21 surprising things you didn't know about 'Big Brother'

Martha SorrenAug 4, 2020, 21:36 IST

Host Julie Chen congratulates Josh Martinez, who wins the final HOH competition of the 19th season of "Big Brother."Sonja Flemming/CBS

CBS's "Big Brother" has been on the air for 20 years.
"Big Brother" also has a "Celebrity Big Brother" spin-off in the US and UK.
There are almost 100 cameras watching every houseguest, including a few cameras in the bathroom.
The longest competition lasted for more than half a day.

Ever since "Big Brother" first locked away a group of competitors — called houseguests — in a house for the summer and called it reality TV, people have been tuning in to see all the drama unfold in real time.

Airing three times a week on TV, the CBS show is on all of the time thanks to a set of cameras and microphones that pick up contestant behavior 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and stream it live to audiences online.

Fans can watch the houseguests eat, cook, and sleep — and strategize, of course. This is a competition show, after all, and the prize is $500,000.

But with 20 years and over 20 seasons under its belt, even the biggest of superfans don't know everything there is to know about this show.

Here are 21 surprising things you probably didn't know about this reality-TV staple.

It’s actually based on a Dutch show.

"Big Brother" has been adapted for other countries, too.

Malika Haqq (left) and Host Emma Willis (right) at the launch night of "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2018. Mike Marsland/ WireImage /Getty Images

The houseguests get paid each week.

It pays to stay in the game. CBS

"Big Brother" has produced more successful marriages than "The Bachelor."

Brendon Villegas and Rachel Reilly met on the show and are married now. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

The longest competition was more than half a day.

The competition didn't end until the next morning. CBS

The show wakes up the houseguests with music.

It's certainly an interesting way to kick off the day. CBS

The show has several nods to George Orwell’s book "1984."

The owl pays homage to Orwell. CBS

There are almost 100 cameras watching every houseguest.

Big Brother is truly always watching. CBS

There's even a camera in the bathroom, though the footage is rarely used.

Shannon Dragoo used another contestant's toothbrush to scrub the toilet. CBS

You can get expelled from the show.

Chima was sent home for throwing her microphone pack into the swimming pool and refusing to put a new pack on. CBS

Contestants aren’t allowed to sing for the whole summer.

It's a copyright issue. CBS

According to some former contestants, you may be asked to say things "with more excitement" in the diary room.

Cody Nickson was known for his unemotional tone. CBS

Houseguests are cut off from all news while in the house, except in extreme cases.

Houseguests were informed when Donald Trump was elected. Associated Press/Evan Vucci

Squirrels are inside jokes from production.

They pop up in random competitions. CBS

The "Big Brother" house is not a real house.

It looks like a fancy one, though. Monty Brinton/CBS

Sometimes fans try to contact houseguests who are in the backyard.

Houseguests must go inside when this happens. CBS

Some houseguests are recruited.

James Rhine has been in movies since. IMDb

People do have sex in the house, even though they know they’re being filmed.

Sometimes they just can't help themselves. Monty Brinton/CBS

Slop wasn't always the punishment food.

Before slop, there were sandwiches. bark/Flickr

The jury house is kind of a party.

It's less strict than the house. Johnny Vy/CBS

Season one was basically a completely different show.

The voting system was very different. CBS

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