On August 27, 2026, CBS broadcasted the historic 1,000th episode of Big Brother, marking a monumental milestone for the long-running reality competition. The 90-minute live broadcast of Season 28, Episode 25 delivered both a nostalgic celebration of the show’s 26-year history and a game-shattering strategic twist. The evening culminated in the eviction of New Jersey native Mallory Aurichio in a 6-2 vote, followed by the introduction of an unprecedented “medieval-themed” phase that has completely suspended the show’s core mechanics and temporarily shut down the live feeds.
A High-Stakes Eviction and a Failed Blindside
The week leading up to the live eviction was filled with intense strategic maneuvering and shifting alliances. Head of Household Dee Valladares had originally nominated Drew Campbell, Taylor Brown, and LaTrice “Lala” Verrett. However, after LaTrice secured safety by winning the Power of Veto, Dee named Mallory Aurichio as the replacement nominee. This set up a volatile three-way block consisting of Drew, Taylor, and Mallory.
In the days preceding Thursday’s live show, houseguests actively debated a potential vote flip to blindside Drew, who was perceived as a massive competitive threat. However, this plan hinged entirely on Drew remaining vulnerable on eviction night. Drew completely dismantled the opposition’s plans by winning the high-stakes “BB Blockbuster” competition, titled “BB Grand Cliptacular.” In this milestone-themed challenge, the three nominees were tasked with matching iconic moments from Big Brother history to correct answers. Drew proved victorious, securing immediate safety and removing himself from the block. With Drew safe, the target shifted back to Mallory and Taylor.
During the live voting segment, the house voted 6-2 to evict Mallory. Melody and Barrett cast their votes to evict Taylor, while Angela, Drew, Yash, Haley, Devens, and Lala voted to evict Mallory. As the seventh houseguest evicted this season, Mallory’s departure leaves 10 players remaining in the house.
Celebrating 1,000 Episodes of Reality TV History
To mark the 1,000th episode, the broadcast featured a walk down memory lane, highlighting the showmances, alliances, backstabbing, and legendary competitions that have defined the series since its premiere. The show also earned two Guinness World Records recognizing its longevity and broadcast milestone.
Additionally, CBS revealed the results of fan-voted awards celebrating the show’s rich history. Among the highlights, Dan Gheesling’s legendary “funeral” from Season 14 was voted the most iconic moment, and Dan was also named the Favorite Winner of all time. Janelle Pierzina took home awards for “Best Player Never to Win” and “Favorite Competition Beast.” “The Cookout” alliance from Season 23 was crowned the best alliance in the show’s history, while Rachel Reilly’s famous warning, “Floaters, grab a life vest!” won for most iconic quote.
The Medieval Twist and Live-Feed Blackout
The celebratory mood quickly shifted when host Julie Chen Moonves announced that the remaining 10 houseguests are entering a new medieval-themed phase of the game inspired by the year 1000. Under this twist, the traditional Head of Household, Power of Veto, and BB Blockbuster competitions are entirely suspended. Social, strategic, and competitive aspects of the game will be completely overhauled.
Furthermore, Julie warned that one player’s game will end before the next live eviction, meaning a houseguest will be eliminated during this twist without the traditional voting process. In a move that sparked immediate online backlash from the show’s dedicated fanbase, CBS shut down the 24/7 live feeds. Julie announced that the feeds will remain offline until after Sunday’s episode, preventing viewers from tracking the unfolding chaos in real time.
The Road to Week 8: Schedule Adjustments and Remaining Players
The remaining 10 houseguests heading into this unpredictable phase are Drew Campbell, Barrett Pfeiffer, Dee Valladares, Haley Thogmartin, Angela Murray, Melody Morris, LaTrice “Lala” Verrett, Yash Patel, Rick Devens, and Taylor Brown.
Due to a special CBS tribute broadcast, “Remembering Dolly: A Rhinestone Life,” Sunday’s episode (Episode 26) will air an hour later than usual, broadcasting from 9:00 p.m. to 10:01 p.m. ET/PT on August 30. Regular programming is expected to resume on Wednesday, September 2, with the next live eviction scheduled for Thursday, September 3.