Big Brother Season 26 cast revealed including celebrity chef Lisa Weintraub as new twist leaves fans divided

BIG Brother has revealed its cast and a new surprising twist involving artificial intelligence for its upcoming season, dividing fans.

Season 26 of the iconic CBS reality competition premieres on Wednesday, July 17, and Thursday, July 18.

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CBS

A new Big Brother twist will hit the screens when season 26 premieres.

CBS has announced 16 of the 17 new houseguests set to move in so far, including a celebrity chef, a former undercover cop, and a crochet business owner.

However, it was also revealed that the cast would have the power to vote in a 17th houseguest for the first time.

Additionally, “this new group of Houseguests will experience an unforgettable summer with jaw-dropping surprises as ‘BB AI’ takes over the ‘Big Brother’ house,” the ABC press release teases.

In other words, the cast will compete in an AI -themed season under the eye of the Chenbot device.

Following the two-night premiere, Big Brother will air Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9 pm Eastern on CBS.

The last of each weekly installment features the live eviction show.

Julie Chen Moonves will return as host, and the grand prize is set at $750,000.

‘PREDICTABLE’

Big Brother dropped its first glimpse of the cast on Instagram on Monday alongside the official announcement.

Different cast members dumped various candies of choice into a giant bowl.

Cam Sullivan-Brown said he was “bringing all the good vibes,” while fellow cast member Brooklyn said she was bringing “sass, class, and a little bada**.”

The promo video received a mixed reception from fans, many of whom criticized the cast as “predictable” while others didn’t like the AI addition.

“Predictable cast. A thousand influencers and recruits and the one boomer,” one top comment read.

“I have a feeling the last houseguest is gonna be AI and if so, I’m not loving the idea,” wrote another.

MEET THE SEASON 26 HOUSEGUESTS

Here are the 16 houseguests announced for Season 26.

• Angela Murray – Age: 50 Hometown: Long Beach, Calif. Current City: Syracuse, Utah Occupation: Real estate agent.
• Quinn Martin – Age: 25 Hometown: Lawton, Okla. Current City: Omaha, Neb. Occupation: Nurse recruiter
• Leah Peters – Age: 26 Hometown: Pittsburgh Current City: Miami. Occupation: VIP cocktail server.
• Tucker Des Laruriers – Age: 30 Hometown: Boston Current City: Brooklyn. Occupation: Marketing and sales executive
• Kenny Kelley – Age: 52 Hometown: Boston. Occupation: Former undercover cop
• Lisa Weintraub – Age: 33 Hometown: Los Angeles. Occupation: Celebrity chef.
• Kimo Apaka – Age: 35 Hometown: Hilo, Hawaii. Occupation: Mattress sales rep
• Makensy Manbeck – Age: 22 Hometown: Houston. Occupation: Construction project manager.
• Brooklyn Rivera – Age: 34 Hometown: Covington, Ga. Current City: Dallas. Occupation: Business administrator
• Matt Hardeman – Age: 25 Hometown: Loganville, Ga. Current City: Roswell, Ga. Occupation: Tech sales rep
• Chelsie Baham – Age: 27 Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Occupation: Nonprofit director.
• Joseph Rodriguez – Age: 30 Hometown: Tampa, Fla. Occupation: Video store clerk.
• Cedric Hodges – Age: 21 Hometown: Running Springs, Calif. Current City: Boise, Idaho. Occupation: Former marine.
• Rubina Bernabe – Hometown: Los Angeles. Occupation: Event bartender.
• T-Kor Clottey – Age: 23 Hometown: Chicago via London. Current City: Atlanta. Occupation: Crochet business owner
• Cam Sullivan-Brown – Age: 25 Hometown: Bowie, Md. Occupation: Physical therapist (seen above)

“These houseguests look boring,” ripped a third.

“Hi I want the old big brother,” pleaded a fourth.

WILL THE TWIST PAY OFF?

The vote-in twist involves the players deciding whether or not to let in a secret, predetermined 17th houseguest.

However, this isn’t the first time the show has thrown a wrench in the works.

In season 14 of the show, coaches Dan Gheesling, Britney Haynes, Mike “Boogie” Malin, and Janelle Pierzina voted themselves into the game, leading to one of its most famous moments.

During the season 19 premiere, Kevin Schlehuber accepted $25,000, even though it would unleash a mystery twist into the game.

That twist allowed the previous season’s runner-up, Paul Abrahamian, to enter the house, although Kevin did not know that would be the twist.

However, this time, the players — or at least some of them — are aware of the twist and will decide whether to let another competitor enter.

This announcement comes as the show’s previous season set the bar high.

Big Brother 25 was a milestone season, marking its longest at 100 days.

Jag Bains, the first-ever Sikh houseguest, won the competition, while Matt Klotz, the first-ever deaf player, was the runner-up.

CBS

CBS

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