Can CBS Save Big Brother 9?

How do you top Evil Dick? Leave it to CBS to try, and they just might be onto something. The producers have gone back to a pretty group of people and decided to rely on a shake up of the rules from Day 1 to bring about the necessary chaos.

The object of the game is to be the last one standing in a house full of liars, cheats, and thieves. This is a mind game that changes completely right before your very eyes. Lock 16 people in a house with nothing to do (except the mandatory challenges lasting only a few hours of each week) for 3 months, surrounded by 51 cameras, and 74 microphones including the personal microphone required on at all times. The prize is $500,000 for 1st, and $50,000 for 2nd place.

This season's Players include:

Sheila - Former Model

Natalie - Bikini Barista

Jacob - Electrician

Chelsea - College Student

Parker - Paparazzo

Amanda - Paralegal

Jen - Bartender

James - Unemployed

Joshua - Advertising Media Buyer

Ryan - College Student

Sharon - Realtor

Allison - Pharmaceutical Sales Rep

Matt - Roofing Foreman

Adam - Public Relations Manager

Neil - Realtor

Alex - DJ Company Owner

Needless to say the back door deals start almost immediately, but "expect the unexpected" is the motto of the show. Players never quite know all of the rules, they are usually revealed throughout the course of the game. This season, Big Brother decided to start right off with a twist or two.

As the introductions were being made, Julie Chen explained to the viewing audience that two different sets of people knew each other outside of the house. Jen and Ryan have been living together for 7 months and both know the other will be in the house. Jacob and Sharon have recently broken up from a 12 year relationship with each other, and neither knows the other will be in the house.

In addition, Big Brother has decided to play matchmaker and pair up the players as "soul mates". From the start of the game, the players have been assigned a partner with whom they will compete in all of the competitions. They will also vote and be evicted as a team.