How a pandemic delayed the return of Big Brother's All-Stars

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Big Brother 22 promised a high-stakes reunion of former contestants, but the world had other plans. Delayed six weeks by COVID-19, this All-Stars season transformed from a standard competition into a highly controlled experiment in social survival and strategic gameplay.

Premiering on August 5, 2020, Big Brother 22 brought back former HouseGuests to compete for a $500,000 grand prize. While the season was intended to be a standard All-Stars edition—the second in the franchise's history—the production faced significant hurdles. The start date was pushed back six weeks due to the impacts of COVID-19, requiring strict safety protocols including weekly testing and social distancing for the cast and crew.

The gameplay mechanics remained complex, centered on the Head of Household (HOH) and the Power of Veto (PoV). The HOH winner gains immunity and nominates two players, while the PoV winner can potentially revoke those nominations. This season also introduced unique elements like the 'Safety Suite' twist, where players could compete for immunity and a +1 companion, and the 'BB Basement,' a room revealed in episode 13 that offered game-changing powers.

The season was marked by several historical firsts, including the first triple eviction in the American series' history, occurring on day 58. The competition concluded on October 28, 2020, after 85 days. Cody Calafiore emerged as the winner, defeating Enzo Palumbo in a unanimous 9–0 jury vote. Meanwhile, Da'Vonne Rogers secured the $25,000 prize for America's Favorite HouseGuest.

To maintain the illusion of a normal environment while ensuring safety, the production utilized 94 high-definition cameras and over 113 microphones. The HouseGuests were sequestered with no outside contact, living in a modern urban loft themed around the show's history, featuring murals of iconic moments from past players like Danielle Reyes and Will Kirby.

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