John Powell – GlobalTV.com

Houseguests assemble! As the players gather for their origin stories and a special supersized season, Arisa Cox uses her spider-sense to give us the low-down on what to expect from the eighth season of Big Brother Canada.

John Powell: Before we get into things, congratulations! Big Brother has been nominated for three Canadian Screen Awards. That must make everyone there proud that their hard work and creativity is being recognized.

Arisa Cox: “For us it recognizes how difficult this show is to produce. In the professional world when you do something really well you make it look rather easy. This show is anything but easy to produce. There are so many hurdles this show has than any other show. It is really great for the entire team to get that recognition and whether we win or not, the nomination alone is something really special to everyone who works on the show.”

John Powell: I don’t think there is a Best Host category but if not, there should be one.

Arisa Cox: “Oh, gosh. They really should! (Laughs) And, there should be some type of international Big Brother awards, don’t you think? There are like 50 countries. Let’s do it!”

John Powell: What are your thoughts on the new houseguests?

Arisa Cox: “Every single year when we are presented with the new cast it is so strange to picture these people in the Big Brother house because we don’t know who they are. They all start as strangers. It is hard to remember who is who and then I swear, it takes three short weeks and you know them all. You know who you like. You know who you don’t like.”

“I really like the look of this cast. They are energetic and they are here to play. We have a little bit of an older cast this year which is what I like to see as well. There is a little bit more confidence there.”

John Powell: Do you think an older cast will alter the tone and perhaps the gameplay we see this season?

Arisa Cox: “It is possible and I am going to say that because I have seen older players make terrible mistakes before. These are people who should know better, are more precise or are super fans. I think, yes, it has the potential to change the gameplay in the house but there are these big personalities who have to gel together. It is unpredictable who will eventually rise to the top.”

“I love watching people who want to play, who have an idea of what they want to do, make a plan and execute it. Then again, it is also interesting to see people stumble and learn from their mistakes.”

John Powell: What do you think about the supersized theme and what can we expect from that?

Arisa Cox: “It is very interesting. This is Volume Eight. It is in mint condition. It is two weeks longer and we’ve got extra houseguests. We are also working with a superhero theme. When you think of our show one of the strengths of it is that it is about 16 ordinary Canadians walking into the house. When they walk out some of them may be heroes and legends. Some of them may be villains. This is their origin story so to speak. I love sci-fi and I love the comic book world so I am really eager to see what happens.”

John Powell: So which superhero are you, Arisa?

Arisa Cox: “This would be a good show to have telepathy. That could really do some damage in the house. (Laughs) Flying wouldn’t really help you. I mean, we don’t even have an open-air backyard. Me? I have always been drawn to Storm but her powers wouldn’t help either.”

John Powell: How important is it to you as the host to watch and follow the live feeds closely?

Arisa Cox: “I cannot see myself doing it any other way. I am a new mom again so it is pretty hairy at home but at the same time I always have to find out what is happening in that house.”

“There is always conversation happening online because of the nature of this show which is on 24 hours a day. I love that. This time of year I look at my phone and it has a whole new meaning, purpose to me. (Laughs) Finding out what is happening with these people is just so much fun especially for someone like me who loves strategy and game theory.”

John Powell: I may be dating myself here but I remember a world without social media, when social media for me was my Commodore 64 and posting on bulletin boards and news groups.

Arisa Cox: (Laughs) “I remember that world too!”

John Powell: Social media plays a large part not only in the conversation surrounding the show but there is instantaneous judgment on anything and everything. How do you think social media has affected Big Brother?

Arisa Cox: “I kind of like it that people in the house are immune to all of that. When I was on a reality show as a cast member about 20 years ago we were actually chatting with people who were on our live feed. Because the Big Brother houseguests are completely isolated from the world it is nice to know that whatever is happening, whether someone has turned from a hero to a villain or from a villain to a hero, they have no sense of that. I love that we have this whole world of commentary that they are not a part of. I think that helps them keep the game in the house.”

John Powell: You have been a guest on Big Brother UK. You have read about the return of Big Brother Australia and rumours of Big Brother possibly coming back to the UK. As part of the international Big Brother community, how do you feel about the state of the franchise?

Arisa Cox: “I couldn’t be happier. When a country has lost a Big Brother show I feel they have lost a really unique way of showcasing their country to themselves. It was hard for Australia. It has been extremely hard for the UK. I wish we could be more of a community. I would love to tour the globe and drop by all of the productions in Brazil, Italy, check out all of these different shows. When it is done right there is no other show like Big Brother. I am thrilled that other countries are seeing their series come back.”

John Powell: Did you ever think in the early days of the production that Big Brother Canada would be so popular all over the world?

Arisa Cox: “We do have a really unique country. It is very diverse. It is huge geographically. There are so many cultures within our Canadian culture. So, we have so much to showcase.”

John Powell: Is there anything you have always wanted to do on the show but haven’t been able to for whatever reason?

Arisa Cox: “Well, I have always wanted to not have a first week HoH. I think it would be so interesting to see the game start where there isn’t one person in control that sets the tone for the entire season. This year, we are actually doing it. People have been voting for their favourites and that is going to have such a huge impact on the beginning of the game. One, because there is no HoH and two, because they people will have chances to save themselves.

John Powell: Fans have been talking about an All-Star Big Brother Canada season. What are your thoughts on that?

Arisa Cox: “I love the idea of an All-Stars but we got to keep racking up our All-Stars though. I don’t think we are there quite yet. We did a second chances season, which was one of my favourites, but I still think we are lining up the best of the best. When that is ready to happen I want to blow everyone’s socks off.”

Big Brother Canada’s two-night premiere airs Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. ET/PT and Thursday, March 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, followed by the dramatic fallout on Sunday, March 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. New episodes continue to air Wednesdays (7 p.m. ET/PT), Thursdays (8 p.m. ET/PT), and Sundays (8 p.m. ET/PT).