"Big Brother" host Julie Chen never misses a chance to tell viewers (and contestants) to "expect the unexpected" when it comes to the CBS reality show.
This season, she really meant it.
The past two weeks of "Big Bro" have been among the most tense, action-packed and unpredictable in the history of the decade-old format. Critics who still think the show is about as exciting as watching paint dry (that would be season one, though even that year had its charms) don't know what they're missing.
We've seen power in the house shift dramatically -- from being overwhelmingly in the hands of an alliance of contestants most viewers would likely label "the meanies," to being fully in the grasp of a rival coalition (let's call 'em "the naive but nice").
A returning contestant named Jessie went from being within weeks of pulling off a stunning victory, to being the first to go. One of the strongest female players in the game's history, a feisty pa named Chima, self-destructed and became one of the few players ever to be ejected from the game (though she still somehow insists she chose to quit).
In the middle of all the drama, as always, are executive producers Allison Grodner, Rich Meehan and Scott Einziger. We've been talking to Grodner every Thursday after the eviction show, and she kept her promise to talk to us tonight-- despite all the recent hubbub.
Here's an edited version of what she had to say this week.
Two caveats: Grodner wouldn't talk about who won tonight's head of household competition (though any "Big Bro" fan worth his or her salt has already checked the Net to find out who won). And, after writing up this interview, we realized we forgot to ask Grodner a very key question: Will America end up the seventh member of the jury?
Knowing Grodner, she probably wouldn't have spilled.
So... Chima. What happened?
What we said on the show is what happened. You come on the show, you agree to play by the rules. And putting on the microphone is a crucial part of the show. We need to hear (players) in order to do the show. And a big rule is 'do not destroy equipment.'
Chima, of course, claims she quit-- even though she certainly didn't look like she was quitting when she went into the diary room.
When people are escorted out of the Big Brother house, they're out of the game. Once you've been exposed (to the behind the scenes operation), the game is over.
(Grodner notes the only exception to this came in season nine when medical emergencies forced evacuation of two players).
How tough was the decision to end Chima's game?
It was not an easy call to make. We want everyone to go out the front door, not the side door. It was serious. It was made with a heavy heart. I wish her well. She's an intelligent, lovely person.
