Watching Reality TV

As always, we’ve got recaps first for those of you who need a little “catching up”.

• Big Brother Craze
• TV Squad
• Television without Pity
• CBS.com’s recap and full episode video

You’ve gotta admit one thing, love them or hate them, the Donato’s have been playing a very smart game.  If they do happen to make it to the final four, they’ll have earned it.   I happen to agree with Jameka, that Zach should have nominated Dick and Daniele for a smarter strategic move.  Because they are HARD players.  But… it is what it is.  Jameka and Jessica commiserate their fates together.  The best scenario right now is Eric winning POV and taking Jessica down.  Then Zach would have to put up Dick or Daniele and everyone would claw themselves to vote one of them out.  Ta da!  But because that would be the good thing to happen, you know it won’t.

Meanwhile, Zach and Daniele pat themselves on the back over the nominations.  GAH.   Okay, being smart is one thing.  But being self-congratulatory and smug is pretty tasteless. Boo.  Eric, however, feels enormously responsible because he feels he pressured her to make nominations that she didn’t want to and now those nominations have put her at risk.  He is literally near tears.  And yeah, that has a little to do with her position, but it’s not his fault Zach is a dingus and Daniele and Dick are conniving bastards.

Cut to “happier” times.  The houseguests are gossiping over dinner and Jessica tells a silly little story about wanting to be the first female president or a waitress.  Of course, then Daniele is insulted by the insinuation that being a waitress isn’t a noble career.  Sometimes, I think Daniele is better off when she keeps her mouth shut.  Dick calls her on it and she proceeds to get pissy (as usual).  I’m with Dick on his frustration here.  She’s kind of proven herself to be a stuck up, selfish, little brat at times, hasn’t she?  She’s really disrespectful to Dick, and he’s been going out of his way to be decent to her. Which is to say a lot, when you’re talking about Dick.

Here’s the veto competition!  Janelle sneaks into the backyard while everyone is sleeping and then Zach wakes them all up.  Everyone’s playing, so that’s all good.  It’s all pink and barf barf barf.  I used to like Janelle, but all-stars changed my opinion of her.  Anyhow, Eric makes a comment about how a picture of Janelle looks like Miss Piggy before knowing that Janelle was standing behind the display.  Doh!  But it was a pretty mild comment and not made in malice or anything.   Anyhow, the competition is a picture scramble sort of thing and blah blah, boring.  I do have to say, Dick flirting with Janelle was pretty gag-inducing.  GAG.  Actually, both Dick and Daniele’s slobbering over Janelle was pretty embarrassing.  Blah blah blah… Daniele won.  BOO!  CBS, you suck.

Yeah, getting SUPER tired of Daniele pretending like Zach is a BFF simply because he’s HoH and is in a position to keep her secure this week.  Plus, you know, he’s a pawn and they can play him like a fiddle if they want to.  Jessica is pretty depressed.  Actually, make that pissed.  She’s so mad she’s not very interested in talking to Eric who feels so bad and vows to keep her safe.  She gives him a pretty cool shoulder which I think is pretty stinky but what do I know?  Cut to Dick gushing over Janelle.  YIKES.  This really cements my opinion of Janelle, if you ask me.   GEEZUS.

Dick assures Eric in the hot tub that Jessica will be safe and Eric is encouraged.  Of course, Dick is feeding him a total LINE and Jessica is as good as gone at this point.  They’re just stringing her along and plan to vote her out, cutting Jameka a deal at the last minute.  Remember what I said about conniving?  Meanwhile, Eric tries to convince Jessica that she’s safe.  She wisely doesn’t quite believe him.  But still, she needs to stop taking this all out on Eric.  Yeah, he deserves a little blame but GOD, buck up for Pete’s sake!  She keeps this up and I’ll want her to go.

Eric gets his America’s Player task, he has to mimic… DICK!  Of course.  Who else is there, really?  So Eric goes right to work on mimicking Dick.   Luckily, Dick takes it pretty well and enjoys the joke.  Eric meanwhile hopes for a “shared moment of hilarity” to bring them closer together.  Err… right.  So we’re treated to three separate rounds of Eric copying Dick.  My favorite was the cereal moment.  The flinging of the cereal was pretty classic.  So it’s safe to say that Eric’s task was completed.  Good job, Eric.  The show needed that levity right about now.

Daniele thinks that Eric’s game has been deceitful, whereas they’ve played a much cleaner game.  ‘Scuse me??   HA!  Of course, their big motivation here is jury votes and they don’t want people to be mad at them.  So if they can get Eric and Jessica out without making them mad, mores the better, right?  UGH.  They seem to think if Jessica is gone and they only have to compete against Eric for HoH, that he’ll be too distraught to compete properly and they’ll get it easy.  You know, that or it pisses him off and he’s a man on fire.  Ya know.  Take your pick.  Still, I think at this point it’s fairly unlikely that Eric will win this game.  Even if he makes it to the final two.  He’s made far too many enemies in this game.  But don’t feel too bad for him.  He’s made a good chunk of change just by being America’s Player so he won’t go home empty handed by any means.

GAH, Jessica says she’d be very happy if the veto was used on her and Eric was put up on the block.  SERIOUSLY?  This girl is pretty selfish, no?  Am I imagining that?  So what does Daniele do?  She doesn’t use it.  Big shock there.  Jameka still really wants to stay.  Jessica feel unsure (and biting the hand that feeds you isn’t probably your best bet, dear).  So what is America going to do?  Are we going to make Eric vote out Jessica or we gonna give the guy a break and pick Jameka?  GIVE HIM A BREAK.  For the love of God, give him a break.