Backstabbing. Blindsides. And a band of brothers?!
Yep, Big Brother is always watching.
And so is host Arisa Cox.
As a self-proclaimed fan of one of the best produced reality TV shows in Canada, which debuts tonight following Survivor on Global at 9 p.m., Cox promises another epic season.
In a Postmedia Network exclusive, Cox reveals that, along with two past international fan favourites entering the house, for the first time ever, Big Brother Canada will have siblings in the house. Only one brother has been announced thus far. Viewers will have to tune into the premiere to see which two bros will literally have a bromance this season.
We sat down with Cox to chat about last season’s twisty overdose, if super fans are better than recruits, and how she would fare in the most famous house in Canada.
There’s a bit of controversy regarding Big Brother’s decision to include four past international Big Brother favourites among the houseguests this season. Can you break down that decision for us?
People are always wary about change... and I totally get that. Fans are nervous because they love the show so much. I understand they’re protective because they don’t want it to change for the worst. That being said, Big Brother exists around the world – and we’re still the new kids on the block. We can’t stop innovating. That’s important to us. We have the eyeballs of the world on us so we need to keep coming up with new ideas. Canada has a super global vibe anyway. Even without the international HGs, we have three gay houseguests, five people of colour... so we’re throwing in some international spice.
Was it a marketing decision to open up the Canadian franchise internationally? I mean, the show won’t be available online legally for the diehard fans in other countries.
Not really. We just want to provide the best viewing experience for Canadians. For those hard-core BB fans around the world, they are finding their way to us regardless... We didn’t need an overture to entice them to watch. The good news is that, in the future, this international move we’ve made opens doors down the road for more international players to come play our game. I say, bring it on! Let the season play out before we gripe. These international houseguests have an uphill battle, too – are they going to enter the house with a huge target on their back? Probably. But they’ll probably shake things up too.
Do you watch all the international Big Brothers?
Obviously the American one; but I dip in and out of the international versions. I’m a mom with two kids so I don’t have the time to watch all of them. That being said, there is an argument to be made for not obsessively watching someone else do the job you do. I don’t want to feel like I’m aping anyone else... even unintentionally. I just want to do me.
Super fans versus recruits: what are your thoughts?
I’m fascinated by super fans but I do agree there should be a mix of them and recruits. There is a level of schadenfreude. If a fan knows the game inside and out, it doesn’t mean jack in the game. In a way, it’s kind of great TV to watch when the ‘promising’ ones fall. In the end, I think super fans give us hope the game will be elevated because they know it so well but I don’t think that ever comes to pass because they become players like everyone else.
How would you fare as a contestant in the house?
I think I would be a terrible player. (Laughs) I’m quite trusting so I think it would be difficult for me to be cynical enough to get far into the game. However, I would kill the physical challenges. I would ‘comp beast’ out!
One of the criticisms last year was the myriad twists production threw into the game. Can we expect a twist reduction so we can see a purer game? Or are the twists just a part of your identity.
Our theme last year was twists, which is why you saw so many. The first season we had a pure season; and second season we had a secret room. Twists were the theme last year and it’s not this year.
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