[dtd2]

The Writer's Guild of America strike did go ahead as scheduled yesterday. With such names as Jay Leno, Tina Fay, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus joining the picket lines.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=18&cs=1

There are a ton more articles on Variety and also Hollywood reporter, but perhaps the most important article is the following.

CBS leans on 'Brother' during strike
Reality show staffing up for early launch
By JOSEF ADALIAN


CBS may rely on its "Big Brother" as a strike contingency.

Skein, usually a summer staple, has started staffing up for an in-season run that could be on the air as soon as February, people familiar with the situation said. Indeed, in anticipation of a strike, Eye quietly began casting for the next edition of the show a few weeks ago.

Exec producer Allison Grodner is also said to be working on a new creative twist for the Julie Chen-hosted skein, in which a group of strangers lives together in a house for three months.

There's been buzz that the next edition of "Big Brother" might actually use celebrities as opposed to civilians. A long strike might work in favor of such a plan, since some celebs normally busy working on sitcoms and dramas might have some time on their hands.

Possibility of an early "Big Brother" popped up on Tuesday's edition of the Eye's "Early Show." Anchor Hanna Storm joked that the show might be back sooner than the summer, prompting a roll of the eyes from Chen. Chen then expressed her hope that the strike is settled soon.

"Big Brother" would be a perfect strike weapon for CBS since it airs three times a week, filling three key hours of primetime.

Eye execs declined comment.

Endemol USA and Allison Grodner Prods. produce "Big Brother."

From: http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=14&cs=1

This is excellent news. Robyn Cass has been revealed to still be the casting director. She has announced that the appliactions are due by April 13th, 2008 so right on schedule for that.

http://www.realityblurred.com/realit...ckground_check

and

http://www.realityblurred.com/realit...ckground_check

[Captain.Remy]

Yesssss good news ! Can't wait till it's confirmed !

[Ruth*Star]

OMG yey! I can't wait to hear more news on it since i loved last season.

[dtd2]

This would be the perfect opportunity to do a celebrity edition since no one will be working. Although the incident that happened in the last UK celeb version would have a strong possibility have happening here especially because of the stupid statements that regular houseguests have made before here. This is great though because it could possibly be given more then 3 time slots, but it would be difficult to not schedule it against American Idol and Dancing With the Stars. CBS does have The Amazing Race (the 11th season just premiered on Sunday and casting has begun for the 12th), Survivor(The most watched pure reality show in America), Power of 10 (Game show that Daniele and Amber went on last year and garnered similar ratings to Big Brother and has Drew Carey as host), Kid Nation (The first season launched in September. It's about 40 kids under the age of 15 trying to creating a town that they can run. It stirred a lot of controversy, but ratings continue to fall and are lower then what big brother got. Big Brother airs in Summer when no one is watching. Although it should be noted that Summer has gotten much more competitive over the last four years.), CBS also ordered six episodes for Million Dollar Pyramid hosted by Regis Philbin, and in one of the many articles I read that they ordered some legal show with former prosecutor Marcia Clark. CBS also has 48 Hours (Investigates murders and launched during the last strike that last for 22 weeks in '88.), and Sixty Minutes (The most watched news magazine program in America)

[Wasted]

That's great news! I love BB US!

[Redmond]

That is great news, but I don't really want the strike to be still on-going in February. That means no Lost season 4!!

[XxShortyxX]

I ent never seen it, their accent annoy me anyway lol, and they like love everything

I have heard how it is better then the UK Big Brother.

[dtd2]

What do you mean by they love everything? Also from what I have heard ABC has completed 8 of the 16 eps for Lost and plans on airing the 8 starting February 8th in the States.

[geoking66]

I'd love a celebrity version in the US. Maybe we can vote to evict this time? One can only hope.

[Redmond]

Originally posted by dtd2
What do you mean by they love everything? Also from what I have heard ABC has completed 8 of the 16 eps for Lost and plans on airing the 8 starting February 8th in the States.

Yeah Cuse and Lindelof have completed 8 episodes, but if the strike goes on for longer than that then the series will just end in the middle! That's not good for a show like Lost.

[dtd2]

Fox has already postponed the launch of 24 and as no surprise FOX is known for always making the oddest schedules ever, but the one they announced today is by far the most confusing they have ever had.

[Captain.Remy]

Except Lost and America's Next Top Model, I can't see any rival shows in february.

[Corkie]

Ohhhh good.

I missed the end as I was on hols in the summer and all downloads didn't work anymore.

So if it's in Febuary I could watch it all.

[dtd2]

American Idol and Dancing with the Stars would still be there and they are the two most watched shows in America.

[bbcanada]

OMG, its about time cbs does celebrity big brother im so so excited for this... i think it will do great, since theres really no other shows on, im pretty sure dancing with the stars will be over by febuary, and wow american idol, its on tuesdays and wednesdays, big brother is on tuesdays, thursdays, and sundays so only one show a week would be overlapped, or they will move the show to a different day or time,

still,, is the strike really gonna last that long? just give them the money and shut up.. they really should get money for it, the actors/actresses wouldnt be rich with no lines to say!

i duno whats gonna happen but hopefully celebrity big brother will happen

[dtd2]

The networks expect it to last for a long time. FOX announced a very different schedule then what they announced in May for early 2008. It is the most confusing thing I have ever seen for an American schedule(I have always thought British tv schedules are impossible since they start at odd times and at different times different weeks. All American shows always
start at the top of the hour or half past the hour.) The strike will also heavily effect Canada, since they air nearly every American show as well usually simulcasting the American broadcast.

Here's the current FOX schedule
Sunday
7/6ct comedy reruns/the NFL (Alternates getting the afternoon games with CBS each week)
8/7ct The Simpsons
8:30/7:30ct King of the Hill
9:00/8:00ct Family Guy
9:30/8:30ct American Dad

Monday
8/7ct Prison Break
9/8ct K-Ville

Tuesday
8/7ct Bones
9/8ct House

Wednesday
8/7ct Back to you
8:30/7:30ct 'Til Death
9/8ct Kitchen Nightmares

Thursday
8/7ct Are You Smarter Then A Fifth Grader
9/8ct Don't Forget the Lyrics

Friday
8/7ct The Search For The Next Great American Band
9/8ct Don't Forget the Lyrics

Here's the Jan '08 to May '08 plans (Likely will change and FOX changes everything more often then the other networks)

MONDAY

Monday, Jan. 7:
7:30 PM-CC ET ALLSTATE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (LIVE)

Mondays, beginning Jan. 14:
8:00-9:00 PM PRISON BREAK
9:00-10:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (Time Period Premiere)

Monday, March 3:
8:00-9:00 PM WHEN WOMEN RULE THE WORLD (wt) (Series Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES

Mondays, beginning March 10:
8:00-9:00 PM WHEN WOMEN RULE THE WORLD (wt)
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE (Time Period Premiere)

***************************

TUESDAY

Tuesday, Jan. 1:
8:00 PM-CC ET ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL (LIVE)

Tuesday, Jan. 15:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part 1)

Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 22:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE

Tuesdays, beginning April 1:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM HELL'S KITCHEN (Season Premiere)

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, Jan. 2:
7:30 PM-CC ET TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL (LIVE)

Wednesday, Jan. 16:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part 2)

Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 23:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM THE MOMENT OF TRUTH (Series Premiere)

Wednesdays, beginning March 12:
8:00-9:00 PM THE MOMENT OF TRUTH (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:30-10:00 PM BACK TO YOU (Time Period Premiere)

***************************

THURSDAY

Thursday, Jan. 3:
7:30 PM-CC ET FEDEX ORANGE BOWL (LIVE)

Thursdays, beginning Jan. 10 (No changes to lineup):
8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?
9:00-10:00 PM DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS!

***************************

FRIDAY

Fridays, beginning Jan. 4:
8:00-9:00 PM BONES (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE (Time Period Premiere)

Friday, Feb. 22:
8:00-9:00 PM BONES
9:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM (Series Premiere)

Fridays, beginning March 7:
8:00-8:30 PM TIL DEATH (Time Period Premiere)
8:30-9:00 PM THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES (Series Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM

Fridays, beginning April 11:
8:00-8:30 PM TIL DEATH
8:30-9:00 PM THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES
9:00-10:00 PM CANTERBURY'S LAW (Series Premiere)

V***************************

SATURDAY

Saturdays, beginning Jan. 5: (No changes to lineup)
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA'S MOST WANTE AMERICA FIGHTS BACK
11:00 PM-Midnight MADtv
Midnight-12:30 AM TALKSHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN

***************************

SUNDAY

Sundays, beginning Jan. 6: (No changes to lineup)
7:00-7:30 PM VARIOUS COMEDY ENCORES
7:30-8:00 PM VARIOUS COMEDY ENCORES
8:00-9:00 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

Sunday, Jan. 13:
7:00-7:30 PM VARIOUS COMEDY ENCORES (West Coast only)
7:30-8:00 PM VARIOUS COMEDY ENCORES (West Coast only)
8:00-9:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (Series Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

Sunday, Feb. 3 (Super Bowl Sunday):
6:00 PM ET SUPER BOWL XLII (Approx. 4 hours, LIVE)
Approx. 10:00 PM ET HOUSE (Original episode; guest star Mira Sorvino)

Sundays, beginning March 2:
7:00-7:30 PM COMEDY ENCORES (West Coast only on 3/2 due to NASCAR)
7:30-8:00 PM COMEDY ENCORES (West Coast only on 3/2 due to NASCAR)
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM UNHITCHED (Series Premiere)

Sundays, beginning April 13:
7:00-7:30 PM COMEDY ENCORES
7:30-8:00 PM COMEDY ENCORES
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

[Rory]

Hopefully the celebrity plans follow through! I'd love to see CBB:US with actors starring in sitcoms (not Z-listers like Vanilla Ice or Flava Flav)

[dtd2]

Just some thoughts for interesting people to put in if it is celebrity, some of them are way out there.

Paris Hilton
Angelina Jolie
Kid Rock
Lance Bass
Ricky Martin
Connie Chung
David Letterman
Kirk Cameron
Vanessa Williams
Monica Lewinsky
George Lucas

[dtd2]

BIG BROTHER IS BACK!

Yep, the rumors are TRUE! We're coming back a little earlier this year..... apply now!

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/bigbrot...lication.shtml

Good luck!
Robyn

From: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...ogID=326810392

That is from Robyn Kass' myspace. She is the head casting director for big brother.

[Captain.Remy]

Yesss thanks for that ! Can't wait until february/june.

[dtd2]

BIG BROTHER WILL RETURN IN FEBRUARY

In a conversation today with Robyn Kass of Kassting Inc the primary casting agency for Big Brother, it was confirmed that Big Brother will commence in February.

They are very busy at casting the show as I write this and Robyn asked me to pass on the word to get your applications in or contact her at her website, http://kasstinginc.com/ .

I asked Robyn during our conversation if the Big Brother rumors were speculation or was there a basis in fact? Robyn replied "We are casting with the thought in mind that the house guests would move into the house during the first week of February.

I can not quote on the following, but my feelings are it will be a normal Big Brother, not a Celebrity Big Brother and it is a strong possiblility that the summer Big Brother will also take place.

From: http://www.tvgrapevine.com/index.php....html#msg99936

This is wonderful news.

[Captain.Remy]

OMG wonderful ! I can't wait !!!!

[bbcanada]

woo! great, but i really wanted a celebrity addition cuz now its gonna be bb9 and then bb10 in summer! :| thats crazy, they better actually think of a good twist and not rush!

[Ruth*Star]

Omg 2 bb's in one year... thats so awesome.

[cujo-man]

I'll watch the one in February but not in the summer!

The only reason I'd watch a foreign BB is to fufill the empty hole where BB used to be!

Theres nothing on the TV to watch anymore!