Big Brother 11 Blog

When I looked to the biggest moment of Big Brother 8, I looked beyond my personal preferences. Most all these moments were fun or exciting or meaningful relative to the game.

But there was only one moment I can recall from last season that had us all on the edge of our seat: Dustin’s eviction.

Some of us wanted it to happen, and others were dreading it. As Tuesday and Wednesday turned to Thursday, none of us were sure what would happen because the house dialogue changed and changed and changed throughout the week.

Of course, Dustin thought he would sail through a Dick Donato elimination. He even considered donning his robe and crown, which would have made for double the fun in this, our No. 1 clip from BB8:

One of the tenets of the Big Brother game, is that houseguests trust each other at their own peril. On one hand, we like players who tell it like it is.

On the other hand, unless you lie at some point, you will be evicted. You cannot win this game without deception.

And there was no important act of deception last season than when Danielle and Kail were hanging like bats in that mid-season HoH competition. Kail could have stayed there all night, and Dani says she could have, too.

Kail asks Dani, if she were to let her win HoH, if she would be spared eviction. Danielle swears to it, blah blah blah.

Could you not see this coming?

Kail hops off. Dani is HoH, and Kail was evicted the next week, not because of anything Danielle specifically did to target her but because Kail’s eviction was expedient.

And I thought Kail had watched Big Brother before?

Alas, Kail’s eviction was the first of two key evictions that led to Dick Donato’s win. In many ways, it was brilliant game play that led to E.D.’s victory. But in many other ways, the Donatos lucked out big time at the expense of others’ foolishness.

And relative to turning points of a Big Brother season, for BB8, there were few bigger.

During Big Brother 8, those of us on this blog talked extensively about religion.

No, we weren’t debating Scriptures or learning about world views. We were discussing the relevance of religion in reality television, specifically what some of us perceived to be a (superficial?) grab for God in the Big Brother house.

If Amber wasn’t praying, “God Bless You, God,” (greatest. line. ever.) then Jameka was invoking the Bible in one breath while cussing like a fiend in the next. Not that the faithful don’t cuss and not that any of us are near perfect, but faith and the perceptions of those who consider themselves faithful played a big role in BB8.

Let us not forget that our champion from last season, the venerable E.D., was born to an ordained minister, a verified woman of the cloth who feeds the homeless and shelters the poor, as the elder Donato reminded us time and time again.

Amber approached religion from what I would call a helper mentality. God, please help me through this day. God, please help me win. That’s fine, and many of us walk along that same path.

However, Jameka was an Old Testament soul. Very Calvinistic. She believed everything in the house was preordained. Nothing she could do nor nothing she didn’t do would have an effect on the outcome of Big Brother 8.

If that’s the case, then why was sister Jameka on her knees in our No. 4 clip of Big Brother 8?

Seriously. That clip makes me grin every time I see it because it encompasses so much about any given moment in the Big Brother house. At any nanosecond, one person can be experiencing despair in the same environment in which somebody experiences joy. And Jen’s hilarious pursuit of a decent belt was one of my favorite moments of the season.

But don’t think for a second that the argument Jameka and Amber waged with Dick wasn’t more entertaining. I’ve told you guys before; I leave those live feeds each night waiting for a “Hell, yeah” moment, and there was none better than this bitchfest.

What I wonder still to this day is whether or not Jameka thinks God preordained this clip? Hilarity ensues at No. 3:

No. 2 comes up tomorrow night, and Sunday will bring us No. 1. Hey, you still have a few days to get that live feed before the season starts. Can’t wait until the games begin!

Looks like Big Brother 9 is going to be fascinating, what with the whole couples’ play. It brings a whole new dynamic to the Big Brother franchise — and, frankly, I’m stoked.

However, let’s speed up our look back at BB8, taking a look at a pair of clips that we think made the season great. It’s No. 6 and 5 on our Top 8 for Season 8.

No. 6: Tea for one.

Big Brother 8 was fairly standard until about the third week. I recall one day thinking how unlively this bunch was and then noting that all the guys were shaving their hair into mohawks.

“Hmm, that’s odd,” I thought.

In retrospect, I realize now that it was about this time that Big Brother 8 turned fun. Everybody went nuts at once, and it culminated in a late evening of arguing and fighting and, eventually, of borderline physical assault.

Evel Dick didn’t have too much to do with the argument at hand (that was mostly Nick and Jen with lots of whining *sorry* from Danielle). However, I really enjoyed E.D. for stirring the pot, and he moseyed on by Jen and just poured a glass of freshly-brewed ice tea on Jen’s luscious locks.

No lie: I thought Dick might get evicted on the spot for some sort of foul or by some sort of penalty. And to be honest, Jen took it like she did everything else in the game — chilled out. She never gave the others the reaction they sought.

From the viewer’s perspective (me), it was win-win.

No. 5: Jen fights back.

Weeks and weeks of the bickering and picking and hatred continued, and finally, Jen knew she was knee-deep in a hole from which she couldn’t climb.

She thought she scored an ace by destroying Dick’s smokes. But she was soon told that while she could hide anything, she could destroy nothing. Because Jen believed producers had told her differently before the show started and because she knew that Dick’s replacement carton was symbolic of her fate, she rebelled.

Though on slop, she started eating regular food.

And because Dick is a devoted lover of all things Marlboro Red, he did what he does. He smoked.

He smoked. She ate. She asked him to quit blowing smoke on her. He said she could (insert epithet here), and then she bowed up to him, giving one the feeling she might attempt a beat down.

However, for Jen Johnson, it was far too little too late. Dick had already established himself as the alpha male in that house, and her decision to fight fire with fire so late in the game was futile (but darned enjoyable).

Eric Stein’s time in the Big Brother house last season was a roller coaster ride. It started way up, given that he was America’s Player, seemingly in the good graces of BB fans worldwide.

He did our dirty work, dousing Jen’s clothes with mustard. Voting to evict who we wanted. Acting a fool on our behalf.

However, the general consensus among Eric haters was that he behaved in a manner befitting a weasel, and some of those haters darn near outed Stein as America’s Player with a banner labeling the New Yorker as a liar.

Nick Starcevic had been evicted, and romantics worldwide united to take it out on Eric. Well, not really, but they definitely blamed Eric for what led to his ouster, and that roller coaster trekked downward quickly.

However, voting irregularities regarding Nick’s eviction were the least of Eric’s troubles. No, siree.

No, he drew the wrath of Amber “God Bless You, God” Tomcavage.

She apparently told him a secret regarding an abortion. Forgetting somehow that everything she says is amplified via a technology called microphone, Amber flew into a rage befitting a meth addict when she found out Eric had suggested that he might use the secret against her.

What played out was pure gold. By Tuesday or Wednesday of that week, whichever day this went down, Eric was already a beaten pup, and Amber was at the top of the dogpile.

Anyway, “God Bless You, God” for our fond memories of the No. 7 clip from Big Brother 8.

Before we delve into Big Brother 9 (remember: cast revealed Feb. 6 on CBS’ The Early Show), I thought we could relive BB8 in the form of some of the summer’s greatest moments.

What makes a great Big Brother moment?

To me, it’s a Big Brother moment that either sets the tone for something, alters the face of game-play or presents us with an immortal snippet of entertainment.

This first clip did at least two of the three, and it came on the season’s introductory episode. As Dick Donato, Jessica Hughbanks and Dustin Erikstrup sat in the HoH room, 11 houseguests got word that three people from the past were sitting upstairs.

Immediately, Joe Barber told these strangers that he was sure his ex-boyfriend was one of these “people from the past,” noting that Dustin had allegedly given him an STD and that — in return — Joe willfully set out to “ruin this man.”

It was catty. It was high drama, and it was shocking — and on the first night to boot. I might be in the minority, but I think BB8 ranks among the best seasons of the show, and boy did Joe Barber set the tone and provide us with a hilarious clip … my No. 8 clip for Season 8. Enjoy.

Hey, gang. BBBlogger has been holding up the fort, but I’ve returned tanned, rested and ready for a new season of Big Brother 9. And, we now know it will be a full season.

There will be 14 houseguests, and BB9 will last into May. This won’t be a truncated season.

What we know about this season is that the house has been redesigned a bit to reflect the fact that it’s a winter season. Part of the house looks a tad like a log cabin, and the pool is heated.

It’s been rumored that both Dick Donato and Janelle Pierzina will have roles on BB9, but at this point it doesn’t appear that it will be as houseguests. But they could host House Calls together.

I’ve heard whispers of celebrities participating (Joey Buttafuoco) and rumblings of firsts (a transsexual). However, there is no firm feeling that BB9 will be anything but a traditional, kick-ass season.

The craziest thing happened during the off-season, by the way. Nick and Danielle broke up, and the Minnesota hunk is now dating Jen Johnson. No kidding.

I’m a 37-year-old straight man, and I feel like a chatty schoolgirl.

Should it really surprise us? Heck, no, because life does not reflect the Big Brother house. The house is a venue in which reality is tuned on its heels, where its guests expect the unexpected and live by fatalistic credos like “it is what it is.”

While CBS is promoting Big Brother 9 with Oklahoma’s own All-American Rejects singing “Dirty Little Secret,” and host Julie Chen saying, “Now, that’s good television,” those of us die-hards know that Big Brother is not merely a television show.

It’s pretty much the greatest pop-culture game in modern times.

Be honest. How many of you would give an unnecessary body part to be able to be in the house for the summer (or winter)? How many of you would admit that the money wouldn’t even be that big of a motivator; it would be the chance to participate in this circus that would attract you?

Well, many of us — including several readers of big-brother-blog.com — have mastered the process of enjoying Big Brother to the point that it’s almost like being there. So, to kick off my portion of the BB9 season, I want to give you guys a master class in how to get the most out of your Big Brother season.

Starting tonight, by the way, I’ll start counting down the Top 8 moments from Big Brother 8. Oh, and set your DVRs for CBS’ The Early Show on Feb. 6, when Julie Chen will be on to introduce the Big Brother 9 cast.

How To Get The Most Out Of BB9

First and foremost, either get a DVR or plan to be in front of the TV on Sunday nights, Tuesday nights and especially Thursday nights. Fans of the show know this, but it helps to remind you. And if you have vacation days to kill during the first two quarters of the business year, make them Thursdays so you can stay up all night watching the live feeds after Head of Household.

And that brings me to the live feeds. Yes, we would love it if you signed up for a live feed through big-brother-blog.com. But I can verify to you independent of any ulterior motivation that having access to a live feed is the single most important thing you can do to enjoy Big Brother.

During BB8, I kept my live feed open most of the time when I was home. Now, I didn’t always pay attention to it, but it was pretty much always on — just in case. The best times to watch were typically between 4 and 6 p.m. PST and after 11 p.m. PST. While Showtime’s After Dark purports to give Big Brother fans an uncensored look at the goings-on inside the house, houseguests typically kept it pretty boring during Showtime’s live hours.

Of course, you’ll want to visit big-brother-blog.com, but if you can only surf at home or work or have some serious time limitations (or have a life), I’ll give you the skinny. Bookmark us, and make it a point to check back often between Wednesday night and Sunday morning.

We’ll keep you apprised of the house happenings leading up to eviction nights, and — believe me — things can change at the last minute, providing a depth of coverage just watching the television show can never provide. Plus, you’ll want to know who wins PoV before TV night, and you’ll only get that online.

Besides, much of the drama goes down on Wednesday or Thursday, particularly after the eviction. The most beautiful thing about Big Brother, to me, is that it’s a moving, dynamic game. Its favorites one week can be pawns the next. It’s ever-changing, and the HoH contest itself — something that lasts all of five minutes usually — sets in motion the Big Brother world for the next seven days and often rewrites pop culture history.

Take for example, my absolute favorite HoH competition from Big Brother 8. This clip encompassed so much about the season, from Jameka’s questionably brilliant decision to sit out five competitions (seemed stupid at the time) to the insanity of the bunny suits to Jen’s ditziness to one of several questionable HoH moves made by the show itself (in this case, Julie calling Eric, “Nick”) and most of all to how Jessica’s victory not only made her a player but also saved Eric’s ass — the night after a week in which he was just emotionally beaten up by most of the other houseguests, all unknowing that he was America’s Player.

Here’s how crazy this show is to its most loyal fans. There is a war happening on this planet. There is poverty in the world, and small children go hungry at night. And I was thrilled beyond thrilled for 36 hours beyond anything going on in my life that Jessica had just won HoH.

Booyah!

To get the most out of Big Brother, you really should become a student of the game. I would submit there is a ton about this show we can take away into real life. Learning how to read people. Learning how to play nicer. Learning how to coexist with people in close proximity for long periods of time.

Not that we’re paying attention to anything like that while we watch, but oddly enough, I absolutely think I’m a better student of human behavior because of this show. It’s also possible that my ticket to Hell is punched because I revel in the hatefulness so much.

By the end of a season, you’ll be ready for it to be over, only to get super excited for it months down the line. That’s no different than what sports fans go through each season. And if you really want to experience Big Brother, getting that DVR ready and accessing a live feed are the most practical ways to stay attuned to the action.

But if you try to watch this by yourself, without somebody you can talk to about the house and its daily developments, you’ll find the Big Brother experience to be frustrating. Like a singer who has a song but no vocal chords.

That’s where the community comes in. Us. Hop onto our comments section and post away. Defend a houseguest. Crucify another. To be perfectly honest, depending on the day, I vacillated about Evel Dick about 4,500 times last season.

But we all did about some things or another last season. Heck, if you’re like me, you can’t just walk away from your job to go live in a house with strangers, even if it’s for a chance at $500,000.

However, I’d be totally lying to you if I didn’t stress how fun this show can be even from afar … well, like I said, with the right tools and the right community.

Remember. Tonight starts our Top 8 of Season 8. In the meantime, tell us how YOU get the most out of your Big Brother season.

I know that you are all expecting no more emails from me and I PROMISE that this will be the last one until I hear more about Big Brother 9, but I want to help you out with going through your Big Brother Withdrawls.

I have opened a brand new website for all my Big Brother fans. It is called Big Brother Videos and can be located at http://www.big-brother-videos.com! (matching domians with big-brother-blog.com!)

Basically, I have found a bunch of wrap up interviews and just Big Brother themed videos for all my faithful Big Brother Blog patrons.

Also, I have added its seperate email list to update you if new videos are added. I expect that this site will be very active for Big Brother 9 (and beyond) but until then be sure to visit, bookmark it, sign up for the mailing list and then come back here and share your opinion by commenting on this post.

I miss you all and hope to see you again soon…we are hanging out at www.Survivor-Blog.com in case you want to see your old friends!

Peace, BBBlogger

The plan was for Jessica, Eric, Dick and Daniele to go to the Final Four together.

But, what can we say? Zach happens.

After Amber was bounced from the Big Brother 8 house Thursday night by a 3 to 1 vote, the houseguests embarked on a tortuous little game of fill-the-giant-bowl-with-liquid-a-teacup-at-a-time until a ball floating atop the water could be picked out of a small orifice covering the bowl.

Zach didn’t dominate, but he did win, and we’re left to wonder whether the houseguests regret ousting Amber given that she would have sucked at this. C’mon. Top models aren’t good with endurance challenges.

Top that with the knowledge that next Thursday is a double live eviction, and I’m almost certain the Little Julie Chens are blown up this week. First and foremost, I am pretty sure Zach nominates Jessica for sure.

He might go after Eric right off the bat, or he might try to backdoor him. We could be in for another instance of a PoV winner using the PoV on somebody but himself if Jess and Eric were to go on the block and Eric were to win the PoV. Seriously, those kids are a bit goo-goo for each other.

If you asked me, I say Zach has to go after Dick and Daniele. We are facing the very real possibility that Dick and Daniele are the two finalists, which I think is a wet dream for CBS in terms of drama. But, me? I’m not a fan of either, although I recognize that if somebody doesn’t do something soon to split them up, they will be impossible to beat in the final stages.

My hunch also is that the interest level on the feeds will go up dramatically as the level of not knowing also rises. Zach’s a wildcard, and this could get very interesting if he opens himself up to the strategic maneuverings of a desperate house.

Well, if you watched the on-air episode tonight, you know that Amber and Zach will remain on the block come Thursday. No backdoor, baby, and the Jeddi Alliance, as natvtxn tabbed them, or the Little Julie Chens, as they tabbed themselves, still live on.

BTW, big thanks to all you guys for the daytime updates.

Jessica and Eric are still ga-ga over each other, even though we know now that he does in fact have a real-life girlfriend named Cheryl, who happens to be quite cute. Stunning. Hey, don’t hate the playa, hate the game I always say.

A buddy of mine at work and I discussed this, and I think we’re pretty certain. We can speculate about rumors, hope that there is something else big coming up, but practically, it’s just not likely — not with only 21 days left in the game.

I still think it would have been the greatest twist of all time if Carol had been this unseen Internet love of Eric’s. But then again, I’m twisted.

Zach’s doing his best to campaign for his survival in an almost pathetic manner, like I actually feel a bit sorry for him. I’m twisted, but I do have somewhat of a soul. However, Amber has God on her side, meaning she can rely on spiritual strength and predestination for her survival.

This is a done deal, right?

I mean, Amber does have bigger and better things in store for her outside the house, like a career in modeling? Perhaps to be on the next season of America’s Next Top Model?

Personally, I’ve been clear about not liking Amber’s weepy personality. However, this season of Big Brother has been all about extreme personalities. Joe. Nick (c’mon, he had to have a psyche eval). Jen. Dick. Jameka. And Amber.

I’ll say it now. The strongest, most entertaining personalities the show has produced. Sure, it’s born out of insanity to a certain extent, but I’m looking for entertainment, not utopia.

But dear Amber is clearly suffering still from the meth addiction, methinks. However, as this video I found so aptly communicates, Amber has managed to entertain the BB community this season by the sheer grandeur of her delusions. That she has an equally wacky prayer partner in Jameka makes her survival this week, for the sake of OUR entertainment, an absolute must.

Long live crazy Amber!