Emily Howard

Assignment One
Assignment One
Big Brother
Note: This observation was taken over a full episode, about 45 minutes, of Big Brother.
The time cited is how many minutes into the episode from which the observations are
drawn. To ensure that the significance of observations is received, I may mention what
has happened in previous episodes that play a role in this observation. I have provided
a brief description of the game to help understand the observations better.
Synopsis of the Game: Each week a competition is held to determine the Head of
Households; the two winners become HOH for the week. The two HOHs then have to
nominate two people each (four total) to be put up on the chopping block. Each team of
two nominees participates in a Battle of the Block (BOB) competition; it is held to
determine who stays on the block. The winner of the BOB also dethrones the HOH that
nominated them, putting that HOH in jeopardy of going home that week. Next, a Veto
competition is held; it always includes the two nominees and the HOH, in addition to a
random draw of a couple houseguests. The Veto allows a houseguest to veto a nominee,
ensuring the HOH has to put a houseguest up on the block in their place, or the Veto can
simply not be used. Then, the vote is held to see which nominee goes home. After the
evicted houseguest has left, the whole week and process starts over.
Terms used within the game:
Floater: a houseguest that has no alliance within the game; does not serve a
significant purpose within the game
Social game: playing people without getting caught; a strategy characterized by
relationships with others; for example, a person with a good social game would be
friendly and well liked by most houseguests, while convincing them to make
game moves or vote a certain way
Haves/Have-nots: a have is a person that has full eating, bathroom, and
bedding privileges; a have-not is restricted to eating slop, taking cold showers,
and sleeping on an unnatural bedding; this is usually determined through a
competition
Blindside/Back-dooring: the act of getting out an undesignated target by putting
them on the block after the Veto Competition, ensuring they have no way to
escape eviction; usually used between alliance members so targeted alliance
member(s) arent upset and disclose information about the alliance before they
leave the Big Brother House
Figured World: A figured world is a large environment that has certain guidelines and
restrictions on the proper behavior of social interaction within that environment.
The Big Brother House: The Big Brother House is located at Studio City
California on a CBS studio stage, where contestants are isolated from the real
world and monitored every minute of the day. It is home to fourteen to sixteen
individuals from various backgrounds that are competing to win the half-million
dollar prize, given to one of the last two remaining houseguests. A jury of the last

Emily Howard
Assignment One
seven to nine evicted houseguests decides the winner. Each week a series of
competitions are used to determine who chooses nominees for eviction and who
has the ability to change the nominees. This constant changing environment has a
significant impact on the game and how people interact with one another. Because
of this environment, the rules and conventions for appropriate behavior in the Big
Brother House constantly change. However, the main ideals include lying,
forming alliances, and backstabbing people; any action to get a houseguest farther
in the game is usually understood and accepted, though some affected/victimized
houseguests do not take such actions lightly. Violence, obscene behavior, and
disrespect to CBSs property are not accepted and will get a houseguest expelled.
One-on-one conversations are expected to be quiet and private, while alliance
meetings are expected to be secretive. The entire house could be considered a
community of practice because every member shares the same goal ($500,000)
and interest (the show). Each alliance that is formed could also be a community of
practice because they would have a goal of making it to the end of the show
together, an interest in working together, and a great ability of communicating
secretly (in which they wouldve utilized to form an alliance).
Actors: An actor is a person that has an important job or function within a community
of practice (and figured world); they have a purpose. Although most of the people
within the house are actors, I am only reporting on the most important ones (this
characterizes them as serious contenders as the winner of Big Brother or the
Americas Favorite Player Award).
Julie Chen: Julie is the host of Big Brother and informs the
houseguests of voting results, plot twists, explains and hosts
competitions, and is the only link between the houseguests
and the outside world. Because she is the link between the
houseguests and the outside world, as well as the viewers
link to the houseguests, she is admired and welcomed by
many.
Julie Chen, CBS, 2014.

Frankie: Frankie is the most flamboyant, easy-going, and

social player in the house. As a social-media mogul, he
appeals to both the men and women in the house; the men like
his game perspective, competitiveness, and social game (how
well he interacts with others), while the women like his
personality, insight, advice, and social game as well. Although
Frankie is great at winning competitions, some of his
houseguests (and alliance members) feel his social game is
Frankie Grande, CBS, 2014. too strong, and therefore is extremely likeable, and dont fully
trust him. He is part of Team America, which means he is well liked outside of
the house. He is extremely relevant in this game because he is the reason behind
most of the evictions and, if he made it to the end of the game, he would be a
serious candidate to win.

Emily Howard
Assignment One
Derrick: Derrick is, perhaps, the most intellectual and
influential person in the house. As an undercover cop, he
uses his conversations with many of his housemates as
breeding grounds for his hidden agendas, while still
maintaining his relationships and harmless persona.
Currently, he is the only person in the house that has yet
to be put up on the block. He is part of Team America
and is the ultimate example of superiority. His discrete
scheming will be an influential factor, in his favor, if he
were to make it to the finale.

Derrick Levasseur, CBS, 2014.

Donny: Donny is the kindest and most trusted person in the

house. His southern, North Carolina accent, long beard, and
charming smile won over America, as he became the first
member of Team America, and his houseguests. He is also
good at competitions, winning seven Vetos, and was
speculated to be an ex-military-professor-actor. He was the
oldest person to enter the Big Brother house this season.
Donnie is the likely winner of the Americas Favorite Player
award ($25,000), never got any blood on his hands
Donnie Thompson, CBS, 2014. throughout the entire game, and is admired in and outside of
the Big Brother House.
Zach: Zach is the most outspoken and emotional person in
the house. He is never afraid to call people out when they
have not been loyal, and almost always has a role in the main
drama of the house. Once solely loyal to Frankie, Zach
shunned Frankie once he found out of his unfaithfulness to
the Detonators and relationship to Ariana Grande. Because of
Zachs role as an entertainer, he is highly liked by America,
making him a high contender for Americas Favorite Player
Zach Rance, CBS, 2014.
and the $25,000 prize. However, Zachs oddball behavior is a concern for the
Detonators and could cause his game to end before the finale.
Artifacts: An artifact is an item, idea, or feeling of value or significance that exists
within a community of practice (and figured world).
Security: The feeling of security is almost non-existent in the Big Brother House.
However, it does occur and is something every houseguest hopes to achieve.
Though reaching safety may only last for a week, as HOH, or may be something
as simple as not being on the chopping block or not being identified as the target
for the week, it is highly sought after and an achievement in itself.
Superiority: The feeling of superiority and being able to manipulate your
housemates is extremely valuable. It shows power and authority; it is key to make
it to the end of the game and is highly respected within the jury.

Emily Howard
Assignment One

Head of Household: The actual HOH

key, room, or position is of great
importance in the Big Brother House.
The HOH makes the all-important
decision of who is jeopardy of being
evicted throughout the week; however,
most of the time the HOH has full
authority of who goes home. HOH is
every houseguests goal for the next
HOH room, CBS, 2014.
week and the position is highly respected. Being the Head of Household
represents safety and authority.

Power of Veto, CBS, 2014.

The Golden Power of Veto: Winning the Golden

Power of Veto is imperative if the houseguest is
on the block and gives the houseguest, or the
person they chose to use the Veto on, safety for
the week. This position allows for houseguests to
show loyalty, decision-making skills, and
authority. Winning the Veto is highly sought after
and respected.

Being a have, shelter, food, etc.: Being a have for the week ensures that a
houseguest is provided with a normal bed, warm showers, and proper food. Being
a have allows you to be stronger and more competent for competitions. It is a
sign of strength and likability.
Communities of Practice: A community of practice consists of people with common
goals, hobbies, and habits; they have a relationship where learning and the sharing of
experience take place through interaction.
The Bomb Squad: The Bomb Squad wants to get out the threatening floaters.
These actors were interested in making it to the final eight and sought to win all
HOHs and Vetos. The Bomb Squad consisted of strong competitors and
intellectuals. They communicate through many secret meetings, though Devin
proved to ruin the united eight when he became paranoid.
The Detonators: The Detonators were formed once Devin was evicted from the
house and consisted of many of the previous members of the Bomb Squad. In a
sense, it was a reincarnation of the Bomb Squad without the loose cannons.
These five Detonators were extremely united and secretive; their goal was to get
rid of the other powerhouses in the game and make it to the final five together.
These actors conducted many secret meetings together.
Team America: Team America was chosen by America to fulfill secret missions
within the house. These three members were well liked by America and held

Emily Howard
Assignment One
various positions within the house; for every mission completed, each member of
Team America was awarded five thousand dollars. The appeal of the money,
hidden tasks, and admiration of America held Team America together and caused
them to look after each other. The actors secret actions and interactions helped
them complete the tasks.
Domain: A domain is a specific activity or area of material; the goal of the group. It is
what is being done in a community to bring the community closer together and allow
the group to grow.
The Finale: The final deal of every alliance is what unifies the community and is,
therefore, the domain. The community uses all of the available tools and insights
in their power to get out the targeted houseguest each week to get them closer to
the finale; this is an extensive task that requires a group effort. For example, as
the houseguests dwindle down and an alliance still stands strong, the alliance
members have a greater sense of community and loyalty. The weekly task of
sending people home is a step closer to the finale, which is where every
houseguest wants to be.
Practices of the Community: Practices of the Community are activities that enable the
community to learn and share experience; it requires time and extended interaction.
Getting out the target: Getting out the target is a weekly practice that unites the
community. It requires every group members knowledge, dedication, and time.
Investigation is often used to gain such knowledge of the targets potential allies,
while persuasion is needed to ensure votes. The way in which a community gets
out a target can vary week to week, though most big blindsides require a lot of
preparation and secrecy.
Forming relationships: Forming relationships with non-alliance members is
crucial to ensure votes in the jury once an alliance has to turn on one another.
Although good jury players dont take emotions into account, having floaters that
alliance members were loyal to in the jury house is extremely valuable in the
finale. In addition, being able to influence floaters in the house ensures that votes
will go in the way the community wants. For example, if the Detonators had four
votes to backdoor Amber, and they needed six, it would be beneficial for a
member of the Detonators to have a side relationship with Victoria or Donnie to
get the extra two votes needed to evict Amber.
Secret Meetings: Communication is key in any kind of community. In the Big
Brother House, holding secret meetings to ensure every member of a community
is in agreement of the target for the week is extremely important. However, there
can be plans to back-door a member of a community, in which whomever is left
out of a secret meeting, is in serious danger. Secret meetings can be held between
two people or six, depending on the time and agenda; meetings can serve as
settings for lies, reinforcing relationships, or personal benefits. For example, if

Emily Howard
Assignment One
Derrick (Detonators, Team America) wants to ensure Donnie (Team America)
that he is safe for the week and he is not voting to evict Donnie, this secret
meeting is mainly for Derricks personal benefit (ensures Donnie will not blame
him) and is completely hidden from the Detonators, who may have targeted
Donnie for the week.
Literacy Practices: Literary Practices are the way people interact with one another,
both verbally and nonverbally.
Word of Mouth: The houseguests main form of interaction is via word of mouth.
The houseguests are not given any writing utensils or technological devices, so
they have no way of interacting with one another unless they are physically
speaking to one another. This method can be both useful and harmful, as one
person does not have physical proof that another person said something. This
literary practice can be, and is often, utilized as a form of lying or tricking people
into believing someone said something when they actually did not.
Body Language: The way two people interact can be a sign of a relationship, an
alliance, or a sign of distrust. Body language can be subconsciously acted upon or
used as a game move. For example, Christine holds hands with Cody, plays with
his hair, and they lay together. Although Christine is married and has received
serious backlash for her behavior, Cody claims his actions are purely gamerelated. Cody wanted to play the man-candy role in the house; using his looks
to get girls to play for him, and it worked in terms of Christine. On the platonic
side of the spectrum, Hayden and Nicole were very cuddly and constantly laid
together, hugged, and hung out. Their behavior proved to show how close they
were as friends and provided a sense of comfort in an odd situation. Zach leaving
the room every time Frankie entered, tensing up, and getting physically frustrated
showed how angry Zach was once Frankie destroyed Zachs trust in him.

Observation One (Episode 3):

4 minutes in: The houseguests view the Head of Household (HOH) room for the first
time. Frankie and Caleb are HOH and have received personal items. Everyone is
extremely supportive and excited; this time serves a bonding period between all the
houseguests, as they view family photos and remember their own families. The
houseguests also consider how theyre going to alter their strategies in response to two
HOH twist this season.
6 minutes in: Frankie and Caleb agree to work together in the HOH room. They think
Calebs physical skills and Frankies social skills will get them far in the game, while the
alliance is an unlikely match. They define that the target of the week is the person that
disrupts the house or shows off and shows up the most. In private, Caleb suggests he
feels secure working with Frankie, though he thinks they need soldiers.

Emily Howard
Assignment One
8 minutes in: Caleb, Frankie, Derrick and Devin meet in the HOH room and decide to
form an all guy alliance. They talk about adding Zach and Cody to the alliance so they
have the numbers to run the house. The alliance is named the Bomb Squad. Zach and
Cody are brought into the Bomb Squad and Devin defines the target as all the
potentially detrimental floaters. In the diary room, Derrick admits that the group is not
even close and it is too early to make an alliance and to trust someone with your life, this
early in the game, is ludicrous. Cody also states it is too early in the game and he is
only looking out for himself.
12 minutes in: Nicole and Christine decide to work together. They agree that they are not
defenseless or easily influenced women and dont fit in with any of the jocks or other
girls. They hope the houseguests will underestimate them and think they are weak while
they hide their intelligence and play a good social game. Nicole states she wants
Christine to fully trust her while Christine privately admits she has a large amount of
faith in Nicole and hopes to work with her throughout the game.
16 minutes in: Frankie and Caleb meet in the HOH room to decide whom they are
putting up on the block. Caleb wants to put both a girl and guy up on each block to
disguise the Bomb Squad and be fair. Frankie wants to put up the first two people who
fell in both of the HOH competitions in hopes of getting the least amount of blood on
their hands: Victoria, Brittany, Paola, and Donny. The nominations are shared with the
houseguests; Caleb nominates Paola and Donny while Frankie nominates Brittany and
Victoria, whom he has befriended in the house. Victoria is distraught, angry, and visibly
upset at Frankie. Frankie tries to console her after the Nomination Ceremony. Frankies
damage control does not go over well with Victoria.
27 minutes in: Devin wakes Christine and Amber up in the early morning and exposes
the all guy alliance to them. He decides he wants them to be full members of the Bomb
Squad without consulting the other members of the Bomb Squad; Amber is speechless
while Christine states her true alliance is with Nicole. Devin tells the other members of
the Bomb Squad that Christine and Amber know about the alliance and are new
members. Cody describes Devin as blowing up, while Derrick says he is a loose
cannon and says Devin is putting a huge target on his back. Frankie sums up the
situation with an astonished What?
37 minutes in: The Battle of the Block (BOB) competition is held. The team that wins is
guaranteed safety for the week and dethrones the HOH that nominated them. The object
of the competition was to transfer water from one person to fill up a vase while swinging.
Victoria and Brittany dominate the competition, though Donny and Paola almost caught
them mid-competition. Victoria and Brittany win and dethrone Frankie.

Observation Two (Episode 21):

4 minutes in: Nicole calls out Frankie and Christine for betraying Hayden. Donnie
comforts her in the bathroom, stating it is Nicole and himself against the house. Zach and

Emily Howard
Assignment One
Nicole discuss Frankie, loudly and expressively; Frankie tries to defend himself and calls
Nicole untrustworthy. Zach admits he is starting to believe Nicole but wants to stir up
the house to uncover the real story. Derrick is present during the exchange and privately
admits he is the reason the house flipped; he takes note of all of the accusations being
made.
8 minutes in: Frankie and Caleb discuss Hayden and Nicoles claim that Frankie is
making side alliances. Caleb states he has to believe some of Nicole and Haydens story;
Frankie knows he has placed doubt in his alliance members minds and needs to win
HOH to insure his safety this week. The HOH competition is held; Nicole and Christine
win. Nicole stated she is out for blood and wants to make some things happen. Zach
says he needs to do damage control to ensure his place in the house.
16 minutes in: Frankie and Christine meet with Nicole and try to make amends. Frankie
admits he was working with the other side of the house (Derrick, Cody, Zach and Caleb).
Frankie tells Nicole he and Christine would be willing to flip to the other side of the
house.
18 minutes in: Zach meets with Nicole and tells her the Detonators were formed two
weeks ago, an alliance between Cody, Derrick, Caleb, Frankie, Christine, and himself.
Nicole admits she just spoke to Frankie and he told her to put up Cody, Derrick, Caleb,
and Zach. Nicole and Zach agree to work together; Zach tells Cody, Derrick, and Caleb
that Frankie suggested they should be put up on the block. The Detonators are extremely
upset with Frankie for throwing them under the bus.
22 minutes in: Derrick informs Nicole of the male Detonators plan to throw the Battle of
the Block competition by putting up Frankie and Zach; Zach would willingly throw the
competition to ensure Frankie would go home. Nicole is hesitant of the plan because she
does not completely trust Zach. Caleb volunteers to go up on the block instead of Zach,
which Nicole agrees is the safer option.
25 minutes in: The Nomination Ceremony is held. Christine nominates Donny and Zach;
Nicole nominates Caleb and Frankie. Nicole states she cant trust Frankie and hes not
someone she wants to work with. Zach ends the ceremony by calling Frankie and
Christine huge liars.
32 minutes in: The Battle of the Block competition is held. Caleb confronts Frankie and
tells him you lied and you know it. Caleb also tells Frankie he doesnt deserve this
and that he can play chains by himself. Caleb voluntarily sits out of the game and states
This is what happens when you break trust and loyalty Im literally going to watch
you take your last breath. Frankie wins the BOB after a tight race between Zach and
Donnie and Frankie.

Observation Three (Episode 32):

Emily Howard
Assignment One
6 minutes in: Caleb meets with Frankie in the HOH room. He admits that Derrick, Cody,
and himself thought about back-dooring Frankie before the veto was used. Caleb tells
Frankie Cody was the main strategist in this plan. Frankie then confronts Derrick about
the plan; Derrick dismisses the accusation like it was not a serious plan and accuses
Caleb of being paranoid. Frankie is upset with Cody and does not believe Derricks
statement that the plan was never serious.
10 minutes in: Derrick tells Cody that Frankie confronted him about their plans to back
door Frankie. Cody is extremely upset that Caleb would tell Frankie of their plan and
thinks he is playing a blindly loyal game. Cody is worried Caleb told Frankie
everything that was said; while Derrick assures Cody he thinks it was just a brief
overview. Cody knows Frankie is coming after him.
12 minutes in: Julie tells the houseguests tonight will be a double eviction night. The
Eviction Ceremony is held; Nicoles final words encourage the houseguests to stop
playing Big Baby and make some game moves. Nicole is unanimously evicted from
the Big Brother House.
19 minutes in: The Head of Household competition is held; Derrick wins with the first
question. Frankie runs up to greet him first; Derrick pats Cody on the back, letting him
know he is safe. Derrick quickly meets with Victoria to confirm their relationship and tell
her she is not the target; he identifies the target as Christine. If Christine wins the veto,
the plan is to back door Frankie.
24 minutes in: The Nomination Ceremony is held. Derrick nominates Victoria and
Christine with his reasoning of going with the house supporting his nominations. His
alliance supports his decision.
26 minutes in: The Power of Veto competition is held; Frankie quickly wins. Frankie
meets with Derrick to confirm Derrick wants the nominations to stay the same. The plan
to evict Christine and ensure the final four (Derrick, Cody, Caleb, and Frankie) is set.
32 minutes in: The Veto Ceremony is held; Frankie decides not to use the Power of
Veto. The nominations are kept the same, with Victoria and Christine on the block.
Christine is upset and realizes she will be going home.
36 minutes in: The Eviction Ceremony is held. Christine is unanimously evicted; she
leaves the house without saying goodbye and avoids eye contact with everyone. She is
loudly booed outside the Big Brother House. Christine admits she is upset with everyone
that voted her out but she understands why the houseguests chose to remove her from the
game.

Interview:

Emily Howard
Assignment One
For the first interview, I chose to interview my mother because shes one of the main
reasons I started watching the show. She provided an interesting insight on what Big
Brother offers to the world and that personality is a key factor in determining likeability.
Interview One:
How does Big Brother interest you?
I like to get to know the people through their personalities and see how they play the
game. Everyone is so different, its cool to see how people interact and change.
Explain what you think Big Brother offers to the world (mentally, socially, etc.)
I think it tests how you trust and interact with people. I think it shows the world how
people can come together from many different lifestyles and coexist together.
Give an example of a game move/strategy that you found interesting.
I think its pretty cool to see people get back-doored in general. Im really excited to see
Frankie get back-doored this season.
Give and example of the type of person you would emulate or like to work with in
the Big Brother House.
I would like to work with Derrick because I think hes played an excellent game. Hes
been true to himself and hes played smart.
Tell me about you favorite person that has played the game and why they appeal to
you.
I like Jordan because shes so cute. I liked her personality, she was very sweet but she
played really hard. I just fell in love with her.
For the second interview, I chose to interview my sister because shes a newcomer to Big
Brother and we like to strategize together. She provides an interesting response in
explaining an interesting game move and a type of person she would like to work with; in
addition, she provided the same response as my mom when picking her favorite player.
Interview Two:
How does Big Brother interest you?
I like the competitions and the people in general. I find the show to be really funny and
entertaining.
Explain what you think Big Brother offers to the world (mentally, socially, etc.)
I think people watch the show to see how people act in certain situations. I think its
pretty cool that you get to watch people interact 24/7 in a confined area. I dont think any
other show offers that.
Give an example of a game move/strategy that you found interesting.

Emily Howard
Assignment One
I always think that when a houseguest keeps their identity a secret from the other players
is interesting. Like this season, Frankie didnt tell anyone about his connection with
Ariana Grande, which could have been helpful to his game.
Give an example of the type of person you would emulate or like to work with in the
Big Brother House.
I would like to work with someone who is trustworthy but sneaky. I wouldnt want them
to go behind my back, but if you found someone loyal and trustworthy, I think that would
be a good person to work with. Like Derrick and Cody.
Tell me about you favorite person that has played the game and why they appeal to
you.
Nicole! I really liked her. She was really pretty and her personality was really bubbly.
She was really relatable and I liked her relationship with Hayden.

For my third interview, I chose to interview my roommate because we watch the show
together and I know she thinks and strategizes in a much different way than me. While all
her answers were in-depth and valuable, I thought the fact that she thought that Big
Brother allowed for the world to see what great liars humans are, was really different and
true. She also picked her favorite player as someone who has a good personality and has
played a nice game.
Interview Three:
How does Big Brother interest you?
Big Brother interests me in the way that complete strangers are brought into a house to
live among one another, each having the same goal of coming out on top, but all using
different strategies to do so.
Explain what you think Big Brother offers to the world (mentally, socially, etc.)
To me, Big Brother offers a look inside regular peoples minds and how we as humans
think and strategize when money is in the picture. It offers a learning experience to new
thought processes, as well as an eye-opening experience that some people are secretly
really good liars.
Give an example of a game move/strategy that you found interesting.
This season, there were many alliances formed; some of which worked, while others
failed miserably. An example of a certain one I found interesting would be Derricks this
year. He made not only alliances, but friendships with almost everyone in the house.
Though he did go behind some peoples backs, he was never put on the block to go home
out of 55 times. People trusted him, but as the game goes, he knew he had to break some
trust to win. He made a secret alliance with one member to go all the way to the end, and
the fact that the two of them stuck to that promise and DID make it all the way to the end
without back stabbing one another, really stood out to me.

Emily Howard
Assignment One
Give an example of the type of person you would emulate or like to work with in the
Big Brother House.
If I were in the Big Brother house, I would want to work with someone who was both a
strong physical competitor, but also someone who had a good mind and would be able to
contribute to mental competitions as well. I would also like for them to be friendly to the
other houseguests, but willing to do whatever it took to go to the end with me.
Tell me about you favorite person that has played the game and why they appeal to
you.
My favorite person to play the game this year would have to be Derrick. He knew by
having the job of an undercover police officer, he would have an upper hand in the
competition, but also knew that he couldnt let the other members know because then it
would put a target on his head. He played a very smart game, both physically and
mentally. He knew what he needed to win, and when he didnt HAVE to win. He played
an incredible social game as well. People say that he was manipulative, but I believe he
was just a very good at strategizing and working with people. He never had enemies, but
that is because he knew how to play the people in a non-threatening way. He was a nice,
genuine guy who never wanted to hurt anyone or betray them, he simply wanted to play
the game in a way that would lead him to victory; which in the end, paid off.

Actor Analysis: These individual analyses explain the role the actors play within their
community. I will only be reporting on the actors previously identified that are actually
within the house.
Frankie: Frankie serves as the one of the main masterminds in the house, and within his
alliance, The Detonators. He proves to win HOHs consistently, which allows for him to
make important game moves for his alliances. Frankie is the main comforter in the house
and is always welcoming to listen to houseguests problems, stories, etc. His bubbly and
well-liked personality allows for him to avoid being nominated very well. Frankie has
played an exceptional social game, which has allowed him to excel in the house and his
alliance. Frankies role within Team America is to provide ideas and entertain America
weekly.
Derrick: Derrick serves as the big brother of the house. His calming personality settles
the houseguests emotions and he is always willing to try and give the houseguests
advice on how to fix problems. However, Derricks career also allows him to profile
people well and plant ideas in other houseguests heads without leaving a trail of blame
in his wake. To his alliance members, Derrick serves as an intelligent man that provides
smart techniques and ideas; in reality, he realizes what game moves are beneficial for
himself and gets others to implement them. Derricks role within Team America is to
make sure each task is completed efficiently and without fault.
Donnie: Although Donnie is not in an alliance, he serves as the father figure in the Big
Brother House. He has a set bedtime and cleaning schedule; he provides the houseguests

Emily Howard
Assignment One
with entertainment and is a very appealing. His role within Team America is to provide
America with entertainment, come up with ideas, and complete each task efficiently.
Zach: Zach serves as the loud, rambunctious houseguest in the house. His antics are used
both as entertainment and as a way to call out houseguests. Zach serves as a pawn within
the Detonators, going up on the block voluntarily in some cases. The Detonators also use
Zachs loud, brash personality to make dramatic game moves and provoke tension in the
house.

Timeline of Events: This is a timeline of important events that were influential to the
outcome of season 16.
Week 1: The two Head of Household twist and Battle of the Block is implemented. The
Bomb Squad is formed.
Week 2: Devin exposes the Bomb Squad to Christine and Amber, and becomes paranoid
of Donnie. The other Bomb Squad members consider back-dooring Devin. Team
America is created, with Donnie being the first member.
Week 3: The Detonators are formed. Devin has become even more paranoid so the
Detonators back-doored him. Team America is completely formed with Donnie, Frankie,
and Derrick.
Week 4: The Detonators ran the house for the week (both HOHs were Detonators).
Brittany was evicted.
Week 5: The Detonators were in control of the house for the week (both HOHs were
Detonators). The Detonators then chose to backdoor Amber, one of their fellow Bomb
Squad members.
Week 6: Double eviction week. The first person evicted was Jocasta. The second
eviction was much more intense. Hayden was back-doored, leaving Nicole practically
alone in the game.
Week 7: The Detonators are exposed to Nicole, the HOH for the week. Frankie is
designated the target by his own alliance, the Detonators, in which Caleb decides to sit
out of the BOB to throw the competition. Frankie wins despite this tactic and Nicole is
evicted.
Week 8: The Detonators took both of the HOH positions. Derricks plan was to get
Donnie evicted. Donnie won eviction and Zach was back-doored by his alliance.
Week 9: A competition is held with the jury members (Jocasta, Hayden, Nicole, Zach) to
determine who will be allowed to reenter the house. Nicole wins and rejoins the game.
Donnie is evicted.

Emily Howard
Assignment One

Week 10: Double eviction week. Caleb wins HOH and nominates Christine and Nicole,
in hopes to get rid of Christine. Christine wins the Veto, and Nicole is evicted. Derrick
then wins HOH. Christine is the defined target of the house. Christine is evicted.
Week 11: A golden button appears within the house. Julie tells us that if the button is
pressed, the upcoming week will be redone. The houseguests press the button almost
immediately. Frankie wins HOH and nominates Cody and Victoria. Right before the
eviction ceremony is held, the houseguests are informed of the rewind twist.
Week 12: Double eviction week. The weeks competitions are repeated. Caleb wins
HOH. He nominates Frankie and Victoria. Frankie is sent home. Derrick wins the second
HOH, in which he nominates Caleb and Victoria. Derrick honors his final two deal with
Cody and Caleb is sent home.
Week 13: Cody wins the first HOH. Derrick wins the second HOH. Cody and Derrick
both compete to win the final HOH. Cody wins and sends Victoria home, leaving himself
and Derrick as the final two. After the final speeches are given, the jury votes. Derrick
wins Big Brother 16 by a 7-2 vote. Americas Favorite Player is given to Donnie, who
received over half of the ten million votes.