Big Brother 28: Three-Time Portals, One Wild Premiere!

Big Brother 28

The summer officially kicked off with the premiere of Big Brother 28, and CBS wasted no time reminding viewers why this show remains a summer tradition. The 90-minute episode introduced a brand-new group of Houseguests, welcomed back host Julie Chen Moonves, and unveiled this season’s “Time Trip” theme. Right from the opening moments, it was clear that time would play a major role in both the look of the house and the twists that are sure to shake up the game over the coming weeks. Instead of easing everyone into the competition, the premiere immediately created excitement, uncertainty, and plenty of opportunities for first impressions.

The competitions were different tonight because the houseguests were told before competing that none of them were going to be the Head of Household for the week! Julie explained that the 14 original houseguests who entered the house at the beginning of the premiere were not eligible to become the first Head of Household. Instead, the first HOH would come from the three reality TV icons who “time traveled” into the game later in the episode.

The houseguests were divided into three “Time Travel” groups, with each group representing a different point in time. Rather than simply bringing in one surprise player, each era came with its own reality TV icon…though one had an extra bit of a development! The twist immediately created an uneven playing field because the veterans already know how to navigate strategic reality television. The time travelers went back to three years: 1988, 2018, and 2010.

Angela emerged from the 1988 portal

Angela emerged from the 1988 portal, which leaned heavily into ’80s nostalgia with bright colors, retro music, and over-the-top styling. It was a fun contrast because Angela herself is anything but subtle. The producers seemed to be playing up the idea that the late ’80s represented bold personalities and fearless gameplay.

Strategically, Angela’s presence gives her group someone who already understands Big Brother paranoia. She’s emotional, outspoken, and isn’t afraid to confront people. That can inspire confidence in teammates, or make them nervous if they think she’ll attract too much attention.

The 2008 portal had a Y2K/early social media feel, reflecting a period when reality TV was exploding in popularity. Devin’s entrance fit that era’s competitive, high-energy vibe.

What stood out to me is that Devin’s style appears to be very direct. Rather than trying to fade into the background, he projects confidence. That can be an asset in competitions but sometimes paints a target on your back if people start viewing you as someone who could dominate physically or strategically.

Rachel Reilly

Seeing Rachel Reilly step through the 2010 portal instantly brought back memories of one of the most iconic personalities in Big Brother history. Whether people love her or love to root against her, Rachel is impossible to ignore. This was probably the biggest crowd-pleasing reveal.

We saw the beginning of the competition between the three reality stars as they were going to compete in a Jurassic-themed contest. The backyard contained a volcano, and a velociraptor came out and started chasing Rachel. She was trying to get away with it, and she actually fell to her demise into the volcano! Julie told us that she had an idea and would get another reality star to take Rachel’s place….so that will remain to be seen!!

For sure, we viewers can expect the unexpected!

Photos CBS, Gobal