By John Powell – GlobalTV.com  
 
Some very familiar faces will be taking up residence in the Big Brother house this year. Four of the most successful players to appear on the series will be coming back to compete for a separate prize. The identities of the four returning players and their purpose in the house will be announced during the season premiere July 12th.

Adding fuel to the speculation that has been running rampant for weeks, Big Brother 8 winner Evel Dick Donato, stated in a video interview today that the veterans will be acting as “mentors” to the 12 newbie HouseGuests.

“It looks like it’s going to be mentors, without them having a chance to win, without them really playing the game; having teams under them,” said Donato.

CBS released the names and some information on the 12 newbie HouseGuests. The players range from a member of the female rock band “Kittie” to a nurse to a house flipper.

One of the new recruits has a last name which will be very familiar to Survivor fans. Willie Hantz is the brother of Russell Hantz, one of Survivor's most notorious players.

Fans may not know Frank Eudy but they might recognize his father, especially if they are fans of pro-wrestling. Frank is the son of Sidney Raymond Eudy, who is known in the squared circle as "Psycho Sid" and "Sid Vicious". Sid is a former WWE and WCW World Heavyweight Champion.

This year, the house has been decorated in an urban pop culture décor and the Houseguests will have an opportunity to slumber in the Kicks Bedroom, featuring a wall of sneakers; the Sonic Flow Room, which is decorated with various headphones, a boom box and headphone shaped beds; or relax in the bird themed bedroom. Other highlights from this season’s Big Brother house include the Arcade Room; a Zen garden-inspired backyard; an “every city” skyline along the upstairs wall; and an oversized chess game.

Following the premiere on Thursday, July 12 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), Big Brother will be broadcast three nights weekly, beginning Sunday, July 15 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), Wednesday, July 18 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) and the LIVE eviction show, hosted by Julie Chen, beginning Thursday, July 19 (9:00-10:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT).

Jenn Arroyo, 37  

Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Current City: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Musician / Former Bass Player for the Female Metal Group “Kittie”

Joe Arvin, 41 

Hometown: Lexington, Ky.

Current City: Schererville, Ind.

Chef

Frank Eudy, 28 

Hometown: Marion, Ark.

Current City: Naples, Fla.

Unemployed

Jodi Rollins, 42 

Hometown: Englewood, Colo.

Current City: Calipatria, Calif.

Restaurant Server

Willie Hantz, 34 

Hometown: Vinton, La.

Current City: Dayton, Texas

Tankerman

Wil Heuser, 24 

Hometown: Louisville, Ky.

Current City: Louisville, Ky.

Marketing Consultant

Ashley Iocco, 26 

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Current City: West Hollywood, Calif.

Owner of a Mobile Spray Tanning Company

Shane Meaney, 26 

Hometown: Bennington, Vt.

Current City: Bennington, Vt.

House Flipper

Kara Monaco, 29  

Hometown: Orlando, Fla.

Current City: Los Angeles, Calif.

Model

Danielle Murphree, 23 

Hometown: Grant, Ala.

Current City: Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Nurse

JoJo Spatafora, 26 

Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.

Current City: Staten Island, N.Y.

Bartender

Ian Terry, 21 

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Current City: New Orleans, La.

Engineering Student