Lights, Camera, Comeback: Why Now Is the Perfect Time for Celebrity Big Brother’s Return

As Big Brother just crowned and celebrated its newest winner, my thoughts couldn’t help but think ahead to what’s next for the long-running franchise.

While they could revive Reindeer Games for a brief winter return, what I really need CBS to do is bring back Celebrity Big Brother, also known as the most entertaining version of the reality television program.

And yes, I said it was the most entertaining, and I won’t feel bad about it!

There have been three seasons of the USA version of Celebrity Big Brother on CBS, with the most recent one being in 2022. And they’ve always been the perfect complement to the larger and more intense summer version.

Whether or not you knew the celebrities entering the house, there was always a renewed sense of intrigue when a new season was announced.

There will always be curiosity in a way that the summer show can’t bring because there’s going to be at least a handful of houseguests that you would recognize, and that sheer curiosity was always a bonus for the celebrity seasons.

How would your favorite musician do locked away from the real world for weeks?

What would your favorite Olympian be like on 24/7 live feeds?

The questions and expectations were endless, and in all three seasons, that excitement and hype paid off in really emotional, fun, and surprising seasons.

Celebrity seasons offer everything you love about the summer game, but in a condensed format, which also makes the game feel fresher.

I worried during the first season that the game would suffer from feeling rushed, but I’d actually argue that a shorter season makes the game more interesting.

The best part of Big Brother is watching the houseguests’ strategies unfold every week, but the summer season is so long that the weeks start to become stale, especially those where the outcome is apparent.

And that is likely to happen at various points during the season due to typical household dynamics.

With the celebrity version, you don’t get a whole week of an HOH reign, and instead, you don’t have the luxury to bide your time each week if you’re in danger or wanting to make a big move with a veto.

Things happen quickly, and it separates the better players from the not-so-good ones, as the ability to make on-the-fly and quick decisions in an effort to save your game or improve it in the long run isn’t easy.

Seeing the celebrities, many of whom aren’t familiar with the game, adapt quickly and turn themselves into rabid gamers on the fly was always the most compelling part of the show.

Plus, when else are you going to see Metta World Peace try to figure out in real time what game show he’s playing or watch Shannon Elizabeth go from hero to zero in the course of a few days?

Big Brother 27 was a return to form for the show, with an interesting cast that made the game fun and was well-received by the audience.

So, take the momentum from the season and bring back the fan-favorite celebrity addition this winter to keep Big Brother relevant and appease the fans of the game who love to watch famous people step into the mayhem and play the best reality television game there is.

Do you guys miss Celebrity Big Brother?