Big Brother 5 (U.S.)

Big Brother 5 (U.S.)

Big Brother 5 is the fifth edition of the American reality television series Big Brother, which aired in the Summer of 2004. The season featured a total of 31 episodes airing between July and September. The series premiered on July 6 and ended on September 21, with Drew Daniel being crowned the champion in a four to three jury vote. The format of the program remained largely unchanged from previous seasons: a group of contestants, referred to as HouseGuests, are enclosed in the Big Brother House under the surveillance of cameras and microphones. Each week the HouseGuests will vote to evict one of their own until two HouseGuests remain on finale night. Julie Chen returned as the host. This season also introduced the House Calls: The Big Brother Talk Show web series, hosted by Gretchen Massey and former Big Brother 3 HouseGuest Marcellas Reynolds.

The fifth season featured a total of 14 HouseGuests, though only 13 entered on the first night due to the twin twist. The season lasted for a total of 82 days, making it the fourth consecutive season to last this long. Big Brother 5 featured the Project DNA twist, in which two HouseGuests were related by blood, and had no idea before entering the house. Michael and Nakomis shared the same father, and found out about the twist in the first week, after Nakomis revealed her last name to Michael. This season also introduced the twin twist, in which a set of twins switched places in the house and were later offered the chance to play as separate individuals. The twins, Adria and Natalie, succeeded this mission and Natalie entered the house on Day 35. The twist would go on to be used in international editions of the series as well.

HouseGuest Holly King went on to appear in Big Brother 6 the following year to host a Power of Veto competition with a Vegas theme. Diane Henry, Jase Wirey, and Jennifer "Nakomis" Dedmon all returned to compete in Big Brother: All-Stars in 2006, coming in 11th, 12th, and 13th place, respectively. Holly also made a brief appearance that season, stealing a duck from the house for a Head of Household competition. HouseGuest Michael "Cowboy" Ellis was a candidate to return for Big Brother: All Stars, but ultimately was not chosen to return. Marvin Latimer made an appearance in Big Brother: All Stars as the host of a food competition, and Scott Long returned that season as well to participate in a Power of Veto competition. Jase also made an appearance in Big Brother 10 as the representative for Big Brother 5 in a food competition celebrating ten seasons. Michael "Cowboy" Ellis was also a candidate to return for Big Brother 11 in 2009, and would enter the game if his "clique" won the first Head of Household competition. His clique failed to win, however, and he did not return.