Celebrity Big Brother -us- - Season 01 ((free)) Jun 2026

The final two came down to the two friends from the start: Ross Mathews and Marissa Winokur. Ross had played the more aggressive, strategic game, masterminding several blindsides. Marissa had played the loyal, social game, letting Ross take the shots while she cleaned up the mess.

This set the stage for the season’s first major blindside. Chuck, perceived as the "alpha" male of the house, targeted two women: The Cosby Show star Keshia Knight Pulliam and Real Housewife Brandi Glanville. In a stunning turn of events, the women of the house banded together. In a historic move, Keshia and Brandi convinced the house to keep them and vote out the strongest physical competitor, Chuck Liddell. Celebrity Big Brother -US- - Season 01

It was a shocking, anti-climactic end. Marissa herself seemed surprised. She had played a loyal, social game but had never made a "big move." In her final speech, she essentially argued, "I didn't backstab anyone." In a season defined by the cutthroat Omarosa, the jury rewarded kindness over cunning. The final two came down to the two

This compressed timeline had a profound psychological effect. The celebrities—accustomed to luxury, handlers, and control—were suddenly isolated, sleep-deprived, and forced to turn on each other almost immediately. Paranoia didn't settle in; it exploded from Day 1. This set the stage for the season’s first major blindside

In a 6-3 jury vote, was crowned the first winner of Celebrity Big Brother (US) . It was a controversial ending for fans who believed Ross deserved the win for his strategy. But Marissa’s victory underscored a timeless Big Brother lesson: never underestimate the power of likability. The jury respected Ross’s game, but they liked Marissa more.

This was the golden era of the season. Brandi Glanville, fueled by unlimited wine and indignation, decided that Omarosa was "fake." In one of the most iconic live eviction episodes in Big Brother history, host Julie Chen Moonves asked Brandi a simple question about her nomination. Brandi responded by launching into a five-minute tirade, calling Omarosa a liar, a manipulator, and a "snake."