Image Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBSInterest in CBS’ Big Brother couldn’t be bigger: The reality competition series is averaging 7.6 million viewers for the three episodes it airs weekly — an increase of six percent from last summer’s 7.2 million average. And the younger folks (a rare find in network TV audiences these days!) are into it, too: Viewership is up 10 percent among kiddos 18 to 34.
So, what gives? What’s behind Big Brother‘s sudden surge? Executive producer Allison Grodner told the Canadian Press that the higher ratings can be attributed to this season’s crop of characters. “You can have a rootable villain or a fun villain,” she said. “You don’t necessarily want to have someone who is completely hateable.” This year’s cast featured villains in the screechy Rachel and her “boyfriend” Brendon, as well as a network-planted saboteur Annie, who was hilariously booted during the first eviction ceremony of the season. And while this season has been great, its cast hasn’t quite stacked up to last year’s characters, especially when you consider the polarizing Chima mess and the fan-favorite Jeff-Jordan showmance. (The pair did return this season, briefly, too, so maybe that helped with a little boost?) The sudden surge in Big Brother is somewhat baffling.
Which is why we here at EW are wondering: Why are you tuning into Big Brother this summer? Is it to see if Rachel makes any more 24-hour comebacks? Are you living for the continued reappearance of Pandora’s Box? Or, are you just tuning in hoping for the return of the Zingbot 3000?
Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky
Because it’s summer and there isn’t anything else on at 7pm
To watch idiots (Matt, Rachel and Brendon) make complete *ssholes out of themselves.
Hope Rachel and Brendon will do the “Amazing Race”!!!
Agree completely… nothing better and with the economy less people going out.
Really? To me, this is the blandest group they’ve had since the first season. I’ve stopped watching except for the Thursday live eviction episodes. I keep up on the Television Without Pity boards, the posters there are much more entertaining than the houseguests.
I guess people are really starved for something to watch this summer. I hope they get a better casting director for next summer.
I agree. I have a feeling next summer might be an all star season. They haven’t advertised for people to try out for next season at all and they usually do.
You are correct. Allison Grodner has said in an interview published on this site that next season will be an all-star season.
but you are still watching. Don’t give me this $##
I totally agree I watch BB every season and this cast are by far the most boring especially BB after dark nothing happens just people playing pool I keep waiting for something exciting to happen maybe tonight if Hayden goes home fingers crossed.
I watched for the first time this year. I think it is hilarious to watch. I do hope that either Lane or Britney win.
First timer here as well. As much as I hate to admit it I kinda miss Rachel. The show is getting boring and will get worse if Ragan or Britany go home.
It is quite strange, since no one this season has made a breakout run for the money, like Jordan of last year, Dan of BB10, or Dick and Danielle of BB8. The increase in viewers is shocking because I think the quality has decreased this year… Oh well, at least they’ll renew it for another season!
britney is smokin hot!!!
There’s nothing else on!
To be honest the cast is mostly lame. One Rachel and them Matt and finally Brendon were gone it got more and more boring. Now I cook while I watch and listen from the other room. The whole house ganging up on one person mentality of the season and not making waves has been a bit annoying. I want to see who wins but honestly don’t care that much. Rachel may have been annoying but at least she was deep down a genuine, nice person. Perhaps a bad player, too guided by her emotions and talks before she thinks, but much more honest and straightfoward than anyone else.
Sorry for the plethora of typos. It should be ONCE Rachel and THEN Matt…
Rachel is the BEST!! Hope she and Brendon will do the Amazing Race!!!
you should really have said *spoiler alert* before posting all that. I’m barely catching up on episodes. I just saw the Rachel eviction.
Really? I’m sorry I guess. This is the kind of show it’s kind of hard to miss spoilers so I guess I don’t expect people to be 4+ weeks back. Sorry. On a show like this honestly you can’t expect spoiler alerts after a couple days.
It is baffling to all, what I keep thinking though is there was a hope once we saw the vast majority of these people were fairly normal, especially by BB standards (i.e. the gay guy isn’t actually flamboyantly gay, the crazy slutty character actually claims she fell in love with a good guy, etc), and there was such potential that maybe we had a cast full of people not dissimilar to Dan (winner of Season 10), but there is too much mob mentality in the house and not too many people willing to take a risk. Heck, the big ratings last week were just to see if Matt would take a big risk. He didn’t. Now it is up to the core that formed the mob mentality in the house and it is curious to see how they shake that out.
The only reason I watch is to see if the Brigade credits themselves for being awesome again- for not doing anything
I completely agree with you, Nebraska. The Brigade is the most pathetic group of individuals I’ve ever seen and to think one of them might actually win makes me sick to my stomach. I watched initially because Brendon and Rachel were hilarious to watch. Once Rachel left, I really grew to like Brendon ~ I thought he seems like a pretty decent guy and the way he fought was admirable. He would have been the one person I would have liked to see win. Now, I’m hooked *sigh* So, it’s a matter of just watching til the end. I guess I’m pulling for Brit just because I R-E-A-L-L-Y don’t want the Do-Nothing-uber-spoiled-fame-whores-Brigade to win.
it is crazy the ratings are up and this is te worst season ever
I agree. I’ve been able to get through about 45 minutes total and was surprised to read it’s doing well. People must be seeking out something familiar, because this whole season has seemed like a repeat of previous seasons.
Really not much else the wife and I watch together so it’s almost always first off the DVR.
I’ve actually quit watching…because it just keeps looking like a Brigade member will eventually win…and I definitely don’t want that to happen at all…so I’d rather just skip it.
Agreed!
I watched until Brendon was booted. The loosers thought the got out the loosers, but the remaining people suck and don’t deserve to win anything. All the competers were booted out too early, Brendon, Rachel, Andrew. If they wanted ratings, bring one of them back!
CBS is is pretty smart though- this show really markets itself well. 3 times a week on CBS, every night on Showtime, subscribe to the live feeds, get the app and get updates- the show is everywhere so it lets viewers immerse themselves in it for the summer.
I LOVE Big Brother and have seen every season, and I agree that the end is definitely wrapping up on a low-note. Without crazy-a$$ Rachel to cause drama and make insane-yet-loveable commentary, there just isn’t very much reason to watch. I HOPE Ragan or Britney can win the game, because otherwise the lamest alliance in BB history (and that’s including the terrible Nerd Herd) will win this season. Blerg.
I miss the days of chlltown!
This is one of the few shows that seems do-able. People think to themselves: thats a show I could be on. Especially if you aren’t super athletic or posess a real talent.