HOLLYWOOD—It is that time of year America, my summer guilty pleasure “Big Brother” is back upon us. I know I hate to say it, but this is that one series that I don’t think I will ever quit, even during its most dreadful seasons I’m looking at you BB15, BB16, BB19, BB21 and BB22. Sorry, it was ‘All-Stars’ for 22, but that was anything but all-star players they were scraping the barrel with some of those casting choices.

With that said the new season premieres on Thursday, July 9. Yes, it has gotten a bit later in recent years, ever since COVID-19 to be honest; the madness used to start in late June, and we used to get reveals for the houseguests at least 1-2 weeks before the season started. That has virtually stopped, we don’t get the reveal until like 1-2 days before the season premieres, but that doesn’t stop the speculation.

Each year, the season has a theme it goes with, last year it was Hotel Mystere and the Mastermind, but there are some teases for 28, and I think it might be sins from the past. What do I mean? I think BB28 is about to give us a season where twists and surprises that changed the game since its inception will be unleashed on a weekly basis. To be honest it was something I thought of, but never verbally put it out there.

Could you imagine a week where there is NO POWER OF VETO to save yourself if you’re on the block, just your social game to save you. Or how about a week with a duos twist, how about America’s Player coming back to the forefront, or wait for it, a Diamond Power of Veto. What if we got a week where the players voted BEFORE the live show? Man, I would lose it! I’ll be honest I don’t want a DPOV or as it was first introduced the Coup d’Etat in BB7 but not used.

Hell, we could even see BB coach’s ala BB14, I’m just hoping if the BB Blockbuster comes back, it ceases existence after 5 to 6 weeks or once jury starts. Last year, it literally went to the final 7 and that’s because you virtually could do it any longer after that with so few players still in the game. I would be stoked just to get food competitions again and punishments. You don’t just get your food you have to earn it people and see how that shakes up the game when certain people get luxuries and others don’t and how not having food or being picked for something impacts players.

The thing everyone wants to know is rather we are getting new players or returning players. I will admit with “Survivor 50” bringing back some of its best talent (not all of them), it is overdue for BB. Why? Yes, we got Rachel Reilly for BB27, and her week 6 HOH was one of the best of the entire season giving us a flip and blindside that had the entire fanbase screaming, it was worth it, so worth it.

She was the sole returnee, I want to see a season with multiple returnees, ala BB13 or wait for it, a TRUE All-Stars season or a Legends season similar to “Survivor 40” or “Survivor 50.” Will we get that with BB, I don’t know, because many of the winners are not actual legends.

To get Dr. Will Kirby back will cost the network a boatload of money and quite frank, I just don’t know if he would do it, unless it was like a winter season with only 4 weeks of gameplay tops. I’ve been hearing rumblings of some names and perhaps one of the biggest is Danielle Reyes from BB3.

She is just off a terrific turn from “The Traitors” season 3 and played her ass off and I don’t care what anyone says. She was the architect that created the secret alliance and got us what we now have as the jury, so to see her play play, unlike ‘Reindeer Games’ would be epic. Buzz around my BB icon Janelle Pierzina is back and she has already played 4 times.

I kinda don’t count BB14 or BB22 because she didn’t have a chance even if she tried in either of those seasons, but she is on the Mount Rushmore of BB players her antics in 6 is the reason that is my favorite season till this day, and her reaching the final 3 yet again a year later breaking records as a competition beast proves it. To see her again would be fun, but I wonder rather I would like her on a legend season, where the threat level is everywhere.

Eric Stein, ‘The Mastermind’ of BB8 might finally get to play the game on his own rules if BB28 gives him a shot and after close to 20 years, I’m dying to see what he would do. Buzz is also possible we might see the best female player since Danielle Reyes, in Vanessa Russo from BB17 get a chance at redemption, love her or hate her, Vanessa was one hell of a player.

If we’re talking about the modern era, the only players I want to see again is Kyland or Tiffany from BB23. I don’t care what anyone says, if Tiffany didn’t play the game she played for the culture, I have no doubt she would have made it to the Final 3 that season, she was a literal mastermind. Kyland is just fun TV and after that salty exit, I wonder how he’d play this time around.

If we’re talking about the last 2 seasons I would love to see Makensy back because not only, was she a comp beast, but I want to see if she has the killer instinct to not make the mistake she made again taking Chelsie to the end and when it comes to BB27, you have to see Morgan get another shot. She was so close and to see her win snatched by Ashley at the last minute was heartbreak, it truly was. I can think of some more names, but would they be realistic, probably not.

All I hope for is a season where the players are playing, people are vying to win and not just hoping to make jury. I want to see cutthroat players, deception, lies, manipulation, no blind loyalty and without a doubt, no got damn steamroll. No confirmation on anything has been unleashed, but with buzz brewing I know something good is coming our way for BB fans.

We just hope “Big Brother 28” can deliver because BB27 was a breath of fresh air, and BB26 was responsible for that resurgence after not-so-great outings with BB24 and BB25.