In a desperate attempt to save itself from eviction, Big Brother Australia has been leading up to this year's show as something new. This week revealed exactly what's up. But first, can I just take a minute to bemoan the passing of Gretel Killeen as host?

I miss ya, Gretel. As hosts of reality TV shows go, you were about the only one I could stomach. Sometimes your flirtation with the house boys made me queasy, but Kyle's ogling of a certain busty female housemate last night nearly brought up the chuck. But ratings drop, and so it's out with the too "mature" and in with the young and new.

Except. This year, Big Brother picked a handful of the normal firm-bodied 20-somethings, but also assembled a wacky lot including a UFO nut complete with Roswell tattoos and — hold on to your seats for this one — a grandmother. I know, crazy. … continue reading

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty is having a big year.

U.K. audiences may know her best from Celebrity Big Brother; audiences elsewhere might also remember her from that, what with complaints about racist comments directed toward her in the Big Brother house. Shetty went on to win the series. Here's that moment: … continue reading

Series 8 of the U.K. reality show Big Brother has begun, with a twist: An all-girl house. The Daily Mail sums it up (or maybe hypes it up) thusly:

"The housemates looked horrified as it slowly dawned that they had entered a man-free zone. But Big Brother is rumoured to be introducing a hunky male contestant on Friday."

The female contestants include a 60-year-old (the oldest contestant ever) and a "bisexual political protester." Well, duh. I mean, redundant much? How many protesters do you know who aren't political? (Ha ha, gotcha.)

So, yeah, a "hunky male" arrives tomorrow. I get that this show courts controversy in an effort to boost ratings, but what's the idea here? A crossover with The Bachelor? Or just soft porn? It's reminding me of that scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. You know the one.

Here are a few photos of the contestants as they arrived at the Big Brother house this week:

Nicky and Shabnam — Nicky says men are "nasty little creatures," so she'll be just fine. … continue reading