For super fans of the CBS hit show "Big Brother," summer isn't official until the reality show begins. Season 19, or "BB19" will kick off on Wednesday, June 28 at 8/7c. At that time, the houseguests will begin their fight for the grand prize of $500,000. Their summer will be filled with competitions, backstabbing, voting and of course, lots of drama. All of the things that make for good TV.
Two-hour season premier
"Big Brother" will begin the new season with a two-hour season premier. From there, the show will air three days a week on every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
The Sunday and Wednesday episodes will be on at 8/7c, and the Thursday episode will air at 9/8c. The houseguests, who are also the contestants, have not yet been announced but there will be 16 people coming into the house this June.
There have been a lot of rumors circulating that producers of "Big Brother" will try something new this season as far as contestant selection goes. Some reports are saying that fans of the show will select this summer's cast. That has never been done before in all of the seasons of "Big Brother." The show's slogan is "expect the unexpected," so it's a definite possibility.
It shouldn't be too much longer until the houseguests are revealed. In past years, "Big Brother" houseguests are made public about a week or two before the season premier.
What we do know is that Julie Chen will return this summer to host. She has been hosting since the show made it's premier all the way back in July of 2000.
Winner's of past seasons
Last summer, Nicole Franzel was crowned the champion of "Big Brother 18." The 24-year-old ER nurse from Michigan took home the half-million-dollar prize.
Season 18 was Franzel's second season on the show. She also appeared on season 16 of "Big Brother" where she became the fifth member of the jury. Derrick Levasseur ended up being the winner of "Big Brother" season 16, and Cody Calafiore was the runner-up. Franzel's vote went to Levasseur.
Nicole Franzel was the first woman in the history of "Big Brother" to beat a man in the finale.
It was down to Franzel and Paul Abrahamian, a 24-year-old musician and clothing designer from California. Franzel beat Abrahamian by a jury vote of 5-4. After the show, Abrahamian was quite upset about losing to Franzel, as he thought he had it in the bag. He didn't go home empty-handed though. The runner-up on "Big Brother" takes home $50,000.
