For more than 20 years, Survivor in the summer of 2000. For this reason, Big Brother has always had a fiercely devoted fanbase. The quirky competition is famous for twists, themes, and unexpected gameplay that keep fans talking.
Like any good fandom, Big Brother devotees have carved out their own lively corner of Reddit. The Big Brother subreddit is where they go over and over their opinions, debates, and complaints. These folks have dozens of seasons and thousands of hours of Big Brother under their belts. Some of their discussions even go deep.
Best Players To Never Win
Reality competition viewers know the best players don't always win, sometimes falling short due to circumstances outside their control like other players' mistakes or any number of twists of fate. It's possible to play a nearly flawless Big Brother game and still lose.
In a Reddit discussion started by sonny00000 about the best Big Brother player to never win, the one name that seems to come up the most is Eric Stein from season 8, who many agree would've won if not for being stuck with that season's "America's Player" twist. Other houseguests many fans name include Paul Abrahamian, Danielle Reyes, and Vanessa Rouso.
Houseguests Who Were Villains
It's rare for Big Brother to explicitly identify houseguests as heroes and villains, but every story has to have good guys and bad guys, so Big Brother villains make themselves known in one way or another. Still, it's up to viewers to decide for themselves which players they see as villains, so it's always debatable.
A Reddit thread by fan favorite Dr. Will Kirby in season 2, Rachel in season 12, and Paul in season 19. One top comment suggests the show didn't really edit for villainy until the dominant but controversial win by "Evel" Dick Donato in season 8, a universally agreed-upon season villain.
Houseguests Who Could Never Win
Hero or villain, fan favorite or fan-hated, talented or flawed, some Big Brother houseguests seem hopelessly fated to lose no matter how many times they come back to play the game. Of course, no one's truly destined to never win, but fans have strong opinions about who they deem hopeless.
In a thread started by Reddit Insamity247, a lot of Big Brother fans agree Enzo could never win. (One dissenter suggests Enzo might win the then-current season 22. He didn't.) Da'Vonne Rogers is a three-time houseguest whom fans adore but acknowledge will likely never win. Additionally, commenters point out that even Kaysar himself has said that Big Brother "just isn't his game" every one of the four times he's played and lost.
Funniest Eviction Interviews
The first thing that happens to a Big Brother houseguest after being evicted is a postgame interview with host Julie Chen. After 20-plus seasons and hundreds of eviction interviews, some have emerged as more entertaining and memorable than others.
In a Reddit thread by Scary_Independent516 about the funniest Big Brother eviction interviews, opinions are equally divided between funny things houseguests said — Rachel from season 20 in particular earns a lot of praise — and awkward moments fueled by Chen's odd behavior ("Julie calling Brett 'Brent,'" "Julie staring at Jodi for an eternity after the interview ends").
Who Should Replace Julie Chen As Host
Chen may not be stepping down as Big Brother host anytime soon, but debating who could hypothetically replace her is exactly the kind of discussion die-hard fans love to have just for fun.
Some fans want to see a former houseguest take over as host. Popular choices in a Reddit thread started by lbunny7 include Dr. Will, Kaysar, and Britney. Other commenters insist the host shouldn't be a former player, but someone with hosting experience. One person even suggests comedian Bobby Moynihan, supposedly a big fan of the show, could host.
Least Favorite Winners
Sometimes, a popular favorite houseguest wins the season, and everyone is happy. Other times, the Big Brother winner is a huge disappointment, and fans stay mad about it for years. It's particularly true for Big Brother, where seasons are long and devoted viewers invest tons of time into the show.
In a Reddit discussion by Chey512 about the least-favorite Big Brother winners, the answer seems almost unanimous. The top three most upvoted comments in the thread all name Josh from season 19, with added comments like "hands down" and "no explanation needed." Other commenters split hairs between bad winners who played badly and those who behaved badly.
Underrated Players
Hundreds of people have played Big Brother, and some of them naturally rise to the top as fan favorites who are beloved for their personalities or respected for their sharp gameplay. Other houseguests perhaps don't enter the conversation as often as they should according to their devoted fans.
A lot of Reddit s in a thread by Thatonekirb voice for their favorite Big Brother players they see as underdogs in the discussion of all-time great houseguests. Karen Ganci from season 5 gets a lot of as the most underrated player of all time. Big Brother 5 alone gets a lot of love in the thread, with multiple namechecks for Marvin, Diane, and Drew.
Least Favorite Twists
Reality competitions need to innovate constantly. Big Brother in particular, which has always been a little quirkier and wackier than most other reality TV shows, loves to throw weird new themes, challenges, and twists at houseguests every summer. Naturally, some of these twists go over better than others.
In a Reddit thread started by wishiwassleeping16 about the worst Big Brother twists, one popular opinion is that season 12's Saboteur twist could've worked, but failed due to eviction circumstances. Day 1 evictions are widely noted as an unfair twist. Meanwhile, the Battle of the Block twist introduced in season 16 is often named as one of the show's worst.
Favorite Houseguests Of All Time
Winning Big Brother and taking home the $500,000 prize is sweet, but it won't necessarily make a houseguest memorable or a favorite among the show's fans. It's a houseguest's personality and entertainment value that wins fans' hearts.
Obviously, fan favorites vary widely. But in a Reddit thread by K_yle about favorite Big Brother houseguests, Britney Haynes from season 12 emerges as a clear frontrunner, with the top five most upvoted answers all naming her. Other players with multiple ers include Brett, Dr. Will, Janelle, and Johnny Mac to name a few.
Favorite Seasons Of All Time
After 20 years, Big Brother has a good mix of some seasons that fans consider duds and some that earn frequent mention as the best of all time. It's no surprise that one of the most popular discussion among fans is: What's your favorite Big Brother season?
Though answers range, most Big Brother fans' favorite seasons come from the show's early years. The most popular answers land in the run of seasons 4 through 8. At least according to fans on a Reddit post by JesusWasAUnicorn, season 6 seems to emerge as the most frequently cited favorite season.