Big Brother Returns with Mysterious Hotel Theme

Big Brother makes its return to CBS Thursday night with the largest season in the show's 26-year history, bringing extended episodes and new twists to viewers. The 90-minute Season 27 premiere airs Thursday, July 10 at 8 p.m. on CBS, hosted by Julie Chen Moonves. This marks the first time in Big Brother history that the show will have weekly 90-minute episodes, with Wednesday episodes extended from the standard hour format. Entertainment The season features a "Summer of Mystery" theme, with houseguests entering "Hotel Mystère," complete with secrets, hidden passageways and a mysterious atmosphere. The premiere will include "a masked visitor, a secret accomplice and the shocking arrival of a 'Mystery Houseguest' whose identity will remain under wraps". Sixteen new houseguests will compete for the $750,000 grand prize, including a Dungeon Master, professional bull rider, AI consultant and aura painter. A 17th Mystery Player will also move in during Thursday's season premiere. The redesigned house features unique rooms including an attic bedroom with beds made from wooden crates, a sleeper car bunk room behind a secret entrance, and a reception area with 75 key boxes containing skeleton keys and clues for future game twists. Big Brother: Unlocked, a new companion show featuring three former houseguests, premieres Friday, July 25. The show will air bi-weekly throughout the season with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. Following the premiere, new episodes air Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. eastern time, with Wednesday episodes running 90 minutes. The season is expected to conclude in late September or early October.