Former Undercover Cop From Massachusetts Joins CBS Reality Show 'Big Brother'

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Big Brother, a reality show that first premiered in 2000 on CBS, just kicked off its 26th season. The show follows a group of people living together in a house outfitted with 94 HD cameras and 113 microphones, recording their every move 24/7. Each week the houseguests compete in challenges, and one contestant is voted out of the house, with the last person left in the house by the end of the summer leaving with the $750,000 grand prize.

This season features a Massachusetts native and Boston resident, Kenney Kelley, who is a former undercover cop. Kenney's current strategy is hiding his former occupation from the other houseguests to make himself less of a target, a strategy he learned from watching season 16 of the show, when Derrick Levasseur, another former undercover cop, went on to win.

Kenney Kelley is no stranger to high-stakes situations, having spent 22 years doing undercover work with the DEA. As a current sergeant with a police department in the Boston area, Kenney has seen it all. He grew up in a household where his older brother struggled with addiction—a battle that ultimately cost his brother his life. "I think that motivated me to get into drug work. Not only do I want to lock up drug dealers but I also wanted to help people that struggled with addiction," Kenney explained during the premiere of Big Brother.

Kenney's journey into the "Big Brother" house was significantly influenced by his wife, Renee. "When I met my wife she was a huge Big Brother fan so I started watching Big Brother and that kinda sparked a little thing between the two of us and now we're married with two great kids, life is great," he shared. For Kenney, participating in "Big Brother" is a way to connect with his wife and also, perhaps, impress her by winning the grand prize.

Kenney's strategy in the game is to remain under the radar initially and adapt as the game progresses. "My strategy in this game is gonna be very complex because I'm going to take it week by week. I'm going to try and come in middle of the pack at the beginning, try and feel out everybody. I think I'm a person who can read people very well," he noted. He plans to capitalize on his ability to read people and form strategic alliances as the game unfolds.

Kenney is adamant about not revealing his true occupation to the other houseguests. "Am I going to tell people I'm a police officer? Absolutely not! Houseguests, sweet Kenney Kelley is coming in that house, he's gonna be your dad, he's gonna be your friend, he's gonna be your confidant, and I'm gonna take you out, one by one, and I'm going to be the last man standing," he declared.

As the season progresses, viewers will be keen to see how Kenney navigates the complex social dynamics and whether his experience and strategy will lead him to victory in the "Big Brother" house.

Big Brother will air on CBS on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, featuring the live eviction show hosted by Julie Chen Moonves. Throughout the week, viewers can watch the show's live feeds on Paramount+ and PlutoTV, which provide footage of the houseguests 24/7 (yes, even when they're asleep!).

Photo byCBS