"Celebrity Big Brother" is finally crossing the pond from the U.K. to the U.S. "Big Brother 19" is still chugging (painfully) along for another week or so, but in addition to next summer's "Big Brother 20," CBS is sliding in a special celebrity edition of the show to air in early 2018.

Fans are excited, to put it mildly.

Julie Chen announced the big news during last night's BB19 live double eviction episode. As much as fans would love for Julie Chen to be part of this celebrity "Big Brother" season herself, she will be busy hosting it. But Chen joined executive producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan to talk to The Hollywood Reporter about the celebrity version ahead, and dream cast the season (which has not yet been cast).

Meehan said it would be "more of an event instead of a three-month series," but they're keeping the basics like Head of Household and Power of Veto comps and the live evictions.

Here's more:

THR: Other celebrity variations of reality TV cast mid-level talent. Are you aiming higher than that?

Chen: We're being realistic. It's not going to be all Oscar winners. But maybe we'll have someone who won an Oscar decades ago. Whoever casts Dancing With the Stars does an amazing job. They don't always get all household names, but some people kind of reinvent themselves and suddenly I see that person all over the tabloids. Sometimes these types of shows, like in the U.K. [version], some of the washed-up names that went into it got a new lease on life. And the big names that went in, it was a little bit too up close and personal. Those people did themselves in with letting the public see who they really are.

Meehan: We're just starting discussions and we're looking for people who are going to be fun. Maybe there are some celebrity fans of the show that we'll mix in there. We're going to create a big list and go out and see who we can get.

Grodner: It will be an eclectic group with diverse personalities and we're looking forward to seeing who will be interested.

Asked for their dream cast, they mentioned Bobby Moynihan, who was in the BB19 house this past week to plug his new CBS show (and call the HGs fools for not evicting Paul). Grodner said Moynihan is "an amazing fan who really knows everything and couldn't have been more excited to participate."

They'd love to have him in the house, if he has the time and interest. They know it's going to be a matter of finding celebs who are willing to take the time off (it won't be a whole three months, but still) and willing to be exposed 24/7 on the live feeds.

Here's a whole list of suggested names from the Chenbot:

Julien Chen: Tonya Harding. Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, that's a love affair waiting to happen. Sean Spicer and Melissa McCarthy, which will never happen. Andy Cohen is a superfan, hilarious and speaks his mind. He's not afraid to stand up for himself or a friend and he's fiercely loyal. And who is the one who acts crazy every now and then? Is it Shia LaBeouf? I don't know if I want him.

Shia would be a trip. Let's hope they manage to cast people with at least his level of name recognition. Fingers crossed.

So that's what's up after BB19 gives more money to Paul (expect that expected outcome) and before the big milestone season of BB20 next summer.

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