Big Brother 16: Gentlemen, commence your appallingness!

[Spot's Meow]

Caleb also seemed like he was going to be an obnoxious jackass through the season but he's acting like a reasonable person with a good head on his shoulders.

So far there's nobody I hate, but I haven't been watching the live feeds. Is there anybody who's racist, homophobic, or a general jackass that I'm not aware of at the moment?

Thankfully there hasn't been such hate so far this year, but there is some obsessive creepiness, GinaMarie/Nick style. Caleb is OBSESSED with Amber. It's all he ever talks about. He says things like "I can tell by the way she looks at me and avoids me that she is really into me, she's just trying to hide it." He talks about moving to live near her and how he is ready to settle down and get married...meanwhile she has barely noticed him.

He finally confessed his feelings to her and it was incredibly awkward. She politely told him she just wanted to be friends and not have any showmances, and he still didn't get it. He claimed she just said that because she was wearing a mic and didn't want production to know the truth.

Yeah, super creepy...

So far I am not a big fan of Caleb and Devin, they can be pretty cocky. Though once they are no longer in power it will be hilarious to watch them scramble.

I really like Christine, Derrick, and Cody. They have their own side alliance thing going on within the larger Bomb Squad. Frankie and Zach call themselves Zankie and are rather cute together.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Anyone else excited that Devin is HoH? I can't wait to see what happens when his paranoia and overthinking collides with nomination power. I give about a 50/50 shot he blows up the entire bomb squad.

You know that first scene of The Hurt Locker? Yeah, that's this week.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Man, what's up with these people? Not a single one of them is behaving like a horrible human being! At worst people are acting annoyingly paranoid and a little self-centered. Don't they know they're on Big Brother?

Don't tell me they actually vetted the cast this season.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I actually do like this cast quite a bit. They are an entertaining and likable bunch. Devin and Caleb definitely bring the crazy, though their arrogance can annoy.

It has been a crazy week in the house. The person who is now the "target" (in Devin's mind) is totally different from the person we started with at the beginning of the week. These people change their minds every day, it's hilarious.

It was also revealed on the feeds who the three members of Team America are. Many fans aren't looking forward to the twist but I actually think it could be fun. It totally depends on the type of tasks they're given, but I think the three members chosen are a good sample of the different sides of the house, which makes them working together even more interesting. I'm hoping they are revealed on tonight's episode.

For those who want spoilers...

Spoiler: BB Spoilers

Devin won POV, struck a deal with Brittany (and now claims to have a huge crush on her), and put up Zach in her place. This is because Zach went crazy in the past couple of days, calling people out, revealing the Bomb Squad to Hayden, and generally being sketchy. Zach claims it's all part of his master plan to get everyone in the house on his side and so he wanted to be nominated. He is now Devin and Caleb's target, while most of the house wants to keep him. Team America includes Donny, Frankie, and Derrick.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I'm fine with Team America if it's stuff like pranks and fun stuff, but I will be pissed off if it determines their gameplay decisions.

Especially since Team America constitutes pretty much my favorite three people in the house.

 

[Danny99]

Team America will not be the fun Dan version, it will be the game ruining Eric version.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Yeah, today's two Team America options are "Make a really bad gameplay move that will get traced back to you and get you voted out" and "Make an even worse gameplay move that will get traced back to you and get you voted out even faster."

Have these producers watched the show? Anything involving spreading false rumours about people will lead to a big blowup you're in the center of and it completely contradicts all three of their games.

 

[Danny99]

I can't say I'm sad to see Paola go. She was the most useless player this season and with Zach staying in, it adds another intangible to the game.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Yeah Paola was kind of boring. Victoria and Jocasta are barely there as well. I loved Julie's comment in the live show that "Victoria has been laying SO low that no one knows how she will vote."

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I wonder if all the America's Team options will be 'Make terrible gameplay decisions that cause drama for no benefit to yourself'.

Big Brother producers need to understand what the Survivor producers understand. It's okay to contrive emotional drama, and it's okay to change the rules that apply to everybody, but the show is only going to be fun to watch if you just let the players make their own game decisions on an even playing field.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

I wonder if all the America's Team options will be 'Make terrible gameplay decisions that cause drama for no benefit to yourself'.

Big Brother producers need to understand what the Survivor producers understand. It's okay to contrive emotional drama, and it's okay to change the rules that apply to everybody, but the show is only going to be fun to watch if you just let the players make their own game decisions on an even playing field.

Well put.

The show is always most engaging and entertaining when no "super powers" (i.e., diamond power of Veto, America voting back an evicted house guest) are introduced into the game. Just let the players rely on themselves -- their innate skills and intelligence -- and let the chips fall where they may within the basic rules of the game.

My favorite moments in Big Brother have always been when some clever contestant manipulates, schemes and lies their way back from certain eviction. No outside agency intervening or deus ex America, just Dan giving his own funeral or Evil Dick annoying all of the houseguests into keeping him around for another week. Brilliant stuff and great TV.

 

[Keith1701]

Each show is getting better and better.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

This is definitely one of the better cast seasons they've ever had in Big Brother. Usually the thing that repulses me most about the show is people getting together calling each other evil and horrible for trying to win. But at least in the broadcast not a trace of 'Friendship five syndrome', and a lot of players who actually know how to play the game.

And the characters who seem like shallow, superficial people like Victoria have gotten very little screen time.

It's like after last season the producers of the show actually caught on that the cast needs to be likable.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

Great move by Derrick, using Caleb's obsession with Amber as way to convince him to -- not only volunteer to be nominated -- but also suggest throwing the BoB himself. Coach Dan would be proud.

This and his focused determination to back door Devin in the most uncomplicated way possible make me see Derrick as a strong contender to make it to the final two, if not the win.

 

[Keith1701]

I just hope that the lady from Georgia will be able to stay on the show.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

I just hope that the lady from Georgia will be able to stay on the show.

Paula Deen?

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I think he's referring to the incredibly nice religious woman who is not playing the game.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

I think he's referring to the incredibly nice religious woman who is not playing the game.

Ah, Jocasta. Every time they've shown her recently, she looks more and more worn out. This may have something to do with being put on the block with a self-sabotaging future stalker or it may just be that the house is slowly driving her insane. Is she even wearing her bowtie anymore?

 

[Spot's Meow]

I think he's referring to the incredibly nice religious woman who is not playing the game.

Ah, Jocasta. Every time they've shown her recently, she looks more and more worn out. This may have something to do with being put on the block with a self-sabotaging future stalker or it may just be that the house is slowly driving her insane. Is she even wearing her bowtie anymore?

She has been sick for a few days, so that probably has something to do with it. She didn't play in the POV competition even though she was nominated because she was too sick. She is boring as hell on the show and when she does speak, it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. Her and Victoria are barely existing in there.

 

[Keith1701]

I was just thinking about starting the thread today, I'm excited! I've gone ahead and purchased the live feeds. I figure that it could not possibly be worse than last year, we can only go up. I have a good feeling about this year.

As for the twists, I'm trying to reserve judgment until we get some more details. It does seem like they are possibly setting it up to start with two teams against each other (with each having an HOH that nominates two from the other team). Perhaps relatives on opposing teams, as they have done in Survivor? A blood vs. water type theme has been the big rumor for a while now. Or, it could be a team of returning players vs. new players.

There's really a lot of different ways it could go, so I'll just be patient until tomorrow, when the cast is revealed.

When I first saw the house pictures I thought it was kind of ugly, but the more I look at it the more I like it. The different elements make sense. I especially like the earth room, which looks like the inside of a cave. The only room I really don't like is the living room, the colors are just hideous.

A link to the house photos if anyone is interested: http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_brother/photos/1001735/big-brother-16-house-photos/54460/

I'm looking forward to my usual summer obsession!

Either you are a Big Brother Fan and you will watch no matter what.