Big Brother Season 28 Winner Announced

Rick Devens' impressive run on Big Brother has catapulted him into reality television icon status after winning season 28 on Thursday night. This achievement is even more remarkable given that he became the first Survivor player to win Big Brother.

As part of a larger twist in season 28, three former reality TV players joined a pool of new contestants: Devens' fellow Survivor 50 opponent and season 45 winner Dee Valladares, and Big Brother season 26 alum Angela Murray. This wasn't the first time Devens had competed on reality TV, having appeared on seasons 38 and 50 of Survivor.

The show labeled them icons after they entered the Big Brother house, and the name stuck. Their strong three-person alliance, which dominated through strategic gameplay, ensured that at least one of them would have a real shot at winning the game.

In the end, Devens emerged victorious in a vote of six to one from the jury, beating out runner-up Taylor Brown. The audience also took to Devens, awarding him the title of America's Favorite Houseguest through fan voting.

He earned substantial winnings from his win: $750,000 for winning Big Brother, plus an additional $50,000 as America's Favorite Houseguest and a further $10,000 from a competition during filming.

In an interview, Devens discussed his time on the show. He was asked about his decision to evict Drew in the final HOH, and whether he thought Taylor would have had enough time to flip Lala's vote.

Devens expressed concerns that it wouldn't take much for Taylor to persuade Lala to change her vote. He believed that if Taylor simply told Lala they were voting for Drew, she would likely agree without needing further explanation.

This concern led Devens to make the decision he did in the final HOH.

The jury's deliberations after the final episode have provided some clarity on how they would have voted if Drew was in the final two alongside Rick Devens.

It appears that neither Drew nor Taylor were planning to take Rick to the final two, which has given him a sense of reassurance about his position in the game.

Rick is surprised by this revelation and wonders if the jury's votes would have been more evenly split than he initially thought. He recalls that Melody Morris and Barrett Pfeiffer's games were closely tied with his own, making it possible for them to have voted for Drew instead of him.

The dynamics between Rick and Drew were complex, with their moves often mirroring each other in the game. They had won a similar number of competitions and had a strong alliance that ultimately led to both of them being in the final three.

In retrospect, Rick believes that Melody would have likely voted for Drew if given the chance, and Barrett's vote would have been the deciding factor in their win. This close call makes Rick reflect on his own game and the difficult decision he had to make at the end.

Looking back at the final three stage of the game, Rick thinks that he would not have taken Dee Nelson with him to the next round if given the opportunity. He believes that they knew each other too well from their time on Survivor, making it unlikely for them to form a strong alliance in Big Brother.

Rick credits his experience on Survivor with helping him navigate the gameplay on Big Brother. On Survivor, the pace of the game was much faster, and players often had to make quick decisions under pressure.

In contrast, Rick found that Big Brother allowed for more time to think through moves and plan ahead. He and Dee would often try to flip the narrative or make last-minute changes, which sometimes led to their downfall.

This approachable attitude and willingness to adapt are key elements of Rick's gameplay on both Survivor and Big Brother, allowing him to stay competitive in different environments.

The key to success in games like Big Brother lies in not being afraid of failure or making mistakes. Players who are willing to take risks and adapt their strategies can stay competitive even when things don't go as planned.

One approach Rick uses is persistence - he's willing to make the same pitch multiple times, even if it doesn't work out at first. By doing so, he builds momentum and eventually convinces his fellow houseguests to join him.

This approachable attitude and willingness to adapt are key elements of Rick's gameplay on both Survivor and Big Brother, allowing him to stay competitive in different environments.

On this season of Big Brother, Rick noticed that some players were hesitant to make big moves or take risks. They would often back down after being rejected initially, which gave Rick an opportunity to try again.

The fact that the houseguests didn't opt to get rid of the icons at the beginning of the game was a strategic mistake, according to Rick.

He believes that the players who were working with him and his allies realized their value as shields, protecting them from being targeted. Others may have been hesitant to make big moves, fearing it would put a target on themselves.

Rick is frustrated by the fact that some houseguests are blaming their advantages for not being able to get rid of him and his allies. He points out that they outnumbered them 14 to three and had multiple weeks to take action.

The advantages Rick's team had were likely seen as a significant advantage, particularly in terms of knowledge of gameplay and having targets on their back from the start.

The team's dynamics were already established as an alliance of three, which made them vulnerable to being targeted by a larger group. A simple four-person coalition could have easily taken out one of their own members, highlighting the fragility of their initial bond.

Their position was not helped by the fact that they had targets on their backs from the start, making it easier for others to form alliances against them. Rick's team may have had some advantages in terms of gameplay knowledge and strategy, but these were likely offset by the perceived threat they posed to others.

Rick believes that if Rachel Reilly had been part of the group instead of Dee, their dynamics would have been different. He thinks Angela and Rachel would not have worked together, and even he is uncertain about his own relationship with Rachel.

The BB Time Capsule presented an opportunity for Rick's team to gain an advantage, but it was still a 50/50 chance that they would receive something beneficial. Many viewers believed the outcome to be random, but Rick claims he saw a pattern in the button and managed to get a power.

Three new players entered the time capsule, with two of them returning with punishments. This suggests that the outcome may not have been solely due to the team's privileged position. In fact, they might have been at a disadvantage compared to others who were also competing for advantages.

Rick thinks it would be fair if half the house consisted of new players and half returnees from other shows. He believes this would give everyone an equal chance and make the game more interesting.

The opportunity to join Big Brother likely arose out of Rick's performance on Survivor 50, but he is unsure about the details and doesn't think he is allowed to discuss it further. If he hadn't made a splash on that show, he might never have been approached for Big Brother.

When asked if he was immediately game for doing Big Brother, Rick revealed that he was initially hesitant due to its long duration. He had always said that Big Brother was the one show he wouldn't do, but his wife Becca changed his mind.

Rick credits his wife with convincing him to join the show, saying she told him he would never get another opportunity like this again. Her encouragement ultimately led him to enter the house and emerge victorious in the end.

The isolation of the Big Brother house had its effects on contestants' lives outside, and for Rick Devens, it meant missing out on a cameo in James Gunn's Superman 2. He had previously canceled his appearance due to his participation in the reality show.

Although he hasn't spoken with James Gunn since winning Big Brother, Devens is eager to reconnect and make up for lost time. In fact, he even acknowledged the director's kindness towards his family when they visited the set of Superman 2 in Macon, Georgia.

Devens' appreciation for James Gunn extends beyond their professional connection; he considers himself a huge fan of the director. This admiration has grown stronger after witnessing how Gunn treated his family during their visit to the set. Devens is now looking forward to meeting Gunn and discussing both Big Brother and Superman.

When asked about potential crossover contestants from Survivor, Devens suggested two players from season 50: Rizo Velovic and Tiffany Nicole Ervin. He believes they would excel in the Big Brother house due to their unique skills and personalities.

These two Survivor alumni possess qualities that would make them stand out in a Big Brother setting. According to Devens, they have what it takes to win over their fellow contestants and navigate the challenges of the show.

On the topic of which Big Brother player should transition to Survivor, Devens thinks Kamu Kirk has the potential to thrive in the wilderness environment. He praises Kirk's physical abilities and social game, suggesting that these traits would serve him well in the harsh conditions of Survivor.

Devens believes that Kamu Kirk is the most suitable candidate from this season of Big Brother to participate in Survivor due to his strengths in both physical challenges and social interactions.

Given the duration of Big Brother seasons, Devens thinks it might be challenging for him to return to the show until his children are older. He values spending time with them during their formative years and doesn't want to sacrifice another summer to participate in the reality show.

In contrast, Survivor's shorter season length makes it a more feasible option for Devens if he were to choose between the two shows.

Considering the differences between Big Brother and Survivor, Devens thinks he would be more prepared to return to Survivor due to its shorter duration. This allows him to balance his personal life with his participation in the reality show.

The idea of a Big Brother all-winners season is an intriguing one, but it would be a difficult decision for Rick Devens to make, especially considering his family's sacrifices.

Devens' children made a significant adjustment by allowing their father to leave for the reality show, and he in turn had to abandon them. He acknowledges that his wife might not be as supportive this time around if asked to participate in another season of Big Brother.

When Devens reunited with his family after winning Survivor, they were overjoyed and proud of him. However, their initial reaction was also tinged with sadness and concern for their older son Drew, who was left behind.

The children's emotional response was rooted in their love and loyalty to their big brother Drew, whom they had been worried about while Devens was away competing on the reality show. This family dynamic adds a new layer of complexity to Devens' decision-making process when it comes to participating in future seasons of Big Brother.

As life returned to normal for the Devens family, they quickly slipped back into their routines, discussing everyday topics like YouTube videos and video games, allowing Rick to gradually readjust to his personal life.