ROCK THE HOUSE: The cast of this season’s “Big Brother” includes Aaryn Gries (left), Howard Overby, Amanda Zuckerman and New Yorker GinaMarie Zimmerman. Inset: show host Julie Chen returns for Season 15. (
)
If it’s nearly July, it must be “Big Brother” time on CBS.
The network’s annual summer reality show returns for its 15th edition this Wednesday (8 p.m./Ch. 2) with the requisite cast of backstabbing, manipulative and shrewd characters battling for the $500,000 grand prize — after living with each other in the “Big Brother” house for the next three months.
Julie Chen, who’s hosted since the show’s 2000 premiere, returns once again and, with every new season, this year’s “Big Brother” will begin with a twist — or two, this time around. The new season’s first twist will be that three — and not the usual two — Houseguests will be put up for eviction each week. In the second twist, viewers at home will cast their votes for the Houseguest they feel is playing the best game — meaning one player each week will be crowned “Big Brother MVP.”
Each week’s “MVP” will have powers in the house that will be revealed once the show kicks off its new season.
This season’s Houseguests include two New Yorkers, “entrepreneur” Nick Uhas, 28 — who grew lives in New York City — and “pageant coordinator” GinaMarie Zimmerman, 32, who grew up in Brooklyn and currently lives in Staten Island.
What’s a bit unusual about this year’s roster of Houseguests are their ages — they’re all in their 20s and 30s (the oldest is 37), unlike in years past, when there have been several contestants in their 40s, 50s and 60s.
“Big Brother” will air three nights each week (Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday) starting Sunday. The live eviction show will air on Wednesdays.