BB22 All-Stars Season Premiere Blog Party

With the pandemic crippling much of the television and film industries, things looked a bit dismal for Big Brother fans and our favorite summer voyeuristic pastime. But here we are, ready to not only start a new season of hamster-watching, but the second "all stars" version in 20 years. The argument might be made that some of the cast are just returning players, not "all stars" per se. So what ... we have a season ahead of us when things had been looking doubtful. 

The cast reveal and move-in will be live during tonight's two-hour show. Although some of the cast have been confirmed and others seem all but confirmed, I will post them as the show airs here on the East Coast. A separate post with our blog pool picks will be posted before the next episode airs on Sunday. I will update this blog post throughout the show with the major events. Please refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area -- feel free to join in on the fun!

When commenting, please be respectful of others. If you don't care for a hamster, that's fine and dandy. But don't attack the fans of said hamster! No hate speech either! Please keep your comments at a PG-13 language level even if the hamsters may tend to potty-mouth. I have this blog set with Google as family friendly and want to keep it that way! Also, please do not come up with whacko nicknames for the hamsters -- we need to know about whom you're talking! If you see someone coming in and trolling, rest assured their comments will be deleted. I know people try to help control the trolls and I appreciate it. However, then I have to remove the comments made to the troll as they no longer make sense. I try to check in on comments during all the commercial breaks.

::: deep breath ::: Okay, let's get this show AWN!

16 will be returning. The FOH is really blue. Same announcer, same Julie.

The show is completely live (as it actually was in BBOTT) with the cast entering the house on camera. Who will be moving back? Nicole Franzel is introduced first. We get a bit of what she's been doing and what she's done in the game. Next we get Dani Donato-Briones and she also catches us up with her life. Da'vonne's intro is next up. And then (sigh) Christmas Abbott has her intro clip. She doesn't mention her domestic violence arrests.

The four are standing on the stage socially distanced from Julie. Julie talks of the testing, etc. due to the virus. They have masks on and Julie is 12 feet away. Julie chats with each one before they go into the BB "bubble." The second they enter the house they're in competition. Race into house where a question is in the backyard, race back in and enter answers, only the first two will get a chance to play the HoH comp. They are allotted four minutes.

They found the backyard and have to do a table/ball thing to get the question. Christmas runs back in first. Only she will be able to compete in the HoH comp. All four will be hidden away in the house for the arrival of the next four hamsters.

Onto the next four. Tyler comes up first with his intro clip. Then it's IAN! (I adore him) Kevin Campbell from BB11 is next up. Enzo, the Meow Meow from Bayonne NJ is up next. He takes credit for starting the Brigade alliance. Julie chats with them a bit. They were told of the rules for the comp ahead of time and it's a more abbreviated segment than with the first four. Ian finishes first. Then Kevin finishes. They will both compete in the HOH comp.

Julie teases us that a new twist could keep two people safe on eviction night.

The next group of four women. Janelle is up with her clip first. Then we get Bayleigh's intro. Nicole Anthony is introduced in clips next despite someone posting all kinds of stuff on Twitter to show she isn't in the house. Keesha Smith is next with the intro clips. As with the two previous groups, they chat on stage with Julie before heading into the house with the comp. Nicole gets it first. 

So far competing in the HOH comp will be Christmas, Ian, Kevin and Nicole A. We have the last group of four men to go. 

The last group -- Kaysar is up first with his clip! Next Cody Califiore (sp?) from BB16, the one who gave his game to Derrick. Memphis from BB10 next. Last we get David Alexander from BB21 -- the first out that season and never really got the chance to play. Then the chat time before they go in. Memphis, then Cody finish.

All hamsters are brought together in the living room four by four. I noticed that Bayleigh did hug Tyler. Janelle and Kaysar were thrilled. 

All must head to the backyard.

HOH Comp time. BB City. Six compete. Star Stepping. Race across star-studded field to lock in their time. Stars are solid and not solid. Fall, must go back. Three minutes and then you're eliminated. If eliminated, pick up an envelope -- some are good, some not so good. One at a time. The stars are on raised platforms, some with springs which make them fall. Memphis goes first. 1 minute 12 seconds. Cody next. 22.06 seconds. Memphis takes an envelope. Christmas up next. Doesn't beat Cody's time. Envelope.

After commercial, we're back. Kevin is up. Fell right when he couldn't beat Cody's time. Envelope. Nicole next -- timed out, envelope. Ian next -- timed out, envelope.

CODY is the first HOH.

Julie talks to Cody in the DR. He's most surprised to see Kaysar. We find out they will still have Have Nots.

The envelopes have a cash prize or punishment. Ian - Have Not. Christmas - 5000 cash. Memphis, Kevin, Ian and Nicole are Have Nots.  

They have to go through a hall and then crawl into the room. Oops! It's locked, first technical issue of the show.

Sunday will be nominations. The Safety Suite is the new twist -- inside it is something they all will want. 

Twist -- New rooms will be revealed each week. Each gets a VIP pass (first) to the Safety Suite. She leaves them (and us) with that info. Wait, she does let us know that two might be safe from the Safety Suite.

The live feeds start tonight after the West Coast airing of the premiere. I will have a report up in the morning as that means 2:00am here.