Big Brother is a widely popular reality television show which features a group of contestants living together in a house where they are under supervision 24/7. This summer will be the shows 22nd summer season in the United States. There have also been spin-off series such as Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother Over the Top, as well as Big Brother adaptations in countries such as Canada, the UK, and the Netherlands (which is where the series began).
Although it has been over a decade since it aired, one of the most talked about seasons of Big Brother is season 7, otherwise known as Big Brother: All-Stars. For years fans have been begging for a new all-stars season of the show. Here are 10 reasons why now is the time for that season.
Current Circumstances
With Coronavirus shutting down production on many shows, fans are worried that there may not be a season this summer. Robyn Kass, the casting director for Big Brother posted a message on Twitter on April 4th, stating that the window for Big Brother applications was closed.
This gave fans hope that there may be a show this summer. It also made fans aware that the casting process is likely to be affected by current circumstances. Many fans have used this circumstance to advocate for another all-stars season stating that production wouldn't need to audition new houseguests if they pulled from past favorites.
The Dominant Alliance Problem
In recent seasons, a new trend has emerged. Houseguests who fear being evicted have formed a giant alliance dominating the first half of the game and making it difficult for the rest of the houseguests to survive.
While this is an effective strategy, it makes for some pretty boring television. With an all-stars season, this trend is less likely to occur as veterans of the show may have previous relationships with some of the other houseguests and their own strategies they'd like to try.
Existing Friendships
One of the most interesting aspects of the game is watching the relationships develop and evolve in the house. Close friendships often lead to alliances. In a game full of players with existing relationships, strategic play would begin earlier as contestants would likely already have an idea of with whom they would like to work.
Some fans had speculated that certain players from Big Brother: All Stars began forming alliances and making deals before they even entered the house. While this was criticized by some viewers in the past, many long time fans would happily accept this if it led to a more interesting season.
Existing Grudges
One of the reasons people love to watch reality television is because of the drama. Big Brother has strict rules that the houseguests must follow and many of these rules keep houseguests' fights from escalating to the dangerous level seen on some other reality television shows.
Still, fans love to watch these explosive confrontations and many tune in to the live feeds hoping for these moments. With a house full of contestants with previous relationships and betrayals, paranoia and vendettas would drive the game.
They'd Be There to Play
A criticism in recent seasons has been that some houseguests don't seem to care all that much about the game. Certain contestants seem more interested in the fan base that can come from the game then actually winning.
This is bound to happen when houseguests are recruited from their social media pages, especially with the ever-increasing demand and pay for social media influencers. This would be a non-issue for an all-stars season as the players would already have a strong fan base.
They Know The Game
Fans have seen an increase in recruited houseguests who join the show without having ever watched it. These houseguests are asked to watch parts of recent seasons while in the sequester, but watching a season or two doesn't well prepare them for what to expect in the house. While this would seemingly make it more interesting as they are more surprised by twists, it often leads to houseguests who lack strategy.
They may imitate a strategy they have seen on a previous season or just not try at all. A cast of vets would all know what to expect and have their own strategies ready upon entering the house.
Desire to Leave a Mark
Returning houseguests often return because they feel they have something to prove. They either want to redeem themselves or maintain their reputation. This means the stakes are higher for them and they are more willing to go to extremes to get what they want. They are often more likely to take risks because they know with greater risk comes greater reward.
Opportunity to Try New Twists
Big Brother is always creating new twists to keep the houseguests on their feet. The slogan for the show "expect the unexpected" serves as a constant reminder that twists can happen at any time.
While the show adds a few new twists each year, it's been a while since they've introduced one that had a major impact on gameplay. An all-star season would be the perfect opportunity to try out new twists on houseguests who are already familiar with the format of the show.
Greats Deserve a Chance
Just because a contestant has an amazing season, doesn't mean they win. The winner is selected by a jury of previously evicted houseguests, which means that houseguests have the complicated task of evicting people while keeping them happy. This has led to several seasons where houseguests who have skated through the game ended up winning simply because they hadn't angered the jury.
Other Big Brother greats have made it close to the end, only to be cut by a weaker alliance member they brought to the top. These players deserve another shot at the prize and a chance to prove themselves.
Fans Want It
An all-star season has been speculated and rumored for years. It is something for which many superfans have repeatedly asked. When fans thought a tweet from Julie Chen before season 20 hinted at an upcoming all-stars season, social media was abuzz with conversations about which contestants would return. Many fans were disappointed when they learned that season 20 was not an all-stars season.
At the end of the day, Big Brother is a show that relies on viewership and its cult-like following. So give the fans what they want already and create a new all-stars season!