Big Brother will premiere its 22nd season on August 5th. For a show to have stayed on that long, it definitely had to change and evolve in order to stay on the air. Hosted by Julie Chen, Big Brother is a reality competition show where houseguests compete for 90+ days for $500,000 in numerous challenges until two houseguests remain.
If you have watched from season one until last season, you will know that much has changed. Some changes were great, others, not so much. We're looking at you, Battle of the Block. The show completely changed after season 1 - you wouldn't even recognize the game if you only watched later seasons!
10 Have/Have-Nots
In recent seasons, the Have-Have-Not competitions were introduced and it basically boils down to the Head of Household (HOH) picking about 4 houseguests to eat slop and disgusting food, take cold showers, and use an uncomfortable bed of the shows choosing.
The other disgusting food is usually voted on by America. It becomes a popularity contest and not fair most of the time because the same people usually wind up getting picked. The competitions stopped in season 15 and the pick and choose began in season 16.
9 Nomination Wheel
This is a minor detail, but fans miss it. When the show started, there was a big nomination wheel. Everyone's keys would be in it except for the HOH and the two nominees. It always drew tension when a player would pull out someone's key and say "(Name), you are safe).
Now, since the introduction of Battle of the Block in seasons 16 and 17, where there were two HOHs and four nominees there has been a tiny nomination block, where the nominees' keys are turned and their faces appear on the wall. Bring back the wheel!
8 Luxury Competitions
Luxury Competitions are competitions that happen every so often, where the houseguests compete to win a special prize, courtesy of Big Brother. In the past, players have gone to movie premiers, gotten special dinners from restaurants, and many more prizes. Seasons 18,19, and 20, did not have one luxury competition.
The show brought it back for season 21, but there was only one, compared to other seasons. Sometimes they are built into another competition, where a houseguest will win money, a trip, etc. but it takes place after the season, instead of during.
7 Talking To The HOH Before Eviction
Remember way back when Julie Chen would talk to the HOH before eviction to ask them about their target, their reign, etc.? That was great. It was interesting to get into the HOH's head and find out what they were thinking, especially if their strategy didn't go as planned.
Season 20 would have been great for this after almost every eviction didn't go as planned. Now, we barely get an interview with the evicted houseguest, let alone the HOH.
6 Pandora's Box
Pandora's Box was a great addition to the game. Opening it would reward one houseguest, usually the HOH, and punish the others. Sometimes it was reversed. It was a mysterious door with a golden question mark on it.
Pandora's Box made its first appearance during season 11. It hasn't been a part of the game since season 14. This was a part of the game that was actually interesting. Sometimes, it produced big fights, and other times it was just entertainment.
5 Pets
The first few seasons the houseguests had furry little friends from dogs to chickens to bunnies to hamsters and of course fish and more. Chicken George got his nickname because he constantly took care of the chickens.
Although it meant more work for the houseguests and production, it brought a little bit of fun to the house. Animals always make everything better.
4 America's Voting
Of course, America gets to vote on America's Favorite Houseguest, but in the early seasons, America voted on the game, who was evicted. The outcome of many seasons would have been different if America was still voting.
However, there have been some twists including Team America, America's Player, and numerous other opportunities and twists. But in recent seasons the input from America has gone down drastically.
3 Peanut And Jelly To Slop
Not only did there used to be food competitions to determine who would be able to eat normal food for the week and the food hauls of what they could eat, but the punishment for the losers used to be peanut butter and jelly morning, noon, and night.
The producers must have thought that wasn't enough punishment because in Big Brother 7: All-Stars peanut butter and jelly were replaced with slop. Slop resembled oatmeal but has a repulsive taste and texture.
2 Power Of Veto
It's hard to believe that the Power of Veto wasn't part of the competition from the beginning because it is such a crucial part of the game now. The Power of Veto allows the Veto holder to remove one person from the chopping block, whether it be themselves or someone else. It also guarantees the holder safety for the week.
The twist was initially introduced in season 3 as a twist and it is the longest-running one to stick around. Another way it has changed was until Big Brother 7: All-Stars, the other three players were chosen by the HOH and nominees, whereas now they are chosen by random draw.
1 There Are More Houseguests
When the series first started, there were only 10 houseguests. Now, there are anywhere from 12 to 16, sometimes 17 houseguests. That also calls for longer seasons, more evictions, and double evictions, and more drama, showmances, and alliances.
The only time there were fewer houseguests again was with the two celebrity seasons. What else do you remember changing from season to season? Is there anything you miss?