(S11E01) Yes, summer's guilty pleasure has returned. Big Brother 11, complete with a pregnant ChenBot, is here for our amusement. Did I say amusement? Gee, I meant our entertainment.Tonight's season premiere brought about some changes which are going to alter how the game is played. Sure, someone will be voted out each week. But with the high school clique thing going on, it's not just the person who wins the head of household who's safe each week.
I've already mentioned that I'm not all that keen on the whole clique idea. I'm still not and not just because of the whole teen angst thing. With the mystery 13th houseguest, there's an added dimension. Read on.
As it was the season premiere, we had a lot of fluff tonight. Introductions amongst the houseguests, the scramble for beds, little Diary Room bits in which the hamsters vented or praised each other. Now, all of that went on for at least the first half-hour of the show. And here's what I got out of it:
- There is one more houseguest than there are beds.
- All the girls think Jeff is cute.
- I think Jeff is cute.
- Kevin is very flamboyant, sometimes quick-witted, other times annoying.
- Lydia seems normal despite her tattoos.
- Braden isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. But, don't fear. He is indeed a tool.
- Ronnie is a married Momma's boy and not quite what I expected.
- Russell (the love muscle) is very cocky and looks like a pit bull.
- Natalie lied about her age, saying she's 18, not her actual 24.
- She thinks they'll be all protective of the kid or something.
- Kevin saw right through the age lie.
- Casey is Vanilla Ice gone seedy.
Then the twist came ... Julie told them about the high school cliques. The show assigned Michele, Chima, and Ronnie as the Brainiacs; Casey, Lydia, and Kevin as the Off-Beats; Russell, Natalie, and Jeff as the Athletes; Braden, Jordan, and Laura as the Popular kids. But what they didn't know was that there were four former hamsters, each assigned a clique, just waiting to join the household. Only one would make it in. However, that person wouldn't just make it in the house, he would be the new head of household. Oy.
Away from the new hamsters, there was Jessie (BB10 - Athlete), Cowboy (BB5 - Way Off-Beat), Jessica (BB9 - Popular), and Brian (BB10 - Brains). The new hamsters played the HOH comp as a team with their clique-mates. If a clique wins HOH, all of its members are safe from nomination that week. Hmmm ... I'm not so sure whether they'd be safe if someone wins POV and takes off a nominee. Did anyone catch that when Julie was explaining?
The HOH comp had the hamsters hanging onto a toilet seat while in giant granny-panty underwear. (Have I mentioned that no one normal really wants to go on these shows?) In the end, the Athlete clique won. Sigh. Now we have Jessie the Pinhead Tool in the house as head of household. Why? Why?
So the Athlete clique is safe and they have four members to three on every other clique. I foresee a Survivor-like situation in which the weaker tribe is picked off one by one until there are none. How about you?
Big Brother' Photos
Big Brother 8 contestants Amanda Marchant, Samantha Marchant arrive for the Lipsy party held at the Crystal clubon October 28, 2008 in London, England.
Nat Jag/FilmMagic.com
BIG BROTHER 10 Libra, a 32-year-old human resources representative from Spring, Texas, was the fifth Houseguest evicted from the house by a unanimous vote of 6 to 0. She will be the first Houseguest to be sequestered in the jury house until the final episode on Tuesday, September 16th. Airs Thursday, August 14, 2008.
CBS
BIG BROTHER 10 Libra, a 32-year-old human resources representative from Spring, Texas, was the fifth Houseguest evicted from the house by a unanimous vote of 6 to 0. She will be the first Houseguest to be sequestered in the jury house until the final episode on Tuesday, September 16th. Airs Thursday, August 14, 2008.
CBS
BIG BROTHER 10 Brian Hart, the first Houseguest evicted from the House, returned to host the "Luxury Competition" pitting current Houseguests against Houseguests from each of the past nine seasons. Airs Sunday, August 10, 2008.
CBS
BIG BROTHER 10 Brian Hart, the first Houseguest evicted from the House, returned to host the "Luxury Competition" pitting acurrent Houseguests against Houseguests from each of the past nine seasons. Airs Sunday, August 10, 2008.
CBS
BIG BROTHER 10 Brian Hart (center, pink ruffled shirt), the first Houseguest evicted from the House, returned to host the "Luxury Competition" pitting current Houseguests against Houseguests from each of the past nine seasons. From left: Jun (Season 4), Bunky (Season 2), Jace (Season 5), Amy (Season 3), Mike Boogie (Season 7), Junelle (Season 6), Brian, Matt (Season 9), Chicken George (Season 1) and Jen (Season 8). Airs Sunday, August 10, 2008.
CBS
BIG BROTHER 10 Brian Hart (center, pink ruffled shirt), the first Houseguest evicted from the House, returned to host the "Luxury Competition" pitting current Houseguests against Houseguests from each of the past nine seasons. From left: Jace (Season 5), Amy (Season 3), Jen (Season 8), Chicken George (Season 1), Brian, Junelle (Season 6), Jun (Season 4), Mike Boogie (Season 7), and seated, Matt (Season 9) with Bunky (Season 2). Airs Sunday, August 10, 2008.
CBS
BIG BROTHER 10 When America's Player Dan cast his vote which broke the evenly divided household, Jessie, a 22-year-old professional body builder from Rudd, Iowa, was evicted from the house by a vote of 4 to 3. Airs Thursday, August 7, 2008.
CBS
BIG BROTHER 10 Houseguests prepare for the "In the Garden of Veto, Baby!" Power of Veto Competition during last nightÕs. Airs Wednesday, July 29, 2008.
CBS
BIG BROTHER 10 Houseguests prepare for the "In the Garden of Veto, Baby!" Power of Veto Competition during last nightÕs. Pictured here: Memphis. Airs Wednesday, July 29, 2008.
CBS
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-10-2009 @ 4:08AM
Derek said...
Oh. My. God...
Not Jessie. Pleeeease, not Jessie. I don't think I've ever seen a bigger waste of oxygen than Jessie.
Reply
7-10-2009 @ 7:20AM
deebopalula said...
Jessie - no, no, no, no, NO!!!! This fouls the whole season for me. Is there a chance he has learned some lessons and become less arrogant and obnoxious? I doubt it. If they're smart (but then, remember - we're talking about the ATHLETES as led by JESSIE), they would focus on picking off the stronger, rather than the weaker, players. That could mean Braden is in trouble....
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7-10-2009 @ 7:42AM
Anni G said...
Awww this coulda turned out so much better with anyone but the big boohoo baby back in!! I couldn't wait to see him go last time and I'm sure it will be the same again this time.
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7-10-2009 @ 7:57AM
D said...
Do they have to be so formulaic even with the so-called twists?Everyone 30 or under but one token "old guy who is an oddball".And yeah Jessie?I watch this show some seasons some not.This time it's borderline.The incredible lack of anything close to maturity makes it tough.Especially mixed with 12 people who could all say "I'm with stupid".Jessie is all muscle even under his skull.Anybody check him for steroids?I'm not sure weeks of watching children will work for me...we'll see.
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7-10-2009 @ 8:19AM
MCW said...
Usually the first episode tells me that I hate all of the contestants (And I mostly do here as well... except the female boxer lying about her age), because they're all trash.
But I'd regret not watching any further, because everything gets good come time for a HOH competition/power of veto.
Dunno why people hate Jessie. He may look ridiculous, but he always cracks me up. I'm glad we won the right to get back in the house. I doubt I could listen to Cowboy learn how to talk on television again.
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7-10-2009 @ 8:25AM
Lisa said...
I agree with you, deebopalula, the athletes will go after the stronger team first which I think they'll see as the 'populars.' The latter have Braden who could have easily been on the athlete team, so I think they'll go gunning for him.
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7-10-2009 @ 10:23AM
Kristin said...
I'm not happy about the cliques idea either. I'm definitely not happy about Jessie's triumphant return to the BB house. It might be interesting to see his own team members turn on him. It can't take long before they see what a giant d-bag he is.
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7-10-2009 @ 3:26PM
Dan said...
I think it's outrageous that this all-important first competition, which determines which clique gets HOH and an extra member, was so physically based. In other words, the athletes had an advantage from the beginning, and two of them survived till the end. The producers couldn't have added some puzzle to give it a mental dimension as well?
And so we get Jessie, who can be funny, as MCW says, but is also genuinely obnoxious, to the point of making me less interested in watching.
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7-10-2009 @ 10:35AM
Mike S said...
I'll stickwith Big Brother 10 in the UK. Davina McCall slays Julie Chen as a presenter. The format is better (daily shows, live evictions, call in voting).
http://www.channel4.com/bigbrother/
1. There is no contact with the outside world. This includes the internet, newspapers, phone calls and conversations with anyone outside the House except for Big Brother.
2. You are filmed 24 hours a day and must wear your personal microphones at all times.
3. The Diary Room is the only place in the House where Big Brother will engage in a conversation with you. Visits to the Diary Room are compulsory.
4. When requested you will be required to go to the Diary Room and nominate - you must give frank and honest reasons for your nominations. You are not permitted to discuss your nominations or try to influence anyone else’s nominations.
5. The public will decide who is evicted.
6. You must not threaten or use physical violence towards any other Housemate.
7. Big Brother will intervene and may remove you from the House if you break the rules, threaten or use physical violence, or behave in an unacceptable way that could cause serious offence to any other Housemate or to the viewing public.
8. All tasks are compulsory.
9. You may not move any of the furniture, or tamper with any of the fixtures and fittings.
10. You must get up whenever you hear the alarm.
11. You may not discuss any previous series of Big Brother or Celebrity Big Brother or Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack. You may not discuss any members of the Production or the audition process.
12. Big Brother reserves the right to change the rules at any time.
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7-10-2009 @ 10:38AM
Leroy said...
I was rooting for Jessie. He may be an idiot but he makes nice eye candy.
And on another topic: I come from a generation that had no particular interest in skin art and have none myself, but I am constantly amazed by the degree of prejudice at TV Squad toward tattooed contestants, particularly the women, as exemplified by phrases like "Lydia seems normal despite her tattoos". What a gratuitous and meaningless comment.
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7-10-2009 @ 11:54AM
Sancty said...
I'm gonna go out on a big limb and suggest that you are a tattoo-adorned female...
...are you in a cult?
7-10-2009 @ 12:47PM
Leroy said...
Sorry, I am 56, male, and have no tattoos as suggested by my screen name and the post above. Further, since I believe in thinking for myself, cults (such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, for example) are of no interest to me.
I just have a bug up my butt about almost any kind of discrimination. I say almost because I will admit to prejudice against the prejudiced. As my favorite philosopher, Robert Anton Wilson, put it: DEATH TO ALL FANATICS! (Wink, wink.)
7-10-2009 @ 12:03PM
TheReader23 said...
I was very disappointed with Big Brother's choices for the 13th houseguest except for Jessica. She's the only one who would have added something to the house. With that said, I watched Showtime for three hours last night and have to say they are one boring bunch.
Considering that they have divided the house into four different groups, I think we'll find many more challenges this season where being an athlete might not be an advantage.
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7-10-2009 @ 1:20PM
larry said...
Each housemate goes into Diary Room to nominate another housemate for eviction. Is item #5 of the rules new in that it says "The Public will decide who gets evicted"? I thought that it was the fellow housemates that decided who got evicted. Of course the "American Player" tried to influence others to nominate who the public wanted to be evicted.
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7-10-2009 @ 1:21PM
larry said...
Mike S said that rule #5 states "The public says who is evicted." Is that in the UK or is it a new rule for Big Brother 11?
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7-10-2009 @ 2:03PM
Leroy said...
I think it's pretty clear from the post that he is listing the UK rules which he considers superior to the American rules. Since I'm one of the two people who considers BB1 to be its best American season, I tend to agree.
7-10-2009 @ 2:23PM
Owloo said...
I tried to watch BB U.K. once but couldn't understand what the hell they were saying with those strong British accents than when they would throw out slang terms I had no idea what they meant I will stick with BB U.S.A. at least they speak the english I can understand ;)
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7-10-2009 @ 3:03PM
Christopher said...
Boy did they piss me off when it came on and it wasn't in HD.
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7-10-2009 @ 3:21PM
Joyce N. said...
Since I see nothing whatsoever attractive about Jesse's looks nor his braggart personality and didn't during "his" season, I'm counting the days until he disappears again. His comments about his own parents show what a huge creep he is. Pinhead, leave quickly. Go back to your own little "mirror" world and leave us in peace.
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7-10-2009 @ 3:22PM
Dan said...
"You are not permitted to discuss your nominations or try to influence anyone else’s nominations. "
What a bore Big Brother UK must be. No discussion of your nominations, no trying to influence anyone else's nominations? This vitiates any stategizing. The appeal of Big Brother USA is the plotting and counter plotting among the houseguests. And public voting? That turns it into a popularity contest instead of a game.
Give me Big Brother USA anytime!
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