Heading into the 36th episode of “Big Brother 26,” Kimo Apaka had just been evicted by a 2-to-0 vote over Rubina Bernabe. That left just four people in the game: Rubina, Cam Sullivan-Brown, Chelsie Baham and outgoing HOH Makensy Manbeck. With the most important Head of Household competition about to take place in the backyard, who ultimately won the Final 4 HOH on Sunday night?
Below, read our minute-by-minute “Big Brother” Season 26, Episode 36 recap/live blog to find out what happened on October 6 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite “BB26” houseguests on CBS‘s reality TV show, who annoys you the most and who you think will ultimately join the “Big Brother” winners list. As always, Julie Chen Moonves hosts the series.
Don’t forget to watch Gold Derby’s exclusive video interviews with all of the eliminated players so far: Matt Hardeman, Lisa Weintraub, Kenney Kelley, Cedric Hodges, Brooklyn Rivera, Tucker Des Lauriers, Joseph Rodriguez, Quinn Martin, T’kor Clottey, Leah Peters, Angela Murray and Kimo Apaka.
10:00 p.m. – “Previously on ‘Big Brother’!” In the 35th episode, the Final 5 players competed for the Veto in the classic “BB Comics” challenge. Makensy won the power and chose not to use it to save either of her two nominees. Meanwhile, everyone suspected that Cam was throwing comps, an accusation that he adamantly denied. By the end of the two-hour episode, we had checked in with the jury house (Leah might have a crush on Quinn!) and then Kimo was evicted. The Hawaiian houseguest told Julie during his exit interview, “I was gonna win this game.” Four players remain. Who will win HOH tonight? Let’s go!
10:03 p.m. – Kimo’s eviction was a semi-surprise to Makensy who wasn’t sure if Chelsie and Cam were going to follow through with her goal of taking him out. Ultimately, Cam decided that Kimo was better in challenges and it was in his best interest to be up against Rubina in the future instead. His only concern was how tight the three remaining women could be and if they’ll choose each other over him for the final three.
10:05 p.m. – Knowing that she can’t compete for HOH this week, Makensy had to continue to play both sides by allowing Rubina to think Makensy wants all three women at the end while also allowing Cam and Chelsie to believe it will be them three.
10:11 p.m. – For the next HOH comp, the three eligible players competed in “Hid Agenda,” a multiple choice quiz to find hidden phrases in source code depictions. Rubina was quickest with the correct answer in round one. Cam was quickest in round two. Rubina was quickest in round three. Chelsie was quickest in round four because Cam buzzed in with the incorrect answer ahead of him. Chelsie then got the next two in a row to finish with a total of three. Cam got the final point in the seventh round, creating a 3-2-2 score to give Chelsie the win.
10:24 p.m. – Cam was frustrated that he didn’t pull out a win this time because he was hoping to set himself up for a good streak heading in to the finale. When Chelsie floated the idea to him that she nominate him in order to give the appearance that they aren’t as solid of a pair, he was okay with it. Everyone knew that the initial noms are “just placeholders” anyway because the veto will determine who is off the block and gets the sole vote to evict. He told Chelsie that if he wins the veto that he’ll “send Makensy home.”
10:26 p.m. – Chelsie also asked Rubina if she’d be okay going up on the block and they discussed leaving her off because she’s been up so many times recently already. She also communicated that Cam said he’d take the shot at Makensy if he wins the veto. Makensy was comfortable going on the block if Chelsie wanted to nominate her especially because Chelsie said that if she’s the one that wins the veto she will use it on Makensy.
10:35 p.m. – At the nomination ceremony, Chelsie revealed her decision to put Cam and Makensy on the block. She explained that the fate of the week is in the hands of the veto holder and that’s what will decide the end result of the week.
10:44 p.m. – The four houseguests next competed in the veto comp “Passcode Protectors,” a race to get the most questions correct about when certain events happened in the game. Players were eliminated based on being the last to enter an answer with only three strikes to save them. Once three players are eliminated, the remaining player becomes the veto winner.
10:47 p.m. – Makensy was slowest in the first question and earned a strike. Chelsie was slowest in the second and third questions and earned two strikes. Rubina was slowest in the fourth question and earned her first strike. Makensy was slowest in the fifth question and earned her second strike. Rubina got her second strike in the sixth question. Cam got his first strike in the seventh question. The eighth question is when Rubina was knocked out with her third strike.
10:55 p.m. – With Rubina out of the running, Chelsie’s plan was to throw the comp so that either Cam or Makensy would get the blood on their hands this week with use of the veto. As such, she was eliminated in the ninth round. At this point, one more strike would eliminate Makensy while Cam still had two chances. Makensy was able to secure the correct answer quicker than Cam in the next question, setting up a final question that would determine the winner, but we won’t see that result until Thursday’s live eviction episode.