The Big Brother house is filled with memories of summers past.
Every betrayal, fight, twist, romance, and campy (or frustrating) twist kept us glued to our screens. And each 24/7 live feed update hooked us to tune in for more!
Summer isn’t summer without the juicy chaos of Big Brother.
After 28 seasons, three celebrity seasons, and two spinoffs, it can seem like a lot to catch up on. But no stress, you can start anywhere!
And our TV Fanatics have your back for Big Brother Season 28.
But if you need a Big Brother crash course (and fast!), we got to wondering about all the big, iconic moments all new fans should know. The clips that will stop you with a “But first…”.
From the past to the present, from Golden Power of Vetoes to the gold standard of backdoors.
Check out some of our favorite iconic moments below from Big Brother’s history!
1. A New Series Begins (Big Brother Season 1)
Big Brother Season 1 is a completely different show.
Long before Head of Households (HOH) and POVs fueled gameplay, Big Brother matched international editions. A priority on popularity and house dynamics vs. strategy.
Since Big Brother has changed so much, you don’t need to watch the original format to understand the game now.
But it’s essential to take a quick trip back to the year 2000 to understand how far the game has come.
What better way than to see the houseguests enter the house for the first time?
At its heart, Big Brother will always be a social experiment.
2. The September 11th Reveal (Big Brother Season 2)
Big Brother houseguests are secluded from the public, kept oblivious to all real-world events until eviction.
At the Final 3 of Big Brother Season 2, Will, Monica, and Nicole experienced a rare first: a pause to the game.
Production informed them of the tragic events in New York City, and we witnessed their live reactions to hearing this news.
This is an iconic moment because we forget how secluded the houseguests are from the rest of the world.
This was a real moment that went beyond any discussions of gameplay and the grand prize. And a reminder of how real events still affected them, even while playing the game.
Monica, who ultimately finished in third place, grappled with the uncertainty of a missing family member who had been working in the Twin Towers during the tragedy.
3. Marcellas Not Using The POV (Big Brother Season 3)
The Golden Power of Veto (POV) is a staple nowadays on Big Brother. For newbies: it’s a power that can remove someone from the nomination block.
But can you believe it didn’t appear until the Final 5 of Big Brother Season 3?
Marcellas is the first-ever winner of the Golden POV, and he was nominated that week. By all accounts, it made sense for him to use it and save himself.
The unthinkable happened: he didn’t use it, and he got evicted moments later!
Marcellas’ blunder is a moment that lives in Big Brother and reality TV infamy.
If there’s ever a class course of reality TV strategies, this moment will be there. It’s a reminder always to save yourself first and not trust others’ words.
His blindside eviction is so uncomfortable and shocking!
Marcellas is speechless. His friend Amy is shocked. The others can barely look at him.
This moment is an essential Big Brother must-watch.
4. The Exes Return (Big Brother Season 4)
How much money would it take to stay trapped in a house with your ex?
Big Brother Season 4 toyed with its houseguests by unveiling its first-ever full season twist. Several houseguests had to compete next to their ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends.
The reveal of five houseguests witnessing their exes walk through the door is so deliciously evil!
There were tears, there were expletives, and there were plenty of awkward reunions. You couldn’t plan for how explosive and entertaining that scene was.
5. Long-Lost Siblings (Big Brother Season 5)
On the other hand, sometimes the emotions can be more heartwarming.
Two Big Brother Season 5 houseguests, Michael “Cowboy” and Jennifer “Nakomis,” started the game unaware that they were secret half-siblings.
In an unexpected series of events, Cowboy pieced everything together and discovered he had a sister.
You need to watch the moment when they read the letters from their father. It’s an emotionally filled moment that will leave you in tears.
6. The Twins (Big Brother Season 5)
Continuing the “Project DNA” theme of Big Brother Season 5, we can’t forget the twins.
For many weeks, Adria and Natalie secretly played the game as one houseguest. The twins secretly switched places without any of the others noticing.
We waited weeks for the twins to complete their objective. And they did!
Natalie joined the game, and the houseguests were blown away by the twist hiding under their noses.
Plus, Jase looking like it was the end of the world is the cherry on top of this twist sundae.
7. I Sealed Your Partner’s Fate (Big Brother Season 6)
Big Brother Season 6 is jam-packed with lots of iconic moments.
The Pressure Cooker challenge. The many fights. Kaysar’s return, and then betrayal. The secret room.
We could go on!
If we had to pick one, it’s the Big Brother Season 6 Week 3 Power of Veto competition. More specifically, the strategic blindside and post-challenge reaction.
Let’s take a trip back to the year 2005.
By the third week, the game was forming into a battle of the secret pairs, coming together to create big alliances. Houseguests Kaysar, Janelle, Howie, Rachel, Sara, and James discovered they were on the outs against another group.
Before the POV competition, the group concocted a plan to blindside and backdoor the “Friendship’s” leader, Eric.
Their plan worked: the group blocked out the opposing players, James won “Knight Moves,” and they had the power.
But the beauty of their plan comes from Kaysar telling Eric’s secret partner, Maggie, that he didn’t seal her fate. Instead, he sealed her partner’s fate.
It’s a cold and cutting line that packs all the punch.
8. Keesha’s Birthday (Big Brother Season 10)
The worst birthday heard around the reality TV world.
Keesha’s birthday is legendary for its explosive fights and iconic moments. The energy is electric; it ramps up through every fight and awkward silence.
From Libra/Keesha/Renny fighting with Jerry/Michelle/Jessie to the cringeworthy singing of “Happy Birthday.” This is the moment everyone remembers about Big Brother Season 10.
“Anybody want cake?” isn’t just an iconic line; it’s a staple.
9. Coup d’État & Chima Expulsion (Big Brother Season 11)
This is a two-fold moment because one is essential to lead into the other.
Jeff, one of the popular houseguests that season, won a secret power voted on by the public. The Coup d’État allowed the user to overthrow the HOH and choose the new nominees.
It’s one of the most powerful twists in Big Brother history.
Jeff switched out Chima’s nominees of Russell and Lydia. He chose her allies, Jessie and Natalie.
Jessie got evicted in a 3-2 vote.
What followed post-eviction was an implosion of unforeseeable consequences.
Not only did Jessie’s allies hold an awkward memorial session for him, but Chima mentally and emotionally withdrew from the game.
She didn’t care anymore. The game, the twists, and following production’s rules didn’t matter.
After repeatedly pushing back on production and then intentionally destroying a microphone in the pool, she was expelled from the game.
It’s rare for Big Brother to remove a houseguest for non-game reasons. This one slowly boiled before our eyes.
10. Floaters, You Better Grab A Life Vest! (Big Brother Season 12)
Rachel Reilly is an icon. She is Big Brother.
Her first season on Big Brother Season 12 was a messy mix of chaotic fire and messier gameplay.
She had no chance to win. Rachel clashed with everyone except her future husband, Brendan.
Besides her incredible fight against Ragan, Rachel’s iconic line against Kristen and Hayden has stood the test of time.
This is the moment that birthed a Big Brother mainstay.
11. Dan’s Funeral (Big Brother Season 14)
No, returning Big Brother Season 10 player Dan didn’t die. But his game was on life support.
Dan’s days were numbered.
He was nominated for eviction, and everyone planned to vote him out. This was their moment to get rid of the most powerful strategic player.
Instead, Dan spent hours concocting a fake funeral, going one by one during a house meeting to pay his respects to each player.
This ingenious move built him enough sympathy to maneuver a new plan that saved his game.
12. Aaryn’s Eviction (Big Brother Season 15)
Some evictions are a long time coming. Enter: Aaryn, one of the most controversial houseguests of Big Brother history.
Big Brother Season 15 is plagued with many instances of microaggressions, bullying, racism, and homophobia, to name a few.
At the helm of most comments was Aaryn.
Thanks to the 24/7 live feeds, viewers watched all her comments and actions unfold, placing pressure on production to expose the truth to the world.
This didn’t just affect Aaryn; it affected her entire alliance as well.
By Big Brother Season 15 Week 9, Aaryn was finally evicted.
This was the chance for host Julie Chen-Moonves to hold her accountable for her actions. And to everyone’s surprise, she did!
A rare move by Julie to hit the houseguests with tough questions post-eviction.
It’s an iconic post-eviction moment that can’t be missed.
13. Candice’s Eviction (Big Brother Season 15)
Earlier on Big Brother Season 15, Candice’s eviction is iconic for completely different reasons.
The clown unitard. The iconic eviction speech.
And the explosive fight between her and long-time enemy, GinaMarie. Candice and GinaMarie hated each other!
Candice was justified in every way, especially after GinaMarie’s continued microaggressions and racism toward her all season.
Even though we lost Candice, she got the last laugh on GinaMarie.
14. Frankie Grande Wins Alone (Big Brother Season 16)
Big Brother Season 16 is divisive.
Some say it’s the gold standard of a great game and season. Others say it ruined Big Brother by reinforcing safe majority alliances.
What is iconic is how Frankie turned his game around in a clutch victory that he needed.
After Caleb sat out of the Battle of the Block to spite Frankie, his plan failed to work. Frankie won the challenge alone to secure their safety.
There are plenty of conspiracy theories about this win.
Specifically, there’s one that production, allegedly, changed the game to benefit Frankie playing alone. Regardless, what is known is that Frankie won a life-or-death competition for his Big Brother life.
15. Paul Loses Twice (Big Brother Season 19)
Losing twice in the Big Brother finals must sting even harder.
Returning Big Brother Season 18 houseguest Paul dominated the season. He controlled every alliance, and he betrayed all deals through the guise of “friendship.”
However, his terrible jury management and personal gameplay came back to haunt him.
Paul lost in another 5-4 jury vote.
Two years in a row. All while wearing the same outfit again. Talk about deja vu!
16. Kaitlyn’s Puzzle (Big Brother Season 20)
Who can’t complete a 7-piece puzzle?! It’s a puzzle!
Kaitlyn, the Big Brother Season 20 Week 4 evictee, had one chance to earn her way back into the Big Brother game. All she had to do was solve a quick puzzle.
Instead, Kaitlyn crumbled under the stress and did the unthinkable: she couldn’t solve the puzzle.
It’s a moment so iconic that future challenge types like this have been deemed “Kaitlyn’s Puzzle” in her honor.
17. The Cookout Meets (Big Brother Season 23)
The best alliance in Big Brother history? Absolutely!
Big Brother Season 23’s The Cookout did something no other alliance had ever achieved: keep themselves a secret and intact until everyone else was evicted.
The Cookout did that. They made it all the way until only their alliance was left, and no one knew about it.
Their official first meeting out in the open is a glorious victory of a well-earned and hard-fought season.
18. Taylor’s Winning Speech (Big Brother Season 24)
Big Brother Season 24 winner Taylor proved to everyone the power of words and pageant skills.
After rising from the ashes of a rough Big Brother Season 24 summer, Taylor made it all the way to the Final 2.
Monte thought he had an easy victory against her. Instead, Taylor delivered a powerful final speech that blended conviction, resiliency, and inspiration to seal her position.
Taylor’s final speech needs to be heard in full.
19. The “Crazy Eyes” Fights (Big Brother Season 26)
Long before Angela returned to the Big Brother Season 28 house, she was a newbie just like everyone else.
In her first week, she won HOH and planned for an easy week. That is, until she heard rumblings of Matt planning against her and calling her a threat.
With Lisa saving herself with the POV, Angela needed a replacement nominee.
Angela wanted Matt gone, so she confronted him in front of everyone to make it clear. Matt was unprepared for Angela’s fury.
The “Crazy Eyes” fight is one of the funniest and most explosive blowups to come out of Week 1 ever!
20. The White Locust (Big Brother Season 27)
Now, let’s talk about a twist that goes horribly wrong.
Big Brother Season 27 Week 9’s “The White Locust” twist doesn’t feel like Big Brother. It’s an insta-elimination game that gives no chance to avoid safety.
Returning player Rachel had been dominating the season. She pushed strategic momentum in the house and entertainment in episodes.
Then, in one devastating challenge loss, Rachel was gone!
We’ve analyzed how terrible this twist was, but we can’t deny how pivotal it was to the franchise at large. It cannot be missed for its impact, both good and bad.
21. The Tea Party (Big Brother Season 28)
Poor Mallory. All she wanted to do was have a tea party.
HOH Kamu turned a house-bonding moment into a full-out witch hunt and trial against Jason. He concocted a plan to destroy Jason’s game and isolate him from the house.
Thankfully, Jason stood up for himself and spilled all the tea.
Unfortunately, the damage was done. The nails were firmly hammered into his game by eviction time.
The Tea Party left its damage on everyone, and the karma will undoubtedly come back to Kamu tenfold.
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
Do you agree or disagree with the list above? Are there any we missed?
Which moment is the most iconic of all time?
Share your thoughts in the comments below, and invite another Big Brother fan to join the conversation.
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