‘Big Brother’ returns with big changes
I never thought I would be happy to see the return of “Big Brother” (8 p.m., CBS), but after “The Cut” (which moves to Wednesdays to complete its run in well-deserved obscurity) anything is a relief.
CBS morning-show host Julie Chen returns to emcee the claustrophobic shenanigans on this, the sixth season of “Big Brother.” Any rumors that she considers this duty beneath her dignity as a “journalist” are decidedly untrue.
This season, the “Big Brother” housemates move into a brand-new house. And, boy howdy, big changes are in store. There are now – drum roll please – two stories to the “Big Brother” house. This may not seem like much, but to the producers and editors who splice together the show for our viewing pleasure, the very fact that the contestants have to walk up and down stairs adds whole new vistas of time-wasting padding to the proceedings. In past “Big Brother” competitions, we spent countless moments watching players walk in and then walk out of the video voting booth. It’s idle moments like these that add up to a 60-minute show, a two-month season and continuous live Internet feed.
And the excitement doesn’t end with mere stair climbing – not by a long shot. This season, the 14 contestants get to share a backyard Jacuzzi.
And what will the “Big Brother” kids be doing when not climbing stairs or taking outdoor bubble baths? They will be keeping secrets. According to CBS, the 14 players consist of seven pairs, each of which shares a secret among themselves. But there is a trick within the trick: Each pair thinks that they are the only two people sharing a secret. The secrets and the secret secret-keepers will be revealed next Thursday.
The secret theme is more than just a mind game. Each duo knows that if they can keep their secret and emerge as the last two players, one will win $1 million and the runner-up will take home a quarter of a million. If only one person from the pair remains, that person will win $500,000, with the nonsecret-keeping part of another duo (with another secret, naturally) winning $250,000. Got that?
The stairs, the warm jets of bubbling water, the secrets, the confusing rules about secrets and prizes: there’s a lot of information to keep straight. So look for ace correspondent Julie Chen to work double-triple hard this summer, “reporting” from the “Big Brother” house.
Other highlights
Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey star in the 2002 dragon-slaying fantasy “Reign of Fire” (8 p.m., ABC).
On back-to-back episodes of “Will & Grace” (NBC, repeat), daddy issues (9 p.m.), Molly Shannon (9:30 p.m.).
Mail-order brides, signed, sealed and delivered to their doom on “CSI” (9 p.m., CBS).
Things get steamy on “The O.C.” (9 p.m., Fox).
Internet creeps kidnap an heiress on “Without a Trace” (10 p.m., CBS).
Weaver’s mother and child reunion on “ER” (10 p.m., NBC).
Repeat reports scheduled on “Primetime” (10 p.m., ABC): frozen embryos; wounded war veterans in poverty; a hidden camera report on what dogs do when you’re not home.
Cult choice
Director Woody Allen lampoons Russian literature in the 1975 comedy “Love and Death” (9:30 p.m., Independent Film Channel), starring Diane Keaton and Allen.
Late night
Adam Sandler; Reggie Miller and The Wallflowers are on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts Jessica Alba, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and the girls of “Zumanity” on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Jeremy Piven, Morgan Spurlock and Esthero appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (12:05 a.m., ABC).
Tony Shalhoub and Feist chat on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Craig Ferguson hosts Jon Cryer, Garrison Keillor and Sound of Urchin on “The Late, Late Show” (12:37 a.m., CBS).