Not every Big Brother season is created equal. While some seasons gripped the audience with intricate twists, a dynamic cast, and clever gameplay, others fell flat, failing to keep viewers engaged. In honor of Big Brother 27, let’s take a look back at the series’ biggest flops.
The ten worst Big Brother seasons
There are numerous factors that create a bad Big Brother season. Misguided twists, domineering majority alliances, and undeserving winners usually spell disaster for a season. Big Brother has been on for 25 years, so it makes sense not every season was a smash. Here are the top 10 worst seasons of Big Brother.
10. Big Brother 13
Big Brother 13 wasn’t a total bust, but it pales in comparison to most of the seasons that came before. BB took a page from Survivor’s book by pitting returning players against newbies, but unfortunately, BB13 was no Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites. There were some entertaining moments but for the most part, it was kind of boring. The season received criticism from fans who felt producers were too involved in the game, accusing production of favoring certain players.
9. Big Brother 11
Big Brother 11 was pretty mid. The twists made the game too convoluted and gave certain players too much power. In my opinion, the Coup D’Etat twist, which gave Jeff Schroeder the ability to replace the HOH’s nominees, is one of the worst twists in the show’s history. It wasn’t all bad though. Chima Simone’s crash out will live on in infamy.
8. Big Brother 22
Big Brother 22 was an all-stars season, so you’d expect the gameplay to be strong, but in reality, it was one of the strategically weakest seasons of all-time. I don’t know if the cast was drained from dealing with the pandemic or if they just lost the mojo they once had, but either way, it was a mess. Former great players phoned it in, tarnishing their once esteemed reputations. Winner Cody Calafiore did play a great game, but it wasn’t too hard for him to succeed, considering no one beyond the pre-jury was willing to challenge him. Boo!
7. Big Brother 25
Ah, Big Brother 25, what a time. What can I say? It was too long, too many twists, and multiple players said slurs in the house. So yeah, there wasn’t much to love. Fans didn’t feel too enthusiastic about Jag Bains taking home the prize, considering he was eliminated but brought back because of a twist. Honestly, the only good thing about BB25 was Cory Wurtenberger and America Lopez’s adorable romance.
6. Big Brother 21
Big Brother fans don’t like it when a majority alliance runs the game. BB is at its best when there is a constant shift of power. It’s what makes the game interesting. Big Brother 21 was dominated by the Gr8ful alliance, a group of eight players who picked off the “little guys” one by one. They pretty much targeted every fan favorite in the cast, making it hard to watch the season.
5. Big Brother 18
Big Brother 18 has to be one of the most forgettable seasons ever. As I’m writing this, I’m trying to remember what happens this season. I know Nicole Franzel won and people were mad. I know Paul Abrahamian pissed people off, costing him the $500K. Help me here! WHAT ELSE HAPPENS? If you are a new Big Brother fan, you can skip this season. It is not necessary viewing.
4. Big Brother 15
Strategically speaking, Big Brother 15 is actually pretty good. Winner Andy Herren played a strong social game that made him a deserving winner. Aside from Andy, there were other players who demonstrated strategic prowess and made big moves. The reason I placed Season 15 here is because certain members of the cast were deplorable. They made racist and homophobic comments, bullied houseguests, and were overall just unpleasant. Their behavior overshadowed the gameplay and made the season hard to watch.
3. Big Brother 19
Big Brother 19 is one of my least favorite seasons. The cast was annoying, the gameplay was mid, and the winner wasn’t top tier. Paul Abrahamian ruled the house like a mad king and no one bothered to stand up to him. If that wasn’t bad enough, the cast made countless offensive comments, making light of serious issues like sexual assault and poking fun at the trans community. Yeah…you can skip this one if you are binging old seasons.
2. Big Brother 9
Big Brother 9 aired in the winter of 2008 in order to fill programming holes created by the writer’s strike. You could tell there wasn’t much thought put into the season and it just didn’t work. It was unnecessarily raunchy, making it feel more like a season of Jersey Shore than Big Brother. Not to mention, the winner used his earnings to fund an an oxycodone ring that landed him in jail. Yikes!
1. Big Brother 1
Many fans consider Big Brother 2 the start of the show because Big Brother 1 was so bizarre. It didn’t feel like a competition show that tests a person’s social and strategic abilities. It was, in all honesty, a total dumpster fire. Thankfully, producers figured out the show by Season 2.
Big Brother is available to stream on Paramount+.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR LIST? WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE SEASON?
