Keesha Marie Smith was unanimously evicted from the Big Brother All-Stars household on Thursday in the first elimination of the season.
Memphis Garrett, 37, was then named as the new Head of Household, as Cody Calafiore, 29, ended his reign.
Keesha, a 42-year-old waitress from Malibu, California, was voted out of the house by every one of her castmates, which allowed her fellow eviction nominee, Kevin Campbell, 40, to stay.
First evictee: Keesha Marie Smith was unanimously evicted from the Big Brother All-Stars household on Thursday in the first elimination of the season
She had once been voted ‘America’s favorite houseguest,’ on BB10, and she began season 22 of All-Stars by vowing to play a tougher, more cynical game.
It was clear from the outset, however, that she had little support in the house, especially after Kevin pleaded his case to the other castmates individually.
Before announcing the house’s choice to leave, Big Brother host Julie Chen-Moonves, 50, reminded the loser that they were about to re-enter a coronavirus-stricken America.
‘When you exit the house, please socially distance,’ she urged. ‘Go straight to the empty chair across from me, and remember: Please put on your mask.’
New head: Memphis Garrett, 37, was named as the new Head of Household
‘By a vote of 13 to zero, Keesha, you are evicted from the Big Brother household,’ Julie solemnly said with her usual display of gravitas for the reality show.
Keesha accepted her fate graciously and strapped on a pink mask, joking that she was going ‘back to the COVID house,’ before departing.
She told Julie she wasn’t surprised her personal allies hadn’t fought for her.
The host: Big Brother host Julie Chen-Moonves, 50, reminded the evictee to mask up due to the coronavirus pandemic
‘It’s too early in the game,’ Keesha acknowledged. ‘Everybody’s gonna go the same way. Nobody’s really playing yet. Everybody’s really laying low.’
From the moment the episode started, new alliances sprung up all over the house.
Memphis and Cody dubbed themselves ‘The Commission,’ and decided to build a ‘layer’ of four people below them who could protect their interests.
Laying low: ‘It’s too early in the game,’ Keesha acknowledged. ‘Everybody’s gonna go the same way. Nobody’s really playing yet. Everybody’s really laying low’
‘If you want to win, you need people around you that you’re not ready to cross, but would take the fall before you,’ Cody reasoned.
Memphis approached Tyler Crispen, Christmas Abbott, Dani Briones and Nicole Franzel, and let them know he would keep communicating with them quietly, from a distance.
Cody saw the brilliance of the plan, but resolved to let Memphis do the plotting so he wouldn’t suffer any fallout if things went wrong.
Multiple layers: Memphis and Cody Calafiore dubbed themselves ‘The Commission,’ and decided to build a ‘layer’ of four people below them who could protect their interests
‘Love him, loyal to him, but also using him as a shield,’ he confessed.
All of the people that Memphis approached liked the idea of a six-person alliance, and agreed to stay ‘inconspicuous’ when they communicated with each other.
But Cody also played a side game, forming another alliance with Bayleigh Dayton, 27, and Da’Vonne Rogers, 32, and Enzo Palumbo, 42, which might come in handy down the line.
Recruitment mission: All of the people that Memphis approached liked the idea of a six-person alliance, and agreed to stay ‘inconspicuous’ when they communicated with each other
‘I feel like no one’ll find out about us four,’ he told them.
Bayleigh and Tyler, 23, also allied themselves despite their contentious history on BB, deciding to keep their new bond a secret from the others.
Kevin and Nicole Anthony, 24, decided they wanted to be in the final two together, with Nicole describing them both as the ‘outcast, outlier type person—very unique, very rainbow.’
Secret bond: Bayleigh Dayton and Tyler Crispen also allied themselves despite their contentious history on BB, deciding to keep their new bond a secret from the others
Keesha and Kevin scrambled to try to win over seven houseguests’ votes so they could remain in the game.
‘This eviction coming up is not a slam dunk,’ admitted Cody, who had nominated them for eviction as HoH. ‘There’s reasons to keep both Kevin and Keesha in this game.’
‘I’m definitely listening to whatever people that I’m trying to align myself with have to say, because this eviction could cause ripple effects that may end up hurting me,’ he said.
Tough call: ‘This eviction coming up is not a slam dunk,’ admitted Cody, who had nominated them for eviction as HoH. ‘There’s reasons to keep both Kevin and Keesha in this game’
After surveying his allies, Cody realized that Keesha would present less of a threat if she stayed in the game, but also sensed that Kevin would be more ‘genuine’ with him.
‘It only takes seven votes for an eviction,’ he said, counting those in his alliance. ‘It seems like we have the numbers to tip the house whichever way we want.’
At the elimination ceremony, Keesha tried to get her housemates to keep her on the show, but acknowledged that some didn’t like her, and offered, ‘I do wish MOST of you the best of luck.’
Hot seat: Keesha and Kevin were in the hot seat as they faced eviction
Kevin’s plea was more heartfelt, and seemed to affect those sitting around him.
‘I came into this house feeling like a tiny little comet in comparison to the bright supernovas,’ he said. ‘I don’t have many friends in life, and I just decided to connect with you, and you guys helped me find my inner light. If you decide to keep me, we can both shine bright together.’
In the diary room, the BB houseguests laid down their votes, and it was a clear landslide.
Clear landslide: In the diary room, the BB houseguests laid down their votes, and it was a clear landslide
As was customary, the cast gave shout-outs to their family members while voting, with Da’Vonne adding, ‘Justice for Breonna Taylor!’ too.
After Keesha was voted off, Julie asked her why she’d only wished some people in the house good luck.
‘This week was so hard to choose,’ Keesha said. ‘And then people told me that they were gonna let me know, or that they were on my side, and then today, people just avoided me, except for the few people that didn’t.’
Good question: After Keesha was voted off, Julie asked her why she’d only wished some people in the house good luck
Her goodbye messages from the cast were a mixed bag.
‘Keesha, I had so much fun with you in this house,’ said Janelle Pierzina, 40. ‘I wanted to play this game with you, but unfortunately we just didn’t have the votes to save you.’
‘Keesha, my blond, buxom block buddy, you have been the sweetest person to be up against,’ Kevin offered in his message. ‘I’m sad to see you go, but glad that I’m still here.’
Fond farewell: Keesha hugged her fellow houseguests after they voted her out
With Keesha gone, it was also time for Cody to give up his position as Head of Household.
Each houseguest then competed for the role in a game called ‘Big Brother Watch Party.’
Julie showed them all scenes of a fake family watching Big Brother All-Stars at home, then asked them a series of questions about what they’d just seen.
Watch party: Each houseguest then competed for the Head of Household role in a game called ‘Big Brother Watch Party’
Memphis answered the greatest number of questions about them correctly, and won the title.
Big Brother All-Stars will return Sunday on CBS.
CBS announced last September that Big Brother was renewed for a 22nd season that premiered August 5 with contestants living in a custom-built, two-story house at CBS Studios in Los Angeles with 94 cameras and more than 113 microphones.
The winner: Memphis answered the greatest number of questions about them correctly, and won the title