Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, September 25, 2026

Episode Date: September 26, 2026

Tonight's Top Story has the latest breaking news, political headlines, news from overseas and the best NBC News reporting from across the country and around the world Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking news tonight, the nor'easter closing in right now, triggering states of emergency across the northeast. Destructed its waves slamming the east coast, floodwater submerging streets, new evacuations in New Jersey late today, and this highway in North Carolina washed away. Plus, Major League Baseball games and Ed Shearren's outdoor concert canceled were tracking the monster storm. While off Hawaii, Hurricane Nolo taking aim, the dangerous storm. set to unleash catastrophic floods following two other hurricanes just weeks ago. Our reporter is there. Dramatic testimony in the American Idol contested murder trial. This man accused of killing his wife and staging the crime scene.

Video of his interrogation played for the jury and his ex-mistress reading their text messages on the stand. New details on the two college students found dead at Ole Miss with drugs found at both scenes. and now the vape shop raid nearby. Is it related? A powerful explosion near the Acropolis in Greece destroying a two-story building, what caused the blast. And the NBC News exclusive, Bill Gates telling our Kristen Welker, AI, is powerful enough to cause a billion deaths. Plus, manhole mystery solved, the first arrest after a string of sewer break-ins like these across New York City, what they now admit to doing down below. And can you guess the best show of the 21st century?

We'll break down the New York Times top 100 list just released. Top story starts right now. Hi there and welcome. I'm Ryan Noble's in for Tom. Right now a rare September, Northeaster moving inland, packing powerful winds, heavy rains, and destructive storm surge. Tens of millions under flood alerts as much of the East Coast braces for impact. Huge waves smashing into the New Jersey coastline. Cities there are already underwater with a weekend of rain on the way.

Some areas under voluntary evacuation orders. Massachusetts also in the bullseye. Aerial video showing monster waves plowing into the coastline barriers. The concern tonight can that seawall hold up to this storm. North Carolina, powerful storm surge washing away this road, completely destroyed. States of emergency in place a cross. the Northeast, dozens of events canceled. At this hour, the growing threat for power outages and delays is piling up at airports. It comes as Hawaii preps for its own vicious storm,

Hurricane Nolo, the third back-to-back hurricane in just a few weeks. We have team coverage of our reporters out in the elements and Bill Cairns with the latest forecast. But we start with our Sam Brock. He is in the storm zone in the Jersey Shore. Tonight, a nasty Norie search. turning off the coast and already unleashing fury on some coastal communities like North Wildwood, New Jersey. The weather is going to be crazy. It always is for a nor'easter. A huge chunk of the East Coast, hoping to avoid scenes like these. Streets underwater all along the Jersey shore. Residents lugging bikes through the floodwaters and trudging through with bags and belongings. And a voluntary evacuation issued for a part of Mana Squad. It's the first time we've done this in a long time. This is something we want everyone to pay attention to and take seriously.

On the south shore of Massachusetts, homes under assault. The high tide sprang high into the air. And this stretch of Highway 12 on North Carolina's outer banks washing away. Heading into the dangerous overnight hours, more than 30 million people are under flood alerts. With New York and New Jersey both declaring states of emergency. New Yorkers, a nor'easter arrives today. Don't travel if you don't have to. Deteriorating conditions leading to widespread cancellations, including Ed Sheeran's weekend performances at Gillette Stadium outside Boston and the Global Citizen Festival in New York Central Park.

The worry, not just about the conditions of the roads, but also keeping the lights on, crews in Massachusetts trimming trees away from utility lines. Trees are actually the number one cause of power outage during storm events. With outages, flooding, and high winds all expected overnight, the worst is yet to come. All right, Sam, Brock joins us now from the Jersey shore. Sam, our streets, they're already flooding where you are? They are flooded. We're approaching high tide right now, Ryan, we're getting sprayed. And actually, there we go again.

I'm standing about six or seven feet away from the seawall, which is already, mind you, about 10 feet above the sea. Look at this. First of all, look how violent the waves are right now. They're coming in and they're paired, obviously, with the rising tide. And this nor-easter that's still generating its strength coming north. and it's all spilling out onto the streets here. Obviously, not a ton of cars that are coming back and forth. People are coming out to take visuals of all of this.

So in addition to cautioning people not to do too much driving or any if there's flooding in the streets, you're also seeing situations like on New York's Long Island, Ryan, where there's swift water rescue teams preemptively deployed just in case, high water vehicles in Boston and parts of Massachusetts as well. The whole region right now, buckling down for whatever comes next in about 36 to 48 hours. Right, thank you. Sam, you just missed a big wave right behind you. You and your crew stay safe out there. We appreciate it. Let's get now to meteorologist Bill Carrance, who is tracking the storm. So, Bill, we're in for a rough 48 hours. Walk us through the track and the timing on this North Easter. Yeah, so it's just beginning now, and it's going to be with us until Monday morning. It'll weaken on Sunday into Monday, but the worst of it is going to be from tonight right through Saturday night. So the storm itself, the center is kind of spinning here right off of Delaware and the Maryland. It's going to going to hook up to the north and then it's going to head west, actually, back towards the Jersey shore. And that's why it's just going to linger for so long. The high winds with the heavy rain,

that's going to be the problems with the leaves on the trees, because all that rain is going to soak in, the soil is going to get loose. And these wind gusts typically would not cause widespread power outages or even scattered for that matter in the northeast. And if this was a winter storm, I'd say, okay, you're going to be like blowing snow and stuff. But because of the time of year, we're going to have an exceptional number of power outages for what the wind is. So the areas in yellow, that's an isolated power outages. Just be prepared. Make sure you know where the flashlights are, that sort of thing. Areas that are scattered, that's where you really need to be prepared, maybe for a couple days being without power. Then in the red, where it's widespread,

southern portions of Massachusetts, possibly out here in the Twin Forks, that's where we could see a lot of power outages, possibly lasting for days. As far as the timing goes, and this is kind of be the legacy of this storm is how long it sits here. So this is as tonight. This is as of right now. By the time we get to tomorrow morning, it's still almost in the same spot, bands of rain spiling in. And when the bands of rain come in, that's when the higher gust will come in. This goes into Saturday. This goes into Sunday morning. And this goes into Sunday night. This just lingers all the way until Monday morning. It's going to be testing everyone's patience. Okay, Bill, stand by. Don't go too far because we're going to turn to another dangerous storm. That's Hurricane NOLO, which is barreling toward Hawaii.

The Big Island bracing for life-threatening floods, intense winds, and possible mudslides. Ryan Chandler is there. Tonight, Hawaii bracing as NOLO approaches the state, the latest in a series of storms this hurricane season. Across the Big Island, residents fear rainfall that could total more than two feet in some areas, threatening mudslides and catastrophic flooding. In Na'alehu, we found a close community still in shock from Hurricane Lala. I've seen storms come through here before like that, but never like this. Honestly, this is the first, like, whoa, what happened?

The August hurricane damaged more than 100 buildings, stranding some without power and water behind washed out roads. This morning, the rain was constant in the mountains as we traveled across the island to the south coast. A month after Hurricane Lala, the physical and emotional. scars are still so apparent here in Na'alehu. You see the remnants of a mudslide that stranded trucks downed entire trees and washed away a cemetery from there uphill. This building got completely flooded. Lala covered Mark Peters credit union in three feet of mud. Many of his neighbors worried about what may be coming. And I just see it in their eyes. I hear it in their voices.

We've been through a lot down here and we've still got a lot to go. And just Over two weeks ago, Hurricane Lowell slammed Kauai. Wind gusts up to 85 miles per hour on the island. After months of devastating storms across the island chain, tonight, Hawaiian's fearing it's not over yet. And let's go out of Ryan Chandler. He joins us from the Big Island. So, Ryan, after so much destruction,

do families there feel more prepared as this storm approaches? Well, they do, Ryan. And as you see, the rain is just now starting to come down strongly. The people here say they have learned lessons from Lala. You see the boulders and the tarps that they've put in place to try and slow the kind of mudslides that rip this home off of its foundation when Lala hit last month. Since then, they've made great progress quickly restoring power and water.

But the question on everybody's mind tonight, how much more damage could be in store, Ryan? Okay, Ryan Chandler in Hawaii. Let's get back down to Bill Karens. Bill, track this one for us. Just how dangerous could it get? Yeah, this forecast has important. in the last couple days. Yesterday we were thinking, uh-oh, up to three feet of rain.

And it doesn't sound like much, but now like the highest totals, maybe like two feet of rain. So we don't think we're going to get that 40 inches that we had from the damage that Ryan just showed us there. That was from Hurricane Lala. So right now it's intensifying. And you notice these are the cold cloud tops getting closer to the big island. That's why Ryan is starting to notice the rain there. But we're expecting in the next couple hours, we're going to start to take that left hook. So we're not expecting the core of the system to go right over the island. That's why the rainfall totals are coming down. I think the western half of the island's going to be just fine. It's just going to be on the upslope areas. That's where we could see some of the higher totals.

And let's not forget about the strongest storm in the entire planet is just off the coast of Mexico. Hurricane Polo 180 mile per hour winds. When we're done with the Northeastern, we're done with the other storm by Hawaii, this one is going to take the big hook. This is Monday making landfall in the Baja and then possibly heading up over northern Mexico and bringing rainfall to Texas and New Mexico with possible flooding. Tuesday, Wednesday of next week. What a weekend, Ryan. Okay. All right, Bill Cairns, thanks for being on top of it for us. We appreciate it.

We're moving on now to the war in the Middle East and signs a deal could be in the works tonight. Iran proposing a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Here's Gabe Gutierrez with how the U.S. could respond. Tonight, with the Iran war nearing its eighth month, a new offer on the table. Iran proposing a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has been targeting oil tankers and driving up fuel prices. Iran's top diplomat now calling on the U.S. to respond. They can accept this seven-day plan,

and at the end of which the strait will be open. The proposal, similar to a ceasefire deal earlier this summer, that collapsed when Iran began attacking unarmed commercial ships in the strait. I will tell you this. Iran wants to make a deal so bad. Tonight, a U.S. official tells NBC News we are having positive and constructive discussions through mediators. Adding the administration is not in a rush because the U.S. is in a very strong position with

control of the strait, where nearly 40 million barrels of oil passed through in the last 48 hours. Here in Washington, President Trump wrapping up his summit with China's leader Xi Jinping and saying they spoke about Iran. We did. We did. Do you think there will be progress made him a freedom? I think we're going to do great. The two leaders and their spouses having tea at the White House and

touring the National Archives to camp off a visit where the U.S. and China extended a trade truce by two months. Xi, saying he and President Trump had agreed to add new substance to their relationship. Though tonight, there are a few details of any substance, following a state visit, heavy on symbolism. And Gabe Guderius joins us now. Gabe, you have new details about what President Trump said to China's leader about Iran during their meeting? Yes, Ryan. The U.S. ambassador to China says Trump told Xi that any help China would give Iran, such as intelligence or military equipment, would be, quote, totally unacceptable. The two leaders, meanwhile, now plan to meet face-to-face twice before the end of the year. Ryan.

Okay, Gabe Gutierrez on the North Lawn of the White House. Gabe, thank you for that. Now to the manhole mystery in New York City and the first arrests after a string of incidents showing people emerging from sewers. Valerie Castro has the details. Tonight, the New York City mystery of men emerging from sewers may partially be solved. Months after videos like these started going viral, showing people wearing headlamps and waiters coming and going from manholes across the city. It sounds very nefarious. The NYPD and Manhattan DA now announcing the first arrests of two men. After they say security video captured suspects early Wednesday morning on Manhattan's Upper East Side during,

heightened security. This incident raising alarm, the men allegedly seen crawling out of this manhole close to where dignitaries were staying for the UN General Assembly. Though authorities now believe this wasn't related to that event. Court documents say Samuel Reverein and Kevin Rodriguez admitted to entering the manhole looking for valuables that get washed away in the storm drains and sewers. This is a troubling trend. These individuals are on a scavenger hunt. They're looking for metals such as gold, silver, and platinum that may have been discarded in the sewage system. Both men charged with trespassing. An attorney for Reveron telling NBC News this seems like not much of a case. Rodriguez's attorney declined to comment. The incident similar to other recent ones,

these men spotted in Midtown back in August. This group captured entering a sewer in Queens back in May. And just today, a witness reporting to police three people exiting this Brooklyn manhole. Investigators now looking for more answers just below the surface. The two men arrested earlier today are expected to appear back in court in November on charges of trespassing. Ryan? Valerie Castro, thank you. Turning to a major drug bus just minutes from Ole Miss. It comes just days after two students were found dead with a gas station drug known as Kratom found at each scene.

Here's Jesse Kirsch. Tonight, the major drug bust just minutes from Ole Miss. Days after two students were found dead with drugs nearby, narcotics agents raided this vape shop Thursday, where investigators say they seized more than 500 units of the drug Kratum as well as suspected narcotics. Cratum, the so-called gas station drug, was found during the investigations of both deceased students. Why possible OD? They do not believe the subject's breathing, trying to start CPR or the phone. University officials now identifying the students as freshman Aidan Hamilton and junior Robert String.

Officials have not declared their causes of death. Cratum, the herb with opioid-like effects is often sold in gas stations, smoke shops, even some health food stores. But it is illegal in Oxford. And Thursday, investigators cracked down. They all came inside and they were in there for hours. They closed down the whole place. Officials say two vape shop employees were arrested and charged with possession with intent to

distribute. Investigators say the shop's owner was already indicted in 2022 for trafficking narcotics, but fled the country before he could be prosecuted. Jesse joins us now. Jesse, what more do we know about the two men arrested? Yeah, so best we can tell, Ryan, those two employees of that store remain behind bars tonight, and it's unclear at this point if a court date has been set for either of those individuals, Ryan. Okay, Jesse Kirsch, thank you. Just ahead on Top story, the stunning courtroom outburst, a man lunging at his son-in-lost killer.

What he says set him off in that moment. Plus, the powerful blast near the Acropolis in Athens, a building crumbling to the ground. And dramatic testimony in the murder trial of a former American Idol contestant. What he told police just after hours, after his wife, I should say, was found dead in their bed. Stay with us. Back now with the criminal trial of a former American Idol. contestant, accused of killing his wife and staging the crime seemed to look like a fatal burglary. Here's Aaron Gilchrist.

In court today, prosecutors played video of Caleb Flynn's police interview just hours after his wife Ashley was found dead in their bed. Did you hear one or four two gun shots? It adds two. For a full week now, prosecutors have been trying to establish 40-year-old Flynn had motive and intent to kill his wife, despite Flynn blaming her murder on a burglar. We are a normal married couple who love each other and disagree. Yeah, I've never laid in front of her. Those two police interview videos coming one day after Flynn's 24-year-old ex-mistress, Aaliyah Bottner, took the stand telling jurors he often spoke about wanting Ashley out of his life.

He told me that he hates her. He told me the only reason why he's still with her is because of the girls. The prosecution also asking Botner to read some of the more than 100,000 text messages with Caleb Flynn from the year and a half they were having an affair. I said, do you know how badly I want to say, F it to any rules and any barriers and just love you with my entire heart for the rest of my life? Next message. I just wish I didn't say this. What was the message said? I mean it. Says, says I want to kill her, Caleb.

Who said that? Me. Next message. I said it's so bad. Next message. He said that makes two of us. Asked how she feels about him today? I hate him.

Why the change from love to hate? Because I believe that he left it his wife. The defense questioning Botner for about an hour. Statements to the FBI that you believed that Caleb killed his wife were based off of your relationship and your conversations with him. Just my opinion, yeah. Flynn was a contestant on season 12 of American Idol. I love my wife more than anything.

Yesterday in court, the state played AI-generated songs Flynn wrote for his mistress. Flynn has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Now, Flynn's defense team is acknowledging infidelity in this case, but they point out a lack of evidence as well. There is no gun. There's no eyewitness tying him to this crime. Court picks back up on Monday. Ryan? All right. Aaron Gilchrist, thank you for that.

coming up next, the stark warning from Bill Gates, why he says AI could kill more than a billion people, this in an exclusive interview with our Kristen Welker. Plus, Tom sits down with country star Kenny Chesney for our series, Great Americans, the gift from his mom that he says changed the course of his life. But first, top story's top moment. And today, we're celebrating Dolly Parton Day, September 25th, a play on her hit, 925. Fans across the country remembering the country music icon. The blonde wigs in the streets of New Orleans and Dolly-themed corn maces in South Carolina. A tribute band at the Nashville Airport.

And if you still need more Dolly in your life, the movie 9 to 5 returns to theaters nationwide on October 9th, with ticket sales donated to the Dollywood Foundation. Stay with us. More top story after the book. We're back now with the looming deadline for Americans on Medicaid. In less than 100 days, new federal work requirements will kick in. NBC's Julie Circon spoke to one family worried what that change will mean for them as they care for their disabled daughter. A letter in the mail no one wants to receive.

Important information about changes to Medicaid eligibility. For Melanie and Greg Stevens, who care full time for their 22-year-old daughter, Rachel, it meant a frighten. new reality. I had a panic attack because I was like, oh my gosh, what does this mean? In 100 days on January 1st, new federal Medicaid requirements take effect. The changes will begin to reduce enrollment by over 13 million people and leave nearly 8 million more without health insurance. I was fearful that we could possibly lose our insurance.

Then what? What do we do? For many adults covered through Medicaid expansion, the changes mean new work requirements, 80 hours per month. Caregivers for a person with a disability like the Stevens are exempt, but their eligibility will be reviewed every six months. You're covered, and yet you still have to do a ton of paperwork. Correct. We will have to prove the exemption. For this family, the stakes could not be higher. Can you see me as long? Rachel's health has taken a turn for the worst. So Rachel,

is about 55 pounds. She depends on us for everything, every movement, every brief change, every all feeding, every part of life she is dependent on us for. Last year, Greg, a doctor who had worked for years in their small Virginia town, left his job to help care for his daughter. She has a feeding tube, and so all of her medications have to be administered through feeding to you. Now the Stevens worry they could do everything right, report everything on time. It's exhausting. And still lose coverage as states scramble to put in place systems and staffing to implement

the changes. Once it leaves us and it goes to a Medicaid worker to process, that's where we're concerned it's going to miss a deadline or fall through the cracks and we have no control over that. Virginia is developing a model, it says, is built to streamline the process. Having to go through all of those hurdles, it seems really taxing. And it's fighting government for something that you're entitled to. And that's what concerns me the most. The Republican bill signed into law by President Trump last summer is designed to reduce federal Medicaid spending.

You still think no matter what you do, people who are entitled to this coverage who still end up using it? I go back to just look at the debate that allowed this bill. to pass. It is a predictable surprise. The discussion was about losing coverage, and I think we're going to see that across the board. Greg Stevens admits there is a stigma around Americans who rely on the program. I think now that I'm in that situation and have personally experienced, at least my perception is that some judgment from my providers since I've had Medicaid, now I I feel terrible that I made those judgments toward patients that have Medicaid. Now Medicaid is what makes it possible to care for Rachel at home.

If neither one of us were able to care for her, she would end up at an institution. And what does life look like at an institution? She wouldn't be here. She would not still be here with us. Mommy, Dad, I love you too. Mm-hmm. Very, very much. Very, very much.

Mm-hmm. Do you know that? Yeah. Yeah. Julie Cirkin, NBC News. Now in a top story's news feed, starting with New Jersey's Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell,

stepping down after a damaging ethics report. It comes a day after New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill asked for his resignation. An investigation into alleged sexual harassment found that he violated workplace standards. Culpew says he's not resigning as a result of this report. Now to the violent courtroom outburst in Phoenix, Arizona, a grieving man lunging at his son-in-law's killer

as he was being sentenced for murder, landing several punches to his face and neck. The father-in-law had asked the judge to give the defendant the maximum sentence for the 2020 killing of U.S. Army Captain David Nevid Para. He's now facing multiple charges. charges, and the killer was sentenced to life in prison. And now to a powerful blast rocking Athens Greece near the ancient Acropolis. An explosion collapsing, a two-story building and leaving at least two people injured. You can see the rubble strewn across streets and cars completely

smashed. Local media says that a gas leak is likely to blame, but the official cause is still unclear. And an NBC news exclusive with Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, with a stark warning about AI during a sit-down with Meet the Press moderator, Kristen Welk. Take a listen. Do you believe AI is powerful enough to end all of humanity? AI is certainly powerful enough to drive events that cause a billion deaths. So even though it's pretty hard to get to 100%, there's never been a weapon as powerful as the combination of people with ill intent using the latest AI tools.

You can see much more of Kristen's exclusive interview with Bill Gates this Sunday on Meet the Press. And now to our series, Great Americans, where we talk with those who achieved so much and inspired so many. He's one of country music's biggest stars selling out stadiums with his feel-good hits. Our Great American this week, Kenny Chesson.

Here's Tom. What do you love about America? I mean, the thing I love about America is that it allows someone like me to live the American dream and that we're free to do it. Long before he was a country star, Kenny Chesney didn't play music.

He played football. Here's what I find interesting. Growing up, you wanted to be Joe Namath. You didn't want to be Willie Nelson or Jimmy Buffett or Dr. Chessney-Refathe. George Strait, right? You love sports growing up. Love sports.

I wanted to be an athlete. My whole summers as a child was spent shooting basketball, throwing the football around. Music was always there waiting in the wings from me. It all changed when Chesney's mother bought him a guitar while he was a student at East Tennessee State University. It opened up a whole other world to me and for me. He started performing at a local Mexican restaurant.

I'm the middle of my chips and salsa, and you're over here cranking something out. What are you playing? I am playing a lot of country. I'm playing Jackson Brown. I'm playing the Eagles. I'm playing James Taylor. I'm playing Jimmy Buffett.

And you'll hear somebody yell from the back going, Margaritaville. You know, and so I play it, and they won't hear it again. I put a sign on my tip jar. I said, you know, tips appreciated, whatever. But Margaritaville is going to be $20. I got so safe. You're smart, man. For years, he chugged along trying to emulate his country heroes.

She thinks my tractor sexy. Until he found his own voice. When my life changed is when I started to be myself. No shoe, no shirt, no problem. In 2002, his career skyrocketed with the hit No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem. High energy tours, selling out stadiums. One theme in so much of his music, The Beach. I've always been drawn to the ocean.

The ocean makes me curious. The ocean makes me humble. I've always loved that about it. Eventually, he bought a home in the U.S. Virgin Islands, near the beaches that continue to inspire his sound. But in 2017, his sanctuary was shattered. Hurricane Irma blasting through, destroying so much. I've never seen devastation like that.

He started an organization called Love for Love City to help hurricane victims. I love her people are my people too. I just wanted to help in any way I possibly could. You said don't forget. Now a new album, a new tour, and new experiences. But one thing for Chesney will never change. I mean, every day I wake up, I'm proud to be an American. This is an unbelievable place to live.

And I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, no question. A great conversation. Our thanks to Tom for that one. When we come back, the new list from the New York Times ranking the 100 best TV shows of the century. Did your favorite make the cut? And which show came in at number one? We'll talk to the editor who put the whole thing together. That's right after this.

What's the procedure? What do we do, people? The smoke could be coming through an air duct. Everybody stay calm. What's the procedure, everyone? What's the procedure? It is happening. Everybody stay calm.

The New York Times list of the top 100 TV shows of the 21st Century is out. The office, which you just saw there, came in at number 11. But what is number one? Joining us is Jeremy Eggnery, is New York Times TV editor and the architect of this list. Jeremy, thank you so much for being here. We appreciate it.

Before we dive in, I first need to understand the process here. Who voted on these shows? How did you decide how to rank them? Yeah, we went out to just a bunch of people who work in TV, right? Actors, creators, writers, people who, you know, costume designers, you know, people all over the industry, all over the world, Hollywood and beyond. And we got 500, actually a little bit over 500 votes back. And that's the basis of the list. You know, it's based on what these TV pros picked as their favorite shows, or their top 10.

So these are more of the professionals, not necessarily the fans of the show. So let's go through the numbers here. We're going to reveal 5 through 2 first. Coming in at number 5, maybe this is a surprise for some. Flea Bag. I'm a huge fan of this show with such an incredible creation from Phoebe Waller Bridge. At number four is HBO Succession. That really took over the world there for a couple of years.

At number three, probably not a surprise to too many people, John Ham's Mad Men, that of course, a huge fan favorite. At number two, The Wire, which is an HBO powerhouse, a very popular show. We're going to reveal number one in just a moment. But first, Jeremy, talk about these four. They are all kind of no-brainers, but they're all very different shows, too. There are very different shows. And, you know, as you suggested, I mean, I think shows like Mad Men and the Wire were probably the least surprising selections on. this entire list just because they've been known as great shows for so long, but they are very

different. You know, one is a sort of, you know, urban, you know, anthropological crime study about a, you know, collapsing city in the civic institutions that, you know, prop it up or don't. And one is a period drama about the advertising agency that is also really about, you know, the things that America went through in the mid-century period. You mentioned, you You mentioned Phoebe Waller Bridge. She's brilliant. Fleabag is brilliant. It's a small British comedy

about this sort of woman going through a lot, you know, and telling you a lot as she's doing it. And I was pleasantly surprised that that got as high as it did. I knew it would be on the list, but the fact that it came in at number five was kind of, you know, it was sort of delightful to see. And then the other one was Succession,

which was the newest one in the top ten, the newest show. And you're right. It sort of just took over the culture there for a few years. People love watching which people be, you know, terrible one another. I remember when Fleabank came out, my wife had gotten through the first season.

Loved it so much. Stop, went back and watched it back with me so I could watch it as well. We both loved it. It was such a great show. And it had one of those kind of, it just caught the culture. It was everybody was talking about it and watching it. All right. Well, let's get to number one. Drum roll, please. You clearly don't know who you're talking to, so let me clue you in.

I am not in danger, Skyler. I am the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot, and you think that of me? No, I am the one who knocks. Another show my wife got me into as well, Breaking Bad. Why is this such a good show?

Why does so many people love it? You know, it just kind of has it all, really, as far as, you know, the performances are incredible. Brian Cranston won a bunch of Emmys and, you know, people like Anna Gun did as well. You know, the direction is incredible. The cinematography is great.

You had these beautiful desert sunset landscapes and kind of the grid of Albuquerque. And it was just a great story. You know, it told a very dramatic story of transformation. You know, in the very beginning, you know, you have Walt as this kind of nebishi teacher talking about how chemistry is the study of change. And then he goes on to change, you know,

completely over the course of the show, you know, turning into this sort of fearsome kingpin. I think just the fact that the story was so dramatic and was such a roller coaster and the fact that the show itself was written so tightly with such momentum. It just kept you on the edge of your seat throughout every episode. And so I think, you know, it's not a surprise that that was the one that everybody picked. Yep. And I can admit that I've made the pilgrimage to the Walter White House in Albuquerque did not throw pizza on the roof. But we have driven by it and taken selfies. You know, obviously you're going to get a lot of angry emails and comments about this list.

It's impossible to make a list like this, which is certainly not one that there's a clear black or white answer to. But there are some surprises of folks that didn't make this list, 100 shows. Among them, our producers, for instance, some angry, Gray's Anatomy didn't make the list. Another show Dairy Girls, which is a bit more kind of a cult classic. What would you say about the shows that got left off? I would say blame the voters. That's my way of copying out. But, you know, I was surprised, too, to be honest, about Derry Girls,

because that was such a beloved show. And, you know, it may just be a bit of living in the bubble that I live in, but everybody I know watched that show. And, you know, we had a few foreign shows. You know, Shogun was in their Squid Game, Downton Abbey. The Bureau was a great French thriller. But, yeah, there is some really great foreign shows like Derry. girls like Dark was another one. Money Heights was a hugely popular Spanish show. You know,

those didn't make the lists for whatever reason. A Grace Anatomy, you know, very popular, watched by millions and millions and millions of people. But there is kind of a phenomenon sometimes when a show goes on for a long time. It starts to kind of lose juice and energy, at least in the eyes of viewers. And I think that might have happened here. Like Walking Dead is a similar story, perhaps. It was, you know, the most popular show in America at one point. But it also ended up. not making this little. Okay. Well, Jeremy Egnor wasn't an easy job, but you guys did admirable work there. We appreciate it. Thank you so much. Still ahead. Even more great TV. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson play exaggerated versions of themselves in a new show. We'll break down what's

real and what's made up. Plus, a new reality series about moms obsessed with helping their young baseball players hit it big and Taylor Swift out with some new music. Why it's dividing some fans. Bingeworthy is coming up right after this. We're back now with Bingeworthy, our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend. And joining us tonight is USA Today Senior Entertainment Correspondent Ralphie Aversa. All right, Ralphie, we've got to start with the new music that's getting all the buzz this Friday. And that's Taylor Swift. She's out with four brand new songs. Let's listen first to Patient Zero. So, Ruffy, what do we think? It's funny. Usually anytime she even I feel like my social media feed is just burning up with Taylor Swift.

And I, there just doesn't seem the same level of buzz as some of her other stuff. What's the early vibe on this? Yeah, you know, I guess on my feed, I've seen some mixed reactions. You could say that, you know, our national music reporter, Melissa Ruggieri, reviewed these four songs rather positively. As far as patient zero, it was giving a little verve, bittersweet symphony, if I'm going to be honest. And obviously, a lot of buzz, not just about this particular song, but also the the music video which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. How about that? Taylor directed it.

It's going to premiere Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards. All right, your reference effect that there were some other songs that came out as well. And maybe these ones, this one in particular, is a little bit more controversial. I know it's very polarizing in our control room tonight, and that is Cleveland. Let's take a listen to that. Of course, this is going to get a lot of attention, Ralph, because she does mention her summer wedding, which a lot of people were paying attention to. What about this one?

Maybe not as exciting as the other one? Well, see, again, because she's talking about the wedding, obviously talking about Travis and his hometown and the nod to Cleveland Heights and the New Heights podcast and all of the like. I mean, certainly I think exciting. I think this one probably has her fans most in the buzz of the four that were released. Maybe I'm just biased because I'm from Western New York. I'm from the Buffalo area. So a little love to the Great Lakes. Why not with Cleveland?

Hey, let's let's throw Cleveland a bone here, right? As a fellow Western New Yorker, Ralphie, go bills. I could not agree more. Anytime anyone connected to Lake Erie gets a little bit of love, I'm all in on that. All right, you and I are together on that. All right, let's talk now about this next one from Charlie XX and Madonna.

They joined forces on a new single. It's called Dancetaria After Hours. Let's listen. You know what struck me most about this, Ralphie, is I never really thought about a Madonna, Charlie X, X, X, X, X, X, but it actually makes a ton of sense. They're actually very similar. This seems to work.

One thousand percent it works. The original song was off of Confessions of a Dance Floor, Part 2 that came out this past July. And Madonna, I would imagine, is going to perform this at the MTV Video Music Awards coming up on Sunday. Charlie XCX is scheduled to be there as well. Madonna's going to open the show. It's the first time she's performed on the show,

by the way, in over two decades. She also, get this. Yes, Madonna leads all of the artists and nominations. So what a 2026 for Madonna, loving this collaboration with Charlie X-X. Yeah, the most ardent Madonna fans say she never goes away. She always finds a way to work herself back into the conversation, and she's doing it here as well. All right, let's turn now to the lineup of new TV shows and movies out this weekend. We've got real-life best friends, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

They're co-starring in a new Apple TV Plus series as themselves. This is Brothers. Let's watch. I just needed time to decompress. Decompress for one. How is it that someone who lives with three women knows so little about women? Honestly, you can be very confounding as a gender. Maybe it's not a total coin again

that you're always scrapping like brothers. So they're playing themselves. Are they brothers in this show, though? Or is it just that they're close buddies? What should we take from that? No, I believe they're brothers in this show. They've blurred the lines here because in all the press for this show,

show, they keep kind of walking this line of are they actually brothers or not because one parent knew the other and this, that, and the third. And Woody's saying he's got evidence and Matthew's saying he's full of it. So they've done a nice job for Apple TV of promoting this. But no, they're playing fictionalized versions of themselves in brothers. First two episodes, only about a half hour each two, which is nice. This is one of the more fun ones that we have on the list for this week. First two episodes out now. We'll get a new one on Wednesday. You know, everybody, it's one of those bromances on camera that you hope is a bromance in real life, and it seems as that's like it's going to come through in the show. All right, we have another new show coming out.

This is a comedy from Netflix. It's called The Best of the Best. It's about the Competitive World of Bollywood Dance. Let's take a preview of this. Every Bollywood team has a few stable characters. Over there, you got your breakers and trickers. Then you got your Bollywood Baddies. baby girl. And every Bollywood team has one random white person who just knows more about Indian culture than everyone else. I'm Harry. Let's get to work.

I have to admit, growing up in Western New York, I didn't know that this was a thing, this Bollywood dance competitive world. But it does look interesting. This seems like it'd be a fun one. Yeah, up in Niagara Falls, yeah, I could also confirm that we didn't really have a whole too much, or at least that I was aware of a big Bollywood scene. But this does seem like a lot of fun. My Trey Krishnan, who, or excuse me, Maitre Rama-Kristian, there you go. Never Have I Ever, obviously. You know her from.

She stars in this as well. Hassan Minaj co-wrote, co-produced this. And yeah, there's this like whole competitive scene. It was actually inspired by a real-life competition that I believe Hassan saw. But they're at UCLA or they're trying to compete on this Bollywood team to win the U.S. championship. About almost two hours, again, streaming right now on Netflix. Okay, and then over on our mothership, Peacock. It's a TV drama executive produced by her own Jenna Bush Hager.

This is Line of Fire. Let's look at a preview. How do I get Mom to take my job seriously? How do I get Dad to trust me with mine? This isn't a party you crashed. You're protecting the President's daughter. I go where she goes. In board shorts?

If we lose focus, people get hurt. There's been an incident. Whoever this killer is, We have intel that one of you was their goal. I have to say I'd be partial to this, even if we didn't have the Jenna connection because of Peter Krause loved him in sports night and six feet under.

This looks like a pretty impressive cast. It certainly is. And by the way, six feet under, I talked to Peter. That's the show that people bring up to him the most. But obviously, he's been great in so many different shows. And this one in particular, he plays a special agent in the Secret Service. His son is also in the Secret Service.

Secret Service and is assigned to the first daughter. Again, Jenna Bush Hager, EP on it, not entirely inspired by her life, though. And you'll understand why I'm saying that. If you watch the first episode of this at premier dot NBC streaming now on Peacock. We'll get a new episode next week. All right, great tease, great tease. All right, our next series dives into a topic that we've covered here on Top Story. And that's the competitive world of youth sports. I am a youth sports parent. So this is of interest to me. It's all about the parents who make it happen. This is called Team Mom's Baseball.

This is on Paramount Plus. Let's watch. Riley, there's something that seems very off with her. We're 150 percenters, right? How we do anything is how we do everything. The bull-c-c-knocked you guys pulled at the game last Sunday. Your son wasn't even playing. I think Aaron is a miserable, gross person.

No one is taking baseball away from our kid. There will be sacrifices. Quit running your kids like. it's a business. So of course, Kim Kardashian, the executive producer of this one, and I've heard people kind of compare it. It's like the dance moms for youth baseball. Is that an accurate comparison? Yeah. When this was first announced and first started gaining publicity, the one thing that I noticed is we saw the bios of all the families and all the mothers that are featured in the show. Most of them seem to really love to party, to enjoy themselves, to have a cocktail, to have a glass of

wine. Nothing wrong with that. I am certainly not judging. But I noticed that in most of their bios. And yeah, this is going to get very interesting. It's already garnering a lot of buzz, both positive and negative, streaming on Paramount Plus. And as you mentioned, yes, Kim Kardashian, who has got kids in sports as well herself, an EP on this. Yeah, I think a lot of questions about whether or not this is a good thing for youth sports may be showing more of the problematic side of it. It's certainly going to get a lot of eyeballs. Finally, we're to end tonight with a new rom-com. based on a best-selling novel. This is called The Love Hypothesis.

It's on Prime Video. Let's see a preview. So we're fake dating. Sorry. I have another meeting now. Okay. You're seriously dating Dr. Evil. Does he even have real human emotions?

Can you smile, please? Yes, I can smile. What are they doing? Please stop doing that. It's called flirting. The press tour around this one made some headlines as well because the star Lily Reinhart were a series of looks inspired by classic rom-coms. You might recognize some of them, how to lose a guy in 10 days, Atonement, 13 going on 30,

and Uptown Girls. Ralphie, tell me, is the movie living up to all this hype? Yeah, it is. People just seem to be loving roncoms in general right now. Tom Bateman spoke with us about that, just wanting that connection, wanting that sit down, that feel good. That's what they're getting here with this prime video one with Lily and Tom. As you mentioned, this was big on Book Talk.

New York Times bestseller as well. That's what it's based on. And, yeah, again, streaming on prime video, it's about two hours. All right, Ralph, we're worried about the bills this weekend? Could it be a trap game with the Chargers? You feeling confident? Very much a trap game in Western New York. But hey, what a great way to open up the brand new stadium last week.

So hopefully we handle business. Josh is good about that. Our guy, Josh Jay Allen, he's very good about that. Right. Always bet on Josh. Three and O for the bills. All right, Ralphie, thank you so much. Go Bills. And thank you so much for watching Top Story for Tom Yamis. I'm Ryan Nobles in Washington. Stay right there. There's more news on the way.