Topic: Surprises coming to BB3

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Surprises coming to 'Big Brother 3'
By JOHN POWELL -- Jam! Showbiz
If the new contestants entering the 'Big Brother 3' house think they've got the game all figured out, they'd better think again. Though the show's producers are tight-lipped about the upcoming changes, Arnold Shapiro and Allison Grodner are promising that they will throw the players and the viewers at home for a loop this year.

"Because the show was a success and because it did as well as it did last summer, we have retained virtually all of the changes that we made but we have thrown in just a few twists and turns," Shapiro told Jam! Showbiz. "There are just a few new roadblocks in terms of our rules and format so the people coming into the house who have worked out a perfect strategy -- and believe me all of them think they have -- are in for a few surprises. They will find that out once they are inside the house. We've made a few changes to keep people on their toes but essentially 'Big Brother 3' is playing on the strengths and the success of 'Big Brother 2'."

"It (the rule change) will indeed affect the playing of this competition. It is not just a random surprise. It is a new element that will add a new twist to the game," added Grodner.

The players and the viewers will find out what twist Shapiro and Grodner have in store for them during the first two episodes of the summer-long reality show series which returns to the CBS line-up on Wednesday, July 10th. Along with the surprise rule change comes a few other minor alterations to close any loopholes that were exploited by the players on 'Big Brother 2'. For example, unlike last year, the producers won't be handing out cigarettes to the players who smoke.

"If there are any smokers in the house, the cigarettes they bring in are going to have to last them for the duration," Shapiro warned.

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To keep things fresh, the "Big Brother" house -- which is situated on a closed set on the CBS Studios lot in California -- has undergone a make-over as well. Gone are the "IKEA" type furnishings of past seasons. As Grodner explained, the producers have opted for a "traditional contemporary with a twist" setting this year that draws upon many different ethnic influences to make the house seem more inviting.

One of the highlights of "Big Brother 2" was a sleepover during which former contestants from "Survivor" stayed with and competed against the House Guests. Will there be a similar visit this year? Shapiro isn't sure.

"There may very well be a surprise from some outside people but who they are, which shows they come from and how they are used is just something we haven't decided yet," he said.

Coming on board during the second installment of the series, Grodner and Shapiro admit to having reservations about how far to "push" the players during "Big Brother 2". Having survived a season which included a scandal which erupted when House Guest Justin Sebik placed a knife to the throat of contestant Krista Stegall (who maintains to have taken it as a joke and wasn't threatened by his actions) after a night of reported heavy drinking in the house, it is no more Mr. Nice Guys for Grodner and Shapiro. They are going to be much tougher in enforcing the rules of the game and in the competitions they are preparing for the players.

"Just like last year, there was zero tolerance for violence and there will be again and they (the players) know that," said Grodner. "We aren't kidding around about that. We take that extremely seriously as we did last year," Shapiro agreed. "It was unfortunate that we had that incident but we are prepared for whatever might come about but we just don't think that's going to happen this year."

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According to Shapiro, the producers had a pool of approximately 6,000 contestants to draw from this year. That's double the amount of the people who sent in requests to be on "Big Brother 2". From that pool, the 50 finalists went through a battery of psychological, medical and I.Q. testing in L.A. Of the 50, only 12 made it onto the show.

"We have done everything humanly possible to know the backgrounds of these people and because of everything we learned last year, before they go into the house the talks that Allison and I are going to have with each House Guest individually are going to be very through," said Shapiro of the process. "I really think that everybody is going to follow the rules to the letter because nobody wants to get thrown out, nobody wants to be put up for a penalty nomination. Every one of these people wants to win. They are like hungry dogs just waiting to be released from their cages."

Both Shapiro and Grodner are proud of the "Big Brother 3" cast they've selected. Because they've had the advantage of watching two seasons of the show, Shapiro believes the new players will certainly be more prepared, more skilled at playing the game and could possibly be the most ruthless House Guests thus far seen on American television.

"We think this cast is as competitive as can be. They are all very eager. They all have their strategies...but they are highly competitive and they break down into two categories," Shapiro reflected. "The people who say that they're leaving their morals and ethics at the front door. That they will do anything to win within the rules. That no matter what they have to do, who they have to betray, who they have to doublecross, who they have to con, that it is no problem for them. Then there are a few people who believe that they can win the game by being who they really are and not compromising their personalities and ethics. It will be very interesting to see which strategy ultimately prevails."

The "Big Brother" house is outfitted with 38 cameras and 62 microphones that record the lives of the 12 contestants 24 hours a day for three months. The goings-on are broadcast on TV as well as on the Internet. Each week the contestants vote one of their own out until just two are left. The final surviving House Guests are then subjected to a final vote. During that vote, the returning "banished" House Guests pick the winner.

Will Kirby, a 28-year-old physician from Florida -- nicknamed 'Doctor Evil' by fans -- was chosen as the winner of last year's "Big Brother 2" and was awarded the grand prize of $500,000. Nicole, the 31-year-old personal chef from Atlanta, took home second place and $50,000.

Eddie McGee, the New Yorker who lost his left leg to cancer, won a half million dollars as the winner of the first U.S. "Big Brother."