Just when it seemed "Big Brother" couldn’t get any bigger, it does.
Last night’s episode of the CBS reality soap opera delivered the show’s biggest audience of the season, with a little more than 8 million viewers tuning in to see (spoiler alert!) loudmouth bully Russell Kairouz kicked out of the house. The show notched a 2.7/9 among adults 18-49, its best Thursday performance in the demo this season.
"Big Brother" had been surging in the ratings the past few weeks thanks to a gripping storyline that saw power in the house shift from one side to the other, as well as the expulsion of one player by producers. Ratings softened just a tad Sunday as things calmed down a bit in the house.
But Thursday’s episode featured an epic verbal showdown between Russ and viewer favorite Jeff. That was apparently enough to send ratings soaring again: "Brother" was up 20 percent in viewers and 23 percent in adults 18-49 vs. last Thursday’s show.
"Brother" executive producer Allison Grodner told TheWrap that the ratings increase, and positive fan reaction, has been a boost to the show’s staff.
"To see this kind of resurgence is just great," she said. "I haven’t seen fans so involved in several seasons."
For more "Big Brother" dish, check out our latest edition of "Whoa, Brother!" here.
