Big Brother Lockdown! Evictees Off-limits to Press

• Aug 31, 2007 05:47 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Late Thursday, media outlets including TVGuide.com received the surprising word that neither Big Brother 8's Amber nor any other upcoming evictees will be made available for "postmortem" interviews. Why the change in long-standing policy? "We have made jury members... available to the press the past two seasons, always with the proviso that their questions not inform the ejected houseguest of influences outside his or her personal experience in the house," CBS says in a statement. "This season, several cast members have made either offensive statements or exhibited controversial behavior. We respect journalists' interest and right to pose questions about these matters, but at the same time believe doing so could provide information that influences the final vote and potential outcome of the 12-week competition." Cue lockdown.

CBS adds that any and all castoffs will be available for Q&A... following the Big Brother finale airing Sept. 18.