School Teacher Wins "Big Brother 10"

Dan Gheesling Takes Home $500,000 1st Prize, Beating Out Friend Memphis Garrett

(CBS)  A 25-year-old Catholic school teacher is the big winner of "Big Brother 10." Dan Gheesling takes home $500,000. His best buddy in the house, Memphis Garrett, was the runner-up. The two spoke with The Early Show co-anchor and Big Brother host Julie Chen just moments after the season finale.

"Dan, you've just won half-a-million dollars. How does it feel to be the winner of Big Brother 10?" Chen asked.

"It's very hard to fathom at this point -- $500,000 is a lot of money, but being a big fan of the show, winning this is like a dream come true, and I couldn't have done it without the renegade brother Memphis," Gheesling said.

"Is that true, Memphis?" Chen asked.

"It is true," Garrett said.

"Does he deserve to win over you -- the half million dollar grand prize?" Chen asked.

"You know, of anybody in the cast to win, I would want him to win. I'm very happy for him and we've become very, very good friends over the course of time," Garrett said.

"What are you going to do with half-a-million dollars Dan?" Chen asked.

Good question. My girlfriend back there will get a nice present that may fit on her ring finger, who knows," Gheesling said. "The reason I came on Big Brother, I love my job at St. Mary's -- hopefully I still have it. And being a teacher, hopefully this will allow me to stay there for the rest of my career."

"What does it take to win this game?" Chen asked Gheesling.

"Memphis and I can both speak on the fact that we kept a cool head for the most part. We saw a lot of people self-destruct in this game," Gheesling said. "The first handful of people went down by their own hand and I think because we never really self-destructed that's a major component coming into this house."

"I wasn't going to change who I was for this game, and I haven't," Garrett said.

"And Dan, how about you. You didn't lose your cool. Is that how you are in real life?" Chen asked.

"Pretty much. There's a couple times when maybe I get called a name, but one thing I have in real life is a sharp tongue, and if I would've let that sharp tongue loose, I would not be here," Gheesling said.

"How did you control it?" Chen asked.

"$500,000," Gheesling said.

"You can zip it up for that for sure. What did you miss most?" Chen asked.

Both men pointed to their girlfriends.

"Aww, their girlfriends," Chen said. "Well, you guys certainly earned this. For you Memphis, $50,000, and Dan, half-a-million. Well done … "

[rsharpypoo]

I thought Dan played an excellent game and am glad the jury voted the way they did. I wish Renny had been in the final with Dan - the outcome might have been different.

[ajps1020]

Dan was the fave in my house early on. Reminded me a lot of Dr. Will, another fave. I am very glad he won and wish him lots of luck!

[skullzy-2009]

The kindness that Jerry mentioned was the fact that Dan said good night to him each and every evening in the Big Brother house. No matter how much tension there was between Jerry & Dan, Dan always said good night to him. The interviews from the back yard with Gretchen Massey are where you can see Jerry talk about this.

[mendaheart]

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT KIND ACT DAN DID FOR JERRY (REMEMBER WHEN JERRY VOTED AT THE FINALE HE SAID HIS VOTE WAS BASED ON KINDNESS AND HE WOULD EXPLAIN LATER?) I WAS ALSO HAPPY THAT BRIAN CALLED OUT THOSE IN THE HOUSE WHO WERE DOWNRIGHT MEAN AND GOSSIPY. DAN AND MEMPHIS NEVER MADE PERSONAL ATTACKS, BUT GOT TO THE FINAL TWO THROUGH STRATEGY THAT DIDN''T REQUIRE PERSONAL ATTACKS ON PHYSICAL APPEARANCE OR PERSONAL TRAITS WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN THE GAME. GLAD TO KNOW THAT GOOD GUYS CAN FINISH FIRST! AND FOR THE RECORD, APRIL - YOU ARE NOT PRETTIER THAN KEESHA!!!!

[c2tina]

I like the game. Iam glad that Dan won.

[oleander8]

I''ve watched this show from BB1 thru BB10 - it''s like a summer drug. With the exception of the first show, when Eddie won, I have always disliked the winner. The only way you can get ahead in this game is to lie, use people, instigate confrontation, and then gloat. It''s the nature of the game, I know. And every year I say I won''t watch it again...but I always do.

[samthetvcat]

---"The reason I came on Big Brother, I love my job at St. Mary''s -- hopefully I still have it. And being a teacher, hopefully this will allow me to stay there for the rest of my career."---

The first week, I was really nervous for him because you see sometimes people do things in the house and fans who watch the show get so angry you see people on message boards talking about writing to their employers to say they''re not fit to do their jobs or whatever. Didn''t that happen to Jennifer Vasquez after she backdoored Kaysar Ridha? :o

But then he got picked for America''s Choice so it was okay :)

PS Keisha''s a sweetie, but I thought Rennie might get the viewer''s choice 3rd prize . . . surprised by that . . .

[samthetvcat]

Yeah, Dan won! He was my favorite.

I''m surprised Memphis didn''t even get a vote. He played a good game.

It was a good cast this year. Lots of fun, interesting people :)

[one4james]

Having watched all 10 seasons, this is the first time my cast favorite went on to win the game. Congrats Dan! He played the game perfectly and he deserved to win. I was very dissapointed in the finale however. What a let down! It should have definitely been 2 hours. I would have liked to see a lot more "reveals" from the first 4 houseguests and Julie Chen. What about the mysterious banner? Would have been fun to see them reveal the truth about that as well as interviews with the 2 girlfriends of the final 2. They only showed one clip from the show and that was of Jerry. Boooooorrrring. C''mon CBS, you owe your viewers better next time.

[duckyduck888]

I agree with the comment from confused_2. I believe that the finale should be 2 hours long as well. I like the part where the first houseguest give their opinion on how the season went. They make very good points. I just feel short changed on the finale show because it goes by too fast. I would also love a reunion show to see what the former houseguest are up to. I love watching Big Brother and this was one of the best seasons ever.

[confused_2]

The Big Brother finally should be at least a 2 hour show. This season was the best to date. The house guest were comical,entertaining and genuine . It was just an incredible season. This is the cast that the viewer was really able to care for. I for one, would be very interested in some kind on reunion show as well as up dated from time to timeon how the guest are doing and what they are up to. Congradulations to Dan, Menphis, Keesha, Renny and CBS. It was a great summer. CBS will never be able to top this season or this group of House Guests.!!!!!!!!!

[maggoo70]

Funny those who comment negatively on this article claim to not like show, but yet take time to read and/or watch the show. Don''t like it? Then don''t watch it and leave the posts for positive and constructive comments.

[caldwellptr]

This was favorite cast ever. I find BB entertaining = the equivalent of stoop sitting.

Congrats to Dan and Memphis

[jgirl57]

Are you kidding me CBS - we waited all day for the rest of the interview, and that was it just what you showed this morning? Come on - you did all these long interviews all season and now nothing but checks for Dan and Memphis - again another anti-climatic finale. Come on CBS show some more stuff after the winner is announced...

[vipes711]

it frightens me even more that there are people living in this society that bash others for what amounts to A CHOICE .. if you dont watch it THATS YOUR CHOICE .. If I watch it ITS MY CHOICE ..That makes me no less a person or no more a person than you ..

[kam76]

what surprises me people commenting on how lame the show is and they dont watch it but yet still they comment about it......

[ricktas]

Maggie said for "MORE" of the interview with Julie go to Earlyshow etc. Ok...so where is the "MORE". Why are most of these sites DECEPTIVE with this kind of statement. They lure you to their site...and quess what...THERE IS "NO MORE"

[avigil2]

Big Brother is one of the worst shows in the history of reality television.

[cattiej]

Did you people really think the producers of the show really care about the ending. They just want to keep you interested each week so they can make more money. When the last show is on and "the winner is""! You, because you choose to watch such dribble. It''s the same with all the other "reality shows" i.e. Dancing
with The Stars, American Idol, etc. etc. etc...get a life and don''t spend all your time watching the boob tube, do some charity work somewhere and make your life worthwhile. I can''t believe all the fight shows on the TV, violent shows that parents should not let their children watch..we blocked or TV of these type of shows as they are an insult to normal people.

[usclimey]

I''m proud to say I have not watched more than 5 seconds of this show, Survivor, My big ugly husband/wife, etc.etc. EVER. Did catch a couple of eps. of Great Race though - the people are stupid but the scenery''s cool.