‘Big Brother’ key art reveals clue to season 27 theme (exclusive)

Put simply… when it comes to TV, the month of June is for suckers. It’s as if someone took a look at the calendar and smothered days 1 through 30 in a thick coating of weak sauce. That’s because the pickings for reality competition obsessives during June are slim. Shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race have wrapped up their runs, yet the summer crop of entries have yet to get into full swing.

Which brings us to everybody’s favorite guilty pleasure summer series, Big Brother. The July 10 premiere date on CBS for season 27 still seems frustratingly far away. But not far enough for us to start making educated guesses as to what the theme will be for the upcoming installment. And what exactly would make those guesses educated? That would be the fact that we have your exclusive first look at the key art for season 27 above, which contains a not-so-subtle clue to this season’s twist.

Let’s just say that the first look at #BB27 definitely puts the key in key art, as we see Julie Chen Moonves looking resplendent in red with an oh-so-sly grin while seated in front of a wall of keys — 48 of them, to be exact. But what does it all mean? We went to the host for answers, yet she remains cagey at best.

“The keys to unlocking unexpected mysteries in the Big Brother house are right in front of you!” Chen Moonves tells Entertainment Weekly. “Don’t be left in the dark this summer. Be sure to tune in!” I mean… of course I’m going to tune in, Julie! You telling me to tune in is almost as if we have never met, when you know good and well I have no social life. BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE DARN KEYS?!?

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Okay, the Chenbot is simply too disciplined and is not going to give up the goods, so let’s see if we can get Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan to slip up instead. EW reached out to the executive producers for a statement hoping to gain more intel into this enigma wrapped inside a question mark buried under a mystery. And what did the dynamic producing duo have to say?  

“The key to a perfect summer is no mystery,” say the EPs. “Get ready to unlock the most unexpected season of Big Brother yet!” (Wait, did they just tell me I should literally expect the unexpected?)

So we’ve got Julie talking about keys, we’ve got the producers talking about keys, and we’ve got a picture with an El Guapo-esque plethora of keys. So what are we to make of all this? And why are the keys randomly facing different ways? And do those keys happen to unlock a Time Laser or a psychotic artificial intelligence robot force-feeding contestants pizza and ice cream? Because if they do unlock a Time Laser or a psychotic artificial intelligence robot force-feeding contestants pizza and ice cream, then I will never be the same.

What are your theories for what the key-filled key art could mean for this season’s theme? (Secret room, anyone?) Hit the comments to weigh in, and make sure to grab a life vest before season 27 floats into view on July 10.