CBS OPENS VOTING FOR “BIG BROTHER’ ALL-STARS

In a prime-time special on Wednesday night, CBS announced the 20 candidates for the seventh season of its popular summer “Big Brother” franchise.

The rest, as we say, is largely up to you, America.

Half of the castmates for “Big Brother: All-Stars” will be selected by viewers who go over to CBS.com and cast their votes for their favorites. Host Julie Chen will reveal with 12 “Big Brother” veterans will get a second chance at being televised shut-ins when they’re admitted into the house on the show’s Thursday, July 6 premiere.

It should be noted that online voting closes June 28.

The list of 20 finalists confirms what many of us have long suspected – we’ve been living in the Golden Age of “Big Brother” for the past two seasons. While “BB1” and “BB2” combined for only four finalists (with “Chicken” George Boswell as the only survivor from the first season), “BB5” and “BB6” contributed a whopping nine.

There are two former winners – Will Kirby and Lisa Donahue – as well as the last three second place finishers.

As of now, CBS has offered no hints that the “Big Brother: All-Stars” formula will differ in any way from the show’s standard structure of challenges, heads of household, golden powers of veto and shocking eviction ceremonies. The winner will also still receive $500,000.

HICKS’ SINGLE TOPS THE CHARTS

“American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks soared to the top of the Billboard singles chart with “Do I Make You Proud.”

In its first week of sales, Hicks’ “Idol” hit sold 190,000 copies to lead the Hot 100 singles chart put out by Billboard. In addition, Hicks’ single sold 38,000 digital downloads, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The single, which includes a cover of the Doobies’ “Takin’ It To the Streets” as a b-side, also led the Pop 100 and Single Sales charts.

Hicks conquered Shakira to rule the charts, dethroning her “Hips Don’t Lie” single, which had been on top for two weeks.

Sales for “Do I Make You Proud” topped the first-week figures for the first singles by the past two “American Idol” winners. Carrie Underwood’s “Inside Your Heaven” moved 130,000 in its first week last year, while 2004 winner Fantasia’s “I Believe” sold 142,000 copies. Hicks’ numbers are lower, though, than the debuts of Kelly Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This” (263,000 copies) in 2002 or Ruben Studdard’s “Flying Without Wings” (286,000 copies).

The all-time “Idol” first-week singles sales champ is, of course, Clay Aiken. The Season Two runner up’s “This Is The Night” sold 393,000 copies in its first week.

AARON SPELLING RECOVERING FROM STROKE

Legendary television producer Aaron Spelling suffered a stroke over the weekend.

According to media reports, the man behind “Charlie’s Angels” and “Charmed” was being treated at his Holmby Hills estate.

“He had a stroke Sunday at home,” said Spelling’s publicist Kevin Sasaki in an oft-quoted statement. “I don’t know the extent of it. But if it had been some incredible degree, he would have been taken to the hospital.”

Sasaki offered no additional information on Spelling’s condition, though he claimed not to be aware of any paralysis.

The 83-year-old Spelling is best known for his long string of series successes, putting his name on hits like “The Mod Squad,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “T.J. Hooker,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Melrose Place” and “7th Heaven.”

Spelling has also won Emmys for producing the telefilms “Day One” and “And the Band Played On.”