TVSquad

Who says you can't learn anything from television? We talk about a lot of things here on TV Squad each week, and it's amazing what TV Squad and TV in general can teach you about life.

TV ... it's like the Bible!

1. America likes making a point rather than rewarding talent. Let me say upfront that even though I wrote this, I still think that David Cook is a good singer, and it was great that the American Idol final came down to him and David Archuleta. But I'm baffled as to why he won by 12 million votes! It's almost as if viewers were voting for Cook not just because they liked him, but because they didn't want to fulfill the predictions many had weeks and weeks ago that Archuleta would win (as if the kid could control any of that). They didn't want to prove to everyone that American Idol is predictable, or that Simon's comments about Archuleta winning the final night of singing meant anything. And what about that night? Come on, Archuleta clearly won that night, but it's almost as if they don't even have to have that final night of singing, because fans are clearly voting for other reasons. The Archuleta backlash has to be one of the weirder things that has happened this TV season. I have a very good friend who is a Cook fanatic. Nothing could make her say anything bad about him and I think she broke her phone calling in to vote for him, and even she admits that Archuleta did better that last night. I think fans convinced themselves that they had to vote for the "rocker" (cough cough) and not the kid who sings well (and I have to disagree with my cohort Debra - there's nothing "unique" about Cook).

(S01E13) It's been noted in press reports that the alleged charges brought against Kid Nation have been dropped and the state of New Mexico won't be pursuing them. After watching the entire season, I can see why. For whatever flaws the show might have had (and it had several), it didn't seem to measure up to any sort of child abuse or violation of child labor laws.

The pre-season brouhaha cited the lack of adult supervision as a big problem. Alas, for me, it was all of the adult intervention which became the biggest issue I had with the show. It wasn't the kids -- they were overall a fantastic bunch!

(S01E11) I feel manipulated. I feel used. I feel a pawn to a lesson session. I feel all I learned in childhood about doing the right thing is so much better than doing the fun thing was snatched from behind my wall of memories and plopped down in tonight's episode of Kid Nation.

Why must fun always have consequences? Or, at least choosing fun over a more serious option? It doesn't always play that way in adulthood. Sometimes you can have fun without regret. Yeah, seriously.

But I'll never be a Dance Master, no matter how much fun it might be. There is something called reality which comes to mind.

(S01E09) Have children grown more apologetic since my days as a child? The kids of Kid Nation are often as cruel to each other as I recall but then they go and apologize. What's up with that?

Well, they don't always apologize. Feelings get hurt; tears get shed. Maybe it's cruel, but the kids will eventually find out being an adult isn't all it's cracked up to be at all times, either. I think I've seen adults apologize a lot less often than the kids on the show. Perhaps they have some sort of super-strain of kids there -- intelligent and mature beyond their years.

Some of them, anyway. And some of the solid ones are starting to crack a bit.

(S01E05) Is it me or was there really not much to get up in arms about this week on Kid Nation? No killed animals, no steer taunting, no religious rivalry, no bullying. What's this show coming to, eh?

Well, there was a smattering of bad behavior, but we're talking kids here. Some of these kids could be teensy adults, y'know. A lot of them certainly are more worldly than I was at their ages. And, the show reminded me that I should really study up on the chronological order of US Presidents. I definitely know the ones in my own lifetime, but I surely would put Taft in the wrong place.

It's the day after the big (and often controversial) Evel Dick Donato first place win on Big Brother 8, as well as his daughter Daniele's second place win. Together, they won $550,000. Not chump change for sure, but I'd like to see this show increase its grand prize to a million like other reality shows of its ilk.

Julie Chen interviewed both Dick and his loving Evel Spawn on The Early Show -- the CBS website has an extended version of that interview available online as well as the initial interview itself.

But the kicker is a set of video interviews with all of the houseguests posted by the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles. Those took place in the yard before the wrap party and include such treasures as Amber telling us she taught America it's okay to cry. Yeah, right. [A tip of the hat to commenter OrkMommy for the link to the CBS backyard interviews!]

(S08E31) Possibly the most controversial season of Big Brother is winding down, going out as controversial as it came in this year. We've had a rollercoaster ride with the houseguests this season.

And, as tonight's three-part competition for Head of House was fought out by the remaining three houseguests -- Evel Dick, Daniele, and Zach -- the controversy just kept coming at us.

We last left them in the backyard, standing on carrot-stumps, jumping a bunny. Of course, there has been a lot of talk about the show jumping the shark this season, but that's a whole 'nuther story.

Tonight on the live Big Brother 8 eviction show, we'll see the final part of the three-part Head of House competition. Wait? Only the final part? Well, we'll see all three parts, but only the last part will be live. The first two rounds have been done already.

In non-spoiler feeds news, last night was the Howie Gordon and Kaysar Ridha chat on Real.com, coming at us through camera four on the feeds. Howie is still loud and carried his light saber.

What? You want to know who won competitions, not old BB6 recycled? Read on after the jump for severe show spoilers!

Now, don't laugh at me. I'm sensitive, y'know. Not only that, but I've been up all night. Someone has to watch the Head of House endurance comps at the Big Brother 8 house! Someone has to report back to you!

I knew the job was dangerous when I took it. So I settled back with a four-pack of Trader Joe's Espresso soda and unhealthy snack foods. I like to think of it as my own endurance competition. I will be the Head of House!

But if you want to know who won part one (no, it wasn't me), read on past the jump for the skinny. Severe show spoilers ahead!

Psst. Hey, you over there. Yeah, I mean you. Don't you want to know why Daniele Donato of Big Brother 8 is smiling? Perhaps she's smiling while saying "this sucks" and "I hate these people" through clenched teeth.

That's a possibility, you know. After all, we're talking about Daniele whose mantra is "this sucks." Perhaps she'll reach nirvana and inner peace if she chants it enough. Maybe she'll have an epiphany one day and solve the world's ills. Could she possibly be a shiny happy people in disguise?

Then again, the real probability behind all of this is that I've managed to waste enough space to avoid spoilers on the front page. Read on for spoilers for the Tuesday live show!

It's getting down to the wire. The Big Brother 8 house has the final four players, to go down to the final three on Tuesday evening. We have a handful of houseguests left and only a handful of shows left, too. But I have hours ahead of me. After all, I'm a live feeds hound. I'm not proud.

Right now I know the new Head of House, played out in a competition after the last televised show. I know that person's nominations. I know the Power of Veto winner. Heck, I know who's going home Tuesday night.

I'll sell you the information.

Er, okay. For extreme show spoilers for both the Sunday and Tuesday night shows, read on past the jump!

Inside the Big Brother 8 house, the second Head of Household competition has been completed -- remember, Evel Dick won the first one shown on the live double eviction show Thursday night. It was a short reign, with the second comp starting pretty much as the show ended here on the East Coast.

The new Head of House has made nominations for the next eviction. No, really. Would I just be telling you a spool of lies? I wouldn't do that to you, I swear on the life of my first (now long deceased) pet!

For severe show spoilers, read on past the jump.

So, did you watch that whirlwind Big Brother 8 show last night? Did you get dizzy? That was some action-packed hour of reality television! Both Eric and Jessica were sent packing within the hour. Well, actually Jameka packed Eric's things for him in the wee hours after the show, but he was out the door.

While the show ended with the Power of Veto competition, guess what?

You've got it. The second Head of House competition followed the live show last night. While the feeds blocked it, we know the results. Don't you want to know who's currently the Head of House? Read on for severe show spoilers!

Are you ready for the double eviction on Big Brother 8 tonight? Well, I'll let you in on something which isn't truly a spoiler -- the houseguests aren't ready! They think tonight is going to be like every other Thursday live eviction show. That should make for some excitement, right?

Who will go home tonight? I think I might know that one, at least in the first eviction. What did Janelle have to say about Jen and the sequester house? I've got that for you, too.

After the jump, of course. Beware -- there will be spoilers ahead!

You may be thinking I've been errant in my duties here. You know, reporting the live feeds events from inside the Big Brother 8 house. I haven't been, not really. It's hard to think of enough words to describe boredom for an article a day this week.

But there is some non-spoiler feed news I must share -- tonight, at 9 PM ET, Janelle from BB6 and All-Stars, will be hosting a video chat via the live feeds. I've confirmed this through the Real.com SuperPass page and will be tuning in to see what happens.

For show spoilers, read on past the jump!