Image Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBSAnnie the saboteur, we barely knew ye! Fortunately, she may not be the only backstabber in the Big Brother house this summer. EW talked exclusively to Executive Producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan about the short-lived twist and what they hope to spring on the houseguests in the coming weeks, including a visit from a former player. So SPOILER ALERT! Don’t click to the next page if you don’t want to learn what happens in tonight’s episode and over the next few weeks.
EW: After Annie was booted, why didn’t you let the house continue to believe that the saboteur was still there?
Allison Grodner The saboteur may not be dead after all! You’ll find out more tonight (July 29). Make sure you watch! We loved this twist. We were hoping it would go longer. But we don’t rig this show. People accuse us of rigging this show, people accuse us of trying to manipulate things. We don’t! We picked someone who was playing her own game, who was a huge fan, who had everything going for her. It wasn’t the saboteur (twist) that got her out, it was her own silly game play – which she did not have to overdo. We would have loved for it to go longer, but it didn’t. And the summer goes on! We ran this risk on every twist we’ve played…
Rich Meehan Twin twist, America’s Player…
Grodner Everything had this same risk associated with it. It is what it is with the game. It gave us a jolt, it was fun. But it’s not over yet!
Was it a Big Brother record, seeing the overt affection begin so quickly between Rachel and Brendon?
Grodner He already professed his love and they’re already planning their wedding date! Tonight he actually says `I love you.’ Bren-chel is in it for the long haul.
Meehan In (Wednesday’s show) he named them `Bren-chel.’
Grodner I swear, I think we may get a Big Brother wedding out of this, not to mention that Jeff and Jordan are still together. Wouldn’t that be great? And Jeff will be back too. Jeff might be spending the night in the house in a couple of weeks so look out for that! I can’t say that Brendon and Rachel are the same as Jeff and Jordan; they are kind of the anti-Jeff and Jordan, but they are truly madly, deeply…there was a scene that we’ll figure out how to get in that played over the internet, where he starts to talk about how he’s going to introduce her to the family. He’s starting to worry about how his mom is not going to like her. At which point, she’s like, `What?’ It starts friction.
Can you tell Rachel that she doesn’t need to yell in the diary room?
Grodner We’ve heard that. We will now. Rachel and Hayden are the yellers. It’s like, `give us some energy,’ and they get loud. We will tone them down.
Is there way that you can make the slop kosher for Andrew?
Grodner Slop is that unique mixture that we get that has the protein and the vitamins, so it’s not just oatmeal. This week, because they have the baby food, there is kosher baby food and kosher oatmeal, so he’s eating big bowls of that. It was a challenge. We’ve never had someone with these kinds of restrictions in the house. And the fact that he’s even made it this long is amazng, considering he’s kind of socially awkward.
What do you think of the house so far?
Grodner It’s always different. Last year, it was a split, angry house. This year, it’s nice because these people, even when they get mad at each other, are fine again pretty fast.
Meehan Even when you don’t like them, you don’t despise them and don’t want to change the channel.
What happened to that tease from the saboteur that two houseguests have a lifelong relationship? Will you explain that?
Grodner Eventually. But it’s been fun because that’s something that the houseguests are trying to figure out.
Why are you sequestering all the houseguests this year?
Grodner We’ve done that in seasons past because of the expect the unexpected. That might happen. It’s become a safety net for us. If it plays into something, it plays into something. It may or may not.
Lame. Pathetic. Yawn.
Quit trying to excuse away this year’s dreadfully dull show. The “twist” was dumb and failed the first week, the contestants are bad and you couldn’t even let the saboteur thing linger there. You also lost your diversity early again.
You better have some heck of a twist left to salvage any hope. But the main thing is poor casting. Instead of Jersey Shore rejects, the dumb southern jock, the old lady, etc. try getting new, interesting (ie non bartender) people and get more people from different ethnic backgrounds.
But for now you’re stuck with the MeowMix and Mensa Moron and the WORST. ALLIANCE. EVER.
Agree, they are grabbing at straws now. Shame on them for trying to recreate past years instead of thinking, (gasp) of a new cast.
I’m sick of these bland all-vanilla casts. Also does everyone in the house have to be a “hard body”?? Having different ethnic backgrounds and body types and ages would make for a so much more interesting show. Would it kill them to have more than one minority in the house at a time??
I’m completely with you on this, BB12BLOWS. This has got to be one of the dullest casts who lack any sort of strategy in BB history. 3 weeks have already gone by and I still don’t care for any of the contestants nor do I care who wins. I think the problem with this season is that there’s no cast diversity. They either seem to be beach bums (Hayden, Lane, Matt, Brendon) or bimbos (Britney, Rachel, Kristen, Monet). The Casting Director needs to go back and see the cast that was put together for BB 10. NOW THAT WAS A DIVERSE CAST! AND ONE OF THE BEST CASTS IN BB HISTORY. You had Dan (religious guy), Memphis (party animal), Renny (socialite), Jerry (old man), Steven (gay rodeo cowboy), Brian (arrogant), Michelle (tomboy), and the 3 witches (Libra, April and Keesha). And to top that off–you had a geek (Dan) and a frat guy (Memphis) aligning with eachother and making it to the finals! BB 10 was the last great season. This season doesn’t even come close to it.
i agree it always the same type of people. my daughter has been a fan for years but not once picked. why is it only one black i know other people apply. also all the young people where is the over 34 always on person in their 40. this is america all kind watch the show pick a better range of people
I agree with “BB12Blows”. The cast is beyond vanilla. One black houseguest and one houseguest over 40? It was also weird when the “saboteur” pulled Ragan aside and confided that she was bisexual, like that was some shameful secret in 2010.
When did a 40 year old woman become “the OLD lady” WOW What an awful way to think.
LOL gato I’m with you on that! I must be considered ancient if 40 is old…
Right?!!!!!!
Yeah and even she is a bimbo!
I AM 40 and I think of Kathy as the “old” lady on BB. She is not really old – just in the context of BB cast.
Calling a 40-something woman an old lady is blatantly ageist and not acceptable. It also doesn’t make any sense in a message where the writer of a post asks for a more diverse cast. (As in the first message.)
I totally agree!! They will never learn, unfortunately Hollywood is like another country. The producers have ALWAYS cast poorly on this show, I know for a fact that Allison Grodner is terribly unattractive, so you’d think she’d appreciate casting entertaining NORMAL people instead of rejects from A Night at the Roxbury. The guys all look the same, the women all have fake boobs and hair, I can’t tell anyone apart. Big Brother UK is SOOO much better, but that was canceled, such a shame. Go back to the Season ONE format!!!
So nice of you to pull in Allison’s looks. Get a life.
I agree–BB UK is a lot better because you really get to know the characters a lot more than in the US version. For example, this season of BB UK has several fascinating contestants, such as Ben (a Jeremy Irons clone), John James (a David Beckham lookalike who is emotionally screwed up), Dave (a former drug addict turned minister), Shabby (a lesbian filmmaker), Keeva (a beauty with bisexual tendencies), etc. Compare them to the boring cast of BB US.
I totally agree about BBUK. I am loving it this season. And don’t forget about Steve. This guy is missing both legs, missing an eyeball has tattoos all over his body, burns all over and is a war veteran. Its sad, BBUS would never cast someone who looks like Steve. Apart from season 1 with Eddie who was missing a leg, but season one was more like the other BB’s from around the world and not the crap it has become today. Hell even 2 years ago BBUK had a blind guy!
I would like to see more “normal” people as well, and more in the uppper 30′s, 40′s. I also want to see Annie back. Please Allison, do something and quick, because these houseguests are very boring on the feeds. This house needs to be shaken up – fast!
It would be really fun if they just did a cast that reflected the country’s demographics a little better. White models in their 20′s get a little tiresome after 11 seasons or so.
Could not agree more!! The best BBs are the one with such diverse and different people. Not beach bodies and big boobs. These people do not have anything different or extraordinary about them at all. They are people I see ever day. Which would be fine if they had some personality. It is hard to believe with all the people that apply these were the best they could get. I would love to be on BB and I think I would Kick AZZ Its a dream I know it will never happen. But Geez if these people can make it anyone can!! I cant believe I am actually wanting Whats her name? the one that cried over her picture? (brain poot) Anyway Cant believe I would rather watch her! At this point I am so glad I waited to buy the feeds! I have never missed a BB but If things don’t start getting interesting (without it being forced) I think Ill just watch it on Demand. The most I have had to talk about it so far is just this.The fact that there is Nothing to talk about!
I must admit that this year has been a complete disappointment. I have not gotten into it as per previous years. BB/UK (which I watch via torrent) has been far more interesting. They should consider opening the eviction vote to the public, as they do in BB/UK
But then they can edit the show to favor certain HGs. People like the old guy Jerry from BB10 was a gross, mean spirited, and perverted guy, yet he got a great edit on the show. I don’t want the editors to rig the show even more and have their favs make it farther when the tv only voters far outweigh the feed watchers who see how they really are.
The eviction vote used to be open to the public, way back in Season 1, but they got rid of it. I actually think it’s better that they don’t, because America doesn’t see everything and only sees people as CBS wants them to (unless they watch the live feeds). Up until this point, the cast has been interesting enough that they were enough to cause their own drama. Other than Britney and Lane (who are hilarious together) and the slobberfest of Bren-chel, there isn’t anything going on this season. This is one of my favorite shows, and I hope they can turn it around.
I love Lane and Britney together. She seems much nicer now that she doesn’t have Mona with her.
I’m SO happy someone else thinks Brittney and Lane are hilarious together – they are SO funny! They save the show for me…..esp. during after dark!!!
thats a horrible idea, which they did in the first season of big brother and it was dreadful.
MArcelo, how do you watch BBUK on Torrent?
Do a search on google for Big Brother UK torrent and various sights will come up that has it available for download. Thepiratebay.org is a good one, go onto their sight and it will give you the directions on how to download.
You don’t even have to download torrents. I watch it everyday via youtube. Just search Big Brother UK 2010 and a user dirtymonkey151 posts the shows every single day right after they air over there.
Please don’t shove Brendon and Rachel down our throats. We HATE them! Their showmance is obnoxious. We like Hayden and Kristen better but not that much.
Agree, the fake romances are disgusting, and obviously being pushed.
speak for yourself Kimmy, we dont hate them. And no, we dont like Hayden and Kristen better, they are horribly boring. At least Brendon and Rachel give us something to watch.
Sorry…but the general consensus is…we hate them.
Speak for YOURSELF Troy, WE HATE THEM!!!!!!!
We DEFINITELY hate them.
I’m with Troy – don’t hate them at all.
I love Rachel!! Shes cute, fun, smart….i dont care what some people say!
are you kidding?!?!??! brendon and rachel are horrible, all they do is make out like two teenagers behind the bleachers, its revolting. and that laugh oh do i hate that laugh… worst shomance ever. every minute their on the screen i want to poke my eyes out with a pencil, and i will never forgive matt for not putting them both up forget about the backdoor already put them both up guarenteed one of them would of went home, now i have to vomit in my mouth atleast once every sunday wednesday and thursday… other than that great show allison!!
Brendon and Rachel are the most disgusting and annoying house guests I’ve ever seen. I wish they would both go home.
Yep, definitely HATE Bren-chel! What a horrible name!!
I side 100% with the “hate them” crowd. Those two idiots are trying anything they can to become the Jeff & Jordan of this season. Even going so far as to give..THEMSELVES… a stupid couple name. Jeff and Jordan were funny, cute and hilarious to watch together. These two clueless twits are boring, annoying as hell and have the personality of cabbage.
I’ve stopped watching after the last show because of them and I’m just reading the recaps now. Once I learn that one of them has been evicted, I’ll maybe start watching again. Although guilty pleasure or not. This show has pretty much run its course for me.
Jeff and Jordan were really adorable. So far no one this season seems very appealing or particularly interesting.
Matt = Dumbest HOH noms ever.
Brenchel? Like your such an egomaniac and your name has to come first that you couldn’t come up with Radon? It’s even sciency! A chemical element! Come on!
I HATE the Radon (Brenchel) showmance, and Matt should be shot with a ball of his own sh*t for not nominating both of them during his HOH reign of idiocy.
I think I could like Brendan… but Rachel gotta go! Every friggin’ week telling the evicted “You ain’t gonna come between me and my man”. Shes delusional. She even said it to Andrew! What a whack job!
Actually, I don’t mind them. It’s not them, it’s how they keep slipping through the fingers of the WORST. ALLIANCE. EVER. – despite not really even knowing this alliance is out to get them or caring, they somehow foil the “mastermind” evil plans of the MensaMoron, MeowMix and Mimbos I & II. The ickiness, annoyance and incompetence of the WORST. ALLIANCE. EVER. have made Bran-chel (eww) less annoying by comparison.
they suck dude.
Grodner’s last answer contradicts her answer about it not being rigged. They are sequestering people, yet may not bring one back, unless of course a really popular houseguest leaves in the next few weeks, then boom, twist is back on. Like the show but its obvious how much DR rigging goes on in that house. For example, BB8 Eric is about to go home pre-jury and thus we the public don’t vote for the winner, which is more $ for CBS. Amber, Jameka, and Dustin all dead set on him going, then the night before the eviction, go the DR, and now Eric must stay. Hmmmm
Not only that, but when Eric (America) had the power to send Dick home, Allison suddenly decided that the AP couldn’t use the POV that week.
What are you talking about with Eric possibly going home, and then America not voting for a winner? I have no clue what you’re talking about. I definitely don’t remember this.
IF Eric went home the week vs Kail, he would not have made the jury, and thus we the public would not have a vote to pick the winner. Since he did, we the public voted for Dick to win.
Gawd, how do you people remember all this stuff?? LOL
They’re some kind of savants. I can’t remember what happened last year, let alone all the details from several seasons ago.
I kind of agree with you. If not outright rigged or scripted, then at least the producers are laying on some seriously heavy hints as to which way itthe show should play out. This last one with Matt as HOH and neither of those two toeheads being evicted really made me wonder. The prods are trying desperately to make Brendon and Rachel the IT couple and need them around as long as possible.
i doubt it’s rigged, but i do suspect that in the DR the producers make them repeat things or have them say things more dramatically or whatever.
BB12 = Worst Season Ever. Such a snooze fest.
Though Britney is pretty amazing. Would love to see her on a cast that is not full of duds like Kristen, Kathy, and Brenchel. Well pretty much the whole cast sucks.
Well Jenna, I guess you didnt see the dreadful 1st season, nothing and i mean NOTHING, compares to that cr@ptastic season
I don’t know Troy, this season is shaping up to be pretty sucktastic as well
Worst season ever…by a mile. As much as I hated Chima, Russell and Ronnie last year, I thought that the casting was brilliant. Chima was extremely tempermental on her best days. Russell, mostly likely always the alpha-male in his circles, was bound to be confrontational and Ronnie was such a socially awkward geek that he was bound to draw the wrath of the popular people.
This year’s cast is just ridiculous. I still couldn’t tell you the names of half of these people because I just don’t care all that much about them. I latched on to favorites last year but I’m not sure if I care who wins this year. I’ve eliminated those who I don’t want to win but am left with lukewarm feelings for Ragan, Britney and Brendan.
What’s funny is that last year it was absolutely uncomfortable for me to watch (read) what happened on the live feeds, but they were so much more entertaining. There’s not even a cast member that I absolutely can’t stand. I don’t like Matt, but meh. These people have NO game play. I want Brendon to win (not to stay with R), but to put two Bro-gade members against each other and shake things up!!!
THE BLO-GADE STINKS. ENZO CANT GET RID OF HIS JERSEY BS. HAYDEN LOOKS LIKE A SHEEPDOG IN HEAT. MATT IS CRAZY AND KINDA FUN IN HIS JAMIES. MATT NEEDS A MAN TATTOOED ON HIM AND MAYBE IT WOULD WORK. LANE NEEDS A TRUCKER OR REAGAN TO KICK HIS RED-NECK A***. MAKE KRISTEN CLEAN THE SLOBER FROM BRENCHEL BED. THEN MAYBE SHE CAN TAKE HAYDEN TO THE MOON.
I think the most boring contestants on the show are Lane, Hayden, Enzo, Andrew, Kathy and Kristen. Who are they and what have they contributed to the show? I can hear Nikki from BB UK (Season 7) asking: “Who is she? Who is she?. Well, who are they? Who are they?
Reagan has to go he thinks he is so smart. He is just likes to hear himself talk and has no game.yea for Breandon but get away from Racheal.
Reagan??? Is that the Orthodox Jew??? Is that the hot chick they never show on camera??? Hmm … who is this Reagan??? Your description sounds like the MensaMoron guy with the icky tats all over his scrawny carcass who lied about his wife (ick again). But I can’t remember his name either. As far as I’ve seen, the only people on this show are the catty blonde, the two teenagers in heat and the WORST. ALLIANCE. EVER. and their lame name.
Not everyone hates Bren-chel..there are fans like me that love the couple and hope to see them get far in the game!
I really like Brendan and Rachael but I think Brendan is alot nicer than Rachael and deserves better.
Both of you should read a Harlequin romance and chat about it.
Its totally obvious that Jennifer and Shirley are related to Rachel and/or Brendan.
Smitty:
I love Harlequin Romances and can’t stand Brendon or Rachel.
Try not to stereotype. You can read a Romance, be intelligent and have good taste.
.
I like Rachel and Brendon and Kristen
The hell with the rest of the house
Childbirth hasn’t been kind to Julie Chen
…
Don’t you dare insult Julie Chen! She looks fantastic. Wow…it is really petty to attack someone for their appearance when we can’t even see your appearance.
Julie is beautiful.
Whaaaaaaaaaa???!?!?!?
Are you serious? Julie looks freaking gorgeous.
del taco, you suck!!!
First off, Julis is gorgeous and looks fabulous. Secondly, who roots for the slobber twins? And the most boring chick ever? I would rather hear Enzo try to say “Coffee” a 100x’s then see Brenden and Rachel suck face, or look at Kristin’s oddly shaped evil eyebrows.
I m from Brazil and we are watching this season by download. And here everybody liked.
Here in Brazil, public vote…and the public ever vote wrong…the most inteligent players and villans are eliminated. And the ‘heroes’ and good guys win!!! So boring!!!! I prefer without vote public. So i prefer BBUSA…but Big Brother Brasil is hottest, ahahah
Big Brother Wedding…F Off Allison…fake crap is fake crap, and who cares…the show is fake, and so are you. It’s not the show it was put up to be, and doesn’t mean anything anymore. Trying to make it one of those other crappy reality shows is why people are not watching anymore.
people are not watching anymore? are you some kind of moron or something? The ratings are through the roof, beating even last years ratings.
Troy, you can stop with the Brenchel damage control. People simply do not like the grossmance and you can’t make them. The ratings are slightly up, that does not mean “through the roof”. Most of the time they are up against repeats. Give me a break.
Troy – you do realize its summer don’t you? Summer ratings don’t really mean much. There not exactly up against 30 Rock here. More like an episode of Home Improvement from 1994.
Not watching? Hmm seems you are pretty interested in the season if you are on this site and thread reading updates?
ROFLMAO a Big Brother Wedding with Rach and Bren R U Kidding? Surely you can come up with a betetr exciting comment than that. WE HATE THEM!
I Would love To Jeff to come back in house,but maybe its Jordan since Jeff is on his adventure!Now i know people hate Brenchel i happen to be totally addicted to watchng them just like i was with Jeff and Jordan.But they are planning their wedding i have not seen anything on the feeds with them discussing that unless it was during times when the camera was not on them i am curious to see the show to find out what happens.I bet they dont tell the other houseguests about that i mean some of the HG’s and probably alot Brenchel haters think they wont last either so it would be interesting to see what happens with this.
It’s not a horrible season, mediocre but not horrible. Would love to see Brit and Rag in final 2. They are the most entertaining. I am praying Brenchel don’t win HOH and put Rag up as Brenden just stated.
I just want to say thank you to Allison and Rich for BB!! It seems like they hear a lot of complaints and don’t get thanked enough. So thank you for all the work you all put into it!
Agreed. It’s very easy to be snide and complain from the safe anonimity of your keyboard. Producers are doing their best to make an entertaining show. Why are you still watching (and reading these articles) if you think it’s so detestable?
BB never ever gets cooking until at least week 4. Every year we go thru this….
You’re right!
BB 10 was already cooking during Week 1 when the house overturned Brian–the self-proclaimed mastermind. There’s no comparison between this season and Season 10.
Not true. This time last year we already had the whole Ronnie drama and a bunch of arguments.
This year is a bummer! Love brendon regan and kinda matt minus dumb wanna be 4 horseman alliance.. Andrew has been screwed from day one by this twist!! Don’t bring back anne!!!!! Pulllease!! Something is just off the mark this year dudds.. The HG need to realise IT IS WEEK 3 not as far as they think!! Kathy is to old. Lane I though would be my fav but really not much there but playin pool! Enzo aghh least fav hayden cut ur hair ‘risten is my fav girl or was till she turned on andrew but really where does she hide? The things britt says may be funny but I think show thought she was gona be the new JORDAN!! Um NO she is hateful. House needs diversity say that every year ALL STARS time how about another FEB season that was great!! U knw the year of Tv. Stike!
Are you kidding I would love to have another season in Feb. such as the writers strike season, but at this point I am just hoping the show gets renewed for another summer cuz this is by far the worst cast I remember. Brendon and Rachel are horrible to watch I don’t know anyone who enjoys them. Where is the strategy this season. Worst strategic decisions up to this point. People are rooting for Brendon and Rachel to break up and that will be the only thing that will make it interesting. I can only imagine Vegas McBoobs going freaking crazy if that were to happen!!