Big Brother Houseguests Should Stop Counting Older Players Out

I did not expect a Big Brother endurance competition to make me cry.

I wasn’t rooting for anyone in particular when the Wall started. Then the youngins began dropping, and LaTrice “LaLa” Verrett was still hanging on.

The Wall is one of Big Brother’s toughest and most recognizable competitions. It tests endurance, strength, and just how long a houseguest can push through the discomfort before finally letting go.

(Courtesy CBS)

By the end, it came down to the 57-year-old and Kamu, one of the biggest, strongest guys in the house. LaLa was still up there, and I was all in!

When he finally dropped and LaLa realized she had won, she started crying. I cried right along with her. She had just outlasted a group of younger houseguests, some more than half her age.

As a woman of a certain age, I felt immense pride.

The moment felt bigger than her HOH win. An older woman did something the other houseguests and many viewers probably assumed she couldn’t.

For a few minutes, I wasn’t thinking about her gameplay. And believe me, I have thoughts about LaLa’s gameplay. Quite frankly, it sucks.

(Courtesy CBS)

She hasn’t been the brightest lightbulb this season, and some of her decisions have made me shake my head. But none of that took away from what she did on that Wall. In that moment, she shined.

A Win for “Seasoned Women”

Then the camera went straight to Angela. She was in a puddle of tears, and the pride on her face was everything. Angela was genuinely happy for LaLa, and her reaction made me cry even more.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that Angela isn’t my favorite player.

For a few seconds, it felt like LaLa, Angela, and I were all members of the same seasoned women’s society. We understood what that moment represented.

At 52, Angela knows what it feels like to walk into the Big Brother house as one of the older players. Whatever I think about her game, she has never been content to sit quietly in the background.

(Courtesy CBS)

Angela plays hard, wins competitions, and makes moves. She creates chaos a lot of the time and keeps me talking back to my television.

Age has never stopped her from playing like someone who came to win.

The “Old Lady” Won the Wall

Chuk had the nerve to refer to LaLa as an “old lady” during one of his Diary Room confessions, and it ticked me off. The gall and blatant disrespect!

That comment is exactly how older players get reduced in the Big Brother house.

Houseguests judge age and assume those they see are weaker, slower, or less threatening. Sometimes they decide the older player can be dealt with later or kept around as an easy extra vote.

Then the “old lady” won the Wall. LaLa conquered one of the toughest endurance challenges Big Brother throws at its houseguests every season.

(Courtesy CBS)

Chuk’s comment looked even more ridiculous in hindsight.

LaLa’s win reminded the house that experience, patience, social skills, and even physical endurance can make an older player a dangerous threat.

More Than the House Mom or Dad

In a house full of younger players, older houseguests can become a source of comfort.

They listen, give advice, and bring a little bit of that nurturing feeling of home. Before long, younger players start seeing them as Mom, Dad, Auntie, or Uncle rather than as someone they need to worry about in the game.

At 50, Will filled that role during Big Brother Season 27 as the “house dad.” The younger players trusted him and leaned on him, which can be a huge advantage in a game built around relationships.

(Courtesy CBS)

People talk when they feel comfortable. They vent, share information, and sometimes say a whole lot more than they probably should.

The same person can also be building a strong social game and gathering information. That is what younger players need to remember.

Older houseguests did not enter Big Brother to offer advice, cook dinner, or make everyone else feel at home. They came to play the game and win the money too.

Will was more than the house dad. Angela is more than one of the older women in the house, and LaLa proved on that Wall that 57 does not make her any less of a competitor.

So go ahead and underestimate the older players. Just don’t be surprised when they prove you and the houseguests wrong.

Where are the older Big Brother Fanatics at? Were you as excited as I was about that historic win? Let’s discuss it.

• A 57-year-old conquering one of Big Brother’s toughest competitions is a reminder to never underestimate older players. Here’s why this moment affected me so much!

• A houseguest considers flipping the vote with the Diamond Power of Veto. Who is the new Big Brother Season 28 target? Read on to find out.

• We have a new veto winner for week 6 of Big Brother 28, but whether a power is used this week may be the bigger story. Find out all the spoilers here!

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