No Secret: More Big Brother in 2012 on Nine

Channel Nine have announced on September 9 that it has signed a deal with Endemol Southen Star to revive Big Brother Australia in 2012.

Tahe show will be titled "Big Brother: Secrets", where every HM has a secret to be found out by the others, encouraging interaction between all contestants. A past French version of this format offered cash prizes for contestants who discovered others' secrets.

With the success of other "stripped" (5 nights a week) TV formats (MasterChef, The Block, The Biggest Loser) t seems like the right time. Also in our new digital multichannel environment, Nine can put supplementary programming on GEM or GO! without pulling too much out of its primary channel's programming. Original Big Brother fans know that 8 hours of primetime viewing and up to 12 hours of late night viewing a week takes its toll.

Rumours have begun forming about when the series will begin. ESS have not yet begun asking for applications for the series so it will have to be later in the year. Speculation is that BB will take The Block's 7pm timeslot after The Olympic Games ends in August.

As for a venue for the series, Dreamworld have let ESS know they are happy for them to move back into their production facility and "house" on the Gold Coast. It is all still standing, and its seclusion and weather makes it ideal. However, Nine may be looking for a brand new look for the series in which case it could be looking at other cities or locations. There is always Melbourne's under-utilised Docklands Film Studios, though its situation under a freeway could make it impossible to keep contestants away from "reality" for 3 months.

Another question is over who will host. It is unlikely Gretel or Kyle and Jackie O will return. Hopefully Nine will not use its new acquisition of Hamish and Andy, as they always make the show about themselves. Perhaps they could look at former HMs. It's a shame Chrissie Swan is at Ten because she would be perfect. There is always Mike Goldman who always remained loyal to the show, and had a shot at hosting with Jackie O when Kyle was sick.

For the moment we can only speculate, and wait for more announcements over the coming months.

BB House Tours to Close?

I just got word from Dreamworld. It seems the BB House tours are starting to wind down now. The House is currently known to be open on these dates:

Mon 5 Jan - Fri 9 Jan: 12:30pm - 4:00pm
Mon 12 Jan - Tue 13 Jan: 12:30pm - 4:00pm

After that there is no official word on whether it will be open, closed, or... otherwise!

Looks like I miss out on saying goodbye.

Gretel Does the Time Warp Again

I just went to see the Rocky Horror Show with Gretel as the Narrator. At first it seemed weird with a female narrator, after seeing the movie so many times with the old man, but by the end I couldn't imagine this particular production with a male in the role (all the other performers of the role in this production have been male). She seemed to fit the role so well-- think BB06's Adults Only, that kind of school meadmistress persona. At first her lines seemed rushed, but it was in line with the rest of the show that was very fast paced.

Her costume was a tight skirt, button up blouse, high belt, glasses and a beehive wig. The wig was funny because when she moved around the stage it bounced up and down. For the finale, she took off the grey top and had a strapless sparkly red number underneath.

Although she is the narrator she does have a few scenes where she interacts with the cast, and a couple of little dance cues. And at the end she sings and dances to the Time Warp with the rest of the cast.

She did a great job in the role and I'm glad I was lucky enough to see her in it, especially when I thought her run in the show was over back when it was in Sydney.

It's Time To Go... To Rocky Horror

I bought tickets months ago to The Rocky Horror Show in Melbourne. The day comes this Sunday the 16th November. And to my surprise, Gretel Killeen is in town this week reprising her temporary role of the Narrator of the show! I never had any idea I'd get to see Gretel in the show when I bought the tickets, so it is a fantastic twist of fate that I should get to see her. I'll report back here after the show how it was.

Final Insult: Replaced by a Cooking Show

BB's final insult is to b replaced by a reality cooking show in 2009.

The show will air in BB's usual Daily Show timeslot of 7pm, 6 nights a week, for 10 weeks, probably from April to July, between TBL and Idol (if Idol gets another series after this year-- Ten are having a bad run aren't they?).

The show will be produced locally, based on an old BBC format. It will see amateurs inventing their own recipes in a limited timeframe, working in a restaurant, and cooking a 2 course meal. They are then judged on their results, so get ready for another Aussie TV judging panel.

How long will this thing last? A week? 2? Sadly, episode one of a new show generally gets the curiosity ratings, then episode 2 decides whether it will continue, without the chance to gain an audience. I think cooking at 7pm vs Home & Away and probably 2 and a Half Men on 9 won't last too long.

BB09 Out of the Question

Channels 7 and 9 have both confirmed they are not interested in picking up the Ten-axed Big Brother for 2009.

This is good and bad news. Bad because there will be no BB in 2009. Good because it gives Channel Ten the opportunity to try other things and fail, and perhaps revive BB in some format in 2010. Bad also because Endemol's lease of the Dreamworld space and studio expires next year, meaning if the show was revived in later years, it could lose the Dreamworld tie-in, and may move production to Sydney like other reality shows The Biggest Loser and Idol.

(Unrelated, but The Biggest Loser has also been kicked out of their usual filming premises "The White House" by angry neighbours. They need to find a new location before their next series filming begins, probably quite soon!)

Official Site Winds Down

The OS is winding down now. The main menu and news stories have been removed. All that is left on the front page are a few highlight videos. Normally around this time of year a placeholder goes up mentioning auditions for next year. This year, it will probably just disapear at some point.