Wednesday, September 19, 2012

BB14: It's a Wrap!

At 10 am PDT today, the feeds will go to trivia for the last time this season, returning after the east coast show for the back yard interviews on Superpass. It's been a hell of a ride, one with moments of laughter, excitement, anticipation and awe along with periods of frustration and disappointment.

I would like to take this time to thank each and every one of the readers and supporters of my blog. Your comments and insights gave me much to think about! Without you, this would be a monologue going mutely in the web sphere. I apologize for having to close the comments on the blog, but it was inevitable that the negativity would come knocking on my blog doors. Feel free to join our FB group Big Brother Shenanigans and join the conversation.

This is the first year of this blog, going from less than 100 hits to almost 40000! This is all due to your loyalty, so my deepest thanks!

Now for the extra special thanks!

To my BBBFFs♥, Michelle, MnM (Helen! heh), Colleen, Kim, Red, Merry, Toni (we missed you this year), our latest addition, Season and last but certainly not least, Syn whose fabulous artwork has graced the banners and background of this blog. Without you, I would simply have gone crazy!

A very special thanks to Jim Early who took me under his wing, supporting this blog and me, hooking me up with the awesome FB group Big Brother Whispers, along with all the Whispers groups where not only fans but also cast members congregate to discuss the shows we love. I've met some pretty awesome people there! :)

Enjoy the Finale! :)


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

BB14: Save This Show

Here's what I would like to see in the future of Big Brother.

A new production team with fresh ideas and less of an agenda:
  1. No more DR tampering or "guidance". Make the DR sessions live. 
  2. No more random twists that only serve to help some players that production thinks will amp up the drama factor. That includes the lame Pandora.
  3. No more Have Nots. It's a stupid concept that doesn't even factor into the show except for lame food voting. Make house privileges, luxuries and food be earned through competitions and chores.
  4. No more restriction of alcohol. You want drama? Bring on the booze.
  5. New challenges that aren't ripped off from rival shows.
  6. Minimal feed blockages or scheduled feed blockages or even better, prime time feeds only. For those addicted to obsessively watching and minutely analyzing the players' every move, it will be a healthy change. And if people are worried they'll miss something, worry not. Conversations seem to be recycled constantly.
  7. No more 4th wall. With less production manipulation this "no talking about production" rule will be obsolete. 
This will spill out into the mandate for casting that will no longer "recruit" people with modelling experience but choose from a wide selection of applicants to pick people who not only know the game, but know how to play the game.  No more vets and newbies mixed together. It's unfair and unbalanced, ruining the original concept of the show that fans have loved.

You want to bring all returning players?
  1. Do second chance BB, by bringing in past HGs who were evicted early. 
  2. Or level the playing field with half vets and half newbies that must be paired off by the end of the first show. They are then free to make other alliances if they wish. 
  3. Or save the vets for a Heroes versus Villains All-Stars in a couple of years.
The show needs to bring in a more interactive aspect to the game where the fans have a actual and transparent say in the game.
  1. Voting should be tabulated online using the CBS website where the polling results are shown.
  2. Twitter accounts should be manned by people who actually respond to fans not just blast out announcements. 
  3. An FB page that is actively manned by people from production interacting with individuals and other major BB FB groups.
  4. Competitions that involve the fans and their interaction with those in the house, as well as past HGs.
  5. A registration of all BB related blogs with an interactive component between them, their followers and the show.
Lastly and most importantly, CBS and the producers need to take a stand against slander and hate speech which would include not promoting it through their show edits. They need to put in place policies that protect the players and their families/friends/loved ones from the irrational and sometimes  criminal hatred that festers and grows every year. This should include:
  1. A publication policy that protects players from printed/electronic materials that slander players and their families, enforcing an anti-cyber bullying internet policy against hate groups, thus preventing the show from feeding into the hate frenzy. 
  2. Slander and hate should be monitored and charged. A show that encourages hate speech is not a show worth backing.
  3. A policy that includes families of HGs in the online process to drive the point home that these people are real, not show characters that can be torn apart.

That's it for now! Stay tuned! :)

Saturday, September 15, 2012

BB14: Big Brother Burn-out

I am at the point of no return with this mishandling of this show that I used to love. It's been all but ruined by the inept production and, as importantly, by the tumorous hatred that his show has engendered among some of its followers. Like Dementors, they are sucking the very life out of this, once fabulous and absorbing, show for me and for many others.

I haven't really turned on my feeds in over a week except to see the results of competitions etc. What's the point? We know it will come to its increasingly inevitable conclusion. I know a lot of people who have already cancelled the feeds, many with the intention of not renewing them next year. Others say they are done with this show altogether. It happens every year at this time, but not on such a massive scale. Will people regenerate interest by next year and come back? I don't know. I can only speak for myself.

I'm done with this formula. It's like watching reruns of the same show with a different cast. Last year, a vet won. It was a bittersweet win because it was a victory of redemption, yet it was a hollow win because it was so blatantly guided by production (the pairs twist). This year, there has been so much manipulation (twists) to ensure that a coach make it to the end that it's been almost sickening. Dan's victory is all but ensured at this point. It won't be a victory of redemption, making it even more hollow because he will be winning against a group of people who are too naive, too star-struck or too inept to even give him a run for his money. Will he deserve the win? Sure. Is it a victory? Meh, because he's been playing several leagues above almost everyone else.

This has nothing to do with whether I like Dan or not. I happen to like Dan a lot. It has nothing to do with the fact that he's played a "dirty" game. Tell me one person who's won playing a "clean" game. I don't judge the players' actions or words on a personal level because I know this isn't real life. This is a contrived situation that they are in. In fact, other than Mike's and Frank's contemptuous remarks, I have liked pretty much everyone this season. My beef is with the producers of this show and the network that keeps them employed. My beef is that they have killed my enjoyment of the show, as a fan. My beef is on behalf of all the new players that have entered the BB house doors not standing a chance because they were picked to be the puppets, the pawns and the road kill of the season. My beef is with the monstrous hatred this show spawns and encourages.

A faction of the BB community has left an ugly taste in my mouth. It's been invaded by a bunch of mean-spirited, judgmentally petty people whose sole entertainment has been to tear apart players on very vicious and personal level, excusing themselves with the fallacy that the BB HGs have "signed up" for this. I've never seen the actual contract and I sure as hell know these jerks haven't either; but I can surmise that if the contract said "be prepared to have your life ripped apart by an amoral band of Internet thugs", the players might be more wary to sign. To add insult to slander, CBS and AGP have gleefully fed into a lot of this hatred with their edits, making them not only reprehensible but also irresponsibly vicious.

I have been told, directly and indirectly, that I have made people feel like "douche bags" because I stood up for those being ripped apart. My answer to that is if some feel that way, it's not me who's doing it, it's their words. I find it hypocritical to judge someone because he swore on the bible or has exaggerated a personal story, in the house, calling them out, when people sit behind the relative anonymity of the Internet to attack others in an often blood-thirsty manner. I find it beyond ridiculously ironic that people get on their moral high horses about what the players do or say in a confined and stress-filled situation while at the same time demolishing their personal lives, on the outside.

And the online punks haven't stopped at the players either. There have been attacks on the personal lives of players' families, friends and other fans as well. There have been systematic attempts to hijack, steal, impersonate identities in an attempt to tear them down. Personal records and information have been published on the web with the sole purpose of terrorizing and harassing its owners. All in the name of a reality TV show. Really? Massive therapy is needed as well as an extended, maybe permanent, black-out from the Internet, if not some jail time. This behaviour is not only sinister, it's mentally unbalanced.

Not everyone in the BB community is like that, however; there are many people out there who have voiced their displeasure at these attacks; there are many who have wanted to talk about the game, the players' decisions, the competition, the unfair tampering. But their voices are constantly drowned out by the anger and ugliness. They are told not to look, not to disagree, not to care. They are told that everyone has the right to voice their opinions. Sure. Does this hold also true for people who have bigoted and criminal opinions towards people of other races, cultures, sexual orientations, religion beliefs, political tenets and socioeconomic backgrounds? Do we have to be subjected to their poisonous tirades? Is our only choice to walk away from the whole thing? For my sanity, maybe so.

I love a good challenge. I appreciate a good power move and a blindside in a competition. I have the objectivity to see it for what it is. Game. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt because we are all human. We all have weaknesses, faults, fears and breaking points. We all have achievements, hopes, dreams and passions. This game is not meant to be a personal Armageddon; and frankly, I want nothing to do with people who think it is.

So in terms of Big Brother 14, the game is over. Dan has swindled Danielle from winning the first of the three-part HoH because he's that good and she's that naively trusting. The second part is due to happen today. Dan has been encouraging Danielle to get Ian to throw it. How successful she will be is irrelevant, because Dan will be masterminding one of Ian's or Danielle's demise to make it to the Final 2. He will succeed. The third part of the HoH will happen live on the Finale Show, Wednesday. Then it's all up to the jury and their motivations for voting.

I will update the results of Part 2 HoH under the banner as usual, but that's it for my blogging this season of Big Brother.

Stay tuned for the future or this blog. Namaste :)

Thursday, September 13, 2012

BB14: F3 Part One HoH Endurance.





8:36 PM: Feeds return



8:46 PM: Ian takes a huge swallow of water and nearly falls off.




He falls a a few moments later. Ian is out.





Danielle seems comfortable. Dan is trembling.

Random Shot







9:09 PM: They are getting dunked, rained on and slammed hard against the wall.
9:15 PM: Dan asks for some time alone so he can mist Danielle some more through the "rain". I can't hear anything except Danielle says, "You drive me effing crazy!" He just swore on Chelsea again and Danielle is believing it... Good GAWD THESE AMATEURS!
9:24 PM: Danielle drops. Write Dan the check CBS.

BB14: Between a Quack and a Hard Choice

With an HoH and the last PoV under her belt, Danielle has the chance to make a couple of power moves this week, but the power lies on whoever is the one off the block. If the nominations stay the same, then Shane will be the sole deciding vote. Should Danielle replace Dan with Shane, she will be doing so knowing he will, more than likely, be the one evicted. Or will he? Remember Ian was his first target before Shane. What is a girl to do? All three of them are threats in her endgame for different reasons (see yesterday's post); but keeping Ian and Dan in the game together is suicidal for her because it also removes a close ally.

Taking all personal feelings aside, Danielle's best bet is Ian's eviction which will eliminate the person who has the most chances of beating her in the final HoH. She is more closely allied with Dan and Shane. Ian is a wild card for her. But will Shane cooperate with her wishes? Is taking Ian out the best choice for him? He knows that keeping Dan in the game will divide Danielle's loyalties should she win the final HoH. It would make more game sense for Shane to evict Dan; however keeping Ian in the game is also a threat.

There's the jury to consider as well. Evicting Dan would be an action that this jury would most respect, at this point. It would be a gamble keeping Ian going into the 3 part HoH, but Danielle and Shane would get the credit for eliminating the last coach. Would the jury respect the power move or will they see this as an act of disloyalty on Danielle's part? There's also the fact to consider that by taking Ian out, Danielle has more chances of winning the last HoH and taking Shane with her over Dan. Truly this is not a win-win situation, making it one of the most difficult final 3 choices in a long time on Big Brother. Whatever Danielle and Shane decide to do, should they make this decision together, expect a lot of back lash from the fans. Oh goodie!

But first... Here's Wil!


Stay tuned! :)

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

BB14: Final 4 - The Quack Pack:Ruffled Feathers

According to Miss Cleo who went to yesterday's taping of the eviction, Jenn went out on a 2-0 vote, and Danielle won HoH in a tie breaker where Dan went over the number. This leaves a Final 4 Quack Pack. That in of itself is an accomplishment, having 4 members of an alliance make it to the final; but who will be the other 2 to stay after tomorrow's show?

In the final 4, the nominees do not even matter. It's who wins the most powerful PoV of the season. This person not only gains safety, but is the deciding and sole vote to evict. If Danielle, Shane or Dan win, I am pretty sure the person leaving will be Ian as he has the highest odds of winning the 3 part final HoH. He has the greatest chances of winning in the Endurance and the final Quiz competitions. The only way for Ian to make it to Final 3 is to win PoV. Should he win, then it is more than likely that Shane will be evicted, unless Ian pulls another power move and evicts Dan. Should this scenario occur, the chances of Ian winning BB14 are almost guaranteed.

If Dan, Shane and Danielle are the Final 3, Danielle's chances of winning the 3 part HoH increase exponentially. The question is, should she win who would she take with her to sit in the Final 2 chairs? Can she win against either Shane or Dan? Shane has won 6 competitions thus far and if he wins the final PoV, he will have racked up 7, dwarfing Danielle's chances of winning based on competitions. Dan has won two competitions thus far, making it 3 should he win the final PoV; however, he is responsible for making one of the boldest moves in BB history by saving himself from the surety of eviction; he's been the mastermind behind several evictions; and he can say that he's been a coach throughout the game, protecting his protegee.

That might not be enough to gain him jury votes, however. As crazy as it seems, Danielle has the best chances of winning BB14 against Dan. Should the jury decide that Dan being a winner already, or that his ruthless tactics this season are not to their liking, they might very well vote based on that. Coupled with the fact that Danielle will have won 4 HoHs and possibly 2 PoVs, if she wins the last one, she's been instrumental and a co-conspirator in many an HG's downfall. Looked at it objectively, without personal bias, Danielle's resume is nothing to be sneezed at. Joe, Frank, Ashley, Shane, Jenn and maybe even Britney might very well vote for Danielle should this happen. Then again, the power of The Mist is great.

Should Dan or Shane win the final HoH, they are both more than likely to take Danielle to the end. In Shane's case, he will more than likely win over Danielle by a landslide. His impressive competition wins and his likability to the jury will seal the deal. Similarly, should Dan win the final HoH, his changes to mist the jury increase, showing his loyalty to Danielle by bringing her to the Final 2 chairs, affording him a greater chance at being the first two-time winner of Big Brother.

But this is all speculation. On another note, I am so tired of the games AGP plays. Why turn off the feeds? What do they hope to accomplish? It's not the first time we know who won HoH before their precious TV onlies. We still watch the show. These are stupid games and not fun at all. Anyway, enjoy the freedom from the feeds today, and see you for the show tonight! :)


Monday, September 10, 2012

BB14: Feed Black-out And Schedule

It's 11: 34 am PDT, and the feeds have been on trivia since 11:17 am. The PoV Ceremony is under way. What will probably happen is that Shane will use the PoV on himself, and Danielle will be the replacement. What shouldn't happen is that Shane does not use the PoV on himself and he will earn his eviction by stupidity. What should happen, if there were any smart amateurs in the house, is Dan would be the replacement nomination and the next evicted. That ain't gonna happen.

Since this week is a fast forward and feeds feeds will be blacked-out until Wednesday after the East Coast show, tomorrow they will be asked to clean up the house, go on HoH lock down with the feeds going to trivia then (and maybe not returning). They will then be told that the an eviction show will be taped that day (with Julie Chen and an audience). They will tape the eviction, followed by an HoH competitions. The nominations, Pov Competition and maybe PoV Ceremony might have happened before the feeds go live tomorrow night.

Thursday, they will go through the same routine as tomorrow with a live eviction, then the 1st part of the three part HoH ending the show (probably Endurance or Physical). This is usually the last competition shown on the feeds and will be shown on next Sunday's show. The 2nd part HoH usually happens over the weekend, with the final part happening during Finale on Sept. 19th as well as the Final eviction, the Jury Questions and the Crowning of Dan, I mean the winner of BB14.

All of the above is based on past seasons schedule and timing. That doesn't mean they won't change things up this season, but if they do, it will be the  first change to occur if you don't include the increase in fish/trivia and the unconscionable tampering by production. When the feeds come back from trivia today, I will post the results of the ceremony under the banner. Since there is only one player with a functioning brain and strategy left in the game, there won't be much of an aftermath. Should Dan be the replacement nominee, I will add to this post any game related discussions.

11:53 AM: Shane and Danielle are in the living room. Shane says that Ian has said he would put up Dan and get rid of a coach but he didn't... Danielle is the replacement it seems. Jenn is reaming Ian in the Arcade Room for putting up Danielle instead of Dan. Ian sells the idea that he is trying to split up the pair (Danielle and Shane), saying, "The Honeymoon is over." That's more likely just a cover story to keep Jenn calm, as we know Ian is QP all the way.

There you have it! Have a great break from the feeds, tomorrow! :)

Sunday, September 9, 2012

BB14: Casting for Losers

Could auditions for Big Brother be so depleted that they have to recruit random clueless people for the show? Of course not. There are thousands who audition every year, some who I know are better qualified to be in the house than the two people on the block right now and the four amateurs that are being strung along like puka shells on a cheap wire.

Shane won the PoV, but the talk is that he won't use it on himself. Marcellas 2.0, really? That's what you get when you recruit someone who probably doesn't even know what I'm talking about.

My Morph-o-Matic: Shanellas
Who in their right mind does not give themselves safety in a house with 5 people in it? Who in their right mind trusts a guy who has done so many shady things to others, has admitted to lying and has shown no remorse in taking down a member of their alliance? Who in their right mind is on the block, doesn't win the Veto has a huge threat in the house but does nothing to convince the HoH to put him on the block?

Who is their right mind is a fan of the show, knows every detail of every season, respects great game moves, knows what a coup it would be to take down the last remaining vet, has the power to do so but doesn't even consider it? All for a fakelliance? All to be called a recycled Renegade? Who in their right mind is so blinded by a person whose maneuvers she knows intimately, who's been working with him from day one, knows all his secrets, has been told by him to be ruthless in the game, has been treated like a punching bag, yet does nothing to convince the remaining four to take him down?

I'll tell you who. A bunch of losers. Losers in the Big Brother game. Maybe Shane should have watched this before going into the house.


At 12:45 pm Shane will collect his prize "Night with the Stars" (something outside the house) and is taking Danielle with him. As Papa Dan teases their first date.

Stay tuned! :)

Saturday, September 8, 2012

BB14: Strategy, Hated and Manipulation

I've been feeling like a broken record this season; but it bears repeating. In competition shows like Big Brother and Survivor, in order to even have a hope of getting to the end, the contestants must be able to win competitions to save themselves and/or their alliance, if need be; but, more importantly, they must be able to develop a strategy that not only keeps themselves safe, but also targets and eliminates their threats. Ideally, a contestant must have both these skills; but more crucially, he/she must be able to strategize. This involves anything from appearing non-threatening by laying low and not winning competitions, to outright lying and manipulation of others' weaknesses.

The only person who is still left in the game who's been able to achieve this, truly, is Dan. He is the only one who's been able to take out his threats by mostly getting others to do it. He hasn't played a "clean" game but it's a misconception that anyone can win doing that. His only focus has been to win this thing, as it should be. He went from the most targeted coach with the most decimated team to controlling the house. This should inspire awe not the outrage that has affected his wife, family and friends who have been getting a steady stream of hate directed at them.

Big Brother isn't a slice of real life. This is not the contestants' real life or true selves. These are people confined to a house and a competition for 3 prizes: The 500K first prize, the 50K second and the 25K America's Choice. Judging their actions and words as if they are functioning members of a larger society, is not only unfair, it is wrong. The very qualities that "fans" denigrate are the ones that allow the contestants to get through to the end game. Judgment is often harsh and unyielding against certain contestants, but worse it spills out in ugly ways to their families, friends and supporters. It's gotten to the point that Big Brother has become a sport of hate.

The other four players, unfortunately lack the ability to see past Dan's "mist" and take him out as the biggest threat to their endgame. For this reason, it is unlikely that any of them stand a chance of winning the big prize, no matter how many competitions they've won or alliances they've made. Ian is the only one left in the game who stands a chance of even giving Dan a run for his money; but his fatal trust in Dan will, more than likely, be his undoing. Shane will be the next to be ousted, unless he manages to save himself or be saved. Danielle and Jenn have a chance to upend Dan's game but it's doubtful that Danielle will take the blinders off and turn against her once coach.

The conclusion of BB14 is almost inevitable. It's been designed from the beginning to be this way by the producers of the show. This is their end game. It would be naive to think otherwise. Putting All-Star players in the game with amateurs who predominantly have not displayed much strategic ability cannot possibly result in anything else. There have been some fierce competitors in this game: Ian, Frank, Shane, even Danielle. There have been some contestants, Willie, Wil and Joe, who have shown the intuition and ability to see beyond the mist, but they lacked to ability to gain the appropriate support. In the end, the amateurs screwed themselves by not immediately targeting and ousting the vets after the reset; but that too was all in AGP's vision.

Today, is the PoV competition. The target for eviction is Shane. We will see if the PoV competition results change this game in any significant way, put I'm not holding my breath.


5:28 PM: Feeds back. Danielle and Shane are talking about winning something and getting to pick someone to go with. Chit chat. Shane, Dan and Ian talk about the comp, having to go back and forth. They are saying it was similar to The Juggler... Dan is quacking. No one is telling us! Best guess by the way they are acting, Shane seems to have won.
6:01 PM: Shane tells Ian that it's a good feeling (to feel safe). Sounds like confirmation.

Stay tuned! :)


Friday, September 7, 2012

BB14:Are Dan's Plans Ducked?

Ian is on a roll, having won 2 HoH competitions in one night! The kid is on fire!


Of course, as soon as he won, guess who started whispering in his ear? Father Dan started working on Ian immediately, trying to get him off the track of nominating him for "appearances" and pushing for a Shane/Jenn nomination. (10:33 pm PST). This refrain was repeated on many occasions over the course of the night. Dan hypnotically tried to steer Ian away from nominating Dan or Danielle. Despite the fact that Ian said he wanted Danielle out should Jenn win Veto, Dan still misted the idea of Shane being taken out.

Earlier in the evening Dan got his letter and HoH basket, as well.


Tearing up and smiling when he read his letter from Chelsea, no doubt making him even more determined to make it to the end.

With Dan pushing the nuRenegades on Ian who seems to be totally on board, it seems Dan will not see the block this week. It seems strange to me that Ian being so logical cannot see that taking Dan to the end is the only way he will not win the big prize. Then again, there is the all-important PoV competition to be played; and knowing this week will be a fast forward with another eviction before Thursday's show, anything can happen.

12:39 PM: Trivia. Hmm noms or Pandora? Or luxury comp? It would be the right time for a luxury comp, a bit too early for noms; they could be on a FF schedule. But who knows?


1:42 PM: Feeds back. It was definitely a Pandora's Box. Sounds like Ian had a recorded video message by Rachel as part of PB. It looks like they all got video messages from home.

Jenn goes outside to plead her case to Ian. He is giving her the usual platitudes. As soon as Jenn's conversation is done, Dan makes a beeline outside to find out what was said. Dan's micromanagement should be apparent by now, yet it isn't. Dan asks Ian if he's on board with the Renegades, he says yes. His target, at the point, is Jenn.


The QP goes through the motions of going to talk to Ian. When Danielle goes out, Ian tell her it will be Jenn with Shane or Dan. He says that she or he have to win Veto. Danielle asks Ian if he's targeting Dan or Jenn. Ian answers immediately, Jenn. He says "Death before dishonor on the QP." Danielle explains why she asked because Jenn is under the impression that Dan is the target.

2:50 PM: We've been drowning in fish for 20 minutes. Feeds come back. Nada. And more fish. I don't even have the energy to be mad at Button Boy. No nominations yet...

3:39 PM: BB begins broadcasting some facts over the P.A. probably for the next PoV competition. I guess it won't be Morph :( (Most people don't know that the world's biggest weather vane is in Spain.) This is Ian's competition.

5:10 PM: Trivia. Nominations finally.
6:08 PM: Feeds back. Someone, speak! It's confirmed when Danielle asks Shane if he's okay a few moments later. Jenn apparently snapped at Danielle. Shane and Jenn are nominated. Now it's all up to the PoV if the nominations stay the same. If they do, expect to see Dan pushing for Shane to be evicted.

If a shocking game changer convo happens, I will report it, otherwise, enjoy the rest of your Friday!! :)

Stay tuned! :)

Thursday, September 6, 2012

BB14: Cooked Ducks and Pulverized Smurfs

As the next eviction approaches, Frank's stay in the house is, more than likely, hours away to its end. He will, however, have company tonight, as it will be double eviction. You would think that given there is an "alliance" of four in the house, that the two most in jeopardy would be Jenn and Joe; but that would be wrong. The next targets have been predetermined by Dan to be Ian or Shane; and the only person who knows of this is Danielle; but will she be able to pull the trigger if push comes to shove?

Dan is playing a much dirtier, more cut throat game this season, saying he will take out all of them to win the 500K and I believe him. Since the other HGs are so intent on giving him the money and being foolish enough to trust him at all, then expect him to be sitting in the F2 chairs beside Jenn. I used to think he would take Danielle, fulfilling his ultimate role as a coach; but now I'm not too sure about that. Given what he's said, what he's done and what he's planning on doing, namely stabbing this fakelliance in the gullet, it's more than likely that he will take the one person in the house against whom he has the best chance of winning: Jenn.

Why Jenn and not Joe? Joe has played a social game, has strategized and talked game with more of the players and has formed alliances of his own. Furthermore his keen sense of observation has trained a target on his back. Jenn slept most of the season, has maintained a poor social game and wasted her one competition win on saving her then target. Her one alliance with Frank, Dan and Danielle will probably be null and void after tonight, however, her chances of making it farther increase because of it.

This season is like watching baby Smurfs get clubbed. It boggles my mind how mesmerized they all are by Dan, despite what they know about him, despite the warnings given by the other coaches, despite the "BB funeral" debacle, I am flabbergasted that anyone in that house would go along with his plans. Danielle is seeming very wary of stabbing Shane in the back. When the time comes, which promise will she honor: her first allegiance to her former coach or to her closest friend who ousted his own coach to keep her?

It seems that the only person who is not under Dan's spell is Joe. Yes, Eagle-eye Joe will not drink Dan's kool-aid, making me hope Joe would win the first HoH competition tonight, put up Dan and Danielle. and manage to somehow keep the nominations the same. That is the only way Dan will be taken out of the game. Before all the Dan fans come screaming at me, I am a Dan fan too; but I am a bigger fan of the game. Taking Dan out would be as big a coup as taking out Janelle, Mike or Frank, probably bigger because it won't be motivated by a coach's agenda. This will level the playing field a bit more, allowing the newbies to fight for the title among themselves, not be railroaded to an inevitable end: cooked ducks.

Stay tuned! :)

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

BB14: Earning Beats Deserving

I can't tell you how many times I've heard the phrase "I/he/she/they deserve to be in or win _____." In reality TV and in life, success is a mixture of hard work, skills, luck and most importantly, adaptability.  In the Big Brother house, winning competitions and going balls to the wall alone does not guarantee winning. A player must form strong alliances/bonds with other players, prove his/her loyalty, know when to lie and betray, adjust his/her game plan to the situation at hand and create some insulation within the house. In fact, these last few skills are the most important for a player to make it to the end.

Winning competitions can secure safety, but when a player relies on only that, he/she will more than likely get taken down before the final 3. Why? Firstly, and most importantly, winning competitions puts a huge, immovable target squarely between the player's shoulder blades. Secondly, the player will more than likely become a "meat shield" that will quickly be discarded when the opportunity arises.

This is exactly what's happening to Frank. Is he a fierce competitor who loves this game? Undeniably. Is he the best player in the game? Not even close. The blame lies partly in the coaches' twist and his unreasonably exclusive tie with Mike. Had Mike not been in the game, as well as the other three coaches, Frank would have had to develop his own alliances and strategies. He was often not allowed to go with his instincts, being handicapped by the coaches' agenda. Mike's departure, however, further illustrated Frank's inability to make logical and crafty decisions in the game, allowing himself to be fooled by Dan and lulled into a false sense of security. A sense that has brought him to this point in the game.

On the opposite side of the spectrum are Dan, Ian, Shane and Danielle. They have shown that they can win at comps when necessary, but even more importantly, they have developed strong bonds in the house, exit strategies should they find their game in peril and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get to the end, including adapting or using their personalities to create smoke screens, fooling the others into not coming after them. These four are using all the tools in the BB game to make it to the end.

Somewhere in between lie Joe and Jenn. Joe has played a vastly social game but also a very transparent one. The reason he's still in the house is because there have been more threatening targets to dispense of first. He's been lucky; but he would have to win a competition or two if he is to see final 4. Jenn, on the other hand, has not been playing a great social game. She chose to ride just under the wire the whole season, making some crucial mistakes when she was pushed into the forefront. Her foul disposition when she was nominated and her willingness to take her target off the block, voiding her one competition win, make her less likely to make it to Final 4, unless, of course she gains safety through her own win.

This brings me back to the whole misconception that certain players deserve to sit in the final 2 chairs over others. Ego drives the players themselves to make these statements and preconceived favoritism drives the fans to agree. The bottom line is this, whether through their own actions or that of others, whoever winds up sitting in those two chairs, deserves to be there. We may not like it, or them, but that's the way the BB cookie crumbles.

Stay tuned! :)

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

BB14: Reality Interferes with Reality TV

Today was my first day back to work, first day meeting my home form (sweet Grade 9s), first day setting up the year and getting out of vacation mode and into high gear mode. Photocopying, printing, planning. meetings. No air conditioning! I walked into school with glossy straight hair and walked out with a fro... I saw a lot of my students from last year who greeted me with enthusiasm, making me so happy to see them again. A lot of people say that teens are problematic, but compared to the crazy adults I have encountered during the BB season, they are a bunch of Einsteins, Gates, Mother Teresas, and Dalai Lamas! Tomorrow I meet my other 3 classes and so it begins! Happy School Year! :)

As far as what's happening in the house, the plan is still to evict Frank and blindside him. Dan is starting to worry that all his lies and F2 agreements will come back to bite him if Frank, Jenn and Shane happen to talk. That's what might happen when a player has too many fingers in too many alliance pies... he or she sometimes gets exploding pie in the face. He seems to be most concerned that Danielle believes he will not stab her in the back. This further confirms to me, that she is the one he is truly allied with, feeling the need to continue his role as her coach and carry it through to the F2 end.

Another thing that keeps coming up is Frank's mention of the DR making him nervous about what might happen on Thursday. He's said a few times and  most recently around 12:48 pm PST today that the DR has dropped hints that he might not be as safe as he thinks. DR tampering has been a topic of discussion both in and out of the house. Some former house guests insist that there is none; but it could be that the DR didn't feel motivated to give them a heads up. Frankly (no pun intended) at this point, it won't make a difference. The house guests will vote how they will vote. Putting ideas in Frank's head probably won't change the outcome. It's just one more example of how AGP's tampering is making this game more about production than about the actual players playing the game.

Unfortunately, that's all I got for you today... My brain is melting and I have a lot of things to do before the chat with JoJo tonight! All the details are under the banner :)

Stay tuned! :)

Monday, September 3, 2012

BB14: Godzilla versus Pokemon

If you're having trouble visualizing who is the safest in the house and who has the most chances of making it to the end, I've created a diagram:


As you can see, Dan and Danielle are at the epicenter of most alliances/agreements at the present time. The circles represent F2 deals, the triangles F3 deals and the square, the only F4 deal that's still valid. You will notice that Frank and Joe are hovering shapes because one is set to go Thursday and the other is expendable ASAP.

The plan is still for Dan to use the Veto on Jenn with Joe being the replacement nominee and Frank the target for eviction. However, things can change on a dime in the house, so I wouldn't be saying goodbye yet. If this plan should go through, with a double eviction in the works, the ones who are at most jeopardy are the ones farthest from the epicenter of alliances and deals.

I've beaten this BB horse to death, but this format that AGP keeps insisting on - bringing vets and inane newbies as their fodder - has ruined this game for me. The unpredictability factor has been eliminated. The ability to want to root for the newbies has been trashed. The development of a viewer-to-player relationship has been handicapped. This whole show has been shot to schit.

That being said, may the best man or woman win; and I hope, by some miracle, that it's a newbie this year. I have nothing against Dan, or any of the returning players; it's just become a matter of watching Godzilla demolish Pokemon; and where's the fun in that? As much as I like Godzilla, I'm rooting for the little Pokemon ;)

And since will be The talk of the day in and out of the house, enjoy! Will this blunder be a reason to get him evicted over Frank?


10:49 AM: Trivia... Right on time!
11:35 AM: Feeds are back.  Shane is telling Frank that Danielle is still mad at Dan. (Good job Danielle) The confirmation. Joe is the replacement. Frank and Shane talk about how untrustworthy Joe is. Let the campaigning begin!
11:55 AM: Joe keeps working his mouth making it sound like Dan tricked him to blunder. Danielle tells him he has her and Shane's votes. Joe... keep talking. You might find yourself in jury. Danielle is keeping up the charade of being angry at Dan. Joe is will running his mouth giving her information or misinformation.
12:56 PM: Danielle tells Shane she isn't a kindergarten teacher but a charge nurse. Later in that conversation he tells her she "beautiful inside and out."


1:28 PM: Happy Labor Day!!!

And I'm out! :)

Sunday, September 2, 2012

BB14:Ability Doesn't Equal Success

So, here are the game details thus far. Frank and Jenn are on the block. Dan has won PoV. He's planning on taking Jenn down, with Joe being the replacement. Ian, Danielle and Shane are in on the plan. The target for eviction is Frank; but we've been here before. We'll see how this all plays out; but for now, here are my rankings:

1- Ian grabs the number one spot in the game this week: With 2 HoHs and 1 PoV under his belt, he's shown ability in Endurance, Physical and, of course, Mental competitions. Combine his competition performance with his strategic deductions, he has become the number 1 contender for the BB crown. He's managed to overcome the loss of his F2 partner and regrouped with Dan (for now). He successfully stayed under the wire, getting information from one side of the house to give to his alliance (QP). Should his plan go through, he will have succeeded in taking out the Unsinkable Frank Eudy as well as the legendary Mike Boogie Malin. Despite all this, he isn't seen as the next threat in the house, as that honor belongs to Dan.

2- Dan sits at the number 2 position this week. Hot on the heels of his successful mastermind to get taken off the block last week, he's won a crucial PoV, taking the chance of safety away from Frank. He's managed to dupe pretty much all the major players into making F2/F3/F4 deals with him. The big question mark right now is where do Dan's true allegiances lie? Last week he made an F2 deal with Frank, this week he made one with Ian, yet he's been telling Danielle throughout this season that his allegiance is with her, finally shaking on it last night around 1:16 am. Given that his target this week is Frank, we can assume that F2 deal is dust; but which of the two remaining deals will Dan honor should he have a choice? His greatest chance will be against Danielle, should he make it that far.

3- Danielle  takes the number 3 slot for the simple fact that she has more deals with more players, she's won two competitions and she's low on the target scale. Her association with Shane has put a bigger target on his back because he has more wins than her and is seen as a greater threat. Danielle has more people who will go to bat for her in the house than the other remaining house guests. Strategically, she is not a mastermind, but her close tie with Dan has benefited her in the game. In addition, she is credited as being the one to take Janelle out of the game. She is able to keep her cards close to her chest when needed while being approachable in a human level, making her a great contender to sit in the final chairs.

4- Shane takes the number 4 slot because he is a not only part of a large alliance, but he has also managed to cultivate Joe's allegiance, one that has been a great source of information. Shane should be in the number one slot, but his lack of understanding of the game, his penchant to speak too much, and his naive trust in other players might very well be his downfall. The fact that he offered to be a pawn last night illustrates his woeful lack in strategizing.

5- Frank takes the number 5 slot and really should be at the bottom not only because of his fatal mistake in allowing himself to be "misted" by Dan last week, but by his ongoing mistake in not developing more ties with the other house guests, and not following his own game instincts. Add injury to stupidity, Frank gave up the privilege of competing in the next HoH, even though at this point, it will do him no good. Despite the fact that Frank has been able to save himself much of this season by having the most competition wins, a player is only as successful as the latest competition. From hearsay, Frank threw the latest PoV win to Dan; if this is true then that is will be known as his fatal move in the game. That being said, if he manages to pull himself into safety by the end of Thursday's episode, he will indeed jump to the highest rank again.

6- Jenn sits at this  bottom slot despite having one more competition win than Joe and has come close in other competitions. This may or may not allow her to save herself in the future. Strategically, she maintains zero ability for two very important reasons: 1- Despite seeing the results of Ashley's decision to ally with Frank and the way Frank was clearly campaigning against her, she decided to stick her neck out for a fakelliance with Frank, Dan and Danielle. 2- Despite putting herself on slop for the rest of the season to take the PoV win from Dan, she agreed to save him anyway. Insert eye roll.

6- Joe shares this bottom slot with Jenn because he's shown no ability in any of the competitions; and his attempts at making F2 deals with all the HoHs are pitiful; however, his pawn/flopper status in the game might very well bring him to the F4, or even F3. His lack of ability to save himself might get him cut soon, but, depending on whether one of the others want to drag him to the end, he might very well be sitting in the F2 chairs through no action or rather inaction on his part.

These rankings are in no way predictions about whether each player will make it to the end or not. BB fans know that anything can and has happened to bring down great players and carry mediocre or poor players to the end.

If you're wondering what you're missing on the feeds right now... nothing. :)

Stay tuned! :)

Saturday, September 1, 2012

BB14:What Are You Up To AGP??

I think production is trying to be mysterious and unpredictable in a season that's been a shizz-show. Really? Jessie? AGAIN?? No PoV competition yet even though they picked players early last night. Ian said they're going to have a "crack if dawn" PoV comp but it's 6:30 am PST, and dawn has long cracked.

Dan and Ian had a long, very open chat (on Ian's part) that started around 1:13 am and ended around 2:57 am where Dan got a lot of info, including:
  • Ian would consider it a huge accomplishment to be the one to take out Frank.
  • Ian is still Quack Pack all the way.
  • Ian would vote Joe out over Dan should they both be on the block.
  • Ian and Brit had an F2 deal. 
  • Ian doesn't want Dani to the end because he can't beat her.... 
  • Ian compared Joe to Adam from last season, then got on the topic of Shelly but Dan stopped him because he probably didn't want Ian to be put on blast by the public. 
  • Ian told Dan about Dan's "mist", a term that Britney and Janelle used. Dan seemed perplexed and amused by this. 
Dan asked Ian again if he's will to Renegade and Ian says probably yes because Dan would make a good "meat shield". Ian really has no filter.

8:32 AM: Looks like they're waking them up; what this means about the timing of the competition is unclear. Since everything depends on the results of the PoV competition, I will wait until after for any meaningful updates. Besides, I gots things to do ;)

2:09 PM: Trivia... finally! If this is the Veto comp and not another fake out, I doubt it will be the much awaited Morph as it usually happens at night :(


4:40 PM: Feeds back. Dan, "Right here is the ticket to finally getting Frank out of this game." Dan asks Ian not to tell anyone about their F2 deal. Ian agrees. And that's all he wrote.

Shane and Joe tell Frank to plan his funeral to get Dan to use the veto on him... Frank and Jenn meet quickly in storage speculating whether Dan will use the veto on Jenn and Ian will put Joe up. Frank seems to think he has the votes to stay against Joe...


5:29 PM: Dan and Ian discuss their Veto options.
1- Not change the noms and not get Joe mad at them.
2-Take Jenn down so she doesn't come gunning after them.
3- Take Frank down but they nix that quickly.

Option 2 is the most likely. Of course the campaigning will last for two days, so I'm pacing myself. Dan confirmed that it was OTEV.

Until tomorrow! :)