When I picked up my copy of MX this afternoon at Town Hall station, the Big Brother print ad inside the front cover beamed, "You are invited to leave your preconceptions & prejudices at the door".

It made me excited, it was strange for "a Big Brother ad" to be so brash (long gone the billboard hangman puzzle of 2005 - WHO IS THE IMPOSTER?).

But I had people all day today telling me how this years housemates are one big "freakshow". It offended me - so what constitutes a freak?

Are we that narrow minded to be judging people so quickly on their body size, voice or age? Of coarse. But do we look at ourselves? No.

Humans are cruel, and this is Big Brother. A grab for ratings? An honest reinvention? Or a desire to portray a real illustration of Australia. Not sure.

Tonight certainly didn't feel like the show I watched for the very first time one Tuesday night way back in 2001, watching "housemates" enter a purpose built house full of cameras infront of a rent-a-crowd at Dreamworld.

Are we that narrow minded to be judging people so quickly on body size, voice or age?

Back then we were introduced to a dominatrix, a strip parlour manager and an openly gay man. Which were all controversial at the time. But over the years the housemates selections have morphed from "diverse" into "frat-house" (in the words of Kyle). So maybe it is just a case of Big Brother coming full circle?

I should probably disclose at this point, the day I found out about Gretel leaving BB I cried like a baby - while watching BB05 launch night over and over (the one where she comes out with continous images flashing on the screen of all of her looks over the years). So yeah.

I feel like such a sad-sack, but I think I just need to watch more of this new reinvention. But one things for sure, it's very different to the good old Gretel days. But then again, wasn't that the motive?

So the housemates, hrmmm. Let's run through them:

Alice - Token doctor, for being a "doctor". Isn't the term veterinary nurse? Guess those promo shots with the stethoscope were too irristable for Ten. Seems sweet, maybe to much like Claire mark II

Ben - The school dux who hates slow walking people. Interesting that he stated his academic results have come more from hard work rather than natural intelligence. I want to know more

Bianca - The busty bookworm. Not convinced - let's see. Seems like a BB06/BB07 style housemate

Brigitte - Seen it all before with Christie and Katie, you can even mistaken her as one of them on screen, sorry doll

David - The Centrebet dude had it right, who can resist a fireman? But we've had that before too. But I am very intrigued about his story of escaping the cult - not once, but twice. And the fact that he has had to turn away from his parents in order to turn away from the cult. Eager to learn more

Dixie - Seems great, will be a valued housemate. Wonder if she likes or hates Renee? Nice to see you can't escape that small town mentality, not even in the Big Brother house

Nobbi - Seems like a real character but suspicious of his placement in the house regarding Terri's "Pauline stand"

Rebecca - Already forgotten

Renee - Claims she hates girls being made up. So she goes into the house being "made up". Nonetheless will be a valued housemate

Rima - I really hopes she is not babied in the house, like she was by Terri in the first 30 minutes. But I am excited to get to know her

Rory - Sleaze bag, but done already by Glenn. A wife, a mistress and kids? Occa mate, occa. Please don't wear the G-string you mentioned. And please don't puff up your chest again like that when your arse is booted out on to the eviction stage.

Saxon - The UFO thing is interesting because he REALLY believes it. Seen no other housemate like this before, and will be good to watch

Terri - Will be a backstabber, but I don't mean that in a bad way. Has alot to say, but I do not think she will voice it completey to all of the housemates

Travis - Loved the Backstreet Boys tee in the package. Something special here, got that "Reggie" feeling...

Reading this you must understand that I am a very big fan of Big Brother, so this launch show was a big change. So sorry for the slightly sarcastic slant. Actually no I'm not - if Terri can voice her opinion, so can I.

With all that aside, I love the new set. I'm so sad to see the "original" doors removed from the back of the stage (where the BB01 & BB02 housemates used to walk down when they were evicted). But I'm SO glad to see a NEW set, and a bright one at that - it's been a while (BB04)...

Kyle copped a bit of bagging tonight, and knowing him he would have HATED that. He obviously composed himself, or they edited it out (haha). But I love him - and Jackie O. She looked stunning. And it is weird, but good, to have 2 hosts on the stage.

I always thought if Gretel was ever replaced it would have to be replaced by a duo *exhale*.

Didn't see much of the house layout tonight, I guess Big Brother is keeping alot of that secret... for later.

But there will be plenty of secret rooms in this new house. The roller shutter that is inside the house on the right hand side (behind the outdoor kitchen), leads into the old animal enclosure. Which has been a rumoured rewards room, tactic room, or even 2nd house.

But then there's a 2nd roller shutter too? And also the "clouds" door leading into the Logans' holding pen(BB05)/Rewards Room(BB06)/White Room(BB07)/Big Brother Shop(BB07)... 

The conveyor belt is a truly brilliant addition -  I love it how the food smashes on the ground if the housemates are too slow to take it off. Loving the doggie-butler pic on the wall, classic.

The Diary Room looks great, a good idea from Big Brother UK with the green (enter)/red (do not enter) lighting on the door.

It was almost impossible to piece together a houseplan from what we shown tonight - and I don't think we were meant to (as the floor plan is "coming soon" on the official website).

Loved the "memento cabinet" (shelves). Although the evil-ness of that device kind of disappeard when the hosts felt bad about "banishing" the items "forever".

And I also loved the reintroduction of the weekly online housemates diary - a salute to Peter Abbot and the old days. Nice to have it back.

Overall it was a fantastic launch night, but just very different without Gretel. I love the new show and from what I can see so far - there is a very different feel to the new show now. But how will it rate?

One things for sure - thank GOD it's back... and I'm not religious....

Tags: BB08, Big Brother, Kyle & Jackie O