CBS' "Big Brother 9 : 'Til Death Do You Part"-- What Can We Expect?

The slogan for CBS's voyeuristic reality show "Big Brother" has always been "expect the unexpected". Now, with this first time winter edition of the show, host Julie Chen dropped a bombshell on the 16 houseguests during the premier episode: everyone would be paired up with his or her "soul mate". The pairs must work as one in the BB house, including participating in competitions together, and sleeping together in the same bed. The soul mates were determined based on detailed compatibility tests during the show's interview process. And after seeing some of the pairings during episode 1, I'd say that all is not fair in love and war.

But first, let's talk about the cast. Yes, the "Big Brother" cast keeps getting younger and younger. And singler and singler. This season's cast features a bunch of hot twenty something's and the lone older woman, but even she is hot! Yes, 46 year old Sheila is a former Penthouse Pet of the Month (okay, so her heyday was in 1984, but she still looks great). Unfortunately for Sheila, her soulmate pairing is a loud mouthed out of shape polar opposite, a guy named Adam that she clearly can't stand.

Then there's Jacob and Sharon. They were once in love in real life, but then he cheated on her and they haven't spoken since their breakup. How cruel of CBS to lock them in the "Big Brother' house together and force them to share a bed. Of course, this is very similar to Big Brother's "Ex-Factor" twist a few years ago, so it's really nothing new. Sharon is still very pained by their breakup, and Jacob takes full responsibility for it, saying how he screwed up and how she was the "love of his life". Of course, these kids are only 23.