Big Brother Season 28's premiere date is rapidly approaching on the 2026 TV schedule, but that's not soon enough for its most dedicated fans. It's a good thing, then, that CBS was kind enough to give CinemaBlend and others a first look at the house for this season, and it confirms the heavily speculated theme. I'm a big fan, and I think I spot one detail that may tell us more than what we've been told.

Get ready for a trek across time, because the BB Time Trip is taking Houseguests on a journey across different eras. Take a look at the gallery below, which features a design inspired by various decades of the past and future:

Unfortunately, we don't get to see the HOH Room or Have-Not Room yet, but what's been shared so far is awesome. If I had to make any guesses, I'd say the HOH room is probably some like lavish royal suite, and the Have-Not room will be some Neolithic Stone Age theme where Houseguests are forced to sleep on stone slabs. If the latter is true, that may rank up there with one of the worst Have-Not rooms of all time!

It's all very cool, but there's one additional detail that sticks out to me. And, right now, I think it provides another hint regarding what fans will see when they're streaming those live feeds (using a Paramount+ subscription). Let's talk about it and hope that the popular speculation of returning houseguests was accurate as well!

A Lightbox May Tell Us What Themes To Expect Each Week

While watching a video showing the rooms of the house in more detail, I couldn't help but notice a lightbox on the wall that highlighted specific eras. For those who missed it, check out the image below and see how it highlights Ancient Egypt, Y2K, Medieval Times, the Wild West, the Jurassic Era, the 1980s, the 23rd Century, and the Summer of Love:

I'm not sure each section can be lit individually, but I wonder if this prop will signal to Houseguests which week they're in. For example, if they're in Ancient Egypt, the games that week might be themed around that era, and the punishment might include a plague of some sort or a "Pharaoh's curse."

Another possibility is that this is just for decoration. It's certainly a possibility as it's in the futuristic-themed room, so this could be a prop to hint the room is like a time machine. As my past in-depth house reveals show, sometimes these details mean everything, and other times they mean nothing. I guess we'll all have to wait and find out together!

Big Brother Season 28 kicks off on Thursday, July 9th on CBS with a 90-minute premiere! Be sure to clear your schedule, because Big Brother: Unlocked returns the next evening, with the live feeds premiering soon after!

Big Brother: Unlocked is returning to the 2026 TV schedule, and it's adding a notable celebrity superfan to the panel. Jerry O'Connell will be added to the panel alongside former Big Brother winners Taylor Hale and Derrick Levasseur, as they break down all the goings-on of Season 28. It's news that I'm psyched to hear, and honestly, it has me more invested in the series than ever.

While I'm usually watching Big Brother's live feeds with my Paramount+ subscription, I did occasionally tune into Big Brother: Unlocked when they had someone that I liked, or a big-name celebrity like James Gunn. O'Connell is someone who checks off both boxes for me, and I think he'll provide a big boost to the budding recap show.

Jerry O'Connell Adds Decades Of On-Camera Experience To BB: Unlocked

Taylor and Derrick did a solid enough job in their inaugural season of Big Brother: Unlocked, but I think adding an established television host like Jerry O'Connell will add a lot to the overall product. He was a co-host on the daytime series The Talk for years before its cancellation, and also hosts the game show version of Pictionary. BB fans may also remember he filled in for Julie Chen Moonves when she contracted COVID and was unable to appear in one episode in Season 26.

He's also an entertainer, and anyone who's seen his movies, shows, panels, or podcast appearances knows this. He may not be able to speak to the experience of playing Big Brother like Taylor and Derrick can, but he's more than capable of steering a show in a direction that could make it more entertaining and engaging for its audience.

BB: Unlocked Features A New "Fan Vote" That Will Impact The Season

Jerry O'Connell joining Big Brother: Unlocked is exciting, as is the new voting feature that will debut during the premiere episode. CBS announced a "new interactive fan vote" that will have a major impact on the game, which sounds very interesting. It also appears BB: Unlocked will feature a live-studio audience, which may also factor into this new twist.

So it sounds like if viewers want to have an impact on Season 28 of Big Brother, they're going to need to tune into BB: Unlocked. I'm certainly curious about this whole voting thing, and if it ties in at all to the theme and twist of Season 28, or has anything to do with returning houseguests.

In any case, if the goal in hiring on Jerry O'Connell and adding a fan vote was to get me more invested in BB: Unlocked, mission accomplished. I'm afraid I'm going to have to cancel more plans than I previously thought, and double-check that my Paramount+ subscription is up to date ahead of the big premiere!

Tune in for the premiere of Big Brother: Unlocked, which will air on CBS on Friday, July 10th at 8:00 p.m. ET. Of course, the Season 28 premiere will happen the day before, and then there's another episode on Sunday! I might as well cancel my plans for the entire weekend at this point, and I'm not mad about it.

Big Brother Season 28's premiere date is coming up on the 2026 TV schedule, and while we still have no idea who is involved or whether we'll get returning Houseguests, we now know when to expect the live feeds. It's looking like we won't have to wait to watch the Houseguests around the clock with my Paramount+ subscription as long as I thought, but I do have mixed feelings.

Thanks to a promo from Pluto TV, we now know that the Big Brother live feeds will kick off on Friday, July 10th at 9:00 p.m. ET (via @BBigBrotherBuzz). In short, it's not immediately after the premiere, but it is much sooner than I and many others speculated. Still, I have so many other questions now.

Big Brother Season 28's Live Feeds Begin One Day After The First Part Of The Premiere

Big Brother kicks off with a 90-Minute premiere on Thursday, July 9th, which means the live feeds will turn on just a little under a full day after the season begins. Ideally, I'd love to see them turn on shortly after the Thursday premiere airs on the West Coast, as we've seen in previous seasons.

Ultimately, however, I'm fine with only waiting a day on the live feeds. The first days of the feeds are so vital for fans to see if they want the full context of which Houseguests are aligned at the start, and all the drama that surfaces in the opening moments. While we will likely miss the aftermath of the nominees being chosen, we'll have the feeds by the time the veto competition starts. Assuming, of course, that the theme and twist don't change the rules, and that's not happening in the first week.

Also, are we ever going to learn why Big Brother was testing a livestream for the show on YouTube? Maybe we're finally getting a jury house camera, in preparation for a Battle Back? I can only hope.

What Does This Mean For Sundays?

What's extra interesting about how Big Brother intends to roll out the live feeds for Season 28 is that Julie Chen Moonves has already hyped that the next episode after the premiere, which will air on Sunday, will be a huge and exciting episode (via TVInsider). It was because of that that many assumed the live feeds would not start until Sunday, as turning on live feeds could spoil the surprise of what's on the way.

For example, if Big Brother Season 28 is featuring some of the returning Houseguests we've seen rumored and they weren't revealed until Sunday's episode, people who watched the live feeds would already know they're involved. While not everyone watches the live feeds, those who do often tend to share spoilers on social media, so word would even reach the casual fans pretty fast unless they were living under a rock.

All this to say, we're still largely in the dark as of writing for what Big Brother Season 28 will be about. I would expect, however, that within the next couple of days we'll get a house reveal and confirmation about how the twists will work and what the names of participating Houseguests are. At least, I hope that's the case, because I'm trying to get my fantasy league for BB started!

As mentioned, Big Brother returns to CBS with Season 28 on Thursday, July 9th at 8:00 p.m. ET. Hopefully, we'll have more answers by then, but as Julie Chen Moonves likes to say, "Expect the unexpected!"

After weeks of speculation about Big Brother Season 28's theme and twist, we may have confirmation thanks to a leak from a foreign Paramount+ site. It looks like fans were on the money when they guessed we'd get returning Houseguests, as this coming season on the 2026 TV schedule will supposedly honor the past in a way I (along with other fans) really hope is legit.

While CBS remains quiet on the theme, the Chinese WeChat page for Paramount+ reportedly posted a purported synopsis for Big Brother Season 28 early. Check out the premise below, which hints at returning legends, revisiting past twists, and exploring "eras" of BB (via: @MiaRevengeee):

"Time Trip" sounds like the type of Big Brother season fans have wanted for years, in which past seasons of the show return in big ways. More importantly, this synopsis would suggest that legends of the game are seemingly rejoining the fun. To that point, recent rumors even suggested Season 15's Elissa Reilly Slater could return alongside other alums.

Fans had a lot to say about these reported details, as plenty of responses are floating around on X. Check some of them out:

• What if the returning legends have to compete in a game to enter and stay in the BB house?? - @unknownboy405
• Oh, I just know I'm gonna be accidentally calling this theme the Time Warp all season long. - @fast_benjamin
• Anytime I see 'change the game,' or anything related I just assume production is ready to really interfere - @MrBranman
• Wowwwwwwwowwww omggggg time capsule sounds crazy - @b1ggestbrother
• I hope we get at least 4 from each era - @NotoriousFOP

As usual, the synopsis doesn't tell the whole story, meaning we'll have to wait until Big Brother starts to find out exactly how the past will be honored. Maybe it means we'll be seeing some of the worst Have-Not rooms return, or we'll finally get them to switch from slop back to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

I'm also curious how many returnees we can expect. A vague post from Julie Chen Moonves had people speculating that Season 28 will feature eight returnees and eight newcomers, which could be cool. I'd certainly like that more than just a few returnees, and we'd have a better shot at seeing a returning player win.

While we don't know if this synopsis is 100% legit, it only deepens the mystery of what's to expect in BB Season 28. We have no idea who might be returning, what twists will be used or why the show was testing a livestream on YouTube not that long ago. As always, all that's left to expect is the unexpected, though it does seem we may now have a vague idea of what's on the way!

I'm so ready for Big Brother Season 28's premiere, which hits CBS on July 9th. Now that it seems we have an idea of what to expect, I guess we need to start looking to see which Houseguests are dropping off social media in the weeks leading up!

Big Brother Season 28's premiere date is rapidly approaching on the 2026 TV schedule, and wild things are happening we can't explain. Specifically, a livestream test has gone up on the site's official YouTube account, and it has some wondering if the live feeds are going to be available on another platform.

An unlisted video on the official Big Brother channel is in the midst of testing a livestream that, as of writing, has been going on for over 17 hours. It's a curious thing, considering we already have access to live feeds with a Paramount+ subscription, and on Pluto TV as well. Given that, I have an alternate theory that would both elevate the BB experience that makes more sense than putting the live feeds on yet another platform.

Big Brother Might Be Partnering With Content Creators And Former Houseguests For Live Feed Watch Parties

Big Brother fans want returning Houseguests and have been speculating that Season 28 will feature everyone from Season 15's Elissa Reilly to Season 23's Derek Xiao. As I keep reminding people every time I post a rumor related to it, CBS has not confirmed that this season will feature returning Houseguests. How could CBS possibly appease fans this season if they end up giving us a bunch of unknowns rather than former Houseguests?

My guess would be they'll be attempting to do what other reality fan sites have done for a while, and attempt to create a live-feed watchalong page with former Houseguests hosting. Many Houseguests are comfortable livestreaming on both Twitch and other platforms, and could be tapped to participate in a stream in which viewers watch them watch the live feeds. Honestly, they could still do this even if returning Houseguests are in the season, so I think it's a possibility either way.

Why Big Brother Adding Live Feeds To YouTube Doesn't Make Sense To Me

While it's totally possible Paramount+ is looking to add the live feeds to yet another platform, I'm not sure that makes sense. Even if people don't want to pay for a subscription to the streaming platform, the ad-supported option on Pluto TV works great, and is absolutely free. Networks like making money, so it just doesn't make sense to further dilute potential profit by creating a third place for people to tune in.

The good news is that, with the Big Brother premiere just around the corner, we won't have to wait long for answers. I do hope that there are some quality-of-life improvements coming to the live feeds ahead of Season 28, as we've taken a step back in recent years. The removal of the "flashback" feature was a big blow to the live feed crowd, who now have to watch around the clock to catch every moment. So it would be great if that returned.

I would also love live feeds to be available on Night 1 after the premiere, as the first week of the game is so vital to see when it comes to figuring out Houseguest dynamics and why some people get along, and others don't.

We'll see what's going on once Big Brother premieres over on CBS on July 9th. As much as I'm loving the speculation leading up to Season 28, I can't wait until we have some confirmation about what's on the way and finally get into this season!

There have been plenty of rumors about Big Brother Season 28 ever since it was suggested this year would feature several returning Houseguests. Fans are keeping a close eye on what former players are up to as the premiere date approaches on the 2026 TV schedule, and it looks like there's reason to believe Elissa Reilly Slater is coming back to play.

The news comes from a blind item making rounds on Twitter in which an anonymous source hinted Elissa is coming back to Big Brother for the first time since Season 15. Here's what it says (via: @RachelsHOHKey):

As far as "blind item" rumors go, it's pretty easy to decipher who is being talked about here. Elissa joined the show one season after her sister Rachel Reilly's iconic win in Season 14, and Season 15 is without a doubt still Big Brother's most controversial season. Additionally, fans are well aware Rachel came up short in her return for Season 27, so assuming this rumor is legit, there's no denying Elissa is the person in question.

As usual, some fans are getting hype and ready for her and other fan favorites to return, and I have to be the downer to say take this with a grain of salt. To start, we don't even know for sure there will be returnees this season, despite the clues being dropped to suggest that. Any longtime fan will point out that people guess it'll be a season of returnees literally every year, and former Houseguests certainly take advantage of the speculation to boost their social platforms at times. That said, I love to theorize with the best of them, so here's my argument that Elissa is indeed headed back to Big Brother.

Elissa's Been Active On Social Media, But Not So Fast

Once rumors popped up regarding Elissa being on social media, many people pointed out that she hadn't posted on X in close to a week. That said, I personally saw a story shared to her Instagram Stories less than a day ago before it was deleted. It's possible that Story was scheduled to post automatically before she went in sequester, which has to be happening soon. There's also the possibility that Elissa isn't in Big Brother Season 28 and she shared the post herself!

There's also a third option, and that would be that her sister Rachel Reilly, or someone else, is running social media for her. When Rachel returned last season, her husband and former Houseguest Brendon Villegas logged into her accounts and pretended to be her to throw people off the trail. If Elissa is in BB and had the foresight to ask someone to do the same thing, that would be such a great callback.

Elissa Would Not Be The Only Season 15 Alumni Returning To Television

Despite honoring its past in previous seasons, Big Brother has done its best not to acknowledge Season 15. While controversies seem to happen in just about every season, the series was put in the spotlight that season when several Houseguests made racist remarks and personal attacks toward one another. A disclaimer was added ahead of episodes to warn viewers, and some Houseguests lost their jobs after the season was over.

It's curious that Elissa is being rumored to return now, but she's not the only Season 15 alum plotting a return to television. Aaryn Williams (formerly Gries), who was responsible for many racist remarks, is reportedly filming for the upcoming Bravo series Secrets, Lies, Texas Wives.

If Aaryn can find her way back to reality television after her stint on Big Brother, I can hardly blame CBS for deciding it will now acknowledge Season 15 again. It's still available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription, though I warn people who watch, it can be triggering. Still, it'd be worth a watch of a few episodes just to see Elissa in action and get a sense of why fans love her so much for those unfamiliar.

Big Brother Season 28 is premiering on CBS on July 9th with a 90-minute premiere, so hopefully all our questions are answered by then. Fortunately, we only have a couple of weeks left to wait before we can put all the speculation to rest!

As July inches closer, we're getting nearer to the point where we should expect more details about what's coming for Big Brother Season 28 when it arrives on the 2026 TV schedule. Personally, I'm deep into a rewatch binge of recent seasons, as that's how I like to get warmed up for what will become my annual summer-long obsession.

Between the live feeds and the numerous weekly episodes, my Paramount+ subscription gets the most use when Big Brother's new season gets going. While I'm all set with my own subscription, if you're not signed up for the platform, now is a good time to add it, as there's a great deal going on right now.

There are a couple of ways to get this limited-time deal, which gives you Paramount+ for $.99 per month for the first two months, after which the price shifts to the usual monthly rate. The first is directly through Paramount+'s website.

Alternately, you can sign up for Paramount+ as an add-on to your Prime Video subscription.

As a Big Brother fan, Paramount+ is a must for me. Not only do I love having access to the live feeds and the ability to revisit past episodes, but the Premium plan also gives me easy access to my local CBS station, which means I can watch the episodes as they air (rather than waiting for them to be streaming). So if that's a thing that matters to you and you don't have access to CBS through cable, antenna, or a live TV streaming platform, just something to keep in mind while you're choosing which plan you want.

Big Brother Season 28 arrives on CBS on July 9, just a couple of weeks from now. While details about the theme, cast (possible returning houseguests?!) and inevitable game twists have yet to be revealed, it's just a matter of time before we learn how accurate the rumors and theories about this season really are.

If obsessing over every update about the new season isn't enough to satisfy your Big Brother craving, you can always do what I'm doing and watch old seasons. Of course, Big Brother isn't the only thing available on Paramount+. The streaming service is home to other reality TV shows (like Survivor), not to mention dramas (Dutton Ranch, Tulsa King) and comedy series (Ghosts, South Park), and plenty of movies (Scream 7, Top Gun: Maverick).

Paramount+ isn't the only streaming deal going on right now. With Amazon Prime Day right around the corner, there's an abundance of streaming deals already up and running, including a great deal for MGM+, and one for Apple TV, if you have a hankering for some of their fantastic original shows.

Big Brother Season 28's premiere date is rapidly approaching on the 2026 TV schedule, which means CBS is hyping viewers up with promos reminding them to tune in for the 90-minute premiere. As fans hunt for clues about what this season's theme and big twist are, I'm convinced I know how "eras" and past Houseguests factor in.

While it's not always the case, Big Brother promos have occasionally dropped teases about what the upcoming season is about. This brings us to the latest ad for the CBS reality series, which features a quick flash of BB logos past and present. Take a look below:

Zingbot is cool, but that's not what I'm focused on here. I find it interesting that Big Brother's latest promo features a quick rotating evolution of the show's logo over the years. Is it just fancy VFX or a clue? I think it's the latter, and now I feel like I have a good idea about what this season's theme and twist could be.

The Throwback Logos Feel Like Further Evidence We Have Returning Houseguests Playing

We've been speculating for a couple of weeks now that Big Brother Season 28 will feature returning Houseguests, thanks to a cryptic post by host Julie Chen Moonves, as well as the press release for this season removing "all-new" ahead of Houseguests, which was standard in previous releases. Now, with these throwback logos, I feel more confident than ever that we're going to see people from the past, though we've only been able to rule out a few names thus far.

Other people online have pointed to Big Brother using a lot of past footage from previous seasons in its promos, but I don't read into that a lot. To start, it's not like they can use footage from the upcoming season, as it hasn't started yet. Additionally, we've seen that done plenty in the past, though I will admit there does seem to be an intentional effort to use footage from multiple past seasons rather than more current ones.

I Think The Logos Hint That Big Brother Will Do An "Eras" Season

When it comes to themes, Big Brother likes to try to draw from pop culture when it can. Season 26 leaned heavily into AI, for example, and while that might've been more relevant for Season 28, I think we're getting a season tied to "eras."

Yes, Taylor Swift has impacted another facet of pop culture, though I don't think we're getting a season dedicated to her specifically. Instead, I think Big Brother will explore its "eras" and call back to the past through certain weeks in the season.

Maybe this means that slop will revert to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a couple of weeks, or that the dripping water endurance competition from Season 10 will return. The possibilities are endless, and while I can't say with 100% certainty the theme is "Eras," it's the best guess I've got so far!

Big Brother Season 28 kicks off on July 9th with a 90-minute premiere on CBS and on streaming for those with a Paramount+ subscription. Tune in to see what all these teases amount to, and whether we're going to get returning Houseguests this season or not.

Big Brother Season 28 is less than a month away, and amidst widespread rumors that it'll be a season featuring returning Houseguests, it looks like we can rule two out. With the CBS reality series primed for its return to the 2026 TV schedule on July 9th, it seems more likely than not that we won't be seeing Season 23's Tiffany Mitchell or BB10 winner Dan Gheesling in the mix.

While Big Brother fans tune into the live feeds with a Paramount+ subscription, they'll also need to keep an eye out for Mitchell and Gheesling on NBC's Destination X. EW reports the series is back for Season 2, and they're part of the next cast of reality TV stars that will travel the world and compete in challenges for a chance at $250,000. It's not as much as a Big Brother winner makes, but given the timing, I'm not sure that's an issue for them anyway.

Why Tiffany And Dan's Involvement In Destination X Would Presumably Kill Them Showing Up In Big Brother Season 28

While we don't know when Destination X Season 2 started filming, word was out the crew was filming in Prague around May 18th (via PragueReporter.com. Provided the reality series films like its UK counterpart, it takes a little over a month to film a full season, per Yahoo. A month from that date, Tiffany Mitchell and Dan Gheesling would have to basically get home from filming just to jump into sequester for Big Brother Season 28.

It's also worth noting that Big Brother doesn't like its Houseguests appearing on its show while appearing on other reality shows. A would-be Houseguest, Marvin Achi, was going to be in Season 24, but was replaced last minute after a previously recorded appearance of him on America's Got Talent aired on NBC (via Reality Blurred). Given that Season 2 of Destination X isn't airing until 2027, I'm not confident this would be an issue, but the announcement alone could be a factor in neither getting invited.

While I doubt most Big Brother fans assumed two-time player Dan Gheesling would play the game a third time, it's no secret that Tiffany Mitchell has been traveling the reality television circuit and has openly talked about playing again. It'd be a shame if she isn't a part of the first major comeback of former Houseguests returning to Big Brother, though we have no guarantee she's not, or even that there will be returning Houseguests.

We're Still Waiting On Confirmation Big Brother Season 28 Will Feature Returnees

Big Brother has yet to confirm that Season 28 will feature returning Houseguests, but fans have latched onto clues that point to that conclusion. Julie Chen seemingly dropped a hint about it on social media, and the press release excluded the phrase "all-new Houseguests" despite specifically pointing it out in previous season press releases.

The rumor has Big Brother fans tracking the movements of all former Houseguests and trying to figure out the list of returnees before it's officially revealed. At this point, there's going to be some disappointed people if there aren't returning Houseguests this season, so I hope the CBS reality series has that factored into its plans.

In the meantime, it's exciting that Big Brother stars continue to populate the casts of other reality shows. I'll be rooting for Tiffany Mitchell and Dan Gheesling on Destination X, and seeing if they can put the same skills they're known for in BB and The Traitors to work in this show.

As mentioned, Big Brother is back on CBS beginning July 9th with a 90-minute premiere. I always love speculating on the series, but soon I'm going to need some confirmed news to keep me from losing my mind as we inch closer to Season 28.

Big Brother Season 28's premiere date is rapidly approaching, and as I wait for its arrival on the 2026 TV schedule, I'm thinking about twists. That's mainly because I've been watching classic seasons of BB to prepare, and it has me thinking I'd love to see the Battle Back competition return this year.

We've seen BB make massive strides in the game with new twists like the BB Blockbuster, and I think it can happen with the long-running Battle Back. I think if the producers can make similar tweaks to this, it could improve the game in a dramatic way.

How Big Brother Could Improve The Battle Back Competition

In theory, the Battle Back grants a player who exited early in the game a second chance to re-enter Big Brother and win it all. Of course, as anyone who has watched the show for years has seen, it rarely plays out that way.

In execution, Houseguests sometimes return having been out of the game for weeks, and things have advanced so much they're scrambling to catch up on all they missed. As for the other Houseguests, are they more apt to flip their weeks-long plans for someone who they had no idea would return, or will they just vote them out? If you don't know the answer, I assure you your best guess of what happens will save you the time it takes to fire up that Paramount+ subscription.

So how does Big Brother fix this problem? To start, I think the Battle Back winner needs some type of immunity. Getting back in the game is a feat, yes, but worthless on its own. A returning Houseguest needs two weeks off the block to get back into the game. Whether that's giving them immunity or some other incentive for Houseguests to keep them around, it would make a tremendous difference. It sounds extreme, but if we want these people to have a shot to win Big Brother, they need more than they have.

What I Don't Want From A Battle Back

I do think that Big Brother attempted to solve the Battle Back in Season 25 with its zombie week. For those who didn't watch, Jared Fields and Cameron Hardin received a chance to re-enter the house shortly after being eliminated in the Double Eviction. At the end of the week, they competed in a challenge to decide which of them stayed and which was truly evicted.

The twist was a flop and resulted in a massive lull where no one was evicted for a time. While I would love the Battle Back to return in some form, I can confidently say that was the worst way to execute it.

All this to say, I'm not sure what the fix is for the Battle Back, but I do hope Big Brother has an idea. It would be amazing to see a Houseguest get evicted and end up returning to win it all, but as it stands, the cards are too stacked against them. Give them just a slight leg up, and Houseguests a reason to keep them around, and it should work out.

Big Brother Season 28 is set to kick off on CBS on July 9th. Tune in for the premiere on the network or with a Paramount+ subscription, and be prepared for what should be the television event of the summer.

We're just a little over a month out from Big Brother's return to the 2026 TV schedule, and Season 24 winner Taylor Hale is getting people excited! The host of BB: Unlocked, which will return this summer, just shared her top pick of whom she'd like to see play in a hypothetical returnee season, and it's none other than Michael Bruner! And, yes, I 100% agree with Hale in wanting Bruner to return!

Hale name-dropped Bruner in a since-deleted Instagram Stories post, which was shared by @TheBigBroTea on X. Michael was on Season 24 with Taylor, which was the same season on which she became the first Black woman to win the flagship series. As for why I think Bruner would be a great choice for a returnee season, there are a few reasons for that.

Why I'd Love To See Michael Bruner Return To Big Brother

Big Brother Season 24 is all about Taylor Hale, which makes sense, considering her bullying controversy put her in the spotlight. Taylor deserved her win, without question but, if you asked me who played the best game that season, it was Michael Bruner. Michael was a power player in the game and won so many competitions that he broke Janelle Pierzina's record for wins in a single season. Theoretically, he could bring that same level of competitiveness to a new season, which would be awesome.

Also, just to note, Michael might've kept winning in Season 24 had a malfunctioning rope not broken during the veto that saw him ousted from the house as part of a double eviction. Ultimately, Michael's record-setting run was short-lived, as Jag Bains ended up surpassing his record-setting accolades in Season 25.

I'd like to think that in a season with the BB Blockbuster, Michael would've been unstoppable and have maybe won it all, but we can't be sure until he actually returns for another season of Big Brother. If nothing else, he could have another iconic exit, which still makes me laugh when I see it pop up on social media. So, all in all, Bruner could inject a lot of energy into a new season and could even spark some entertaining drama.

Will Big Brother Season 28 Feature Returnees?

Taylor's recent comments on a returnee season aren't coming out of thin air. Plenty of fans are speculating that Big Brother Season 28 will feature returning Houseguests, with Julie Chen Moonves' latest post being considered a hint that it's happening.

It isn't wild to think Big Brother would bring back returning players, especially given that last season brought back Season 13 winner Rachel Reilly. Generally, the Reality TV medium seems to be trending toward re-using reality stars for other shows, with The Traitors and other popular properties being comprised of reality veterans. CBS has also leaned into this recently, as evidenced by a season of The Amazing Race with all former Big Brother Houseguests.

In addition to that, the past five seasons of Big Brother have featured some incredible Houseguests. Seeing any of those former contestants again would be a treat, though I'm ultimately leaning toward the theory that there will be eight returnees, which would account for half the cast of a standard season. Newbies vs. vets? Sign me up, especially if Michael Bruner is part of it.

Big Brother's Season 28 premiere hits CBS on July 9th at 8:00 p.m ET. Given how the show's promotion normally operates, fans will likely know ahead of time whether this will be a returnee season or not. So keep those eyes peeled for updates on that front!

It's that time of year again for me as a Big Brother fan. With summer so close I can smell it, my anticipation for the Big Brother Season 28 premiere is heightened to the point where only rewatches of former seasons will satisfy me until the new season arrives on the 2026 TV schedule. After rewatching a few seasons so far, there's one twist I'm fed up with and needs to never return -- eliminating players without a traditional nomination and vote.

This terrible twist certainly doesn't happen every season, but it was revitalized just last season when Big Brother legend Rachel Reilly was eliminated on a hamster wheel. I'm not here to rant about that specific nightmare right now, but it was on my mind when I rewatched Season 18 and saw Glenn Garcia sent out on Day 2 after a series of competitions. There was no vote to determine his exit; he just narrowly lost a competition that determined his elimination.

In Season 19, Cameron Heard was eliminated on Day 1, also after a series of competitions. Technically, he did get voted out, but it wasn't the normal process (he ended up one of three people on the block after half the house was saved by friendship bracelets that Paul handed out, and the remaining people competed for safety).

In Big Brother Season 21, David Alexander was among the four houseguests who were "banished," which ultimately led to his elimination on Day 1 in Season 21. In all of those seasons, there was some kind of battle-back twist that might have returned them to the game, but none of the eliminated people won their way back.

I know these weren't the first houseguests sent out without going through the usual nomination, Veto and voting process. I could never forget Jodi Rollins' exit in Big Brother Season 14, and I have a vague recollection of the first eviction(s) in Big Brother 9 being a twist-situation, but my memory of that season is fuzzy. The point I'm getting to is, Big Brother has done an elimination twist before, including one as recently as last season, and it has never been entertaining or satisfying.

I can't say I was devastated when any of the mentioned early eliminations happened, since we barely got the chance to get to know them when it happened. Still, what is the point of bringing someone into the game just to have them sent out without really getting to play? "Expect the unexpected," I know, but it seems like a massive waste for a twist that really never lands.

I get that there's a high-stakes element to this kind of twist that creates suspense in the moment, as the houseguests scramble not to be the one sent out, but it's such a fleeting bit of excitement, and I don't think the outcome has ever been so exciting and entertaining to warrant ending a player's game. At best, we'll be relieved the people we're rooting for most are safe, and at worst, well... see Season 27.

I appreciate that Big Brother has to change things up each season to keep the players on their toes and the viewers on the edges of our seats. I have no doubt that it's not an easy job and chances have to be taken. With that said, if a twist's outcome ranges from neutral to terrible when tried in the past, maybe don't do it anymore?

I'll just add, when it comes to the hamster wheel twist from last season, I don't actually hate a competition that involves each player choosing who goes next, with a ticking clock involved and some kind of big stakes to that -- Head of Household, a secret power, a punishment, whatever. I do think the Reindeer Games competition has potential to work in a traditional season of Big Brother, just not for a houseguest's elimination as a result.

In the meantime, after last season's surprise elimination competition resulted in Rachel Reilly leaving the house, I do hope Big Brother officially retires these kinds of scenarios. The outcome hasn't been worth the gamble.

Big Brother Season 28 is just around the corner, much to my excitement. Of course, there are still plenty of details that have yet to be divulged. Ahead of its arrival on the 2026 TV schedule, series host Julie Chen Moonves is doing her usual vague posting and potentially hinting at what to expect. The host dropped a post on social media that seemed to hint that former Houseguests are returning to the latest season, and I'm very excited by the possibility!

In past seasons, viewers have seen Chen Moonves hint at both the theme and twists of a season via cryptic posts on social media. For instance, before Season 26, she made posts with AI before it was revealed that such technology be a major theme of the season. Now, ahead of Season 28 she's shared a GIF with former Houseguests, and fans can't help but speculate that we'll get eight returning Houseguests this season. Take a look:

The logic here is that Julie Chen Moonves shared eight emojis, along with a GIF that featured a bunch of former Houseguests. Now, take this with a grain of salt, because it's not like she can share future footage of a Big Brother season that hasn't aired yet. If this rumor is true, however, here's why I'd be thrilled, and why I'm more apt to believe than not that returning Houseguests are on the table for Big Brother Season 28.

Why Eight Returning Houseguests Would Have Me Hyped

If Big Brother is indeed planning for eight returning Houseguests this season, I'm absolutely on board. To start, that would mean that 50% of the players in the house would be returning contestants, and that would help prevent the in-house strategy of immediately targeting former players. It could even encourage the house to split between early 8-person alliances, as each side tries to get the upper hand on the numbers. Of course, those who want to win Big Brother know alliances must be made on varying sides and that they must work secretly from the shadows while the dominos fall.

The idea of eight returning players is also exciting, because it would give BB the feel of an all-star season, without it being a fully all-star cast. Season 22 left a bad taste in the mouths of a lot of die-hard fans, but we've had so many great cast members since then. I'd love to see several former Houseguests from Season 23 and on play again and, while I got that with a recent season of The Amazing Race, it's not as fun as seeing them compete in the Big Brother house.

This Isn't The First Hint Fans Have Gotten That Former Big Brother Houseguests Could Be In Season 28

Chen Moonves' post is just the latest hint that Season 28 will feature returning Houseguests. When the press release for the latest season rolled out, many noted that it merely referred to the contestants as "Houseguests" rather than "all-new Houseguests," as it had in the previous two seasons.

New Houseguests, returnees, or whatever is around the corner, I'm hyped for Big Brother Season 28, though I hope this theory proves to be true. Also, I'm especially curious to see what's on tap for the live feeds, as I'll be accessing those frequently using a Paramount+ subscription. Here's hoping this former Houseguests rumor pans out, because I'm already thinking about all the past favorites I'd love to see back in the house!

On that note, it's also possible this may be the final season in the iconic house used for production. The studio lot its located on is up for sale, and CinemaBlend reported back in April that Netflix is looking to purchase the lot. So if this is the last season with the modern BB house, shouldn't we send it out with a bang with classic players?

Big Brother Season 28 premieres on CBS on Thursday, July 9th at 8:00 p.m. ET. Be ready for a night full of surprises and, of course, check in with CinemaBlend all season as we report on what's happening in the house!

It seems like CBS may finally pull the trigger on a special that pits Survivor and Big Brother stars against each other, according to a new rumor. While we don't know if this will be a one-off planned for the 2026 TV schedule or something saved for those with a Paramount+ subscription, word is circulating fast that a lot of familiar faces are gathering for a new game show.

Prominent insider accounts like @TheBigBroTea reported that BB Season 24 winner Taylor Hale and Season 27's Keanu Soto were in Portugal at the same time. While there were brief rumors that the duo was dating, insider @realitytv_fan claimed on their Instagram story that CBS is filming something there with alumni of Big Brother and Survivor:

There are a bunch of names floating around about which former Survivor or Big Brother players are participating, and little to confirm it. On the Survivor side, I've seen claims from @SpinnerTea that Cirie Fields is participating, as well as Survivor 49 and 50 breakout Rizo Velovic. CBS has not confirmed any of this, but given it seems like something is in the process of filming, that's not particularly odd.

It's also not surprising that it seems like CBS could be pulling the trigger on a Survivor vs. Big Brother game show, as fans of both have pushed for something like this for decades.

In general, I feel like CBS could be taking a page out of The Traitors' playbook and finding more ways to bring stars of its various reality shows together beyond competitions like The Challenge. The Amazing Race recently did a full season with former Big Brother cast members, and BB featured Cirie, a Survivor legend, in Season 25. However, I'm dying for a program that truly brings the two shows together.

So far, this rumored show doesn't sound like the Big Brother/Survivor hybrid series that I had in mind, but I'll take it. Ultimately, I'm just happy we're getting more chances to see these reality stars on television, as there are only so many seasons of The Traitors, Love Island, and The Challenge to go around. I'm excited to see what becomes of this project, assuming the rumors are true and CBS is cooking up a new reality show for its viewers to enjoy.

Right now, the only thing we know for sure is that Big Brother Season 28 is headed to CBS on Thursday, July 9th. Tune in for the 90-minute premiere, and be sure to check out the episode schedule so you don't miss a single moment.

I don’t think anyone would argue the last season of The Amazing Race was a fairly big departure from previous seasons. This mostly had to do with the format, which featured teams of Big Brother players and a loved one competing against one another for the winning million dollar prize. The previous CBS stars were all very aware of the cameras and how they wanted to come off, but mostly, it was really interesting to see reality stars from one game play another, and to see those fandoms collide. So, why doesn’t the show mix things up more often?

Apparently, There Is A Reason

I'd love to see a season of The Amazing Race that mimics what The Traitors has done for those with a Peacock subscription. While we've gotten some celebs on the reality competition series, I’ve honestly always wondered why it hasn't brought in more famous or semi-famous people. I do know it can be hard to get celebrities on the show in general, as Will Forte and Val Kilmer long wanted to team up for the show before his death in 2025. Scheduling was the major issue for the pair.

In an interview with Page Six, host Phil Keoghan basically confirmed scheduling was also the main problem with an all-celebrity season.

However, there would be several ways to remedy that. I can notably think of two:

• Do a shorter season (tighter windows would mean greater availability).
• Do fewer locations (this goes along with a shorter season and could be like the family season of the series, which took place in North America only, requiring less lengthy travel).

As it turns out, Phil is no dummy and has thought of this. He also explained what would need to happen if there would be a bigger, bolder celebrity lineup down the line.

I mean, c’mon Phil, Sydney Sweeney and Mike White want to team up. Let’s make that happen.

We Have Seen Some Celebrities On The Amazing Race Before

The Amazing Race has always been a place for semi-famous names to crop up. The White Lotus creator Mike White’s popped up. Fellow Survivor alum Boston Rob and Amber Mariano have showed up. Professional athletes have appeared from NFL teams, hockey teams and more, including paired teams like Cedric Ceballos and Shawn Marion or DeAngelo Williams and Gary Barnidge. There was also a whole season of influencers before the show tried the Big Brother season.

There’s also been a faction of people who are famous now who broke out on TAR. That includes names like Stassi Schroeder, who competed with her family back in Season 8. Or Natalie and Nadiya Anderson, who competed on the Phil Koeghan-led show before transitioning to Jeff Probst’s Survivor. Contestants flipping from Survivor to Race and vice versa feels pretty natural at this point.

Phil did also mention the “real people” seasons have anecdotally seemed more popular, but I’d argue a mix of a little bit of everything is better. It can be helpful to have some known faces during early episodes of shows. It’s easier to get to know teams in some ways. Mostly, though, I like it when TAR changes things up. I wish we had more seasons with All-Star or other returning characters. I’d also maybe like to see a mash-up where former teammates compete, but with a new partner from another team. Phil has said a season where the first-elimated teams came back would be the “worst” disaster, so we probably shouldn’t go that route.

Still, variety is the spice of life, and I wouldn’t mind giving some famous faces a go at a race around the world. Or, if Phil Keoghan is right, a race around one easy-to-navigate-in-a-short-amount-of-time continent.

Big Brother Season 28 is on its way to the 2026 TV schedule, and it wouldn't be preseason without fans worrying about the live feeds. Surprisingly, however, the drama this time doesn't involve needing a Paramount+ subscription or having CBS at all, but rather some new limits rolling out on X.

X recently announced a litany of changes for unverified or nonpaying users on the platform, which has some BB fans worried ahead of its return. The social media site has long been a haven for fans to share everything from their reactions to episodes to stay up to date on the live feeds while they work, but such feedback could change this coming season.

How X's Changes Could Impact Big Brother Live Feed Updates

As it stands right now, unverified users on X will only be able to post/reply fifty times. Those who pay for premium won't have those same restraints, but many popular recap accounts, like @BB_Updates, are not verified as such. These accounts are vital for transcribing in-house conversations from the feeds, sharing clips, and general show information for people who aren't watching. Fifty tweets/replies a day may seem like a lot for the average person, but the aforementioned account sent out 98 posts the day of the Season 27 finale, and all of it was legitimately vital information.

Imagine if accounts could only send out so many replies during Big Brother 27 when word first got out that Rachel Reilly was eliminated without being evicted or any controversial BB moment, for that matter? Ultimately, this is going to hinder the conversation of the Big Brother fandom at large, at least for those of us who don't pay for social media. There are already quite a few unhappy people on the platform:

• Nah we’re gonna have to crowd fund the live feeds update accounts if they aren’t verified cuz I don’t have time to sit on feeds the way I used to years ago #BB28 - @hella_manda
• BBTwitter how we feeling??? Ya’ll can’t cyberbully contestants and try to check people for their opinions on contestants now like yall did last season with the new tweet limit! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 #BB28 - @TateFostervs
• us big brother fans are cooked this summer #BB28 - @grandecstxsy
• rip big brother twitter #bb28 - @cchhaarlliiee
• gonna have to make 3 accounts for #bb28 - @tisthedamnnszn

I Wish Big Brother Would Bring Back The Rewind Function For Live Feeds

Big Brother live feed updates being impacted by X is only more concerning after the series removed the rewind feature from the live feeds in Season 26. With no way of reviewing conversations that happened overnight, X was a great resource for revisiting conversations or watching clips of what happened while I was asleep.

All this to say, Paramount+ and CBS could be the hero right now and bring back the rewind feature to the live feeds in Big Brother Season 28. Of course, we don't know the reasons why the ability to archive the feeds was removed in the first place, so I wouldn't hold my breath on them returning after two seasons of being away.

Will X changing its policies impact the average casual Big Brother fan? I'd argue yes, even if they won't notice it. The information chain, every season, trickles down from the most diehard fans, and many casual fans I know have at least one diehard filling them in on what's "really" happening in the house. It may not seem like a huge deal now, but I predict it'll be a talking point once things really kick off.

I'm still excited for the Season 28 premiere of Big Brother, which kicks off with a 90-minute episode on CBS on July 9th, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Here's hoping the live feed situation isn't quite as dire and messy as I think it's going to be, but I have to admit I'm worried about it so far.

Big Brother is returning on July 9th with a new season of the CBS reality series aiming to rule the summer. As hyped as I am for the 90-minute premiere, while also surprised that BB: Unlocked will be returning to the 2026 TV schedule as well, I do have concerns about the scheduling and longer episode runtimes.

After the 90-minute premiere on July 9th, CBS will air BB: Unlocked on Friday, July 10th, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET, with another 90-minute episode dropping on Sunday, July 12th, beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET. After that, expect the usual hour-long live eviction episodes on Thursdays starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, and Sundays will kick off an hour-long episode at the same time. Wednesday's 8:00 p.m. ET episodes will be 90 minutes long as they were in Season 27. After having issues last year, I need to talk about why this isn't the best move.

Big Brother 27's 90-Minute Episodes Were Light On Substance

When Big Brother first announced 90-minute episodes in Season 27, I was amped. As an avid live-feeds viewer, why would I ever complain about more of my favorite reality series?

Well, it turned out the idea was much better than the reality, as I often found many of the Wednesday episodes superfluous, and frankly, a bit disappointing. We did indeed get more content, but it wasn't the content that I feel casual BB fans often miss out on during a regular season.

I Hope More Time Means More Relevant Game Talk, Decisions, And Strategy

Big Brother has hundreds of hours each week to work with, and has to condense it down to three and a half hours, not including bonus footage from BB: Unlocked. Inevitably, important game moments are often cut from episodes, and can drastically impact how casual fans see a Houseguest's impact on the game.

It may not be a big deal for a majority of Big Brother viewers, but I think it makes a great difference for Houseguests. Game moves largely influence who wins America's Favorite Player, which is the third-best way to make money playing BB. That extra thirty minutes could be vital in proving someone is more deserving of the money than someone else, and I'd much rather see content that reflects that than filler storylines about someone's weekly punishment.

Its also beneficial to have extra time in Big Brother episodes for when the house is at its most dramatic. A lot can happen in an argument, and while live feed viewers often fill in the blanks by posting clips online, it'd be nice if the episodes put those moments front and center for people to see for themselves. We'll see if any changes are made this year in terms of what content fills those "super-sized" episodes, but I'm hoping we'll see a marked difference in what's highlighted.

As mentioned, Big Brother Season 28 kicks off on CBS on July 9th with a 90-minute episode. As of writing, it doesn't appear it's going to be a live premiere, so we'll just have to wait and see when we'll get a chance to watch the live feeds with a Paramount+ subscription.

Big Brother Season 28 is landing on the 2026 TV schedule this summer, but it remains to be seen just how much longer we'll see the central house that the CBS series films in. It was recently revealed that the studio space where the house resides is up for sale, and Netflix is reportedly in talks to buy it up.

It's being reported that the streamer is currently in negotiations to purchase Radford Studios, which Deadline notes is nearing the end of its lease with Sunset Bronson Studios. This could be a problem for CBS, as Netflix would own the space where the Big Brother house resides. So what could this mean for the long-running reality series?

Will CBS Be Able To Work Out A Deal With Netflix To Use The Big Brother House?

Should Netflix acquire Radford Studios, it's possible that CBS would have to negotiate a deal for Big Brother to film in its house on the lot. While the studios are rivals, I'm sure an agreement could be set in place for the network to remain using the house.

Of course, I'm also wondering if there's a possibility that Netflix has its own plans for the house and would use it for its own purposes. Or, it could just acquire the house and hold onto it, and be content that people are watching summer shows with a Netflix subscription rather than streaming the live feeds with their Paramount+ subscription.

Will CBS Need To Build A New House For Big Brother?

Should Netflix acquire the studio, and then bar CBS from using the Big Brother house, one would imagine CBS would need to build a new house for future seasons. That's a big deal, considering the show has only had two homes in its run, and the second one was constructed in Season 6.

Would Paramount Skydance feel the cost is justified to build another Big Brother house if it had to, especially with a merger with Warner Bros. on the horizon? I'm optimistic the answer is yes, especially after Deadline reported the series averaged 5.1 million viewers per episode in Season 27, and the live feeds had a 35% bump in minutes watched compared to the previous year.

While it may not measure up to the level of hype CBS builds for Survivor and The Amazing Race, Big Brother has maintained its position as one of the top reality shows of the summer for quite some time. Sure, the series has created some headaches for the network over the years with various controversies, but the numbers don't lie.

As such, I'm more bullish than not that CBS would build a new house if it had to for Big Brother, and I'm kind of excited about the possibility of that happening. That said, I'm not sure if it'll happen or not, and CBS was able to continue using the house despite Viacom selling off the studio to Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital Management back in 2021. It's possible Netflix acquires this and works out a deal with Big Brother, and it's a non-issue, but I will be paying attention to the situation as it unfolds.

Big Brother Season 28 is expected to air on CBS and Paramount+ this summer, but we don't have a release date yet. Host Julie Chen Moonves usually starts vague-posting about the series in May, so I'm hoping we'll have an update soon.

We're still waiting for updates on when Big Brother will return to the 2026 TV schedule, but I wouldn't say the wait has been agonizing. The Season 27 cast has kept us fed with all sorts of drama, the latest of which has the fandom buzzing once again. Morgan Pope just wished Vince Panaro a happy birthday, and now we all need to know what's going on.

I doubt I need to remind anyone about the iconic duo fans codenamed the "cheatmance," and how they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after falling short in the Final 3 to winner Ashley Hollis. Now, a couple of months short of the anniversary of them entering the BB house for the first time, is it possible they're dating?

Morgan Pope Wished Vince Panaro Happy Birthday Over On X

It's been a minute since I've seen the Big Brother timeline up in arms about Morgan and Vince, but they certainly were when they saw her public birthday message over on X. Check out her post, which referenced some of their Big Brother moments, below:

Using pet names is one thing, but directly referencing his groin?! I feel like there was some clear flirtation happening in this post, which Vince has yet to reply to. In fairness, he hasn't been on X since creating his account months ago, but she also posted this on Instagram. He's not incredibly active on there either, but one has to imagine one of his Big Brother co-stars will let him know about it at some point.

What Is Vince And Morgan's Relationship As Of 2026?

Vince Panaro has mostly laid low after Big Brother and has not given the fandom too much insight into his life post-competition. He did post a video confirming that he and his long-term girlfriend, Kelsey, broke up after the season, and appeared on an episode of Julie Chen Moonves' podcast a month ago. That's about it, though.

What's wild is we haven't seen one post confirming a post-show hangout with Morgan or Vince. These two were thick as thieves in the Big Brother house, yet have seemingly not spoken since the game ended. It's not for lack of trying, either, as Morgan has tried reaching out online with playful posts in the past.

I'm not sure Big Brother has ever seen a potential showmance turn into an alleged ghosting, though I've had my suspicions that they hang out and just don't post about it on social media. In fairness, considering how rabid fans get about showmances and anything that happens in their relationship after the show, I wouldn't blame them for wanting to keep it private. We already got an idea of what this relationship would look like on BB, and if people forget, they can always fire up their Paramount+ subscription.

Big Brother will return to CBS this summer with Season 28, and I can't wait for the first clue about this season to appear. Until then, there is still plenty of great television to enjoy in the spring season, so enjoy it before locking in during summer on BB.

Kelley Jorgensen is one of the most baffling Big Brother players of all time. I don't think it came as a shock to anyone she'd never watched the show before, and while she didn't win the game, she did last a long time on a strategy no other future Houseguest appearing in the 2026 TV schedule or beyond should emulate.

As such, I'm not the least bit surprised she went viral recently for a video of her chasing a tornado, because that feels like an analogy for her strategy on Big Brother. I'll get into that more below, but first, let's unpack the viral moment making rounds on the web.

Kelley Jorgensen Went Viral For An Old Tornado Video She Posted On TikTok

Months after going viral for finally meeting Big Brother's Tucker Des Lauriers, Kelley is back on the internet thanks to a viral tweet on X. In the video, she's seen standing outdoors in a neighborhood in the midst of a tornado, seemingly unbothered by the danger, and loving life:

After seeing the video go viral, Kelley made a follow-up to dispute some of the claims circling the internet about the clip. She explained this was an EF4 tornado that happened in Omaha, Nebraska, back in 2024, and that she was traveling for a business meeting and in the process of seeking shelter at her sister's mother-in-law's house.

She also added that this particular tornado was notable because of the distance it traveled on the ground, and yet somehow only resulted in four injuries and zero fatalities. Fortunately, her daring nature didn't come back to haunt her, or she might've never made it to Big Brother!

Kelley Going Outside During A Tornado Matches Her Strategy In Big Brother

Kelley Jorgensen outside in a tornado is only mildly surprising to me as someone who watched her on the live feeds with my Paramount+ subscription, because it perfectly encapsulates her time in the house. Even for someone who never watched the show, Kelley played Big Brother with reckless abandon, and yet, almost always came out on top.

In fairness, this was largely intentional. Kelley said from the beginning she didn't expect to win, so her goal was to create chaos. It's also worth noting that she mainly found safety in survival via the BB Blockbuster, which removed her from the nomination block at the times she was most at risk for eviction.

Part of me thought she was putting on a show for the camera and potentially trying to make a name for herself to get a bigger following outside of Big Brother. Now, after seeing this video that was taken a couple of years before she did the show, I'm more apt to believe that it was truly just Kelley's personality, and she was being her authentic self inside the game.

While I'd sooner see her pursue less amateur storm chasing in the future, seeing this video of Kelley does give me a greater appreciation for her casting on Big Brother. I was initially frustrated, but the show gave us someone who had zero interest in winning. I can now see the appeal of throwing in a wildcard who was just having fun on reality television.

Big Brother Season 27 is available to stream right now on Paramount+. For more on Kelley, check out when CinemaBlend spoke to her about her eviction on the show, and how she planned to influence the jury.

It's been a few years since her historic win on Season 24 of Big Brother, and yet Taylor Hale remains a prominent name tied to the franchise and CBS reality shows. Following her recent hosting of the BB aftershow and participating in a season of The Amazing Race, Hale has made another shocking move by being featured in Playboy.

While we don't know if Taylor will be a part of the 2026 TV schedule, fans will be able to see her in the March edition of Playboy. In the caption of a shared post between the reality star and the publication, it was said that she wanted to do the spread after learning nude photos of her circulated without her knowledge:

There is an unfortunate side to fans having the ability to monitor the Houseguests almost all hours of the day with a Paramount+ subscription. While producers try their best to protect Houseguests' privacy, there will almost always be a point in the season where one of the players is caught in a state of undress, or whoever is switching cameras is asleep at the wheel.

This happened to Taylor Hale, and while she was unaware of it happening while she was in the Big Brother house, it couldn't have happened at a worse time. Hale's season was notable in that she was targeted early and often by a section of the house, leading fans to sympathize with her and hope she could overcome.

Eventually, the behavior was called out by another portion of the house, who banded together in order to protect her, which played a core role in her victory. Exiting the game to learn her body was shared on the internet was disappointing, but Hale expressed thanks to Playboy for giving her a chance to reclaim the moment:

Taylor Hale shared a few of the photos on her Instagram account, giving her followers a taste of what they'll see in the full story. Those curious can check it out below:

While she might've had a rough time during her season and after with some backlash from viewers, Taylor has no shortage of fans in the Big Brother world now. Many former Houseguests were in the comments congratulating her on the milestone and celebrating her achievement:

• "Framing this and putting it next to my bed ❤️ I'm so proud of you!!" - @KatDunn
• "Omg so this means I have a chance. First Asian woman to win Big Brother. Love you, Taylor 🔥🔥🔥" - @JunDishes
• "LOVE THIS!!!!!!! :)" - @RachelReillyVillegas
• "So stunning Taylor! 🔥" - @JanellePierzina
• "ICONICCCC!!! welcome to the club 🐰" - @bluebeachkim

You love to see it, especially for someone as great of an ambassador to Big Brother's modern era as Taylor has been. She's used her platform to champion the show in its new era, and even sided with fans on issues such as keeping the live feeds active, despite how they impacted her.

With Season 28 on the way to CBS this summer, I'm curious what Big Brother has planned for the upcoming season. We usually won't know any specifics until late May at the earliest, so we still have quite a wait before speculation can really get rolling.

Fortunately, there's a healthy collection of Big Brother content available on Paramount+, including Taylor's beloved Season 24. Check it out for those who haven't had a chance to yet, as it's genuinely one of the best modern seasons to watch.

Survivor 50 is underway on CBS, and it's a big deal for a lot of reality stars. Many are taking the opportunity to share their experience with the show, even if it didn't result in them getting cast. Frankie Grande ended up getting a spot on Big Brother 16 thanks to a Survivor audition tape he shared with his followers.

While I'm sure being the sibling to one of the biggest pop stars on the planet helped his odds, Frankie Grande's audition tape helped me realize I need to step up my game for reality show auditions. Those watching Survivor 50 online or elsewhere will love this tape, which Grande went all out for. Take a look:

If this season wasn't already airing on the 2026 TV schedule, I'd be campaigning for Frankie Grande to be an entrant. That video had high production value, a dance number, an interview segment, and was to the point. I'm not sure if he edited it or enlisted someone else, but I need to take notes and try to get my audition tape for reality television up to standard.

For Survivor fans who never watched Big Brother, Frankie Grande actually did pretty well on the show. I think he could've won the game, but betraying his best ally in an attempt to win over others proved to be his undoing. I'll also add that there are some castmembers from that season who believe the production team rigged a competition to make it possible for him to win, but that's a whole other story.

The point here is, I always thought Frankie Grande was recruited to be on Big Brother, and while he kind of was, he did make a legitimately good audition tape. This isn't a case where he tried to ride his famous sister's coattails in an effort to get himself an easy ticket to a television show. I believe that the audition genuinely earned him a spot, even if it was originally for Survivor instead of Big Brother.

Of course, it should be said that while Frankie wasn't making hit records, he was an actor of note in the theater scene. He worked as a performer both on and off Broadway, and produced a few Broadway productions featuring some famous names as well. All this to say, he's been around enough famous people to know what it takes to catch the eye of a casting agent, and I'm sure that also factored into his Big Brother casting as much as anything else. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to sway Jeff Probst, but maybe he'll get a chance in the future!

Survivor Season 50 airs on CBS on Wednesdays starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. We'll have to wait and see who ends up winning it all, and if Frankie Grande will ever get that invite to compete in a future season.

Rylie Jeffries made headlines in Season 27 of Big Brother for all the wrong reasons. While his Houseguests believed he'd be the most-beloved of the season, they weren't aware of the controversies that generated a lot of backlash from the fandom against him. Kathrine Woodman was caught in the crossfire, having started a relationship with him in the game, but is now speaking out about their breakup in a new interview.

Season 27 winner Ashley Hollis interviewed Katherine about her time on the show and also touched on her relationship with Rylie. Katherine talked about the relationship in broad strokes, beginning with fans pointing out what an unlikely pairing they were. Ahead of the game, she described herself as very liberal and progressive, and Rylie made it clear he was pretty conservative. To those fans who wondered how that worked out behind-the-scenes, she said this:

The answer seems to be that Katherine was never wholly sure Rylie changed any views she would've seen as controversial, and might've just been trying to appease her during their relationship. If they didn't share the same values or viewpoints, however, then why did they stay together?

Katherine explained that as well, and it ties back to comments she first made to CinemaBlend when we interviewed her at the time of her eviction. Here, she admitted that the relationship went on longer than it probably should've, mainly because she felt guilty leaving him in the midst of all the backlash he received:

I can understand the pressure not to play into the narrative of fans, especially when even Big Brother's Julie Chen Moonves was commenting on the relationship. Plus, I think it's fair to speculate she had conflicting feelings between what she felt for Rylie whilst playing the game, and then afterward, when she was up to speed on everything fans knew.

I do wonder if incoming Big Brother Houseguests who will be a part of Season 28 when it arrives on the 2026 TV schedule will take heed of Rylie and Katherine's situation as a warning. This is to say, just because a player isn't lying about their gameplay, it doesn't mean they're sharing all their secrets. It may not be in the spirit of spontaneous love, but maybe showmances shouldn't be a thing?

They often end in heartbreak, just ask Morgan Pope and Vince Panaro, who still seemingly haven't spoken since he left his girlfriend following their cheatmance. Sure, there are success stories, but more often than not, I'd advise any Houseguest to stay away from romance.

We still have some time before Big Brother Season 28, so maybe revisit Season 27 right now over on Paramount+. It's one of my favorite seasons of the modern era, even with the controversies involving Rylie.

Big Brother will return to the 2026 TV schedule for Season 28 this summer, and I'm already brainstorming on what I'd like to see. We've reached the point in the year where I'm beginning to get antsy for a new season, so it's a good thing an iconic BB winner, Josh Martinez, is representing the show over on an American Spanish-language series.

Fans can arguably debate whether Josh's Season 19 win was a product of him earning it with aggressive tactics or because the jury really disliked Paul Abrahamian. What we can't debate is that his antics made for great reality TV and these recent clips of him on La Casa de los Famosos have me ready to revisit his season with a Paramount+ subscription.

Josh Is Proving He's Still In Peak Big Brother Form On Its Spanish Spinoff

La Casa de los Famosos is an American Spanish-language spinoff of the international Big Brother format that airs on Telemundo. I don't speak Spanish but, as I pointed out about Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance, vibes are universal. As such, I can't help but have flashbacks to Season 19 when watching the following clip, which shows Josh going on one of his famous rants directed at another Houseguest:

If that were directed at me, I'd be so angry but, as an outsider looking in, it's absolutely hilarious how comfortable he is going after people like that. In an age where so many reality stars are worried about cultivating a brand outside of the show, I love the energy exuded by Josh, who always seems like he's just dying to call people out and stir the pot.

I'm Really Hoping We Get Big Brother All-Stars 3

Big Brother superfans may think I'm wild for saying this, but I'm ready to see All-Stars 3. I know that Season 22, or All-Stars 2, was terrible, but I genuinely think that was more a product of it being done during COVID lockdowns than anything. Remember, Josh Martinez was originally booked to appear that season but was disqualified after allegedly testing positive for the virus.

There have been five seasons in the new era of Big Brother, and viewers seen a lot of great cast members come into the game in recent seasons. Take a batch of those former Houseguests, and throw them in the mix with former winners and favorites like Josh Martinez, and I think fans would get a product much better than what they saw in Season 22.

I don't know that for sure, but seeing Josh on La Casa de los Famosos and Rachel Reilly's return in Season 27 shows me that there are veterans who want to come back and play Big Brother in an interesting and fun way. The vets are going to have to bring their A-game against a dominant winner like Jag Bains, who just recently won The Amazing Race as well. With casting underway for Season 28 as we speak, maybe the casting team can take a chance on bringing back all-stars once again?

Watch Josh's performance in Big Brother Season 19 over on Paramount+. In the meantime, I'll continue to watch clips of him on the Spanish-language spinoff and cross my fingers that we'll eventually see him on the U.S. series once again.

Beast Games Season 2 has been a very exciting ride with plenty of twists, strategy, and intense choices. However, one of my favorite episodes of the season (so far) has involved a Beast Games and Survivor crossover episode. Survivor fans also already know that Mr. Beast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, will also make an appearance on Survivor 50.

This unexpected crossover made me realize that I would like to see more reality TV shows attempt an epic crossover episode or season. I want to see my favorite summer obsession, Big Brother, have a crossover with the underrated Claim to Fame.

How Claim To Fame Works

Claim to Fame premiered on ABC in the summer of 2022. As of February 2026, only three seasons have aired, but ABC has not officially canceled it. It could return. The show features relatives of celebrities living together in a house and competing for a grand prize. Guessing the identity of the other contestants is the premise of the game.

These contestants must try to decipher clues to figure out other contestants’ celebrity relatives. Each week, an elimination occurs until the finalists remain. They also compete in competitions to win advantages, such as clues to someone’s relative’s identity.

During the eliminations, a person must attempt to guess another person’s celebrity relative. If they guess correctly, that person is eliminated. If they guess incorrectly, they’re eliminated.

Many Claim To Fame Contestants Are Strategists Who Would Thrive On Big Brother

Warning: Claim to Fame spoilers in this section. Proceed with caution.

Claim to Fame may sound silly. However, it’s actually a pretty strategic game. We see alliances, showmances, strategizing, manipulating, and other activities that you would see on strategy shows such as Big Brother.

Claim to Fame may have viral moments that overshadow how seriously these players take the game, but don’t let that fool you. The players who are constantly gaming often become the stars. Loreal Chanel Palmer, aka LC, and Logan Crosby dominated the first season. Their alliance got them all the way to the end.

I was immediately impressed by how working together made them interesting to watch individually and as a duo. Gabriel Ezra Cannon started Claim to Fame Season 2 as someone whom people underestimated because they doubted his intelligence. However, he transformed into the smartest contestant on his season.

Players such as Logan, L.C, and Gabriel would thrive on Big Brother. They immediately go under the radar and let their personalities and brains take them far. The first three seasons of Claim to Fame consist of many players who would shine on the hit CBS show.

Even If The Claim To Fame Contestants Don’t Appear on Big Brother, I Would Like To See The CBS Show Use A Similar Theme

I love the idea of a Big Brother season completely comprised of relatives of former houseguests. We have seen different relative combinations play Big Brother together. We have also seen nepo-baby-like situations where a relative of a former houseguest appears on a different season.

The Big Brother world is no stranger to familial connections. Therefore, I think a full season of siblings, parents, cousins, and spouses of former houseguests could be fun. It would be like Claim to Fame except in the Big Brother landscape. I think it could be funnier if that’s the twist.

Everyone is related to a former houseguests but it isn’t announced. They would have to figure that out on their own. Similar to Claim to Fame, this version of the CBS reality TV show could produce plenty of buzz-worthy moments.

Imagine another one of Rachel Reilly's family members fighting with someone from Nicole Franzel’s family. I need this hypothetical season now.

We still have a lot of time until Big Brother debuts on the 2026 TV schedule, but I hoped The Traitors Season 4 would make the wait a bit easier. Unfortunately, the cast for this season didn't see fit to keep the two BB players around for long. Now that her elimination officially aired, Tiffany took shots at one co-star with a reference to her iconic reality television debut.

For those not watching The Traitors with their Peacock subscription, Tiffany was sent home after The Bachelor's Colton Underwood, backed by K-Pop star Eric Nam, accused her of being a Traitor during the roundtable. They swayed the majority and voted her out, only to be wrong when she confirmed she was a Faithful. It seems Tiffany is still holding a grudge, based on a recent X post directed at Underwood.

Tiffany Mitchell Dropped An F-Bomb After Her Traitors Elimination Aired

Tiffany's been active on social media all throughout The Traitors Season 4 and was taking shots at co-stars now that fans know she's out of the game. Tiffany saw another Big Brother legend, Josh Martinez, take a shot at Colton Underwood in response to the latest episode, and decided to join in with her own personal twist:

Is Tiffany actually still mad at Colton Underwood, or is this an on-brand post for the fans? Non Big Brother fans may assume the former, but I have some much-needed context from the CBS reality series that tells the whole story.

Tiffany Said Something Very Similar During Her Season Of Big Brother

Season 23 of Big Brother was one of the least-toxic seasons of the show's history, but that doesn't mean it was drama-free. Tiffany feuded with Sarah Beth Steagall during her season, convinced that she had a secret alliance with Kyland Young that would've endangered her chances of winning the game.

Sarah Beth wasn't the threat that Tiffany thought she'd be, but the latter built her up so much that she began to obsess about taking her out daily. One day, while complaining about her to others, Tiffany dropped a quote that would eventually go down in Big Brother history:

The phrase evolved to get regular use within the online fandom in various spaces, especially when someone wanted to express their distaste for another Big Brother Houseguest. Tiffany, of course, is aware of its popularity, and as someone who is pursuing a career as a reality star, saying the popular line keeps the brand strong.

For that reason, I suspect that Tiffany made this comment more to capitalize on an opportunity, rather than go after Colton Underwood with a strong attack. Then again, multiple things can be true, and I'm sure she didn't love missing out on her chance to win the grand prize money on The Traitors. Only she can tell us how she feels with certainty, so perhaps we'll gain some clarity on where things stand with her and Underwood as time passes.

Check out Tiffany's Big Brother season by searching up BB 23 with a Paramount+ subscription. It's a great season to start with for those looking to keep up with the show ahead of its return this summer.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Traitors Season 4 Episodes "Cut The Head Off The Snake" and "If You're Going To Come For Me, I'll Finish You". Stream the episodes with a Peacock subscription, and read at your own risk!

The Traitors dropped another two episodes on Peacock recently, and if you're a Big Brother fan, you were no doubt disappointed yet again. Tiffany Mitchell was voted out despite being a Faithful, and with Ian Terry being the first person killed off this season, all BB players are out of the game.

We have a few fans of the CBS reality series on the site, and we've discussed and written over the years why Big Brother players flounder on The Traitors. After Tiffany's exit, I have some new insights to add to the conversation, and hopefully, the next Houseguests we've hoped will join Alan Cumming's castle will do better.

Big Brother Players Talk Too Much, And It's Not The Big Brother House

I think Tiffany's biggest mistake in The Traitors was that she talked too much. She showed all her cards by revealing three people she thought were Traitors, and that sent alarm bells off to Eric Nam and everybody else. If this were the Big Brother house, she might've had more time to let her thoughts and theories marinate, but because Faithful aren't living alongside each other 24/7 and only talk for a few hours a day, she might've felt the need to put it all out there and attempt to take control of the game.

It was a strategy that worked in Season 23 of Big Brother, and ultimately led to the first Black winner of the flagship series. The strategy floundered because there isn't enough time in The Traitors, and as Eric mentioned, it seemed Tiffany was trying to guide Faithful into three Roundtables' worth of targets, possibly to shield herself longer. Perhaps if he had more time to think about it, he might've felt differently, but as I said, Faithful only have a few hours each day to talk and deliberate.

They're Also Playing With A Lot Of People Who Are Unfamiliar With Reality Competition Shows

Gamers are struggling in Season 4 of The Traitors, but I find that often happens when they are thrown into chaos with people who are unfamiliar with how reality competition shows work. This happens in Big Brother, who regularly scouts out influencers, athletes, and others who have never watched the game before, and don't know how the series works.

Because of this, they don't know the etiquette of keeping secrets, or that someone telling a theory something isn't necessarily suspicious, as much as it is them using them as a sounding board. It's almost like they forget they're playing a game and try to compare it to real life.

The main takeaway I have here is that Big Brother players need to acknowledge that playing The Traitors is nothing like the CBS series. The true name of the game here is survival, perhaps moreso than actually figuring out who the real Traitors are. The true winners are the ones who fly under the radar, both as a threat to the Traitors as well as other Faithful. If they play it cool going forward, they may last longer, or at least that's what I hope.

The Traitors continues on Peacock as part of the 2026 TV schedule with new episodes on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. That said, I've noticed episodes are going live a bit earlier than the officially scheduled time, so don't be afraid to fire up that streaming service about thirty minutes early just in case there's a chance to jump in sooner!

It may be hard to believe in 2026, but there was once a time when someone would win a reality television show and then proceed to fade into obscurity. In an age where most people who win Big Brother's prize money turn that into appearances on The Challenge, The Traitors, or even The Bold and the Beautiful, a winner from BB's past has resurfaced. Season 6's Maggie Ausburn was spotted in a photo with another alumnus, and I agree with all the comments fans are making.

Maggie was considered a controversial winner back in her day, with many fans despising her Friendship alliance and rooting for underdogs Janelle Pierzina and Kaysar Ridha to pull through instead. That said, as more people watch past seasons of Big Brother online with their Paramount+ subscription, she's gotten more flowers for how she controlled the game by rallying Houseguests around the memory of her friend and former Houseguest Eric "Cappie" Littmann. All this to say, people were thrilled when her former alliance member, April Lewis, shared a photo with Maggie on her Instagram Stories (via @ThatBigBroTea):

Many echoed the caption from the fan account, noting that Maggie, who was 27 when she won Big Brother back in 2005, looks practically the same twenty years later. Check out some of the comments below, some of which also give April the same compliment:

• I don't think she's aged at all, she still has the same smile as well! - @Flicxxity
• Mothers haven’t aged a day! - @Ryan_205133
• Janelle was my favorite that season but Maggie looks absolutely fantastic!😊 - @prairie1967
• WOW she truly does. Amazing. Life has been good to her. - @grannyknowslove
• Holy crap she looks exactly the same - @LavenderElixir1

I agree that she doesn't look any different, and I'm also shocked by the amount of positivity in the comments. No overwhelming mentions about how awful the Friendship alliance was, references to Janelle's "Bye bye bitches" moment, it's almost bizarre. Could we finally be at a point where Big Brother fans are more in favor of Maggie than not?

If that's the case, then I would say the odds of her receiving an invitation to appear on a hypothetical "Legends" season of Big Brother are high. Many greats of the game have shown interest in a shortened spinoff, but so far, CBS hasn't pulled the trigger.

Of course, Maggie has remained out of the limelight for quite some time. If I were a betting man, I would imagine she'd have some reservations about stepping out of the shadows to appear on television for the first time in over twenty years. Keep in mind, her season predated the arrival of Twitter, and even Facebook was still in its infancy. Appearing on reality television now comes with a lot of exposure, and I'm not sure how someone who has largely shied away from it would feel about suddenly being back out there.

For now, there's no word of the existence of a Big Brother legends spinoff, so no need to worry about that for now. All we know right now is CBS has plans to bring the flagship series back to the 2026 TV schedule this summer, and I'm so ready for a new season!

The Big Brother fandom is still in shock over the sudden passing of Season 27 Houseguest Mickey Lee. Lee passed on Christmas Day following multiple instances of cardiac arrest related to the flu. As fans and BB players alike continue to pay tribute and offer condolences, a palm-reading clip involving Ava Pearl from the live feeds is going viral online.

Those watching Big Brother online with a Paramount+ subscription had access to the live feeds this season. The feature is popular because it includes many moments with Houseguests that don't make the final cuts of episodes. This included a conversation between Morgan Pope, Mickey Lee, and eventual winner Ashley Hollis about Houseguest Ava Pearl and her palm-reading ability. The clip from July has gone viral on X, thanks to a conversation about how Ava noted Mickey had a short lifeline. Listen to the whole conversation below:

The clip is getting more attention in light of recent events, as at the time, no one expected they'd be mourning the loss of a Big Brother Houseguest to close out 2025. Many on X reacted to it, and reactions ranged from thinking it was a spooky coincidence to believing that Ava knew something no one else knew (edited for clarity):

• "I have never taken palm readings seriously but this is actually kind of scary?" - @_blureaper
• "This clip is so eerie. The fact that they’re all laughing about it because they don’t know what’s to come, the fact that Ava was right… this is just insane to wrap my head around." - @TAYXBURROW
• "Oh my gosh… them talking about Ava saying Mickey’s palm had a short lifeline is so eerie to watch now. 😞: - @brennabball
• "This is so devastating. ☹️" - @Taryn_was_here
• "This is wild." - @JustADude1986

Eerie as it may feel, it is necessary to point out that most searches about palm readings will point out that a short lifeline is not a sign of a short lifespan. It can mean many things and have many interpretations if you believe in palm readings, but obviously, Mickey Lee's passing has people talking. For what it's worth, Ava also told Ashley her palm said she'd have the same amount of money her entire life, and she ended up winning Big Brother's grand prize.

For those wondering, Ava has not publicly mentioned her palm reading of Mickey Lee. She did share a post on Instagram after hearing of her passing, however, which said the following:

Mickey Lee was the final pre-juror of Big Brother Season 27 and was eliminated after eight weeks in the game. CinemaBlend had a chance to talk to Mickey after the season, and I chuckled along with her about the lemonade "controversy" she had while in the house. It seems she had a memorable impact on all those she played with in the game, and will be missed by friends and family alike.

CinemaBlend extends its condolences to the family and friends of Mickey Lee and wishes them well during this difficult time. Here's hoping for the best for the other Houseguests as they continue to grieve and mourn the loss of one of their own.

During Big Brother 27, runner-up Vince Panaro discussed his love for Christmas movies starring Big Brother All-Stars 2 winner Cody Calafiore. Cody’s history with holiday movies has been known in the Big Brother community for a while, but the interest for some only started after Vince discussed them on the live feeds.

This led to the Big Brother Bluesky community deciding to host #ACodyChristmas, a live watch along amongst Big Brother fans on Bluesky. The Maltese Holiday was the first film selected. I joined this watch-along; it was an experience.

Warning: The Maltese Holiday spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.

I Am Shocked That Cody Calafiore Is One of The Best Parts Of The Maltese Holiday.

The Maltese Holiday isn’t that much different from a typical holiday movie, especially something that airs on Hallmark or Lifetime. It’s definitely not a top-tier version of these types of holiday films, but it’s full of Christmas cheer.

It follows many of the typical romantic holiday movie tropes, including a disastrous meet cute, forced interactions, and ending with a wedding. The Maltese Holiday has a basic but entertaining plot. The overall acting leaves some room for improvement, including Cody's. However, he’s actually one of the best parts of the film.

His character has some really funny lines, he’s the most relatable of the characters, and Cody sells you on this premise. He has enough of the charm on screen that won him Big Brother. I wasn’t sold on Cody as an actor going into The Maltese Holiday, but now I can see it. With a few more roles, maybe he could become one of the reality TV stars who successfully transitions to an acting career. He could also have as successful of a career as some of the other actors who made Christmas movies their brand.

Watching The Film Led To Researching The Candy Cain Holiday Movie Lore With Reality TV Stars

The most fascinating thing about all of this is that The Maltese Holiday writer and director Candy Cain is known for her holiday movie empire. She has many. Cody is featured in a handful of them. He’s not the only reality TV star that she has put in her movies. The list includes Big Brother 20’s Faysal Shafaat, Cody’s brother and Big Brother 18’s Paulie Calafiore, and The Challenge star Cara Maria Sorbello.

In an interview with Parade, Cain reveals that she first began working with reality TV stars when she wanted Cody to appear in her movie What Happened Last Night. From Cain’s account, there seems to be some stigma with working with reality TV stars. She thought Cody was the best man for the project and went behind everyone’s back to sign him. Interestingly, Candy, also known as Candice T. Cain, is not actually a Big Brother fan, nor is she much of a reality TV watcher.

Therefore, it really feels destined that Cody found his way into her work to lead some of her Christmas movies. It was a collaboration written in the stars. Candy has an upcoming holiday movie with Big Brother winner and fan favorite Rachel Reilly. We may see more former Big Brother players in future Candy Cain movies. Who knows, maybe Vince Panaro will find himself starring in one one day.

It Reminds Me How Enjoyable Independent Films Can Be, Even If They Aren't Perfect

The Maltese Holiday isn’t an award winning film. It’s not a movie that I will probably recommend to friends as the best holiday movie ever, but it’s entertaining and a fun watch with friends. Not all movies have to be enchanting, some can just be carefree. I am a person who enjoys all movies, whether they’re Oscar bait or very silly. I love that movies exist and that there are such a wide range of them for almost any genre of movie fan.

I am also someone who tries to support independent movies anyway I can. This may mean going to see them in a theater, renting them, or writing about them when the opportunity allows. There are many great ones, especially written by people of all ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and so forth. The Maltese Holiday is a triumph not because it’s the best holiday movie ever but it proves independent films can still be made, distributed, and talked about on a wide scale. The large studios don’t have to be the only ones getting films made.

As silly as it may sound, The Maltese Holiday reminds me of the beauty of just supporting independent artists. It made me want to watch more indie holiday movies. I also remembered that some of the best holiday movies I have seen were produced by small studios. Major Hollywood movies are thrilling but sometimes it is more entertaining to embrace a holiday movie made by a scrappy filmmaker named Candy Cain.

The Maltese Holiday Reminds Me That A Movie-Watching Experience Can Make The Movie

Would I have enjoyed The Maltese Holiday as much if I watched it alone with expectations? Probably not. However, because I watched it as part of the #ACodyChristmas event on Bluesky, it was a much more entertaining experience. I could watch and read some of the funny commentary.

If I had to seriously review the movie, I would have been more critical of its faults. However, because watching it was just a fun, silly thing to do, the normal things that would bother me on other films became part of The Maltese Holiday’s charm. Movies like this one remind me to not always take movies so seriously. Sometimes it’s just entertaining to detach from the world for a few hours and live in the movie’s space and time.

It’s also a reminder that movie experiences matter. That’s why theater experiences can matter, seeing movies with a certain group can matter, and your attitude towards a movie can matter. They can leave a lifelong impression or memory.

I Am Shocked That I Can't Wait To Watch More Cody Calafiore Holiday Movies

As I write this, the #ACodyChristmas event has ended on Bluesky. After I saw The Maltese Holiday, I was looking forward to watching the other movies on the lineup for that event. They were Ivy & Mistletoe and Magic in Mount Holly.

I knew these films could be just as silly as the first movie but I couldn’t wait to enjoy them as something fun and frivolous, while engrossing myself in reading some of the commentary on Bluesky. I hope the Big Brother fan community keeps this tradition up over there and explores the whole Candy Cain cinematic universe.

Stream The Maltese Holiday on Tubi.

Two reality show legends are filming during the 2026 TV schedule, but not for another competition-related appearance. Big Brother winner Rachel Reilly and The Challenge winner Cara Maria Sorbella will both be featured in an upcoming holiday movie, and yes, it's about a reality television show. Needless to say, as a fan, I'm so pumped for this!

Both stars will play fictionalized versions of themselves in Mistletoe Mansion, a holiday story about a woman on a dating show called "The 12 Dates Of Christmas." EW reported that in the movie, Sorbella and Reilly will serve as the fictional show's hosts and will take notice when the star competitor, Ava Cleary, develops feelings for her handler, Luke Sheppard. Sorbello will push Cleary to pursue an ending fit for reality VT, while Reilly will encourage Ava to follow her heart. The movie will begin filming on January 10th, and it's being directed by Candice "Candy" Cain.

It's fitting that Rachel Reilly's movie counterpart will be pushing for Ava to "follow her heart," considering the BB Legend did exactly that when she met Brendon Villegas in Season 12. It was love at first sight, and the two former Houseguests tied the knot and are still married today with two children. I really love how art is imitating life here.

As for Cara Maria Sorbella, this isn't her first rodeo when it comes to acting in holiday movies. While this will be the first time she's played herself, Sorbella has appeared in A Jar Full Of Christmas, A Holiday Homecoming, and Hearts & Vines. All of those movies have the same director as Mistletoe Mansion, so it seems she's doing something right!

As for Rachel Reilly, she's had a few acting credits over the years in independent horror movies, as well as the 2025 movie Naughty Yachty. She's also appeared in about twenty episodes of The Bold And The Beautiful so, while she's more known for reality TV appearances, she's no slouch when it comes to acting.

Could this upcoming feature ultimately become the best Christmas movie for reality fans? I know I'm hoping that's the case, especially since CBS doesn't seem to have any interest in bringing back Big Brother: Reindeer Games for another season anytime soon.

As for other TV appearances, Rachel Reilly said she'd be up for joining The Challenge if former Big Brother Houseguest Keanu Soto were invited. This could ultimately lead to another team-up with Cara Maria Sorbello, who has been on the series frequently since 2010. If Rachel plans to appear on the show, she may want to pregame and work out an alliance with Cara.

There's no release date yet for Mistletoe Mansion, but I know I'll be on the lookout for it as the holiday season approaches in 2026. Those wanting to see either reality star in the meantime can check out their respective seasons of The Challenge or Big Brother, both available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.

A former Big Brother Houseguest is in critical but stable condition following a series of cardiac arrests. Mickey Lee didn't end up winning Big Brother, but was a much-talked-about Houseguest in Season 27 thanks to her veto win and viral moments in the game. It goes without saying that many are concerned for her well-being in light of this troubling news.

A GoFundMe link popped up asking for financial support for Lee to help with medical bills not covered by insurance, travel for family, ICU and specialist care, and rehabilitation and recovery support. The link did not provide any specific details on what led to the multiple cardiac arrests, but a post on her Instagram page noted it was a result of complications from the flu.

As of writing, the link is already at 61% of its $22,000 goal, with quite a few notable Houseguests appearing on the donation list. While there may be others who donated anonymously and are not listed, here are some of the familiar names that popped up:

• Alyssa Lopez, Season 23
• Joseph Abdin, Season 24
• Rachel Reilly, Seasons 12, 13, 27
• Hannah Chaddha, Season 23
• Ameerah Jones, Season 24
• Britini D'Angelo, Season 23
• Joseph Rodriguez, Season 26
• Amy Bingham, Season 27

Mickey's biggest moments in Big Brother came toward the start of the game, in which she aligned with Ashley Hollis, Morgan Pope, and Cliff "Will" Williams. Those early bonds kept her in the show until Week 8, narrowly missing the jury phase in Season 27.

Outside of donations, Houseguests and fans alike shared well-wishes on Mickey's Instagram page, or shared the link for her GoFundMe page. Notably, Morgan Pope, who was the overall favorite to win Big Brother 27 and made headlines because of her "cheatmance" with other favorite Vince Panaro, shared the link and said the following:

Fortunately, the overall vibe of the Big Brother online community feels positive, and many are hoping for the best for Mickey Lee. It's good to see the fandom come together and support a Houseguest who, while not a juror, made it through two-thirds of the game before being evicted.

Hopefully the good vibes continue, and more in the Big Brother community get involved and spread the word about someone in the reality television space who can still have a great future. Mickey easily could've been one of those former Houseguests who competed on The Challenge, or even appeared in a season of The Traitors. There's still a chance for that to happen, of course.

As mentioned, readers can support Mickey Lee at her GoFundMe link. For those who want to revisit her season, Season 27 of Big Brother is available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. Mickey is undoubtedly one of the stars of the early episodes, and there's an argument to be made that it would've been her season to lose had a couple of events shaken out a different way.

With Big Brother producers confirming that there are no plans for a spinoff anytime soon, I'm beginning to make peace with the fact that the CBS reality series won't return until Summer arrives on the 2026 TV schedule. Fortunately, there are other opportunities for former Houseguests to appear on reality television, and it seems Morgan Pope may appear on our screens at some point.

Morgan was one of the major standouts of Season 27 and went on a phenomenal endgame run that almost set her up to win that grand prize money. She ended up falling short to winner Ashley Hollis in the final challenge, but I have hopes she'll get a chance to try again soon, after seeing some recent posts she wrote on X.

Morgan Hinted She May Be Returning To Television Soon

Like many former Big Brother players, Morgan has a side hustle of sending videos to fans on Cameo. A fan recently thanked her for her kind words and hoped they'd get to see her on television again. Morgan replied to the comment, and her response set off alarm bells in my head.

I was happy to read that, though, not wholly surprised. I'd read rumors that someone from Big Brother Season 27 was asked to join The Challenge, but I assumed it was Keanu Soto after seeing Rachel Reilly demand to be added as well. While seeing Morgan added to the cast of the upcoming season of The Challenge is a possibility, I have another theory about her returning to TV after reading one of her more recent posts.

I Think Morgan Watching Big Brother Season 14 For The First Time May Hint At How She's Returning

Morgan is watching past seasons of Big Brother, which, admittedly, could be innocent enough behavior. That said, when she mentioned she was watching Season 14, my eyes lit up, and those who don't understand why will pick up on why reading her comment:

Season 14 of Big Brother featured former Houseguests as coaches, each with a team of newcomers they coached through the competition. Eventually, however, those coaches also became players in the season, which led to one of the wildest seasons the series ever saw. We got "Dan's Funeral" out of it, which is widely regarded as one of the best game moves in the show's history.

The CBS reality series has reused popular twists over the years, and I think, with how well-liked many Houseguests from previous seasons have been, the coach's twist could make a comeback. I would love to see Morgan go up against someone like Jag Bains, who won both The Amazing Race and Big Brother with a dominant performance. I'm still thinking about who the other coaches would be, but I'm open to suggestions from others if this twist returns in Season 28 (which, as of right now, it's just a dream I have).

Until she hopefully returns, Big Brother fans can enjoy Morgan by rewatching Season 27 with a Paramount+ subscription. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that we're getting the coach twist back in Season 28, but ultimately, I'll just be excited to watch new episodes again.

The Amazing Race Season 39 closed out its Big Brother crossover season, and as the betting odds predicted, Jag Bains and his brother Jas won that grand prize money. It was hardly a surprise for those who've seen his win in Season 25 of BB, and now he's the first person in reality show history to win two of CBS' big three competition shows.

As I previously wrote, Jag should be given a chance to play Survivor and potentially become the first person in history to win all three games. That's assuming he'd want to take part in the show, of course, and in an interview with Parade, the latest winner of The Amazing Race shared how willing he'd be to play:

Glad to see Jag is more willing to play than Big Brother Season 23 winner Xavier Prather, who assured CinemaBlend long ago he'd never set foot on Survivor. Jag, on the other hand, is all about linking up with Jeff Probst, and joining the short list of former Big Brother and The Amazing Race players who also did the same.

Jag Bains wants to play Survivor, and presumably win, but that's going to be easier said than done. He had a target on his back going into The Amazing Race, but thanks to an early Express Pass and his equally competitive brother, none of the other teams ever really stood a chance of taking them out.

On Survivor, I know at least a couple of reality television fans would be in the cast. They'd be on high alert about Jag and just how dominant a competitor he can be physically. He would have an enormous target on his back, more so than anyone else that season. All this to say, I don't expect him to win, but I think it'd be the most impressive win in reality show history if he did.

And therein lies the hook for why Bains needs to be on Survivor. As a diehard Big Brother fan who hasn't watched a full season of Survivor in several years, I would be locked in on seeing if Jag could be the first person to win all three shows. Not that the CBS series needs help with viewership, but with such a clear opportunity to draw in more viewers, this is a no-brainer. Just like when Cirie Fields joined Big Brother, we need Jag Bains on Survivor.

The Amazing Race is over, but readers can revisit this latest season as well as the prior ones with a Paramount+ subscription. The same is true of Survivor and Big Brother, and with the upcoming break in television during the holidays, now may be the time to dive into a past season of one of those shows!

Warning! The following contains spoilers from The Amazing Race Season 38 finale. Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

The Amazing Race Season 38 is over, and it looks like the betting odds were right on the money with which team would win that $1,000,000 grand prize. Jag and Jas Bains dominated most of the competition, and once Tucker and Eric Des Lauriers were eliminated, it was smooth sailing for them to the end.

It was another dominant performance for Jag, who previously won Season 25 of Big Brother and set the single-season record for most competition wins. He is now the first person in reality television history to win both BB and TAR, and I hope CBS realizes this and extends him the opportunity to complete the "triple crown" with another major reality show appearance.

Jag Bains Needs An Invite To Survivor

With Jag having completed two of the big three of CBS reality television shows, the island is calling. I'm sure Survivor doesn't need the hype of inviting the Punjabi Sikh reality star to see if he could go three-for-three, but Jeff Probst has invited former Survivor players in the past. Former Big Brother winner Hayden Moss competed, as did Caleb Reynolds. Neither won, but maybe Jag will break the cycle?

Maybe Jas Bains Should Appear On Big Brother?

It takes two to tango, and to complete a leg of The Amazing Race. All this to say, yes, Jag Bains deserves credit for yet another dominant win, but what about Jas? We haven't seen him compete on Big Brother yet, and given how well he performed, maybe he should be considered for a future season?

Honestly, I would love to see a number of The Amazing Race siblings/relatives/spouses in the cast who hadn't played Big Brother before. Jas remains at the top of my list, however, because I'm shocked at how he thrived on TAR, despite it being his first brush with reality television. I think he has just as equal a chance of being a reality competition legend as his brother, if given the opportunity.

I'm assuming at this point we'll see both of them compete on The Challenge, because they're just too dominant a duo not to be invited. Plus, they both talked about wanting to spend more time together as they near the end of their 20s, and what better way to do that than to keep appearing on television shows and taking on a bunch of wild challenges, like rappelling off the Empire State Building?

Time will tell what the future holds for the Bains brothers, so we'll wait and see if they end up appearing on any reality shows set for the 2026 TV schedule. I'm crossing my fingers we'll get some good news on that front, but if either wants a break from the reality circuit, I can't fault them for that.

Big Brother Season 27 remains a topic of discussion, as it's still been making headlines in the months since Ashley Hollis won that prize money. On the heels of Vince Panaro's ex-girlfriend saying she wants to be on the show, we now have Rachel Reilly talking about a reality TV return as well. She also wants to compete on a CBS series, but mainly because she has a score to settle with former Houseguest Keanu Soto.

Rachel and Keanu had a volatile relationship throughout much of Season 27 and, while the BB legend seemed to bury the hatchet with America's Favorite Player immediately after the show, things have changed. For those who aren't heavily following Big Brother again until the 2026 TV schedule kicks off, here's what happened.

Keanu Called Rachel And Other Big Brother Season 27 Houseguests "Irrelevant"

Keanu has been playing video games on Twitch lately and, as one might guess, there are a fair number of Big Brother fans who watch and ask him questions about the show. During a recent stream, the former player was asked about his relationship with his fellow Houseguests outside of the game, which led to him saying this:

Keanu has a problem with these Houseguests allegedly "bringing down" other people, likely referring to some of the postseason drama that's happened between the cast on X and at various meetups. Ashley and Morgan have had some issues since the show ended, and Jimmy Heagerty has caught flak from others for revealing information about other Houseguests that the public had not previously known.

I hadn't noticed any of that behavior from Rachel in the postseason, but Keanu continued to lump her in with the other Big Brother players as he shared more remarks:

Keanu's comments quickly made their way from Twitch to X, and they have the fanbase talking. So what did former Big Brother winner Rachel Reilly have to say about being called "irrelevant" by her former ally?

Rachel Wants To Settle Their Feud On A Different Kind Of Show

One thing about Rachel Reilly is that she'll never back down from someone talking smack, so I wasn't surprised to see her in the comments of @GamerVev, who is known for having accurate leaks on reality show castings. The account mentioned that someone from Big Brother Season 27 was being targeted for Season 42 of The Challenge, and Rachel said if it's Keanu, sign her up too:

If The Challenge is looking to scoop up a bunch of Big Brother fans, casting Rachel and Keanu on the same season would be a way to do it. The series already has a habit of bringing on former Houseguests and, yes, they do tend to fight when they get back together.

I'm sure there are many examples, but I think back to when Big Brother 20 Houseguests Kaycee Clark and Bayleigh Dayton fought when they were on The Challenge, and it practically ruined their friendship. I would say the same thing may happen to Keanu and Rachel if they end up on the show, though I would say they were more "frenemies" on BB than anything else.

It should be noted that nothing is confirmed about The Challenge Season 42 at this time. That said, if the rumor is true about the show looking to add someone from Big Brother Season 27, it makes sense that Keanu would be selected. Not only was he one of the winningest Houseguests when it came to competitions, but he also won America's Favorite Player. We'll just have to wait and see if this happens, and if Rachel gets a call as well.

Big Brother Season 27 is available to stream over on Paramount+, along with all other previous seasons of the CBS reality series. Check it out while we wait for summer, which will usher in more content from the long-running TV franchise.

Big Brother is in the offseason and will return during the 2026 TV schedule, and there's already one person tied to Season 27 angling for a return. No, it isn't winner Ashley Hollis trying to get some more prize money, or even anyone who was in the house. It's actually Vince Panaro's ex Kelsey, and I'm psyched after hearing why she'd want to be involved.

While Kelsey never appeared on Season 27 in any capacity, she was a frequent topic of discussion, especially for those watching Big Brother online with a Paramount+ subscription. Kelsey was Vince's long-term girlfriend when he had his in-house "cheatmance" with Houseguest Morgan Pope, and broke up with him after the show. Now, in a recent Instagram Stories Q&A, she revealed she'd love to go on the CBS reality series, if only to be petty:

I love this idea, as long as Big Brother doesn't decide to put Vince or Morgan in the house with her. We don't need to see another Houseguest get expelled like in Season 4, when the entire season was filled with exes.

Assuming it was just Kelsey, how amazing would it be for her to enter the Big Brother house and somehow win when her ex-boyfriend and his showmance partner couldn't? That's the kind of storytelling I'd love to see in the show in Season 28.

Of course, part of the problem with Big Brother is that the show isn't built around ensuring that the most deserving or well-liked person wins. Kelsey could come in the house, and other Houseguests who watched last season could recognize her and immediately decide she's too big a threat to win and send her out in the first week. Then the fans get mad because the season is "ruined" and a lot of Houseguests in successive weeks get hate for doing what the game asks.

At the same time, we'll never know how Kelsey will do if she doesn't compete, so I'd still lean toward Big Brother giving her the chance to do so. Vince and Morgan were the stars of Season 27, so what better way to promote Season 28 than by having his ex on the new season? It offers a rare opportunity to provide some connective tissue between seasons, so I'd welcome it if it could go south.

Big Brother Season 28 is coming to CBS in the summer of 2026. I don't know who will be in the new season, but I do hope that Vince Panaro's ex Kelsey ends up getting an invitation to participate! Bonus points if she did find a way to win it all, but as her former boyfriend would tell her, it's very difficult to pull off.

We won't get a new season of Big Brother until the 2026 TV schedule is here, but thanks to one former Houseguest, we're getting a long-awaited meetup between two modern favorites in the game. Season 25's Tucker Des Lauriers finally met up with Season 27's Kelley Jorgensen, and I need more of them together in whatever way that can happen.

Tucker has had his share of former Big Brother players becoming fans of him, with even legendary players showing him love when he left the game. This included Kelley, a self-professed Tucker fan who many viewers have wanted to see meet up with him after she emulated his run on the show. Now, they've finally met face to face, thanks to the work of Season 21 Houseguest Kat Dunn:

I'm assuming that Kat was able to make the introduction because she recently played against Tucker in The Amazing Race. In any case, it would appear all three are taking part in Over The Edge Celebrity Weekend, where so many reality stars are going to meet with fans as well as each other.

We've already seen Tucker's unfortunate elimination from The Amazing Race, and I don't think he's going to team up with Kelley in a future season. That said, there are plenty of other opportunities for these two to compete on the same reality show, be it as allies or enemies.

Personally, I think both would be a great fit for The Challenge, as they both thrive on competing. I'd also like to see them on The Traitors, but given that Kelley was a chaos agent on Big Brother, I don't imagine that she'd last too long on a show like that. Tucker, on the other hand, might last a bit longer, but only because I don't think he's be particularly good at guessing who a Traitor is.

Beyond the major players, there's always a plethora of reality shows available with a Netflix subscription or on other platforms that they could both be a part of. I'm not sure about how or where it could happen, but I do know that this is a duo that would entertain if they appeared in the same series at the same time. Hell, put them back on Big Brother, and see the wild duo alliance they'd set the game on fire with.

A new season of Big Brother is expected on CBS in 2026, and I'm already excited about the thought of more people entering the house and competing for that prize money. I'd hoped we'd get a shortened season to kick off the new year once the Olympic Games start, but it doesn't appear that will happen.

Big Brother fans in the United States have to wait until the 2026 TV schedule to see new episodes, but those in Australia are currently enjoying their domestic version of the unique reality series. I mainly know this because of how many fans are beside themselves over a wild twist eviction that makes Rachel Reilly's exit in Season 27 look kinda like nothing in comparison.

Rachel left BB27 with zero votes cast against her, thanks entirely to a Hamster Wheel puzzle she couldn't solve within the time limit. It was a devastating way to take out the returning Houseguest, who had yet to be nominated over halfway through the game. That said, I think we have a new winner for worst eviction ever, thanks to Big Brother Australia.

Big Brother Australia Evicted One Houseguest After A Fan Called In To Vote

One thing about Big Brother is that the show's producers love to introduce surprise twists, even if they sometimes don't pan out. Big Brother Australia is no exception to this trend, and delivered a truly wild double eviction recently that still has me scratching my head. The Daily Mail reports that three nominees were on the block: Jane, Mia, and Allana. Jane was the first to leave, which followed the standard eviction method, but then things got wonky.

With Mia and Allana left, Big Brother Australia then announced that one FAN would have the power to decide who went home next. So when one such fan called in and decided to evict Mia, that was that. One single viewer, not a majority in any way, ended a Big Brother Australia player's game. What's the point in having any kind of strategy when utter randomness can rear its uninvited head in and shake it all up?

It's times like these I wish the international versions of Big Brother were available with a Paramount+ subscription.

Why I Think This Is Worse Than Rachel Reilly's Elimination In Big Brother Season 27

Big Brother Season 27 viewers were livid with how Rachel Reilly left the game, and I consider myself one of those who were most outraged. That said, in the months since that fateful elimination happened, I've grown to accept that Reilly herself deserved some blame for what went down. She volunteered to compete in the challenge, for one, and despite having ample time to complete the challenge, she panicked on her own accord and went home.

It was a brutal outcome for sure, but in hindsight, not so unfair in any ways. She could've opted not to play, and given that eventual BB27 winner Ashley Hollis was one of those who didn't play, maybe she wouldn't have been picked to do it. Also, to reiterate, the people who finished the puzzle before her did so very quickly, and it was her own misunderstanding of how the puzzle worked that led her to time out.

Imagine if one person watching Big Brother that season had the power to decide who was evicted in Season 27, and they picked Rachel? I think that fan would've had to go into witness protection in light of a level of backlash we haven't seen since Chicago Cubs fan Steve Bartman. All joking aside, I cannot imagine what it would be like to be a fan responsible for eliminating one of the most beloved Big Brother players of all time.

Hopefully, that Big Brother producers who already fielded complaints about Season 27 aren't watching Big Brother Australia seeking inspiration for new tweaks. I would hate to see this phone call twist make its way to the United States, especially for the Houseguests who would have to suffer for it.

Big Brother is on a break right now, but expect new episodes to pop up on CBS in the summer of 2026. I had hoped we'd see a season of returning winners and legends happening at the start of the year, but with no word on that and December near, I don't think it's going to happen.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Amazing Race episode "I'm Not A Big Fan of Olives." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Another leg of The Amazing Race is finished, and unfortunately for one team, this week didn't skip the elimination like the previous oneone. Tucker and Eric Des Lauriers had dominated the competition in the past couple of episodes, but the Greek alphabet challenge proved to be their undoing. Big Brother Season 26's comp beast is gone, and I fear the path is clear for one team to steamroll the rest of the season.

As the CBS reality series continues its run on the 2025 TV schedule, I can't help but feel one team just got the help they needed to really run away with the rest of the competition and win that prize money. I'm not surprised by who seems poised to win it all, but I am hoping the battle at the end is more competitive than I think it will be.

Tucker And Eric's Elimination Paves A Clear Path For Jag And Jas To Win It All

Tucker and Eric Des Lauriers were the second-most-likely betting favorites to win The Amazing Race Season 38, but Jag and Jas Bains were the odds-on favorites to win it all. Outside of one leg, where they came in fifth place, they've been in the Top 3 of finishers for the entirety of the season.

While they had a tremendously bad episode when they were eliminated, Tucker and Eric were the only team on The Amazing Race to match the level of dominance Jag and Jas had. Now that they're gone, I'm not sure anyone stands a real chance of beating them. Everyone remaining has finished near the bottom of the pack at least once. With that said, is there anyone who could give the brothers a run for their money?

Which Teams Have The Best Chance Of Defeating Jag And Jas?

I think beating Jag and Jas will be a tough ask for any team, but one alliance could topple the brothers if they work together. Joseph and Adam Abdin could make a powerful alliance with Taylor Hale and Kyland Young and go their separate ways once the brothers are done.

Unfortunately, Joseph and Adam saddling Kyland and Taylor with the "Double Detour" has fractured their friendship, and at the end of the episode, it felt like any alliance they had was out the window. It's excellent news for Jag and Jas, but bad news for all remaining teams.

As for other alliances, Izzy Gleicher and Paige Seber haven't shown any interest, and the same seems to be true for Chelsea and Jack Baham. Not that either of those teams would've made particularly great allies, as they've barely scraped by in The Amazing Race Season 38 throughout each leg. It's unfortunate, but I think the rest of this season will see Jag and Jas steamrolling the competition, and everyone unceremoniously dropping off the rest of the way.

The Amazing Race Season 38 continues on CBS on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET. I'm hoping that some of the remaining teams can put up a good fight, but I'm more or less convinced this will be yet another dominant win on a reality show for Jag Bains.

It's been almost two months since Big Brother Season 27 crowned Ashley Hollis as the winner and gave her the grand prize money. Despite that, fans are still buzzing about the season, and specifically, the "cheatmance" between Vince Panaro and Morgan Pope. Last we heard, the two hadn't spoken since the CBS reality series wrapped its season, but that might've changed.

Buckle up, "Mince" fans, because there's a development between the two about one month after Vince confirmed he broke up with his longtime girlfriend back home. The two had a brief public exchange on X, and fans (me included) are scrambling to understand the significance of it.

Vince And Morgan Has A Brief Interaction On X

Vince Panaro has officially joined X, and surprisingly, Big Brother fans were pretty welcoming to him. He was villainized during the season and mocked when he ultimately choked and allowed Ashley, whom he tried to evict in Week 1, to beat him in the game. His first post was a question about his nickname "Vints," and who should respond but the person who was responsible for it, Morgan:

For context, the "Vints" nickname originated in how fans believed Morgan pronounced his name and has since become a pet name.

The important takeaway here is that this is the first direct interaction we've seen between the two since the show ended, though Vince didn't respond to Morgan's comment.. I should note, however, that she's following him, and he's following her back.

Fans Are Losing Their Minds Over This Small Interaction

Anyone familiar with the rabid Big Brother fandom should know that the reactions to this brief exchange were out of control. People are desperate to know what's going on between Morgan and Vince, if anything at all:

• Vorgan/Mince crumbs, I feel alive 😭 - @BBFeedsFairy
• so is this you guys' way of letting us know youre speaking again lol - @guavacubana
• OMFG.... IS THIS REAL LIFE?! AHHHHH!!! #BB27 - @nicejanice19
• MORGAN OMG VORGAN IN MY LIFETIME IM THROWING UP - @alicxnn
• Never knew I needed this so much 🥹 - @DudeRude206

It's wild, but not completely unexpected. Vince and Morgan were essentially the major headline of Big Brother Season 27, and while Ashley's win was impressive, it was more about their relationship in the house and their losing for fans more than it was her surprise win.

Does this mean that Vince and Morgan are in a relationship? I think that's a bit of a stretch, and I think all Big Brother fans must remember that these are real people at the end of the day. Interested or not, Vince just got out of a seven-year relationship and may need time to heal. Even if he did have feelings for Morgan and wanted to pursue a relationship, He might be waiting to heal to ensure the whole thing won't self-destruct.

Ultimately, we're no longer watching Big Brother online with a Paramount+ subscription. We don't have any additional insight on what's happening with Morgan or Vince, or how much they've communicated outside of a public platform like X. We're at their mercy when it comes to more details about where things stand between them, so I would suggest that BB fans be kind if they want to see more interactions between the two.

Big Brother is set to return for Season 28 in the summer on CBS. So far, there's no word of a spinoff happening as counter-programming to the Winter Olympics, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed we'll be surprised by an announcement soon!

The 2025 TV schedule is winding down, and while it was a good year for television, and I can't help but be a bit bummed out as a reality television fan. I had hoped we'd get another season of Celebrity Big Brother or Big Brother: Reindeer Games on the upcoming winter 2026 TV schedule, but unlike previous years, CBS has cancelled any potential plans in place for either to return.

It's a bit strange, too, because CBS typically runs a Big Brother show as counter-programming to NBC's Winter Olympics coverage. Despite that, we've received no word we'll be able to watch a new spinoff on the network or with a Paramount+ subscription, and yet I remain hopeful that one that hasn't previously existed is on the way for the following reasons.

Big Brother's Producers Said Nothing About A Legends Season

EW was able to get explicit confirmation that Reindeer Games and Celebrity Big Brother would not be returning this winter. What's interesting, however, is that the producers didn't mention a different type of spinoff that could feature former winners battling it out for supremacy over one another. It would be a spinoff that many iconic players have pitched over the years, and would be up to do if it were a shortened season.

I would say producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan would have zero reason to do so, but then a bunch of Big Brother winners tweeted out clues indicating an all-winners season could be in the works. Why would they do that? Do they actively want to anger a bunch of rabid BB fans? I don't have an answer, but thus far, I also don't know what CBS is planning to run during the Winter Olympics, and I can't help but be suspicious it's something involving Big Brother, even if it isn't the previous spinoffs viewers enjoyed.

What Could An "All-Winners" Season Entail?

We don't know if an all-winners season of Big Brother is on the way, but if it were, I would assume it'll be a cast of Houseguests who either won that big prize money or America's Favorite Player. Those Houseguests would play in a season that was similar to either Celebrity Big Brother or Reindeer Games, and compete to prove they're one of the greatest winners of all time.

The biggest question I have is who would be invited to such a season, because I think The Amazing Race Season 34 suggests it'd be a relatively fresh cast of former Houseguests. A vast majority of the competitors currently airing in that season are from Seasons 23 and later, and there was little to no representation from the seasons before that.

I would love to see a Big Brother spinoff buck that trend and include a more diverse mix of Houseguests. In fact, I would love to see a variety of Houseguests from the past and present, if only to see how the old school and new school would vibe under the same roof. For now, that fantasy exists solely in my head and hasn't been confirmed in any way, shape, or form.

Big Brother is currently on hiatus, but readers can enjoy past episodes right now on Paramount+. If winter does come and go without a spinoff, I may just have to watch an old season to get over my disappointment.

One of the best reality television shows is coming back in 2026, and it's happening much sooner than I expected. It won't be long before fans are able to watch The Traitors Season 4 and its cast via a Peacock subscription, and the latest video promoting the upcoming episodes has me so damned hype.

I was initially just excited to learn there's finally a release date for The Traitors Season 4, but those feelings only grew due to who was featured. Of course, the illustrious host, Alan Cumming, is always deserving of praise, but I need to discuss a former Big Brother Houseguest after excitedly talking up how quickly new episodes will arrive.

The Traitors Season 4 Will Premiere On January 8th

I'm so conditioned that returning shows tease an "early 2026" release date, it means anything but one of the first weeks of the new year. Fortunately, the latest post by The Traitors on Instagram defied my expectations and confirmed the reality series will premiere on January 8th. Take a look:

Short, sweet, and to the point. I like the shots of Traitors and their faces concealed by hoods. Is that actually anyone in the Season 4 cast, or is it just a paid extra to film a sequence? Honestly, it's not a big deal either way, because the one person I was most excited to see in this upcoming season, Tiffany Mitchell, was the one cast member highlighted in this short video!

I Hope The Reason Big Brother's Tiffany Mitchell Is Featured Is Because She Plays A Big Part In The Season

For those unfamiliar, Tiffany Mitchell is generally regarded as one of the most effective strategists in modern Big Brother. Her hard work in keeping The Cookout together resulted in the U.S. game's first Black winner, and won her America's Favorite Player.

While I've crossed my fingers that we'll get to see Tiffany return to play Big Brother again, I'll certainly settle for seeing her on The Traitors. I hope that her face being featured in the video means she plays a significant part in this season, but it's also possible that she's just skilled at making a great "surprised" face.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if Tiffany isn't a Traitor at the start of Season 4, I bet she will be selected to be one before she's taken out. Other Traitors will see how cunning and strategic she is, and want to bring her into the fold. Then again, maybe she'll play too hard for her own good and get killed off early. I really hope that isn't the case, but if I were a Traitor and she were a Faithful, she'd be the first person I take out.

We'll see what happens when The Traitors returns to Peacock on Thursday, January 8th. The weeks are ticking down to the big premiere, and hopefully, the upcoming season is just as good as the ones we've seen previously.

Big Brother has divvied out the prize money and is in the offseason, and while there is continued hope that a shortened legends season will come this winter, the executive producers continue to field questions about Season 27 and their plans for future seasons on CBS. This includes information about one competition we didn't get to see that usually makes the cut, and why it may not be back for a while.

Rich Meehan and Allison Grodner spoke to EW about Big Brother 27, and some of the competitions that weren't a part of the rotation this season. Notably left out of the mix was the "Slippery Slope," in which contestants slide across the floor holding liquid, only to dump it on the other side. After Grodner mentioned fans told her they missed seeing it, Meehan explained why we didn't see it:

In a season where fans complained about the fairness of adding the BB Blockbuster, it's good to see the producers mindful of ensuring parity across the board. The trade off is that we may not see iconic competitions for a while as the team figures out how to give each Houseguest as fair a shake as possible.

Meehan then went into specifics and talked about how "Slippery Slope" tended to favor one type of Houseguest over another. Ultimately it wasn't so much about skill, but rather the size of the person who competed:

For those who are wondering but don't want to fire up that Paramount+ subscription, the last time "Slippery Slope" was used was in Big Brother Season 25. Jag Bains, who set the record for most competition wins in a single season, ended up winning that year. It definitely adds credence to Meehan's allegation of the "most athletic" person winning, especially with Bains and his brother the odds-on favorites to win the latest season of The Amazing Race.

As for how the "Slippery Slope" could be tweaked, that's a great question. It's possible that the competition could be adjusted depending on the size of each competitor, but that would likely be a logistical headache and hard to prepare for. Another possible fix could be making it a team-based competition, which was done in Season 15.

If there's one thing I'm increasingly sure of, it's that the Big Brother team will figure it out. The addition of the BB Blockbuster has injected new life into the series, and fixed the lull of watching the live feeds between Sundays nights and Thursday's eviction episode. I'm feeling good about seeing this competition eventually return, and with a twist that will somehow improve it.

Big Brother will return to CBS for Season 28 this summer. I'm still crossing my fingers that a winter season is coming, but I'm afraid I'm going to get my hopes up for no reason.

Big Brother Season 27 is over, but questions still remain after Ashley Hollis' win over Vince Panaro. Namely, Vince has been mostly silent since his finale interviews, and not even his house bestie Morgan Pope had heard from him. After weeks of silence, Vince is finally speaking out, and putting to rest all the speculation on where things stand with him and his girlfriend Kelsey.

For those who didn't watching watch Big Brother online or on CBS, Season 27 of Big Brother heavily revolved around the "cheatmance" of Vince and Morgan's incredibly close relationship, countering his 7-year relationship with Kelsey back home. While Vince assured Morgan his girlfriend wouldn't be jealous of the cuddling, spooning, and sleeping in the same bed, fans saw her reactions on social media in which she made it clear it was a problem.

Now, weeks after the finale aired, Vince posted a video, and updated the world on where he's at in his relationship amidst the break-up rumors that have been swirling. In his words:

So it seems the Week 1 Head of Household who missed out on the grand prize money isn't on the best terms with Kelsey, but I think it's better than many expected. According to Vince they're taking some time apart, and then reconnecting to see whether or not to continue their seven-year relationship.

I'm sure there's some shock amongst the Big Brother fandom upon hearing that news, considering even the Season 27 Houseguests were uncomfortable with how close Morgan and Vince had become. Meanwhile, Kelsey was sent clips from those watching the live feeds via Paramount+ subscription, but still made it an obligation to see him after the series finale. He described that interaction by saying:

It sounds like a mature decision for both of them, and explains why Morgan hasn't heard from Vince since Big Brother ended. If he's truly hoping to mend his relationship with Kelsey, I think the smartest thing to do would be to not contact the third-place finisher and Final HOH Part 1 winner he played the game with.

I'm curious if Vince will continue to update Big Brother fans on what's going on with his life through his YouTube channel, and I hope he does. The wildest reveal of this video, to me anyway, is that he's already curious about how things would go if he played again, despite all the hate and criticism he received. That's the mark of a true Big Brother legend in the making, and I'm not gonna lie, I'd love to see him return.

We're now five years removed from the last iteration of Big Brother All-Stars, which I went on record as saying it never needs to happen again. After witnessing Vince, and many of the other Houseguests we've seen in these sesasons since then, however, I'm starting to feel like another iteration of All-Stars would be fantastic to watch. Am I delusional and just desperate to spiral over a new season of BB? Probably, but it's how I feel, especially after this latest update from Vince.

Catch old seasons of Big Brother right now on Paramount+. For those that don't subscribe, Pluto TV has a 24/7 channel that airs the reality show all the time for free! It's worth checking out if you're trying to imbibe on reality television drama on the cheap.

Watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 Online

Watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2: Preview

The Big Bang Theory universe has continued to expand long after it began in 2007. And, although Sheldon Cooper has been the lynchpin for much of it, this Young Sheldon sequel revolves around the fortunes of his older brother Georgie (Montana Jordan) as he continues to ride the bucking bronco of married life with Mandy McAllister (Emily Osment). Below, we explain how to watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 online and 100% free from wherever you are.

Apart from the absence of child prodigy Sheldon (who’s embarking on his scientific career in California), much of the Young Sheldon cast reprised their roles for this 1990s-set spin-off. How could they not? Raising an infant and only recently wed, George and Mandy receive support – and a steady supply of snide remarks – from Mandy’s parents Audrey (Rachel Bay Jones) and Jim (Will Sasso), while George’s mother Mary (Zoe Perry) and “Meemaw” (Annie Potts) are always there with a comforting word or a handout.

There’s heaps of chemistry between the show’s two charming leads as they share the daily load of adult life: raising their baby CeeCee while trying to realize their dreams. But it’s no secret their union comes with an expiry date. It’s not only spelled out in the series title, but stated in TBBT that Sheldon’s brother will get married and divorced twice. And, despite their genuine affection, season 1 saw more than a few bones of contention that could undermine their relationship.

For one thing, Mandy’s focus on career goes counter to Georgie’s desire to expand their family. She was elated when her boss and ex-boyfriend Scott (Christopher Gorham) promoted her to weekend weather girl at the end of last season. Though their history could cause trouble. That awkward hug proved that some lingering feelings remained, so perhaps Georgie was right to feel betrayed that she’d kept their past a secret.

Meanwhile, he’s inherited a ton of debt, and a challenging business partner, after buying McAllister Tires from Jim. It’s a huge decision, made more complicated by the fact that Fred Fagenbacher (Matt Letscher) has threatened to run him out of business. Sure, we know he’s destined to own a successful chain of “Dr. Tire” auto stores. But there’ll be lots more drama on Georgie & Mandy’s First Wedding Season 2 before that happens. We just hope the bond between our titular Texan duo can survive the strain.

Catch last year’s number one rated CBS comedy now. Simply read our guide below where we detail how to watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 online and from anywhere with a VPN.

Watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 for free in the US

CBS is reuniting us with the (somewhat) happy couple when George and Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 debuts, starting Thursday, October 16 at 8pm ET/PT (and airing just before Ghosts Season 5 premieres).

For those without cable, you can catch brand-new episodes on CBS, or with a subscription to Paramount Plus.

Those willing to wait a few hours can stream recent episodes of the show absolutely FREE on-demand via the CBS website or app – though only the last five – and without needing to login or create an account.

An alternative is to get a Paramount Plus subscription. If you’d like a live stream of CBS, you’ll want the Premium (ad-free) plan for $12.99 a month ($119.99 per year). Otherwise, wait a few hours and catch episodes the very next day with the Paramount Plus Essential plan. That costs just $7.99 a month, or $59.99 for a yearly membership.

Vacationing or working overseas and want to access your Paramount Plus subscription as normal? Use a VPN to port yourself back to the States like so:

How to watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 from anywhere

If you're a US citizen on vacation or working overseas, you can still watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 just as you would at home.

As not all titles on Paramount Plus US are available worldwide, there's a handy piece of software called a VPN which can change your IP address to make it look like you're accessing streaming services from any country in the world.

For example, US citizens traveling overseas can subscribe to a VPN, join a US-based server and watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage on Paramount Plus no matter where they are, and just like they would back home.

How to use a VPN to unblock streaming services:

1. Choose your ideal VPN and install – our go-to recommendation for unblocking is NordVPN, costing from $3.99 a month with its 2-year plan

2. Connect to a server – for Paramount Plus, for example, you'll want to connect to a server based in the US

3. Go to the stream you wish to access - for Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, head to Paramount Plus.

Watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 online free in Canada

Canadian fans of TBBT won’t want to miss this. Georgie & Mandy’s First Wedding Season 2 will air live via CTV at 7.30pm ET/PT from Thursday, October 16 – slightly ahead of its US broadcast.

Not got cable? The CTV app provides recently broadcast episodes FREE to stream for a limited time. Otherwise you’ll have to enter your cable provider details if you want to access all of CTV’s online content.

Alternatively, Crave will have all-new episodes of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage available to stream the following day, with plans starting at CA$11.99 a month, or upgrade to Crave Premium for CA$22 and get live TV, offline downloads, and 4K streaming, too.

NB: if you’re an American north of the border, you can use a VPN to access the likes of Paramount Plus as you would back home.

Can I watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 in the UK?

Dang it! Those hoping to stream Chuck Lorre’s hit sitcom in the UK are out of luck. Unlike Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory, George & Mandy’s First Marriage hasn’t been picked up by Channel 4 for broadcast on its E4 channel. It might find a home here in the future, but we’re not aware of any imminent plans for a UK release.

A US citizen in old Blighty? Americans should get the aforementioned VPN to access their Paramount Plus US subscription, allowing them to stream the show no matter where they are.

How to watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 in Australia

Aussies looking for somewhere to watch Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 can head to HBO Max. The sophomore season will premiere on Friday, October 17, not long after its North American release, with new installments uploaded each week. Subscriptions to HBO Max start at AU$11.99 a month for its Basic with Ads option, and go up to AU$21.99 for its top-tier Premium plan.

Remember: a VPN will let you access your geo-blocked streaming services while travelling abroad, allowing you to watch Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 just like you would back home.

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 trailer

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 cast

• Montana Jordan as Georgie Cooper
• Emily Osment as Mandy McAllister
• Rachel Bay Jones as Audrey McAllister
• Will Sasso as Jim McAllister
• Dougie Baldwin as Connor McAllister
• Jessie Prez as Ruben
• Zoe Perry as Mary Cooper
• Annie Potts as Connie Tucker
• Raegan Revord as Missy Cooper
• Christopher Gorham as Scott

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 episode release schedule

We have the below confirmed episode dates for the upcoming Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Season 2, though the full release schedule is yet to be confirmed.

• Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 – Episode 1: Thursday, October 16
• Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 – Episode 2: Thursday, October 23
• Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 – Episode 3: Thursday, October 30
• Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 – Episode 4: Thursday, November 6
• Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 – Episodes 5 to 22: Dates TBC

Warning! The following contains spoilers from The Amazing Race episode "Cry And Rally." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

The Amazing Race Season 38 is chugging along with its Big Brother cast and just aired the elimination of its third team. It ended up being a "wake-up call" for Matt Turner, but not because he and his wife, Megan, did so poorly that Phil Keoghan had to meet them well before they got to the finish line. Following the episode, he took to social media to talk about what happened, and he opened up about the body transformation it inspired.

Turner, known more commonly by his last name throughout most of his run on Big Brother Season 24, posted on X that he was close to 200 pounds at the time he competed on The Amazing Race. He's since hit the gym and looks very different in his latest picture, which was taken over a year after filming the season. Take a look:

I'm not sure the body transformation would've kept him and his wife from only narrowly staying ahead of Angela Murray and her daughter Lexi, but it's impressive to see the amount of work he's put in over the past year! He's looking fit and possibly ready to compete on more reality shows in the future. I could easily see him on The Challenge now.

While Matt Turner continues to train for whatever lies ahead for him in life and maybe the reality television space, I'm still eager to see who will win The Amazing Race. The betting odds have Jag and Jas Bains winning it all, and based on what we've seen thus far, I wouldn't be surprised if they do. One doesn't break Big Brother records and then suddenly stop excelling in competitions.

As for the overall feeling of how The Amazing Race is going this season, I think it's one of those seasons that could fundamentally change the game. I have a feeling the strategy of the top teams all allying to push everyone else out will live beyond the 2025 TV schedule, which could have longtime fans feeling some way. Perhaps similar to Big Brother, TAR might try to shake things up to keep this from happening in future seasons.

The Amazing Race airs on CBS on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET. Hopefully, we'll get a lot of updates on everyone this season, a year after filming has concluded, because, like Matt Turner, I'm sure a lot has changed for many of them since they had their big Europe trip.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from The Amazing Race episode "Cry and Rally." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription, and read at your own risk!

The Amazing Race Season 38 is humming along with former Big Brother Houseguests traveling all across Europe, and outside of some minor gripes, I'm enjoying it. That said, after seeing a couple of eliminations and how the game is proceeding through three legs, I once again have to talk about something I feel needs to change going forward.

As someone who religiously watches Big Brother online every summer, it's been interesting to see the alliance element from the other reality series bleed into The Amazing Race. It seems like a strategy that other future winners who want that prize money will pursue. However, I don't support it and wish there was less support between teams overall. So, let's discuss.

I'm Growing Tired Of The Alliance Between The Top Teams

Jag and Jas Bains quickly realized that by aligning with the teams of Joseph and Adam Abdin and Natalie and Stephanie Negrotti, they could gain a significant competitive advantage over the other teams. I know enough about The Amazing Race to know alliances aren't entirely uncommon, but I think through three legs we're seeing this go a bit too far.

By working collaboratively on each challenge thus far, they're blazing through each leg at a wild pace, completing them much faster than other teams, based on what we're seeing in the episode. They had a significant lead over Tucker and Eric Des Lauriers, to the point that even with a massive holdup, Joseph and Adam were still able to comfortably slide into fourth place after being beaten out for third by the brothers.

I really hope that this alliance dies, and fast. The top four teams are absolutely demolishing the competition, and as long as they stay at the top, no other team has a real chance of gaining ground on them until they are eliminated. For that reason, I do hope they start to go their separate ways in future episodes of The Amazing Race, but I wouldn't count on it.

Who Is In The Best Position To Win This Season?

As CinemaBlend reported earlier this season, Jag and Jas Bains have the best odds of winning this season of The Amazing Race. Big Brother fans won't be surprised by this, considering Jag is the record-holder for the most competition wins in a single season of the series.

I haven't looked at any spoilers from this season, but I think it's very easy to believe the Bains brothers will win it all based on what we've seen in the first three legs. Jag remains a competitive force to be reckoned with, as he ripped a goal on the hockey rink on his first shot, and gifted Stephanie and Natalie the win on their latest episode because her birthday is coming up.

Even with the strength of their alliance, they're still the best team out of those three, and it's only going to help carry them to the end, where they can steamroll their allies when the time comes. That's just my opinion, though, and I'd love to be proven wrong and see an unexpected team rise to the top in The Amazing Race Season 38.

The Amazing Race continues on CBS on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET. I'm eager to see what else the 2025 TV schedule has cooked up for the fall season, but for now, watching former Big Brother players run around Europe is plenty of entertainment for me.

Big Brother 27 is over, and while winner Ashley Hollis has already secured that $750,000 grand prize, conversation about the season continues in the fandom. One of the topics of scrutiny is the newly added BB Blockbuster and its role in the game. Did it change the game in a positive way, or did it make the CBS social-strategy game too competitive?

Those who watched Big Brother online or on CBS, or watched all the live feeds with a Paramount+ subscription, saw the effects of the BB Blockbuster firsthand. It allowed two players who were especially weak at the social aspect of the game, Keanu Soto and Kelley Jorgensen, to make it to the jury phase, with Keanu making it to the Top 5 of final Houseguests. EW spoke to executive producer Rich Meehan about the criticisms from some fans that the BB Blockbuster favors physical competitors who can survive simply by winning, and he had a great counterpoint:

Rich Meehan believes that Keanu not winning Big Brother is evidence that Season 27 wasn't too competition-heavy, and I tend to agree. Did it carry him and Kelley much further than they would've gone in a past season? Without a doubt, but let's not forget that there were opportunities Houseguests had to evict both when they were still on the block and opted not to.

I wrote that Keanu reminded me of Season 14 and 18 Houseguest Frank Eudy, who absolutely dominated the physical parts of the game but was terrible at the social element. That can take someone very far, especially in Big Brother Season 27, but as executive producer Allison Grodner pointed out, it wasn't enough to win:

He couldn't do it, and let's not forget, the person who ultimately won Big Brother this year was someone who hadn't won a single thing since the Week 1 veto until she won Part 2 of the Final Head of Household competition. If that's not evidence that BB 27 wasn't too competition-heavy, I don't know what is.

Specifically regarding Keanu, I think there's another side to the argument that there are plenty of social game players who made it deep into Big Brother but fell short because they had to win a competition and failed. Hannah Chaddha of Big Brother Season 23 comes to mind, as her strategy was praised, but she ultimately couldn't win when she needed to.

I believe the main takeaway for future BB Houseguests is that anyone who wants to win needs to have as well-rounded of a game as possible if they wish to have the easiest path to victory. It's easier said than done, of course, but I think it's completely necessary with the new changes to the game. Winning being only a comp beast or social mastermind won't be easy, as let's be honest, had Ashley not won Final HOH and taken Vince Panaro to the end rather than vice versa or taken Morgan Pope, I don't think she would've won this season. Others may disagree, which is probably why this debate will rage on until the premiere of Season 28.

Big Brother is done for the year, but casting is already underway for Season 28 coming next summer. There's also a chance we'll be getting a spinoff this winter, though we can only wait on CBS to confirm or deny that rumor as the weeks pass.

Big Brother has been no stranger to controversy throughtout its 27 seasons, and it's inevitable that even the most beloved seasons may have some hiccups along the way. Fortunately, this latest season didn't feature anything that warranted the expulsion of a Houseguest. However, it's fair to say it made some people mad. Some felt Rachel Reilly was robbed of the prize money, thanks to the hamster wheel, which led to the producers receiving death threats. On that note, will the wheel return?

For those who weren't watching this season on CBS or streaming Big Brother online with a Paramount+ subscription, Season 13 winner Rachel Reilly returned to play and was shockingly eliminated without a proper eviction after failing the surprise "Hamster Wheel" challenge. There was quite a public outcry from fans over the incident, but it would seem it was more extreme for the producers.

Big Brother's Allison Grodner Received Death Threats After The Hamster Wheel

During an interview with EW, Big Brother producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan confirmed they were aware of the fan response to the Hamster Wheel twist being brought from Reindeer Games to the franchise's flagship show. Grodner even mentioned she'd received death threats from fans upset about Rachel's eviction.

She didn't get specific about the threats, but both producers later noted that fans having such a reaction 27 seasons in bodes well for the show's longevity. Still, it's not cool to hear Big Brother fans are resorting to these types of threats as, after all, it is just a game at the end of the day. The stakes are even lower for those watching at home when there's no prize money to win, and the consequences for such threats can be quite severe.

Will The Hamster Wheel Return In Future Big Brother Seasons?

Given the shocking reactions to the Hamster Wheel's debut in Season 27 of Big Brother, I would've assumed the answer to whether we'll ever see it again was obvious. Fortunately, the interviewer didn't feel the same way, and after, asking, they received the following response from Rich Meehan:

It's bad news for BB fans who disliked someone being evicted via random elimination over two months into the game, though it's also possible that Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan are just being intentionally vague. After all, they didn't fully confirm the BB Blockbuster would become a permanent fixture until the season started, despite the rave reviews it received when it was the AI Arena in Season 26.

As a Big Brother fan, I think that even if it wasn't Rachel Reilly who was eliminated in the Hamster Wheel challenge, it still was a poorly thought-out twist for Season 27. I don't mind an elimination challenge that comes without a single vote, but I certainly don't want to see it happen two months into the game. I would've much preferred the Hamster Wheel to occur before the jury phase, if it absolutely had to happen, though I'd also be just as okay with never seeing it again.

Big Brother is done for the season, but there are rumors that a winter season is on the way. I'd be thrilled if that is the case, and I'm hoping we'll get an announcement about that in the coming weeks.