BIG BROTHER’S BACK
The show that won’t go away returns for its fans
Big Brother Canada Debuts Wednesday, Global Big Brother is watching you, and apparently you’re watching Big Brother — obsessively so. The Canadian edition of the reality show is back for a sixth season after fans protested its cancellation last June.
Debuting Wednesday on Global and airing subsequent Wednesdays, Thursdays and Mondays, Big Brother Canada will sequester 14 strangers in a camera-filled house as they use strategy and gameplay to win. (Fans will continue to vote online until Thursday for two last-minute gatecrashers to join the house.) At stake: a grand prize of $100,000, a European vacation and a $30,000 home makeover.
Host Arisa Cox previews the new season of the Canadian Screen Award nominated series.
Q What was your reaction when the show was cancelled?
A I remember hearing the news that it wasn’t coming back, and I immediately slipped into gratitude — that’s just the kind of person I am. The glass was half full because we had five seasons of incredible television. I remember after season 1 saying, “OK this is crazy. But give me five years and I’ll be over the moon.” But the fans, they were like, “Not on our watch.”
Q Why are the fans are so passionate?
A There are people who like TV, there are people who are fans of particular shows, and then there’s the Big Brother fandom. The most loyal, dedicated, brilliant, hilarious people watch this show. Your favourite reality show that’s on once a week is just that — it’s on once a week for an hour and it’s great. But our show has three full shows a week, plus a 24-hour live feed, which means that people have a very different connection with the people on our show. They feel it more. When your favourite is in trouble, it’s a big deal. When your fave is doing well, it’s a huge deal.
Q What can viewers expect this season?
A This is the season that the fans demanded. We are going back to what Big Brother is at its core, which is a social experiment — putting strangers together, and seeing how they interact and use their skills to get ahead in the game. And in that, there’s always this struggle between good and evil. Do you back-stab your best friend in the game to get ahead? Can you have a showmance but keep it soulless and be all about the game? You’re going to see that reflected in the house, the challenges and some of the twists.
Q What to you makes the Canadian version unique?
A We’re the newer Big Brother on the block. Most countries got their Big Brothers five, 10, 15 years ago. So we’ve got something to prove, and I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing. We have such world-class talent in all aspects — in the production of the show, the people who are on the show, art direction and challenges. And then on top of that, because we were late to come into the Big Brother universe, we were able to pull some of the best aspects from different Big Brothers around the world.
So while our format is the U.S. style — how evictions work, etc. — some of the character of our show recalls the U.K. version much more. They’re the ones who do tasks that end up being really funny or really emotional
In the U.K. version, you’re not allowed to talk about strategy. People nominate, but the country evicts people. Whereas in the U.S., it’s always in the game and it’s all about strategy.
Q How would you fare on the show?
A I like to say that I’d be either the first out or I’m making it to the final two. I have a really good head for the game, and I got an education pretty quick. That’s what attracted me to Big Brother — all the psychological elements that make up gameplay and strategy. But I’m always here for the comedy, and I love emotional moments as well — these are things that aren’t workshopped in a writing room.
As much as it’s a superficial environment, for the people who are in the game, that’s their real life. The people who end up being fan favourites are the people who are the most authentic. Every psychology and sociology 101 class should be taught this in school, because it’s fascinating to watch and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.