The BB Blockbuster competition has become one of the more polarizing elements of this Big Brother season, dividing fans on whether it’s a smart addition or an unnecessary shakeup to the game. Host Julie Chen Moonvessurprised audience members during the Thursday, September 4 live eviction by confirming that the Blockbuster would continue for at least two more weeks.
While on set in Los Angeles, former winners — and BB Unlocked hosts — Derrick Levasseur and Taylor Hale sat down with Parade to share their thoughts on what’s become a rather controversial competition—one that first appeared last summer during season 26 under the name “AI Arena.” Celebrity guest and longtime superfan Lance Bass also weighed in.
“That Blockbuster has changed everything,” Bass says, with Hale adding, “I mean, tonight I was really hoping one person would be out the door and they’re still in the game…”
Levasseur thinks things will get even more interesting once the safety net of the Blockbuster is gone: “Now the big players like Rachel [Reilly] and Keanu [Soto], they got to watch out because once that Blockbuster goes, there’s no second chance.”
So how should the Head of Household handle the Blockbuster? Is there a way to game it? Levasseur says the key is being decisive, telling Parade, “I’m putting three people I don’t want in the game up there. That way, no matter what, someone goes home, you can’t do the whole thing that they’ve been doing where they’re being cute. ‘Oh, we’ll put one of our allies up there because they’re not going to be mad at me.’ No, you got to put three people up there so that way you’re not sweating bullets like Keanu was tonight. Someone who’s not on the top of your list is going home, period.”
Hale was more coy, saying, “Why would I give up that information if I ever play again?”
Still, she doesn’t hold back about this season’s gameplay, particularly when it comes to HOHs targeting their own allies. “They just don’t know what to do with power. And I can attest to that,” the former beauty pageant queen tells Parade. “I didn’t know what to do with power, but you live and you learn, but I want these people to learn from other HOHs and not make the same mistake. It’ll probably take a couple of seasons of the Blockbuster existing for people to say, okay, we just have to do it this way.”
Levasseur agrees, “People will figure it out.”
Chen Moonves previously revealed why CBS decided to bring back the format. “Last season, not only did it work so well that we brought it back this season, we extended how many weeks it was supposed to originally take place,” she told Men’s Journal back in July. “So that AI Arena now called BB Blockbuster really made it hard for that [unanimous voting] to happen. So I do think it’s going to become a staple.”
Big Brother airs Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET. You can also catch the 24/7 live feeds on on Paramount+ and Pluto TV.
Related: ‘Big Brother 27’s Mickey Lee Calls Rachel Reilly ‘Very Rude, Mean and Nasty’ (Exclusive)
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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