Nominations

**Nominations** is a process in the game wherein the one or all houseguests would vote their fellow houseguests for eviction. If nominated, the *nominees*, would have to convince either the public or their houseguests to save them in various ways, most often via speech.

There are various nomination processes that are applicable to certain versions of *Big Brother* depending on the format. Typically in Stardust Studios, the Head of Household has the sole responsibility to nominate two houseguests for eviction.

Interestingly, a nomination can be affected by a power or a twist. Most seasons have implemented certain twists that have affected nomination processes, for example, the Power of Veto. Usually, these special powers and twists could either save or endanger the nominees' lives inside the house.

### The Nomination Ceremony

The Head of Household selects two houseguests to nominate for eviction. The exceptions to this rule arrived during *Big Brother 4*, where a different kind of twist required three nominees each week, with still only one person leaving each week. Each HOH still nominates only two houseguests in those situations. The Head of Household put the keys of the nominees of their choice in the new nomination boxes. The HoH would twist their keys and the photos of their nominees appear on the Memory Wall screen.

The twists that allowed for a third nominee include:

* **Disaster Date Competition** - Each week, for the first five weeks, America would appoint one houseguest to be the "Cupid" of the week. Cupid would select three houseguests to compete in a Disaster Date Competition. The winner would become immune for the week, the second place would receive nothing, whilst the loser would become the third nominee of the week. If the Date nominee was saved, there would be no replacement.

During Double Eviction and "Fast Forward" weeks, the HOH simply names the nominees.

### The Nomination Speech

Each version of Big Brother has their own speech, but the most well-known one is the Stardust Studios speech.

"This is the nomination ceremony. It is my responsibility as the Head of Household to nominate two Houseguests for eviction. In my nomination block are the keys of the houseguests I am nominating for eviction, I will turn two keys to lock in my nominations and their faces will appear on the memory wall. The first houseguest I have nominated is (Turn's Key) (Face Appears), The next Houseguest I have nominated is (Turns Key) (Face Appears), I have nominated you (HG #1 Name) and you (HG #2 Name). (HG #1 Name) (Reason as to why you nominated them), (HG #2 Name) (Reason as to why you nominated them). This Nomination Ceremony is adjourned/complete."

### Nomination Block

The Nomination Block is the chairs in the Living Room where the Nominees sit on Eviction Night and during the Power of Veto ceremony. Once the Nomination Ceremony is over, the houseguests without keys are considered on Nomination Block.

The Nomination Block is surrounded by couches on either side and has a head-on view of the television used to communicate with host Camila. Houseguests on Nomination Block are ineligible to vote.

### The Backdoor

It is a popular strategy to place two houseguests in an opposing alliance to the Head of Household on Nomination Block. However, because both nominees get to play in the Veto, a popular strategy called "backdooring" places two "pawns" or "decoy nominations" on the block. The HOH does not want either of the nominees to go home. Instead, they are merely used as placeholders until after the Veto. This prevents a strong competitor from playing in the Veto, thus saving themselves. Instead, the Veto is guaranteed to be used and the HOH selects their true target as the replacement, thus leaving them defenseless. This is a strategic move devised by Johnny Goode, Victor Velazquez, Bernie Ferrari and Desiree Kingsley and executed by the latter in *Big Brother 5*. It was successful and Ursula was evicted that week.
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