And the award goes to ... Big Brother

I've always subscribed to the belief that one man's trash is another man's treasure. If this is indeed true, than the ongoing havoc wrought by Hollywood's writer's strike has got this treasure seeker striking gold in Davy Jones' locker. And the booty: the unanticipated early return of "Big Brother" on CBS.

I know, it's rather tacky to rejoice in splendor while the "Desperate Housewives" have been evicted from Wisteria Lane and Mcdreamy has been recovering in intensive care. We all knew it was coming though.

Ever since the battle for fair compensation amongst TV's hottest writers began, it was clear that it would only be a matter of time before an onslaught of reality programs would be dominating the airwaves, compensating for the absent sitcoms.

While many viewers are ready to dump unscripted television and label as worthless replacements for their favorites, I am all too happy.

The mystery has been solved for inquisitive fans of "Big Brother" as the ninth installment premiered last night on CBS. Rumors had been circulating for months as to whether or not CBS, in lieu of the strike, would push the show back from its originally scheduled [July] airing date. For those whom have not yet experienced the addiction of "Big Brother," allow me to sum up the premise of this drug.

A house is filled with 14 people and equipped with thousands of cameras that watch their every move. The houseguests fight each week to win their food, luxuries and to avoid eviction. The most coveted position is that of Head of Household. That presidential houseguest is safe for one week, gets his or her own bedroom with gifts from home and the responsibility of nominating two people for that week's eviction. The remaining houseguests then vote between the chosen two.

OK, I'm aware that at first glance it appears to be a "Survivor" rip-off. Oh contraire.

What I love about "Big Brother" is there are no camera crews. Instead, the house has motion-detecting cameras mounted to the walls and ceiling, as well as ones hidden in mirrors and such.

The behavior of the houseguests seems less contrived and acted out because they are less aware of a camera's presence.

The show is also happening as we are watching it. Unlike "Survivor" which was filmed months ago and broadcast after the cast has returned home, the houseguests of "Big Brother" are living there as we watch and are evicted live every week. You can even subscribe online to the 24 hour-a-day live feed or watch Showtime Too between midnight and 3 a.m. When else has voyeurism been so heavily encouraged?

The best part is the cast is unable to venture out of the house, except onto their fortress of a backyard. Unlike "Survivor," they can't blow off steam on the other side of the island when someone gets under their skin. They have no contact with the outside world. Its like prison except a half million-dollar prize comes with parole.

Until now, the show has always run throughout the summer, so I consider this an early birthday gift.

"Big Brother" stands out for its unique spin on a common reality theme as well as some great plot twists. One past season had identical twins switching in and out of the house and playing as one. They went undetected for several weeks and were rewarded with the chance to both enter the house and play separately. Could the Housewives or Mcdreamy pull that off? I think not.