For the past 24 seasons, contestants and fans of Big Brother have been told to expect the unexpected, but when former players return to the game, everyone can expect it will threaten the chance of a new player winning. Veteran contestants have an unfair advantage, with a larger fanbase and the chance to alter their strategies based on previous experience.
Many players have returned to Big Brother over the years, but only a select few have successfully improved their gameplay. The players who improved the most season to season showed personal growth, but there are a few previous winners who should have quit while they were ahead.
Mike "Boogie" Malin (Seasons 2, 7, & 14)
For early fans of Big Brother, nothing compares to the Chilltown alliance, which consisted of Shannon Dragoo, Dr. Will Kirby, and Mike "Boogie" Malin. Their dedication to keeping each other safe changed the game and set the scene for Boogie and Dr. Will to work together again in Season 7, leading to Boogie winning the first All-Star season.
Mike's win in Season 7 was a big leap from his 8th place position in Season 2. However, he may have relied too heavily on his alliance since Mike dropped to 10th place when he played without Will in Season 14. Although the pair seemed unstoppable, it looks like there won't be a Chilltown reunion anytime soon, since Dr. Will won a stalking suit against Boogie in 2021.
Erika Landin (Seasons 4 & 7)
In Season 4, several contestants got off to a rocky start when they found out their exes were moving into the Big Brother house. Erika Landin was taken aback by this twist, but it helped form the Elite Eight alliance, which consisted of the eight players who entered the house before the exes. Erika's strategic social game helped her finish in 4th place.
Aside from her showmance partner, Mike "Boogie" Malin, Erika was the only contestant on the first All-Stars season to improve their ranking. She was aligned with Chilltown Boogie and Dr. Will but ultimately teamed up with Janelle to get Dr. Will evicted. Even though she booted Mike's closest ally, Erika made it to the final two but lost to Boogie in a 6-1 vote in Season 7.
James Huling (Seasons 17 & 18)
One of the most infamous pranksters of Big Brother is James Huling. His jump-scares helped him gain allies in the Big Brother house and led to James receiving America's Favorite Houseguest in Season 17. In addition to a great social game, James also won many competitions throughout his first season, including 2 wins each for Head of Household, Power of Veto, and Battle of the Block. He finished in 7th place.
Fans were excited to see James return in Season 18, and gave him America's Care Package, which allowed James to cancel out two eviction votes. James focused on his social game the second time around, having a showmance with Natalie Negrotti, and a connection with Paul, which landed him in 3rd place.
Nicole Franzel (Seasons 16, 18, & 22)
When Nicole Franzel started playing Big Brother in Season 16, she balanced her showmances with vital competition wins, and when she was evicted in Week 7, she fought her way back and reed the house two weeks later, eventually ending Season 16 in 7th place. Nicole returned for Season 18 and decided to focus on a quiet social game, which made her less of a target.
As Nicole Franzel donned silly costumes, she managed to avoid the block until halfway through Season 18, and negotiated her way to the final two, with Paul Abrahamian taking her to the finale, where she won 5-4. Nicole made a strong return for Big Brother All-Stars in Season 22, but she couldn't nab a second win.
Paul Abrahamian (Seasons 18 & 19)
Paul Abrahamian is one of the most memorable players of Big Brother due to their outspoken personality, intense gameplay, and their unique definition of friendship. In Season 18, Paul initially targeted returning players and worked with Paulie and Victor. However, Paul eventually changed course and took a returning player, Nicole Franzel, to the finale, which left Paul in 2nd place.
When Paul returned in Season 19, new twists such as Friendship Bracelets and the Pendant of Protection kept them safe. Josh Martinez brought Paul to the final two, hoping to beat the controversial player. Ultimately, poor jury management placed Paul in 2nd place for the second time, in a 5-4 vote.
Dan Gheesling (Seasons 10 & 14)
Dan Gheesling is undoubtedly one of the best winners of Big Brother since he was the first contestant to play a "Perfect Game" by never receiving a vote for eviction while unanimously winning Season 10. He primarily played a social game, but quickly filled his resume with four HOHs and two POVs leading up to the finale, guaranteeing The Renegades would make it to the final two.
As a returning champion, Dan entered Season 14 as a coach but happily jumped at the chance to compete later on in the season. While in solitary confinement, Dan planned his own funeral, which was a masterful speech that flipped the house and saved him from eviction. Gheesling's legendary schemes earned him a place in the finale, but he dropped one spot, falling in 2nd, just behind Ian Terry.
Enzo Palumbo (Seasons 12 & 22)
The founding member of The Brigade alliance in Big Brother Season 12 was Enzo Palumbo. He primarily leaned on his social game and the strength of his alliance throughout his first season, but when Enzo needed safety the most, he won the Power of Veto during Week 8, which helped him reach 3rd place.
Enzo became a close ally of The Committee in Season 22 and had a successful final two deal with Cody Calafiore. In an All-Star season, Enzo held his own by winning Safety, one Power of Veto, and Head of Household twice. Unfortunately, Enzo couldn't sway the jury, and Cody won unanimously. Hopefully, Enzo will perform better on The Challenge.
Jason Roy (Season 17 & Over The Top)
Big Brother superfans can either excel at the game or get carried away with their love of the show. When Jason Roy competed in Season 17, he called out the gameplay of other contestants. Unfortunately, Jason's desire to stir things up led to his early exit. Even though he placed 13th, his vibrant personality landed him in the top three spots for America's Favorite Houseguest.
In September 2016, Jason was invited to compete in a spinoff series called Big Brother: Over The Top, which took place online, exclusively for CBS All-Access subscribers. Jason won several competitions and formed the Late Night Jamboree alliance. While his jump from 13th place in BB17 to 2nd place in BB: OTT was impressive, his tasteless comments and terrible jury management ultimately cost him the game.
Rachel Reilly (Seasons 12 & 13)
Rachel Reilly's fiery personality made a big impact during her time on Big Brother Season 12. She quickly formed a showmance with Brendon Villegas and won Head of Household twice within the first three weeks. Although her aggressive gameplay made great TV, her time was cut short when she was blindsided by eviction and finished in 9th place.
When Rachel returned for Season 13 with Brendon, she continued to dominate endurance competitions by winning HOH and Co-POV in the first week. This time around, Rachel's social game improved with the Veterans alliance, and she continued to excel at competitions, even after Brendon left. Winning the final two HOH competitions was only part of her impressive resume that secured her win.
Cody Calafiore (Seasons 16 & 22)
Very few final two alliances make it to finale night, but The Hitmen, a.k.a. Cody Calafiore and Derrek Levasseur accomplished their goal in Season 16, after winning an impressive number of competitions and having a strong social game. Cody alone won the Power of Veto and Head of Household three times each, including the final HOH, which allowed him to bring his ally Derrek to the final two.
Cody's loyalty to Derrek cost him the game in Season 16, but he learned from his mistakes and became one of the strongest returning players in the All-Star season of Big Brother 22. After winning a record of eight competitions, including the final HOH, Cody wisely decided to evict Nicole Franzel and take Enzo Palumbo to the finale, which led to Cody's unanimous win.