My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman: Adam Sandler (Netflix) – Monday, December 1
David Letterman’s Netflix interview show, “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction,” has seemingly dropped the season format of releasing multiple episodes at once and gone to one-off episodes. His latest features comedian and actor Adam Sandler, and is perfectly timed for Monday, December 1, just a few days before Sandler’s latest film, “Jay Kelly,” which is receiving potential Oscar buzz for Sandler, premieres on the streamer on Friday, December 5. Sandler was always a fun interview on Letterman’s ‘Late Show,’ and a longer interview should provide many laughs and insight into Sandler’s life and career.

The Abandons (Netflix) – Thursday, December 4
“The Abandons,” which premieres on Netflix on Thursday, December 4, sees creator Kurt Sutter trading in the outlaws of “Sons of Anarchy” for a different kind of outlaw: the American West's in the 1850s. “The Abandons” sees Lena Headey as Fiona Nolan, an Irish woman unable to conceive, who builds her own family by adopting four orphans, only to see English aristocrats, led by Gillian Anderson’s Constance Van Ness, claim her Oregon home.  
​

Jay Kelly (Netflix) – Friday, December 5
Writer/director Noah Baumbach’s latest film, “Jay Kelly,” premiering on Netflix on Friday, December 5, is garnering potential Oscar buzz in multiple categories, including Best Picture. “Jay Kelly” sees Oscar-winner George Clooney as the titular character, an aging movie star, who embarks on a European trip with his longtime manager, played by Adam Sandler (also drawing Oscar buzz), and contemplating choices they have made throughout their career. 
​

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix) – Friday, December 12
“Wake Up Dead Man,” the latest in writer/director Rian Johnson’s ‘Knives Out’ mystery series featuring Daniel Craig’s glorious Benoit Blanc character, finds Blanc trying to solve the murder of a Catholic Monsignor, with a former boxer, turned Catholic priest, as the main suspect. Josh O’Connor is getting rave reviews as said priest, and the supporting cast – as in the other ‘Knives Out’ whodunnits – is amazing with Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Mila Kunis and Jeffrey Wright. 
​

Taylor Swift: The End of an Era (Disney+) – Friday, December 12
To be frank, I have zero interest in Disney+’s “Taylor Swift: The End of an Era” documentary, which follows the massive pop star behind the scenes of her Eras Tour over six episodes. Many of us are Swifted out, especially when it comes to that tour, but the pop sensation knows how to keep her large and loyal fanbase happy with constant content. This docuseries will undoubtedly be one of the biggest pop culture moments of the year as it comes to an end. The first two episodes drop on Friday, December 12, with two more coming each subsequent Friday. 
​

Sarah Squirm: Live + In The Flesh (HBO/HBO Max) – Friday, December 12
Sarah Sherman has been one of the most unique cast members in “Saturday Night Live” history with her humor, including wild, wacky and out there aspects, largely featuring body horror. It has made her a bit of a “love her or hate her” cast member among fans of that show. But for those who love her, her HBO special “Sarah Squirm: Live + In The Flesh,” premiering on Friday, December 12, should be disgustingly hilarious.

Breakdown: 1975 (Netflix) – Friday, December 19
Netflix’s documentary “Breakdown: 1975,” directed by Morgan Neville, will be a “can’t miss” for film buffs, as it focuses on how the social and political upheaval of the early to mid-1970s led to films like Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver,” Sidney Lumet’s “Network” and Milos Forman’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” The documentary, narrated by Oscar-winner Jodie Foster, features interviews with Albert Brooks, Ellen Burstyn, Josh Brolin, Scorsese, Oliver Stone, Seth Rogen and more.

Stranger Things: Part 2 & Finale (Netflix) – Thursday, December 25 & Wednesday, December 31
The first four episodes of the “Stranger Things” fifth and final season dropped on Netflix over Thanksgiving week and immediately became the talk of the pop culture and television world. After a decade, a ridiculously prolonged decade, the story of Eleven, Mike, Hopper, and all of our favorite Hawkins, Ind., characters comes to an end, first with three episodes coming on Christmas Day, and the nearly two-hour-long series finale dropping on New Year’s Eve. So, ring in the New Year by seeing if Vecna can be defeated! 

The standoff between YouTube TV and Disney over television/streaming rights has entered its second week, with YouTube TV users being without Disney channels, like the popular ABC and ESPN networks.

The dispute centers on carriage fees, the per-subscriber rates distributors pay to carry broadcast and cable networks.  Disney’s networks, which also include FX, Disney Channel, Nat Geo, and more, have been dark on YouTube TV since late Thursday, October 30.

YouTube TV, owned by Google, has been involved in multiple carriage disputes this year, but most deals are struck before channels are removed from the platform, or within a day or two of being removed. A carriage dispute of this length, especially with a company owning some of the most-watched channels on television, is rare.

According to Variety, a recent survey by market research firm Drive Research found that 24% of YouTube TV subscribers had already canceled or plan to cancel the service in response to the Google/Disney standoff. Thirty percent of those surveyed say they planned to subscribe directly to Hulu + Live TV or ESPN Unlimited to ensure they have access to the sporting events and networks they want to watch.

I completely understand being pissed off by the Google/Disney dispute. As a YouTube TV subscriber myself, I have been, too, though I’m more upset about losing the opportunity to DVR ABC dramas and comedies I watch than about not being able to see select college football games or Monday Night Football.

But one thing I absolutely will not do is cancel YouTube TV— at least anytime soon —to switch to Hulu + Live TV.

This is a fight between billionaire conglomerates, but it also feels like a dirty plot by Disney to make more money and kill off a competitor.

You see, Disney owns Hulu, just as it does ABC, ESPN, etc., and if it can piss off enough YouTube TV subscribers to cancel and switch to Hulu + Live TV, it’s a win-win for the company.  

We’ve never lived in a time when media conglomerates were so obviously trying to buy up so many companies and essentially hold a monopoly, and when the government seemed OK with it.  

Yes, Google/YouTube aren’t faultless in this standoff, but without ABC, ESPN, etc., YouTube TV’s product probably dies off in the future, and that would make Hulu + Live TV the biggest live television streamer. As it stands, YouTube TV has roughly 10 million subscribers, whereas Hulu + Live TV has around 4 million. Can’t you see why Disney might want to keep ABC, ESPN, etc., away from YouTube TV for an extended period of time?

Eventually, Google and Disney will come to a deal. It has to. Otherwise, as I said, YouTube TV is kaput. But what we absolutely should not do is kowtow to Disney by forking over more money to the company.

I understand you want to watch football. But it’s not worth giving in to Disney by subscribing to one of their streamers in the meantime. Try to ride out this dispute like I am.  

I Love L.A. (HBO/HBO Max) – Sunday, November 2
Rachel Sennott plays the kind of characters who would probably annoy the hell out of me in real life – but the ones I’ve seen from her on film, like in “Shiva Baby” and “Bottoms,” have entertained the hell out of me instead. She frequently plays self-obsessed, trainwreck late millennials, but the messiness is funny and sometimes endearing. Sennott brings her first leading television role in “I Love L.A.” to HBO (streaming on HBO Max), in which she plays an ambitious young woman aspiring to be a talent agent and reunites with friends who have spent time apart. “I Love L.A.” premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, November 2.

All Her Fault (Peacock) – Thursday, November 6
The Peacock thriller “All Her Fault” sees Sarah Snook’s return to television following her career-changing, Emmy-winning role as Shiv Roy on HBO’s “Succession.” “All Her Fault” features Snook as a mother who arrives at a location to pick her son up from a play date only to find that he’s no longer there. Based on a novel by Andrea Mara, the series features Jake Lacy, Sophia Lillis, Michael Pena and Dakota Fanning in supporting roles. “All Her Fault” premieres on Peacock on Thursday, November 6. 

Pluribus (AppleTV) – Friday, November 7
AppleTV’s “Pluribus” sees the return of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” creator Vince Gilligan to television, but this time with science fiction as the genre. He re-teams with actress Rhea Seehorn, from “Better Call Saul,” who plays a woman immune to an unexplained virus that transforms the world’s population into happy, optimistic people. The show, which was picked up for two seasons from the start, should be one of the year’s most anticipated TV premieres simply based on the Gilligan/Seehorn collaboration. “Pluribus” premieres on Apple TV on Friday, November 7. 

Frankenstein (Netflix) – Friday, November 7
Director Guillermo del Toro’s lifelong inspiration has been author Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” and according to a recent interview for CBS’s “Sunday Morning,” aspects of the story have appeared in every one of the director’s films. He finally got the chance to take on the mother of all monster tales himself via Netflix, with his telling of the classic premiering on Friday, November 7. This version features Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as his monstrous masterpiece. 

The Beast in Me (Netflix) – Thursday, November 13
Netflix’s dramatic miniseries “The Beast in Me” sees Emmy-winner Claire Danes as a grieving mother and acclaimed author who has taken a step back from public life following the death of her son, until an interesting subject falls into her lap when a real estate mogul, played by Emmy-winner Matthew Rhys, who was the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance, moves in next door. “The Beast in Me,” which features eight episodes, co-stars Brittany Snow and Natalie Morales, and premieres on Netflix on Thursday, November 13. 

Stranger Things: The Final Season Part 1 (Netflix) – Wednesday, November 26
“Stranger Things,” possibly the greatest original series Netflix has ever produced, finally returns for its final season over the long Thanksgiving weekend, when part one of the three-part final season, featuring four feature-length episodes, drops. The Duffer Brothers, who created and oversee the series, should absolutely be embarrassed by how long it has taken to get this final season out. It has been almost three and a half years since the fourth season and taking nearly a full decade to produce 42 episodes is asinine and everything people hate about television in the modern world. Now that the admonishment is out of the way, all will be forgiven if the Duffer Bros. can finish this story in the amazing fashion it deserves. Let’s return to Hawkins one final time with our favorite teenagers, even if some might be drawing retirement checks by now.  

Abbott Elementary (ABC) – Wednesday, October 1
The fifth season of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” i.e., the only network comedy that the awards folks care about, premieres Wednesday, Oct. 1. The fourth season of the series righted the ship a bit after a disappointing third season, and I look forward to seeing how our favorite TV teachers are doing at the beginning of season five. Is there much left for showrunner/lead star Quinta Brunson to do on the series that hasn’t already been done? Part of the fun in sticking with an ongoing series is finding out the answer to that question.

Saturday Night Live (NBC) – Saturday, October 4
“Saturday Night Live” returns to a bit of normalcy in its 51st season on NBC, following a star-studded anniversary season that coincided with a presidential election year. The season premieres on October 4 with singer Bad Bunny, hot off the announcement that he will be the Super Bowl 60 halftime show headliner, making his second hosting appearance on the show. However, he will not be the musical guest this time around, with Doja Cat taking over those duties, making her ‘SNL’ debut. This season has me more concerned than any I can remember (in my 20-plus years watching), as two of the show's longest-running cast members, Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim, are not returning for this season. It’s especially concerning that the cast of 17 once again finds itself without a single black female cast member.

DMV (CBS) – Monday, October 13
You simply don’t get many new sitcoms on network television anymore, but “DMV,” premiering on CBS on Monday, Oct. 13, has a promising cast and a humorous trailer. Created by Dana Klein, “DMV” is a workplace mockumentary following workers at a DMV and stars Harriet Dyer, who’s very good on the Australian comedy “Colin from Accounts,” the always funny “Saturday Night Live” alum Tim Meadows, and Molly Kearney, who entertained me on their short ‘SNL’ stint.
​ 

NCIS: Origins (CBS) – Tuesday, October 14
The first season of the CBS crime procedural “NCIS: Origins,” the sixth series in the “NCIS” franchise, was the biggest surprise for me on network TV last year. I didn’t expect much from a prequel following the original series’ character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and it wound up being my favorite new drama of the year, and one of the best dramas on network TV, outright. The second season, premiering Tuesday, Oct. 14, is my most anticipated returning series premiere, as the first season ended with the potential death of one of its main characters. It'll be interesting to see how “NCIS: Origins” handles the storyline.

NBA on NBC (NBC & Peacock) – Tuesday, October 21
The NBA returns to NBC for the first time since 2002, with the 2025-26 season set to tip off on Tuesday, October 21. The network will feature a doubleheader, including the Houston Rockets against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers. I was a big fan of the NBA on TNT, which the NBC package is replacing, so I have mixed feelings about the league’s return to network television. However, I’m also excited to see what kind of product the network provides for its fans.   

Nobody Wants This (Netflix) – Thursday, October 23
One of the most pleasant surprises on television in 2024 was the debut of the Netflix comedy “Nobody Wants This,” which saw the budding relationship between a relationship/sex podcaster, played by Kristen Bell, and a rabbi, played by Adam Brody. The chemistry between Bell and Brody was palpable and hilarious, and both received Emmy Award nominations for their performances. Featuring a great supporting cast of Timothy Simons, Justine Lupe and Jackie Tohn, I can’t wait to see what the show, created by Erin Foster, is up to in its second season. 

 
For the second time in the last few months, I find myself at a loss for words over something that happened regarding a late-night talk show.
​
I probably shouldn’t have been shocked by the news that “Jimmy Kimmel Live” has been pulled “indefinitely” from ABC after all, when the news broke a few months ago that CBS would be ending “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in May of 2026, I said I felt like ABC would do the same with Kimmel’s show (his contract, like Colbert’s, ends then).

But it was the reason why Kimmel’s show has been, at least temporarily, suspended that surprised me. It was for comments he made on his Monday night (September 15) show about the way the conservative press, politicians, etc., had handled the reveal of Charlie Kirk’s murderer – essentially hoping that the killer would be anybody who didn’t resemble them.

Kimmel said: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

That was it. That inoffensive, and accurate in my assessment, statement, which had nothing to do with Kirk in itself, was enough to start the ball rolling to get Kimmel’s show removed from the air.

On Wednesday (Sept. 17), the Nexstar Media Group Inc. said that it would stop airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on its 32 ABC affiliates.

Andrew Alford, the president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, said: “Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national discourse.”
Sure, Andrew. Sounds like bullshit to me.

Later in the day, Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, appeared on a YouTube episode hosted by commentator Benny Johnson, and seemingly threatened ABC and Disney to decide on Kimmel’s show.

He said, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. There’s calls for Kimmel to be fired. I think you could certainly see a path forward for suspension over this.”

The “we can do this the easy way or the hard way” is clearly a “the ball is in your court” type threat to ABC/Disney, and ABC/Disney cowardly made the decision to sideline the show “indefinitely.”

After the decision to sideline “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” the Sinclair Broadcast Group decided to get in on the fun, too. Sinclair has decided to use Kimmel’s timeslot on Friday to air a tribute special to Kirk on its ABC affiliates, which includes my local one in Little Rock, Ark. And, furthermore, Sinclair stated its affiliates wouldn’t resume airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live” until “we are confident that appropriate steps have been taken to uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform.” The company has also called for Kimmel to issue a direct apology to Kirk’s family and to make a personal donation to both the family and Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA. That seems an awful lot like an ultimatum Kimmel must follow to get back on Sinclair’s affiliate stations.

So, it seems the FCC, Nexstar and Sinclair have done what they can to force Kimmel off of television, and ABC/Disney cowardly accepted the demands for fear of being fined or losing money with the show not airing on many of its affiliates.

If something as innocuous as what Kimmel said, which drew the ire of the FCC and these media companies, can get him removed from television, we are fucked as a country. If we’re not allowed to differ in our opinions on what’s going on in this country without the threat of losing our jobs, we are simply fucked.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Kimmel and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” going forward, but I have a bad feeling we have seen the last of him and his show on ABC, and honestly, at this point, it may be of his own decision to walk away from a company that didn’t stand up for him when it should have.   

One thing I noticed the day after the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards aired on CBS on Sunday, September 13, is that critics almost unanimously thought comedian Nate Bargatze was among the worst hosts in the history of the awards.

I must confess that even though I am a fan of Bargatze’s comedy – I’m actually seeing him for a second time later this week in Little Rock, Ark. – I had my concerns about him hosting the Emmys before the telecast. Bargatze doesn’t seem very versed in pop culture, particularly the majority of the television shows nominated for awards and felt he might struggle with the typical monologue one would give at a Hollywood award show.

My fears were assuaged when Bargatze opted to forgo a traditional award show monologue, instead choosing to begin the Emmys with a continuation of his George Washington sketches, which have been incredibly popular during his hosting stints on “Saturday Night Live” over the last two years. He also performed a similar role as an angel at the Nativity during his CBS Christmas special last holiday season. For the Emmys, Bargatze took on the role of Philo T. Farnsworth, the father of television, explaining to three men (played by ‘SNL’ cast members Mikey Day, James Austin Johnson, and Bowen Yang) what television would be like in the future.

Yes, I understand that this concept may be wearing thin for some, but it still makes me laugh.

Aside from the cold opening, Bargatze had only one bit that ran throughout the night, and it was no doubt one that the network likely played a part in to help the live telecast run smoothly.

Bargatze said he would donate $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America – but there was a catch. For every acceptance speech that ran over the allotted 45 seconds, he would subtract $1000 from the total for every extra second. For every speech that lasted under 45 seconds, he would add an additional $ 1,000 for each second.

This act of charity, and the game made out of it, seems to be the main sticking point for the criticisms of Bargatze’s hosting gig.

I can agree that a three-hour running gag can wind up making eyes roll, but Bargatze’s quips throughout the night, especially the one about a show called “Adolescence” taking money from adolescents, kept me chuckling.

Most of the criticisms found the gag to be unfair to the night’s award-winners, who tried to beat the clock in an effort not to take money away from the kiddos, but anyone watching surely had to have known by the night’s end that Bargatze and CBS would be coughing up money regardless, because otherwise they would’ve looked like massive villains.

In the end, the actual tally would’ve been in the negative, but CBS gave $100,000, which, let’s face it, seems cheap for a network, and Bargatze gave $250,000. At the very least, the night’s telecast raised $350,000 for the charity, but it's likely that the continuous mentions throughout the night led to word of mouth, prompting many viewers to contribute from their living rooms across the country.

Also, the winners truly weren’t letting it affect their speeches, as you could tell from the many that went over the allotted 45 seconds.

Wouldn’t we rather see money donated to charity than hear an obnoxious orchestra play music to run award-winners off the stage or producers who mute the microphone after a certain amount of time?
The way the producers of Sunday’s telecast chose to adhere to the time limit is frankly the nicest way I’ve ever seen an award telecast handle the situation. That’s why I’m shocked it’s universally hated on. I feel like it’s the biggest Hollywood press overreaction in quite some time.

I understand wanting to give award winners the spotlight – it’s their time to shine, after all. But the only way to truly do that would be to move these awards to a streaming service where runtimes don’t matter. If we want a four- to five-hour Emmy telecast, this can certainly be achieved.

By the way, if you’d like to donate to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, you can do so at www.bgca.org. 

NCIS: Tony & Ziva (Paramount+) – Thursday, September 4
“NCIS,” the popular CBS crime drama that has been on the air since 2003, certainly didn’t need another spinoff. There have already been five (two of which are still on the air). But, bringing two fan-favorite characters from the original series, Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo and Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David, together for their own series should be a winning combination for fans of the series – maybe even some who have given up on the original series after more than 20 years on TV.  “NCIS: Tony & Ziva” premieres on Paramount+ on Thursday, Sept. 4, and it wouldn’t be surprising if it immediately became the streamer’s most popular series.

The Paper (Peacock) – Thursday, September 4
Peacock’s latest series, “The Paper,” is a loosely based spinoff of “The Office” in that it’s created by Greg Daniels, told via the mockumentary aspect that made “The Office” revolutionary among American television, and features Oscar Nunez’s Oscar Martinez, one of the characters in “The Office.” “The Paper” follows a fledgling local print newspaper (aren’t they all) in Toledo, Ohio, which has been taken over by a new editor in Domhnall Gleeson’s Ned Sampson. Featuring a supporting cast including Sabrina Impacciatore and Chelsea Frei, it’ll be interesting to see how many fans of the beloved “The Office” will find “The Paper.” “The Paper” premieres on Peacock on Thursday, Sept. 4, and unlike most Peacock series, all 10 episodes will be dropped at once. 

Task (HBO/HBO Max) – Sunday, September 7
Creator/writer Brad Ingelsby took the TV world by storm in 2021 with the limited series “Mare of Easttown,” which dominated at the Emmy Awards with three acting wins, including its lead Kate Winslet. His next project for HBO is “Task,” starring Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo as an FBI agent tasked with ending a string of violent robberies in Philadelphia. The supporting cast features Tom Pelphrey and Emilia Jones. “Task” premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, Sept. 7. 

Black Rabbit (Netflix) – Thursday, September 18
Jason Bateman has had a lot of success with his Netflix relationship, with the revival and resumption of “Arrested Development,” his Emmy-nominated acting and Emmy-winning directing turn in the dark drama “Ozark” and starring in one of the streamer’s most popular original films, “Carry-On.” His latest work for the streamer is the miniseries “Black Rabbit,” in which he plays the chaotic Vince Friedken, who reenters the life of his brother, Jake, played by Jude Law, and throws his life into escalating dangers that might bring down his successful life. “Black Rabbit” premieres on Netflix on Thursday, Sept. 18. 

The Lowdown (FX) – Tuesday, September 23
Sterlin Harjo. After three brilliant seasons of his series “Reservation Dogs,” an FX production that aired on Hulu, I will follow him to anything he does. His follow-up to “Reservation Dogs” is “The Lowdown,” premiering on FX on Tuesday, Sept. 23. “The Lowdown” is reportedly about a man “who knows too much,” and is loosely based on Lee Roy Chapman, a Tulsa-man who’s researched helped reshape contemporary understanding on the racial history of Tulsa, Okla. Ethan Hawke, who memorably appeared in a guest role in “Reservation Dogs,” will lead the series with a supporting cast that includes Tim Blake Nelson, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Kyle MacLachlan and Keith David.  

English Teacher: Season 2 (FX/Hulu) – Thursday, September 25
“English Teacher,” the FX comedy created by and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez, was one of the surprise hits of 2024. Alvarez stars as high school English teacher Evan Marquez, who struggles with both working with today’s students and his love life. The series features an incredibly hilarious supporting cast that includes Stephanie Koenig, Sean Patton and Enrico Colantoni. Season two premieres on FX on Thursday, Sept. 25, and the entire season will be available on Hulu the following day. 

The Savant (AppleTV+) – Friday, September 26
Jessica Chastain is the latest Oscar-winning movie star to try her hand at prestige television with AppleTV+’s thriller miniseries “The Savant.” Chastain stars as the titular savant, who infiltrates online hate groups in efforts to prevent large-scale public attacks. The series, created by Melissa James Gibson, is based on a 2019 Cosmopolitan article about a real-life woman known as “the Savant,” who does the same. “The Savant” premieres on Friday, Sept. 26. 

10. Jordan Lloyd
Winner of Season 11
​Finished fourth in Season 13 
 
It is well-known to all reality television fans that “Big Brother” is a very cut-throat game. You make alliances, but at some point, you have to turn on your own people. There can only be ONE winner. It is a challenging game for houseguests to navigate because a winning resume must balance competition wins with a strong social game. You cannot alienate all of the houseguests and expect to win the grand prize of $750,000. (It used to be $500,000 until two seasons ago). This is because the winner of “Big Brother” is determined by a jury of the last seven to nine houseguests who were voted out of the house. Because of the cut-throat nature of the game, most winners have had “blood on their hands” and not played the cleanest of games. One of the main reasons Jordan Lloyd, winner of Season 11, simply MUST be on the list of Best Big Brother Players is that she was a nice, loyal, compassionate and sweet player. During Season 11, she only managed to win two Head of Household competitions and one Power of Veto, but she aligned herself with some strong players. Her main ally was Jeff Schroeder, with whom she is now married and has two children. Jeff was a competition beast and beloved by many like her. Their good girl and good guy charm led them to go very far on the game. Jeff made it to Top 5 before getting voted out. Jordan also was nominated four times for eviction but managed to escape eviction every time. Jordan being such a nice girl and a great player of the game led to her beating out Natalie Martinez in a 5-2 vote. Jordan’s gameplay is a shining example to all future Big Brother houseguests that it is possible to win the game with integrity. The fact that Lloyd returned for Big Brother 13 and managed to reach the Top 4, even as a previous winner, shows us all that she knows what she is doing in the game of Big Brother.  
 
9. Tiffany Mitchell
Season 23, finished in 6th place 
 
Tiffany Mitchell is one of the absolute best “Big Brother” players that did not make it to finale night and SHOULD HAVE. There is hardly anyone in “Big Brother” history who could strategize like Tiffany. Tiffany was the master organizer of the famous Cookout Alliance of Big Brother 23. Their main objective was to ensure that their season of Big Brother would have the first black winner for the show. The alliance consisted of Mitchell, Azah Awasum, Derek Frazier, Hannah Chaddha, Kyland Young, and the winner of the season Xavier Prather. The alliance got to the final six and was one of the most successful alliances in Big Brother history. Mitchell had every single one of them latch onto one person as an ally who could help steer their people away from any member of The Cookout Alliance, and it worked. Mitchell was exceptional at strategizing and had a strong social game, so the rest of the alliance members knew she would need to be the first one to go after their mission was fulfilled to ensure they all made it to the Top 6. Mitchell was only nominated for eviction once, and it was when she was evicted. As far as competitions go, she only won one Head of Household, but Tiffany showed us all that it doesn’t matter how many competitions you win when you are running the game behind the scenes. I am glad that Tiffany was voted as America’s Favorite Houseguest and got the $50,000 prize.  
 
8. Britney Haynes
Season 12, finished 4th 
Big Brother 14, finished 8th 
Big Brother: Reindeer Games, finished 5th 
 
One of the most difficult episodes I have ever watched of “Big Brother” was because of Britney Haynes. In Season 12, Britney had aligned herself with Lane Elenburg, Monet Stunson and Ragan Fox, while mostly getting into a rivalry with showmance Brendon Villegas and Rachel Reilly. What Britney did not know was that she ended up helping the famous Brigade alliance eliminate all of their enemies throughout the season. When she failed to win the Head of Household competition and Power of Veto competition with four of them left in the house, the Brigade alliance voted her out, with her finishing fourth place in her first season. What made it so heartbreaking is that Britney was a really great “Big Brother” player and one of the best. She won a Head of Household and three Power of Vetoes and had an incredibly strong social game. Ironically, she was extremely honest in the diary room confessionals. No one can give a diary room confessional like her. The main thing Britney Haynes is remembered for is her brutally honest commentary on the events of the house. She did not hold back and showed us all how incredibly hilarious she was. America loved Britney, and that is why she was the winner of America’s Favorite Houseguest. One of the best players that did not win ... for sure.
 
7. Taylor Hale
Winner of Big Brother Season 24 
 
Taylor Hale simply HAS to be on the list of best “Big Brother” players because she endured so much in that house. Taylor went from the black sheep of the house to the first person to win the “Big Brother” game and win America’s Favorite Houseguest. From the very first week, a misunderstanding led to houseguest Daniel believing Taylor “bullied” Paola in some way, but it led to Taylor being treated like an outcast when she truly did not mean to hurt anyone at all. Taylor had to sit on the block six times during the season. When you are on the block, you have to strategize and have a strong social game to convince people in the house that it is good for their game for you to be there. She had to do this so many times, showing just how resilient she was. Taylor managed to win a couple of Head of Households, too. Taylor was in the final two alongside a competition beast, Monte Taylor, who had won three Head of Households and two Power of Veto competitions. In the end, though, the jury awarded Taylor the win in an 8-1 vote. Taylor’s game is a testament that you can win the game even when you feel you spend the entire season with your back against the wall and trying to get out of sticky situations.
 
6. Cody Calafiore
Winner of Big Brother: All Stars 
Runner-Up of Big Brother Season 16 
 
Cody Calafiore is the poster model for what a typical “Big Brother” winner should look like. He plays such a strong social game. He is able to appeal to everyone with his good-guy persona and win people over. Cody manages to make you feel that it's great for your game for him to still be around, even though he is a competitive beast and definitely a threat. In his first season, Cody was aligned with winner Derrick Levasseur. Cody managed to win three Head of Household competitions and three Power of Veto competitions. Derrick and Cody dominated the game and had a significant impact on the entire season. Rarely did they hit a snag in their plans. Cody made an awful decision in Season 16 by honoring his final two with Derrick. If he had cut Derrick with his Final HOH win, he would have easily won over “floater” Victoria. However, he chose to be loyal and lost the grand prize. It was widely seen that Derrick was more of the mastermind than Cody. Cody got to come back in 2020 for an All-Star season and dominated the game. Even though he should have been on the block the very first week and voted out, he managed to fly under the radar. Cody would go on to win a whopping four Head of Households and four Power of Veto. When it came time to vote for the winner, the entire jury agreed unanimously that Cody deserved it. Cody truly is one of the best winners of the show ever.
 
5. Vanessa Rousso
Finished third in Big Brother Season 17 
 
Vanessa Rousso is one of the best “Big Brother” players to not win. Vanessa lost the final HOH, and the winner, Steve Moses, decided to cut her and take Liz Nolan with him to the final. It was the right decision because if Steve had chosen Vanessa, he would have lost. Vanessa had played THE best social and competitive game of the season. I was devastated when she lost and got cut. She would have been one of the best winners the show had ever seen. Vanessa was a part of The Sixth Sense alliance and was so great at manipulating other people to do what she wanted them to do. She really was running the house the entire season. Vanessa was also great at competitions: she won four Head of Household competitions and three Power of Veto competitions. Vanessa was successful at holding onto power in the house, but she pivoted and got other people who had the power to do what was needed to further her own interests in the game. She was an extremely aggressive player and one of the best.
 
 
4. Nicole Franzel
Winner of Big Brother 18 and Big Brother: Reindeer Games 
Finished 7th in Big Brother 16
Finished third in Big Brother: All Stars 
 
Nicole Franzel was someone I was rooting for to win her very first season. Unfortunately, she was seen as a threat to master manipulators Derrick and Cody in Season 16, and they ensured she was gone too early from the game. Nicole, fortunately, got to return to compete again in Big Brother 18 and ultimately won the game. Nicole won two Head of Household competitions and two Power of Veto competitions, but she had managed to align herself strongly with Corey Brooks, Paulie Calafiore and Zakiyah Everette. Nicole and her alliance were able to control the game most of the season with some slight shifts in power. Where Nicole really excelled was her social game. When Nicole beat runner-up Paul Abrahamian, it was clear that while he had also played an incredible game, she was better at jury management. She was better at making sure players didn’t feel too hurt by the moves she had to make in the game, while Paul’s moves left a bitter taste in the jury’s mouth. It was a close vote, with a 5-4 win for Franzel. Nicole was also a very emotional player and showed humanity in the Big Brother house. She sometimes would cry and be very open in the diary room confessionals, and I respected her for sharing the conflicting feelings of this game.
 
3. Dan Gheesling
Winner of Big Brother 10 
Runner-up of Big Brother 14 
 
Dan Gheesling is simply one of the best “Big Brother” players of all time. He was one of the most skilled manipulators to have ever walked through those doors. In Dan’s first season, he was a part of the Renegades Alliance and was loyal to Brian Hart, Keesha Smith, Memphis Garrett, Renny Martyn and Steven Daigle. Dan managed to win three Head of Household competitions and two Power of Veto competitions. He was one of the very first to show viewers how to have power when you didn’t have power. It did not matter if Dan was HOH or a POV winner; he was running the house. He was only nominated for eviction twice throughout the entire season, demonstrating the strength of his social game alongside his competition wins. Dan won his first Season.
 
What Dan is mostly remembered for, though, is when he appeared to be doomed to go home during Big Brother 14 when he lost the Power of Veto, he staged “Dan’s Funeral.” He cried and manipulated people into feeling sorry for him, all while he had a plan for POV winner Jen to take him off the block and, surprisingly, have the HOH name Britney Haynes as a replacement nominee. It was one of the most shocking moments in the history of “Big Brother.” Dan’s social game was not viewed as effective the second time around. He even managed to get his ally, Danielle, to take Dan off the block so he could vote out her showmance stud, Shane. Danielle’s jaw dropped, and so did all of ours. Dan is one of the absolute best.
 
2. Rachel Reilly 
Winner of Big Brother 13 
Finished 9th in Big Brother 12 
Currently in the house now  
 
Rachel Reilly is one of the fiercest competitors in Big Brother history. What makes her so incredible is that she can pull off competition wins, lay low when needed, strategize and still be herself unapologetically. Rachel is one of the most quoted “Big Brother” houseguests of all time with lines like, “Who wants to see my HOH room?,” “Floaters, you better grab a life vest,” and calling Brendon “Bookie!” Rachel’s first season she only managed to win two Head of Households before finishing in 9th place. She returned for Season 13, though, and won four Head of Household competitions and two Power of Veto competitions. She was strongly aligned with the Veterans Alliance with her now husband, Brendon, Jeff, Jordan and Porsche Briggs (the runner-up of the season). Rachel has really proven that a strong strategy when playing this game is pivoting. It is all about knowing when you need to do something and when you don’t. It is about knowing when to backdoor someone and when not to. If you remove someone perceived to be a threat too early, it can be detrimental to your game because then you become the next target of attention. Reilly famously said, “No one gets between me and my man” when talking about her husband, Brendon, and that’s what she said about the prize money, too.
 
1. Derrick Levasseur 
Winner of Big Brother 16
 
There is no one who should be No. 1 on the list of the best “Big Brother” players of all time other than the winner of Big Brother 16. Derrick played an absolutely perfect game. Derrick was never nominated for eviction; he won four Head of Household competitions and was aligned with Cody Calafiore in the Hitmen Alliance. Cody won three HOH’s and three Power of Veto competitions. With this being the case, the two of them ran the house the entire season. It was Derrick who seemed to be more strategic in the game, though. Derrick also lied about his profession. Derrick was a police officer, and he felt that it could put a target on his back, so he kept that information to himself. Derrick’s win was a unanimous 9-0 vote. Derrick truly showed us all exactly how “Big Brother” was supposed to be played.

“Resident Alien,” a Syfy Channel original, aired its series finale on Friday, August 8, with a lovely episode that wrapped everything up nicely, something that some fans had concerns about when it was announced a few weeks ago, in the middle of the fourth season, that the show would not receive a fifth season.

I was actually a bit surprised by the cancellation of “Resident Alien,” as it seemed like the rare show that picked up viewers as it went on, mostly thanks to fans finding past seasons on Netflix, rather than watching it as it airs, which is what advertisers and cable networks still depend on for success. When NBCUniversal decided to air season four on both Syfy and the more-watched USA Network, I also thought that was a good sign the show might be succeeding. However, most weeks, it seemed that fewer than 500,000 were watching it as it aired, with many viewers watching via DVR or streaming, or simply waiting for it to appear on Netflix later (how many people watch television these days).

The cancellation truly says nothing about the quality of “Resident Alien,” but rather that the old methods of watching television and making a profit from it are over.

I’m thrilled that showrunner Chris Sheridan realized there was the potential that season four could be the final one for “Resident Alien,” and prepared accordingly by giving us a season and finale that worked perfectly as a series ender. It seems that not enough showrunners are willing to provide closure to fans if there is a chance the show might not be renewed, which I believe all showrunners are aware of when their shows are in danger of cancellation.

Season four of “Resident Alien” has seen our titular hero Harry (Alan Tudyk), and his friends in Patience, Colo., a growing number of which have become aware that he is an alien, attempting to find and kill the Mantid, an alien species attempting to end the world – which was once Harry’s goal before he fell in love with humankind and its ways.

By the penultimate episode last week, the entirety of the main cast had learned of Harry’s secret and had banded together with him to save not only Patience but the world. It was a blast seeing Harry and Sheriff Mike (Corey Reynolds) – the show’s two funniest characters - working side-by-side in the abandoned mine of the town last week.

Sheriff Mike is probably the character I’ll actually miss the most from the show, as he was the one that made me laugh the most consistently, and I’d totally watch a spin-off series of just him and Deputy Liv (Elizabeth Bowen) solving crimes, if Sheridan were so interested and an audience existed (I don’t think one does).

All the main characters of the show got their nice little sendoff in the finale, “The End Is Here,” penned by Sheridan and directed by Robert Duncan McNeill, with some of the most touching moments, including Harry making amends for planting a fake memory in Sheriff Mike’s head and D’arcy (Alice Wetterlund) giving advice to a young woman from her A.A. meeting who reminds her of her when she was younger.

However, the main focus of the series finale was Harry's readiness to say goodbye to Earth and his best friend, Asta (Sara Tomko), who was also ready to bid farewell to Patience, leading to an hour of many great and emotional goodbyes.

It was touching how a series, which at its beginning featured Harry trying to find so many ways to fulfill his mission and put an end to life on Earth, ended as the perfect found family show, with a theme of how kindness can not only change, but also save lives. It was a message that may have come off to some as corny, but I truly believe it is one we could all use right now.

“Resident Alien” was never a prestige or top-tier television show, but you could always sit down and enjoy and laugh at this group of characters, their uniqueness (this show had some truly weird folks), and just find comfort in it. There’s still a need for that on TV, and in this world. 

​Summer Under the Stars – TCM – All Month Long
August is one of the favorite months of the year for fans of classic films and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) with its annual “Summer Under the Stars” programming, which features the films of one Hollywood legend each day throughout the month. This August features legendary Hollywood figures like Henry Fonda, Audrey Hepburn, Clark Gable, Joan Crawford and Kirk Douglas, while also featuring eight actors for the first time. Those eight actors are Christopher Plummer, Ruby Dee, Pedro Armendariz, Charles Bronson, James Gleason, Gina Lollobrigida, Tom Courtenay and Donald O’Connor. Check out TCM.com for the full schedule.
​
King of the Hill: Season 14 (Revival) – Hulu – Monday, August 4
Mike Judge and Greg Daniels’s “King of the Hill” was one of television’s best animated comedies during its initial run on Fox from 1997 to 2009. The series focused on Hank Hill, a propane salesman in Texas, and his family and friends. Judge and Daniels have revived the series more than a decade and a half after it left the air for a 10-episode season 14 on Hulu. Premiering on Monday, August 4, the season will see Hank, voiced by Judge, and his wife Peggy, voiced by Kathy Najimy, retired and returned home to Arlen, and their son, Bobby (voiced by Pamela Adlon), as a grown man – now a chef in Dallas. 
​

Wednesday: Season 2 – Netflix – Wednesday, August 6
At the end of the first season of “Wednesday,” Netflix’s popular spin on the classic Addams Family series, we find out who the Hyde is (and the Hyde’s master), Wednesday almost dies, and receives a threatening text that will undoubtedly be a new arc in season two. It’s second season premieres with part one Aug. 6 and part two on Sept. 2. Jenna Ortega will continue her role as Wednesday, with some new faces including Steve Buscemi as principal Dort of Nevermore Academy, Joanna Lumley as Grandmama Hester Frump (Morticia’s mother) and Billie Piper as Isadora Capri, head of the academy’s music. While the first season was gripping and delightfully spooky, the second season will have some work to do to keep up that first season momentum. 

Alien: Earth – FX – Tuesday, August 12
FX’s big 2025 TV premiere “Alien: Earth,” debuts Tuesday, August 12, with the first two episodes of the eight-episode first season. The series, creator Noah Hawley’s latest project for the network, is a prequel to director Ridley Scott’s 1979 science fiction/horror classic “Alien.” Starring Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant and Alex Lawther, the series sees a space vessel crash-land on Earth, with its inhabitants coming face-to-face with the planet’s biggest threat.

The Rainmaker – USA Network – Friday, August 15
USA Network is getting back into the original drama series game with “The Rainmaker,” based on author John Grisham’s 1995 novel of the same name. “The Rainmaker,” premiering its 10-episode first season on Friday, August 15, will be the story of a hotshot young lawyer who has been fired from a big-time law firm, who winds up working with a less-than-prestigious firm working out of a converted former restaurant. Milo Callaghan plays the young lawyer, with a supporting cast featuring “Mad Men” vet John Slattery, Lana Parrilla and Madison Iseman.  

College Football: Week 1 – August 23-August 30 - Various Networks
It’s that time of year again! Football season, with the college football season kicking off on August 23. College football has been starting its season in Ireland over the last few years with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, which features the Iowa State Cyclones taking on the Kansas State Wildcats this year. That game will be on ESPN at 11 a.m. CST on Saturday, August 23. The biggest game of week one – and one of the biggest all season - comes one week later on Sunday, August 30, when the Texas Longhorns travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes. That game can be seen on Fox at 11 a.m. CST. Week one games can be seen on a number of networks, including ESPN, Fox, CBS, ABC, FS1, CBSSN, Peacock, BTN, ACC Network, SEC Network, The CW and TNT. Just turn on your television and you’ll find college football.