My analysis of ‘Celebrity Big Brother’

CBS announced the 11-person cast of the first-ever “Celebrity Big Brother” season in the U.S. during the 60th annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 28.

Judging from my first impressions of the cast and looking at their official cast bios, my initial disappointment at recognizing so few names has been replaced by a buzzing excitement as to what this group of celebrity houseguests will bring to the game.

Ariadna Gutiérrez is best known for when Miss Universe host Steve Harvey incorrectly crowned the Colombian model Miss Universe 2015.

Gutiérrez shows no signs of being a particularly memorable houseguest, as she is  unable to name a past player she admired or even a proper strategy she plans to employ! She has given me no reason to believe she’ll be anything more than an easy cut.

Brandi Glanville, from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” is shaping up to be some beloved comedic relief on the show. Her deadpan style of humor in her pre-season interviews and her hilarious lack of BB knowledge has already made her a pleasure to watch before the season has even officially begun.

As for strategy, I don’t see Glanville making many game-changing moves; I predict she’ll be more of a floater.

Retired UFC fighter Chuck Liddell is someone to look out for in the game.

Liddell’s biggest strength should be competition wins. The physical comps should be no trouble for this fan-favorite athlete. He should be wary of winning too many though, as that could paint a massive target on his XL back.

“Big Time Rush” star James Maslow seems like an average ‘nice guy’ houseguest. Most likely he’ll be cut in the middle of the pack, but his charm and friendliness could bring him all the way to the end.

Maslow might get himself in trouble with the live feed viewers, as he has said that he has an inappropriate sense of humor and thinks people are too sensitive nowadays.

Keshia Knight Pulliam made her name as Rudy Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” and she is now showing signs of being a silent killer in the “Big Brother” game.

Pulliam is soft-spoken and reserved in her pre-season interviews, displaying limited game knowledge but a subtle intelligence that many of her fellow cast members seem to lack. Everything about her screams “underdog” to me at this point.

Marissa Jaret Winokur, the Tony-winning actress from the Broadway musical “Hairspray,” is one of my favorite cast members so far.

Having watched the show since season two in 2001, Winokur knows the ins and outs better than most. She hopes to align with someone mean who can do dirty work for her. Her loud personality will either earn her an early exit or make her endearing to other houseguests and bring her far.

Mark McGrath is forgettable now, but he could very well be a strong player. The Sugar Ray singer will surely use his charisma to build strong relationships quickly, while not being so big of a personality to attract a target.

McGrath comes across as an all-around capable houseguest, being both socially and physically competent.

Former NBA player Metta World Peace has a big storm coming.

While competition wins should be a strong suit for him, the athlete’s penchant for fights on the court will translate poorly in the house, making him a target soon in the game. His chance of going far is pretty slim.

Omarosa Manigault — the former “The Apprentice” star—has taken a step up from the White House to the “Big Brother” house. She’s known for her feuds and confrontational behavior — a perfect recipe for drama and entertainment, but not so much for a stellar game.

She revealed in her official CBS bio that she is surprisingly a fan of the show, so her gameplay may be more advanced than viewers would expect. I, for one, hope she goes all the way while stirring the pot and causing chaos.

Ross Mathews, a judge from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” vows to take home the $250,000 grand prize at all costs.

Although I do have my money on this long-time super fan making it far, it’s possible that his exuberant personality will grate on people. I’m expecting at least one fight with Manigault, whose negativity Mathews can’t stand.

Shannon Elizabeth is one of the most promising players this season. The “American Pie” actress claims to have watched every season of “Big Brother” at least once, which I think will make her and Ross Mathews super fan rivals.

Coming across as calm and compassionate, Elizabeth will sit back and make plays from the sidelines while allowing the bigger personalities to take themselves out. If I had to choose who is most likely to win the game, Shannon Elizabeth would likely be my pick.

The show premiered on Feb. 7 on CBS, which was after press time.

To contact the Ionian’s Michael Coppola, email him at [email protected]