Big Brother 28 Winner: Rick Devens Takes the $750,000 Prize After Survivor Heartbreaks

 Disclaimer: The following post contains spoilers about the Big Brother Season 28 finale.

Photo via TheThings

After nearly three months locked away from the outside world, "Big Brother" Season 28 has a champion: Rick Devens won the live CBS season finale on Thursday, October 1, 2026, beating Taylor Brown in a 6-1 jury vote to take home the $750,000 grand prize. For Devens, the win is sweet redemption — the reality TV veteran came up short twice before on "Survivor."

Who Won Big Brother 28?

The live finale showed all three parts of the final Head of Household competition. The first two parts had already been filmed, and the deciding third part played out live: Devens and Taylor squared off in a game that used video statements from the jury members, challenging them to spot which of three statements in each video was false. Devens answered every question correctly and won 5-3, becoming the season's final HOH.

That win gave Devens the power to choose his final two partner — and he made a brutal, tearful decision. He voted out Drew Campbell at the final three, despite a father-son style bond that carried them all season and despite Drew saving Devens at the final four by voting out Dee Valladares. Devens said he didn't want to risk losing votes to Drew.

The Jury Votes 6-1 for Devens

A seven-member jury heard the final two houseguests' speeches before casting their votes. The result: a 6-1 vote for Rick Devens. Taylor Brown's lone vote came from LaTrice Verrett. Notably, the jury roundtable — hosted for the first time by "Big Brother" Season 26 winner Chelsie Baham — stayed civil this time around, a sharp contrast to past seasons' shouting matches.

From Survivor Heartbreak to Big Brother Glory

Devens is a Virginia news anchor and reality TV veteran who previously fell short on "Survivor" seasons 38 and 50. This time, he played a dominant game: two HOH wins, one veto, one blockbuster competition victory, and a vote in every single eviction up until the final four. He even kept a secret weapon in his back pocket — Devens quietly unleashed the "Pharaoh's Curse" twist earlier in the season, which also netted him an extra $10,000 on top of the grand prize.

Taylor Brown leaves as runner-up with the $75,000 second-place prize after a strong social game of her own. But on October 1, the night belonged to Rick Devens — third time's the charm.

Details on New Star Trek Discovery Television series on CBS in 2017

Star Trek: Discovery

New details released on the Star Trek TV show, called Star Trek: Discovery on CBS in 2017. Information about the show reveals that the lead character will be a woman that is a lieutenant commander, before the Original Star Trek series takes place, featuring Captain Kirk and Spock.

This EW article points out that this isn't the first time that Star Trek has has a leading lady on the show. Star Trek Voyager, airing from 1995 to 2001 had a female captain -- Kathryn Janeway.

The writer-producer Bryan Fuller talks about the role of this female lieutenant will be diverse, and very likely African American. He says that he spoke to the first black woman in space, Mae Jemison, to gain inspiration for casting this lead character in the new Star Trek: Discovery television series on CBS in 2017.

The COO of CBS expects Star Trek: Discovery in 2017 to get at least 15 million viewers for the television premiere event.

Star Trek Discovery Television Series to be Diverse in Many Ways

What will make this character interesting is that she is not the Captain, so she will have a different perspective than previous Star Trek television series.

In addition to this, Fuller has made it very clear that "absolutely we're having a gay character," noting that Bryan Fuller himself is openly gay. There will also be robots.

Whoopi Goldberg has gone on record to say that she would love to bring her Star Trek: The Next Generation character, Guinan, to the new Star Trek: Discovery television series.

Fun Fact: The new Star Trek television series will take place approximately 10 years before Captain Kirk's notable five-year mission.

Editor's note: One of my personal favorite Star Trek series was Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, featuring Captain Benjamin Sisco. I really enjoyed watching this series. Share in the comments section your favorite Star Trek series and why.

The Best and Worst New Television Show of 2014, The Flash (CW) and Stalker (CBS)

The Flash on The CW is the best new show of 2014

The Flash on the CW is the Best New TV Show of 2014

The best new TV show of 2014 is The Flash on the CW.  Actor Grant Gustin plays Barry Allen, a super smart 20 something who is a CSI detective on the police force.  He is zapped into a coma the night that the particle accelerator exploded, sending a massive shockwave through Central City.  As a result, rather ordinary people gained superpowers, depending on their circumstances when they were hit by the shockwave.  In the show, these people with superhuman powers are called "meta humans." Barry Allen is just learning how to control his powers, and faces new challenges when meta humans go rogue, using their superpowers for evil.  Throughout the first season, Barry Allen must face the fact that his secret love - Iris West - must never know that he is the Flash, because it could put her life in danger.

The Flash is a spectacular show on the CW, and is a perfect fit with The Arrow already in its weekday lineup. This is why Z. Love's Entertainment Blog has picked The Flash as the best new television show of 2014.


Watch the trailer below:

Stalker on CBS is the Worst New Television Show of 2014

The worst new TV show of 2014 was Stalker on CBS.  Many different television critics voted Stalker as the worst new TV show of 2014, on CBS.

Some critics say that it is simply isn't cool to glorify stalking women in a television show.  It is just plain creepy.

This show stars Dylan McDermott as the lead detective, along with Maggie Q.  But, critics say the script is "bland and boring," or just "uninteresting." They have gone as far as saying Stalker is just a "trashy" version of CSI, and that it was just a plain failure for CBS.

They were trying to compete with Fox's cult show, The Following, but Stalker never gained solid ground.  That is why it is the worst new television show of 2014.

Stalker on CBS is the worst new show of 2014

Judge Joe Brown Television Show Cancelled in 2013

Judge Joe Brown

According to TheRoot.com, Judge Joe Brown has been cancelled from television. CBS has axed his show due to a 17% ratings drop. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Judge Joe Brown was making $20 million a year. CBS Television Distribution wanted Judge Joe Brown to take a salary cut due to his ratings drop, but he wouldn’t, and his show has been cancelled. It has been a good 15 seasons, and it is time for Judge Joe Brown to say farewell to judging cases on the air with CBS.

Judge Joe Brown is a former Criminal Court judge from Shelby County, Tennessee, but was born and raised in South Central, L.A. He got his degree from UCLA.

Wikipedia says, “Joe Brown is the first black male to preside over a courtroom television show and the first black person to preside over a “long-running” courtroom seres…” Obviously, this statement was before the breaking news that Judge Joe Brown's courtroom TV series has been cancelled.

Other television distributors could pick up where CBS left off, but chances are they won’t pay $20 million a year.

Judge Joe Brown was originally discovered by the producers of Judge Judy. His set is located next to the set of Judge Judy’s in Sunset Bronson Studios in California, and both are produced by Big Ticket Television and syndicated by CBS Television Distribution.

Judge Judy - which airs on the CW – apparently made $45 million a year (as of 2012). That’s more than any other personality on TV. David Letterman makes $28 million (as of 2012) and Jay Leno made $25 million (as of 2012). For scripted drama, Mark Harmon from NCIS is the highest paid television star making $11 million for a full season.

These salaries were shared in TV Guide’s “Who Earns What” survey.

Image credit: Phil Konstantin