You remember the summer of 2015, right? It was the year of the "Twin Twist," a crying poker strategist who probably should’ve won, and a guy named Johnny Mac who made us all want to visit the dentist just for the laughs. The Big Brother season 17 cast was something else. Seriously. While some seasons feel like they’re filled with people just looking for a clothing brand deal, this crew actually showed up to play the game. Hard.
The Strategy That Actually Worked (And the One That Didn’t)
Most people look back and think Steve Moses won because he was "lucky" or "quiet." That’s actually a huge misconception. Steve wasn't just some awkward kid who stumbled into a check for half a million dollars. He played a game of intentional invisibility. He literally told the cameras—and later admitted in interviews—that his goal was to be a "waste of an HOH" early on so nobody would fear him. It’s a brutal way to play because the fans at home usually hate it. They want big moves. Steve wanted the win.
Then there’s Vanessa Rousso. Honestly, she was the real protagonist of the season.
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A professional poker player who spent 98 days basically running a high-stakes tournament in a house with no internet. She controlled nearly every eviction. She was the architect of the "Sixth Sense" alliance. But the thing she got wrong—and what ultimately cost her the game—was the assumption that she could control the "nerd." She thought Steve was her protege. Instead, he was her executioner. When Steve won that final Head of Household and cut Vanessa at the final three, it was one of the coldest moves in the show's history.
Breaking Down the Power Players
The cast was basically split into two worlds. You had the strategists and you had the "entertainers" who sort of just existed for the drama.
- Vanessa Rousso: The strategist. She was exhausting to watch sometimes because of the constant crying and "game talk," but you can't deny she was a genius.
- Johnny Mac (John McGuire): The dentist. He was the "Veto King" for a minute there and had the best diary room sessions. He was evicted, came back, and still almost made it to the end.
- Austin Matelson: The wrestler (aka Judas). His showmance with Liz Nolan was... a lot. Remember when he was blindsided and walked out of the house barefoot? Pure TV gold.
- The Nolan Twins (Liz and Julia): The twist. They managed to swap in and out for weeks without the whole house figuring it out immediately. Liz eventually took second place, which is wild considering she started the game as half a person.
The Twin Twist and the "Austwins" Era
We have to talk about how the twins actually survived. It’s kinda crazy that they made it to the point where they both got to enter the game as individuals. Julia entered on Day 43, and suddenly the "Sixth Sense" alliance had a built-in voting block. This is where the season shifted. The "Austwins"—Austin, Liz, and Julia—became this massive target that nobody could seem to hit.
James Huling, who won America’s Favorite Houseguest, was the one who finally took a shot. He was the prankster, the guy jumping out of cabinets, but he also had some guts. He broke up the "Clelli" power couple (Clay and Shelli) early on, which completely reset the board. Without that move, Shelli Poole might have cruised to the end. She was arguably a top-three player that season but got caught in the crossfire.
Why This Cast Still Matters Today
A lot of fans argue that BB17 was the last "great" season of the modern era. Why? Because the cast wasn't afraid to be messy.
Take Da’Vonne Rogers. She only lasted 22 days her first time around, but she became a legend. Her "point and walk" exit? Iconic. She’s since gone on to be a staple on The Challenge and returned for All-Stars. She proved that you don't have to win to be the most memorable person in the room.
Then you have Audrey Middleton, the first transgender houseguest in the show's history. Her game was chaotic—lying under a blanket for hours after a blow-up—but she was a pioneer for representation on the show. She didn't play a "safe" game. She played a fast, loud, and ultimately short game, but it changed the show's DNA.
What happened to them?
Most of the Big Brother season 17 cast moved on to "normal" lives, which is rare these days.
- Steve Moses went back to school, got his degree in Sound Recording Technology, and now owns a senior care consulting business in Florida. He stays away from the spotlight.
- Vanessa Rousso had triplets! She’s mostly retired from the public eye to focus on her family.
- The Nolan Twins did some more reality TV, appearing on The Challenge, and they’ve done some acting gigs here and there, including a cameo in the Saved by the Bell reboot.
- Austin Matelson is still a big name in pro wrestling, performing under the name Luchasaurus in AEW.
Lessons from the Season 17 Playbook
If you’re a superfan or someone thinking about applying for the show, there are real takeaways here. Don't just look at the memes.
Lay low, but have a "Thesis." Steve Moses won because he had a plan for why he was being quiet. If you’re just quiet because you’re bored, you’ll get evicted as a "pawn." If you’re quiet because you’re waiting for the power players to kill each other, you’re a shark.
Information is currency.
Vanessa showed that knowing everyone's "tell" is more important than winning physical competitions. She used her poker background to read people, but she also learned that emotional manipulation is a double-edged sword. People will vote for you to win, but they have to like you at least a little bit.
Expect the unexpected (for real).
The "Takeover" twist that season was a bit of a dud—most fans forget it even existed—but the cast adapted. The best players are the ones who don't complain about the twists; they figure out how to use them.
The Big Brother season 17 cast wasn't perfect. They were loud, they were emotional, and they made some really dumb moves. But they weren't boring. They gave us a season where the best player didn't win, the "nerd" outplayed the jocks, and a pair of twins almost took over the whole house.
To really understand the legacy of this season, you should go back and watch the feeds or the highlights of the "Scamper Squad." Look at how the alliances shifted week to week. It’s a masterclass in how social dynamics can trump physical strength every single time.
If you're looking to dive deeper into BB history, check out the casting archetypes used in later seasons—you'll see the "Steve" or the "Da'Vonne" in almost every cast since.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the "Judas" blindside if you need a laugh.
- Follow Da'Vonne Rogers on social media for her latest reality TV updates.
- Research Steve Moses’ business if you’re interested in seeing how winners pivot after the show.