Foreword: Big Brother Season 8 is now in full swing. So to avoid missing any current details you’ll want to check out the online, uncensored live feeds (14 day free trial) and see what is going on right now.

Last summer we had an exciting season with Big Brother All-Stars. The audience was once again reunited with all our favorite (and not-so-favorite) houseguests making for a very entertaining summer of shows. This year we’re back to getting a whole new set of faces to keep us laughing and grumbling for the next few months.

Having watched this series since the first episode way back in 2000 I’ve noticed what seems to be guided casting. The faces are new, but the characters remain the same. How many of these “Big Brother Characters” will be back this year? Is it time for a new set of characters? We’ll know the answer to that in just about two weeks. Until then let’s take a look at what I’m guessing we’ll see based on what we’ve had in the first six seasons. I’m skipping All-Stars since they were really the same houseguests all over. Season 1 was also a little difficult to incorporate since it was run so much differently and doesn’t really fit the formula of the later seasons.

Author’s Note: I mean no disrespect nor gross generalizations to people by applying “The …” to each category of Houseguest characters. I intended this instead as a highlight of Big Brother’s casting stereotypes.

The Brunette/Hottie: The producers really seem to have a “type” when it comes to their pretty ladies. First there was Shannon in Season 2, but I think it was Lisa in Season 3 that really set The Brunette mold. After that we got Erika in Season 4 and Lori in Season 5. Lori was the most similar to Lisa, but just didn’t share the same luck. Season 6 took a shift from the “The Brunette” to “The Blonde Bombshell” with Janelle. I’m expecting BB8 to return to its roots and bring back a brunette beauty this time around.

The Jock(s): If you’re going to give the guys some eye candy I guess you’re going to have to keep things balanced with some big, bulked up guys. Each season there’s at least one of “The Jocks” that keep the rust off the bench in the yard. Season 1: Josh and Eddie; Season 2: Hardy and Will (though Boogie tried to keep up); Season 3: Eric and Roddy; Season 4: Justin and Nathan; Season 5: Jase, Scott, and Drew (a meathead trio!); Season 6: Howie and James. Each season these guys motivate me to get off the couch and start working out again. That drive usually subsides by the third eviction.

The Homosexual: Each season it’s one of the first guessing games, “Who in the house is gay?” Although it was skipped in Season 4 and at least not announced in Season 1 this is usually a sure bet on behalf of the producers. Season 2: Bunky (If there was a “The Crier” this would have been all his too. Kent’s first night declaration of his dislike of the ‘freaks and gays’ to none other than Bunky was priceless foot-in-mouth footage.); Season 3: Marcellas (likely the most famous and popular of the bunch); Season 4: This was the Ex-Factor season, which surprises me they passed on reuniting a gay couple; Season 5: Jase (just kidding!) Will; Season 6: Beau. This character can play an interesting tipping vote as “The Homosexual” has always been a male, counting towards the “men’s vote” but often siding with the women.

The African American: We’ve even see Big Brother hit this one as a combo with “The Homosexual” several seasons. Season 1: Cassandra/Marvin; Season 2: Monica; Season 3: Danielle/Marcellas (Marcellas was a “doubler” by taking on “The Homosexual” as well); Season 4: Amanda; Season 5: Marvin; Season 6: Beau (another “doubler”). I believe Season 6 was the most diverse yet regarding race, which CBS should try a little more of this season.

The Older Guy: Every season this guy shows up and every season he heads home sans le grand prize. If you’re over forty and you get on this show you’ve gotta know it isn’t going to end like you might hope. Season 1: George; Season 2: Kent; Season 3: Gerry; Season 4: Jack; Season 5: Mike; Season 6: Eric. I’m pretty Sure Eric was the youngest “Older Guy” at 36, but the “married with children” angle pushes him in for sure. The past two seasons have used younger “older” guys so this character may eventually vanish altogether.

The Older Gal: While usually not as polarizing as “The Older Guy” you can usually count on there being one women who doesn’t really fit the age demographics of the other houseguests. Season 1: Tie between Casandra and Karen will go to Karen because Casandra doubles for “The African American”; Season 2: Sheryl; Season 3: Tonya/Lori; This “character” trailed off in the following seasons, but they may try this angle again.

The Loudmouth: You’ve got to have the loud, opinionated houseguests to make sure things get agitated daily. Managing to pull off being a jerk or a bitch without getting yourself immediately evicted is no easy task. Season 2: Nicole; Season 3: Lori (remember how worked up she got over the issue of Gerry not washing his hands post-bathroom??); Season 4: Alison (so very evil!); Season 5: Jase (so much sexual tension between him and Diane); Season 6: Ivette (watching her face drop when Maggie won instead was priceless!). Each season this character makes me grit my teeth and “grrr”, but I think that’s part of the fun.

Update: Superchicken had a great suggestion for this character we’re likely to see again.
The Conservative: Living in the den of sin (that’s the BB House!) isn’t easy for everyone, especially for the young, conservative houseguests. The producers seem to relish in watching this character squirm amongst the rest of the cast. Season 3: Jason (he actually survived pretty well); Season 4: Michelle; Season 5: Adria/Natalie (went further than I expected); Season 6: Kaysar.

Considering there are usually between 12 and 14 houseguests each season this list only makes up roughly have of the cast. The remainder of the guests are more of a grab bag collection, filling in the gaps and smoothing out the demographics overall. I’m very interested to see how close these guesses are for season 8 and we’ll know soon enough! Did I miss any “characters” that we usually get each summer? Let me know, I’d love to hear what you think. With less than a week until the new set of houseguests are sequestered and two weeks until they enter the house the wait is almost over (read our Big Brother 8 Preview). Keep checking in here at Wild Bluff Media for all of your Big Brother 8 coverage and discussions.

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