Big Brother Canada 8 is the eighth season of the Canadian reality television series Big Brother Canada. It is based on the Dutch series of the same name, which gained notoriety in 1999 and 2000. Arisa Cox returned as the host for the series.[1] The season premiered with a two-night premiere[2] on March 4–5, 2020, on Global and was expected to end on May 21 with the live finale.[3][4][5] Preceding the two-night premiere, on March 1, there was a one hour long event, titled Big Brother Canada's Supersized Season 8 Preview with ET Canada, which featured interviews with the entire cast, an exclusive tour of the house with Arisa Cox, a retrospective on the past seven seasons, and the official reveal of the season's supersized theme.[1]
The season was planned to run for a total of 83 days. However, on March 24, 2020, Big Brother Canada announced an early end to production on the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, with the season finale airing on April 1, 2020. All filming ceased on March 24.[6] The CA$100,000 prize that would have gone to the winner went to a COVID-19 relief charity.[7]
On May 30, 2019, Big Brother Canada was renewed for an eighth season.[10] Nine months later, on January 20, 2020, Global announced the two-night premiere on March 4–5, 2020.[2] With the premiere date, they announced the "supersized" theme, but nothing about what that entails.[3][11][12]Arisa Cox returned as the season's host.[1]
On March 4, or Day 5 inside the house, Nico Vera decided to leave the game. This was the second time HouseGuest quit Big Brother Canada and the first time for non-personal reasons, after Ramsey Aburaneh left on season 4 due to a family emergency.[13]
Then, on March 16, or Day 17 in the house, Jamar Lee was expelled from the house after he broke a house rule by threatening fellow HouseGuest Kyle Rozendal.[14][15] On March 18, or Day 19, Rozendal was also expelled from the house. These instances were the first and second expulsions in Big Brother Canada history.[16][17]
On March 12, 2020, or Day 13 in the house, Big Brother Canada suspended all live audiences for their shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] On March 15, or Day 16 inside the house, all of the current HouseGuests were notified of the current events outside of the house, including the pandemic. They were informed that all of their families were healthy.[17] Also that day, production suspended the Have-Not cycle for the week to relieve stress, particularly for the Have-Nots. The HouseGuests were all assessed by a doctor to see if any of them showed signs of the virus; none of them had any symptoms related to the virus.[19] That same day, Global and Insight Productions stated that they plan to continue with the production of the eighth season.[20] On March 22, some of the sixty Big Brother Canada crew members resigned due to concerns about working during the pandemic.[21][22]
On March 23, 2020 at 4:47 p.m. EDT, in Ontario where the show is filmed,[23]PremierDoug Ford ordered the mandatory 14-day closure of all non-essential workplaces by March 24 at 11:59 p.m.[24][22] As a result, Global and Insight Productions announced that production for the season had ended on March 24, moving the finale up from May 21 and having it air on April 1, 2020; they had no plans to resume production at a later time.[6] The CA$100,000 prize that would have gone to the winner went to a COVID-19 relief charity.[7]
Filming started on February 29, 2020, with a live audience for the premiere episode.[30] A live audience was featured during the two-night premiere. However, on March 12 during the fifth episode, Arisa Cox announced that there will no longer be a live audience over concerns of having large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] Filming took place at Studio 550 in Toronto, Ontario.[23]
Filming came to a halt on March 24 after production ended the season due to the pandemic. The finale was scheduled for May 21. Instead, a special farewell special aired on April 1.[6]
House design
On February 24, 2020, Global released eight images from the house, including the Head of Household room, kitchen, diary room, and backyard. With this drop, the theme for the season was confirmed to be comic books and superheroes.[31][32] During the Big Brother Canada's Supersized Season 8 Preview with ET Canada special on March 1, Arisa Cox gave the viewers a full house tour. The house features an Expedia departure lounge, a swamp-styled Have-Not room, and a Fortress of Solitude style Head of Household ensuite.[33]
Release
On January 20, 2020, a press release from Global announced that a never before seen special will air on March 1, 2020, three days before the two-night premiere starting on March 4.[1]Big Brother Canada's Supersized Season 8 Preview with ET Canada will feature interviews with the entire cast, an exclusive tour of the house with Arisa Cox, a retrospective on the past seven seasons, and the official reveal of the season's supersized theme.[1] The free 24/7 live feeds, hosted on Big Brother Canada's website, started on March 5 at 9:00 p.m. EST (6:00 p.m. PST) after the first eviction episode and ended on March 23 abruptly at around 4 p.m. EDT (1:00 p.m. PDT). On March 24, 2020, Global announced that they would be moving the finale broadcast date up from May 21 to April 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing the season to end earlier.
The sixteen HouseGuests all entered the BBCAN superhero-themed house. After formal introductions, Arisa Cox appeared on the screen in the living room, informing the HouseGuests that the Canadian public has been voting for their favourite HouseGuests from February 26–29.[33] The four HouseGuests who received the lowest number of votes, Chris, Nico, Minh-Ly, and Susanne, would have to compete in two competitions. The winners of each competition would then be granted safety for the week, leaving only two people on the block by the first eviction night.
Strength Safety Competition ("Zero to Hero"): HouseGuests had to pull on a rope to keep a car from falling off a bridge. Periodically throughout the challenge, the weight of the car would get heavier, proportional to the weight of the HouseGuest. The HouseGuest that kept their car from falling off the bridge earned safety for the week. Chris' car fell first, followed by Nico's car. Thirty-five minutes later, Minh-Ly won the first competition after Susanne's car fell, granting her safety.
Mental Safety Competition ("Sold Separately"): HouseGuests have to memorize the new line of BBCAN life-sized action figures (portrayed by other HouseGuest). Then, a series of true or false questions were asked, and each question answered correctly earned that HouseGuest a point. The HouseGuest with the most points after five questions wins safety for the week. Chris won with four points, leaving Nico and Susanne nominated for eviction.
On Day 5, Nico goes into the Diary Room and declares that he will self–evict, feeling like he can't earn the votes to stay despite multiple HouseGuests saying they'll vote for him. Executive producer Erin Brock announced the news to the HouseGuests, stating that eviction planned for Day 6 was canceled.
Head of Household Competition ("Basket–wall"):[a] One at a time, HouseGuests bounced on a trampoline and shot a basketball into several different hoops with different point values for each. The HouseGuest who scored the highest would become the Head of Household. At the end of the episode, Jamar and Minh-Ly were tied with 24 points each; however, the episode was left on a cliffhanger as not everyone had shot yet.
Head of Household Competition ("Basket–wall"):[a] With a score of 28, Chris won, and became the Head of Household.
Chris and Kyle create a plan to nominate Brooke and Hira to backdoor Micheal. He wants to target Micheal because he is jealous of his relationship with Madeline. They make the plan to tell the alliance of Micheal, Madeline, John Luke, and Rianne, called "The Evictors," that they will backdoor Minh-Ly in order for them to use the Veto if they win.
On Day 7, Chris decided to nominate Brooke and Hira for eviction, with Micheal also on the shortlist.
The Evictors started to become suspicious of Chris’ nominations.
On Day 8, it was revealed that the Head of Household would not be able to compete in the Power of Veto Competition until the Final 5 stage. Brooke and Hira, along with Carol, Madeline, and Vanessa competed for the Power of Veto.
Power of Veto Competition ("Sleigh the Veto"): With Susanne hosting, HouseGuests had to crawl across an icy path to retrieve a fish from a cold lake using only their mouths. Once they have retrieved all their fish, they had to uncover a fish puzzle, and solve it using their provided rack. They had to be careful, as they had more fish than needed. The first HouseGuest to correctly solve their puzzle would win the Power of Veto. After being neck and neck the whole competition, Hira edged out Vanessa and won the Power of Veto.
On Day 10, Vanessa won the Skip the Slop vote, cancelling her Have-Not stay short. She was also able to have a meal delivered from Skip The Dishes. During the Power of Veto Ceremony that day, Hira used the Power of Veto on himself, and Chris nominated Micheal as the replacement, leaving Brooke and Micheal as the final nominees.
Shortly after the Power of Veto Ceremony, Madeline and Micheal talked with Chris in the Head of Household room, confronting him for lying to the Evictors.
Luxury Competition ("Enjoying the Summer") The HouseGuests were tasked to "Enjoy the Summer" in the outdoor Hot-Tub area on a cold raining day. The four HouseGuests to last the longest received a special prize by Summer Fresh. Angie, Hira, John Luke, and Micheal won a special dinner that night.
Minh-Ly talks to Micheal, and says that Kyle was the mastermind in his nomination, and that he should confront him. This causes a huge blowup between the two opposing sides of the house.
On Day 13, by a vote of 9–3, Micheal was evicted from the Big Brother Canada house, being the first (and only) player to be evicted in the season.
Head of Household Competition ("Slippery When Wet"):[b] HouseGuests must search in a ball pit for special yellow balls. When HouseGuests find a yellow ball, they can place the ball in one of their fellow HouseGuest's tubes. Once a HouseGuest's tube reaches ten balls, they are eliminated from the competition. The last HouseGuest standing will become the next Head of Household. In addition, the first four eliminated HouseGuests would become Have–Nots for the week.
Head of Household Competition ("Slippery When Wet"): [b] After a hard-fought battle, Angie, Kyle, Madeline and Vanessa became Have-Nots, and Sheldon won the competition, making him the new Head of Household.
On Day 14, Sheldon nominated Madeline and Rianne for eviction, with John Luke and Minh-Ly also on the shortlist.
After the Nomination Ceremony, Sheldon told Vanessa to throw the Veto Competition. However, in order to hide her alliance with him, Vanessa told Minh-Ly she was told by Brooke to throw the competition. Minh-Ly tells Kyle this information, and brings this information to Brooke, which she denies. This leads to a confrontation between Sheldon, Kyle, Brooke, and Vanessa. During the confrontation, Vanessa denies that she told Minh-Ly that information, placing the target on Minh-Ly.
Power of Veto Competition ("Spring Fling"): HouseGuests and their selected pairs had to transfer balls using only their faces. The first team to transfer all of their balls to the other side will win the Power of Veto. The original HouseGuest picked at the Veto Ceremony will win the Power of Veto, while their partner will become immune for the rest of the week. After a three-way tie with Minh-Ly and Vanessa and Rianne and Hira, Madeline and John Luke won, granting Madeline the Power of Veto and John Luke immunity.
On Day 17, Madeline took herself off of the block. Sheldon, as Head of Household, had to choose a replacement nominee. He picked Minh-Ly, making the final nominees Minh-Ly and Rianne.
On Day 16, HouseGuests were told about the COVID-19 pandemic. They were told that their families were healthy and that there was no reason to worry. Each HouseGuest got a letter from home.
On Day 17, Carol made a joke about how the police would come after Jamar in Prince Edward Island, presumably because of his ethnicity. After a talk with Angie and Hira, Jamar went to have a discussion with Carol to enlighten her about her problematic behavior. Carol admitted that it was very insensitive and the two cleared it up. Later that day, Minh-Ly held a house meeting to expose Vanessa's lie about throwing the competition. At that house meeting, Jamar supposedly threatened Kyle and made Vanessa say she was uncomfortable. Jamar was then called to the Diary Room.
On Day 19, Kyle was expelled after problematic behavior was brought to light. The week was reset and the eviction was canceled.
Head of Household Competition ("Snooze, You Lose"):[c] HouseGuests are stuck in sleeping bags. On go, HouseGuests must hold onto their bar and keep holding on. Once a HouseGuest lets go of their bar and falls, they are eliminated. The HouseGuest to hold on the longest will become the next Head of Household. What the HouseGuests weren't told is that the Head of Household would earn a secret power revealed later in the game.
Head of Household Competition ("Snooze, You Lose"):[c] After it came down to Chris, Hira, and Sheldon, Hira dropped. Chris and Sheldon made a deal, solidifying a Final 2 deal. After Chris dropped, Sheldon became the next Head of Household.
After the competition, Carol told Sheldon that she wanted to be nominated and evicted this week, but the group of Sheldon, Brooke, and Chris wanted Minh-Ly to go home. Also that night, the HouseGuests were able to throw a party for Hira's birthday.
On Day 21, Carol called a house meeting to inform everyone that she wants to be evicted. That day, Sheldon, as the Head of Household, won the Wendy's Powerup Necklace. He could choose between two powers. He could either "chop" a vote, meaning he could cancel a vote at this week's eviction, or "spice up" the Power of Veto competition, where he could play in the competition. He was given one day to make the decision.
At the nomination ceremony on Day 21, Sheldon decided to nominate Carol and Minh-Ly for eviction, with Rianne also on the shortlist.
The episode opened with a special message from Arisa informing the viewers of production’s shutdown - and that this episode was produced prior to the Shutdown.
On Day 22, Chris, Hira, and Vanessa were chosen to compete in the Power of Veto competition along with the nominees. It was also revealed that Sheldon used the "Chop the Vote" power.
Power of Veto Competition ("Cannonball"): Competitors transported one of their cannonballs across a drawbridge to their platform. They'd then have to place it in one of the divots. This process repeated until all of their balls have been transported. If one of their cannonballs touched the ground, they’d have to start over. The first HouseGuest to successfully transfer all their balls and return to the castle would win the Power of Veto. Hira won.
On Day 24, John Luke won the Skip the Slop vote, cancelling his Have-Not stay short. He was also able to have a meal delivered from Skip The Dishes. Hira decided not to use the Power of Veto, leaving Carol and Minh-Ly as the final nominations.
On Day 24, at 4:47 p.m. EDT, the HouseGuests were told that the production of the eighth season of Big Brother Canada would cease on Day 25. The HouseGuests were given the rest of the day and the next day to pack everything up and say their goodbyes to each other.
On Day 25, the HouseGuests were shown a montage of the best moments from the past twenty-five days and videos from each of their families. Then, one at a time, the HouseGuests were told to leave the house and head home. The last two HouseGuests, Brooke and Sheldon, exited the house at 7:31 p.m. EDT on Day 25, marking the end to the season.
The show closed with the shots of the empty house as the house's lights were all turned off, but in superhero movie fashion, a brief post-credits scene, Big Brother's illuminated eye turned back on - a reminder that Big Brother will always be watching.
Notes
^ abThis Head of Household competition began in episode 2 on Day 6. However, completion was not broadcast on television until episode 3.
^ abThis Head of Household competition began in episode 5 on Day 13. However, completion was not broadcast on television until episode 6.
^ abThis Head of Household competition began in episode 8 on Day 20. However, completion was not broadcast on television until episode 9.
^In Week 2, the Canadian public voted on which HouseGuest they wanted to relieve of slop. The HouseGuest that receives the most votes will be able to have a meal. Vanessa won the vote, cancelling her Have-Not status, and receiving a meal from Skip The Dishes.
^In Week 3 on Day 16, the Have-Not phase was suspended for the week after the HouseGuests were told about the COVID-19 pandemic.
^In Week 4, the Canadian public voted on which HouseGuest they wanted to relieve of slop. The HouseGuest that receives the most votes will be able to have a meal. John Luke won the vote, cancelling his Have-Not status, and receiving a meal from Skip The Dishes.
^Note 1 : When the cast was revealed, voting opened for Canada to save a HouseGuest of their choice. The four people who received the fewest votes, Chris, Minh-Ly, Nico, and Susanne, would compete in two competitions. The winners of each competition would be saved. Minh-Ly won the first competition and Chris won the second, leaving Nico and Susanne nominated for the first eviction.
^Note 2 : On Day 5, Nico walked from the game, cancelling the eviction vote set for Day 6.
^Note 3 : During Week 3, The Power of Veto Competition was played in pairs. The original player picked had to choose a player to play with them during the competition. If that pair won, then the original player picked would win the Power of Veto and their teammate would receive immunity. Madeline won the Power of Veto, and her partner, John Luke, earned immunity for the rest of the week.
^Note 4 : On Day 17, Jamar was expelled from the game after allegedly exhibiting "threatening" behaviour toward Kyle.[14] On Day 19, Kyle was expelled from the game for problematic behaviour.[16] As a result of both expulsions, no eviction vote was held for Week 3. The game reset for Week 4, allowing Sheldon (outgoing Head of Household) to compete in Week 4's Head of Household competition, which he ultimately won.
^Note 5 : The HouseGuests were told that the winner of Week 4's Head of Household competition would win a special power. Sheldon won the competition and was secretly awarded the Wendy's Power Up Necklace - which awarded the holder the ability "Spice up the Veto" (allowing the HoH to play in the PoV) or to "Chop A Vote" (voiding an eviction vote from a HouseGuest at the next eviction). Sheldon chose to "Chop A Vote".
^Note 6 : On Day 25, Big Brother Canada announced an early end to production on the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Big Brother Canada 8 ended with no winner.
