The Glass House (2012 TV series)

Main series

The first season began in June 2012 and drew criticism and low ratings, though its critical reception improved over time. A second season was considered doubtful after the first season's performance. Producer Steve Booth hinted at a possible second season, posting on his official Twitter: "No word on a Season 2 yet. But rumor has it...

Probably won't know for sure until next spring." Executive producer Kenny Rosen stated that a format change might be in the works and hinted that the most neutral players could become Team Captains to keep big personalities in the game longer. ABC producers officially cancelled the show on May 29, 2013, nearly a year after its premiere. The Glass House featured 14 strangers living in a house made of glass with cameras recording their every move.

At selected days and times, viewers could watch a live feed into the house. Weekly eliminations let the public decide which contestants were eliminated. Viewers also dictated what contestants wore, where they slept, and what they ate. Contestants split into two groups and competed in physical and mental competitions.

The two contestants with the fewest public votes became team captains. After a challenge loss, the losing captain was sent to limbo along with a second team member voted on by the house. The public then voted which of the two should return and which should be permanently eliminated. A robotic female voice, initially called the "Oracle" by contestants, was later named by the public; after the first live feed, online blogs and forums labeled the voice "FaRi," a portmanteau of faux and Siri.

America's vote

Beyond choosing eliminations, viewers had several options affecting the game. A pre-season poll let voters decide where contestants slept, their first night's food, and how the first competition was split. A "favorite player" poll on the website allowed viewers to select as many contestants as they wanted. During live feeds, viewers answered questions live; on the first live feed episode, contestants guessed how the majority answered. The public also chose what contestants did during live feeds, which rooms they slept in, and could influence everyday life, such as forcing them to speak with a British accent for 24 hours or walk backwards for 24 hours.

Competitions

Each week, the contestants formed two teams and battled for survival. Challenges mixed physical and mental tasks, and the losing team sent two members to limbo. Beyond these competitions, the houseguests took on extra activities during live feeds, including a guessing game called "Guess the Sketch" and a challenge where they predicted how most viewers answered questions. The first season's final showdown involved the last four players fighting for individual immunity; the winner of that challenge secured a place in the Final Three.

CBS lawsuit

CBS first threatened ABC with legal action on May 4, 2012, claiming The Glass House too closely resembled Big Brother and that at least 18 staff members who had worked on Big Brother were bound by nondisclosure agreements. Six days later, CBS sued ABC and asked a court to block the show’s premiere. CBS dropped the lawsuit on August 17, 2012, pointing to the series’ low ratings, but continued arbitration against several executives for misusing Big Brother’s intellectual property. In August 2013, CBS and ABC settled.