Arnold Shapiro, Executive Producer of the CBS show Big Brother (together with Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan) took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for me. I polled some of the show fans on message boards and on my blog to see what they really wanted to know and here's the skinny directly from Mr. Shapiro:
Q: In the opening credits for the show, as well as the intro/exit to commercial breaks, there is a close-up shot of a partial face and eye with the Big Brother logo. Whose eye is that? The talk has spread from a staff member to Mike "Boogie." Please settle one of the longest lasting silly BB disputes ever for us.
A: Although I was not producing BB1, it's my understanding that the partial face and eye is not the exotic story that some have surmised. In fact, they belonged to someone working at the graphics house that designed the logo opening – "just some guy down the hall who we grabbed for the shot." That's the real story. Nothing exotic or even interesting.
Q: Live feeds watchers, in particular, often hear the phrase "penalty nomination." I've watched the show since it started and don't recall one ever being used. If a penalty nomination were to be used, how would it work? Would there be three houseguests nominated for eviction? Why aren't penalty nominations used?
A: The possibility of a penalty nomination really exists. It's an option we've yet to use. Yes, it would probably mean that there would be three nominees up for eviction. I'm glad we haven't had to use it because it would mean that a houseguest really messed up and didn't follow our rules.
Q: Have you tasted the Big Brother Slop? Is the big problem with it that it's bland? (The houseguests always seem to be spicing it up somehow.) Is it an oatmeal blend? How many consecutive weeks can a houseguest be placed on the BB Slop restriction?
A: I have not personally had the pleasure of sampling the BB slop. I'm told it's nutritious but extremely bland. The longest time a houseguest would be required to eat only slop – after losing a food competition – is one week. However, George is on slop for as long as he's in the house because of a unique offer that he agreed to in the veto competition. So George will be the "slop record holder" of BB All-Stars.
Q: Is there any word about a Season 8?
A: We usually find out about whether we're picked up for another season in the weeks after our season ends so, at this point, there is no word on BB8. But our ratings are strong, the shows are good (in my humble opinion), and I feel optimistic that there will be a BB8 – with an all-new cast.
Article comments
1 - Joan Hunt
Congrats! This article has been placed on Advance.net
Love hearing the perspective from someone on the inside! Good job, Jackie!
2 - Nelson Ross
Who or what picked the cast for this BB8? I have expressed my disappointment over this season of shallow and "ego centric" members.Give us some Jnelle, Dr.Will and even Chicken George. Where was your screening crew? Anxiously awaiting the miserable an boring conclusion of this season. It will not be memorable. Nelson