`Big Brother' preview on CBS gets out the vote
By Maureen Ryan
Tribune television reporter
If you're not a fan of reality TV, Wednesday might be a good night to visit the outlying corners of cable TV or to check out one of the broadcast network repeats (such as the second-season repeats of "Lost"), because Wednesday is when reality's firm hold on the summer schedule becomes a death grip.
Though it isn't the official start of the new season of "Big Brother," viewers of a special "America's Vote" (7 p.m. Wednesday, WBBM-Ch. 2) will meet the 20 former contestants vying for a spot in the upcoming "All-Stars" edition of the reality franchise, to be hosted by Julie Chen. A Web search reveals that online "Big Brother" devotees have a good idea which 20 "All Stars" wannabes will be on Wednesday's show; no doubt many past winners will turn up as possible contestants.
And if you have any doubt as to whether "Big Brother 6's" controversial Kaysar Ridha will be back, rest assured, he will be. Viewers will choose half the contestants who end up in the "All-Stars" house, but the show's producers will choose the other half, and
one way or the other Ridha is bound to make the cut.
What remains to be seen is whether this "All-Stars" season will be as good as "Survivor's" all-star edition was. "Big Brother" has always been tawdrier and saddled with more complicated rules than "Survivor," and the tacky house setting can feel claustrophobic, all of which has limited "Brother's" appeal, for me, anyway.
By the way, the show's official return is July 6, which is when the final roster of housemates will be revealed. Fans can read online pitches from various "Big Brother" candidates and vote on who should end up on the show on cbs.com through June 28.
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