"Big Brother" is usually a summer show, but Variety reports it has started staffing up for an in-season run that could be on the air as soon as February, people familiar with the situation said.
TV personality Julie Chen (L) and CBS President and CEO Les Moonves stand courtside as they watch the trophy ceremony after Justine Henin of Belgium defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in the women's final match on the thirteenth day of the 2007 US Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 08 September 2007. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT
In anticipation of a strike, CBS quietly began casting for the next edition of the show a few weeks ago.
Exec producer Allison Grodner is also said to be working on a new creative twist for the Julie Chen-hosted show in which a group of strangers lives together in a house for three months.
Perhaps "Big Brother" will feature celebrities as opposed to average Joes.
A long strike might work in favor of this since actors might have some time on their hands.
Anchor Hanna Storm joked that the show might be back sooner than the summer, prompting a roll of the eyes from Chen. Chen then expressed her hope that the strike is settled soon.
"Big Brother" would be a perfect for CBS according to Variety, since it airs three times a week and eats three key hours of primetime.
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