text: (Redirected from Big Brother (USA))
  For the recently concluded celebrity edition, see Celebrity Big Brother 2 (U.S. season).
  The series was bought by CBS in early 2000 for an estimated $20 million.[7] The American version of the series officially premiered on July 5, 2000, when the original ten housemates entered the house.[8] Since its inception, the show has been hosted by television personality Julie Chen. It is produced by Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan for Fly on the Wall Entertainment and Endemol Shine North America (formerly Endemol USA).[9] The success of the series has spawned several spin-offs. The series airs once a year, during the summer, with the exception of the ninth season which aired in spring of 2008 and the Over the Top spinoff series broadcasting in fall 2016. Currently, 20 seasons of the show have aired, along with one digital season.[10] The show has aired a total of 706 episodes since it premiered, with the September 5, 2013 airing marking the 500th episode.[11] To date, there have been a total of 253 HouseGuests compete in the series. Upon entering the house, the HouseGuests who leave the house without permission are not allowed to return. Should a HouseGuest break the rules set in the house, they can be expelled from the house. To date, three HouseGuests have self-evicted for personal matters, while four HouseGuests were expelled from the house because of acts of violence and/or rule-breaking.
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