'Big Brother' Makes Primetime History with 1,000th Episode

'Big Brother' Makes Primetime History with 1,000th Episode

For 26 years, Big Brother has built its legacy around one enduring promise: expect the unexpected. On Thursday, August 27, the reality competition will make television history when it celebrates its 1,000th primetime episode, live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, becoming the first primetime television series to reach the milestone.

Rather than simply looking back, the 90-minute event will put fans at the center of the celebration. Interactive votes will help determine which former Houseguests make surprise appearances, while the episode will revisit memorable moments from across the show's run. And because no Big Brother milestone would be complete without a twist, the night will also kick off the biggest surprise of the summer alongside a BB Block Buster and live eviction.

The BB Block Buster

"We are thrilled and honored to be celebrating this unprecedented milestone," said executive producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan. "It would not have been possible without all of the hardworking and talented people behind the scenes who make up our Big Brother family. This achievement belongs to them, the hundreds of brave houseguests who have walked through the front door, our iconic host, Julie Chen Moonves, and of course, our passionate fans."

Big Brother host, Julie Chen Moonves

Julie Chen Moonves has been with the show since the beginning, and the longtime host remembers when reaching 1,000 episodes seemed unfathomable.

"Never did I ever expect the unexpected," said host Julie Chen Moonves. "When we launched season one, there were rumors we could get canceled midseason because we didn't have the same ratings as Survivor. And now look at us, Ma! Two former Survivor players are currently on our show, including a former winner, Dee. Although the past 28 seasons feel like the blink of an eye, it doesn't look that way when you see all the fashion trends and hairstyles I've worn through the decades. That's the dead giveaway for how long we've been around! I am humbled and grateful for this momentous occasion. May God allow Big Brother to continue for at least another 1,000 original episodes, with more Zings, new Houseguests, and countless HOH competitions still to come!"

The celebration arrives during a season where audiences continue to show up for Big Brother. Premiere-week Live+3 viewership increased 14% compared with last summer, and the series is up +10% in Live+7 days of multiplatform viewership from last season.

Season 28, episode 11 of Big Brother

Big Brother airs Wednesdays (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), Thursdays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) and Sundays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS and streams on Paramount+.