The Head of Household (abbreviated HOH) is the position of supreme power and control in the Big Brother House.
Background
The Head of Household is the contestant that is in charge of the Big Brother House. Each week at least one contestant is chosen by a competition in order to determine the final nominations for the week depending on the country's format. Each contestant is eligible to win the Head of Household multiple times in one season, however, the twist is always finished when the finalists are determined for the season.
It was first established in 2001 in the United States to make the show's format more similar to CBS's other reality powerhouse at the time, Survivor. Just months later, it was introduced as the main structure in the Brazilian version when it was launched in January 2002. Over time, it was introduced to multiple franchises around the world. Some franchises have introduced a variant of the format has been called Head of House. While the overall concept is similar, the main difference is the the Head of Household is determined through a competition and has an effect on the gameplay elements to the show, while the Head of House's responsibilities mostly include determining house rules and chores.
Format by Country
United States & Canada
The Head of Household is determined by a competition each week during or after the live show. The Head of Household is free from the threat of eviction. They receive perks, such as getting their own private bedroom, but they are also faced with the decision of nominating two houseguests for eviction and putting up a replacement nominee when the Power of Veto is used. Usually, the previous Head of Household is not eligible to play in the subsequent Head of Household competition, and thus, cannot be Head of Household twice in a row (unless the houseguests are down to the final three).
A Head of Household Logo outside in the backyard (US version) that is often used in promotional material.
Head of Household Competition
Each week, all houseguests, except the outgoing Head of Household, compete in the HOH Competition. The final three is the only time that an outgoing Head of Household can win consecutive HOH competitions or if a certain twist happens. HOH competitions mainly fall into one of three major categories - listed below - though some competitions include elements of more than one category.
During Big Brother: Reindeer Games, the competition was called the Jingle Bell Brawl, however the power earned from the competition remained the same. The competition can be played individually, or in pairs or teams, and the power can be won in back-to-back weeks.
Quiz Competition
Big Brother 14 HouseGuests compete in a quiz HOH competition.
Quiz competitions are fairly short and are usually shown during the live show. Questions range from events in the house to comments from previously evicted houseguests. The houseguests line up, each getting their own booth, and are unable to see each other. The host communicates to the houseguests through the microphone system in the backyard and can see the houseguests through a television screen outside of the house in the studio. She communicates the question to the houseguests, who then answer when she says "Answers, please." Typically, houseguests answer by turning a dial to either "True" or "False", "Yes" or "No", or "Red" or "Blue", although some competitions have used paddles, cubes with houseguests' pictures on them, or some other way to show the answers. There are several ways to how quiz competitions can be played, but usually, they are either elimination-based or point-based. Elimination-based quiz competitions involve one incorrect answer resulting in elimination, with the last person standing becoming the Head of Household. Point-based quiz competitions involve each correct answer giving a houseguest one point, with the person having the most points at the end of questioning becoming the Head of Household. The elimination-based approach is typically used when the number of houseguests is still relatively large, otherwise, the point-based approach is applied. Regardless of the type of quiz, if, after all the possible questions have been exhausted and there is a tie, the competition continues into a tiebreaker round. The tiebreaker answer will always be a number, such as the number of seconds that the houseguests have lived in the house or the weight in pounds of an object used in a competition. The houseguests answer by writing a number on a chalkboard provided for them. The houseguest closest to the number without going over becomes the Head of Household. If all competitors go over, the houseguest closest to the number becomes the Head of Household. If all houseguests write down the same number, the question is nullified and another tiebreaker is asked.
Skill
Big Brother 11 (US) HouseGuests compete in a skill HOH competition.
Skill competitions, sometimes referred to as "crap shoots", usually involve bowling or shuffleboard-type games in which houseguests compete while trying to get their marker closest to a certain point without going past it (though sometimes, these competitions differ from that format). Skill competitions are usually completed live, but at times, they are not complete by the end of the live show. If so, viewers can watch the outcome on the live feeds or on the following episode.
Endurance
Big Brother 12 (SU) houseguests in an endurance competition.
Endurance competitions extend well past the time constraints of the one-hour live program. Instead, they can be viewed on the live feeds. Houseguests generally line up on small platforms or revolving cylinders, with the last person standing becoming the Head of Household. Some competitions require houseguests to keep hold of a button. If a houseguest lets go, a light goes out and they are eliminated. Other challenges involve holding on to something, if they let go, they fall and get eliminated from the challenge. Harsh weather conditions, such as rain, falling leaves, or foamy "snow" are frequently included to make the competitions as grueling as possible. Other times, prizes are awarded to tempt the houseguests into throwing the competition. If houseguests have a chance to return to the game, it is oftentimes done via the Head of Household Competition. The returning contestant that lasts the longest returns to the game, and has a chance to win Head of Household by outlasting the rest of the house.
Final Head of Household
Two Big Brother 26 (US) houseguests in the Final HOH Competition
The Final Head of Household competition occurs when there are only three remaining houseguests. It is broken up into three sections; each to be played on a different day. The first competition is always an endurance competition and usually requires the houseguests to hold onto their key to the house through some grueling weather condition. The winner of round one automatically advances to round three, while the two remaining houseguests compete in a skill competition. The winner of round two advances to round three, with the loser of both rounds one and two eliminated from the HOH competition The final round is a quiz (usually "Jury Statements"), and, since Big Brother 11 (US), has been played on finale night. The winner selects which of the two remaining houseguests they will take to the final two, with the other houseguest being immediately evicted and seated with the jury outside in the studio. Being the most important HOH competition of the game, all houseguests are eligible to compete, even the outgoing Head of Household.
The format for the final HOH competition in Big Brother 2 (US) was different from later seasons. The first two rounds were point based and the two houseguests with the most points would compete in the final round.
During Big Brother: Over The Top, the Final HOH took place during the final four, rather than the final three, as voting for the winner was between the final three instead of the final two, similar to Big Brother 1 (US). The same rules as usual applied, so the outgoing HOH was eligible to compete again. However, there was only one sole skill competition as opposed to three separate sections. The winner would automatically advance to the final three, and they would then choose someone else to join them, leaving the two remaining houseguests to participate in a Do or Die Competition for the third spot in the Final 3.
During Celebrity Big Brother 1 (US) and 2, the Final HOH took place during the final four, rather than the final three, as there would be five houseguests going into finale night. The same rules as usual applied, so the outgoing HOH was eligible to compete again. However, there was only one Jury Statements quiz as opposed to three separate sections. Following the first eviction of the night, the winner would automatically advance to the final two, and they would then choose someone else to join them, evicting the two remaining houseguests in a Triple Eviction, sending them as the final members of the Jury.
Responsibilities of Head of Household
The Head of Household hosted the Food Competition (later the Have/Have-Not Competition) by explaining the rules to the other houseguests. They also call house meetings and announce when competitions are being played. Most importantly, the Head of Household selects two houseguests to nominate for eviction. In the event of a tie in votes for eviction at the end of the week, the Head of Household casts the deciding vote publicly.
The Head of Household prepares the Nomination Box.
The procedure of nominations includes the Head of Household retrieving the house keys from the Memory Wall and placing them into the Nomination Box in the Head of Household room. The Head of Household places the keys of all safe houseguests into the box, while the two remaining keys are wrapped in a bag and left in the Head of Household room. The two houseguests without a key are nominated for eviction. Starting with Big Brother 16 (US), the nomination procedure is the opposite, with the keys of the houseguests who are nominated being placed in a smaller box. The faces of the people who are nominated are then shown on the Memory Wall.
On rare occasion, two houseguests may share the responsibility of Head of Household via either a competition or an additional twist during the week. This may be part of a bigger seasonal twist where more than two houseguests are nominated, or where one HOH could be dethroned before the end of the week. If an HOH is dethroned, they are eligible to compete for head of household the following week. In other instances, the two HOH's each nominate one houseguest for eviction, sharing the responsibility equally. The two HOH's must agree on nominations. At the end of the week, both houseguests will not be eligible to compete as they are outgoing HOH's.
It is also possible for a single head of household's nominations to be overthrown via a twist, in this case dethroning the HOH. In these cases, the outgoing HOH is eligible to compete due to the twist's effect on that HOH's reign. If a houseguest is expelled or walks and is one of the HOH's nominees, the outgoing HOH will not be eligible to compete. Depending on when the houseguest exited the game, the HOH may have to nominate a new houseguest during their reign.
Perks of Head of Household
The Head of Household suite as seen in Big Brother 12 (US).
The Head of Household receives their own private bedroom, equipped with a private bathroom and bathtub, a luxurious suite, and from Big Brother 5 (US) onwards, a "Spy Screen" allowing the Head of Household to watch (but not hear) the other houseguests from the suite. The Head of Household also receives a gift basket with their favorite foods, a CD, and a letter from home. The Head of Household does not need to compete in the Have/Have Not Competition because they are guaranteed food for the week, but they are guaranteed to compete in the Power of Veto competition.
If there is more than one head of household, both share the perks unless one Head of Household is dethroned. However, the houseguest who was crowned Head of Household at the initial competition for the week usually receives the perks, or was the overall winner regardless.
Brazil
After each eviction (except the first week), housemates compete to become the "Head of Household", by winning a weekly physical endurance challenge, based on a specific skill, a general knowledge quiz or, even sometimes through a luck event.
The Líder receives perks such as their own private bedroom, photos or gifts from home, and maid service. The Líder is awarded immunity from the week's nomination (except in season 15 and 16 where instead the Líder won a cash prize) and also has the power to directly nominates one housemate for eviction, in addition, the Líder is the tiebreaker for the house's nomination vote. Although one housemate normally retains the Leader rewards and responsibilities for the week, exceptions have occurred.
Nigeria & South Africa
Australia
List of Head of Household Competitions
For a complete list of HOH competitions, check it out here.
Records
Note: Dethroned Head of Household wins are not included
Trivia
Wins
- The first ever Head of Household winner in Big Brother history was Mike Malin.
- Martín Ku of Gran Hermano Argentina 11 set the record for the most HOH reigns in a season with 9. Demetres Giannistsos of Big Brother Canada 5 & Dane Rupert of Big Brother Canada 7 are tied for the record for the most HOH reigns in a North American season with 5.
- Frankie Grande of Big Brother 16 is considered to co-hold the record for the most HOH wins at 5 wins. However, because of the Battle of the Block twist, where one Head of Household may be dethroned if their nominees won the BOTB competition, Frankie was dethroned twice in Weeks 1 and 4. Officially, Frankie has 3 total Head of Household reigns. It was stated on Buddy.tv that dethroned Head of Household reigns do not count at all.
- There are fifteen HouseGuests who tie for the second-most Head of Household reigns in a season with 4 wins each. Out of the fifteen, ten of them went on to win their respective seasons. The players are:
- Drew Daniel - Winner, Big Brother 5 (US)
- Janelle Pierzina - 3rd Place, Big Brother 7 (US)
- Hayden Moss - Winner, Big Brother 12 (US)
- Rachel Reilly - Winner, Big Brother 13 (US)
- Ian Terry - Winner, Big Brother 14 (US)
- Jillian MacLaughlin - Winner, Big Brother Canada 1
- Aaryn Gries - 8th Place, Big Brother 15 (US)
- Caleb Reynolds - 4th Place, Big Brother 16 (US)
- Vanessa Rousso - 3rd Place, Big Brother 17 (US)
- Steve Moses - Winner, Big Brother 17 (US)
- Jackson Michie - Winner, Big Brother 21 (US)
- Cody Calafiore - Winner, Big Brother 22 (US)
- Miesha Tate - Winner, Celebrity Big Brother 3 (US)
- Chelsie Baham - Winner, Big Brother 26 (US)
- Vince Panaro - Runner-Up, Big Brother 27 (US)
- Big Brother 17 (US) is the first season to have two houseguests win 4 HOH competitions: Vanessa Rousso and Steve Moses.
- Of all the houseguests who won 4 HOH competitions and their seasons, Jillian MacLaughlin and Chelsie Baham are the only two who did not win the final HOH competition.
- In the US version, no HouseGuest who won the Week 5 HOH has gone on to win the game.
- Chelsie was the first American to win the Week 2 HOH and win the game.
- Paul was the first HouseGuest to win the Week 2 HOH and make it to the final two (in Big Brother 19).
- In the Big Brother Canada series, Jillian MacLaughlin and Dane Rupert are the only HouseGuests to win the Week 2 HOH and go on to win the game (in Big Brother Canada 1 and Big Brother Canada 7 respectively).
- Daniele Donato, Paul Abrahamian, and Holly Allen are the only HouseGuests to win the Week 5 HOH and make it to the final two (in Big Brother 8 (US), Big Brother 19 (US) and Big Brother 21 (US), respectively).
- Chelsie was the first American to win the Week 2 HOH and win the game.
- Jag Bains was the first American HOH who won POV and used it on one of their own nominations to win the game.
- Jon Pardy and Kevin Martin are the only HouseGuests to use a veto on a nominee and go on to win the game in the Big Brother Canada series.
- Big Brother 2 (US), Big Brother 5 (US), Big Brother 12 (US) and Big Brother 14 (US) are all tied for fewest unique Heads of Household, with only 6 different players holding the HOH title in each season.
- Excluding Big Brother Canada 8, five different seasons (5, 7, 10, 11 & 12) hold the record for the fewest unique Heads of Household in a Canadian season, with only 7 different players holding the HOH title in each season.
- Big Brother 6 (US), Big Brother 9 (US), Big Brother 16 (US), Big Brother 20 (US), Big Brother 23 (US), and Big Brother 27 (US) and are all tied for most unique Heads of Household with 10 different houseguests holding the Head of Household title in each season.
- Big Brother 9 and Big Brother 16 both had twists that resulted in there being more than one Head of Household each week, while Big Brother 23 and Big Brother 27 had twists that allowed a houseguest to earn their only Head of Household in a week where someone else had won the competition; thus, Big Brother 6 and Big Brother 20 are the only seasons to achieve this record with there being only one HOH each week. Big Brother 6 accomplished this with a smaller cast of fourteen people, compared to 20's sixteen.
- Big Brother Canada 2, Big Brother Canada 3, and Big Brother Canada 4 hold the record for the most unique Heads of Household in a Canadian season, with 9 different players holding the title in each season.
- Lisa Donahue is the first houseguest to win the first Head of Household competition and ultimately win the season. She would be followed by Hayden Moss, Rachel Reilly, Nicole Franzel, Cody Calafiore and Miesha Tate.
- With the exception of Nicole, all of them are also the only houseguests to win the first and Final HoH in the same season.
- Jase Wirey and Frankie Grande are the only houseguests to win the first Head of Household competition twice.
- Cody Calafiore is the only houseguest to win the Final Head of Household competition twice. He is also the only person to ever win all three parts (He won Parts 1 and 3 on Big Brother 16 and Parts 2 and 3 on Big Brother 22).
- Dan Gheesling, Paul Abrahamian, and Nicole Franzel are the only other houseguest to win at least one part of the Final HOH across two seasons.
- Dan and Paul won Parts 1 and 3 on their first seasons (Big Brother 10 and 18), and won Part 1 on their second (Big Brother 14 and 19).
- Nicole won Part 2 on Big Brother 18 and Part 1 on Big Brother 22.
- Dan Gheesling, Paul Abrahamian, and Nicole Franzel are the only other houseguest to win at least one part of the Final HOH across two seasons.
Competitions
- The shortest endurance Head of Household competition was "Mount HOH", the first part of the final HOH competition in Big Brother 7 (US). It lasted 25 seconds, after Mike Malin intentionally dropped out 22 seconds in and Janelle Pierzina accidentally let go of her key three seconds later.
- The shortest endurance Head of Household competition in North American and Canadian Big Brother was "Take It or Lever", the final five HOH competition in Big Brother Canada 11. Three of the four competing houseguests had dropped after 17 seconds.
- The shortest quiz competition was "What the Bleep!?" in Big Brother 16, in which Derrick Levasseur won in just 1 question.
- The longest endurance competition was "Pressure Cooker" in Big Brother 6, which lasted for more than 14 hours.
- The longest quiz competition was "Getting Loopy" in Big Brother 16, which lasted over 12 questions and ran through the live show.
Other
- Will Kirby is the only American winner in the show's history never to become Head of Household (not including Eddie McGee, who played in Big Brother 1 (US), which did not feature a Head of Household).
- Kevin Jacobs is the only English-Canadian winner in the show's history never to become Head of Household, while Danick Martineau is the only French-Canadian winner never to become Head of Household.
- The three of them, Michael Ellis, Memphis Garrett, Anthony Douglas on Big Brother Canada 7, Derek Frazier, and Gabrielle Marion are the only finalists to make it to the finale without winning an HOH competition.
- Coincidentally, both Will and Kevin won part 1 of the final HOH but lost part 3.
- The shortest Head of Household reign, not including Fast Forward Evictions or Double Evictions, was Michele Noonan's reign in Big Brother 11 (US), which lasted for 2 days.
- Big Brother 3 (US) is the first season to have Jury Statements as the third part of the final HOH competition. Since then, most of the seasons have had this for the third part of the final HOH competition. The only season that did not have it as part three was Big Brother 4.
- Michele Noonan, Shane Meaney, Frankie Grande, Sheldon Jean, Daniel Durston, and Charles Hamelin are the only houseguests to complete a reign as HOH but not have anyone evicted.
- Michele's HOH reign ended when one of her nominees was ejected from the game.
- Shane, Frankie, and Charles' HOH reigns both featured twists that involved resets that cancelled the eviction.
- Sheldon's HOH reign was reset when two houseguests were ejected from game.
- While no one was evicted during Daniel's reign, one houseguest choose to walk. Since she was eligible to be evicted because of a twist, both the twist and eviction were cancelled.
- Chima Simone, Shane Meaney, Frankie Grande, Sheldon Jean, Memphis Garrett (in BB22), Charles Hamelin, Cameron Hardin, Cory Wurtenberger, Jag Bains, and Quinn Martin are the only outgoing HOHs to be eligible to compete in the following HOH competition without being dethroned as HOH or making it to the final HOH competition of the season.
- Will Kirby, Monica Bailey, Danielle Reyes, Robert Roman, Michael Ellis, Memphis Garrett, Natalie Martinez, Enzo Palumbo, Adam Poch, Victoria Rafaeli, Sabrina Abbate, Godfrey Mangwiza, Morgan Willett, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Paras Atashnak, JC Mounduix, Dina Lohan, Ricky Williams, Anthony Douglas, Derek Frazier, Cynthia Bailey, Kevin Jacobs, Daniel Clarke, Bayleigh Pelham, Lexus Jackson, Cam Sullivan-Brown, Mona de Grenoble, Danick Martineau, Dave Morgan, Gabrielle Marion, Coco Belliveau, and Liliane Blanco-Binette are the only houseguests to compete in every HOH competition within a single season.
- The week 10 HOH competition on Big Brother 19 (US) was the first HOH competition to be delayed due to rain.
- Janelle Pierzina, Dan Gheesling, Paul Abrahamian, Cody Calafiore, Enzo Palumbo, Nicole Franzel, and Anthony Douglas are the only houseguests to participate in the final HOH competition twice.
- Janelle and Anthony are the only people to win a part on one season and win no parts on the other.
- Enzo is the only person to never win any part of the competition either time.
- Frankie Grande, Sheldon Jean, Tiffany Mitchell, Jag Bains, and Charles Hamelin are the only houseguests to win two consecutive Head of Household competitions (not including the Final HOH).
- Frankie was dethroned during his Week 4 HOH reign via Battle of the Block, which made him eligible to compete and win Week 5.
- The eviction during Sheldon's week 3 HOH reign was cancelled to the two ejections, so he was eligible to compete again the following week.
- Tiffany was dethroned as HOH via the Coin of Destiny, making her eligible to win HOH again the following week.
- Jag won the BB Power of Invisibility, making him the Invisible HOH and allowing him to compete in the following week's HOH competition.
- Charles' HOH reign was reset due to the rewind button being pressed.
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