DAY ONE

The door opens on the house for the first time for this new set of Houseguests, and the first four cast members allowed to enter flood into the hallway.
"Oh my god, it's really happening!" yells one of them. "We're really on Big Brother!"
It's the same each year: the flurry of excitement as the new Houseguests scramble into the home, into the walls that will enclose them for the next ninety-nine days. And then, the urgency. The realization that they must find a bed, claim their spot in the house. Of course, this isn't quite as important as earlier seasons, when slower, less lucky Houseguests might wind up sleeping on a cot or in a sleeping bag at first, but still. Picking the right spot could be important.
No time seems to have passed for these first four Houseguests before the next four enter, and then the next four, and then the final four. This is a relief, for those who know the show: All sixteen Houseguests are here, and none seem to be returning Houseguests who have played the game before. A relief, yes. But still, they know the show's motto: Expect the Unexpected. If all sixteen are here now, there is a twist to come.
They gather in the living room. Though some have exchanged names with each other, they will go around the circle and introduce themselves one by one. Someone pops one of the two bottles of champagne production has provided for the occasion, and begins to pour the liquid into flutes.
"I'll start," says one woman, a blonde, older than most of the cast. She wears a slim-fitting champagne-colored dress and seems particularly bubbly, with red cheeks that betray her excitement. "My name is Leslie, I'm 43 years old, I'm from Chicago, and I'm a dietician!"

Whether because they think it will help their games or because they actually believe it, some of the Houseguests comment that she does not look her age.

They continue.
"I'm Toby, I'm 24 years old, I'm from Missouri, and I teach kindergarten and work at a coffee shop on the weekends." This comes from a wiry white man with deep black hair and light stubble on his chin.
A man whose salt-and-pepper hair errs more towards the salt says, "I'm Zack, I'm a novelist, and I'm from Manhattan."

A large girl with a lovely red dress covered by a grey cardigan says, "I'm Mary, I'm 24 years old, I'm from Orlando, and I'm a bartender."

"I'm Retta, I'm 35, I'm from Kansas City, and I work in sales." This from a tall, stick-thin black woman in a sparkly teal dress with silver heels.

"I guess I'll go next," a soft voice says. "I'm Rodney, I'm 46 years old, I'm a pastor, and I'm from Sacramento." He is soft spoken, but he does not look like a pastor. He wears a clean white t-shirt with jeans and a black leather jacket. Looks of concern are cast around the circle, though nobody says a word. Can we trust him? many think. This is Big Brother, of course. He could be lying. More than one Houseguest thinks, he looks like he just stumbled off the set of a Grease remake, not out of a church. Who is he really?

"I'll go next," says an Indian girl in a white dress with banana designs printed on it that recall Andy Warhol. "I'm Maureen, I'm from Los Angeles, but my family moved to the states from India when I was five. I'm 22, and by the looks of it I might be the youngest one here?" At this everyone looks around to see if anyone corrects her. They don't. "Cool, so yeah. I work at a clothing store in a mall, so if you don't vote me out I can hook you up with my employee discount!"

Next is a blonde girl: Alice, 26, works on her family's farm in Nebraska, recently engaged to her high school sweetheart.

Mia, 29, is a Chinese woman whose purple dress is complimented by her white heels. Mia is a freelance writer.

Patrick is 27 years old. "I'm the first transgender man to play Big Brother," he says. "I'm from Queens. And I do vlogs on Youtube."

Caleb is 34, a chef from Omaha. He has curly red hair and a short, scruffy beard.

Tyler is 29, and he works in construction in Phoenix, Arizona. He is thin, but very muscular, with curly brown hair.

Jonathan is 36, and he's a stay-at-home dad from Cleveland.

Georgia is a 23-year-old black girl with her curly hair pulled back into a ponytail. "I'm from San Diego, and I work in a bike shop. If you ever need a bicycle repair, I'm your gal."

Kristen lives in Denver. She's 28, and she trains dogs.

"Guess I'm last to go," says a young man with spiky brown hair straight out of the early 2000s. "I'm Aaron, I'm 25 years old, and I'm a car salesman."

There is little time for chat before the TV screen on the wall opposite the couches lights up. Julie Chen's face fills the screen. As always, she looks incredible. This is not in spite of the bizarre outfit Wardrobe has thrown at her; somehow, she looks incredible because of it. She smiles down upon the Houseguests.

"Hello, Houseguests," she says. "And welcome to season 20 of Big Brother."

The Houseguests cheer.

"You've all started to get to know each other I see, and everyone seems friendly...but that won't last long. In fact, it's about to end right now."

There is groaning from around the living room as the Houseguests wonder what is about to happen.

"Houseguests, you've just moved into the Big Brother house, but don't get too comfortable just yet," Julie says. "We all know how important first impressions can be, but maybe you weren't prepared for how important your first impression would be tonight. That's right, in just a moment, one of you will be evicted from the Big Brother house, based solely on the first impression you made on your fellow housemates."

Everyone shifts a little, anxious. Some rub their sweaty palms on their knees.

"Here's how it's going to 'll all look over the Memory Wall to review the names of your fellow Houseguests and make a decision. Then, one by one, you will enter the Diary Room and cast your vote to evict from all of the Houseguests. Here's the kicker: whoever has the most votes to evict will be the first evicted Houseguest. But whoever has the second most votes to evict will earn safety for the week. If there is a tie, Houseguests will vote between the two highest vote earners to decide who is evicted. Does everyone understand?"

The Houseguests, nervous, nod their assent. Some know that this has become somewhat of a trend in recent seasons, evicting someone on the first night. Whether or not they think it is necessarily fair, they know that it is the game that they signed up for.

For some, the break is far too short, and when Julie returns to the screen they are still frantic as they stare at the Memory Wall. For others, the vote was decided the moment Julie explained the rules.

One by one, they are called into the Diary Room. Though they know that for America, this is entertaining, for them it is just nerve-wracking. Nobody wants to be the first boot; how embarrassing would it be to make it even less time in the house than Cameron had just last season?

Julie is relentless as she refuses to give their nerves a rest.

"Houseguests, the results are in, and I will now tell you the top 3 vote-getters. They are, in no particular order...Leslie...Aaron...and Rodney."

The three nod, solemn. They know that their odds aren't good.

"And with three votes to evict, Leslie...:"

Leslie looks up at the screen, worried. To her fellow Houseguests, she looks like she might cry.

"You are the third highest vote-getter, which means you are safe from this eviction."

Leslie lets out her held breath and allows her tense shoulders to relax.

"That means it's down to Aaron and Rodney. One of you will be going home tonight, and the other will earn safety for the week. And with four votes to evict...Aaron...congratulations, you are safe, that means Rodney, I'm sorry, with five votes to evict, you are the first evicted Houseguest of Big Brother 20."

Rodney nods and stands, turning to hug the other Houseguests despite only having met them tonight. Aaron's eyes dart around the group. He is thankful that he is safe, but he is filled with dread, thinking of where those votes came from.

And he is not the only one thinking of votes. Patrick has immediately felt a connection with Mia, as they are close with age and entered the house at the same time. As Rodney is exiting the house, Patrick pulls Mia aside. "That leaves three rogue votes. I voted out Rodney, and I'm guessing you did too?" Mia nods. "Then we need to figure out who those other three votes to evict were for. I want to keep my finger on the pulse in this house."

Julie returns to the screen.

"Houseguests," she says. "I know that was an exciting turn of events, but the night's not over yet. That's right. The first Head of Household competition of the season is next."