The show broadly follows the premise of other versions, in which a group of contestants, known as "houseguests", live together in a specially constructed house that is isolated from the outside world and compete for a cash prize of $750,000 ($500,000 prior to season 23). The houseguests are continuously monitored during their stay by live television cameras as well as personal audio microphones. Throughout the course of the competition, houseguests are evicted by being voted out of the competition.
In its inaugural season (which followed the original Dutch format in which audience voting determined evictees and the eventual winner), ratings declined, and critical reaction grew increasingly negative,[5] prompting the series to be revamped for the second season, which focused on competition and gameplay.[6]
The show's twenty-seventh season premiered on July 10, 2025, serving as the show's 25-year anniversary season.
Big Brother is a reality game show in which a group of contestants, known as houseguests, live in a custom-built residence—the Big Brother House— under constant video surveillance.[7][8] While the exact duration varies by season, seasons last approximately three months. Houseguests are isolated from the outside world, with no contact allowed except for medical emergencies or family crises.[9] The show is often regarded as a social experiment, requiring contestants to navigate relationships and conflicts with people from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and values.[10][11]
Season 1
The first season mirrored the original Dutch version, focusing on the social experiment aspect with minimal competition.[12] Houseguests did not compete for power or safety, and the nomination process was not discussed among them.[13][14] The season received mixed reviews.[5]
Challenges
Challenges were divided into "food," "tasks," and "live challenges". For most of the food challenges, each houseguest was required to wager a certain percentage of their allowance, up to 50%, to complete a certain objective. One competition was the "luxury challenge", where the winner received a golden ticket to the Primetime Emmy Awards.[15]
Banishment
Every two weeks, houseguests secretly nominated two others for eviction in the "Red Room". The two houseguests with the most nomination votes were then "Marked for Banishment".[16] In the event of a tie, three or more houseguests with the most nomination votes became nominated for eviction. The public voted to remove one of the nominated houseguests.[15][17] This process later switched to a weekly nomination system. The banished houseguest then had to immediately gather their belongings and walk out the front door.
Final vote
When three houseguests remained, the public vote decided the winner, who received $500,000, while the runners-up got $100,000 (2nd place) and $50,000 (3rd place).[15]
Season 2–present
After spending millions on the series,[5] CBS announced a second season with major format changes,[6] shifting the focus to competition and strategy, similar to Survivor.
The key change was that houseguests, not the public, decide who to remove (evict) from the game.[6] In the new format, houseguests also compete for safety and power. The game continues in this format until its final day, in which a panel of evicted houseguests vote for the winner among two finalists. The winner receives $750,000 ($500,000 prior to season 23) while the runner-up receives $75,000 ($50,000 prior to season 23).[18][19]
Head of Household
Head of Household logo
The Head of Household (HOH) competition, introduced in season 2, is held at the beginning of each week.[20] The winner of the competition receives immunity from eviction and has the power to nominate two houseguests for eviction. They also receive other special privileges, including their own bedroom. The incumbent HOH is not allowed to compete in the following week's competition.[21][22][23] Most competitions are either quiz-based,[24] endurance-based,[25][26][27] or skill-based.[28] Some competitions are finished during the live eviction broadcast.[29]
Since season 26, the HOH has nominated three houseguests for eviction rather than two; the three nominees then compete in a Big Brother Block Buster challenge whose winner is saved from eviction.[30][31]
Power of Veto
Power of Veto symbol, used since the show's third season
The Power of Veto (POV) competition, introduced in season 3, takes place after the HOH competition.[32] Six houseguests compete in the POV competition: the HOH, two nominees, and three other houseguests.[note 1] Before the start of each POV competition, the HOH and the two eviction nominees select three additional houseguests for the competition.[33]
The winner of the POV competition has the power to either save one nominee from risk of eviction,[32] or leave the HOH's original nominations intact.[34] The veto meeting is the formal setting in which the winning POV holder announces their decision.[32]
During season 3, the power was known as the Silver Power of Veto and did not allow a nominated houseguest to use the veto on themselves.[35] The final Power of Veto that season was the Golden Power of Veto, allowing a nominated houseguest to remove themselves from the nomination block.[36] Beginning in season 4, the Golden Power of Veto was made a permanent component of the game.[37][38]
Eviction
At the end of the week, all houseguests (except the HOH and the nominees) cast a vote for eviction. Broadcast live, houseguests enter the diary room one-by-one and privately cast their votes. Prior to season 10, houseguests' eviction votes were prerecorded, with the voting switching to a live phase about halfway through the game. The houseguest receiving a majority of the votes is evicted from the house. In the event of a tie, the HOH casts the deciding vote.[39]
A notable variant, called "double eviction", has been done in two forms. The first, dubbed Fast Forward Week, had week-long events occur in an accelerated format, with two houseguests evicted over the course of a week. The second, "Double Eviction Night", introduced in season 7, had the events of a traditional week occur over the course of a single live eviction episode. This event became a staple of the show. Season 22 introduced the Triple Eviction Night, with three houseguests being evicted in a similar manner.[note 2]Season 27 revealed once an eviction vote is cast, it is official and cannot be rescinded.[40]
Another variant is Eviction Competition, as seen in seasons 14 and 18, in which houseguests compete in a series of competitions for survival in the house, and the houseguest who finished last may face automatic eviction.
Final three
The standard nomination process continues until there are three houseguests left. At this point, houseguests participate in the season's final HOH competition, which is divided into three rounds: the first is endurance-based, the second is skill-based, and the final is quiz-based. The winner of the first round automatically qualifies for final round, while the remaining houseguests compete in round two.[41][42] The winner of round three casts the final eviction vote, choosing who to stand against for the jury's vote.[43]
Other competitions
The food and luxury competitions, which have been a staple of the show since the beginning, have also been adjusted to reflect the current game's format. Houseguests may compete in luxury competitions, with prizes including the opportunity to watch a film or a small cash prize.[44]
Have-nots
In the early seasons, the losers of a "have-not competition" would not be permitted to eat any food except peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.[45][46] Beginning in season 7, the losers were instead required to eat "slop", sleep in an uncomfortable have-not room, and take cold showers.[47][48][49][50][note 3] Since season 22, later weeks forego have-not competitions. Instead, either the current HOH or the previous have-not recipients decide the week's have-nots. Houseguests may be penalized for not following have-not rules, usually with a penalty vote for eviction,[54][55] or in some cases, an additional day of have-not status.[56][note 4]
Jury
Seasons 2 and 3
In seasons 2 and 3, all evicted houseguests were part of the jury. Before the final vote, each evicted houseguest asked one question to the final two contestants, who could hear but not see the jury. The finalists then had the opportunity to make a final statement before the vote. Each evicted houseguest voted for the winner by choosing a gold key labeled with the chosen finalist's name. They placed their key into one of twelve slots on the voting box. After reuniting with the final two contestants in the house, the evictees revealed their choices, one by one. The houseguest with the most votes was declared the winner of Big Brother.
Season 4–present
Beginning in season 4, evicted houseguests were known as jurors. Jurors live in the sequestered "jury house", and are shown group events and competitions. Jurors are not shown contestant interviews or any other footage that may include strategy or details regarding nominations.
Prior to the finale, the jury is asked to agree on three questions for each of the final two houseguests. At the studio on finale night, the jurors question the finalists. After the questioning is complete, each of the two finalists make a final speech. Then, in order of eviction, each of the jurors secretly selects key of the houseguest that they want to win. The host then pulls out the keys from the box, revealing whom each juror chose. The houseguest receiving the majority of votes is then declared the winner of Big Brother.[61][62][19][18]
America's Favorite Houseguest
Beginning in season 7, viewers have voted to determine the recipient of the "America's Favorite Houseguest".[note 5] The winner receives a cash prize of $50,000 ($25,000 prior to season 23); the results are announced during the season finale.
History
Logos
Season 1
Seasons 2–15
Seasons 16–21
Seasons 22–25
The series was bought by CBS in early 2000 for an estimated $20 million.[63] It officially premiered on July 5, 2000, with ten houseguests entering the house.[64] The series takes its name from the character in George Orwell's 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. Since 2001, as a result of a lawsuit settlement, Big Brother displays the following disclaimer in the end credits: "This program is not associated or affiliated with the Estate of George Orwell and is not based on the novel '1984'."[citation needed]
Throughout its run, Big Brother has been criticized following reports of "HIB" (Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying),[67] violence in the house, obscene language,[68][69][70][71] breach of integrity,[72][73] and the physical and mental strain of appearing on the series.[74] Several seasons have also been criticized for racism and discrimination, most notably season 15 and season 21.[75][76][77]
On September 9, 2018, Chen's husband, Les Moonves, resigned as President of CBS after a second wave of reports of sexual misconduct allegations against him. On September 13, Chen closed out that evening's episode by saying, "From outside the Big Brother house with Brett, I'm Julie Chen Moonves. Good night." As Chen had previously never used Moonves professionally, many saw the move as Chen standing in solidarity with her husband.[78] Following her resignation from The Talk on September 18 after eight years as co-host, there was speculation on whether Chen would continue as host of Big Brother. Chen did return to host the following year, and has become increasingly spiritual and religious on and off the program in the wake of such revelations.[79][80]
Beginning with the 2021–2022 broadcast season, CBS mandated that its reality shows' casts were at least 50% BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color).[81]
Big Brother was nominated for Best Competition Show at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards.[82]
1 2 For the first season and Over the Top, the public voted to determine the winner between the three finalists. The voting percentages were not revealed for Over the Top; however, it was revealed that the margin of victory was within 20,000 votes between the winner and the first runner–up.
↑ Also known as Big Brother: 'Til Death Do You Part
↑ Although technically containing 11 episodes, the two episodes between episode 5 and episode 7 were officially numbered 6.1 and 6.2, leaving the official episode number at 10.
↑ For the Reindeer Games, the winner was determined by a competition tournament between the four finalists.
Since its launch in the United States, Big Brother has aired on CBS.[85] The show is simulcast in Canada on Global.[86] Seasons 4 and 9 aired in the United Kingdom.[1]
The first season featured six episodes per week, though all future installments would air three nights per week.[87] Of these three episodes, the weekly eviction episode is the only one that is live, and the only to feature host Julie Chen Moonves. This show generally airs on Thursdays.[88] The series typically airs once per year during the summer; season 9 aired during the spring.[89][90]
Seasons 3 and 4 were released on DVD. Beginning with season 7, seasons are available for purchase on digital retail sites.[96][bettersourceneeded] With season 15, TVGN (now Pop) began airing reruns of the series, making it the first season to be aired following its premiere; this continued with the 16th season.[97] All seasons of Big Brother are available on Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access).
Live feeds
A major aspect of Big Brother is the live feeds, in which viewers can view the contestants inside the house.[98] Feeds are shut off during the weekly nomination ceremony, Power of Veto ceremony, competitions, and evictions for that week; this is to provide suspense for the series.[99] Slanderous statements and singing of copyrighted music may be blocked for legal reasons.[100][101][102]
During the first season, access to live feeds was free, hosted by AOL on the show's official site.[103][104] Beginning with the second season, a paid subscription has been required to access the live feeds.[105] From season 2–14, live feeds were available through RealNetworks either as a subscription or as a free addition for Gold members.[106] Since 2016, the live feeds have aired on CBS All Access (known as Paramount+ since March 2021).[107] In 2023, the live feeds launched on Pluto TV with commercials, marking the first time they have been offered for free since the first season.[108]
Companion shows
From 2004 to 2008, Big Brother aired the companion web series House Calls: The Big Brother Talk Show.[109] The series, which lasted for thirty minutes and aired on weeknights, allowed fans to call in and discuss the events of the game.[110]House Calls was the first live internet talk show produced exclusively for a television network.[111] During its first two seasons, House Calls was hosted by Gretchen Massey and season 3 houseguest Marcellas Reynolds.[112] Beginning with the show's third season, different co-hosts were featured on the series each day.[113] During the fifth and sixth seasons, each co-host was given a designated day of the week to host alongside Gretchen.[114] Following sixth season of House Calls, it was confirmed that the show would not be renewed.[115]
Big Brother: After Dark debuted in 2007, airing nightly on Showtime 2 from 12:00a.m.–3:00a.m.ET.[116] In 2013, it was moved to TVGN (now Pop), where it remained until 2019.[117][118] Former houseguest Jeff Schroeder began hosting the Big Brother: Live Chat online discussion show in 2012, where he interviewed houseguests both before they entered the house and following their evictions. He also performed post-finale backyard interviews with the cast.[119][120] On August 10, 2017, Schroeder announced that he was moving to Colorado and would no longer be able to do the interviews.[121]
For season 27, CBS announced Big Brother: Unlocked. Airing bi-weekly on CBS, Unlocked is hosted by former Big Brother winners Taylor Hale and Derrick Levasseur along with a rotating guest.[123] The show features gameplay analysis by the hosts as well as additional footage not included on the regular Big Brother broadcast.[124]
There have been three spin-offs of Big Brother. In October 2016, CBS premiered Big Brother: Over the Top, as an original series for CBS All Access. Unlike the flagship television version, it was broadcast exclusively online (over-the-top) with a shorter, ten-week season.[125][126]
Big Brother Reindeer Games, a holiday-themed spin-off, aired in December 2023. It had six episodes, broadcast over two weeks. The season, featuring nine returning players, was entirely pre-taped and did not have live feeds. Julie Chen Moonves did not host Reindeer Games.[129][130]
↑ Prior to season 5, all houseguests were allowed to compete.
↑ The Triple Eviction Night was previously used on Big Brother Canada with a different format – where a single live round was played, with three nominees and two Houseguests being evicted within a single round.
↑ Slop has proven to be an issue for some Houseguests. In both cases on Season 9, hypoglycemic HouseGuest Amanda Hansen fainted and had a seizure after only a few days of being on the slop diet,[47] while HouseGuest Allison Nichols had an allergic reaction to the slop;[51][52] both women were medically evacuated from the house, though they returned the following morning.[53]
↑ A controversy occurred during season 21 in which Jackson Michie, the season's eventual winner, broke the Have-Not rule, but was not issued a penalty due to the obstruction of the camera view behind the shower walls while eating non-slop,[57][58][59] resulting in the Have-Not being unseen for the remainder of that season.[60]
↑ America's Favorite Houseguest was not included in season 8 or the Over the Top spin-off.
↑ Langston Moore, Michael (September 2, 2011). "Is Big Brother 13 Rigged?". The Morton Report. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
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