Watching Reality TV

Welcome to another installment of the “Roundup“!  I trust you all had a good weekend.  I just recently switched television providers and now have access to the Game Show Network which provides me with LOTS of reality TV reruns.  I’m never at a loss for something to watch!  But, I’m sure you want todays news so here goes:

• “Big Brother 8″s Eric and Jessica are still together, according to an article over at reality blurred.   Right now, it’s a long distance relationship as Jessica finishes up college in Kansas but they still get together for some weekends and for holidays and have plans to reevaluate things once Jessica is “free”.  Apparently, fans are very happy when they see them out and about together.  Sounds as if that’s going to continue, at least for a while.  I hope so, I know those long distance relationships can be tough.  Best of luck to both of them in the future!
• Perhaps you’ve heard that since “Viva Laughlin” was canceled, that “Amazing Race 12″ was bumped up from a mid-winter start to a premiere on November 4 (that’s next Sunday, to you and me).  This is fantastic news for Race fans out there like myself.  And, CBS has recently revealed the identities of the teams that will be racing.  We’re looking at older teams than we saw back in “AR 10″ (before the all-star version), with the average age being 32.  Seeing as how I’m knocking on 32’s door, I don’t think it’s THAT old, but these reality shows have been casting a lot of young people lately so it’s nice to see more “contemporaries”.  Actually, I don’t care how old they are, I just want wait to watch it.  I hope this season lives up to the hype!

That’s all I have time for today.  Don’t forget to watch “DWTS” tonight, we have another round of competition to look forward to!

Yep, it’s that time again.  Did everyone have a good weekend?

• First off, we’ve got the revelation that Heather Mills competed in last season’s “Dancing with the Stars” because there was a rumor she was already cast.  Not the other way around.   Apparently, when a British tabloid published a rumor that Heather Mills (as in the ex-Mrs. McCartney) was going to be on the next season of “Dancing with the Stars”, the executive producers thought it wasn’t a half bad idea and offered her a gig.  And she went for it!  Of course, we all know that I didn’t care for Ms. Mills one bit and I would have been happy had the executive producers not seen that tabloid article.  Still, it’s interesting to find out that that is how she got on the show.
• In other “DWTS” news (and not necessarily happy news at that), Samantha Harris is back on the show tonight after her maternity leave.  *sigh*  I don’t enjoy her, I just don’t.  I think she’s too forced.  However, the MSNBC article says it is her clumsiness with the microphone that makes her endearing.  Uhm.  If you say so.
• The “American Idol” road tour has been fined for violating child labor laws.  Apparently, letting underage teenagers perform without the proper permits is against the law.  The tour was fined $5,000 for 16 violations and is agreeing to pay up with no contest.  You just know this is Sanjaya’s fault.  Okay, maybe winner Jordin Sparks has something to do with it too but I just love to blame Sanjaya.
• We’ve got some early and not so savory news for “Big Brother” fans out there:  According to a recent interview with ex-houseguest Jessica, Eric was told by the producers NOT to use the power of veto, keeping Dick and Daniele in the house when Jessica would have put one of them up for a certain eviction.  Jessica says that Eric was told, ‘Do not use it. You don’t have a choice. You are to keep nominations the same.’  I’m assuming this is something that Eric confided in Jessica since the show has ended.  You know, all I can say is GAH.

That’s all for now because now I’m all disgusted and stuff.  Stupid “Big Brother” producers… grumble.

If you missed it, you probably don’t care.  But just in case, here are the recaps!

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

Previously, we saw exactly how Dick and Daniele took over the house, starting with no one being able to evict either one of them early on like they should have.  Dangit.  Shoot, we’re all here to see the reveal of “America’s Player” anyhow, not who wins.  Right?

The jury had a rough choice.  We get to see them gather in sequester to debate who they think should win.  But first, who will be the final jury member?  They ponder it and while Jen is espousing how much she hates Dick, Zach shows up.  Everyone’s pretty bummed.  They’re all pretty devastated by the choice.  Eric learns he needs to campaign for Dick, which is little surprise.  But the jury really seems to detest the idea of giving Dick the reward, especially Dustin and Zach.  Eric meanwhile defends Dick’s (somewhat underhanded) tactics, that nasty as they were, they worked.  And he wasn’t sniveling, at least.   Eric starts making some sense to them, and they wonder if they can get past Dick’s deplorable personality to the fact that he probably deserves to win.  And how fierce a competitor was Daniele?  She was on it regarding vetos and HoH, but then so was Dick.  Jessica doesn’t see her being any better than her dad at the game.  It’s a pretty interesting discussion with good points all around.  Dustin makes me chortle by saying “it’s either Evil or Evil Spawn.”  Too right.

Now we get to see the jurors give their big questions to the Donatos and Dustin goes first.  I’d go through the answers but… the recaps sum it up much better than I could and the answers aren’t much different than you’d expect them to be.  Blah blah blah.  Interesting is that neither feel the express need to kiss any jury butt.  But I think that underlines that these two full intend to share the winnings with each other (even though they’re not supposed to) and even they could care less which one of them wins.  BOO!  But at least Dick is honest.  Zach actually asked a pretty interesting question and got some interesting answers.  Daniele tries to be the biggest diplomat of the two but even then… it’s a tough call.  What’s fun is that Daniele finds something to somehow be pissed at Dick about regarding his speech to the jury and he’s justifiably annoyed.  There’s just no winning with that girl, is there?

And now?  The JURY!  Which means we’ll get the big reveal, FINALLY.  At least I think so.  Julie makes some noises about a final word before voting so we’ll see.  Maybe they’ll wait until the winner has been “crowned”.  Damnit.  Back to the show!  (we had commercials)  Blah blah about how it’s been in the house.  Let’s move on.  Let’s VOTE.  Each juror gives a little “reasoning” before they insert their key matching who they would like to win.  More of a “statement” actually.  Some are snarky, some are congratulatory.  Eric goes first, then Jameka, Dustin, Jen, then Zach, Amber and finally Jessica.  But before we get to see the votes, we have more commercials!  Wee!

But wait!  First we have to speak to Dick and Daniele’s family, in the person of Vincent (son and brother) and Charlotte (mother and grandmother).  And then we get to speak briefly to the first five evicted houseguests and they all have pretty trite things to say.  YAWN.  Let’s do something interesting, shall we?  PLEASE?  Ah yes, time to reveal “the big secret”.  Yay!   HEE!  Julie opens it up and shows the video of Eric explaining himself as “America’s Player”.  Dustin takes the news very well, considering.  Everyone looks shocked, but no one looks too upset, I think.  What did Jessica think?  She’s surprised, but I don’t think she’s mad.  She says she’s not mad at least.  What did Dick and Daniele think?  Dick specifically, since it was America’s vote that kept him in the house.  Daniele thinks it’s hilarious so maybe she doesn’t hold the vote against Nick against him?  And Dustin?  He thinks it’s fabulous even though it was deadly to him.  And Jen?  She now realizes that America was childish, not Dick (or Eric).  Ha!  Okay, she’s mildly amusing.

Okay, next the votes will be revealed!  Wee! Cut to the audience where we get a hysterical shot of a guy yawning.  I know, dude.  I know.   So the results are: Eric=Dick.  Jameka=Daniele.  Dustin=Dick.  Jen=Daniele.  Zach=Dick.  Amber=Dick. At this point, he is the winner.  So what is Jessica’s vote?  Dude, I wanna know!  Cuz I’m sure as hell not surprised by Dick winning.  So basically, AMERICA, this is all on you for picking to boot Dustin in week 6.  Ya’ll suck.  Everyone congratulates Dick and it’s basically just a massive throng.  More after the break.

Julie thankfully reveals that Jessica voted for Dick.  So she enjoyed him more in the house (based on her comments) than Daniele!  Too funny.  It doesn’t matter, Daniele says and I couldn’t agree more.

First off, we have our recaps.  You know it!

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

Remember where we left off, with the three remaining houseguests clinging to their keys in an endurance competition?  That’s where we pick up again.  It looks brutal.  Daniele starts freezing as soon as the water is turned on, but to her credit she gave it a good go.  Every now and then, the water would turn out, they’d get mud spat at them and then a clodu of dust would engulf them.  FUN!  Then back to more water.  Daniele starts shivering so hard I think she’s going to vibrate clean off her carrot there.  Is it possible that I almost feel bad for her?  But then she tells Dick to distract Zach and he starts to berate Zach.  Zach handily ignores him.  Is that Dick’s only weapon? Pissing people off? Dick starts getting pissed that Zach is STILL ignoring him.  Drives him nuts.  LOL.  Back to shivering Daniele.  Dick does look concerned for her, to his credit.  Then… she falls off.  Wrapped in a towel, she continues to sob.  Girl sounds like she’s having a nervous breakdown.

Zach stops ignoring Zach so much and starts laughing at him.  Actually, no, he’s IMITATING him.  Ha!  Dick looks annoyed so point goes to Zach on that.  Daniele emerges wrapped in a blanket to watch the carnage.  They’re five hours in, and I’m amazed they’re both making it this far.  Dick looks more worse for the wear than Zach does, but they have both got to be feeling it.  Seven hours in, Dick is failing.  Daniele obviously feels bad for him.  She tries to pep talk him into not quitting.  Zach is starting to shake too, but I doubt he’s feeling as bad as Dick.  Okay, I hate to admit, but he’s getting my respect here.  Cuz this whole challenge looks like it sucks hard.  She tells him it’s okay.  She’s reassuring him.  So at 7 hours and 32 minutes he quits.  Poor guy looks whipped.  And Zach wins round one.

We get right back into round two, which stars Dick and Daniele.  Whoever wins this round will face off in round 3 with Zach.  Daniele comes out in a bikini so this involves yet more water.  It’s underwater puzzle solving!  Wee!  I think Daniele has got to have an advantage at this one, but time will tell.  She’s first and apparently she isn’t very good at puzzles like this.  Doh!  Now it’s Dick’s turn.  He checks to make sure the water is warm this time.  Heh.  As sore as he must be, he gets right to work.  He does surprisingly well.  And from the editing, it looks like he does it quick too.  Quick enough to beat his daughter?  He sure does!  He did it in almost half the time that Daniele did.  So he’ll be facing off against Zach in round 3.

Zach remarks how amazing it would be to beat Dick in a mental challenge.  Uh, yeah.  It would be amazing because I don’t think Zach stands too much chance here.  And we cut to the live portion of the show.  Julie asks them some pathetic questions… blah blah blah.  Yes, let’s get on with it.  But first?  Another peek at the jury house!  Wee! (after the break, that is)

Eric and Jessica are still flirting pretty hardcore.  Dustin and Amber remark on how goofy they are together, they’re so in love.  Then, we get to see Jameka enter the jury house.   Everyone is upset to see Jameka because they know this means Dick and Daniele are both back there still.  Eric was not surprised at all.  Dustin, speaking of Eric, mentions that Jessica and Eric are making up for lost time (and enjoying a video free environment) and the walls are thin.  Hmm!  We get to see Jameka’s DVD and Zach’s big power move.  Everyone’s pretty impressed.

So who will be in the final two?  Round three will decide that.   They’re quizzed about things the houseguests have said after eviction.  So each contestant has to basically guess, based on what they know about them.  (The question about Jen cracked me up, of course it was “herself”!)  Dick got a leg up early in the competition and held onto that lead and won the shebang.  He’s the new HoH.  The Donatos did it.  Daaaang.  It’s all well and good, but how is this going to make a two hour finale on Sunday at all interesting?  Either way, no matter who actually wins it, they’ll both have the money.  Boo.

Zach actually asks the Donatos to invest in his inventions?  What?  Did that make sense to anyone else?  So predictably, Dick boots Zach from the house, leaving a Donato Ruled Household.  They’re ecstatic, Zach is pragmatic.  He’s visibly relieved to be out of there, as I would be too.  Zach admits to riding coattails.  And that’s why he’s out right now.  Better that he is, I’m sure, because riding coattails is to be frowned upon.  So, all that’s left now is to tell Eric who he should vote for to win Big Brother (and campaign for in the jury house).  Tough choice.

Who do I think will or should win?  I guess Dick.  I mean, it’s a tough call.  But I just don’t see rewarding Daniele’s bratty behavior, you know?  At any rate, I hope to get up my thoughts on the finale Monday morning, but I’m going to be out of town and actually at a wedding during the finale so we’ll see how it goes.  Regardless, it’s been an interesting season, hasn’t it?

You know what’s first!  It’s the recaps!  Catch up at these lovely sites:

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

So you know what has happened since we last saw our favorite houseguests?  NOTHING.  Not a damned thing.  Okay, well, that’s a lie.  They had the veto competition.  But we saw that coming a mile away and the outcome was less than surprising.  So yeah.  Gee, maybe we could have avoided a completely boring final four if the Donatos had just kept Eric and Jessica.  Dumbasses.  Well, I guess you can’t blame them for wanting to completely cream the competition instead of winning out of merit, huh? After all, that $500,000 is looking pretty tasty right about now.

As expected, the Donatos had little shit fits over being nominated.  The Donatos are smug regarding Zach’s promise to take them down.  It’s true, because it is too late to take them down.  But their attitudes are pretty awful.  Zach is proud of finally having the guts to take them out.  Yeah, but it’s TOO LATE.  What about last week when he was HoH?  Why didn’t he put them up then?  They would have been TOAST.  But no.  Too little, way too late.  So while the smugness drives me nuts, it’s true.  And I hate that it’s true.

Jameka is happy to be “saved” but she has to know that it all hinges on Veto.  Because her butt isn’t safe yet.  I’d say the chances are 50/50, but even judging from Zach’s decent showing of late, I doubt they can outplay the Donatos.  Admiring Zach’s spirit though.  You go boy!  We’ll warm a spot in the jury house just for you!  sigh

Yay!  We get a peek in at the jury house!  I’ve been waiting for this.  We get to see the various jury members arrive, one by one starting with Dustin.  The house is NIIIIICE.  So sipping a martini, he watches Jen roll up and he laughs a good one.  Gah, it’s awful having to watch Jen again.  Luckily, it seemed like she was on good behavior.  Then Amber arrived.  Dustin was horrified to see her.  Cue the Wahmber.  Damn, haven’t missed that either.  Jessica shows up and I’m wondering where Eric is.  Did they not arrive together?  Bummer.  But wait, there’s Eric!  And everyone seems shocked as hell to see him, especially Jessica.  Daaaaang.  She’s happy to see him in the jury house though, because they get to hang out together again.  Eric shows them a little video of how he got evicted.  And he’s very excited to be able to reveal he was America’s Player, at the finale I’m supposing.   Obviously, they’re hoping Jameka is in the final two.  Right.  Don’t count on it.   Aww, that was cool, getting to see them all.

Zach and Jameka are sweating the veto.  Dick refers to them as “idiots”, which again is pretty much true, but STILL.  Meanwhile, Zach and Jameka are praying.  Which is a sure fire sign that they’ll fail.  I’ve seen this before in these shows.  Nothing against praying, mind you.  But this doesn’t bode well for our “good guys”.  The competition starts and it goes about as you’d expect it to.  Jameka had the right idea but was more focused on accuracy than doing it quickly.  Zach was clueless and had no idea what he was doing for the first few minutes.  Dick finished first but got one wrong.  Daniele had the best strategy and… she got it right.  Done.  She’s got veto.  BOO!  So yeah, writing is on the wall.  She starts screaming like a horror movie victim, I swear to you.  Jameka knows she’s gone.  GOD.

God, how lame can you get?  I guess the only thing this show has going for it now is watching the jury rip into these fools at the final two.   That should be fun.  Dick is pretty much being a… dick.  He’s basically stuffing everything Zach ever said to him back in his face.  And Zach would be golden, except that he DR’s that he’s smarter than Dick and that his mind is “like a Samurai sword.”  Oy.  Damn.  This is agony.  CBS, have mercy.

Cut to the live show, and not a moment too soon.  Blah blah blah.  Duh.  Daniele takes Dick off, since DUH she’s totally safe anyhow.  It was just ceremonious.  So Jameka is up on the block.  And we go right into eviction!  No point in delaying the inevitable.  This has been a dull, dull week already.  And guess who’s going home?  Guess!  I bet you can’t guess.  Dur.  Bye, Jameka.  You were a good person.  A bad player, as it turns out, but a good person.  She deserves, at the very least, to be delivered from the Donatos presence if nothing else.

Jameka almost looks relieved to be out of there.  She’s full of cleansing sighs and smiles.  I would be too, come to think of it.  She interviews predictably with Julie and I’m already wondering what the jury’s reaction will be when she shows up on their doorstep.  The taped “goodbyes” are… YAWN.  Do I smell jury pandering?

I have a feeling that Zach in the house is like leaving a soft, cuddly bunny rabbit among a pack of wolves.  Next up?  HoH challenge!  And it’s endurance in “round 1″, unsurprisingly.  So we fade out on the remaining houseguests clinging to their keys.  I want to wish Zach the best, but I don’t know.  I just don’t know.

(I would have spoken about “The Biggest Loser” tonight as well, but I had to record it because of “Big Brother”. Look back for my impressions and thoughts on the premiere in tomorrow’s post after I’ve had a chance to watch it.) 

Once again, we have recaps for thems that missed it:

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

Now, onto the show.  Remember how Dick and Daniele were big ol’ traitors?  Yeah, those were good times.  I’m pretty sick that Zach and Jameka are part of the final four.  That ain’t right, ya’ll.  It’s confirmed that Dick did give Jameka “the deal” and she took it.  Obviously, according to everything that happened on Thursday.  Oh, it’s diabolical to be sure.  And I suppose it’s strategic gameplay but I’m just not sure how it was the best move to make, you know?  But Dick and Daniele are big time hopped up on their power and success.  And I don’t see their “high” ending until they’re both in the final two.  Because you know they’ll get there.  I mean, I suppose Zach could squeak in there somehow, but… I don’t know.  BAH.  I’m just disgusted.

So Daniele must be so happy now that she finally got Eric out.  She never “forgave” him for evicting Nick.  Puh-lease.  So everyone stands around and congratulates themselves on being the final four.  Jameka and Zach shouldn’t take a lick of credit for that, I swear to you.  Talk about coat-tails.  Anyhow, Dick and Daniele immediately start conspiring to vote Zach out as soon as possible.  Daniele even goes so far as to compare Zach to “that guy who calls and you don’t answer and you listen to his voicemail”.  NICE.  God, what a bitch.

Time for the HoH competition!  Yep, another one.  It’s a “memory” sort of challenge regarding 14 pictures the HG’s checked out on the memory wall.  Everyone pretty much played it with everything they had.   And then Zach won.   Here’s his chance to shake things up!  Bad news is: It’s a little too late for that.  Oh well, better luck next time!  Yuck, yuck, yuck.

Daniele is desperately depressed that she lost the veto.  And for some reason, she thinks they should have kept Amber.  I guess because then Zach would have been gone?  But Eric would have had another ally.  She’s SUCH a whiner.  Dude, and she needs her roots done too.  Just sayin’.

Who wants to see Zach’s HoH room??  Not me.  But, dang it, I have to see it anyhow.  Daniele and Dick look annoyed with having to see his room and, you know, not HERS.  Boo.  I’m saying good on Zach.  I mean, he’s dumb as a post, yes.  But at this point he’s not Dick and Daniele and I sorta enjoy watching them squirm a little bit.  I do have to say that Jameka is definitely not deserving of Final 3 or Final 2.  Heck, not even Final 4. What has she done in this game?  NOTHING.  At least Zach has won some competitions.  Even if he is only here because he was largely inoffensive and a brainless toadie.

Daniele campaigns for her dad and herself in Zach’s new room.  Unfortunately, her arguments pretty much fall on deaf ears.  Because her insistence that no one could win against Dick in the final 2 is pretty laughable.  I mean, Zach, yes.  But NO ONE?  I doubt that.  I think Jameka could.  I think Daniele could.   She insists also that everyone in the house wanted to evict him but it was her and Dick that saved him.  He complains about being an outcast, how no one was his friend.  Boo hoo.  Daniele thinks it’s incredulous that he thinks he could win the game.  I think it’s amazing that she’s so stuck up.  So there you have it.  She’s mad because he’s being “smug” (like anyone else in the house maybe?) and she hates him SO MUCH right now.  Dick makes some remarks about how stupid he is and while I agree, it’s pretty tasteless when you’re saying it just because someone is out maneuvering you.

Honestly, I think this is Zach’s best move.  It’s not going to WORK (unless the skies open up and Jameka wins a freaking POV competition for a change), but it’s his best move.  Because I don’t think it was guaranteed that Dick and Daniele would take him to the final 3.  I think they already had that promised to Jameka.  And, uh hello, weren’t they talking about getting rid of Zach just before the HoH competition?  So whatever.  Good on you, Zach.  You’re redeemed somewhat in my eyes.

So after much ado and little suspense (I mean, who didn’t see this coming??), the nomination ceremony starts and Jameka’s is the only key to be had.  Voila!  Dick and Daniele are on the block!  I don’t imagine they’ll both STAY on the block, but it was worth a shot.  Like I mentioned before, it’d be an act of god to have Jameka win POV.  Dick and Daniele are pretty pissed off to be nominated but they can’t have been surprised.  And they do deserve to be squirming a little bit at this point.  Even if they end up having the game sewn up, they deserve this right now.  Tune in Tuesday to see POV and eviction.  Wee!

Wow, talk about a lot of news! If you missed this most awesome night, check these recaps:

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

Buckle your seatbelts, everyone! Big Brother is in motion and it’s not going to stop until two people have left the building! I’m irrationally excited about this, even though my favorites look to be in dire jeopardy. So let’s get going, shall we? Dick starts off the duplicity by telling Jameka she’s going home this week, causing her to be rather upset in the DR later. She tells Jessica, who in turn tells Eric. They both feel pretty secure and why shouldn’t they? They’re allied with Dick and Daniele and have been told that the target is Jameka. ‘Nuff said, right? Alas, those Donato’s are tricky folks.

Eric’s task is to vote Jameka. Thank goodness. Eric asks Daniele point blank if Jessica is going home. Daniele point blank lies to his face. Because of course they want Eric to be blindsided by her departure so he cannot properly compete for HoH. GRR. So we get right into things and each nominee speaks their piece. Did Dick make the offer to Jameka? Did she take it? Hard to tell from her speech but I’ll say yes. Jessica is near tears during her speech, I think she knows. GAH. Eric votes first for Jameka and Dick and Daniele predictably vote for Jessica. BOO! Turds. So Jessica is being sent packing.

Yeah, see, no one looks surprised. Eric and Jessica share a big hug and I hear Eric say, “I’m sorry.” She hugs Jameka, she’s crying. Daniele and Dick have hidden themselves, along with Zach. TURDS! Don’t even say goodbye or anything! Eric is not surprised. Says he’s not upset, he understands. But he looks shaken. Jameka is crying. Eric kinda shames Daniele for not telling him when he asked. Good! He should! Julie asks some anti-Eric questions from Jessica which is sort of surprising. Who’s side are you on here, CBS? Jessica does say she loves Eric and her feelings are real. The goodbye messages are pretty good. Eric’s message is just gut-wrenching. Poor guy. Honestly, these two have risen to the top and will be favored, I’m pretty sure, once this is all over.

So the HoH competition begins. Only Dick, Daniele and Eric are competing since Jameka has one more week that she can’t compete. I wish the best for Eric but Dick wins out. Dangit. This is going from bad to worse isn’t it? At least he’s only HoH for like, 30 minutes. Ha! Or you know, until Sunday at the most. I think? Shoot, who knows. I give up. This whole next week’s schedule sorta has me confused so I might need a minute to figure it all out. Apparently, America wants Daniele to get nominated (you think so??), but like HELL Dick is going to put her up on the block. So yeah, whatever. We all know Jameka and Eric are going up. DUH.

We come back to a lot of whispering that of course no one can hear or understand. And as if it’s even a question about what Dick is going to do. Eric looks nervous, he knows what’s going to happen. Dick makes noises about how much this sucks and nominates Jameka and Eric. Ya think so?? It’s all “game”. Which, yeah, of course it is. Still sucks though. Veto is next! Wee! Shoot, that was a short segment there, wasn’t it? Back to commercials!

Blah blah, back to the show, time for veto competition! Jameka is disqualified but it appears it’s arguable whether she should have been or not. Zach wins veto and of course, everything will continue as planned. GAH. Why NOT keep Eric at this point? What threat is he without Jessica in the house? Against him in the final two, he’s not likely to be a risk. In fact, Dick would stand a chance against him and this is DICK we’re talking about. So taking out Eric is excessive in my opinion.

So will Zach use veto? NOPE! Shocker! See ya, Eric. Nice to know ya. Suckers. It’d serve them right if we ended up with Zach and Jameka as the final two. It totally would. And then I’d have to go shoot myself because OH MY GOD. So Jameka and Eric plead their cases and I’m more convinced than ever that Jameka took the Donato’s deal. Eric obviously feels the stink of Dick and Daniele’s betrayal. Zach votes Eric, Daniele votes Eric. SHOCKER. Boo. Ya’ll suck.

Eric gives Jameka a big hug and (wow) hugs and says farewell to everyone else too. Jameka looks like she feels a little shamed as Daniele hugs her and YEP, looks like she made a deal with the devil. And knows it too. Shoot, Eric didn’t even have time to pack his bags! Raw! Eric says he’s at peace with everything. Being America’s Player was tough on his strategy, because he would have chosen to do things differently. Amber and Dustin would have stayed longer, Dick and Daniele would have been gone. Oh, and Zach. Just shows that America is pretty stupid when it comes to BB strategy. He says he didn’t have a showmance, he had genuine feelings and that Jessica was a “perfect partner”. Good show, Eric. He got $40,000. Not too bad. BOO.

BOO!!! America, you all officially suck. If Zach wins Big Brother I’m gonna hurt someone.

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.

Recaps!  We got your recaps here!

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

So Zach won HoH.  At the absolute worst possible moment, he won it.  This is when I started to see everything slipping through my fingers.  My hopes of a JEDD final four were starting to vanish like a fart in the wind.  Because Zach has it in big time for Eric.  Ugh.   The HoH competition literally kicked everyone’s butts and they were sore for ages afterward.  I feel sore just watching them slide back and forth.  If they filled this little “beaker”, they got a phone call from home and Eric figured that since he was so far behind, that he’d go ahead and fill his.  Which was probably a smart move on his part.

Dick was worried because one hour before the live show he laid into Zach big time for conspiring to put Daniele up on the block and voting her off.  Well, basically for conspiring against Dick and Daniele both together.  As well he should be, now that the galump is HoH.  GAH.  Dick, as much as you wish you had won HoH instead, I bet the rest of America wishes it even more.  Even though you’re DICK, we still would rather you be HoH than him.  Am I wrong in this?  Is it only me that feels this way?

So Eric gives his phone call to Jessica.  Jessica is very happy about this and Daniele says to Eric regarding Jessica’s reaction: “I think she’s going to cry.”  Eric says, “I think I am too.”  Though for different reasons, I think!  He’s really upset about Zach being HoH because he knows that screws him and possibly Jessica to the wall.  Apparently the knowledge is that Zach will put up Jameka and Jessica.  Dick and Daniele are comforted by this, while Eric and Jessica are tormented by this.  Though I’m sure the real target, via backdoor, is Eric.  GAH.

Zach’s HoH room is about a joke.  And no one wanted to see it.  Because it’s ZACH.  And he’s HOH.  Not right.  No one is happy to see this guy is HoH.  NO ONE.  Daniele stays behind to get in his ear a little bit.  She figures she has a good in with this guy and is determined to use it.  A good move on her part, though not good for the JEDD alliance, I’m sure.

So Eric fesses up to Jessica that he was the “mystery” votes though he doesn’t let on WHY.  He even admits to doing the mustard on Jen’s shirt.  And he totally gets away with it with her.  She’s a little suspicious of him, but she has been all along so that’s no difference.  She still trusts him overall, so that’s a good thing.  They’re just too friggin’ cute together.  Jessica gets her phone call with her younger brother who is just back from Iraq.  She dissolves into tears almost instantly, she’s so happy to hear from him.  Aww.  You know, I didn’t like her at the beginning of this show, but she’s really grown on me.  She’s just too cute.

So Eric is charged with getting Jameka nominated.  A pretty easy task, considering I think Zach was already considering nominating her anyhow.  But in true Eric style, he works it.  Meanwhile, Daniele and Dick are conspiring to get Zach to put up Eric and Jessica so that one of them can go home and they won’t have any “blood on their hands”.  Sneaky.

So our next America’s Play thing is which houseguest should Eric “mimic”.  I can all but guarantee that America is going to choose Dick.  I don’t think this is in any way good for Eric in the game, as pissing off anyone at this point (especially Dick) is downright suicidal.  GAH.  Now, we’re finally to nominations.  Daniele’s smug behavior is starting to grate on my nerves.  Jessica and Eric are nervous, especially Jessica since she nominated him last week.  Zach is practically clueless about strategy at this point and is fumbling blindly in the dark.  So who does he nominate?  Jameka and Jessica.  BOO.  HISS.  Eric, poor guy, is DEVASTATED by the nomination.  It’s not entirely bad, I mean, they can vote out Jameka.  And at this point, I think Dick and Daniele would in order to avoid this “blood on their hands” thing.  But if POV is won and used and Eric goes up, then I think all bets are OFF.  So I’m gonna be praying for POV in the meantime, I don’t know about you.  GAH!

As usual, here are the recaps in case you missed last night’s show:

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

Tonight was full of eviction goodness.  Am I the only one tired of all the “catching up” we have to do each episode?  Gah.   Jessica is pretty upset that Eric didn’t use the Veto.  She’s actually nearly crying.  Then Amber shows up and starts her waterworks almost instantly.  Amber’s argument is pretty flimsy.  Eric is pretty truthful when saying he hasn’t decided if he’s voting out Amber or not.  Cuz you know, America hasn’t told him yet.  And for some reason, Zach is hardcore campaigning to get… second place?  What the f?  This guy is dumber than a bag of hammers.  Amber and Jameka are turning up the heat big time on Eric.  These so-called “good girls” are pulling out all the stops and half-truths they can come up with to try to turn her against him.  Which… GRR.  It’d be one thing if what they were saying were true but it’s not.  Not when it comes to Jessica, at least.  This is pretty shoddy strategizing, and Jessica is foolish to even entertain the notions.  Amber goes right to work on Daniele, swearing on her daughter’s life again, and claims she’s as close to Daniele as anyone in the house (including Jameka!).   Desperation smells pretty bad, ya’ll.

America has chosen (big shock) Amber for Eric to get evicted.  Eric tries to mend fences with Jessica.  He wants to know what Jameka and Amber were talking to her about.  She eventually fesses up on their scheming against him and he’s understandably miffed.  He literally tries to talk her down from her doubts.   I love how Dick tells Jessica and Eric about Zach’s master plan to get HoH (riiiiight), put up Jameka and Jessica and backdoor Eric.  Eric then fills Dick in on Zach’s trying to get Jessica to backdoor Dick or Daniele.  Are they getting it now?  Do they realize that these people are DESPERATE to save themselves and will say anything?

Julie interviews the houseguests for a little while, including asking why Dick spits so much.  Dick has no good answer, he just does it.  Makes sense, I guess.  For whatever reason, we hear from Jameka’s pastor.  Her pastor.  And she’s not even nominated this week.  So… what?   We also hear from her sister.  The expected noises are heard and blah blah blah, good person.  Yawn.

Cut to Eric using his charm on Jessica and we hear from Eric’s brother who has been devoted to watching Eric play this summer.  And the truth comes out about Eric’s so-called “girlfriend”.  This girl, Cheryl, is apparently a girl he was on again and off again with four years.  Apparently they were “off again” and before the show he tried to get back with Cheryl but she wouldn’t have him.  Cut to Cheryl talking about how much she’s missing Eric and cheering for him and BAAARRRFF!  Yeah, I see the writing on the wall here.  This Cheryl is hoping to ride his coattails here somehow and I think that’s pretty pathetic.  Julie interviews Jessica and we get the expected answers.  Coming up… the live eviction!

Each nominee gets their final say.  I must say that Zach is getting more and more on my nerves.  He such a putz.  Amber says she’s going to try not to cry and what does she do?  She CRIES.  I’m so done with her.  Boo!  Hiss!  Yeah, she’s gone.  Jameka looks pretty shaken up, which is odd for her.  She must know Amber is dust.  Eric has earned $30,000 so far!  Woo!  So Amber is told the “bad” news and sent packing.   Jameka is devastated but the rest of them look vaguely relieved.  No more Wahmber!  This is a GREAT thing!  LOL, Amber thinks she was evicted because no one wanted to be against her in the final 2.  WHAT?  Oh, her delusions are what I’m going to miss most.  She blames Eric most, which she probably should but not for the reasons she thinks.

The HoH competition is basically set up so that whoever really wants HoH the most can probably win it fairly easily.  Think Jen’s miraculous win in week two. It’s a long competition, so the show ends before the HoH has been decided.  Through the miracle of the internet (and the beauty of the site that is Big Brother Craze), I know who won, and you can too!  If you want to know, click over and check out the spoilery goodness!

As always, we start with the recaps. Let the recapping commence!

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

And now… what did I think? Well… Zach appears pretty bitter about his nomination which doesn’t wear well on him at all. Amber is predictably distraught and calling upon God’s power to save her. One thing I’ll be happy about after Thursday’s show is that I won’t ever have to watch her cry again. PRAISE JESUS! Daniele talks up Zach about how being nominated isn’t the end of the world. He’s not the smartest player to ever play the game by far here. The shower gargling? YIKES. Everyone keeps acting like these nominations are so earth-shattering but I think they’re pretty tame, don’t you? Jameka, widen your perspective just a touch please. For whatever reason, Amber believes she’s a pawn instead of a real target. Yeah… no.

Cut to footage of Eric and Jessica being cute. That’s always welcome when sandwiched in between footage of Amber and Jameka crying to God. Why she’s praying in Jessica’s HoH room, I have NO idea. Of course, Jessica comes in and is all confused about what in the heck Jameka is doing. I’d be like, “Go pray in your own room, girl.” Oh, and Jessica is “way into church, too”. Seriously, ya’ll! It’s true! Cheerleaders for Jesus!

Zach finally has a talk with Jessica, an opportunity to vent. And takes the chance to put in a few words against Dick and Daniele while he’s at it! Let’s backdoor them! Yeah! Jessica makes noises but you can tell she’s not feeling it. Zach, how have you been in this house THIS long with such a bad game?? Oh and I love Jessica’s “I’m too pretty to work” t-shirt. I think I need one of those.

It is finally revealed what Amber and Daniele got to do last week when they left the house. Wee! I’d report what happened but I think I slipped into a coma during that whole segment so I’ve got nothing. Daniele was upset she didn’t get to party with Nick, that’s all I know. Meanwhile, Eric is taking extra care of his breath with some Listerine. He’s hoping for some hot kissing action with Jessica, sounds like! Cue the cheesy music! Cue the lights! Cue the kissing! (Cue my gag reflex.) As Jessica said, “It’s about time!”

The players for the Veto competition are: Daniele, Zach, Jessica, Eric (thanks to Zach’s houseguest choice!), Amber and Jameka. Wee! I’m just glad that Eric finally gets to play for a freaking change. Dick is going to host the game (good choice there). Zach talks up Eric about backdooring Dick or Daniele. And much like Jessica, he makes the proper noises but yeah, no. The backyard is done up big time as a spooky swamp/forest. They need to feed a creepy looking “cat” rats that are hidden here and there throughout the yard. Fun! The long and short of it, Eric won! Yay, Eric! So what are they going to do? Is a Donato going to be backdoored? Oh the drama! In other news, sounds like the Donato’s want to get Jessica out. Huh?

So Eric gets his next task and he’s assigned “Jessica”! Big freakin’ shock. Talk about easy. Even he was expecting Dick to be the one he’d have to kiss. He got in a “peck” which given the gargling mouthwash he’d just injested, was kinda a letdown. BB even said the task was completed, but BARELY. Amber comes to the HoH and tearfully pleads her case. Wah wah wah. Go home already! Jessica and Eric discuss the benefits of putting up Dick or Daniele. Yeah, I can see how it’d be a good strategy this week. But… I don’t know. Will keeping the nominations change Dick and Daniele’s opinion of Jessica? Decisions, decisions.

So we get back to the POV ceremony. Jessica made it sound as though she’d rather Eric used the power of veto, perhaps to take off Amber? Eric, however, felt that America had made a decision about Amber by asking him to get her nominated so he didn’t want to change that. So as a result, he didn’t use the power of veto. Smart move? Or stupid one? Jessica seems okay with his choice. Dick and Daniele looked thrilled. Amber and Zach are pissed. Amber thinks he’s evil with no soul. Whatever, Wahmber. You’re so going home. And I don’t know if I’d take strategy tips from Zach, but whatever. Was it a smart move? I don’t know. You don’t want a situation where someone like Jameka, Amber or Zach wins Big Brother. I’d rather it be Dick or Daniele than them. I truly think the final four will be the Donato’s and Jessica and Eric. As of now, doesn’t look like that’s going to change any. We’ll have to see who wins HoH on Friday, though!

Let’s do the standard recap lineup, shall we?

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

Now, onto the good stuff.  Jessica is back in the HoH room!  Now she and Daniele are tied for most times as HoH.  The women are kind of kicking butt and taking names in this game aren’t they?  Boy, Jen sure went out on a sour note, didn’t she?  Of course, I get nervous when people say things like, “Never” and “Safe” at the beginning of a new HoH week, don’t you?  Dick and Eric both feel 100% safe.  Even Zach said he felt safe.  The ones who don’t feel safe are Amber and Jameka, rightly so I’m sure.  They’re praying, in case you couldn’t have guessed that yourself.

Eric and Jessica are involved in some pretty blatant flirting by now.   Goofballs.  They’re about the last couple I would have figured on cropping up in this house.  Eric knows his place, funnily enough, he admits that next to an ogre (Zach) and a 44 year old pervert (Dick), he looks pretty good.  Har!

I will have to admit, Jessica cheering/dancing squad is full of some strange looking women.  Or maybe it was just a strange picture.  There’s much speculation about Jen’s last remarks about Eric.  I somehow missed what was said so the significance is lost on me.  … Okay, a little sniffing around on Big Brother Craze (thanks, guys!) during the commercial revealed to me that Jen had said something to Amber about Eric having a girlfriend and not telling Jessica about it.  If he does, this is the first I’ve heard of it.

After the commercial, Eric is explaining things to Amber.  He’s upset that Jen’s little “fib” (is it a fib? do we know?) might upset his position with Jessica.  It doesn’t SOUND like he has a girlfriend, but more a girl acquaintance?  I’m thinking we need to hear from this girl in question what the real story is, don’t you?  Cut to Dick hassling Daniele about eating and taking her vitamins.  HA!  He nags her about everything, turns out, and after their “feud” she finds it odd.  Or rather, annoying.  He’s your parent, Daniele, he’s supposed to be annoying.  She seems kinda like a high maintenance brat doesn’t she?  Am I not totally reading this right or what?  Dick is obviously at least trying with her, but she’s just so “bershon” about it all.  Meanwhile, Eric and Jessica speculate that the fighting between them is fake and all for “show”.  I don’t know, that’s a tough one to call.  Jessica ponders maybe getting one evicted this week.  HMM!  Yeah, not likely.

Ooh!  Luxury challenge!  This sure beats food, as far as I’m concerned.  All the houseguests get duded up in their “outfits” and outside is a big bubble bath lookin’ sorta thing.  The winner gets a Big Brother shopping spree.  (Woo!)  To win, they have to get into their “birthday suit”.  That’s when everyone gets quiet.  It’s a big spelling sort of thing that does require some “disrobing”.  Girls still look unsure but the guys are “game on!”.  Amber gets naked super quick, surprisingly enough.  So does Daniele!  Woo!  Who cares about the guys, right?  I still can’t believe they had them get naked.  That’s hilarious.  The women won, surprisingly enough.  They don’t even to seem to care about getting dressed again too quickly.  Thankfully, Big Brother supplies them with robes to wear.   So the girls go on a major spree and it’s funny to watch them just tearing through these clothes and throwing them on.  Daniele probably ended up with the most clothes and even she admitted that she needs them less.

Now there’s talk about Amber being a model and she thinks the way she talks is one of her big selling points.  I’m sitting here going, “WHAT??”.  Mmm, right.  Zach tells Jessica she should put up Dick and Daniele.   Proving that he has no idea of the alliance, which is good.  He puts himself even ahead of Jameka, since she can’t win HoH (huh?).  Trying to save his booty is what he’s doing.  And America says that Eric should get Amber nominated.   Eric is all for that, since it’s a pretty easy task.  And his reasoning to Jessica for nominating her are good ones and rooted in truth so that’s good.  And now?  We need to decide who in the house that Eric should kiss.  HA!!  Dick!  Pick Dick!  Aww, you know they pick Jessica.  But STILL.  I think it’d be totally hilarious if people picked Dick.  Does this mean I’m disturbed?

So here come nominations and she says she’s looking to take out “power players”.  Somehow I truly doubt that.  Why can’t she call a spade a spade and admit she’s getting rid of the deadweight?  She put up Zach and Amber, of course.  I think that was a good move.  It was high time Zach was on the block.  And Amber, she’s an easy vote.  Now, depending on who wins the veto, the lineup could change but with each week that passes, unless the HoH wants to backdoor someone, the nominations are more and more likely to remain unchanged.   Amber?  CRYING.  Yeah.  Again.

First off, let’s not forget the all-important recaps.

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

If you were expecting some enormous shakeup in the house this week, then you were sorely mistaken during last night’s show. Despite Julie’s assuring us it had been an “explosive” week. Riiight. About the most explosive you got were Jen’s little temper fits. Anyhow, let’s get into the show.

Jen muses that Daniele is a liar which might not be entirely untrue but I don’t think she can really blame Daniele either. Still, didn’t believe Daniele for an instant when she assured Jen she was sorry. Right off, Jen gets into it with Dick claiming she’s not bitter when there’s her picture in the dictionary right next to the word “bitter”. She has a “meeting” with Daniele while she’s packing for her fabulous NYC getaway. Daniele tries to throw her a bone by saying she and herself are the biggest competitors in the house. Mm. Yeah.

Daniele and Amber take off on their fabulous trip while the rest of them sit around and mope. Jen goes on and on about she just can’t go to the sequester house. She couldn’t stand it. Dick blows smoke in her face and this causes Jen to get super upset and go in and pack her things. Good thinking, eh? She also started to cook which was a little surprising since in that one veto competition she gave up food in order to go on slop. Girls getting REBELLIOUS! Then she does the unthinkable. She takes Dick’s cigarettes and smashes them up and throws them away. So that’s why she packed her things, cuz she feared retaliation. OOOH, boy. Girl’s going to hell. Dick notices right away, of course and knows she did it. Aaaand, Nice Dick is gone. Vanished like a fart in the wind.

So Dick found her stuff (didn’t hide it well did she?) and took it to the HoH room to hold it for “ransom”. And he’s still looking for the cigarettes. And she’s totally eating real food. What a BRAT. Jessica called her a cheater and that’s about accurate, I’m thinking. Everyone else was just DISGUSTED. And… then she got called to the diary room.

BB gave her a spanking in the form of “penalty vote” against during eviction. So not so much for destroying Dick’s property as it was for breaking BB rules. And then… wow. Okay, Dick was smoking his cigarette and whatever. Jen was eating in front of him and for whatever reason got annoyed with him and was getting in his face. He told her not to touch him. She wasn’t listening. He repeated his request. She kept pestering him. She told him not to blow smoke in her face so what did he do? He blew smoke in her face. Dude, I could have told her he’d do that. She got FURIOUS and tried to grab the cigarette out of his hand. He threatened to burn her with the cigarette if she didn’t back off. She, of course, refused to back off so he tried to get with his cigarette. And then she acted all horrified that he burnt her. How DARE he?? This woman is too stupid to live.

Right in the midst of that uber-drama, we get to watch Daniele and Amber’s great NYC adventure. Blah blah blah cross show promotion blah blah blah. Amber is certain the audience is going to love her. Yeah, not if they’ve been watching “Big Brother” they won’t. And that’s about all we saw of that.

Julie does a quick interview with the houseguests. She asks Amber and Daniele about their “day of freedom” and blah blah blah perspective blah blah regroup… you know, the standard response. Oooh, and Jen is the first person in 8 years to break food restrictions and get a penalty vote. Dumbass. Gee, I wonder who’s going home? Yawn. Julie talks briefly with Daniele who says she’s very thankful to Eric and Jessica for saving her dad. Oh and she’d like to sit with her dad in the final 2 because duh, she’d totally win that way! Ha! Too funny. Once again back with the housemates, where Jen and Jameka do their final “plead”. Jen is making me want to barf (and no, that’s not the morning sickness talking) and Jameka looks like the classiest woman alive standing up there next to Jen. Aaaand onto the voting!

Is anyone surprised here? You? Me? ANYONE? Jen is gone gone gone. The votes, unsurprisingly, are unanimous. And she’s gone. Eric says, beautifully, “As happy as you are to be leaving, we’re happier to see you go.” Truer words, there! The houseguests muse that Jen’s controversial picture DOES look better in black and white. Snort. Even her interview with Julie was just downright absurd. How did she stay in the house this long? I’m amazed. So off she goes to sequester. I don’t think Dustin deserves that, do you? The recorded messages are predictable. But most people really reined it in, like Jessica and Eric. Everyone is TOTALLY kissing up to the new jury member, which is disgusting. I’m just annoyed I’m going to have to see her again.

So who will be HoH? Daniele and Jameka are out of the running, and the rest are playing “Tanks for the Memories” where each player is situated above a water tank. If they answer incorrectly, Jen will get to push the button that plunges them into the water. Oh dear. Eric gets dunked first. Jen looked like she enjoyed that a little too much. Amber, Zach and Dick are dunked next, leaving Jessica as the winner and HoH. Again. This sure is setting up for a Eric, Jessica, Dick and Daniele final four, isn’t it?

And here are the recaps of the episode from last night, in case you missed it:

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

Surprisingly, Amber isn’t weeping! Yet. Jameka is in “tough as nails” mode. Eric gives a lame apology to them, saying he thought it would be him. OH PLEASE. Boy, just hush. You’re not fooling anyone. Jessica does a pretty good job of playing innocent with Jen, like they’re all against Dick and Daniele like they always have been. She’s better at it than Eric, at least. Course, she couldn’t be much worse.

Cut to some footage of Eric and Jessica flirting. She’s just totally into him and it’s hysterical! Zach admits to liking to “block” Eric when he’s working Jessica. Cuz he’s just a nice guy that way! Yeah, especially when he makes noises about her breasts. Whatever. If I were Eric I’d be pissed. But he does look pretty pissed so there you go.

Amber and Jameka moan about how they’re the only decent people in the house. *snort* And Amber has had a vision from GOD that she’s going to win POV. Mm. Right. It’s “her time” though. She promises that there’s no more crying but hello? Is that tears I see? Yeah, you and your POV there, Amber.

Back from break, Eric gets his woobie assignment. He’s just horrified. But very pleased when he learns the person he needs to share it with is Jessica. Aw come on, I think Dick would have been great, don’t you? Jessica of course totally bought it. She was happy to bestowed with it, even. Too funny. I bet she won’t be happy when it’s all over and done though, will she? Oops, Eric IS a liar!

And Daniele? Is sick of Jen. She goes on to talk about everything about her that she’s sick of. Zach wonders how she’s still in the house. Daniele is so over her. Zach? You’re not planting seeds and you’re not a force to be reckoned with. Daniele has already said she wants to backdoor Jen. This is no big shocking revelation here.

The POV players are playing not only for veto but for a top secret trip out of the house. The players are: Dick, Daniele, Jameka, Amber, Jessica and Zach. Eric, was denied yet again. Eric gets to host. Again. Dick is actually being NICE this week, which is sort of eerie. It’s like he doesn’t have reason to fight, he just feels THAT secure.

During the competition, it was just so obvious that Amber was trying to mainline God or something. She looked practically constipated. IT’S A GAME! She was thinking way too hard about it all. And… Daniele wins POV! HA! That was awesome. Jen was even happy when she won the veto, the fool. Dick is insanely proud. Amber is completely wrecked. Looks like she’s going to break that “no crying” thing she had going there. Har. Hey, at least she gets to go on the secret trip, right?

So Amber is thinking of making a deal with Daniele and Daniele is thinking of making a deal with Amber. I don’t see Daniele taking Jameka off the blog, to be honest, so that makes sense. As much as Amber bugs me. But she and Daniele make their deal and Amber swears on her daughter. Again. She actually gave up quite a bit to be saved and Daniele was like, “Okay!” She wasn’t expecting that much safety from Amber, so she just let Amber volunteer it. Very wise indeed.

Dick and Eric talk strategy and that seems to be going very well, interestingly enough. They’re getting along amazingly well. This is really, really weird. The veto ceremony goes pretty much as planned. Ho hum. Very anti-climactic. But Amber did start crying again. And had a pretty good “woe is me” speech too. So yeah, Daniele takes Amber off the block and puts Jen up. HA! I don’t think Jen was expecting that at ALL. She played it off in typical Jen fashion, but I think she was surprised. Jen expects to be around next week, which is pretty funny. Doesn’t she understand what being backdoored means? Obviously not.

The mystery trip! Amber and Daniele discover they’re going to New York City! They’ll get to be on the new “Power of 10″ game show hosted by Drew Carey! Wee! Bah. Cross-show promotion! Amber looks ready to lose her nut while Daniele seems to be taking it in stride. But excited. So when does this trip take place? Soon, it sounds like.

Let me get you lined up with the “usual suspects” for you BB8 recap goodness.  These are the sources, you know!

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

Okay, first off, I have to LAUGH MY BUTT off at Nick’s “letter” to Daniele. Especially once it was revealed that yes, he in fact did craft it entirely himself. It looked like a scrapbook page doped up on pepto bismol. Eric found it funny for the same reasons I did. Zack noted with interest the lack of any photos of Daniele’s boyfriend this time. Dick groaned over a photo of him, Daniele and her brother and they all had bad hair in it. All in all? Yet another boring HoH room.

So Jessica tries to cover her butt with Jameka and so does Eric though Jessica is a lot more successful at it than he is. And ya’ll? Daniele is IN THIS this week. Her head is 100% in the game and she has her eyes on the prize. Jameka, in other news, marvels over Amber’s utter lack of vocabulary. I? Am not surprised. That’s pretty freakin’ sad. Eric has a talk with her (making sure not to use any big words, I’m sure) about strategy, supposedly in an effort to soothe her ruffled feathers. Amber, regardless of what she told him, wasn’t convinced. Wow, so she is smart after all!

And now we get to see them playing Beer Pong. I’ve been hearing a lot about this on the live feeds. A very popular game among the houseguests. Eric and Jessica lost a wager where they had to wear each others clothes. And Eric? Did it GOOD. He pulled it off. I’m just impressed that it fit.

Jameka and Amber start to wonder if there isn’t a secret alliance between Dick and Daniele and Eric and Jessica. Gee, ya think? This was after Dick pretty much laid it all out on the line about how he was saved. Well, all but the secret alliance, of course.

The food competition involved Togas which everyone rocked pretty supremely. And Zach? You did not look the best. I did like Daniele’s laurel wreath. Oh, and they had to play oversized beer pong. RIIIIGHT. And Jessica? Toga parties and beer pong are an everyday thing for you? You realize that your parents are paying for you to get an education, right? YIKES. And why am I not surprised that Dick was good at beer pong? Ultimately, Eric won it for the red team (otherwise known as the beer pong devotees) so they got food for the week. They both got the “Feast” though, so they’ll get one really bitchin’ meal. Oh and the table shrunk. Yeah, that usually happens about now. It just reminds Daniele how close she has to be these diseased peasants and how much she hates that. LOL!

In “light and fluffy” news, more flirting is going on between Jessica and Eric. Dick calls them on it and Jessica tries to play it off. Eric seems a little delighted and teases her after which she says she “hates him”. And obviously doesn’t mean a single word of it. Nice try there! And America has deemed that Eric should get Amber nominated for eviction. YAY! Way to go, America. Way to work WITH him for a freakin’ change. He gets right to work, planting the seeds for an Amber nomination. He’s a little “brutal” with his suggestion. Daniele claims not to trust him one bit, she’ll think about it. This week? We decide who he should give a ratty old childhood “woobie” to. I totally think he should give it to DICK. LOL! How hilarious would that be? Not to mention awkward, but hey, you asked.

And now? The nominations! Daniele lets it be known in her diary room confession that she doesn’t want certain members to just skate their way to the finish. So it is with little surprise that Amber and Jameka are nominated. Because they are, in fact, pretty much dead weight. Of course, it could be argued that Zach and Jen are also dead weight, but at least they are easily told who to vote for. And let’s prepare for the water works. It’s going to be an Amber-tastic week, ya’ll! *snort* In other news, Amber believes she’s had a vision that she will win the power of veto and she and Jameka will be in the finale two. And Daniele reveals her true target is in fact Jen. HMM! Interesting!