Listen up reality TV lovers, because it’s time again for Big Brother to make its return to CBS. The summer smash hit’s 11th season debuts Thursday, July 9 at 8/7c with a cast of 12 new houseguests (and, according to the CBS website, a mystery 13th contestant, too), as well as a brand new, eco-friendly house. Earlier this week, before any players entered the game, RealityWanted’s Mark got to sit down with each one of them and talk strategy, lying, and houseguests past.




Braden Bacha

Video Interview with Braden Bacha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf7y2Hu6RGM

28,

Single
Surfer, Santa Monica, CA

For Braden, a showmance isn’t out of the question. He plans to use the ladies to his benefit, especially if it means it’s going to get him farther in the game. A good friend of Nathan Marlow, Ali’s hunky hookup from season 4, Braden’s favorite past seasons are 4, 5 and 10. He loves traveling and one of his goals in life is to buy a house in Costa Rica.

Mark’s take: “If I were to compare him to a previous contestant, I’d probably say he’s like Mike from season 8 but that would be an insult to Mike.”



Casey Turner
Video Interview With Casey Turner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAFHvTzcbng
41,

Married
5th Grade Teacher, St. Petersburg, FL

The oldest contestant in the house, Casey doubles as a middle school teacher and a DJ. An avid fan of the show, Casey says his favorite season is season 8 and his favorite past houseguest is Evel Dick because of how upfront and honest he played the game and was still able to win. As for Casey’s own strategy, he plans to lay low at the beginning and feel out who are the power players in the game, so as not to end up on the wrong side of the house at the beginning.

Mark’s take: “He’s a really, really likeable guy and very down to earth.”



Chima Simone
Video Interview With Chima Simone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHxIglVH5ZY
32,

Single
Journalist, Hollywood, CA

Chima says she’s willing to throw her moral compass out the window before she steps foot into the house because she’s ready to play and ready to win. She says her personality is very strong, one that you either love or hate, so she plans to start off the game more reserved, then slowly warm up to everyone. If she were to play against anyone from a past season, Chima says she’d pick Jesse because he’s all muscle and brawn and she’s the exact opposite—no muscles, but a lot of brains.

Mark’s take: “She was really bubbly, extremely likeable and had a really good energy. We had a great time talking to her and she didn’t seem as nervous as the other houseguests, just really happy to be there.”



Jeff Schroeder
Video Interview With Jeff Schroeder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z3hekLo-t8
30,

Single
Advertising Sales, Norridge, IL

Jeff plans on excelling at the physical challenges, but also wants to lay low at the beginning of the game. He thinks he’s most like Dan from last season, because he wears his heart on his sleeve and plans to play that way, too. If he had to pick one past houseguest to play against, he’d pick Brian because he thinks Brian’s multi-alliance strategy was a bad first move. One thing Jeff doesn’t plan on doing? Having sex in the house.

Mark’s take: “America will enjoy him. He’s a good-looking guy and I enjoyed talking to him. I think he’ll emerge as a real player.”



Jordan Lloyd

Video Interview with Jordan Lloyd http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX90nlHE-6c

22,

Single
Waitress, Matthews, NC

Jordan shares a room with her mom and her brother and doesn’t have an internet connection, so it’s no surprise that she hasn’t seen much of the show. She hopes that there are cute guys in the house, but she’s not necessarily looking for a showmance, especially since she doesn’t want a guy to use her, then get rid of her. If she wins the money, she plans on buying a house for her mom and brother and paying off some bills.

Mark’s take: “She’s a really cute, Southern girl, but she’s naïve. I’m kind of afraid for her.”



Kevin Campbell
Video Interview With Kevin Campbell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwyj7Yc7UoI
29,

Single
Graphic Designer,

Chula Vista, CA

Kevin is also a diehard fan of the show (he’s been auditioning since season 1), to the point where he gets upset when people are cast who haven’t heard a thing about it. He’s very passionate about gay rights and gay marriage, but he also plans not to “lose his damn mind” like previous gay contestants. He “hearts” the twists from seasons 5 and 6, and plans to play the “BFF” role in the house. His favorite past houseguest? “Janelle, I love the bitch.”




Laura Crosby
Laura's RealityWanted Profile: http://www.realitywanted.com/member/id/67920
Video Interview With Laura: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enLcR2R6ubA
21,

Single
Bikini Model,

Atlanta, GA

According to Laura, she is a huge Big Brother “geek.” Her favorite season is season 8 and she loves Dick and Daniele, though she says if she had played then, she would have kicked them out sooner. Laura says she’s here to win the game, win the money and show all the Big Brother nerds that they can make it into the house and win it all. She thinks showmances are a strategic mistake and feels that they have made easy targets in the past (like Ollie and April).

Mark’s take: “She’s an encyclopedia of Big Brother. She critiqued a lot of past houseguests on their moves and it’s clear she’s passionate about this.”

 


Lydia Tavera
Video Interview With Lydia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxhV0h2Z-MU
24,
Single
Special Effects Technician,
Torrance, CA

Lydia wants to be a valuable ally to everyone, so that no one sees her as a threat. She says she’s not above flirting with guys or girls if it’ll get her farther in the game, and her goal is to earn everyone’s trust. If she were to win the game, she would put the money towards opening up an amateur art gallery, because she believes in giving the “little guy” a shot.



Michele Noonan

Video Interview with Michele Noonan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuqWpWaZwQo
27,
Married
Neuroscientist,
Pasadena, CA

Michele is another Big Brother fan entering the house this season. She loved parts of season 10, though she thought there wasn’t a lot of gameplay there. She also loved season 8, especially Evel Dick and Daniele (sense a trend here?).  She thinks that because Big Brother is a social experiment, she can use her professional background in neuroscience to control the house, though she plans to lay low at the beginning. Upon entering the house, Michele says she looks forward to maybe meeting some old houseguests and compares herself to her favorite player, Janelle: “We’re both fit, beautiful and smart!”



Natalie Martinez
Video Interview With Natalie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTn3wNZkqD4
24,
Single
Tae Kwon Do Champion,
Gilbert, AZ

Natalie, unlike the others, does not have a favorite past season or a favorite past player, but she’s sure of one thing: she doesn’t like Dick. She thinks he’s a total jackass and he crossed the line with Jen, especially when he burned her with his cigarette. She’s currently in an on-again-off-again relationship with another guy and describes herself as “not completely single.” She says she would like to play against Jessica from season 9 because she’s an easy target.

 


Ronnies RealityWanted Profile: http://www.realitywanted.com/member/id/48352
Video Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qibjzxlOjwA
Ronnie Talbott
30,
Married
Gamer,
Belpre, OH

Ronnie has seen every season of Big Brother from season 2 on and loved All-Stars because he thought everyone felt they had something more to prove than before. A self-professed video game geek, Ronnie says he’s competitive and not afraid to backstab, lie or manipulate. He has many favorite houseguests, including Dr. Will, Jen, Dan and Janelle, all because of how they played the game or the entertainment value they brought to the house.

Mark’s take: “Ronnie’s appearance doesn’t fit what’s on the inside, and I think people are really going to underestimate him. They might size him up as an easy target and realize later that they were wrong.”



Russell Kairouz
Video Interviews With Russell Kairouz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBbXW8WKG04
24,
Single
MMA Fighter,
Walnut Creek, CA

Russell thinks he’s one of the strongest houseguests entering this season, and plans to use that to his advantage. He says his strategy is to befriend the next strongest houseguest and use them to get to the end of the game, and then turn on them at the last minute. Russell tells us he has no problem doing whatever it takes to win, even if it means treating everyone like pawns. Russell thinks Dick is the biggest prick in the world, but season 8 was still his favorite season.

MORE BIG BROTHER 11 COMING THIS SEASON!

Stay tuned all week to RealityWanted for exclusive on-camera cast interviews as we count down the days until the premiere of Big Brother 11! All summer long, we’ll be your source for Big Brother updates and news including:

EPISODE RECAPS: David dishes the rundown of each show from start to finish as well as gives his thoughts about who’s on track to win and who’s on the chopping block.

PAST HOUSEGUEST THOUGHTS: Season 8 contestant Nick Starcevic gives us his two cents on his weekly update, only on RealityWanted.com.

INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVES: Additional content, shoutouts, bloopers, exit interviews and more straight from the houseguests themselves as the season progresses.

(All photos copyright RealityWanted.com)

For more Big Brother 11 Links visit Sirlinksalot.net