On July 5, 2000, after a successful run in the Netherlands, the American version of Big Brother arrived on our screens. And to say a lot has changed in the past quarter-century about the hit CBS reality series would be an understatement. The first season ran for 70 episodes and had no sign of a Head of Household or Power of Veto. Instead, America simply watched strangers from different walks of life live together, and periodically vote for their favorites until there was a last man standing.
Suffice it to say that Big Brother has changed dramatically from those early days over the past 25 years. The concept, being able to watch people eat, sleep, and strategize 24/7 on the live feeds, and the host, Julie Chen Moonves, have remained the same. But Season 2 transformed the game into a marathon of social strategy, putting the power in the hands of the players rather than the fans. Since then, we’ve watched countless houseguests come and go in the pursuit of being the last one to walk out of the house as they faced twists and turns, created lovers and rivals and threw themselves into high-stakes competitions.
Through 27 seasons (26 on CBS, plus the online-only Big Brother: Over the Top), we’ve had nearly 350 contestants enter the house. And, over the years, a handful of them have gotten the opportunity to come back, sometimes multiple times. In honor of Big Brother‘s 25th anniversary, here are 25 houseguests who have not returned that we want to see come back for a future season.
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Nicole Nilson Schaffrich (Season 2)
Despite being the second season, the 2001 edition of Big Brother was essentially brand-new. Nicole Nilson Schaffrich was part of a group that served as guinea pigs for a brand-new format, utilizing a Head of Household nominating two houseguests for eviction. And Nicole found herself the first to be “on the block,” at risk of being sent home immediately. Luckily, she was able to avoid elimination and strung together a dominant game alongside her ally Hardy Ames-Hill. Nicole went from being the first nominated all the way to the Final Two, winning two Head of Household competitions along the way. Unfortunately, her game suffered at the hands of one of the series’ most lauded winners, Dr. Will Kirby. Much like we’ve seen with bringing back old-school contestants on Big Brother and Survivor alike, it would be intriguing to see how Nicole would do on a second time out, considering how close she got to winning the first time.
Jason Guy (Season 3)
Having to live alongside your competition, it’s nearly impossible to keep many secrets in the Big Brother house. Yet, somehow, Jason Guy and Danielle Reyes were able to do the unthinkable. The two locked in as a secret alliance within the first week and worked behind the scenes to run essentially the entirety of Season 3. Between Danielle’s relationships with the women, as well as Jason’s social game, they were never in danger and helped craft every single eviction vote that went down. The pair were so dominant, in fact, that neither one was nominated until the Final Three, where they both went up by default. Unfortunately, Jason’s first nomination wound up being his last, as he was evicted in third place. We have seen Danielle make return appearances, most recently with her polarizing turn on The Traitors. But Jason Guy is a guy we’d like to see get another chance of playing after being part of an alliance still celebrated today.
Jun Song (Season 4)
On paper, it’s odd to think about wanting to see a winner play again. But it often goes underreported how much Jun Song showcased a strategy that has been used to great effect ever since: “Floating.” Before it was used as a disparaging term by a future legend of the game, a floater referred to someone who played the game as a free agent. Rather than locking herself down to any particular side of the house, Jun meandered her way between groups, depending on where the momentum took her. It was a strategy that kept her out of danger, with her competition not knowing the house chef was cooking up a winning game. While Jun was disparaged by the jury, she was the much more preferred option next to Alison Irwin, giving her a dominant win. We have not seen Jun play since, but considering how much her life has changed in over 20 years, it would be intriguing to watch if her “floating” strategy would sink her in a modern-day season.
Related: Here’s Every Player Who Has Won ‘Big Brother’ (And What They’re Doing Now)
Marvin Latimer (Season 5)
Themed “Project DNA,” Season 5 utilized some of the wildest casting twists in the show’s history. The 2004 edition had twins switching out periodically as one player throughout the first half of the season and, stunningly, casting two people who had no idea they were half-siblings until they played together. But one of Big Brother 5‘s standout characters was someone who stayed out of the family drama: Marvin Latimer. Mortician Marvin brought a lot of life to the season, quick to provide some one-liners and not afraid to get into it with his fellow houseguests. On top of that, he was the architect behind one of the most game-changing moves in Big Brother history: The “six-finger plan.” The maneuver took advantage of a new mechanic that had the HoH and nominees handpicking the Veto players, skewing things in a way where two pawns would be put up so that the true target of the week would get frozen out of playing for safety. The move, now colloquially known as a “backdoor,” has become instrumental in the modern Big Brother game, and it’s all thanks to Marvin.
April Lewis (Season 6)
Big Brother, by nature, is a game where power could shift to any portion at any time. But Season 6 was the rare instance where things turned into a team sport. By the halfway point of the season, a firm line was drawn in the sand between two sides: The “Sovereign Six” and the “Friendship.” April Lewis was firmly in the latter, a major part of one of the most unpopular alliances in the show’s history. While the Friendship began winning out towards the end, the constant thorn in their side, Janelle Pierzina, won much-needed safety. Forced to turn on each other, April was evicted, as she had notably begun bonding more with Janelle in the past couple of weeks. We’ve seen plenty of the Sovereign Six get the opportunity to return, but nobody from the Friendship. If there’s anyone from that group we want to see play in a completely new setting, it would be April.
Eric Stein (Season 8)
Eric Stein had his expectations thrown for a loop before Big Brother 8 even began. That’s because he was sat down and told by the producers he would be “America’s Player.” His most major decisions would not be his own; instead, the fans would be deciding everything from his new catchphrase to who he should target for eviction. Naturally, following the whims of America forced Eric to play incredibly erratically, to the point where he was nominated and nearly evicted early on. But he was able to survive and, at the urging of the fans, flipped the game on its head at the jury phase to help Dick and Daniele Donato. Unfortunately for Eric, the father/daughter duo ended up flipping things back on him soon after, and he got sent out of the game in fifth place. In all honesty, despite his deep run, Eric was never given a fair chance to play the game on his own terms. And, given how well he was able to justify all the moves the fans were making for him in the moment, he could be absolutely lethal if given the chance to make moves of his own volition.
Sheila Kennedy (Season 9)
Sheila Kennedy found herself a fish out of water mere moments into Big Brother 9. The rare winter season was themed “‘Til Death Do You Part,” and put the houseguests into pairs for the first half of the game. Sheila, the oldest person on the season, was partnered up with Adam Jasinski, and the two were oil and water from the jump. While Sheila failed to find any sort of romantic spark with Adam, the two did become unlikely allies and became part of a majority that ran the entire second half of the season. Unfortunately, her closest allies proceeded to cut her legs out from under her, booting her tightest connection before getting rid of Sheila herself at the Final Three.
Libra Thompson (Season 10)
Considered one of the best Big Brother seasons ever, Season 10 is chock full of iconic moments. But chief among them is the various fights that occurred in the middle part of the game, as the women of the season vacillated between being each other’s closest allies and worst enemies. And leading the charge in that department was Libra Thompson. Libra was never afraid to make big moves or speak her mind, serving as one of the central pieces of contention in a variety of big house fights. She also showcased some smarts (she did graduate magnum cum laude, after all!), helping lead the charge of some of the most significant flips of the season. Just when Libra flipped the game on Jessie Godderz, the game flipped right back, and she was evicted in ninth place. But given all of the gameplay and great TV Libra brought, much like the cake she infamously offered on Keesha’s birthday, we’re ready for another slice.
Russell Kairouz (Season 11)
As an MMA fighter, Russell Kairouz seemed to be always looking for a fight on Big Brother 11. Whether a close ally or a fierce rival, he was not afraid to speak up, getting into tense confrontations with a quarter of the cast over the course of the season. While seen as a loyal number to his alliance, his explosive personality made him come across as an untrustworthy wildcard. So when the other side set up a false rumor that he was coming after Jeff Schroeder, the fan-favorite player decided to turn on his ally, backdooring him. Naturally, this prompted outrage from one of the most outspoken and aggressive players of the season, who was subsequently evicted unanimously in seventh place.
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Matt Hoffman (Season 12)
Big Brother 12 was the starting point for many iconic players, including power couple Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas, as well as fan favorite Britney Haynes. But, strategically, that season was all about “The Brigade,” an alliance of four that secretly ran the entire game behind the scenes. Matt Hoffman was nicknamed “The Brains” and used that moniker to great effect when he proved to be the most outwardly strategic out of the quartet. Matt was a gamer at his core, to the point where he even lied about his wife having a fake disease in order to garner sympathy. As the game went along, Matt drew some side-eye from his allies, feeling he was garnering too many connections. And so, when it was finally time for the Brigade to draw first blood, they chose the Brains to go braindead, turning on him to evict him in seventh place.
Shelly Moore (Season 13)
Big Brother 13 is the closest we’ve come to a “Fans vs. Favorites” theme, as eight newbies competed against six previous players entering the game in pairs. Seeing how the winds were turning in the vets’ favor, Shelly Moore chose to work with them rather than against them, becoming particularly close with Jeff and Jordan Lloyd. However, when she was convinced that the two would beat her in the end, she proceeded to change her tune, prompting a massive fallout between her and Jeff just before the double eviction. Everything was set up just right for Shelly to become the deciding vote to seal Jeff’s fate, sending him out. But Shelly’s new plan to ride to the end got promptly interrupted with a sudden switch-up back to the partners format. When the remaining two vets won the Veto, she was forced up on the block and was subsequently evicted. Some fans to this day still feel Shelly is one of the most screwed-over players in the show’s history, and deserves a second chance.
Shane Meaney (Season 14)
Shane Meaney made history early on in Big Brother 14, becoming the first player to win three Power of Veto competitions in a row. But his safety extended outside of the backyard, as he was part of the dominant “Quack Pack” alliance, in tight with his veteran coach Britney and in a tight showmance with Danielle Murphree. In the Final Four, given his relationship with her and competition prowess, Shane was looking at a very good shot to win the game. Unfortunately, he ran into the buzzsaw that many Season 14 houseguests did before him: Dan Gheesling. The Season 10 winner showcased his manipulation skills, convincing Danielle to take him off the block so he could cast the vote to evict. And when she did so, Dan responded in kind by evicting Shane, in one of the most brutal moves in Big Brother history.
Helen Kim (Season 15)
Big Brother 15 is, understandably, marred by the incredibly controversial and racist statements and actions of a sizable portion of its cast. But it is also a season full of ever-shifting dynamics and big moves, kicking off with blindsides in the first two evictions. As a political consultant, Helen Kim knew she had to start slow and gather capital before picking up momentum. And she was able to do just that, parlaying an early HoH into running the house by the middle of the game. Unfortunately, while she was locked in and loyal to the biggest showmance of the season, they recognized her loyalty was only temporary and organized her eviction in ninth place. While we don’t want Helen to be pushed into playing again, she possesses a skillset that would be great to see in the house once more.
Donny Thompson (Season 16)
Soft-spoken groundskeeper Donny Thompson was almost too good to be true for the Big Brother 16 houseguests, to the point where some believed he was lying about his background and had prior military experience. While his kind personality made him an early member of “Team America,” it didn’t help him with the majority that controlled the season from the jump. Indeed, Donny’s entire 70 days on Season 16 was as an underdog, as he netted several clutch competition wins to stave off eviction. Alas, it was only a matter of time before the bearded man’s situation became too hairy, as even his Team America allies decided to turn on him for being too big a threat. Despite not making his way to the end, Donny was rewarded in kind by the fans with the “America’s Favorite Houseguest” prize.
Vanessa Ruosso (Season 17)
When the Big Brother 17 feeds first came up, Vanessa Ruosso was an emotional wreck. Fans were quite surprised, given her poker player background. However, it wasn’t long before she met expectations. Through her aggressive tactics and subtle manipulation, Vanessa controlled an astounding 11 out of 15 evictions over the course of her season. Even when she found herself backed into a corner, she was able to talk her way out of getting evicted, becoming one of the rare handful of contestants in Big Brother history to survive the backdoor. Winning seven competitions throughout the season, including four HoHs, Vanessa cemented herself as the center of power in the house and looked poised to have the winning hand and take home the whole pot. However, the one competition she couldn’t win ended up being her undoing when Steve Moses defeated her in Part 3 of the final HoH. Vanessa was evicted in third place, in a game some put up there as the best to never win.
Victor Arroyo (Season 18)
In an ordinary season, Victor Arroyo is largely forgotten, a second boot cast out soon after one of his tightest allies. But Big Brother 18 was no ordinary season. Victor and the rest of the early boots were put in a “Battle Back” tournament for the chance to return. “El Fit Vic” dominated, earning his way back into the competition. He then strung together an impressive streak of wins, locking in with Paul Abrahamian as a duo. Unfortunately, that pair was split up at the Final Seven, as Victor was evicted once more. But, right after his elimination, he was informed he would once more be battling his way back into the game, this time alongside the other jurors. Yet again, Victor prevailed, immediately nullifying his own eviction. He would go on to eventually be evicted for a record third time at the Final Five, this time for good. Victor not only took home the “America’s Favorite Houseguest” prize that season, but also a future wife in winner Nicole Franzel.
Shelby Stockton (Over the Top)
With Over the Top, Big Brother‘s first (and so far only) online-only season, nobody truly knew what to expect. And Shelby Stockton is emblematic of that. She spent the majority of the time playing dumb, hiding her real-life background as a law student. As a result, when her alliance was getting culled, Shelby was seen as a lesser threat. But she quickly reversed that perception, winning back-to-back HoHs as well as a Veto. Unfortunately, Shelby was unable to secure a clutch win when she needed it most, eliminating her at the Final Five. But given how much she was able to step on the gas towards the end, as well as her fiery personality, it would be great to see her get a chance to play on broadcast Big Brother.
Justin Duncan (Over the Top)
Much like Big Brother 6, Over the Top ultimately became a fierce battle between two sides of the house. And while Shelby represents the “Ball Smashers” in our list of returnees, we naturally have to grab someone from the other side in Justin Duncan. One of the most unique personalities of the season, the aggressive gameplay and mean behavior of Justin’s “Late Night Jamboree” alliance was countered with his funny, laid-back attitude. While Justin sat comfortably in his alliance, he was unfortunately taken out by default at the Final Four, losing a competition to eventual winner Morgan Willett. But given the viral success of his earworm pizza song, we want to give more opportunities for Justin to cook something up, both literally and musically.
Kevin Schlehuber (Season 19)
Big Brother 19 is most prominently remembered for returnee Paul’s iron grip on the game, hand-picking every eviction from beginning to end. But the people who fell in line behind Paul were comprised of a group of colorful characters, including Kevin Schlehuber. Kevin stood out among the season’s cast, the oldest houseguest by far, who dressed up in dapper suits and was believed to be an undercover cop. Despite the suspicions, he was brought to the Final Four for his weakness in competitions, only to be evicted when he lost yet again. But the most prominent reason to bring Kevin back would be the story of what happened after he left the Big Brother house. In 2018, he revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, undergoing treatment and announcing he was officially cancer-free later that year. Given his new lease on life, it would be great to see him get a second chance.
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Brett Robinson (Season 20)
In many ways, Brett Robinson is simultaneously what you would and wouldn’t expect at first glance. The cybersecurity engineer certainly had “bro” energy, perhaps best represented when he infamously guessed “anallice” during a competition. But he was also one of the biggest pot stirrers in the first half of Big Brother 20. He mocked Kaitlyn Herman during a nomination speech, needled Angela “Rockstar” Lantry to the point of her infamous “daughter’s birthday” rant and arguably broke the “Hide and Go Veto” competition with his defensive strategy. And, towards the end of his game, Brett was also slowly rising as a possible threat to power player Tyler Crispen and his status quo. Unfortunately, before Brett could make his move, the others were two steps ahead, taking him out in the double eviction.
Kemi Fakunle (Season 21)
Most of the houseguests on this list show up due to the excellent strategy and/or entertainment they brought to their first season. Some appear because they truly got a raw deal their first time out. Kemi Fakunle is the latter. Kemi got into hot water early on when she was accused of playing too hard, too fast. And when her women’s alliance got sold out, she was promptly evicted in Week 2. But Kemi’s ostracization in the game also came from a variety of microaggressions and problematic statements from her fellow houseguests, most prominently Jack Matthews and Jackson Michie. After watching the non-white houseguests getting picked off immediately in Big Brother 21, it would be nice to give Kemi another opportunity with a cast that would seemingly give her the time of day by comparison.
Tiffany Mitchell (Season 23)
Over one sleepless night, Tiffany Mitchell forever changed the course of Season 23, and Big Brother history. The phlebotomist was in one of the best positions in the house, in good with multiple majorities. But the Black houseguests had made a promise to look out for each other early on and, in the wake of the “Black Lives Matter” protests the previous year, they were looking to stick together and send a message. And so Tiffany devised her “master plan,” a scheme where each member of the “Cookout” alliance would partner up with a nomination shield. As a result, the Cookout flamebroiled the competition, making a clean sweep to the Final Six. Unfortunately, it came at the cost of Tiffany’s individual game, which put her in hot water as one of the biggest threats, resulting in her swift eviction. But Tiffany’s supreme gameplay earned her not only the “America’s Favorite Houseguest” prize but also a spot on the upcoming season of The Traitors.
Michael Bruner (Season 24)
Going into the summer of 2022, the record for number of competition wins in a season, set by Janelle in All-Stars, had been unmatched for over 15 years. Then came Michael Bruner. The attorney’s massive superfandom put him in hot water early on. But he proved in the very first Veto competition that he was here to play, saving himself from the block. That was just the beginning, as he would go on to string together a wildly impressive streak of wins. His record included three HoHs, as well as a record six Vetos. By the Final Six, Michael had tied Janelle’s record of nine competition wins. Unfortunately, that put a massive target on him going into the double eviction. Despite putting up a fight, including throwing his closest ally under the bus, the house took him out during the rare instance where he wasn’t safe from his various victories.
Cory Wurtenberger (Season 25)
Coming into the season as an avowed strategist, Cory Wurtenberger did not get the Big Brother experience he expected. As Season 25 went along, he began to kindle a showmance with America Lopez, despite his initial misgivings. And, while he was working with Cirie Fields and her ever-accumulating (and sometimes literal) family, at a certain point, Cory and America became aware of how well the Survivor alum was positioned. And so, after Cory got into a massive argument with Cirie’s son Jared Fields, he helped flip the house against their alliance. Cory’s big move immediately put him in hot water, though he was able to slip through to the jury. Unfortunately, when the Final Eight rolled around, the physical players in the house had determined that, despite working with Cory, he was too big a strategic threat to their game. And so, through an invisible HoH and two Vetos, he was blindsided and put up alongside America, then subsequently evicted.
Angela Murray (Season 26)
Big Brother 26 was chaos incarnate, full of big personalities, massive moves and wild swings of power. And perhaps nobody represented that better than Angela Murray. Any perception of Angela as the “house mother” was promptly thrown away in the first week when, after winning Head of Household, she became paranoid that Matt Hardeman had turned the entire house against her. And so she descended the stairs in an instantly iconic morning rant, laying into Matt and accusing everyone of making fake alliances with her. Of course, the speech made her public enemy number one, as she would be nominated seven times that season. But somehow, time and time again, she survived, even getting the Veto used on her twice. All the while, Angela continued to cause bad blood in the house, creating grudges over charcuterie boards and mocking other people’s walks. While Angela got taken out in the double eviction a few weeks from the end, she was one of the biggest characters of the season, nay, in recent Big Brother history.
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