CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Defector Staff

two hot people kiss while a dozen hot men sit on bean bags in the background and clap

Arts And Culture

What Do We Think About This Season Of ‘Love Island USA’?

Kelsey McKinney

host Ariana Maddux, in a gold dress, leans inside a heart shaped sculpture

I Finally Understand Why I’m Obsessed With ‘Love Island’

Luis Paez-Pumar

Jenna Lewis Dougherty, Kyle Fraser, Savannah Louie, Q Burdette, Angelina Keeley, Charlie Davis, Kamilla Karthigesu, Genevieve Mushaluk, Colby Donaldson, Dee Valladares, Chrissy Hofbeck, Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Christian Hubicki, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Emily Flippen, Ozzy Lusth, Rick Devens, Cirie Fields, Tiffany Ervin, Rizo Velovic, Joe Hunter, Jonathan Young, and Aubry Bracco attend and Jeff Probst hosts the Survivor 50 Live Finale at the Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles, California on May 20, 2026.

The ‘Survivor 50’ Finale Was A Dark Omen For The Future

Jeff Probst and the immunity idol during the Survivor 50 season finale

And So We Arrive, Starving And Exhausted, At The Defector ‘Survivor 50’ Finale Questionnaire

jeff probst snuffs Ozzy's torch in Survivor 50

Jeff Probst Is Ruining ‘Survivor 50’

a woman stands on a plank while a bunch of hotties watch from the yacht

How Close To The Stanford Prison Experiment Can A Reality Show Get?

Brandy Jensen

‘Last One Laughing UK’ Is Absurdly Funny

taylor frankie paul in a baby blue dress looks over her shoulder at the camera

The Not-At-All-Secret Life Of Taylor Frankie Paul

Jonah Walters

Stephen Fishbach’s Reality-TV Novel Is More Reality TV Than Novel

Rob Rausch in a western shirt sitting in a chair

The Greatest Traitor Of All Time

“Epic Party” – 24 returning players are abandoned on the islands of Fiji for a monumental 50th season, with the chance to win $1 million. The theme of the season, “In the Hands of the Fans,” quickly materializes as decisions from the fan vote swiftly and forcefully impact the game. Castaways reflect on how much they have changed since the last time they played the game. Then, an unforeseen injury during the first immunity challenge causes tribemates to rethink their attack strategy in order to support their team member, on the historic three-hour season premiere of SURVIVOR 50, Wednesday, Feb. 25 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Jeff Probst serves as host and executive producer. Pictured L to R: Emily Flippen, Cirie Fields, Christian Hubicki, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Ozzy Lusth, Savannah Louie, Joe Hunter, Rick Devens, Kamilla Karthigesu, Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Charlie Davis, Dee Valladares, Tiffany Ervin, Chrissy Hofbeck, Jonathan Young, Mike White, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Aubry Bracco, Genevieve Mushaluk, Rizo Velovic, Angelina Keeley, Q Burdette, Kyle Fraser, Colby Donaldson.

I Lost My Mind Watching (Almost) All Of ‘Survivor’ In A Year

“Epic Party” – 24 returning players are abandoned on the islands of Fiji for a monumental 50th season, with the chance to win $1 million. The theme of the season, “In the Hands of the Fans,” quickly materializes as decisions from the fan vote swiftly and forcefully impact the game. Castaways reflect on how much they have changed since the last time they played the game. Then, an unforeseen injury during the first immunity challenge causes tribemates to rethink their attack strategy in order to support their team member, on the historic three-hour season premiere of SURVIVOR 50, Wednesday, Feb. 25 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Jeff Probst serves as host and executive producer. Pictured L to R. Tiffany Ervin, Dee Valladares, Ozzy Lusth, Joe Hunter, Angelina Keeley, Charlie Davis, Rizo Velovic, Christian Hubicki, Genevieve Mushaluk, Chrissy Hofbeck, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Emily Flippen, Kamilla Karthigesu, Savannah Louie, Kyle Fraser, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Rick Devens, Mike White, Cirie Fields, Aubry Bracco, Colby Donaldson, Jonathan Young, Q Burdette and Benjamin "Coach" Wade.

An Extensive And Exhaustive Player-By-Player Preview Of ‘Survivor 50’

Mychal Denzel Smith is the author of Stakes Is High, winner of the Kirkus Prize for Non-Fiction.

Mychal Denzel Smith

I Thoroughly Enjoyed Watching Michael Rapaport Eat Shit On ‘The Traitors’

Hannah Smothers

Reality TV Dating Enters Virgin Territory

Israel Daramola

Rachelle Hampton

Can We Pull You For A Chat?

Two reflective gold wine glasses emblazoned with "Love is Blind" are held up against the sky.

Could Unionizing Protect Contestants From The Reality Of Reality TV?

A cooking arena is divided into two sides: one black and one white. On each side there are ten chefs facing the other side.

‘Culinary Class Wars’ Is A Tribute To Getting Your Reps In

Six older gentlemen wearing red jerseys stand on a green field, cheering excitedly.

‘The Golden Bachelorette’ Is Like A Wildlife Cam But For Old Dudes Who Rock

Jon Lovett sits on stage in a chair, cross-legged. He holds his hands apart and looks at the audience with a sort of chagrined expression.

‘Survivor’ Should Bring Back Jon Lovett Just So He Can Bomb Again

Alex Sujong Laughlin

four women sit at a booth in the roller rink

What Exactly Happened With The Fruity Pebbles?

A Pop Star Academy contestant looks at her phone, in a screenshot of the show.

Under The Influence

Talent Has Never Been Enough

Alex Prewitt is a writer in Brooklyn. He shoots free throws the normal way.

Alex Prewitt

Timber Cleghorn stands shirtless in front of his shelter on the show 'Alone.'

Interviews

Anxiety, Injury, And Constipation: An Executive Producer Discusses The Toll On ‘Alone’ Contestants

Jerrod Carmichael accepts Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for "Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel" onstage during the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

The Surreal Life Of ‘Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show’

Squid Game: The Challenge players take on Red Light, Green Light

The ‘Squid Game’ Reality Show Is A Brutal Adaptation Of Its Source Material

Writers Guild of America members walk the picket line on the first day of their strike in front of Amazon studios on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.