How Big Brother Welcomed Two Survivor Stars: An Easy Explainer

Key Points

• The bosses (called executive producers) of the TV show Big Brother explained how they ended up putting two players from the show Survivor 50 — Rick Devens and Dee Valladares — into the Big Brother house.
• We learn who first suggested bringing in two Survivor contestants.
• The producers hint that one of these players might be looking for a romance (called a showmance) in the house… and it’s not Rick!

What’s the Big Idea?

Imagine two different TV game shows are like two different playgrounds. Big Brother is a show where a group of people live together in a special house, do challenges, and vote each other out to win money. Survivor is a show where people go to nature, compete in tasks, and vote each other out to win money.

The Big Brother bosses had a fun idea: bring players from Survivor to play in the Big Brother house. They did this once before with a famous Survivor player named Cirie Fields in season 25. She found Big Brother even harder than Survivor!

For season 28 of Big Brother (which started on July 9), they thought: “Why not do it twice?” Like a commercial for double gum, they brought two Survivor stars:

• Rick Devens
• Dee Valladares

Both were also on the Survivor 50 season, where they were part of the jury (a group that picks the winner) along with Cirie. They all voted for Aubry Bracco to win the $2 million prize.

Important Callout: The producers wanted to see how Survivor players handle the Big Brother game because it’s a different kind of challenge. They hoped to mix things up and maybe get new viewers!

Meet the Two Players

• Rick Devens: A creative strategist who likes to cause fun trouble (a “mischief maker”).
• Dee Valladares: A super competitive player who is good at challenges and making friends, but also plays to win at all costs.

The Interview With the Show Bosses

A magazine called Entertainment Weekly sat down with Big Brother executive producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan. Here’s what they said in simple terms.

Where Did the Idea Come From?

Question: Did the idea to bring Survivor people over come from the TV network (CBS), the producers, or the casting team (like Jesse Tannenbaum)?

Allison Grodner: It was a group brainstorm — everyone together. They had worked together a long time. After seeing Cirie struggle in Big Brother (she said it was harder than Survivor and probably wouldn’t return), they thought: “Let’s try more Survivor players to see how they do.”

Rich Meehan: They knew they were bringing back past players this season. While they were talking, Survivor 50 was on TV and was really good. They thought: “Who from Survivor would be great in our house?” Devens and Dee stood out as amazing, different, and fun.

Why Two People Instead of One?

Question: Usually they bring just one (like Cirie). Why two this time?

Rich Meehan: They just really liked both as players. They bring different skills and are memorable. Also, both have fans, so bringing them could attract new viewers to Big Brother.

Why Rick Devens Specifically?

Allison Grodner: Rick “pops” — he stands out, is fun, thinks smart, and is creative. He’s good at stirring things up in unexpected ways. They were happy he said yes.

Rich Meehan: He’s a mischief maker! Because Big Brother has been on for many years, the bosses love it when someone does something new they’ve never seen. Rick might just do that.

Why Dee Valladares Specifically?

Dee had planned mischief on Survivor 50 but didn’t get to do it. Many think she’s the best new-era Survivor player. She also wants to have crazy fun.

Allison Grodner: Dee and Rick are different but complement each other. Dee is a strong competitor, strategist, and a bit “cutthroat” (meaning she’ll do tough things to win). She also has a great personality — people like her, which is key for the social part of Big Brother.

Rich Meehan: She is hyper-competitive, wants to win no matter what, and is great at challenges. Importantly, she comes to play the game, not just to be on TV. You can’t fake that for three months.

Important Callout: The producers said the number one thing they look for is someone who wants to play and win the game, not just be famous. Both Rick and Dee have that drive.

Any Love Connections? (Showmance Tease)

On Survivor 45, Dee had a showmance (a romance in the show) but put the game first — even blindly voting out her partner at the end.

Allison Grodner: It’s early, but there are many single guys in the Big Brother house. Dee has said she’s very single. So it will be interesting to see if a showmance blooms — and it’s not Rick who’s looking!

How the Casting Happened (Simple Steps)

Based on the producers’ chat, here’s the simplified process they followed:

1. The team brainstormed together about bringing back players.
2. They noticed Survivor 50 was on TV and very good.
3. They picked Rick and Dee because they are talented, different, and have fans.
4. They invited them, and both agreed to join Big Brother season 28.

Summary

In short, Big Brother bosses Allison and Rich decided to bring two Survivor stars — Rick Devens and Dee Valladares — into their house for season 28. This idea grew from a group chat, inspired by the airing of Survivor 50. They chose Rick because he’s a creative trouble-maker, and Dee because she’s a competitive, social, win-at-all-costs player. Fans are also teased that Dee might find a romance in the house. The original article also mentions you can sign up for Entertainment Weekly’s free Survivor Weekly newsletter for more news, and the full interview is on their website.

FAQ

Q1: What is a “showmance”?
A showmance is when two people on a reality TV show like Big Brother or Survivor start a romantic relationship while the cameras are rolling.

Q2: Why is bringing a Survivor player to Big Brother a big deal?
Because the games are different! Survivor is outdoors with survival tasks; Big Brother is in a locked house with constant filming. Seeing how a Survivor player adapts is fun and surprising.

Q3: Who is Cirie Fields?
Cirie is a legendary Survivor player who was also brought into Big Brother season 25. She found Big Brother so hard she said she’d probably never return to it.

Q4: What does “cutthroat” mean in this article?
It means a player is very determined to win and willing to make tough, even harsh, moves against friends or allies in the game.

Q5: Where can I read the original full article?
The original interview is on Entertainment Weekly’s website, and they also offer a free Survivor Weekly newsletter for updates.