‘Big Brother: Unlocked’ Adds Hollywood Favorite to Hosting Lineup

Three’s company! Big Brother: Unlocked is returning with not two but three panelists. Winner Taylor Hale and Derrick Levasseur are back with a celebrity panelist — Jerry O’Connell.

O’Connell was a guest on the first season of the show and has proclaimed himself a Big Brother superfan. Now, he will get to talk about the new season all summer long.

“Big Brother is my summer and rolls into my fall too. I’m already watching on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, so the fact that CBS is now paying me to do it is kind of amazing,” O’Connell said in a press release. “It’s an absolute honor to sit next to Derrick—‘Champ,’ as I call him—and Taylor, who is my all-time favorite Big Brother winner (sorry, Jag).”

“This is what we call in showbiz a dream gig. I’ll do my best to be the voice of the fans, but as Julie says, expect the unexpected. And most importantly, remember to love one another. I’m soooo excited to join the Big Brother fam.”

The after-show breaks down gameplay, evaluates the competition, and shares exclusive insider perspectives. Featuring new and returning fan-favorite segments, the series will offer exclusive content, inside-the-house footage, behind-the-scenes access, extended interviews, at-home packages, surprise visits from past BB favorites, unparalleled access — and the return of the coveted BBies Award Show. Typically, the hosts bring on the most recent evicted houseguest to talk about what they didn’t get to with host Julie Chen Moonves. 

Although the show was not that popular with fans last season, Unlocked is set to return along with Season 28. Here is everything we know about the spinoff show.

When will Big Brother: Unlocked air?

Season 2 of Big Brother: Unlocked will premiere for one hour on Friday, July 10, at 8/7c on CBS, one day after the Season 28 premiere. Last season, it aired biweekly.

A rep for the show confirmed that the episodes will air on July 10 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by hour-long shows on July 24, August 7, September 4, September 18 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), and September 25.

Who hosts Big Brother: Unlocked?

Season 16 winner Levasseur and Season 24 winner Hale hosted last season. They will be joined this season by Jerry O’Connell.

Each week, they had a celebrity guest host join them, and they left clues on the show’s Instagram for fans to figure out. They were typically big fans of the show. Alums also joined the panel throughout the season.

What is new this season on Big Brother: Unlocked?

This season, Big Brother: Unlocked will be filmed in front of a live studio audience; the first season was pre-taped in the studio without an audience. This will allow the fans and audience to have a more genuine reaction to evicted houseguests, funny clips show, and more.

The premiere episode launches a new interactive fan vote that will have a major impact on the game as well. 

Who won the draft?

Last season, there was a fantasy draft among the hosts, in which they chose houseguests for their draft team. Whoever had the winner on their team at the end won a trophy.

Hale won the Season 1 draft since Ashley Hollis was on her team and won Season 27.

Big Brother: Unlocked Fridays, starting July 10, 8/7c, CBS, stream on Paramount+

Big Brother, Season 28 Premiere, Thursday, July 9, 8/7c, CBS