game changer host Julie dishes top strategies for winning it all

By Jim Colucci Photograph by Art Streiber

HEN GEORGE ORWELL coined the term “Big Brother” in his 1949 classic novel 1984, he was imagining a dystopian society where individualism and free thinking were viewed as crimes. But when Big Brother debuted on CBS in the summer of 2000, it soon became clear that it was the people with the most outsized personalities, crazy schemes and powerful alliances (Chilltown, any- one?) who were the most successful. And over the past 15 years, the show has evolved its rules, upped its game and become a summertime staple.

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FdCW0815_080-083_SCR_BigBrother_V5.indd 80 6/17/15 11:49 AM It’s important to shake things up, host Julie Chen explains, to keep players on their toes. But it’s not just the show’s challenges that have changed. For one thing, Chen admits with a laugh, “as I look at old hairstyles and fashion choices, I either laugh, or cringe, or do a little of both.” But also, having spent the past fi ve years on CBS’ day- time talk show, , Chen has become more comfortable sharing more of her own opinions. That feeling of freedom has occasionally spilled over into Big Brother, where, for example, she chastised Season 15 evicted player Aaryn for making racially insensitive comments to her fellow houseguests. The mother of 5-year-old son Charlie with husband Leslie Moonves, CEO of CBS Corp., Chen started her career in news, and spent 12 years as an anchor on CBS’ . Hosting Big Brother, however, has now become “the longest-running job I’ve ever had,” she says. As the show prepared to launch its 17th edition in June, Watch! sat down with Chen to discuss the winning strategies she’s witnessed over the past decade and a half. Some are effective, some just entertaining and some are basically crash courses in sociol- ogy, psychology and, let’s face it, good old playground scheming. But no matter the methods to the madness, all of these tactics have helped Big Brother become everyone’s favorite warm-weather watch.

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE: “One of the most interesting things about the game has been the alliances people have changer formed—and, for whatever reason, how the guys are better at it. It started with Big Brother host Julie Chen Season 2’s Chilltown, and I loved Sea- son 14’s The Quack Pack because it was amazing to watch little Ian outsmart Mike dishes top strategies for winning it all Boogie, the master. I didn’t really care for Season 5’s The Four Horsemen, because they were mainly just goofy guys and not really strong competitors—even though one of them, Drew, won. In Season 16, Derrick did pretty well with his Bomb Squad, which helped him win. And then there’s that same year’s Team America, with Derrick, Frankie and Donny. There was a funny moment where to fi gure out the identities of their Team America teammates, whom the viewers had chosen, each of them would ask the other about their favorite des- sert, and the code-word answer was ‘apple pie.’ It was fun to watch how they found each other, and I was impressed at how slick and sly some of them could be—to the point where many of the others never knew about the alliance, right up until fi nale night.”

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to Krista, because he knew neither he nor his (short-lived) fi ancée was going to win. And then there was Season 16’s “Zankie,” Frankie and Zach—they joked around, but I was rooting for them to make it work for real! I really admire couples who make it work outside the Big Brother bubble, like Season 12 and 13’s Rachel and Brendon, who did get mar- ried, went on The Amazing Race twice, and had roles on The Bold and the Beautiful. Or Season 13’s Daniele and Dominic—he entered the house a virgin, and then sev- eral years after they were on the show, they ended up mar- ried. I love that.” Big Brother host Julie Chen with Season 10 winner Dan PLAY DIRTY: “One of the show’s GO OVER THE TOP: “In Season 14, human. They develop friendships and most memorable Was Season 2’s Hardy’s toothbrush tainted? when previous Season 10 winner Dan bonds, and what they think is trust. But moments happened staged his own funeral, that was a master- in the end, they shouldn’t trust, because in Season 2, when piece. At that point, it was obvious he was everyone’s their competitor.” Shannon used Hardy’s toothbrush to done for, and so he went all-out. He real- clean the toilet—and then we edited the ized he had nothing to lose, and so he ran BLEND IN: “Being quiet and down- episode to show, from behind the mirror, right into the eye of the storm. There was a the-middle may not be the most exciting Hardy brushing his teeth so meticulously. moment where, as I watched what he was strategy, but it can win you the game. doing, I wondered whether he had lost his Maggie is the classic example of that, in mind. I remember thinking, ‘Is he crazy, or Season 6. There had also been Lisa, in a crazy genius?’ Well, it was the latter; his Season 3; I remember one time, as every- strategy worked, he stayed, and he almost one voted in separate rooms by holding won the game for a second time.” up their written eviction votes for the camera, how she quietly back- TRUST NO ONE: Season 3’s stabbed her boyfriend in “When Marcellas was Marcellas, after the house, Eric the fi re- his ouster from evicted in Season 3— the house fi ghter. Season 5’s Drew despite having the is another example. Power of Veto in his And Season 16’s win- DAN: FREDERICK M. BROWN/GETTY IMAGES; MARCELLAS: MONTY BRINTON/CBS; JANELLE: CLIFF LIPSON/CBS hand—I playfully ner, Derrick, too—he slapped him during was mature and level- our interview, and to headed, and cruised to One of Chen’s favorite this day that’s one of the fi nish line. I feel like houseguests was the moments fans men- that’s kind of a lot—that Janelle, who appeared in three seasons. tion most when I meet out of 16 seasons, four win- them. I did what they wanted ners were players who didn’t to do! I think Marcellas made that fatal rock the boat. It goes to show, vanilla TELL IT LIKE IT IS: “One of my mistake because when you’re living in can be good. Don’t underrate vanilla!” all-time favorite houseguests was Janelle, the Big Brother house, you have tunnel of Seasons 6, 7 and 14, who had no prob- vision. You have very few ways to gauge LOVE THY ENEMY: “One of the lem saying whatever was on her mind. I what’s ahead, and you can’t see the full best ways to get attention, even if not to loved it in Season 6 when she won Head picture. Season after season, we’ve now win, is the showmance. In Season 2, PR of Household, and rubbed it in, saying, learned that trust is something you don’t master Mike Boogie knew just what he ‘Bye-bye, bitches!’ Janelle always made really have in the house. But season after was doing. He found a good way to steal it far because even though she was loud

season, people forget that, because they’re the spotlight on fi nale night by proposing and brash, and didn’t care about making FLEMMING/CBS 13: SONJA SEASON WILL, BRINTON/CBS; TWINS: MONTY FRANKIE, MIKE: KEVIN WINTER/GETTY IMAGES; EVEL: CLIFF LIPSON/CBS;

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FdCW0815_080-083_SCR_BigBrother_V5.indd 82 6/17/15 11:49 AM BIG BROTHER airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. to Krista, because he knew neither he enemies, what saved her was her ability have this game nor his (short-lived) fi ancée was going to win games. In the end, her forthright- fi gured out—but to win. And then there was Season 16’s ness was probably her undoing. But you don’t!’ ” “Zankie,” Frankie and Zach—they joked I think she’s the best player to never know some of your strategies, and around, but I was rooting for them to win this game.” GO IT ALONE: you can have a target on your back. I make it work for real! I really admire “I loved when Season 16’s think that’s what happened with Janelle. couples who make it work outside the Big Frankie won the Battle of the But coming back a second season, it Brother bubble, like Season 12 and 13’s Block, because he managed is possible to win. Rachel had been Rachel and Brendon, who did get mar- to do it as the underdog, all evicted in Season 12, and so it’s ried, went on The Amazing Race twice, and by himself. Caleb had tried really an unforgettable moment to had roles on The Bold and the Beautiful. to make such a statement me when she ended up winning Or Season 13’s and —he by refusing to partner with in Season 13. The fi rst time, both Daniele Dominic Season 2’s entered the house a virgin, and then sev- Dr. Will and Frankie—and actually, if Season people in the house and fans were Mike Boogie 16’s eral years after they were on the show, Caleb had played, he could Frankie rooting against her, and making they ended up mar- have sabotaged Frankie’s fun of her high-pitched voice, or ried. I love that.” STAND OUT: “Dr. Will and Mike game. I love, when Frankie irritating laugh. Even when she Boogie were the stars of Season 2, and singlehandedly did win that really dif- won, everyone in the whole house except PLAY DIRTY: they each ended up winning a season. fi cult challenge, the sheer exhausted joy her boyfriend, Brendon, was against her. “One of the show’s Any moment with either of them in the and surprise on his face. I think no That’s why I found the victory so trium- most memorable Was Season 2’s Hardy’s diary room was hilarious, and together matter how viewers felt about phant, and I think it’s such a celebrated toothbrush tainted? moments happened their chemistry was perfect, just right for Frankie, they had to admit moment in the show’s history.” in Season 2, when television. Each of them had just what it he’d earned it that week. He Shannon used Hardy’s toothbrush to took to charm and manipulate his way deserved that win.” SHAKE IT OFF: “What’s nice clean the toilet—and then we edited the right to the end.” about Big Brother is, even for episode to show, from behind the mirror, HOLD ON TIGHT: people who start out bitter Hardy brushing his teeth so meticulously. REVEAL EVERYTHING: In Sea- “There was an unforget- enemies, once they exit son 16, Frankie held off for a while on table moment in Sea- that house and they’re not revealing that he’s Ariana Grande’s big son 8 when Evel Dick playing for $500,000, they brother. When he fi nally did, he was ador- was down to the fi nal have that common bond. Season 8’s able in how proud he was. People were three houseguests, and Evel Dick Sometimes, they even only momentarily impressed, but it was a the Head of Household make friends for life. In good distraction that got Frankie off the competition that week was Season 12, Rachel and Ragan hook as the guy everybody wanted to turn an endurance challenge, where hated each other. He would against. I also love the twist we pulled in they had to hold on to a giant key imitate her laugh, and really told her Season 5, the ‘Summer of Secrets,’ where hung above their heads. You could see the off. Recently I saw him, and he told me we initially had twins Adria and Natalie time lapse on the clock, as we tested them they’re best friends now, who talk every day. alternat- by pouring on fake rain. At one point, it That’s a nice thing to see. When the show DAN: FREDERICK M. BROWN/GETTY IMAGES; MARCELLAS: MONTY BRINTON/CBS; JANELLE: CLIFF LIPSON/CBS ing in the seemed like Evel Dick had lost his mind, comes back every summer, some of the house, as if he were in solitary confi nement, past houseguests have their own reunions. pretending singing and screaming at the top of his Because Big Brother is a special thing that to be one lungs. It was fascinating to me to watch will always bond them together.” One of Chen’s favorite houseguests was person. the transformation and Janelle, who appeared I’ll always the breakdown of this in three seasons. remember, guy who on the exte- at that rior acted like nothing

TELL IT LIKE IT IS: “One of my Twins Adria and Natalia pretended moment of bothered him. But in all-time favorite houseguests was Janelle, to be a single person through the reveal, how the end, this was his of Seasons 6, 7 and 14, who had no prob- first part of Season 5. astounded victory season. And he lem saying whatever was on her mind. I every- deserved it.” loved it in Season 6 when she won Head one looked. Season 4 had had the fi rst of Household, and rubbed it in, saying, big shocker, which we called ‘The TRY, TRY AGAIN: ‘Bye-bye, bitches!’ Janelle always made X-Factor.’ The twists help us keep the “It’s hard to return it far because even though she was loud show pure, and exciting. It’s as if we’re to Big Brother a second Rachel, seventh from left, pulled off a win in Season 13.

and brash, and didn’t care about making FLEMMING/CBS 13: SONJA SEASON WILL, BRINTON/CBS; TWINS: MONTY FRANKIE, MIKE: KEVIN WINTER/GETTY IMAGES; EVEL: CLIFF LIPSON/CBS; warning everyone, ‘You think you year, because people

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