This is the End :: Putting 'Big Brother 16' to Bed

"Big Brother" fans around the country breathed a heavy sigh of relief Wednesday night. The three-month journey, or their huge TV commitment -- depending on how you view your "Big Brother" experience -- that started in late June came to an end when "Big Brother 16" wrapped up and Rhode Island undercover police officer Derrick Levasseur was crowned the winner and took home more than $500,000.

Toward the end of most seasons of the CBS reality show, especially when there are only a handful of players left in the game, fans clamor on the Internet and proclaim that this is The Worst Season of "Big Brother" Ever. It's happened ever since social media became a part of our lives and the sentiment is probably not going to go away unless a universal favorite wins the game. Even though Levassuer absolutely deserved to win the game, you can check out almost any "Big Brother" site, poll or message board and find out that fans are so over this "terrible" season.

This season's finale didn't do much to get fans to change their mind. Though it was the series' longest finale ever at 90-minutes, it didn't do much to keep things interesting or exciting and the finale dragged up through the anticlimactic and predictable ending with host Julie Chen announcing that Levassuer was the winner.

The first half-hour of the show was devoted to who won the last Head of Household challenge. Those who watch the feeds or read spoiler websites already knew last week that it would be a head-to-head match between Lavassuer and his alliance member, Cody Calafiore. Though their live battle, where the men (known as "The Hitmen") had to predict how each jury member would finish a sentence about how they felt about the season, was tight -- it went to a tiebreaker, and Calafiore's win was the most boring outcome that could happen.

To Lavassuer's credit, the young and hunky Calafiore was brainwashed by his undercover cop buddy. With the last power he had in the game, he tossed it out the window, along with $450,000, and announced he'd take Lavassuer, a married father of a baby girl, to the final two, simultaneously evicting Victoria Rafaeli, who did absolutely nothing in the game. Rafaeli is the goat you bring to the final two, ensuring you get all nine jury votes. It's a dirty but easy win.

But in one of the dumbest moves of the season (and one of the most boring), Calafiore ignored that fact (even though the night before the finale, he was seen on the live feeds coming to the realization he had no chance to win against Lavassuer), solidifying his second place status.

The jury then asked the final two six questions, three each. And it was a mess and not in the fun way where you can't look away. Former houseguest made jokes that went off like lead farts, there were production issues, and both Calafiore and Lavassuer were horrible at giving answers and their final plea speeches to win the game. Obviously, Lavassuer destroyed his na�ve BFF, who stumbled over his words and ended up praising Lavassuer when he tried to explain the big moves he made during the game.

While producers can't do much about the results of the game, they can do a lot to dress it up and make it a spectacular fanfare, which didn't happen. Sure there were familiar faces, veteran and one of the most popular "Big Brother" contestants Dr. Will Kirby played moderator with the jury, and "Big Brother" darlings Jeff Schroeder and fianc� Jordan Lloyd were in the audience, sitting next to pop star Ariana Grande, who happens to be the half-sister of this season's out contestant, the controversial Frankie Grande.

But the finale was full of fluff and the payoffs didn't pay off: when Chen revealed some of the biggest secrets of the season ("Big Brother 16" was labeled as the "twistiest season ever" lol), like the three members of Team America (Lavassuer, Grande and fan favorite Donny Thompson), a secret alliance chosen by fans who had to carry out tasks that ranged from voting out people to hiding houseguests' clothes, the reactions were fun to watch, but were only fleeting moments.

Before Lavassuer was announced the winner and after the jurors voted, he revealed that he was an undercover cop and not the parks and recreations officer he told everyone he was. The houseguests were surprised but there's not much fun in watching someone find out something you've known for three months.

Fans had the same "this season sucks" reaction to last year's "Big Brother 15" even though it became one of the most talked-about seasons. Its cast came under fire for making racist, anti-gay, violent and other controversial comments while living in the "Big Brother" house. Their hateful rhetoric was caught by fans who tune into the 24/7 Internet live feeds and the drama crossed over into national pop culture.

Despite its high ratings, ongoing drama (inside and outside the house) and the wide-screen personalities, fans poo-pooed the season, especially when openly gay winner Andy Herren, labeled as a two-timing rat, took home the grand prize.

But last year's craziness only boosted "Big Brother 16" as the show's producers were more aware this time around, selecting an inclusive, young, hip and sexy cast. No one made racist comments, or at least to the extent those made last year. (There was a time this year, however, where Grande made TMZ headlines for terrible comments about Rafaeli's virginity.)

Not only was casting on point, but the budget for the competitions seemed to be extended as the sets were top notch, and producers were able to transform the "Big Brother" backyard into a frat house, Egyptian pyramid, a "Great Gatsby" style mansion, a football stadium, a board game and plenty of other intricate settings.

At the start, "Big Brother 16" had such potential -- no assholes, a young vibe and great challenges. But it lacked players. Only about four or five houseguests knew about "Big Brother" before coming into the game. Most were recruited, some were aware of the show but just passive viewers. Lavassuer, an obvious big fan, played a near-perfect game, similar to Boston Rob's gameplay from his third time playing on "Survivor" but minus the charisma (Lavassuer will be the first to admit he's not great TV). He was never, not once, in danger of going home. There were more than 50 chances to be nominated, thanks to a new twist called Battle of the Block, but he was never put up for eviction; this was one of his selling points to the jury. But some argue he had little competition since most houseguests only saw the last season or two of "Big Brother."

At times, the season came off as more of a boring season of the "Real World" than "Big Brother." With a cast of full newbies, its not surprising to see houseguests play it safe and stray away from making big moves that make good TV. Nearly every vote was unanimous. There were maybe three blindsides and they were weak. Alliances stuck together for the most part, only cutting the fat when you couldn't blame them.

Producers may have focused on seeking out larger-than-life personalities this season, they seemed to forgot to look for people who know how to lie, cheat and backstab.