Big Brother Brasil 12

The twelfth season of Big Brother Brasil lasted for 80 days. In addition, this season includes new graphics, a new opening sequence and a tuneup in the musical score. It also changed its main housemates names and info font.

National applications were due by August 14, 2011 until October 31, 2011.[2] Applicants chosen to be a finalist went to Rio de Janeiro during early November 2011 from which applicants were narrowed down to a pool of 150 finalists.[3]

Final casting interviews took place early to mid-December 2011. The selected group of housemates were put into sequester on January 3, 2012.[4]

Twelve housemates were revealed on January 4. João José "Netinho" Neto, a 28-year-old lawyer from Visconde do Rio Branco walked during the pre-season sequester.[5] At first, Rede Globo, the broadcaster of the program, stated that Netinho walked because he couldn't handle the confinement at the hotel.[6]

The next day, however, Netinho's mother, Maria Ines Carmanini, came out stating that the producers tried to manipulate her son, forbidding him to maintain his daily routine. She also claimed that she couldn't specify the problem, since Netinho had signed a secrecy agreement with the network and such disclosure could harm him.[7] Netinho was replaced on January 5 by Ronaldo Peres, a 31-year-old salesman from São Paulo. [8]

On January 7, in an unexpected turn of events, it was revealed that Netinho would have regretted his decision and asked for another chance in the game. The producers however, denied the request. "Unfortunately, once you're out, you stay out" said Boninho, the main producer of the show.[9] Netinho, on the other hand, denied the information and stated that he didn't have the producers' phone number and is happy with his decision.[10]

Hours earlier in the day, Fernanda Girão, a 29-year-old businesswoman from Rio de Janeiro, also walked away from the show.[11] Fernanda, who was expected to be one of the season's big characters, had already asked to leave 24 hours before the official announcement. In the first attempt, however, she was persuaded by Boninho to handle the pressure and stay in the game.

At first, the lack of a phone was believed to be the reason for Fernanda's departure. In crisis, she would have asked to call her mother, but the producers didn't allow her to do so. Fernanda also had trouble sleeping. For security reasons, Big Brother Brasil rules prohibits sleeping pills both at the hotel where pre-season sequester occurs and, subsequently, at the Big Brother house.[12] However, in an interview on January 9, Fernanda claimed to have walk to preserve her image after she learned in the hotel, that she was being portrayed by the media as a lesbian (as the girlfriend of the openly lesbian singer Nise Palhares, 3rd place on Ídolos 2010) and a troublemaker.[13]

Fabiana Teixeira, a 35-year-old poster girl from São Paulo, was officially announced on January 9, 2012 as Fernanda's replacement.[14][15]

On January 8, it was revealed that Big Brother producers called 60 unsuccessful auditioners to make part of the audience at the launch night. All of them had gone through the entire selection process but didn't make to the final cut.[17]

At the launch night, it was revealed that four more housemates would join the cast, bringing the total numbers of finalists to 16. The selection of the remaining finalists, however, was not random. These four new housemates – Analice, Daniel, Fael and Monique – were also chosen to be part of the season back in December 2011 and put into sequester alongside the, at the time believed to be, "original 12".

All housemates competed in an endurance challenge for a chance to win an extra immunity for the first week. The challenge was the first to ever been done on Big Brother Brasil (on the series premiere in 2002) and consisted of all the housemates in a car and winner would be the last person standing. After 30 hours, a new record for the franchise, Kelly beat Jakeline and won the extra immunity, the car and the first Power of No (a new twist of the series).

Like in the previous seasons, each week the housemates compete to become the Head of Household. However, a new twist called the Power of No was awarded in the first seven weeks to one housemate (except Week 3, where two housemates were awarded this power). The winner of the Power of No would be given the opportunity to disqualify up to five people from competing in the Head of Household competition.[18]

In Week 1, the Power of No was given to Kelly as part of her prize for winning the endurance challenge in the season premiere. From Weeks 2–6, the Power of No competition replaced the Monday Game Night (held since season 9) but kept the same format, with elimination-style type of challenges as a way to create drama and conflict between the housemates. In Week 7, the last Power of No was given to Jonas, after he answered the last Big Phone that week.

The current Head of Household was also not eligible to compete in the following HoH competition unless only 6 housemates were remaining.[19]

Although the Big Phone is still part of the game since season 8, in this season only rang 4 out of 14 nominations rounds and none automatic nominations for eviction.

From March 8 to March 15, 2012, Laisa Portella was a guest on Gran Hermano 13, where she spent seven days in the Spanish house as part of the Brazilian Week. The following week (March 16 to March 21, 2012), Spanish housemate Noemí Merino, a 25-year-old surfer from Lanzarote, spent five days in the Brazilian house.[20]

All numbers are in points and provided by IBOPE.