Happy Holidays!

Happy holidays to all who read the blog! Without y'all, there would be no blog. I especially want to thank those who donated this year. It's been a very challenging health year for me and those donations are appreciated!

Off Topic: Sad News for the Regulars

 Participant on the blog for years and years, JonMD1267 last commented on Halloween day. We knew that's not like him. The problem with screen names here is that I often don't have a real name or address. I know his first name and that he lives in Maryland.

 Thankfully, I remembered that he once donated to the blog on PayPal, which lists a real name, email and snail mail address. I sent an email, but never received a reply. Well, I just looked up his name and town and found this. I signed the guestbook. I think his sister would like to know how his online presence touched the lives of so many.

Obituary Guestbook | John Francis Adams Jr. of Waldorf, Maryland | Brinsfield Funeral Homes and Crematory P.A.

BB25: Schedule Changes Ahead!

 

Hi! I just wanted to warn folks about some changes in the show schedule.

Tonight's Sunday Sept. 10 show is scheduled at 8:30PM ET/PT

Wednesday, Sept. 13 is a two-hour show beginning at 8:00PM ET/PT

Starting this Thursday, the live eviction shows will start an hour earlier at 8:00PM ET/PT.

Sunday shows starting Sept. 17 are scheduled at 10:30PM ET/PT due to football.

The veto shows will move to Tuesdays instead of Wednesdays starting Sept. 26 as Survivor and The Amazing Race will be in the entire primetime scheduling block on Wednesdays.

BB25: Blog Pool Match-Ups Redux

 

It's past midnight here on the East Coast and the live feeds are still blocked. There has been absolutely no information coming from CBS Big Brother about the duration. However, I am now thinking it will be until after tomorrow's live show ... as if America (us, not the hamster) doesn't know Luke was expelled from the show. If they happen to come up before the live show, I'll post about it. But right now, my bed is looking very good!

Since he was expelled, the blog folks who had him in the pool are being reassigned.

Here's who had him ...

Luke - Caela, Joyce Johnson, quixoticelf. T-Town Chick

And here is the update:

Cory - Sharon N, Nickelpeed, Indiana Jane, deaflady

Felicia - Dr Celine, Auntie Leigh, NoraM, T-Town Chick

Reilly - KelseyNY, Cherry Pie, TS14Fan, KathyB

America - Andi, Joanne Victoria, Willie J, Caela

Bowie Jane - Jasonuwp, Sally, Rachel C, Jessica U

Mecole - cctru, Lili, Marthalight, MikesGirl, quixoticelf

Cirie - Petals, Janice, Krysta, RJM in SC

Matt - Brenda, Helenann2k, Brent McKee, Chrob61

Hisam - jo C, SueGee, David, ThunderSunflower

Cameron- Cheryl in NC, JonMD 1267, CherylNY, Tilde

Red - DonnaNY , ChaCha, Donna in Florida ,YoDave

Jag - Barbara W, Jackie, Donna in Alabama, Mary C

Izzy - Michelle, Glenn Allen, Jennasmom, ChicMc

Blue - monty924, Judi Sweeney, Jennifer, Don

Jared - Bizaro22, TBone, PDX Granny, Fred aka TwoBlackAces

Kirsten - Ayana, Pearl, Skyriverblue, Joyce Johnson

BB25: Luke Removed from the BB House Bulletin - Aug. 9

 

STATEMENT FROM CBS AND THE PRODUCERS: “Luke violated the BIG BROTHER code of conduct and there is zero tolerance in the house for using a racial slur. He has been removed from the house. His departure will be addressed in Thursday night’s show.”

See my last post for details on what happened.

Those who have Luke in the blog pool will be reassigned to a new hamster. Right now, the house is in adoptable animals mode probably telling the others that he's gone.

BB25: Blog Pool Match-Ups!

 

The absolutely wonderful LifeGuard SueGee has randomly matched up the blog pool entrants with the hamsters. We welcome all the newcomers this season and love seeing those who have joined in for years!

And here we go ...

Cory - Sharon N, Nickelpeed, Indiana Jane, deaflady

Felicia - Dr Celine, Auntie Leigh, NoraM

Reilly - KelseyNY, Cherry Pie, TS14Fan, KathyB

Luke - Caela, Joyce Johnson, quixoticelf. T-Town Chick

America - Andi, Joanne Victoria, Willie J

Bowie Jane - Jasonuwp, Sally, Rachel C, Jessica U

Mecole - cctru, Lili, Marthalight, MikesGirl

Cirie - Petals, Janice, Krysta, RJM in SC

Matt - Brenda, Helenann2k, Brent McKee, Chrob61

Hisam - jo C, SueGee, David, ThunderSunflower

Cameron- Cheryl in NC, JonMD 1267, CherylNY, Tilde

Red - DonnaNY , ChaCha, Donna in Florida ,YoDave

Jag - Barbara W, Jackie, Donna in Alabama, Mary C

Izzy - Michelle, Glenn Allen, Jennasmom, ChicMc

Blue - monty924, Judi Sweeney, Jennifer, Don

Jared - Bizaro22, TBone, PDX Granny, Fred aka TwoBlackAces

Kirsten - Ayana, Pearl, Skyriverblue

BB25: Blog Pool OPENS!

 

We're having a heat wave! The time is right to jump into the blog pool!

The 90-minute season premiere is Wednesday, August 2, 8pm ET/PT. The live feeds will start after that show airs on the West Coast. I don't expect cast announcements until probably the day before the premiere. Nor do I know when the first eviction will happen. I do know we are expecting 16 all new hamsters. I also know that the show's regular scheduling will be Sundays at 8pm ET/PT, Wednesdays at 8pm ET/PT, and Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT. There is no show scheduled for Thursday, August 3.

We don't need to know the hamsters to go ahead and get this blog pool sign-up in motion. It's HOT out there. We need to think of pools NOW.

I want in! What do I do?

If you want in on the blog pool, you need to sign up in the comments of this post and this post only! Please don't try signing up on any other posts or social media -- we might miss your comment.

Is there money involved in this?

Of course not! You needn't pay anything to get into the pool. You don't need to buy a seasonal beach pass or anything! Mind you, you don't win any money either. What you do win is bragging rights until the next season and the smugness that goes with it. You can also continue to brag for the duration of seasons to come!

How does it work?

Lifeguard SueGee will make random picks betwixt the hamsters and the blog folks. You cheer on that hamster all season until they either win or get evicted along the way.

When is the cut-off for entering?

All pool requests must be in comments to this here post and submitted by MIDNIGHT Pacific Time Friday, August 4th. Be there or be square.

REMINDER -- If you post comments anonymously, you MUST come up with some sort of sign-off name! 

Since there is plenty of time for signing up ... NO STRAGGLERS. If you don't sign up by the deadline, feel free to bring your floatie and beach towel, but ...

Are we ready for our summer fun?

 

Survivor 44: Blog Pool Update - March 2

 

Good evening! I think last night was an excellent start for what looks like a promising season ahead. Well, Bruce and Maddy might feel differently about that, I guess. It's such a shame that Bruce went out in a medical during the first episode. I think he showed a lot of promise. It would be nice if the show brought back some of the ones injured and medically evacuated some season. 

Anyway ... since Bruce went out unexpectedly, his blog pool person will be reassigned to another castaway. Since we didn't really get to know Maddy at all before she got the boot, her blog pool person will also be reassigned. Plus, we caught three people sneaking into the pool over the fence and, since they brought snacks and adult beverages, we're adding them in to the pool. Yes, we can be bribed.

Lifeguard SueGee did her random magic, and this is the updated blog pool:

SOKA TRIBE

Claire - DonnaNY, TS14Fan 

Danny - Donna in AL, Mikes Girl

Frannie - Auntie Leigh, Brent 

Heidi - John Cantrell, PDX Granny 

Josh - Skyriverblue, Nana in the NW 

Matt - Bizarro22, SueGee 

TIKA TRIBE

Carolyn - Krysta Gibson, Sydney 

Carson - Petals, Donna in FL 

Helen - Martha Light, Jackie 

Sarah - Judi Sweeney, AprilW 

Yam Yam - Sharon N, Glenn Allen 

RATU TRIBE

Jaime - Andi, monty924 

Kane - Nickelpeed, Cheryl in NC 

Lauren - David, KelseyNY 

Matthew - RJM in SC 

Brandon - Mike Barer

Torch Snuffed

Bruce (medical)

Maddy

Survivor 44: Blog Pool OPENS!

 

Survivor 44 premieres next Wednesday, March 1, with a two-hour show starting at 8PM ET/PT. The Lovely Lifeguard SueGee has once again graciously offered to run the blog pool for the show. She, but of course, rocks!

I want in! What do I do?

If you want in on the blog pool, you need to sign up in the comments of this post and this post only! Please don't try signing up on any other posts or Facebook or Twitter -- we might miss your comment.

Is there money involved in this?

Of course not! You needn't pay anything to get into the pool. You don't need to buy a pool pass or anything! Mind you, you don't win any money either. What you do win is bragging rights until the next season and the smugness that goes with it.

How does it work?

Lifeguard SueGee makes random picks for the castaways and the blog folks. You cheer on that castaway all season until they either win or get their torch snuffed along the way.

When is the cut-off for entering?

All pool requests must be in comments to this here post ONLY and submitted by Tuesday, February 28, 3pm ET. Be there or be square.

Survivor 44: It's Coming!

 

Yes, Survivor 44 is almost here! Its season premiere is Wednesday, March 1 at 8PM ET/PT. Once again, the season is set in Fiji. It seems like that's its home now. I do miss the seasons of the past when they set the show in places like Australia and Africa. But they don't consult me on these things! 

I will be delving into each castaway between now and when the show starts. However, I'll give you all a sneak peak at the tribes now ...

Tika Tribe

Soka Tribe

Ratu Tribe

Live-Blogging Television Update

Okay, my latest television (or lack thereof) update. The power cable fix was not a fix. I will be returning that to Amazon. I looked at all kinds of websites -- Target, Walmart, Best Buy, etc. -- and ended up re-ordering the same television as the one that got lost in transit from Amazon. Only Walmart was selling the same television. 

While I could have it delivered much sooner from Walmart, they want $90 more for it. So, back to Amazon. I made sure to select that the option to put the TV box in a regular Amazon box for shipping. Hopefully, that will make disappearing in transit less likely. 

I saw others, cheaper even, but not quite what I wanted. I like the one I like because it's an Android television which comes with a voice remote, Google Assistant built-in, Chromecast built in. I can cast movies and shows on the TV from my Samsung phone or even my tablet if I get that up to snuff and I can load all my streaming kind of stuff, even my Xfinity cable site where I can stream live television and a plethora of back episodes on them, thus to the television. I would be able to hook up my computer to the television with HDMI, but cable placement would be awkward. Oh, and of course, it's Wi-Fi. Plus, it has the tuner in it that if I decide to cut the cable TV cord, I could get over the air channels on an antenna.

While they say you could control your home's smart technology over the television itself, that's not a selling point for me. I guess I live in a dumb apartment. My only "smart" tech I own is my smartphone. 

Since the delivery date is Friday, I once again won't have it on Wednesday for live blogging 'Survivor' and 'The Amazing Race.' I can't watch it from my larger TV in the other room because it's not in my sight view. I can't stream it on my desktop computer and blog at the same time -- I suppose I could figure out some sort of split screen or picture in a smaller window, but no. My phone is too small to really work out with blogging at the same time. My fix this week will be finding the charger for my tablet, then putting either Xfinity site or my Paramount + on it and setting that up nearby. It's not a huge tablet, but better than the phone.

On a sidenote: The tablet, like the now dead television, was a freebie work anniversary gift out of a catalogue. I think it was my 2016 gift. I didn't have Wi-Fi at the time, so it was basically unused. It was in a package with Bluetooth headphones, a charging pack and a few other things. I kind of miss getting cool free stuff every five years!

So, that's where I stand (or sit) with my television Tales of Tragedy.

Big Brother: BB24 Updated Schedule Change for Eviction Show

 

Due to CBS’s live coverage of the House Select Committee’s Public Hearings, this Thursday’s live eviction episode of Big Brother is moving. They announced it would air Friday. Forget that. 

It will now air as a special two-hour episode this Sunday, July 24th from 8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT. 

I'm sure it won't be live.

I will post a live feeds update later tonight. There hasn't been a heck of a lot going on.

Big Brother: BB24 Blog Pool Update

Since there was no eviction last night and Paloma unfortunately (heh) removed herself from the show, SueGee has reassigned the folks who had Paloma in the blog pool to other hamsters.

Here's the latest --

Alyssa          - JonMD1267, Auntie Leigh, SueGee, Gibby in MI
Ameerah    - Jennifer S, Joanne Victoria, Jackie
Brittany    - Judi Sweeney, MikesGirl, Tilde, YoDave
Daniel    - jo C, Indiana Jane, Marthalight
Indy    - Brenda, JamieNJ, Krysta, Petals
Jasmine       - Sharon N, Babs, tbc, ChaCha
Joseph    - Cheryl in NC, T-Town Chick, Sharon C, Tammy M
Kyle    - RJM in SC, Nickelpeed, Donna NY
Michael    - Jennasmom, monty924, KelseyNY, Fred aka TwoBlackAces
Monte    - Sally, Willie J, Rodney
Nicole    - Donna in FL, Dr Celine, Skyriverblue
Pooch (Joe)  - David, Joyce Johnson, Quixotic Elf, PDX Granny
Taylor    - CherylNY, Donna in AL, Cherry Pie
Terrance    - Lili, Caela, Ayana, Nora, AprilW
Turner (Matt)- Bizaro22, Glenn Allen, Jasonuwp

In other blog news, I found the missing comments. Blogger has been sending random comments to its spam folder. I restored the missing ones from the BB24 posts and emptied the folder so I can better watch it. If it continues I might try making people click the "I am not a robot" captcha to see it that keeps them in. My apologies!

Big Brother: BB24 Blog Pool Match-Ups

Who's your hamster? Please check to make sure your name is entered right and, as long as you requested in on the sign-up post before the cut-off, that you are there!

Alyssa          - JonMD1267, Auntie Leigh, SueGee, Gibby in MI

Ameerah    - Jennifer S, Joanne Victoria, Jackie

Brittany    - Judi Sweeney, MikesGirl, Tilde, YoDave

Daniel    - jo C, Indiana Jane, Marthalight

Indy    - Brenda, JamieNJ, Krysta

Jasmine       - Sharon N, Babs, tbc

Joseph    - Cheryl in NC, T-Town Chick, Sharon C, Tammy M

Kyle    - RJM in SC, Nickelpeed, Donna NY

Michael    - Jennasmom, monty924, KelseyNY, Fred aka TwoBlackAces

Monte    - Sally, Willie J, Rodney

Nicole    - Donna in FL, Dr Celine, Skyriverblue

Paloma    - AprilW, Chacha, Petals

Pooch (Joe)  - David, Joyce Johnson, Quixotic Elf, PDX Granny

Taylor    - CherylNY, Donna in AL, Cherry Pie

Terrance    - Lili, Caela, Ayana, Nora

Turner (Matt)- Bizaro22, Glenn Allen, Jasonuwp

Big Brother: BB24 STUFF

 

Yes, I do still exist. I'm still in a wheelchair these days. But I think the hospital stays are over. I apologize for my absence, but this has been a rough road. Anyway ... the show itself seems to be a bit on an odd path as well.

• It will be one of the shortest seasons, if not the shortest, at 74 days. I believe only the winter season during that writers' strike was shorter. The finale is set for September 28.
• There has been no house tour or cast reveal as of yet, four days before the show.
• The cast reveal is set for Tuesday, the day before the premiere.
• There has been no mention of a house tour.
• Julie Chen-Moonves remains the hostess.
• The schedule remains the same as previous years with the the exception of a live move-in 90-minute premiere --   Sunday 8PM ET/PT, Wednesday 8PM ET/PT, and Thursday nights 9PM ET/PT.
• The live feeds should be starting after the premiere finishes airing on the West Coast. But don't hold me to that. The Live Feeds have an announcement posted that they will begin at 12:30AM ET on July 7. Can we trust them after last year's erroneous announcements? Hmm.
• I will be doing a live-blogging blog party post for the season premiere at 8PM ET on Wednesday, July 6.
• If people want it, I can set up a discussion post for The Challenge which airs at 9:30PM ET after BB. I won't be live-blogging that show but probably will make some commentary.
• As usual, I will be covering the live feeds. Since they will start so late here on the East Coast, my first live feeds report probably won't be until Thursday morning.
• There will be a blog pool and I will set up a sign-up post specifically for it. Don't ask to get in it on this post! The actual blog pool put together (by the esteemed SueGee) will be later than usual due to the very late cast reveal.

That's all for now.

BB23: Blog Pool -- Who's Your Hamster?

 

Greetings, Hamster Watchers!

Lifeguard SueGee, affectionately known as SqueeGee, certainly had her hands full coming up with the random matches for this BB23 blog pool. I believe we hit the record for entries this season -- 68! Thank you, SueGee! Lots of old and familiar faces and we welcome several newbies to the pool this season! It's great to have you all aboard and may the best hamster win!

Please check to make sure that, if you signed up on the sign up post before the cut-off today, you are listed and that your name is correctly spelled. If it isn't or you should be there and are not listed, please comment on THIS post and we'll get it corrected.

JOKERS

Brandon Frenchie French: Cheryl in NC, cminnie, Janice from GA, Sally 

Azah Awasum: Dr Celine, Krysta Gibson, Nickelpeed, Rbennie 

Britini D'Angelo: CherryPie, Donna in Alabama, Jlaf, Sharon C 

Derek Frazier: Glenn Allen, Jean from Tampa, Luckysmom, MikesGirl 

ACES

Whitney Williams: Caela, ChaCha, David, Mario Lee, Jennasmom 

Brent Champagne: Bizaro22, Jennifer S, Nora M, Sharon N 

Derek Xiao: Auntie Leigh, Kelsey NY, PDX Granny, SueGee,T town Chic 

Hannah Chaddha: BB-Boy, Fred aka TwoBlackAces, Helenann2K, JoC 

KINGS

Christian Birkenberger: Jackie, Joanne Victoria, Shayne, Willie J 

Alyssa Lopez: CherylNY, JessicaUnderwoodJames, Skyriverblue, Terry is a Texan 

Xavier Prather: Aya Marie, Donna NY, Ed in Ohio, Petals 

Sarah Beth Steagall: Andi, Brenda, ~~~Tilde, TS14Fan 

QUEENS 

Claire Rehfuss: KarlaV, Laura, Marthalight, Monty924 

Kyland Young: chrob61, JonMD1267, Laura in GA, QuixoticElf, Tammy 

Tiffany Mitchell: April, Indiana Jane, MrsKB2, tbc 

Travis Long: Donna in FL, Joyce Johnson, Mary F from PA, Rich in Buffalo, YoDave22

BB23: What Goes On With This Here Blog

 

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SIGNED UP FOR THE BLOG POOL, PLEASE GO TO THIS POST LINKED HERE TO JOIN IN ON THE FUN. IF YOU SIGNED UP ANYWHERE OTHER THAN THAT SIGN UP POST YOUR REQUEST WILL PROBABLY BE MISSED. SO, CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOUR REQUEST IS THERE! THE DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, BUT DO IT NOW!

While the BB motto is "Expect the Unexpected," this blog runs pretty much as expected each season. Here's what you can expect"

• Bullet points. Expect them. A lot.
• Blog parties during aired shows East Coast Time. During those posts, I live blog the show, constantly updating the entry with major happenings. In the comments area, there's a party going on -- sometimes discussing the show, sometimes discussing snacks. I only ask that long, heated debates (politics, for example) are not discussed. 
• I ask that spoilers are not posted on the show posts as some people who follow them do not follow the live feeds.
• Expect spoilers in every post that is not show post.
• I post at least one, often more live feeds reports each day. Since the live feeds are live not taped like most of the shows, expect spoilers.
• I'm only one person, so I don't post every breath they take in the house.
• I post things which catch my interest, news about comp wins and more in the live feed reports. Often blog readers may also chime in with something they saw.
• Each live feed report will have some screen caps from the live feeds.
• Since there aren't dozens (hundreds?) of people updating this blog, wins and such can be taken as fact. I don't post rumors and if I see false information in a comment, that comment gets removed.
• Although I hang a bit in Twitter, I don't post much content there. I do immediately post all blog entry links on both my Twitter and my Big Brother related Facebook page which are both under STUFF in the right sidebar.

 What I expect from YOU:

• You can like or dislike any hamster this season, but please don't treat the fellow commenters poorly.
• A post about a hamster is much different than a post about fans of said hamster.
• Please use actual names or widely-accepted names for the hamsters in comments so people (like me) know to whom you're referring. For example, calling someone Vincent because you think he's a cool cat would just confuse everybody. So, no off the cuff nicknames, please.
• While mocking behavior of the hamsters is one thing -- after all, they agreed to be in the public eye -- I ask that posts about things they can't control like weight, height, etc. that are out of their control not be made. Such comments might be deleted.
• Any hate speech is deleted.
• Do NOT respond to trolls. During shows, I might not get to read comments until commercials or the end of the show. When a troll comes in and posts mocking us all, it's more work to delete a gazillion protests from blog defenders. I appreciate the support, but …! Trust me, I catch the troll posts and any identity cloning people and delete the posts.
• I ask that comments be kept to a PG level. Just because the hamsters have potty-mouths, we don't need to do so. I have this blog set with Google for all ages and not adult content. I want to keep that setting.

Last, but not least …

For those of you who have asked, my health still is an issue. I never did return to work at my fulltime job after my back surgery.

That said, I do appreciate any donations you can make to the blog if you enjoy the coverage and community provided here. Unlike many sites who receive money from CBS Paramount+ subscriptions and such, I only get a smidgen from advertising revenue. I do put a lot of effort into the blog and it gives me warm fuzzies to see donations! (Plus it helps with the bills!) Now that I've hit you up for that -- if you do not have CBS Paramount+ and want to sign up for it, go to my ol' buddy Dingo at hamsterwatch.com and get them through her. 

May the best hamster win!

BB23: The Blog Pool OPENS!

 

It's that time of year once again -- time for our summer obsession. BB23 starts next Wednesday evening. This season we get to see them enter the house live instead of already being in there for a week or so. Plus, the live feeds start after the West Coast show ends. Since they announced the cast so late (yesterday) and they won't even have nominations made in the premiere, I'm extending this sign up a bit.

WHO WANTS TO JUMP INTO THE BLOG POOL?

What's it all about?

Our esteemed and accomplished Lifeguard SueGee (AKA SqueeGee) will randomly match up pool entrants with the hamsters in the habitrail. Once matched up with a hamster, you need to cheer that one on until they're evicted or win it all. Yeah, even if they're obnoxious. Deal with it!

What will I win?

Well, IF you win, you'll be pleased to know there is NO CASH PRIZE! Nuh-uh. No way. That would cheapen the whole thing, don't ya think? Instead of paltry prizes, you get BRAGGING RIGHTS. Yep! From now through all eternity YOU will be a blog pool winner here. Feel free (and I encourage it) to put your win in your sign-off signature so that everyone can oooh and ahhh. Can't you hear the crowd now?

How do I get in on this wild action?!?!

You just need to sign up in the comments of THIS POST ONLY. If you put your name in on another post or Facebook or Twitter, it might be missed. If you come here as anonymous, you must come up with some sort of name in your comment. Otherwise, we can't tell the anonymous folks apart. Well, except for the unruly ones, maybe.

When is the deadline for joining the pool?

The deadline for signing up is Friday, July 9, at NOON Pacific Time (that's 3pm ET). Don't put it off! Sign up TODAY! No stragglers!

BB23: Some More Information ...

 

Oh, we're getting close now. A week from tomorrow is the live Big Brother 23 season premiere! The cast reveal is set for tomorrow. Yes, of course I will be posting on that! Unfortunately (at least, in my opinion), Allison Grodner is still the executive producer. While CBS is pretty much demanding diversity in the form of around 50% people of color on reality shows, there is nothing said about age diversity -- something this show is woefully lacking. With her at the helm, I expect more hamsters will look great in bikinis than not.

I found an interesting interview with Grodner at this link. Here are some tidbits gleaned from it:

• The theme for the season is actually BB Beach Club. It's to be set up like a Vegas boutique hotel. Yeah, you know all those beaches in Vegas, right?
• Apparently gambling of some sort or other will be a thing this season. Hmm. That's not really my favorite thing.
• No, absolutely none, returning players! She said a few superfans, some fans and some who don't really know the show at all.
• In the live 90-minute season premiere, the hamsters will be split into teams, vying for team captain AND there will be an HoH comp.
• The team captains supposedly get a "snapshot" of the hamsters and decide who they want on their team. I'm not sure if they have to split it male/female, but I hope so. We don't need a pure alpha-male team of four!
• Yes, I said teams. There will be four teams of four (16 hamsters this season). At least that should reduce house votes! Grodner also points out that it will cut down the large alliances ruling the game. True dat.
• An excerpt from Allison Grodner in the linked article: This season, our theme is full of risk-versus-reward dilemmas. We're dialing up the risk, hoping and anticipating the houseguests are faced with decisions they've never really had to make in the Big Brother house before.  -- Okaaayy ...
• Julie Chen-Moonves will be making a "double or nothing offer" that cannot be refused (but surely will be by most) at the end of the live episode. I'm thinking it might be a bribe to quit. We don't expect an eviction the first night.
• Hmm ...

Long Time, No Blog -- BB23 Starts Soon!

 

So ... how have you been?

Before we get really into things BB23 -- I received notification that Feedburner will be eliminating email notifications to anyone subscribed in July. Oh noes! Offhand I don't really know of another service. I will have to research that. What I can suggest is using my social media notifications on either Facebook or Twitter. I always link my posts to those platforms as soon as they're published. Here's the info -- My Twitter and my Facebook Big Brother Page. (Click on the links.) You can always sign up for my personal FB page but I only post show night links there, not the live feeds and other links.

What's the latest news about the show?!?!

Unfortunately, the latest news is that there isn't much news. Hmm ... let's see ...

• Julie Chen-Moonves will be hosting as she has done every season.
• No house images have been released yet.
• CBS has new criteria for diversity on their reality shows. But I bet we still won't see a lot of diversity in ages! (Grr.)
• According to various sources, the casting has been finished and the new hamsters and alternates have started their pre-season sequesters which include a two-week quarantine due to Covid precautions and a third week of regular sequester. They will once again be tested for Covid prior to entering the house.
• The season premiere is set for Wednesday, July 7 at 8pm ET/PT and will be 90 minutes.
• The regular weekly shows are to be an hour and are scheduled for: Sunday, Wednesday, Thursdays all at 8pm ET/PT, followed by Love Island (gag).
• CBS All Access has changed to Paramount Plus. Same feeds venue, different name.
• RUMORS: All new cast, theme for the show and the house is BB Rebirth or New Beginnings. No one goes home the first night and an HOH will occur in the premier. These rumors I can't really verify other than they're coming from a fairly often reliable spoilers source.

More news as I get the news ...