Big Brother 6

The sixth season of CBS's American version of Big Brother consisted of thirty episodes which aired from July 7 to September 20, 2005. It was again hosted by Julie Chen.

This was the first season to be filmed in the newly remodeled Big Brother house, located in a CBS sound stage.

The seasons twist was that each houseguest was secretly partnered with another houseguest (totaling seven pairs) they had known prior to entering the Big Brother house. These partners played the game as individuals, but if both managed to make it to the final two, the winner would receive $1 million while the runner up would receive $250,000. The final partner to be broken up was Ivette Corredero and Beau Beasley who had managed to make it to the final six together. This season's winner was Maggie Ausburn, who defeated her close ally and friend Ivette Corredero by a 4-3 jury vote.

Twists

The rules remaining mostly the same as in previous seasons, but this season contained twists that CBS dubbed the "Summer of Secrets".

The main twist that was each HouseGuest had a secret partner, who they already knew in the real world, a fact that they must keep a secret. Initially, each secret pair thought that they were the only secret pair. If both members of a secret pair reached the final two, the game's winner would receive a prize of $1 million, while the runner-up would receive $250,000. The secret pairs were as follows:

Another twist occurred when the America's Choice Poll allowed the public to vote on which evicted HouseGuest would return back into the game. While Kaysar returned back into house after being evicted, he wasn't actually the first to do as Amy from Big Brother 3 had also returned to the house (but not in a public vote).

Memorable Events

* The season was known for having the most bitterly divided house in the show's history, with more animosity among the HouseGuests than ever before. The first alliance was known as "The Friendship" to its members but as the "Nerd Herd" to its enemies. Its members were April, Jennifer, Beau, Ivette, Maggie, and Eric. They remained largely intact until the final days when Ivette finally expressed doubts at having stuck with them for so long. The other alliance in the house was the "Sovereign Six", whose members were Kaysar (the group's founder), Janelle, Rachel, Howie, James and Sarah. This alliance was not as firm in its solidarity, however, as Howie, James and Rachel had all voted to evict Kaysar, and Janelle had also voted to evict James. After James had been caught playing both sides, Howie nominated James and his partner Sarah, leading to further fall outs within the group.

* Revealed by Julie Chen on the first episode of the next season, members of "The Friendship" alliance had the "lowest popularity scores in Big Brother history"

* Among the most explosive moments occurred in the second week. Eric and Michael had to be physically restrained from fighting in the backyard after Eric accused Michael of threatening his family and Michael called Eric a "midget". The same day, Kaysar and Ivette came close to a physical confrontation as well after he felt she insulted his beliefs. Big Brother had to intervene over the loudspeakers and give warnings to the HouseGuests.

* The Sovereign Six alliance were infuriated by Jennifer when Kaysar had allowed her to win an endurance Head of Household competition after she had promised him, in tears, that he would be safe from eviction. However, when nominee Rachel won the POV and used it on herself, Jennifer broke her promise and not only nominated Kaysar for eviction, but successfully organized her alliance to vote him out.

* In the season's only actual physical confrontation, during week seven Janelle and Beau had a catfight after getting drunk from cocktails provided from a food reward. The fight included scratches, pushing and poking, and after it was broken up it continued with name calling that included Janelle calling Beau a "gold-digging whore," and Beau labeling Janelle a "polyester hair bitch."

* In week 6, Howie went on a 48-hour rampage against April, insulting her incessantly, calling her "Busto" (insulting her breast implants), and insulting her dog and husband.

* At the end of week 7, Janelle won Head of Household going into a double eviction week. After immediately nominating Jennifer and Maggie for eviction, she left them and taunted, "Bye bye, bitches!" while the show went out live.

HouseGuests 

April

April Lewis (born July 29, 1974, from Dallas, Texas). Her secret partner was Jennifer. She finished in fourth place, being evicted in week 11 by HouseGuest Ivette who was the only HouseGuest eligible to vote. 

Ashlea

Ashlea Evans (born April 24, 1983, from Plantation, Florida). Ashlea and Janelle were secret partners, being ex-roommates. She was the first HouseGuest evicted in week two by a vote of 9-2. 

Beau

Beau Beasley (born December 11, 1979) from Pembroke Pines, Florida. Beau and Ivette were secret partners, being former co-workers. Beau finished in sixth place when he was evicted in week 10 by a vote of 3-0. 

Eric

Eric "Cappy" Littmann (born April 29, 1969, in Boston, Massachusetts) was known as "Cappy" by his alliance. Eric and Maggie were secret partners, as Eric worked as a firefighter with Maggie's boyfriend. He was evicted in week four by a vote of 5-4. 

Howie

Howie Gordon (born January 7, 1971, in Chicago, Illinois) who called himself "Jedi Howie" or "Hurricane Howie". Howie and Rachel were secret partners, being best friends. Howie finished in fifth place, being evicted in week 10 (a double eviction week) by a vote of 2-1. Howie was selected to return in 2006 as a contestant on Big Brother: All Stars. 

Ivette

Ivette Corredero born in 1980 and from Miami, Florida. She is of Cuban and Dominican descent. She is the first openly lesbian contestant in Big Brother history. Ivette and Beau were secret partners, being former co-workers. Ivette made it to the final two, where she lost to Maggie in the final vote by a margin of 4-3, winning the second place $50,000 prize.

She became infamous for her remarks regarding Muslim HouseGuest Kaysar, reportedly calling him a "sand nigger" and a "fake Muslim." The comments were not broadcast. Big Brother producer, Arnold Shapiro, said: "I wouldn't want my name on a show that was having those kinds of things spoken." 

James

James Rhine (born December 6, 1975 in Miami, Florida) was a loss prevention manager (although he lied about his occupation to the HouseGuests). James and Sarah were secret partners, as they were dating. He finished in seventh place when he was evicted in week nine by a vote of 4-0. James returned in 2006 for Big Brother: All Stars, where he finished seventh once again. 

Janelle

Janelle Pierzina (born January 10, 1980, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota) is a VIP cocktail waitress from Miami Beach. Janelle and Ashlea were secret partners, being ex-roommates. She finished third, being evicted in the final week by Head of Household Ivette, who cast the only vote.

Janelle returned the next year for Big Brother: All Stars, where she placed third once again. She also won the $25,000 jury prize at the BB7 finale. She returned to host a Power of Veto competition in Big Brother 8, The Janelle-O-Vision, and was Season 6's representative in a food competition celebrating 10 years of Big Brother in Season 10. 

Jennifer

Jennifer Vasquez (born April 8, 1978) was a Dallas Desperados dancer and a substitute teacher from Plano, Texas who had just graduated with her master's in counseling before entering the Big Brother house. Her secret partner, April, was also in the same sorority at another college during different years. However, Jennifer and Maggie were closer during their stay in the Big Brother house. Jennifer was evicted in week 7 by a vote of 5-1 and became the first member of the jury who would later select the champion.

She has now put her acting/modeling career aside to pursue a career in teaching and counseling in the Dallas metroplex. 

Kaysar

Kaysar Ridha (born August 10, 1980, in Baghdad, Iraq) is a graphic designer from Irvine, California. He was the first Muslim contestant on the show. Kaysar and Michael were secret partners, being neighbours and friends. He was first evicted in week five by a vote of 7-1. Dubbed as one of the "most popular contestants ever" on Big Brother, he was voted back into the house after 82% of voters in an "America's Choice" poll selected him over Eric and Michael to return.

However, Kaysar was evicted again just two weeks later (the same week he returned to the house), by a vote of 7-0.

He returned for Big Brother 7: All-Stars in 2006. 

Maggie

Maggie Ausburn (born August 14, 1978, in Sonoma County, California) is an ER nurse from Las Vegas, Nevada. Maggie and Eric were secret partners, being friends. Maggie was voted as the champion of the show on Day 80, when the jury voted 4-3 to award her the $500,000 prize over Ivette.  

Michael

Michael Donnellan (born November 5, 1976, in Paris, France) is an artist based in Orange County, California. Michael and Kaysar were secret partners, being neighbors and friends. He had a brief love affair with Janelle on the show causing her to break up with her boyfriend back home on national television. He was evicted in week three by a vote of 9-1. 

Rachel

Rachel Plencner (Born November 29, 1971) is a computer technician and horse breeder from Parker, Colorado. Rachel and Howie were secret partners, being best friends. She was evicted in week 8 (another double eviction week) by a vote of 5-0.

Sarah

Sarah Hrejsa (born July 24, 1982) and from Stickney, Illinois. Sarah was the replacement secret partner of her boyfriend James after his original secret partner backed out. She was voted out in week five by a vote of 6-1.

Highlights