Category: reality tv

Jerry MacDonald
Age: 75
Birthday: March 13, 1933
Hometown: Magnolia, TX via Wilkes Barre, PA
Occupation: Great Grandfather/Retired Marketing Executive
Marital Status: Married

AP PREVIEW
Most Unique Item Packed: Korean War veteran hat

Audition Process: This die-hard fan sent in an audition tape for “Big Brother 9” but was called for “10.”

Strategy: “I’m going to create an alliance called the X-Factor with only three people.”

CBS BIO
Jerry is a diehard Big Brother fan and hasn’t missed one episode in all nine seasons. He even watches Showtime After Dark and the 24/7 feed.

Jerry left high school in the 10th grade then, at age 38, returned to college. He went to Central State, Rochester Institute of Technology and Penn State and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management ten years later. Before then, he spent four years in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1954. He has been a devoted husband to the same woman for 54 years, and stays physically fit so he can take care of her as she has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Jerry has two children, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He feels he has an excellent marriage and attributes a good marriage to allowing your partner their own space.

Jerry worked for 38 years in a sales/marketing environment and retired as a general manager at a multi-million dollar sales and marketing organization. He describes himself as being very competitive and says that being number one has been a driving force in his life. He likes to play golf and shoot pool and watches basketball, baseball, tennis and golf. He volunteers at an abandoned animal rescue, serves as a property manager, enjoys playing cards and working out at the gym. His favorite movie is “The Ten Commandments” and he listens to big band music, rock and roll and Elvis Presley. The perfect day for him is one where he is in touch with his family.

The political office he’d most like to hold is that of President of the United States which he thinks of as the most challenging. His heroes are those who serve in the military and he believes they deserve credit for the fact that we live in a free society. He describes himself as liking to touch, being fair and considerate.

Dan Gheesling
Age: 24
Birthday: September 1, 1983
Hometown: Dearborn, MI
Occupation: Catholic School Teacher
Marital Status: Single

AP PREVIEW
Most Unique Item Packed: American flag

Audition Process: After sending in an audition tape, he’s been invited to the audition finals three times.

Strategy: “My personality traits will play into my strategy and make this an easy summer for me.”

CBS BIO
Dan attended Michigan State University and earned a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology. He is currently working as a teacher in an all boys Catholic school.

He is conservative and not a fan of liberals. He doesn’t think that America would have been ready for a female president and if Hillary Clinton had won the presidency, he would have moved out of the country. He describes vegans as weird tree-huggers and believes that religion is important and that it helps to establish basic values. He thinks it becomes more important as you get older.

His ideal romantic partner will be caring, hot, have dark hair and skin and be exotic looking. He prefers someone who is not into parties. He likes to eat sushi, turkey cutlets, Mediterranean food and Cheez-Its. He enjoys alternative and rap music and also likes to listen to Frank Sinatra. His favorite movies include “The Godfather,” “Good Will Hunting” and “The Karate Kid, Parts I and II”. He likes the color black and thinks he wears it well. His favorite activities include running, coaching football, and going out with friends.

He once worked as a college football coach and claims he was the youngest person to do so. He also enjoys watching football. He thinks tattoos are trashy and that piercings are for freaks.

Bryan Ollie
Age: 27
Birthday: October 22, 1980
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN via Des Moines, IA
Occupation: Marketing Sales Representative
Marital Status: Single

AP PREVIEW
Most Unique Item Packed: Charm from a woman he met before leaving

Audition Process: He attended an open casting call in Minneapolis with the motivation of “winning it all.”

Strategy: “I’m just going to be myself. I think that’ll be good enough to win the game and make good TV.”

CBS BIO
As the son of a preacher, Ollie grew up in a strict Pentecostal family where, in his father’s church, faith healing and speaking in tongues were practiced. His father is his hero because he totally supported his entire family – his mother, three sisters and two brothers for two decades. Ollie fondly calls his family the “Black Brady Bunch.” To this day, Ollie does not drink, smoke or curse; staying true to the values he was raised with as a child.

Ollie describes himself as animated, energetic and good looking. His proudest accomplishment is receiving a full athletic scholarship to college where he played football. He’s a real sports fan and likes to watch football, basketball and the World Series. His favorite activities are working out, skiing and hanging out with friends and he listens to hip-hop, R&B and gospel music.

His ideal mate is classy… but sassy. He says he pierced both of his ears while in college to impress a girl. The things he would like to accomplish are financially oriented, i.e. earning enough money to be set for life by making a smart investment, creating the next best invention and/or winning the lottery. He’s not into politics though he says he votes every four years.

Ollie attended Iowa State University in Ames, IA, and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree. He was a sociology/communication studies major.

Brian Hart
Age: 27
Birthday: August 21, 1980
Hometown: San Francisco, CA via Elk Grove, CA
Occupation: Telecommunication Account Manager
Marital Status: Single

AP PREVIEW
Most Unique Item Packed: “The Office” stress balls

Audition Process: He said he was spotted by a casting associate and had to be coaxed into auditioning.

Strategy: “My strategy is to find something in common with everyone in there.”

CBS BIO
Brian attended the College of the Air Force and received an Associate College Degree. He served in the Air Force for six years, was an F-16 crew chief and was then honorably discharged. He has worked as an investment banker, an international military recruiter and a snowboarder. He currently works in the telecommunications industry but is also involved in several entrepreneurial ventures.

Brian is a guy’s guy that was raised around several tough and feisty Italian women. His mother devoted her life to raising him and his siblings and she is the most important person in the world to him, along with his sisters.

He is a sports fan and likes to watch baseball and college football. He reads Maxim and Men’s Health magazines and listens to classic rock. His favorite artists are Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. He loves Italian food, has his own relationship with religion rather than a formal one. The political office that would interest him is that of Vice President.

His ideal romantic partner will be family oriented, beautiful and caring, and will like to travel. He has never been married.

April Dowling
Age: 30
Birthday: March 24, 1978
Hometown: Higley, AZ via Arlington, NE
Occupation: Financial Manager
Marital Status: Single

AP PREVIEW
Most Unique Item Packed: Tiny snowglobe

Audition Process: She was discovered by casting staff after making it to the “Survivor” semifinals.

Strategy: “I have no idea. I don’t even know what I’m going to do in the next hour.”

CBS BIO
April graduated from Doane College in Crete, NE with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports and Fitness Management. She is currently working as a Financial Manager at a car dealership and does well in this “man’s world”.

She admits to being OCD and can’t sleep at night if the bottles in the refrigerator aren’t lined up properly.

April’s mother has always been there for her though they do have occasional differences of opinion. She describes her father as her “rock” and says he is her number one supporter. She has an identical twin sister, who is pregnant, and both have the same tattoo on their lower backs. Her favorite foods are carb-laden and include pasta, bread and Fruit Loops cereal. Her ideal romantic partner is fun, outgoing, adventurous, caring, patient, understanding, motivated and smart and she wonders if wanting all of these qualities is the reason she has yet to marry. She has a Siamese cat named George.

She describes herself as outgoing, competitive and attractive and is most proud that she’s a college graduate. She likes football and basketball and roots for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Phoenix Suns. Her favorite activities are watching sports, grilling outside, bowling and having sex. Her favorite movies are “Dumb & Dumber,” Remember the Titans” and “Crash.” She loves all types of music and her favorite artists are Dave Mathews, Madonna and Gwen Stefani. She reads Cosmo and particularly likes to read gossip magazines.

Angie Swindell
Age: 29
Birthday: July 2, 1979
Hometown: Orlando, FL via Virginia Beach, VA
Occupation: Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Marital Status: Single

AP PREVIEW
Most Unique Item Packed: Nine cartons of cigarettes.

Audition Process: The longtime “Big Brother” fan attended an open casting call in Florida.

Strategy: “I’m going to lay a little low and then start winning competitions when I have to,” she says.

CBS BIO
Angie is a smart and sexy, Korean-American tomboy who can mix it up with the best of them. She is a recent divorcee who is happy to be single again.

Angie graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising and is currently working in pharmaceutical sales. She has a good relationship with her parents who have been married for almost 30 years though she thinks her dad understands her better than her mother. She is a devoted sister to her mentally disabled brother. Angie is very protective of him and stands up against anyone who makes fun of her brother.

She describes herself as wild, entertaining and funny and loves to hang out with friends. Her favorite activities are working out, socializing, boating and traveling – basically anything that’s fun to do. She is proud that she was the Guinness-chugging champion for women at Irish Kevin’s bar in Key West. She enjoys watching college football and is a dyed in the wool Gators fan. She’s also crazy about her miniature Dachshund whose name is Dixie.

Angie’s ideal romantic partner is an alpha male, confident and muscular. She prefers dark hair, likes tattoos and has a few herself. She really wants to be with a guy’s guy. That said, she’s a romantic at heart and her favorite movie is “The Notebook.”