Celebrity Big Brother 3 - What We Know So Far

The "Big Brother" franchise is one of the most successful in reality TV history for a good reason. Its ingeniously simple premise of sticking people in a big house together and then forcing them to evict each other via an anonymous vote is so evidently such a recipe for chaos that you can't help but stay glued to the drama. The competitions and twists make sure that the formula doesn't get stale. "Celebrity Big Brother" is essentially the same, but the addition of famous faces adds yet another layer of appeal. And when you're casting the likes of Omarosa Manigault or Anthony Scaramucci, as the show did in its 1st and 2nd seasons respectively, drama isn't just likely — it's inevitable.

After two successful seasons of "Celebrity Big Brother," CBS has confirmed that a third is well on the way. So let's take a look at when you can expect it, who you can expect to be in it, and where the action will take place.

With the scheduling uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly in the rearview for the most part, the entertainment industry is finally putting official release dates out with a measure of confidence. That means the newly announced broadcast date of Wednesday, February 2, 2022, should be accurate, barring substantial setbacks on set (via Pop Culture).

"Celebrity Big Brother" will air as usual on the CBS network, but will also see a release to the Paramount+ streaming service. Viewers who watch through the streamer will also have access to unique features, such as a behind-the-scenes look at the brand new HD cameras scattered throughout the house. That's right — you'll be able to snoop on the cast of the show like a real-life Big Brother right out of George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" and utilize all 94 HD cameras on the new "Big Brother" house to do so. And just in case you're worried about hearing every morsel of gossip that passes between their lips, the house will have a glorious 113 microphones, which Paramount+ subscribers will also have access to.

On Monday, November 9, CBS announced that half of its cast on unscripted shows such as "Celebrity Big Brother" would be Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), according to a report from Variety. That means while we currently do not have any specific casting announcements for "Celebrity Big Brother" Season 3, it is expected for the show to hew close to the new casting guidelines.

Julie Chen is expected to return as host. In previous seasons, the "Celebrity Big Brother" cast has included personalities such as Omarosa Manigault Newman, Kandi Burruss, and even Olympic athlete Lolo Jones — all of whom would have fit the aforementioned guidelines had they been cast in Season 3. There have also been people seemingly invited out of left-field, such as former White House director of communications Anthony Scaramucci — who famously worked in former President Donald Trump's administration for a total of 11 days — in Season 2 of "Celebrity Big Brother." Casting choices for Season 3 are expected soon, ahead of the 2022 release date, so more information should be available in the coming weeks.

In August of 2021, CBS announced that it was looking to sell the Los Angeles, California, studio lot on which the previous two seasons of "Celebrity Big Brother" were filmed (via Deadline). The lot had previously been a staple of the Hollywood entertainment machine for dozens of years. While historic shows such as "Gilligan's Island" and more recent productions including "Big Brother" had called the lot home, it is now unclear where the 3rd season of "Celebrity Big Brother" might be produced.

However, CBS has big plans for the new season of "Celebrity Big Brother," as detailed above — the dozens of cameras and microphones expected to be used on the new shoot location will record around the clock to deliver all the high-intensity interpersonal drama fans of the reality show have come to expect. The icing on the cake is that, due to the rise of streaming technology that enables more immersive experiences, Paramount+ subscribers will have 24-hour access to each of those cameras and mics for the voyeuristic enjoyment of seeing what goes on between the cuts that make it to the main screen.