cash Cab.
It's simple and fun. The contestants are just everyday people off the street, not people applying for a gameshow, so that right there adds a nice flavor to the show. It's amazing how many people that get into the cab that you can tell within 30 seconds if they're going to get to their destination or not!
Entertaining! Weekdays, right now at 6PM EST on The Discovery Channel.
]]>Big Brother 6 ended with Maggie winning. I got really turned-off by the casting this year. I'm tired of people that are just a bit too young in this game. I'm tired at how "divisive" they're tried to cast (and were pretty damn successful about it). The damn house got split in two, and I know a lot of people out there hated the "Friendship Alliance", but the "Sovereign Six" had people (Howie and Jenelle specifically) that had horrendous personalities - evidenced on how everyone reacted to the Kaysar eviction. The hateful vile that poured out of those two sealed it for me. The game isn't about that crap and once that happened, I lost interest in the show.
The show that I got interested in (and didn't expect to) was Rock Star: INXS. American Idol? Piece of crap next to this. Forget the crappy weeks of watching those goddamned auditions. These people that competed auditioned off camera and came there to rock. It was only Rock-and-Roll songs for each night's performances.Between producer Mark Burnett, based on his name alone, and the band itself, who worked tirelessly on this, they team was able to procure rights to rock songs never before performed on commercial TV. Quality songs performed by quality singers with a quality house band in front of a live quality audience. And not only that, but the winner doesn't get some record deal that may have them fading into oblivion. The winner becomes lead singer in a band that's been together for over 20 years and is well known. The performance were even made available for download through MSN music at the show's website. Just an all-around quality show. Live. Energetic. Rocked.
Unfortunately, hometown boy Marty Casey didn't make it and JD Fortune did. (Though the band wants to talk to Marty about possibly being the opening act on their tour. Cool runner-up privileges.)
I'd love to see this show again, but that doesn't make any sense - you can't do it with the same band because the whole idea was to find a replacement for Michael Hutchence and go forward as a band. They'd have to use a different band, but I can't imagine who that would be.
Then we have one straggler that won't go quietly into that dark night - "Dancing with the Stars: Dance-off". Yes that great little series that caught a lot of people by surprise and pissed-off a lot of them at the end came back tonight with a dance-off to prove who the winner will be (champion Kelly Monaco and her professional dance partner, Alec Mazo, went up against runner-up John O'Hurley and his professional partner Charlotte Jorgensen.) We won't know until Thursday who "won", though...
]]>It's Rockstar: INXS - a show where 15 people with rock backgrounds basically audition to become the lead singer of INXS, tour with them for a year and cut an album with them (it's still nebulous to me if the gig is a one-time/one-year thing, or could it be permanent depending on the chemistry)
It has all the good stuff about American Idol without the sugar coating and without the godawful weeks of showing the crappy auditions.
There ain't no crappy auditions. These 15 people come in experienced and capable. There's also one focus: Rock. You don't variation here as you do in American Idol. That's not the purpose of the show. It's all rock and roll, baby. And I like it.
Each week there are 3 shows.
The first show is the "Reality" show part, as all 15 people are living together in a huge house in the Hollywood Hills. It shows them living together, rehearsing songs, and interacting. To me, insightful bu ho-hum.
The second show is the "Performance" show. Previously, the contestants were given a classic rock song to sing (depending where they are in the process, they get to pick the song out of the bunch). They rehearse wit ha house band (called... wait for it... The House Band). On Performance Night, they perform with the house band at the Mayan Theater with a live audience and, more importantly, in front of INXS. At the end of their performance, INXS (oh, an host Dave Navarro) critique their work. At the end of the night, the viewing audience votes (via Verizon cell phone or via website on who they liked the best.
The third show is the "Elimination" show. Based on viewer voting, the bottom three people (i.e. the 3 people with the least number of votes), now have to sing an assigned INXS song. This allows INXS to see how the performer handles the band's work. The performer is critiqued again by the band and Dave. At the end of the night, INXS decides who will leave. Their elimination slogan: "You're just night right for our band, INXS". (Not as good a "the tribe has spoken" or "You're fired", but still till the point and re-emphasizes that it may be a public competition, but INXS still says who stays and who goes.)
So, tomorrow the contestants are whittled down to three. Our favorite is home-town boy Marty Casey. Our other favorite is MiG, and we like Suzie as well (even though I can't imagine an established rock band that's had a male singer all its life would be comfortable changing to a female lead singer). Our least favorite is J.D., who's been kissing ass ever since day one, because he really wants to be in the band... and may be doing a few things just for the band... but I always question if they're sincere or not or just a way to get closer to them.
The finale - one week from tonight.
Update: So long, Sweet Suzie McNeil. Next week's finale is between Marty (who was NOT in the final three this week), MiG (who was in the final three for the very first time), and ... J.D.
]]>Cool thing - there are 2 families from the northwest suburbs of Chicago - one from Park Ridge and the other from Des Plaines!
CBS UNVEILS THE IDENTITIES OF THE 10 FAMILIES COMPETING IN "THE AMAZING RACE: FAMILY EDITION"]]>Eighth Installment of the Emmy Award-Winning Series Begins With A Special Two-Hour Premiere on Tuesday, September 27, 9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT
The Amazing Race: Family Edition Moves To Its Regular Tuesday, 9:00-10:00 PM Time Period Beginning October 4
CBS today announced the identities of the 10 families set to compete in THE AMAZING RACE: FAMILY EDITION. For the first time ever, the Emmy Award-winning reality adventure series will feature teams of four instead of two, comprised of family members. The 10 teams of families will compete against one another in a race around the world for a $1 million prize. THE AMAZING RACE: FAMILY EDITION will begin with a special two-hour premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 27 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
THE AMAZING RACE: FAMILY EDITION will be broadcast regularly on Tuesdays (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning Oct. 4.
THE AMAZING RACE has won two consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Reality Program is currently nominated for a third time.
Following are the 10 families, listed in no particular order:
TEAM: GODLEWSKI SISTERS
Michelle (42)
Sharon (39)
Christine (37)
Tricia (26)Hometown: Des Plaines, Ill.
TEAM: WEAVER FAMILY (WIDOW AND KIDS)
Linda (46)
Rebecca (19)
Rachel (16)
Rolly (14) - MaleHometown: Ormond Beach, Fla.
TEAM: GAGHAN FAMILY
Bill (40)
Tammy (42)
Billy (12)
Carissa (9)Hometown: Glastonbury, Conn.
TEAM: BLACK FAMILY
Reggie (42)
Kim (40)
Kenneth (11)
Austin (8)Hometown: Woodbridge, Va.
TEAM: LINZ FAMILY (SIBLINGS)
Nick (24) – Currently resides in Buffalo, N.Y.
Alex (22)
Megan (21)
Tommy (19)Hometown: Cincinnati
TEAM: ROGERS FAMILY
Denny (46)
Renee (42)
Brittney (22)
Brock (19)Hometown: Shreveport, La.
TEAM: SCHROEDER FAMILY (DAD, STEPMOM AND KIDS)
Mark (40)
Char (39)
Stassi (16)
Hunter (14)Hometown: New Orleans
TEAM: BRANSEN FAMILY (DAD AND DAUGHTERS)
Walter (51)
Elizabeth (25)
Lauren (22)
Lindsay (20)Hometown: Park Ridge, Ill.
TEAM: AIELLO FAMILY (FATHER AND SONS-IN-LAW)
Tony (57)
Kevin (31)
Matt ( 31)
David (26) – Currently resides in North Providence, R.I.Hometown: Mansfield, Mass.
TEAM: PAOLO FAMILY
Tony (52)
Marion (52)
DJ (24) - Male
Brian (16)Hometown: Carmel, N.Y.
THE AMAZING RACE: FAMILY EDITION features 10 teams -- each comprised of four family members -- on a trek around the world for approximately 30 days. At every destination, each team will have to compete in a series of challenges -- some mental and some physical -- and only when the tasks have been completed will they learn their next destination. Teams who are farthest behind will gradually be eliminated as the contest progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning $1 million.
Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman and Hayma Screech Washington are the executive producers for Bruckheimer Television and Earthview Inc. in association with Touchstone Television and Amazing Race Productions. Amy Chacon and Evan Weinstein are co-executive producers. THE AMAZING RACE was created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.
For more information on THE AMAZING RACE: FAMILY EDITION and the new 10 teams of families log on to www.cbs.com.
Would you believe Gary Hogeboom? You know, former NFL quarterback from the '80's?
CBS ANNOUNCES 16 NEW CASTAWAYS FOR "SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA -- The Maya Empire"Former NFL Quarterback Gary Hogeboom Among The New Castaways Set To Compete When The Eleventh Installment Of The Hit Television Series Premieres on Thursday, September 15
CBS today announced 16 new castaways to compete in SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA -- The Maya Empire. The castaways will begin their adventure with a grueling 11 mile hike through the jungle when the eleventh installment of the Emmy Award-winning hit series premieres Thursday, Sept. 15 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network.
SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA -- The Maya Empire takes place amid the ancient Mayan ruins and ceremonial sites (some as many as 2,000 years old) located in the northern area of Guatemala. Amid the excruciating triple-digit heat, crocodile infested waters, relentless mosquitoes and terrifying sounds of the howler monkeys, these new castaways will attempt to "Outwit, Outplay and Outlast" in hopes of winning the $1 million prize and title of "Ultimate Survivor." In addition to the grueling overnight hike, the castaways will be faced with two additional surprises in the first episode that will dramatically impact how they play the game.
Castaways that will be competing in SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA -- The Maya Empire (in alphabetical order) are:
BRANDON BELLINGER
22
Manhattan, Kan.
Farmer/RancherDANNI BOATWRIGHT
30
Tonganoxie, Kan.
Sports Radio Talk Show HostMARGARET BOBONICH
43
Chardon, Ohio
Family Nurse PractitionerBRIAN CORRIDAN
22
New York City (originally from New Milford, Conn.)
Ivy League StudentCINDY HALL
31
Naples, Fla.
Zoo KeeperGARY HOGEBOOM
46 (turns 47 on August 21)
Grand Haven, Mich.
Ex-NFL Quarterback/Real Estate DeveloperRAFE JUDKINS
22
Providence, R.I. (originally from Pittsburgh)
Ivy League StudentJIM LYNCH
63
Northglenn, Colo.
Retired Fire CaptainMORGAN McDEVITT
21
Decatur, Ill.
Magician's Assistant/WaitressLYDIA MORALES
42
Lakewood, Wash. (originally from Okinawa)
FishmongerJAMIE NEWTON
24
N. Hollywood, Calif. (originally from Douglas, Ga.)
Water Ski InstructorAMY O'HARA
39
Revere, Mass.
Police SergeantJUDD SERGEANT
34 (turns 35 on September 13)
Ridgefield, N.J.
Hotel DoormanBROOKE STRUCK
26
Santa Monica, Calif. (originally from Hood River, Ore.)
Law StudentBLAKE TOWSLEY
24
Dallas, Texas
Commercial Real Estate Broker/ModelBRIANNA VARELA
21 (turns 22 on Oct. 29)
Edmonds, Wash.
Retail Sales/Make-Up ArtistSURVIVOR: GUATEMALA -- The Maya Empire is produced by SEG, Inc. Mark Burnett and Tom Shelly are the executive producers.
For more detailed information on SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA -- The Maya Empire and the castaways, log on to www.cbs.com/survivor.
Oh, and as usual, RealNetworks will be broadcasting live feeds from the house.
CBS.COM: THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR "BIG BROTHER 6"
CBS's Official Website to Offer "Big Brother" Viewers a Wide Array of Bonus Features to Supplement and Enhance CBS's Three Weekly Broadcasts
For the First Time, A Head of Household Blog Will Provide Insight Into Life in the "Big Brother" House
Also New, The Head of Household Will Be Rewarded With a Digital Camera With Pictures Posted On CBS.com
CBS and RealNetworks Bring "Big Brother 6" to the Internet With 24/7 Live Video Channel For the Fifth Consecutive Year
"House Calls: The Big Brother Talk Show" Returns For Its Second Season
Interactive "Big Brother Fantasy League" Offers Fans A Chance to Compete for Prizes
CBS.com, CBS's official website, will offer BIG BROTHER viewers a wide array of programming and bonus features this summer to supplement and enhance the Network's three weekly broadcasts, including for the first time a Head of Household Blog, in which a BIG BROTHER houseguest communicates directly to BIG BROTHER fans through CBS.com. BIG BROTHER 6 premieres on the CBS Television Network on Thursday, July 7 (8:00-9:00PM, ET/PT).
"This summer, CBS.com is going all out to provide BIG BROTHER fans the broadest and most exciting companion experience we've ever offered," said Larry Kramer, President, CBS Digital Media. "From the 24/7 live Internet feed to the new blog to the daily talk show, BIG BROTHER viewers will have unparalleled access to activities in the BIG BROTHER house and a new level of involvement with the show."
New to the BIG BROTHER Internet experience is the Head of Household Blog, where fans will be able to read first hand accounts from each week's Head of Household on life in the BIG BROTHER house and what it's like to be under the constant gaze of dozens of cameras and viewed live on the Internet.
CBS.com will also provide a digital camera to the Head of Household with the pictures to posted on CBS.com along with their Blog.
CBS.com also announced the return of two other popular features: HOUSE CALLS: THE BIG BROTHER TALK SHOW and the interactive BIG BROTHER Fantasy League.
Returning for its second season, HOUSE CALLS: THE BIG BROTHER TALK SHOW is a no-charge, half-hour, streaming video daily talk show about the summer reality series seen every Monday through Friday (1:00 PM/ET, 10:00 AM/PT) on CBS.com.
HOUSE CALLS is hosted by Marcellas Reynolds, a houseguest from "Big Brother 3," and Gretchen Massey, an on-air host of "The Gretchen Massey Show," which is broadcast Sunday nights on Infinity Radio's KLSX-FM Los Angeles. The two hosts interact with viewers through phone calls and e-mails, discuss events that transpire in the BIG BROTHER house, offer prognostications, analyze strategies and interview former BIG BROTHER houseguests as well as current houseguests following their eviction.
Also returning is the "BIG BROTHER Fantasy League" game where fans compete for prizes based on the events that transpire in the house.
The official BIG BROTHER website at CBS.com will also include detailed summaries of all the events that happen during each televised broadcast, a live 24/7 chat room, popularity and opinion polls, a virtual tour of the BIG BROTHER house, descriptions of the week's challenges, voting history pages, photo galleries and a houseguest section with complete profiles.
For the fifth consecutive season, CBS and RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), a global leader in network-delivered digital media, have joined forces to provide exclusive 24/7 live video channel from inside the BIG BROTHER 6 house. The webcast coverage debuts immediately following the premiere of BIG BROTHER 6 on July 7 (8:00-9:00PM, ET/PT), and will be accessible through the official BIG BROTHER 6 website at CBS.com and through the RealNetworks' Superpass™ subscription service website at www.real.com/bigbrother.
Subscribers to the 24/7 video stream can watch any one of four live camera feeds from inside the BIG BROTHER 6 house or catch all of the action at once with the special quad-cam view which allows fans to see four different video feeds simultaneously. Subscribers will also have access to an exclusive, subscribers-only web chat that will allow fans from across the country to converse about what they are seeing live on the feeds.
The entire three-month live 24/7 internet feed of BIG BROTHER 6 is available through RealNetworks' SuperPass subscription service, or fans may subscribe to receive the three-month broadcast for $29.99 or pay $12.99 per month with a free trial for everyone who signs up.
CBS/Endemol Entertainment will provide the content from the house, while RealNetworks' content delivery division, Real Broadcast Network, will deliver the 24/7 live streaming webcast feed.
To preserve the drama for BIG BROTHER 6 television viewers, CBS may block or delay the webcast for a limited number of real-time events that transpire in the house.
BIG BROTHER 6 will be broadcast three times a week on Tuesday (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), Thursday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) and Saturday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).
Arnold Shapiro and Allison Grodner are the executive producers of BIG BROTHER 6 for Shapiro/Grodner Productions, in association with Endemol Entertainment.
About CBS.com
CBS.com, the official website of the CBS Television Network, has become the top web destination among all Network television websites. CBS.com has been the most trafficked website among its Entertainment competitors with more unique visitors every month for the past two years. With its proven success of intersecting traditional television with new media, CBS.com attracted a record high of more than 12 million unique visitors in May 2004 as a result of the "Survivor: All Stars" finale and online voting for America's Tribal Council. Home to the official websites for all CBS television series, CBS.com's notable sites include "Survivor," "CSI" and "CSI: Miami," "Big Brother," "The Amazing Race" and "Late Show with David Letterman."
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a leading creator of digital media services and software including the award-winning Rhapsody® Internet jukebox service and RealPlayer® 10, the first product to integrate finding, organizing, buying, playing and managing digital audio and video in a single product. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software at http://www.real.com. Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to create and deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices. RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com.
CBS AND REALNETWORKS TO OFFER EXCLUSIVE 24/7 LIVE VIDEO CHANNEL OF “BIG BROTHER 6”
LOS ANGELES and SEATTLE, July 6, 2005 – CBS and RealNetworks®, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNWK), the leading creator of digital media services and software, today announced that they will offer an exclusive live video channel from the “Big Brother 6” house 24 hours a day that allows fans to watch houseguest activity in real time, much of which never appears on TV. The webcast, which premieres Thursday, July 7, immediately follows the East Coast broadcast of the show at 8:00-9:00PM, ET/PT and will be accessible through the official “Big Brother 6” website at www.CBS.com and through RealNetworks’ SuperPass™ subscription service website at www.real.com/bigbrother.
Fans can choose either a discounted three month subscription of $29.99 or a monthly subscription of $12.99 per month with a free trial for everyone who signs up. Subscribers to the 24/7 video stream can watch any one of four live camera feeds from inside the “Big Brother 6” house or catch all of the action at once with the special quad-cam view which allows fans to see four different video feeds simultaneously.
“‘The Big Brother 6’ live webcast with RealNetworks has become immensely popular as fans can check-in on the houseguests at anytime and see the action unfold,” said Brinley Turner, Vice President and General Manager, CBS.com. “Whether used as a companion to the prime time series or as live theatre in its own right, it’s a unique Internet experience that further connects the fan to the show.”
“Big Brother 6’ online demonstrates how the Internet and TV industries can work together to create a richer experience for consumers,” said Dan Sheeran, Senior Vice President, Premium Consumer Services, RealNetworks. “Online subscribers will enjoy ‘Big Brother 6’ on TV that much more by following the 24/7 action and connecting online with their fellow fans.”
“Big Brother 6” follows a group of people living together in a new house specially built for this edition and outfitted with 47 cameras and 78 microphones, the most in “Big Brother” history, recording their every move, 24 hours a day. One by one, the houseguests will vote each other out of the house. At the end of three months, the last remaining houseguest will receive the grand prize. In a new twist this year, each houseguest is paired with a secret partner from the outside world and the final houseguest will win $1,000,000, the biggest cash prize in “Big Brother” history, if they complete the game with their teammate. If the twosome does not make it to the final two, the winner will win $500,000.
“Big Brother” 24/7 is a member benefit of SuperPass which also includes news and entertainment video, free music downloads, free game downloads premium online radio with over 70 ad-free music stations, Real® PhotoVideo for sharing personal photos and video clips, and more.
To preserve the drama for “Big Brother 6” television viewers, CBS may block or delay the webcast for a limited number of real-time events that transpire in the house. Other components of the official “Big Brother 6” website will include detailed summaries of all the events that happen during each televised broadcast, a live 24/7 chat room, an interactive “Big Brother Fantasy League” game, popularity polls, opinion polls, a virtual tour of the “Big Brother” house, descriptions of the week’s challenges, voting history pages, photo galleries and a houseguest section with complete profiles.
ABOUT CBS.COM
CBS.com, the official website of the CBS Television Network, has become the top web destination among all Network television websites. CBS.com has been the most trafficked website among its Entertainment competitors with more unique visitors every month for the past two years. With its proven success of intersecting traditional television with new media, CBS.com attracted a record high of more than 12 million unique visitors in May 2004 as a result of the "Survivor: All Stars" finale and online voting for America's Tribal Council. Home to the official websites for all CBS television series, CBS.com's notable sites include "Survivor," "CSI" and "CSI: Miami," "Big Brother," "The Amazing Race" and "Late Show with David Letterman."
ABOUT REALNETWORKS
RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading creator of digital media services and software including the award-winning Rhapsody® Internet jukebox service and RealPlayer®10, the first product to integrate finding, organizing, buying, playing and managing digital audio and video in a single product. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software at http://www.real.com. Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to create and deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices. RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com.
So, it starts next week. The Australia and UK versions have been underway this year for a while now (we're at about day 54 in Australia and Day 34 in the UK). These other versions have daily shows, showing recaps of the days activities. The UK has a second show, earlier in the day, that's a live show that also has guests and is sort-of like a "chat show" as they would say. Each has their own live eviction shows, done outdoors in front of large, rabid audiences. The Australia version has a Friday Night Live Games event, lasting a couple of hours, where the houseguests compete for 3 awards: The use of a "Rewards Room" (with food, alcohol, room service, DVD's etc. for the winner and a chosen guest), the assigning of tasks to the houseguests (yes, they have specific roles and tasks that have to be performed daily in house), and the ability to deduct "points" from any of the week's nominees, thus saving a friend or even themselves, but also risk re-shuffling the list and they may wind-up being a nominee themself).
Each show has something else we don't have: major activities for the houseguests to do every single damn day, risking their food budget money. This gives them something else to do - something somewhat interesting to watch - since the US houseguests don't seem to do a frickin' damn thing all damn day except sleep and sunbathe. Both Australia and the UK air their Nominations live, and each still has the main core component from the original Endemol recipe intact: the public votes out the nominees, not the houseguests,
In general, these shows are a hell of a lot better to watch and a hell of a lot more entertaining than what Shapiro & Grodner pulls off in their measly three shows a week.
CBS REVEALS THE IDENTITIES OF THE 14 NEW HOUSEGUESTS COMPETING IN "BIG BROTHER 6"
Sixth Installment of Series Premieres on Thursday, July 7th on the CBS Television Network
All New "Big Brother 6" Twist Revealed
Houseguests Will Move into a Brand-New Home and Location
Julie Chen Returns as Host
CBS announced today the identities of the 14 houseguests who will compete in BIG BROTHER 6, as well as the new creative twist that will play out during the summer broadcasts.
This is the BIG BROTHER 6 Summer of Secrets. There are secrets in the house, secrets in the game, and this summer -- every houseguest has a secret.
For the first time, every houseguest will be entering the house and playing the game with a secret partner -- someone they know from the outside world. Friends, co-workers and significant others will play the Big Brother game as secret duos. The twist is that each secret team believes that they are the only pair in the house (pairings will be revealed to TV viewers during the first live broadcast on July 14). Each twosome knows that if they can keep their secret and end up being the last two people in the house, the winner will win $1,000,000, the biggest cash prize in Big Brother history, with the second place finisher winning $250,000. If a twosome does not make it to the final two, the winner will win $500,000.
"Big Brother" follows a group of people living together in a house outfitted with dozens of cameras and microphones recording their every move 24 hours a day. One by one, the houseguests will vote each other out of the house. At the end of three months, the last remaining houseguest will receive the grand prize.
This season, houseguests will move into a brand-new two-story home, including a built-in pool and Jacuzzi in the backyard. Like the contestants that will inhabit it, the new house is also full of secrets and surprises that will be unveiled throughout the summer.
BIG BROTHER 6 debuts on Thursday, July 7 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Following the premiere, BIG BROTHER 6 will be broadcast each week on Tuesdays (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), Thursdays (8:00-9:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) and Saturdays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). The Thursday broadcast, hosted by Julie Chen, will feature the live eviction of one of the houseguests.
Following are the 14 houseguests, listed across in alphabetical order, who will compete in BIG BROTHER 6:
Maggie Ausburn, 26
Las Vegas, NV
Single
Emergency Room Nurse
Beau Beasley, 25
Pembroke Pines, FL
Single
Personal Shopper
Ivette Corredero, 25
Miami Beach, FL
Single
Waitress
Michael Donnellan, 28
Orange County, CA
Single
Artist
Ashlea Evans, 22
Plantation, FL
Single
Fashion Design Student
Howie Gordon, 34
Chicago, IL
Single
Meteorology Student
Sarah Hrejsa, 22
Chicago, IL
Single
Retail Manager
April Lewis, 30
Dallas, TX
Newlywed
Pharmaceutical Sales Rep.
Eric Littmann, 36
Boston, MA
Married Dad
Firefighter
Janelle Pierzina, 25
Miami Beach, FL
Single
VIP Cocktail Waitress
Rachel Plencner, 33
Parker, CO
Single
Horse Breeder
James Rhine, 29
Atlanta, GA
Single
Loss Prevention Manager
Kaysar Ridha, 24
Irvine, CA
Single
Graphic Designer
Jennifer Vasquez, 27
Plano, TX
Single
Arena Football League Dancer
BIG BROTHER 6 is produced by Arnold Shapiro & Allison Grodner Productions, in association with Endemol U.S.A.
Ken Jennings' run on Jeopardy is over. As reported over on kottke.org some time ago, today was the broadcast day of Mr. Jennings' last day on Jeopardy.
He lost in Final Jeopardy. It was only a two person Final Jeopardy. The challenger - Nancy Zerg - had $10,000 - Ken had $14,000
The answer was: MOST OF THIS FIRM'S 70,000 SEASONAL EMPLOYEES WORK ONLY 4 MONTHS A YEAR
Ken's Response: What is Fed Ex?
The Correct Response: What is H&R Block?
The Challenger bet $4,401 taking her to $14,401 - one dollar over Ken.
Ken bet $5,601 taking him down to $8,799 and looses.
Update: Nancy Zerg's "Giant Killing" Championship lasted only one day, finishing last the next day
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