Big Brother 2 aired in the summer of 2001 and was won by Will over Nicole. It is the season that rebuilt the show — introducing the Head of Household competition, handing the vote to the houseguests instead of the public, and producing the first alliance in Big Brother history.
Big Brother 2 quick facts
- Aired: July 5 – September 20, 2001. Thirty episodes.
- Winner: Will
- Runner-up: Nicole
- Houseguests: 12, up from 10 in Big Brother 1.
- Twist: each of the final two could void one houseguest’s vote.
- No Power of Veto: the veto did not exist yet. It arrived in Big Brother 3.
- House: a new build with no theme, on CBS Studio Center Stage 18 — the permanent home of the show from this season onward.
- Notable for: the first HOH format, the first alliance, and the only expulsion in the show’s history for threatening another houseguest with a knife.
Who won Big Brother 2?
Will won Big Brother 2, beating Nicole in the final vote. He is the first Big Brother winner chosen by the evicted houseguests rather than the public — a change that defined every season that followed.
What changed from Big Brother 1?
Almost everything. Big Brother 1 had been a public-vote format that most of the audience found inert. Season 2 rebuilt the game from the ground up, and the changes it made are still the shape of the show twenty-five years later.
- Head of Household. Instead of the public nominating, houseguests competed for HOH and the winner nominated two people. This single change created strategy, alliances and the entire language of the game.
- The houseguests voted. The winner was chosen by evicted players, not the audience. Seasons 2 and 3 were the only ones where every evicted houseguest voted; from Season 4 onward only the later evictees formed a jury.
- Food competitions. The first season with a food comp. Losers ate peanut butter and jelly for the week — the punishment that lasted until Season 7, when it was replaced by slop.
- The void. A one-season twist letting each finalist cancel one vote, in the hope of removing a vote for their opponent.
- Paid live feeds. The last season of free internet feeds. CBS introduced a subscription from this point on.
- The courtyard exit. Evicted houseguests walked into a courtyard connected to the interview studio — and this was the only season where they met friends and family on the way out.
What was the twist in Big Brother 2?
Each of the final two houseguests could void one vote. With the whole evicted cast voting, a finalist who believed a particular juror was locked against them could cancel that vote outright before the reveal.
It was never used again.
What were the alliances?
Chilltown. Formed by Boogie and Will, and later joined by Shannon — the first named alliance in Big Brother history. Chilltown became one of the show’s enduring brands, revived when both men returned for All-Stars.
What happened during Big Brother 2?
Justin was expelled for holding a knife to another houseguest’s throat. Under the influence of alcohol, Justin held a knife to Krista and asked whether she would be angry if he killed her. Producers removed him from the house immediately. It remains the most serious in-house incident in the show’s history — see the Big Brother controversies and scandals page for the full account.
September 11 reached inside the house. Roughly two weeks before the finale, the terrorist attacks pre-empted a week of television. Production set aside the rule against outside news and told the three remaining houseguests what had happened. Executive producer Allison Grodner informed Monica in the diary room that her cousin Tamitha was missing at the World Trade Center. On the finale, Tamitha was confirmed to have died in the attacks.
Shannon’s temper became the season’s other story. She was reprimanded by producers for cleaning a toilet with Hardy’s toothbrush after a fight, and put a bag of potato chips on Autumn’s bed to suggest she was overweight, leaving Autumn in tears.
Survivor came to visit. Gervase and Sue from Borneo and Alicia and Jeff from the Australian Outback appeared on the September 5 episode — an early piece of CBS cross-promotion between its two reality flagships.
A proposal on the finale. Also announced that night: former houseguest Sheryl had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was facing chemotherapy. And Boogie proposed to Krista, who he had been in a showmance with during the season. The relationship did not last.
Where to watch Big Brother 2
All thirty episodes are on YouTube. See our Big Brother videos and complete seasons page.