Showing posts with label Big Brother. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big Brother. Show all posts
I haven't abandoned all of you incredible people. This blog is still alive and kicking! I refuse the gravestone.
Summer came in and filled my schedule with a few pressing things that I needed to get done. I mentioned in a previous blog post that something came up that was weighing on my mind and I needed to focus on. I've definitely worked towards it since then. This summer was a time for relaxation, rest and recuperation! For those of you who have been following my Instagram feed, it has been a busy few weeks.
This summer wasn't only about the events and moments that I experienced. I also branched out to write more and contribute about my favourite topics. On top of my work for Entertainment Weekly's The Community, I've now also become a writer at The Young Folks. I just finished my fourth post; third overall about Big Brother 17. While I might not be writing a lot on this website every or so often, I'm still here and will keep writing for you all. You can absolutely check out my other work as well.
Here are a few pieces from TYF:
A ‘Resident Evil 2’ Remake Is in Development
TV Review: Big Brother 17 (Week #7 & Rankings)
TV Review: Big Brother 17 (Week #8 & Rankings)
TV Review: Big Brother 17 (Week #9 & Rankings)
The twist is revealed, the house is a tree and this season's crop of houseguests are one week away from walking into the game. A year has gone by and after the debacle that was Big Brother 15, all eyes will be on this year's cast to see what is said when the game starts. The "Powers That Be" have carefully selected which players will be entering the game but even after our all pre-judgements and first impressions, we won't truly know these houseguests until they start playing.
I don't usually do a first impressions post. I constantly change my opinion and thoughts about the moves these players make and I've been disappointed a couple times in the past. Some get nasty, others stand out while the rest either become quiet or float by. Though, I'm open to looking back at our thoughts of these players before they shock us with their actions this summer.
Let's delve right into the first houseguest...
Amber Borzotra (26): Southern girl, seems like a socialite-type that would prefer the aspects of fame and enjoying the summer by the pool. I don't see any fight in her and I wouldn't be surprised if she auditioned to be on the show based on a whim. Does she really know the game? Probably not. I'd guess she'll either float by to jury or get an early boot from the "model eviction" curse that plagues every season.
Brittany Martinez (29): Brittany may have been scouted but I think she's hiding her competitive nature in these interviews. I keep getting a "diamond-in-the-rough" vibe from her and would be pleasantly happy if she turned out to be a real competitor. The only drawback is that I could see her getting too caught up in showmances, the drama or the emotions from being away from her kids. Possibly she'll make it far. Top 4 or finals?
Caleb Reynolds (26): A showmancer...and he's proud of it. People will like him at first based on his looks but he'll definitely have the target on his back as the season progresses. His partner will last longer than he does if doesn't win power - that's what happens when a strong guy and girl team up in an obvious duo. He seems cocky and that could rub people the wrong way; might be a little too arrogant and abrasiveness at first. Big Brother is a long game so it's really early to tell...
Christine Brecht (23): The superfan of the group and one of my favourites. I love houseguests who live, breathe and think about Big Brother because you want to cheer on those fans to win the game they love so much. She definitely stands out with the glasses, tattoos and nerdy nature which could work against her. She might be one of the early evictees if she can't connect with the others, but I'd hope for at least jury.
Cody Calafiore (23): Has he ever watched an episode of Big Brother? Like ANY Big Brother before being scouted for the show? He seems really laid-back, calm and to be a little honest...dull. His looks will help start a showmance if he's interested and he could be targeted for being a threat early on if men are being targeted. I want to be proven wrong with this, but I don't think Cody will do well at first unless he's pulled into a big alliance. For some reason I can't shake, I get the vibe he will float by, join a powerful alliance and get carried to good spot without really knowing how to play the game.
Derrick Levasseur (30): He's the cop who wants to lie about being a cop. Tony did it on Survivor but it didn't really change things. I don't understand why houseguests need to lie about their profession, it doesn't shock people at the beginning and people move on. Keeping things a secret will backfire on him. He seems to be an aggressive and smart player so he could make it far.
Devin Shepherd (26): Really strong guy with a daughter at home. He'll get the sympathy card and could win a few people with his nice attitude. Though, same like Howard last season, Devin looks really strong and tough with his muscles. Even if he's not great at challenges, he might always be perceived as a challenge threat and targeted early. I wouldn't be surprised if he got blindsided early on before jury.
Donny Thompson (42): Is Duck Dynasty doing a cross-over this season? He seems like a floater and wouldn't be open to shaking up the house. His favourite player was Spencer from last season so my expectations are low. Expect Donny to be carried for a few weeks as a pawn or evicted during a throwaway week.
Frankie Grande (31): Frankie may be the most debated houseguest this season based on fairness. He has a large social following and his sister is a famous popstar/actress. Those fan followings alone will impact the voting, similar to what happened last season for Big Brother 15 with the Brenchel army and Elissa. He seems to be here for the fame and the game - he could really pull things off and be a competitor. However, if people find out who his sister is, or if they're tired of his antics, he could get the boot pre-jury.
Hayden Voss (21): Chill surfer and someone who may make a lot of jokes in the house. As compared to David from last season, I think Hayden may be more knowledgeable about Big Brother. I don't foresee him to be the first evictee and I think he'll make it to jury. He's not a threat from a physicality perspective at first glance and could join a powerful alliance for numbers, but I think he might surprise a lot of people.
Jocasta Odom (33): Obvious floater. She doesn't seem like the type to actively play a strategic or physical game. I see her as the person who may stick around the house as the extra vote or could get an early boot. However, she could be the cause of drama when she's tired of playing the nice game. Either way, I don't expect Jocasta to win Big Brother.
Joey Van Pelt (27): Fun, loud and up for anything. Joey is a character and will offer some great TV moments. She wants an all-girl alliance and I would love to see that happen. Season 6 somewhat had that partway through the season - it worked but didn't work well. The problem Joey might have is that the houseguests who are different or who have strong personalities tend to get evicted early. She needs to develop those friendships very quickly!
Nicole Franzel (21): Very sweet girl and could slide right through to jury. She could surprise a lot of people and make a big move that shocks everyone. I like Nicole! She's the bright-eyed fan that is genuinely excited to be in the house and to play the game. I hope to see great things from her.
Paola Shea (27): Oh Paola...I really don't know what to say. She's definitely a character, but I sense she's a fame-seeker and here to build her DJ reputation. She could float by at first, trying to slide through. However, she will definitely cause a lot of drama and could be a pre-jury boot. I'm not expecting her to change the game - I suspect she'll try and fail.
Victoria Rafaeli (22): Another person who doesn't really know much about the game. She's familiar with Big Brother in another country, but that's a different type of Big Brother which focuses on public opinion. I think Victoria will assume the role of floater and try to slide by the early weeks. I would love if she attempted to play the game but my hopes are low right now.
Zach Rance (23): I can't even with Zach right now. I've watched a few videos of Zach and he will definitely get the title of "too-hard-too-fast" this season. Relationships are important in Big Brother and you can't win the game without making genuine alliances. His strategy will absolutely change once he's in the house and I will be curious to see how he actually plays the game. Zach will be an interesting person to watch early on - his game depends on it.
Agree or disagree with my early impression? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The game is over and a new winner has been crowned. It's been a roller coaster of a season with betrayals, twists and the biggest shift of power from a twist I've ever seen. Big Brother Canada 2 will go down as an incredible season to study when learning about Big Brother. In a polarizing final two compared to last year's vote, 23 year old student Jon Pardy won the game in a 6-1 vote against 25 year old hair dresser Sabrina Abbate. The winner and final results were unsurprising after Neda Kalantar, the 22 year old fashion stylist, was evicted by her ally Jon at Final Three.
I haven't posted about the recent evictions in a while so similar to last year's post, I will combine the last five evictions together in one post. I will cover my thoughts from Adel's blunder to Heather's surprising season turnaround. Let's start with the last evictee...
Adel (Fifth Place)
Adel (Fifth Place)
Wake up, Canada! Actually...Adel needed to wake up. He had the personality to win people over and the luck to survive after losing all his alliance members, but he didn't have the foresight to play the game. He wasted his Head of Household (HOH) to take out a Gremlin instead of focusing his efforts on the real threats: Jon & Neda. Adel was ready to jump in and play the game with Jon but Jon couldn't do anything as the girls were running the house that week. Everyone was after the power couple and yet he wasn't ready to strike against the pair. There were six players left - time was running out and he wasted his opportunity. I wouldn't be surprised to see Adel return for another season. He won over the audience but he couldn't win the game.
Heather (Fourth Place)
I expected Heather to be one of the first evictees. Her opening introduction made me cringe and she seemed like a fame-seeking recruit - someone brought in who didn't want to compete nor knew how to play the game. Over the course of the season, I ended up really liking Heather and she was turning her game around. I thought she had a chance to win it all! Unfortunately for her, it didn't work out but I'm proud of her. My opinions can change and she shocked me the most. Heather (Fourth Place)
Neda (Third Place)
Neda! I wanted Neda to win so bad. She was controlling the house, manipulating the houseguests and made the big game moves that altered the season. If she hadn't lost the final HOH competition, she would have been in the finals and would have won. Her game was incredible as no one suspected her and yet she took control of the power from the First Five halfway through the season. Neda will absolutely be back from another season and I can't wait to see how she changes her tactics.
Sabrina (Second Place)
Sabrina (Second Place)
Sabrina had no chance to win Big Brother. Her emotional tirades and explosive comments destroyed any social game she had. The jury, with the exception of Rachelle, would never vote for her win - she burned all bridges long before the evicted players left the house. Congratulations on securing second place! No one expected her to make it that far and many viewers wanted her gone (including myself), but she proved people wrong and accomplished the impossible.
Jon (First Place)
Jon (First Place)
Jon is a rarity in the Big Brother game. He's a physical threat, has a great social game, and is absolutely loved by fans...yet he made it to the finals never facing an eviction vote. He was only nominated once but won the Power of Veto (POV) to take himself off the nomination block; he's never received an eviction vote against him. I'm shocked that no one thought to target Jon - he's a perfect target. Though, he was great television and a deserving winner as he and Neda dominated the latter half of the game. I was unsure if he would make the tough decision but he proved me wrong. His best move was evicting Neda and it was a winning decision that scored him the season.
A Gremlin is gone and the game is coming down to the wire. Two words come to mind when talking about the latest evicted houseguest: wasted potential. Many ranked her as a potential win but the game has a funny way of changing people. Some thrive while others retreat inward and lack the spark that initially got them cast on the show in the first place. This houseguest was simply there.
The tenth person evicted and third jury member was Rachelle Diamond, the 20 year old student from Edmonton.
Let's Meet Rachelle...
Rachelle is the spunky and reserved fan who loved yoga and goofing around with Sabrina. Rachelle floated through much of the earlier game; she hide in the background to avoid the target and spent much of her time gossiping with the girls. When she won Head of Household (HOH) in Week #4, she had the chance to make a big move but instead allowed her friend Sabrina to controlled the nominations and ultimately caused Ika to be evicted. Rachelle sat in the sidelines for much of the game playing as an extra vote for the First Five or a powerless enemy with the Gremlins. When Adel won HOH and made it his mission to evict a Gremlin, Rachelle stood out as a bigger threat compared to her ally. On Day 57, she was evicted by a vote of 3-0.
Why Did She Lose?
The game became too much for Rachelle. To survive in an atmosphere like Big Brother, a person needs to be in constant game mode whether it's competing in a challenge or simply living in the house. Rachelle was content to just enjoy the experience and allowed her friend to carry her from one alliance to the next. She never actually made a move on her own or tried to connect with a majority of the house. There were two opportunities Rachelle had to change the game: (i) when she won HOH and (ii) when it came time to evict either Arlie or Adel. Her alliance chose the easier option with Arlie and that choice came back to hurt her as Adel was the HOH that started her eviction week. Lack of game moves and a bad eviction vote sealed her inevitable fate.
How Could She Stay?
If Rachelle could go back and change one move, she should have saved Arlie and evicted Adel. That choice caused a snowball effect that caused her eviction and Allison's as well. Arlie would have been the bigger target and in a new four person alliance, the Gremlins with Allison and Arlie could have done well. Since that wasn't an option, Rachelle should have pushed further with Neda about targeting the boys. Adel and Jon are serious threats in the house and without any real opportunities to evict either of them, they could work together to reach the end. Rachelle needed to really start playing the game.
Last Thoughts...
I had high hopes for Rachelle early on. Her pre-show interviews made it seem like she had a lot of potential and could create the relationships to dominate the game. Unfortunately for her, the house eliminated any presence she had and Rachelle simply became an extra vote in the game. The game does funny things and while some can thrive in this paranoid existence, Rachelle became another example of someone casting didn't translate to the live show. That's not to say she's isn't a great person - Rachelle seems nice and fun but I wish we got to see more from her during her time this season.
Instant eviction. Two words that drive fear in both the houseguests and the rest of Canada (well...fans of the show). It comes at a moment notice and at the end of 30 minutes, one houseguest is sent packing out the door. No campaigning, no Power of Veto (POV), no real chance to save themselves - it's just over and it's very uncomfortable to watch. The latest houseguest to be evicted came into the house without an audience and is leaving to no one. Ouch.
The ninth person evicted and second jury member is Allison White, the 25 year old registered nurse from St. John's.
Let's Meet Allison...
Allison is the mysterious yet outgoing and confusing super-fan who got voted into the house from the War Room twist. After spending a week with Nate and Scott campaigning for votes, Canada voted her into the house in the third week to play the game. She immediately sparked discussions between fans and houseguests: she started a showmance with Andrew (who was not well-liked by Canada), she came in under mysterious circumstances, and Kenny feared she knew his secret since they had a mutual friend. After her safety week was over, she was nominated for eviction but won the POV to save herself. She got nominated yet again the following week but this time, she flipped from the First Five side to join the Sloppy Seconds to save herself. Allison found the Secret POV and decided to save Sabrina in Week 7, but this caused Neda to distrust her and when Neda won Head of Household (HOH) during the instant eviction, Allison became the target. On Day 51, she was evicted by a vote of 4-0.
Why Did She Lose?
Super-fan status is a scary title as it clouds the mind and cause houseguests to make confusing decisions. Upon entering the game, Allison make quick friendships with the powerful First Five alliance but specifically Andrew and Sabrina - the most disliked by Canada and a showmance with the man she wanted to target. After they were revealed to be nominated, she didn't distance herself from them but kept wanting to play with them. She finally got a chance to join a real alliance with the Sloppy Seconds, but she was ready to turn on them to make a power move and work with the Gremlins. Playing both sides of the house can only take a houseguest so far and Allison would never commit. Neda couldn't trust her as Allison never gave her a reason to and it ruined her game in the end.
How Could She Stay?
Allison made two big flaws (maybe more but I'll focus on two). Allison was trying to play both sides, even when she had sided with the Sloppy Seconds for the last two evictions. Neda couldn't trust her because Allison wanted to work with the Gremlins and secretly target Jon and Neda. If she had made a decision early on to make a girls alliance with Neda and Heather instead of the Gremlins, it could have changed her place in the game. The Gremlins/First Five had no power left in the house and she needed to focus on strategic moves instead of emotional ones. Neda and Heather would have protected her if they could have trusted her. She shouldn't have used the Secret POV to save Sabrina! I get wanting to make a "big move" but if you don't in the end and just wanted to use a power, it can destroy trust and that's what it did.
Also, the most obvious move would have been to keep Arlie around. If Arlie had stayed, the HOH competition would be four competing against two and in the chance that Neda still won, Arlie would still be the target. Allison and the Gremlins should have saved Arlie.
Last Thoughts...
I liked Allison, even with her confusing gameplay. Coming into the game later on and under mysterious circumstances already put her at a disadvantage. No one could really trust her and she had a cloud of mystery surrounding her at every moment. I wish she played like she had planned: Allison wanted to shake things up, make big moves and play without emotion. Obviously that changed! Still...I thought she was entertaining and I would love to see how she would play the game starting on even ground like everyone else. I think the outcome would be different and some fans would be less antagonistic toward her if she hadn't made the desperate and emotional moves she did.
Playing both sides of the house against each other is a tricky scenario to hold. Each side tries to stay on top by winning challenges to hold power and manipulating weaker players to do all the dirty work. However, if you're ready to jump ship and mastermind a coup, you need to be prepared when the biggest threats (and former allies) get evicted as you might be the bigger threat still in the game. The most recent evicted houseguest got a little too comfortable after he caused the downfall of his own powerful alliance.
The eighth person evicted and first jury member was Arlie Shaban, the 25 year old from Stouffville.
Let's Meet Arlie...
Arlie is the wacky and clothing-optional houseguest who served as a double-agent within the First Five alliance. While he only won one competition in the house, a Power of Veto (POV) challenge, Arlie cemented his place in the house with his strong personal connections, likeability and devious plots. He enjoyed protection for the first few weeks as the First Five alliance was dominating the game, but he started to plant the seeds on the other side to create a new alliance for the time came. During the double eviction week, Heather won Head of Household (HOH) and the other side finally earned some power to make a big move against First Five. Arlie (as well as Allison) switched sides to join Neda, Jon, Adel and Heather to create the Sloppy Seconds and destroy the First Five. When two big threats and former allies Sarah and Kenny left, his alliance turn on him and sent him packing the following week. On Day 50, he was evicted by a vote of 5-0.
Why Did He Lose?
Trust is a big factor in Big Brother and Arlie could not be trusted. He was always concocting new plan, he would turn on someone without emotion, and he proved that he could be a serious threat. Being a part of the First Five alliance gave Arlie power and security but by helping to create the Sloppy Seconds alliance, he inadvertently created the chain of events that led to his downfall. He evicted two allies who would have kept him around (Sarah & Kenny) and when his alliance turned on him, he had no one left who had his back. Jon nominated him, Adel was on the block next to him and Neda/Heather wanted him gone. His only hope were Allison and the Gremlins (Rachelle and Sabrina) but they couldn't trust him in the end, even though they originally plotted to keep him - he was too much of a threat.
How Could He Stay?
The First Five alliance was dead by the time Arlie got evicted, but he could have played the last two weeks differently. Instead of campaigning to put Sarah on the block, he should have campaigned for Rachelle or Sabrina to go. Sarah would've protected him since they were close friends and keeping a bigger threat around diverts attention. If Sarah had left and he was gone, he should have built confidence and trust with Allison and the Gremlins. Adel was clearly signing with Jon, Neda and Heather regardless of what he said. He should have continually pushed that he was on their side and it would be their detriment to keep Adel around.
Last Thoughts...
Arlie was a character, in more ways than one. He openly admits that the "character" he played in the game isn't the same as how he is in real life - it was a fun show but I like when houseguests are genuine. His ego got a little too big before he got blindsided and even he was shocked that the house flipped without his knowledge. I was say this though, Arlie did cause a huge shockwave that changed the latter half of the season. Canada may have made the first crack at the First Five alliance, but Arlie's meddling planted the seeds that caused a new alliance to be form.
Double evictions have a way of evicting threats without the benefit of campaigning. What normally is a week of swaying people to their side, houseguests are forced to adapt to ever-changing events in the span of an hour. Normally the luck of double-evictions swing the power to different sides of the house, evicting major threats of both sides but this week, the First Five suffered two major blows that all but destroyed the once powerful alliance.
The seventh person evicted was Kenny Brain, the 25 year old model from Montreal.
Let's Meet Kenny...
Kenny is the bearded physical threat who kept his sexuality hidden for most of the season. He was a founding member of the First Five alliance and dominated in the Power of Veto (POV) competitions with two wins. He, along with his alliance, controlled much of the first four eviction by manipulating the other houseguests into evicting Anick, Kyle, Paul and Ika. Once Canada became Head of Household (HOH) and nominated two First Five members (Andrew and Sabrina), Kenny's game imploded. The other side of the house gained power which sent his closest ally Sarah home and after it was revealed to be a double eviction, Kenny soon followed. On Day 43, he was evicted by a vote of 5-1.
Why Did He Lose?
Kenny may have been a physical threat but he was too overconfident. The First Five was dominating the game and he was acting the part; if it had not been for Canada's involvement, he may still be in the house and running the season. Power shifted to the other side and soon he was forced to campaign to the likes of Heather and Neda to stay in. His physical prowess made him a threat and being on the competing alliance didn't help.
How Could He Stay?
Strategic campaigning was Kenny's best option. His old alliance was all but dead; he needed a new foothold in the game to survive the next few weeks. Sarah was leaving and he could have spoken to the likes of Jon, Adel or Neda to work out some new better options to stay in. Also, if he had created a few back-up alliances with the other side when the First Five were still in power, he wouldn't have had to worry once both Andrew and Sarah left.
Last Thoughts...
The game can change at a moment's notice and Kenny's game imploded with a simple twist. At the beginning of the season, I was pretty sure that he would be in the finals (or final three/near the end) but now he's out before jury. In any typical season of Big Brother, Kenny would be the type of houseguest who could dominate challenges and win over other houseguests with his personality. However, he fell into the same trap that others have experienced: he controlled too much power early on. Canada loves an underdog story and the First Five alliance had too much power that it was getting to their heads. The other side of the house didn't want to wait around to be picked off and by winning a few HOH competitions, Kenny soon found his way out the door.
Alliances, especially in duos, can make or break a houseguest's game. Power is in the numbers and while large groups of people together can hold a voting block for a majority, many fear the power of a close duo as ultimately only two people are sitting together at the end. This recent evicted houseguest couldn't shake the image of her obvious alliance and it sent her packing.
The sixth person evicted was Sarah "Mumsie" Miller, the 32 year old mortgage broker from Langley.
Let's Meet Sarah...
Sarah is the kind-hearted and emotional house mother who was a member of the First Five alliance. She enjoyed the power and security of being in the dominant alliance; which ensured her safety for the first few weeks and she didn't have to make any obvious moves. However, in the third week, she sided with the First Five's plan to secretly evict Paul instead of Heather - this move outed Sarah's allegiance to another alliance, compared to the girls alliance. When Canada was Head of Household (HOH) in week five, the First Five suffered their first loss with Andrew's eviction and when plans were set to evict Kenny, Sarah's closest ally, Sarah was placed on the block when Kenny won the Power of Veto (POV). On Day 43, she was evicted by a vote of 4-3.
Why Did She Lose?
Loyalty can take you far in Big Brother but it can also be a detriment. Beyond the First Five as a whole, Sarah was fiercely loyal to a few people in the house, namely Kenny, Arlie and Jon (in a way). Andrew, one of the biggest house targets, was sent packing the week prior and soon attention shifted to the next major threat: Kenny. The Kenny/Sarah friendship couldn't hide their strong bond; they were always hanging out together, talked about being fiercely loyal and overtly showed their affection toward each other - Kenny even came out to Sarah first! Her other alliances couldn't deny their bond and when Kenny won the POV, a target needed to be the replacement and the only way to strike against Kenny was to evict his closest ally. Sarah was a powerful threat and while she wasn't a huge challenge threat, her house likeability and bond with Kenny was too dangerous to keep around.
How Could She Stay?
Sarah's bond made it impossible to hide her threat status. She had a good thing going with Arlie and was starting to build trust with Neda. If she had continued to push Neda on how she could be helpful and drifted away from Kenny for the next few days, it would have helped to divert attention away from that bond. Also Allison, who was on the nomination block next to her, was a known floater that liked the Gremlins (Sabrina and Rachelle). Sarah could have used this fact and positioned Allison as untrustworthy since the Gremlins were known floaters that would float to the power and having her around made her unpredictable.
Last Thoughts...
I liked Mumsie. She was sweet, funny, and genuinely wanted to play the game. The First Five alliance had their problems but Sarah was a nice person who I wished would have made it to jury. Unfortunately, she didn't have the devious or manipulative edge that would have helped in a game like Big Brother. If she were to ever play again, she wouldn't be as emotional or get emotionally tied to people. It was her downfall and it's not the first time (nor the last) where emotions have destroyed a game.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. The reigning power alliance has fractured and now the hamsters are scurrying around to flip the house. As compared to other reality shows like Survivor or The Amazing Race, Big Brother is a game where power can easily shift by someone new winning Head of Household (HOH). When one person has all the power, numbers can instantly mean nothing if two alliance members are placed on the block. Canada was this week's HOH and the nation made the first strike against the First Five.
The fifth person evicted was Andrew Gordon, the 27 year old restaurant manager from Calgary.
Let's Meet Andrew...
Andrew is the abrasive and powerful member of the First Five alliance. In the first week of the season, he was targeted by HOH Paul but won the Power of Veto (POV) to pull himself off the block. Luck was on his side as his alliance dominated the next few weeks. The First Five pulled in two new members (Rachelle and Andrew's showmance, Allison), he won HOH in the second week and the group evicted threats like Kyle, Paul and Ika. Once Canada became HOH and made the nominations, Andrew - not particularly liked by the country - was placed on the block next to ally Sabrina. On Day 36, he was evicted by a vote of 7-2.
Why Did He Lose?
Canada may have nominated him but Andrew's days were numbered regardless. He was part of the most powerful alliance (the First Five), the strongest duo (Kenny & Andrew), and had the only showmance this season with Allison. If he had a physical target on his back showing, he wouldn't have been able to fit it inside a room. Attention was brought his way and nothing could have shifted the focus on someone else. Besides, couple that with his terrible attitude, derogatory comments and egotistical tendencies, the houseguests were happy to get rid of him sooner rather than later.
How Could He Stay?
The most obvious answer is the simple one: campaign! The second he found out Canada nominated him, he let the news go to his head and he gave up, accepting his fate to let Sabrina stay. Andrew should have campaigned harder, pulled his alliances together and found a way to convince the house that Sabrina was more of a threat than he was. Giving up put the final nail on his coffin.
Last Thoughts...
Andrew was in a power position and if it weren't for Canada holding the cards, he would still be in the house. Though, his days were certainly numbered and all the power kept going to Andrew's head. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. (A little Macbeth reference for you all!) He got lucky being part of the first five to enter the house; it created an alliance that assumed control but humility and being humble goes a long way. He's probably a nice guy and just assumed the role of leadership, taking the bullet for his alliance when the time came. Someone always has to fall first for the kingdom to crumble and this time it was him.
The Head of Household (HOH) curse has struck again! In the course of Big Brother, many houseguests have experienced a change of power that sends them packing in the span of a week. This happens when someone wins HOH one week then is promptly evicted the next. While the "curse" isn't as noticeable when there are so few players left, viewers tend to take notice when there are several houseguests left for a change like this to happen. Unfortunately for this houseguest, she didn't see it coming.
The fourth person evicted was Ika Wong, the 29 year old hair stylist from Thornhill.
Let's Meet Ika...
Ika is the sassy and opinionated houseguest who tried her hardest to make a successful girls alliance. In the first week of the season, she was the replacement nominee and survived eviction against Anick. She won HOH in the third week and decided to nominate two weak houseguests instead of big targets, sending Paul home in the process. Unknown to her at the time, she was being manipulated by her ally Sabrina, who was a member of the First Five alliance, and when Rachelle won HOH the following week, Sabrina manipulated her best-friend Rachelle to place Ika on the block. On Day 29, she was evicted by a vote of 8-1.
Why Did She Lose?
Ika missed a big opportunity and it bit her in the end. For the majority of the first few weeks, it was plainly obvious to see that the boys were against the girls. She knew the likes of Kenny and Andrew were coming after her and winning power was her shot to finally make a big move; a chance to turn the tide. However, instead of targeting boys, she nominated two girls instead: Alison and Heather. She fumbled under the pressure and by not eliminating a potential threat, the enemies she kept around wormed their way into Rachelle's head and got her nominated. Some could say that Ika's choice in week #4 of choosing the prize money over saving the letters from home caused her eviction but by that point Ika's eviction was set. She was going home regardless and anything she did that week would be for naught. It was her missed opportunity the week before that could have shook things up and might have changed the game.
How Could She Stay?
If Ika had a time machine she would go back and nominate Kenny and Andrew. She wouldn't have played it safe and let Sabrina manipulate her HOH week. Her impending nomination was already coming down the pipes and nothing she could do could keep her off the block. If she hadn't have played it safe the week before, she would still be around.
Last Thoughts...
Ika brought the drama and she tried to do the impossible: take a successful girls alliance to the end. Unfortunately for her, some of her alliance members were in a more unified alliance that were manipulating and plotting her downfall. If she listened to Neda, things would be different but she didn't. It's a shame when someone wastes their HOH to play it safe; nobody wants to feel powerless but she knew what she was getting into by nominating Heather, Alison and Paul. Future seasons of potential houseguests should look at Ika's eviction as what not to do when you keep your enemies in the house.
A villain falls and the house rejoices. I don't think the words "too hard too fast" could describe this houseguest's gameplay - it was actually so much worse. Big Brother has a way of changing people. Some thrive in the chaotic landscape, emerging as leaders and strategists, while others falter, becoming too quiet or panicking under the pressure. It's a tough game to play and without a level head, you're bound to be walking out the door.
The third person evicted was Paul Jackson, the 43 year old motivational speaker from Toronto.
Let's Meet Paul...
Paul is the polarizing house villain who suffered a major power-trip after winning Head of Household (HOH) in the first week. His pursuit of power and controlling the game early on rubbed people the wrong way, causing the First Five alliance to plot his eviction. He was nominated in the second week against Neda but ultimately his ally Kyle was backdoored and evicted instead. Following Kyle's eviction Paul was nominated against Heather, this time by ally Ika in the hopes of appeasing the house, but a last minute change by the First Five sent him packing. On Day 22, he was evicted by a close vote of 6-4.
Why Did He Lose?
Paul suffered the same fate that many fans and viewers have early on: he played the game to win in the first week. During the first HOH competition, Paul's big move to gain power was to offer immunity to the house in exchange for targeting only those who already jumped off. Already he ruined potential connections with half the house and while in power, his ego destroyed the remaining half. He did make connections with a few friends, like Adel and Kyle, but the opposing side was too powerful and everything Paul did, from calling Andrew a racist to making hurtful comments, kept adding a new nail to his coffin.
How Could He Stay?
Nothing could have saved Paul unless he won power. Nobody was talking to him except for Adel and Ika - the latter even placed him on the block! A change in temperament and staying out of the drama could have done Paul some good. He was a lightning rod for drama. Also, if Ika had not nominated him and targeted the REAL threats, it would have bought him another week.
Last Thoughts...
Paul is the type of houseguest who decided to play a "character" instead of being himself. In the course of a few weeks, he tried to be the strategist, villain, a teddy bear, and so much more. He tried to change too much and play all these characters to survive, especially as the house villain, before it destroyed his chances at winning. Big Brother is a three month process and playing hard right out of the gate can help to define alliances but in a majority of cases, it causes many early evictions and self-destruction.
An opportunity to evict a bigger threat should never be passed up. In the early weeks of Big Brother, houseguests are evicted based on their personality, drama or being outsiders of the larger group. Rarely does a top physical threat get targeted and almost unanimously evicted early on because of their potential later down the line. It's a smarter choice that I'm happy most of the houseguests were thinking together along the same lines.
The second person evicted was Kyle Shore, the 24 year old personal trainer from Porters Lake.
Let's Meet Kyle...
Kyle is the egotistical-turned-humble and over-confident physical threat. He developed a close alliance with Adel and house villain Paul early on in the game. He survived the first week but after both Paul and Neda were nominated for eviction, a movement began about backdooring a powerful threat. After Neda was removed from the block with the Power of Veto (POV) by Kenny, Head of Household (HOH) Andrew nominated Kyle as a replacement. On Day 15, he was evicted by a vote of 9-1.
Why Did He Lose?
Physical prowess is too much of an uncertainty when thinking about the future. Kyle is a strong houseguest, possibly the strongest in the house. Winning power is the only way to secure victory and having someone like him around who could win was the not a pleasant situation. The men's alliance saw the opportunity to place their future threat on the block and others saw the chance to remove a potential challenge winner from the house.
Plus, it didn't help that Kyle was part of the Outsiders. Paul, the house villain, left a path of destruction and anger in his wake, causing Adel and Kyle to suffer the same backlash. No one wanted to get near the pair after Paul caused too much drama. Even when Kyle was placed on the block, there was nothing he could do to turn the tide against his friend - they were in the same boat regardless.
How Could He Stay?
Kyle needed to build relationships outside of Paul and Adel. Before the house turned against them, he should have gotten closer to the men's alliance, showing his value and positioning to work with them. Paul caused a lot of drama and it wouldn't have been hard to keep the house focused on removing the drama. Kyle needed to keep playing but he sort of gave up and accepted his fate.
Last Thoughts...
Kyle owned the stereotype of being the physical threat as he walked into the house. However, the once boastful and over-confident houseguest turned the tide after he was evicted, becoming humble and compassionate. If he had shown more of those qualities to the other houseguests, he may have had an easier time winning people over. Alliances and friendships are two separate things in this game - you need both to survive and knowing when to prioritize the two can change the game. I'm happy for him that he will have strong friendships leaving the game, but one should never stop campaigning to stay. It's still a game!
The first week done and already the game experienced its first blindside. Wait...blindside or denial? When there is a unanimous vote in the first week, it's hard not to notice the writing on the wall beforehand. The first houseguest was a little ditzy and may not have realized that she would be the first to go but even in her own words, some people didn't tell her the truth. She wasn't ready to play the game.
The first person evicted is Anick Gervais, the 28 year old reiki master from Hanmer.
Let's Meet Anick...
Anick is the bubbly and spiritualist who wanted to bring the love revolution to the house. She was a little ditzy, erratic and talked constantly about vibes, feelings and energy. During the first Head of Household (HOH) competition, she was the first person to step off the ice block and Paul, the season's first HOH, placed her on the block against Andrew. He won Power of Veto (POV) and she had to campaign against Ika to no avail. On Day 8, she was evicted by a vote of 11-0.
Why Did She Lose?
Anick suffered the same fate as many before her: she was the easy evictee. Her personality rubbed people the wrong way and she was different enough that her actions could have proven to irritate people later down the road. Big Brother is a long game, it's three months in fact, and Anick was different. It could have been her fascination with energy and vibes, her bubbly personality or that mediation phase - she stood out too much in the first week to become an easy target and early evictee.
How Could She Stay?
Subtlety and playing smart would have saved Anick. If she had not been the first one off the ice block in the HOH competition and stayed in longer, the spark of attention wouldn't have gone to her. Anick's personality also already caused attention to float her way. If she had kept calm, got to know her houseguests and held off on all the spiritualist for a few weeks, she could have floated a few weeks. I don't like the floating strategy but when it's needed and done right, it is a viable option to follow.
Last Thoughts...
Anick had no shot at winning Big Brother. While Talla, last year's main Floater, almost made it to the end, Talla was well-liked and stayed in the background well; Anick only brought attention. After watching Anick's opening video, I had guessed that she would be one of the early boots and I was proven right. She seems like a really nice person and I hope she had a great time in the house. It's never fun to be the first person to go. That's Big Brother and only one person can win it.
The first season set the standard and now the house is back for another year.
Fourteen new houseguests were selected to compete in the season season of the game and they're ready to enter the house tonight. Not much about the season or its twist has been revealed, except for the fact that a secret 15th houseguest will be joining them.
Fourteen new houseguests were selected to compete in the season season of the game and they're ready to enter the house tonight. Not much about the season or its twist has been revealed, except for the fact that a secret 15th houseguest will be joining them.
My money is on a returning Big Brother Canada player from season one or someone from Big Brother USA. Similar to previous years, I don't do a first impressions post critiquing the players as my opinions change. I've been proven wrong in the past and Big Brother 15 might have set the standard on first impressions. Until the show starts tonight, check out the list of houseguests below:
Adel Elseri, 27, Welder
Andrew Gordon, 27, Restaurant Manager
Anick Gervais, 28, Reiki Master
Arlie Shaban, 25, Unemployed
Heather Decksheimer, 23, Model Agency Coordinator
Ika Wong, 29, Hair Stylist
Jon Pardy, 23, Student
Kenny Brain, 25, Model
Kyle Shore, 24, Personal Trainer
Neda Kalantar, 22, Freelance Fashion Stylist
Paul Jackson, 43, Motivational Speaker
Rachelle Diamond, 20, Student
Sabrina Abbate, 25, Makeup Artist
Sarah Miller, 32, Mortgage Broker
Topaz and the miscast vote will forever go down as both the stupidest and most shocking moment in Big Brother history. Seriously, who would have thought that would ever happen? In a nail-biting final vote, 27 year old teacher Jillian MacLaughlin defeated 21 year old fashion assistant Gary Levy by a vote of 4-3. Completing the final three was 24 year old diary farmer Emmett Blois who ended up with third place.
Similar to my final post for Big Brother 14, I'm going to critique the final three based on their performance and my thoughts from the finale. Let's see with the last jury member...
Emmett (Third Place)
The milkman didn't win like I thought (that doesn't mean I WANTED him to win). Emmett stood in the perfect position to win as both Gary and Jillian wanted to take him to the finals. Though, comfort and being too much of a threat near the end was his downfall. With only three people left and everyone liking him, he stood the biggest chance to win the title. Gary had to make a smart move and he stood a better chance against Jillian instead of Emmett. The only way Emmett could have survived was if he or Jillian won the final Head of Household (HOH). They didn't and now it's just part of Big Brother history.
Gary (Second Place)
Gary Glitter was so close to winning the title. If it weren't for Topaz putting in the wrong key, Gary would have won the money, the title, and all the prizes that came with winning. His win would be more personal than strategic/physical but there could be any reason that someone could win (case in point this season). Securing the final HOH ensured that he would be in the finals and suffice it to say he absolutely needed to win. Neither Emmett or Jillian would have taken him; I don't agree with Emmett's assessment of winners only having one chance to win. The returning player twist is a common Big Brother staple - Emmett needed to tone down his bitter jury attitude, at least Talla had some humour about it.
Jillian (First Place)
First off, congrats to Jillian for winning. Big Brother is a tough, personal and physical game that takes a lot even to get to the final two chairs. However, there's still a small bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. As a huge Big Brother fan, I'd like the person who won to have won fairly and with forethought by the jury; not by a technicality or mistake because someone put in the wrong key. Even though I like Jillian and in the scheme of the game Jillian winning is still a good outcome, Gary technically is the real winner. Votes are votes and Topaz shouldn't have messed up. Jillian might be the luckiest winner ever in Big Brother history and you need luck to win.