The Jury House plays such a vital role in the endgame of Big Brother that it's a wonder CBS hasn't tried to feature it and the ousted contestants in a separate spinoff show. Fans that have had that idea aren't alone, as host Julie Chen admitted she to has wondered and even pitched the idea for a secondary show that goes into the goings on of the house. Unfortunately, the host said CBS didn't bite, and explained why what sounds like such an obvious idea hasn't happened yet:
I've often suggested and wondered what it would be like to run a secondary show running parallel to the remaining weeks of Big Brother or on CBS All Access showing the Jury House. I think it was too costly? But yes, it would be fun to watch. Hey, maybe one day. We had talked about Celebrity Big Brother since 2001 and it only took us 17 years, but we did it! Expect the unexpected.
Julie Chen is sticking to that classic adage of "never say never," and gave rampant Big Brother fans hope during her chat with EW that there will one day at least be a live feed that showcases the goings on of the jury house. That said, it would appear that's not happening until CBS finds a way to make it cost-effective, as setting up two programs that air simultaneously could theoretically double the cost of the show's production. That's quite a price jump considering the current status quo, which might be why executives have balked at what would initially seem like a no-brainer decision.
After all, life in the Jury House can't be as entertaining as what's seen on Big Brother. For starters, the jurors only slowly funnel into the private home, so if a spinoff were to kick off at the exact same time, it wouldn't be a huge party of people hanging out. In addition to that, the house is full of people who, minus the occasional Big Brother where an ousted member can return, have no chance of winning. One can assume spirits are pretty low from cast members who get evicted, and the resulting mopiness wouldn't make for the most entertaining television. That said, some Big Brother fans are the types willing to pour through hours of live feeds to catch one wild moment, so maybe CBS can just set up the cameras next season and let them decide whether or not it's worth exploring further.
Big Brother airs on CBS Sundays and Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET, and Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. Fans committed to watching have a pretty full television schedule at the moment, but that doesn't mean they can't DVR other great television to watch after a winner is chosen. Those looking to do just that can visit our summer and fall premiere guides to see what sounds interesting.
