Big Brother 8 (U.S.)

Big Brother 8 was the eighth season of the American reality television series Big Brother. It is based upon the Netherlands series of the same name, which gained notoriety in 1999 and 2000. The series premiered on CBS on July 5, 2007 and lasted eleven weeks until the live finale on September 18, 2007. The eighth season saw little to no change in ratings. The season premiered to a total of 7.40 million viewers, the lowest premiere numbers for any season at the time. The season finale had a total of 8.51 million viewers, making it the second lowest rated finale at the time. In total, the series averaged 7.52 million viewers, only .4 behind the previous edition. Big Brother 8 featured a total of 14 HouseGuests, the same amount that was featured in the previous season. The series ended after 81 days, in which HouseGuest Dick Donato was crowned the winner, and Daniele Donato the runner-up.

The season was first announced on February 1, 2007. That same day, it was confirmed that Arnold Shapiro had stepped down as producer, opting instead to appear as the executive consultant. On the decision, Shaprio stated he was "gratified that [he and Allison] were able to successfully ‘re-invent’ BB2 and turn the series into an annual summer hit." Grodner later stated "We consider ‘All-Stars’ sort of the end of an era, and now we’re getting a chance to start once again with a fresh cast and new twists." Rich Meehan replaced Shapiro as the executive producer. Casting for the season concluded on May 5, 2007. Grodner later promised fans of the series that Big Brother 8 would be more interactive, commenting "It's not just about sitting down and watching television [...] We're a summer event that's always with you. I don't think any other show has that sort of reach." Ghen Maynard of CBS later stated "This year, there are going to be some new things that make the show even more ubiquitous and interactive [...] there will be something die-hard fans will love. It will give them the opportunity to participate even more than they have in the past." Shortly before the premiere, a cast list began circulating the internet; casting director Robyn Kass, however, denied that this was the real cast. The cast was revealed on June 28, 2007.

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