‘Big Brother’ 2024: It Was A Roller Coaster Season

LOS ANGELES - JULY 16: "Season 26 Move-in Day" — Coverage of the CBS Original Series BIG BROTHER, ... [+] Pictured: (L-R) Rubina Bernabe, Tucker Des Laruriers, Chelsie Baham, Kimo Apaka, Angela Murray, Cam Sullivan-Brown, Joseph Rodriguez and Makensy Manbeck. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

Spoiler alert: Updated to include the just crowned winners of Big Brother.

Let’s be honest...even a diehard fan of CBS’ Big Brother (including this author) is happy to see the season end once Survivor on the Eye net returns. There are just so many different reality star wannabes you can focus on at once. And tonight closed this latest three-month edition of Big Brother, which can be best defined using the words “roller coaster.”

The positive news from the start was the diversity. It was great to see this expanded representation on Big Brother. But, as always, there were only two houseguests with some proverbial “snow on the roof”: Angela Murray (51), who is the type of personality reality show producers love...meshugah (translation: irrational or nonsensical); and Kenney Kelly (52), who was an absolute weak link. Note to the producers: Don’t cast anyone again who claims he does not want to be there.

Angela, of course, got off to a rocky start, making comments about fellow houseguest Matt Hardeman’s appearance (referring to him as “Crazy Eyes”), which the producers unnecessarily poked fun at in the traditional comic book challenge. After Matt was the first to exit, Angela’s ire was pointed in the direction of the next evicted houseguest, Lisa Weintraub (and for her “francy little pony walk,” in particular).

Another note to the producers: Yes, we know, Angela makes good reality television. But her bullying was simply painful to watch at times and not worthy of another revisit. Good luck, Angela, in the real world now.

LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 26: Angela Murray and Julie Chen Moonves of the CBS series Big Brother, ... [+] scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 8: Kenney Kelley and Julie Chen Moonves on Season 26 of the CBS Original ... [+] Series BIG BROTHER, scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network and live streaming on Paramount+ and PlutoTV. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES - JULY 25: Matt Hardeman and Julie Chen Moonves on Season 26 of the CBS Original Series ... [+] BIG BROTHER, scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network and live streaming on Paramount+ and PlutoTV. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 1: Lisa Weintraub and Julie Chen Moonves on Season 26 of the CBS Original ... [+] Series BIG BROTHER, scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network and live streaming on Paramount+ and PlutoTV. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

Criticized for years by not adding new challenges, this edition of Big Brother was chock full of original battles, particularly the AI arena. Yes, please bring it back next season...and beyond. And the true star of the season, despite not even making it to the jury, was the unconventional Tucker Des Lauriers, who took risks and played by his own rules. Consider this season of Big Brother the start of a healthy career in reality television for Tucker (who also managed to find a “showmance” with the likable Rubina Bernabe). Personally, I would love to see the duo pair up for The Amazing Race.

LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 8: Tucker Des Lauriers on Season 26 of the CBS Original Series BIG BROTHER, ... [+] scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network and live streaming on Paramount+ and PlutoTV. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 10: Rubina Bernabe on Season 26 of the CBS Original Series BIG BROTHER, ... [+] scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network and live streaming on Paramount+ and PlutoTV. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

Unfortanately, another noticeable weakness this summer were the too many “floaters” in the Big Brother house (translation: houseguests who ride on the coattails of others). Obviously, I am referring to Cam Sullivan-Brown, a former football player, who was carried all season by the strategic Chelsie Baham, and had no chance of getting any votes in tonight’s finale had he been in the final two. But let’s also not forget Joseph Rodriguez and the aforementioned Kenney Kelly.

LOS ANGELES - JULY 15: Joseph Rodriguez from CBS-BIG BROTHER, Season 26, scheduled to air on the CBS ... [+] Television Network. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

Note to Cheslie: You ruled, you connived, you won challenges, and you deserved your unanimous seven vote victory. Classic move by Chelsie: Convincing the second place finisher, Makensy Manbeck, to target her ally Leah Peters. “This was the best move for my game, but not necessarily Makensy’s,” she said in the diary room.

Note to Makensy: If you were not there to compete for the money, as you stated, you should have stepped aside and allowed someone else to take your place. Oh, and since you blindsided Leah, maybe you were not so “loyal” after all.

LOS ANGELES - JULY 15: Chelsie Baham from CBS-BIG BROTHER, Season 26, scheduled to air on the CBS ... [+] Television Network. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES - JULY 15: Cam Sullivan-Brown from CBS-BIG BROTHER, Season 26, scheduled to air on the ... [+] CBS Television Network. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES - JULY 15: Makensy Manbeck from CBS-BIG BROTHER, Season 26, scheduled to air on the CBS ... [+] Television Network. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 26: Leah Peters and Julie Chen Moonves of the CBS series Big Brother, ... [+] scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

Like any Big Brother season finale, another highlight, of course, is the viewer’s choice winner. While Angela and Quinn landed in the top 3 (Angela - really???), Tucker made Big Brother history by being the first non-finalist to be picked by the viewers. In this fan’s eyes, it was the biggest moment of the season-ender.

LOS ANGELES - JULY 15: Tucker Des Laruriers from CBS-BIG BROTHER, Season 26, scheduled to air on the ... [+] CBS Television Network. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

See you next summer, Big Brother. If you bring back the holiday stunt, Big Brother Reindeer Games, I will be there too! But no Angela, please.

LOS ANGELES - BIG BROTHER REINDEER GAMES Monday December 21, (9:00 11:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS ... [+] Television Network and live streaming on Paramount+ and PlutoTV. Pictured: Cody Calafiore, Frankie Grande, Britney Haynes, Danielle Reyes, Nicole Franzel, Taylor Hale, Josh Martinez, Xavier Prather and Cameron Hardin. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

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