A former “Big Brother” houseguest has returned to TikTok with new commentary, posting three videos in four days focused on the hit reality show.
In his most recent video, Cory Wurtenberger of season 25, made a blunt claim about the direction of the series.
“Old school Big Brother is never coming back,” he said.
Captioned “Old School big brother is dead,” the video has since garnered nearly 17,000 views since it was posted on April 5.
What Is ‘Old School Big Brother’?
Wurtenberger, who was evicted in eighth place becoming the second juror, pointed to earlier seasons of “Big Brother” that were known for loud, personal, and often unpredictable (and drunken) confrontations between houseguests.
For example, on season 6, Beau Beasley called Janelle Pierzina a “polyester hair [expletive]” during a drunken argument, in which she returned the insult by calling him a “gold-digging [expletive].” In the same season from 2015, Howie Gordon got into a heated fight with April Lewis and threatened to eat her dog, Pepperoni.
Moments like that became a defining part of the show’s early years; fights regularly escalated beyond gameplay and into personal territory.
“Big Brother” 12 in 2010 has a couple of other examples in both arguments in the house and Diary Room commentary.
Getty“You’re about as classy as your nasty hair extensions,” Ragan Fox told Rachel Reilly during one confrontation that played out across the house (and for much of the season).
Britney Haynes also became known for sharp, cutting commentary in the Diary Room.
“Looney Tunes Annie was after me like a frickin’ rabid mountain lion. I’m gonna be sleeping with one eye open, I tell you that,” she said about Annie Whittington.
Why Has ‘Big Brother’ Changed? Cory Wurtenberger Weighs in
GettyWurtenberger gave a simple explanation for the shift: social media. Players today are more aware of how they will be perceived once the show ends, he said.
“People are just afraid of getting backlash,” Wurtenberger added.
He also noted how quickly moments from the show circulate online.
“Everything is clipped and those clips are circulated,” he said.
GettyWurtenberger also referenced production; he believes it has affected the tone of the show—but for one major reason.
“In general, production just gave the houseguests way more alcohol,” he said about the “old school” era of “Big Brother.”
Earlier seasons frequently showed houseguests receiving beer and alcohol as competition rewards. On season 12, for example, Reilly’s Head of Household wins were rewarded with bottles of tequila in her room.
That environment, Wurtenberger surmised, played a role in how houseguests behaved.
“It caused the players to release their inhibitions and forget they’re wearing a microphone … and say [things] that they would never say on national television,” he said.
GettyExpectations have also changed, he added.
“Our standards for what is socially acceptable … is a lot higher now,” he said.
