Network: CBS
Episodes: Ongoing (two hours)
Seasons: Ongoing

TV show dates: July 14, 2000 — present
Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: JUlie Chen (host).

TV show description:      
The Big Brother in this series is the television cameras that are focused on a group of people, for the most part strangers, living together in a house. Based on the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the series began in the Netherlands and different versions have gone on to be created and broadcast in nearly 70 countries. Julie Chen hosts the U.S. version.

The contestants are referred to as “houseguests.” They live in the Big Brother house which is built in a studio lot. The houseguests are locked in the house, not allowed to leave for any reason, and are blocked from reading or watching television, not having any idea what’s going on in the outside world. It’s all filmed 24/7 and broadcast on the Internet, with the edited version appearing on CBS.

The houseguests compete in challenges with the winner becoming “Head of Household” and being allowed to stay in a special bedroom suite for the week. This person nominates and marks two houseguests for possible elimination. The housemates then compete in a “power of veto” challenge. Whoever wins then has the power to veto one of the elimination nominations. Someone new must be nominated or they can leave the nominations the same.

At the end of the week, the two nominated houseguests face the others in the house. Everyone, aside from these two and the Head of Household, votes on who will be eliminated. In case of a tie, the Head of Household breaks it. After Julie Chen counts the votes, the eliminated houseguest has a matter of seconds to leave the house.

The last person that stays in the house the longest wins $500,000.