Cory Wurtenberger on Returning Player Privilege

I had a traumatic first night in the Big Brother house. Spending upwards of an hour in the “Nether Region” while the rest of the cast bonded was concerning. Beginning my Big Brother journey on the block was scary. But entering the house and seeing a 4x Survivor player, 1x Traitors winner, 1x Snake in the Grass contestant, and 1x The Price is Right participant was downright terrifying— since Cirie “got off the couch,” in 2006, she hasn’t so much as thought of sitting back down. As a fan, I was losing it, but as a player, I knew I was simply going to lose. This immediate pessimism was certainly founded on reverence for a Survivor legend, but perhaps more concerning was my respect for precedent. 

Returning players do well.

Whether it’s Rachel Reilly winning Season 13 following a 9th place finish the previous year, or Nicole Franzel taking the Season 18 crown after being evicted twice two years earlier, seemingly average players return to the show and establish themselves as Big Brother legends every other season. “Practice makes perfect” is a convenient, albeit overly simplistic explanation. Experience is invaluable, but far more tangible advantages exist for returning players of all shapes, sizes, and BB legacies. Let’s wade through the history of Big Brother US and understand the full scope of Returning Player Privilege.

Season 11

Season 11 marked the first Big Brother season where a returning player would try their luck against newbies. Depending on the outcome of the first Head of Household competition, one of Michael “Cowboy” Ellis, Jessica Hughbanks, Brian Hart, or Jessie Godderz would enter the house. As a result of Natalie and Russell winning the endurance competition, Jessie not only entered the house, but was also crowned the first Head of Household of the season. This degree of winning by default puts even Jared Fields to shame. The advantage of being the first HOH is well-established and certainly worthy of its own newsletter entry, but in the simplest terms, Jessie’s safety in week 1 was guaranteed and he was empowered to build out his ideal power-structure. If not for the Coup d’Etat in week 5 sniping Jessie out of the game, we may have had to include Mr. Pectacular in our winners’ rankings— and you all do not want to know who I’d rank him over. 

The privilege granted to Jessie was comparatively modest, but it is exemplary of a theme we will discuss ad-nauseum. Returning player privilege manifests most strongly in the opening week of each season. Protecting these players from immediate eviction is a production consideration, if not an outright priority. 

Season 13

Season 13 saw the return of three dynamic duos, Brendon and Rachel, Jeff and Jordan, and Daniele and REDACTED. The remaining eight houseguests were forced to pair up as well, before Julie revealed the Golden Key twist. Once a member of a duo was evicted, the other member was then awarded a Golden Key, which granted them immunity until there were ten houseguests remaining, ensuring that at least three veterans would reach the final 10. This twist’s goal was transparent, but it did not disproportionately advantage the returning players— that would come a few weeks later.

During Lawon’s infamous ‘superpowers’ week, America was tasked with voting for one of the first four evicted houseguests to have the opportunity to re-enter the game. The public faced a difficult choice; would they select Keith who seemed nice, Cassie who seemed nice, Dominic who seemed nice, or Brendon Villegas, the previous season’s 6th place finisher and one half of the show’s most iconic showmance? No superpower could prevent Brendon from winning this vote. Many point to the reintroduction of the duos twist at the final six as blatant rigging to protect Rachel and Jordan, but I’ll leave those theories to the “Helen was pushed” truthers. 

Season 13 introduced a new mechanism through which production can covertly support returning players: a public vote. These votes are not rigged, but they are predictable. 

Season 14 

Season 14 is universally lauded as one of the great Big Brother seasons largely as a result of the contributions of the returning coaches. Dan’s dynamic gameplay, Britney’s hilarious confessionals, and Janelle and Boogie’s old school feud created the perfect smokescreen to obfuscate one of the most unfair twists in Big Brother history: the coaches twist. Each returning player entered the game as a “coach” with the expressed goal of assisting one of their players to win the grand prize.

Unfortunately for the other houseguests, most of these coaches were more Ben Wade than Bill Belichick. On top of safety from the night one eviction (RIP Jodi), each coach would remain in the house until the entirety of their three-person team were evicted, essentially giving them three lives. Three chances seem excessive, but they are arguably gamebreaking when the coaches only needed to last for the first three weeks of the season before they could enter the game via the Reset Button. This twist’s true nature is obvious: the coaches twist simply granted the vets early game invulnerability. Even though Dan attempted to cheat invulnerability in the early weeks, the advantage given to these coaches was undeniable, and makes the jury’s refusal to award the win to a veteran somewhat karmic. 

The coaches of season 14 were granted three weeks of relative invulnerability and the ability to handpick their allies through team selection. If I were to ever return to Big Brother, I’d settle for nothing less. 

Season 18

Nicole Franzel, James Huling, Davonne Rogers, and Frank Eudy probably felt shortchanged entering the BB18 house. As did I— they invited Frank Eudy back. Not only were these players eligible for the night one eviction, but they also enjoyed no tangible advantage like the vets of years past. Entering the house as a foursome provided a degree of insulation, but their true advantage lay in the season’s stunt casting. BB18 also saw the debuts of Paulie and Tiffany, siblings of Cody Calafiore and Vanessa Rousso respectively. Nicole had played closely with Cody and James and Davonne had played with Vanessa. The impact of these relationships in the house was inconsistent, but one could certainly argue that the inclusion of these nepo babies (I’m allowed to say this) was intended to assist the veterans.

Season 18 introduced the idea that familial connections can be used to support returning players; a concept I am all too familiar with. All things considered, the producers had finally learned a lesson: they should not give returning players too many advantages-BANG 

Season 19

Season 19 is perhaps the most egregious case study of returning player privilege. Paul Abrahamian’s entrance into the BB19 house was not guaranteed, as it hinged on one of the other sixteen houseguests anonymously accepting the $25,000 temptation. Get that bread, Kevin. This twist triggered a night one eviction, where not only was Paul immune, but they were able to select eight other houseguests to protect as well through the distribution of Friendship Bracelets. The psychological impact of a sole veteran being able to distribute branded safety to the peons- I mean houseguests, is staggering, but let’s stick to the tangible advantages.

This season saw the introduction of the Den of Temptation, where America would vote on which Houseguest they would like to send into the Den to be enticed by a potentially game-changing offer (I bet you can see where this is going). Of course, Paul won the first vote and was offered the Pendant of Protection, which provided them secret invulnerability for three weeks. However, with each great temptation comes an even greater risk, and for Paul, this risk was devastating: Ramses would have to nominate himself during one of the next few weeks. Considering Cody’s plan to backdoor Paul was halted only days after they received the power, the impact of this pendant is hardly debatable.

BB19 was a triumphant return to form for Big Brother production and they would go out on a high, not bring another returning houseguest to compete against newbies for the rest of the show’s history. 

Season 25

But I never said anything about returning castaways. As a product of the Scramble-verse, a Survivor legend, Cirie Fields, entered the Big Brother house. Due to her introduction as the 17th houseguest, Cirie was immune from the night one twist that dictated the four initial nominations, but her son certainly was not (neither was I but that’s besides the point). The secret family member twist is not new to Big Brother— the Ex-Factor in Season 4, Project DNA and the Twin twist in Season 5, and rivals in Season 8 are only three examples where blood connections have impacted the game. Regardless, season 25’s remix of this age-old twist was jarring; not only did Cirie enter the house as a bona fide legend, she was assisted by her secret son Jared. Whether Jared helped or hurt Cirie’s game is a complicated question, but he was certainly not cast as an anchor to drag Cirie down and level the playing field. Those donning tinfoil caps may also question the casting of Izzy and myself, as the sudden influx of Survivor blood amidst Cirie’s Big Brother debut is… convenient. 

Ultimately, any theoretical advantage given to Cirie quickly revealed itself to be a double-edged sword, but it is impossible to not speculate as to production’s intention. 

Conclusion

Returning player privilege is real and the data shows this fact.

6 seasons featured returning players and newbies 

• 2 Winners

• 2 Losing finalists

• 3 pre-jurors

• 9 Jurors

• 6.5 is the average placement (excluding Evel Dick)

The fact that returning players enjoy tangible advantages does not discredit their accomplishments. Dan’s game in Big Brother 14 is amongst the best we’ve ever seen… and he benefited greatly by being a coach. Paul played perhaps the most dominant game of Big Brother in season 19… and they were given the buffer of Friendship Bracelets and the Pendant of Protection. Cirie again showcased her transcendent social skills… and she secretly entered the house with her kin. Fans love returning players, and I am no exception. I will certainly be rooting for any that wander into the BB26 house; I just won’t be blind to the privilege they enjoy.

-Cory

Cory Wurtenberger was a on Big Brother 25. He lives in Nashville.

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