Print this article E-mail this article More articles by this author

Related Sites: · Official Site · Sir Linksalot: Big Brother 11

Ronnie's reign as Head of Household has come to a tumultuous end, as the house learned how he was playing them all against each other. Will he wind up on the chopping block tonight, or will the new Head of Household, Jessie, take pity on his erstwhile ally?

As the houseguests gear up for another week of play, Ronnie vows to fight with everything he has, despite the current mood of the house. Russell is happy that nobody is focusing on him, as everyone has their sights set on Ronnie. "Ronnie is dangerous and needs to go home," says Casey -- ostensibly because Ronnie's playing the game. Michele has been laying low since the game begins, and now worries about what the new Head of Household, Jessie, thinks about her.

Kevin chats with Casey about the current state of the house, and Casey assumpes that Jessie is going to "stick to the plan" -- said plan being to backdoor Ronnie. He and Kevin also think that natalie is once again the co-HOH like she was last time. As they talk, Casey says that Ronnie brought pain to the house -- I have to wonder of Casey came here to play Big Brother or for a sleepover. But as they pine for the plan to come to fruition, Jessie confesses in the Diary Room that he feels no obligation to put Ronnie up on the block. "He didn't lie to me," he says.

And here's another surprise: Through the magic of editing, we learn that Russell's obnoxious attacks on Ronnie last week were the result of collusion with Ronnie, designed to further disguise the alliance of the Brains and the Athletes. Gotta say, that was pretty slick, and is sure to shock the other houseguests if Ronnie doesn't go up on the block tonight (although I'm sure they'll all figure it's so Ronnie can be booted out the back door). The Athletes, however, have another target currently in mind: Casey.

With the majority of the house still nursing an ugly grudge against Ronnie, the deposed Sith Lord hides out in his room, reading the Bible while a group congregates in the back yard. Natalie goes to him, suggesting he get out there and mingle. "You know you're good this week," she tells him. "There's hope," Ronnie realizes, "and that's all I need."

After seeing Jessie's new HOH room (which includes more pictures of Jessie's favorite person -- Jessie -- and some photos of his motorcycle that rev Lydia's engines), Casey goes to Jeff and Jordan to confirm that the plan is still to get rid of Ronnie. Jeff, an Athlete in name only, worries, and that's when Natalie comes in. She assures them all that they are sticking to the plan -- but which plan? She doesn't say specifically, and Casey tells her that saving Ronnie isn't worth pissing off half the house. Natalie promises that she'll go back to Jessie and find out what he's thinking. Well, she halfway does that. She does go back to Jessie, but to tell him about Casey running his mouth, threatening a bigger target on Jessie if he chooses not to nominate Ronnie. Jessie doesn't take that information lightly, and Natalie later DRs that she would be ecstatic to see Ronnie stay and Casey go.

Love Triangle

There are currently three people attracted to Jessie: Lydia, Natalie, and Jessie himself. As we see Jessie cuddling with Lydia in the hammock, she DRs that she has a "kindergarten crush" on him. She tries to open up to Jessie about meeting people who are angels, but it's not quite the blunt, straight-on approach required to communicate to Jessie. Meanwhile, Jessie DRs something about cocoons and butterflies and getting to really know a person.

While Ronnie tries to repair bridges with Michele ("Sorry, Ronnie, you screwed me over," is Michele's Diary Room reply), Lydia asks Jessie for a kiss on the cheek. He plants one there with his fingertips, which is hardly what she wanted. What she wanted even less was for Natalie to join them, taking up the seat on the other side of Jessie. Lydia excuses herself for a moment, and Jessie invites Natalie to lay across his lap so he can rub her shoulders -- which decidedly rubs Lydia the wrong way when she returns for her seat to find it gone. Her disappointment is noticed by all in attandance, and she goes back inside, followed by Chima and Kevin, leaving Natalie alone with Jessie. Let the backstabbing now begin: Natalie doesn't trust Lydia! She's convinced that Lydia is jealous of Natalie, because -- wait for it -- Natalie is a virgin! Now, does Lydia come across to anyone like she pines for her purity? Honestly? Jessie DRs his travails: "It's not always a good thing to be ridiculously good looking."

But there's a third woman in the house wanting Jessie's attentions -- at least in his capacity as HOH. Michele sets up a meeting with Jessie (and, by default, Natalie -- can we just say the HOH this week is Jessalie?) to talk strategy and begin forging alliances. She says she can be a loyal vote for him. Jessie notices, however, that Michele never talks to him unless Jessie has some kind of power. When Natalie asks Michele about safety should Michele become HOH, Michele hems and haws around the subject with a whole lot of words that stop way short of a promise of safety. Jessie doesn't even bother trying to hide his disgust at the display.

Have / Have-Not Competition: Beer Run

Jordan tells the viewers what it's like to be a Have-Not. The slop is salty, and the cold showers force her outdoors to shave her legs using the sun-warmed water in the hose. The AC is apparently turned way up in the Have-Not bedroom as well, forcing them to bundle up for warmth.

To begin this week's competition, Jessie adopts a redneck accent to read the rules. Each clique will have a representative player in the game ("so choose carefully). Since Jordan is the only Popular clique member left, she plays by default. Chima is elected to play for the Brains and Kevin for the Offbeats, while the Athletes are exempt (meaning Athlete Jeff -- who's actually a Popular without the strings -- gets to coast again).

The object of the game tonight is to pilot little keg-cars -- they look something like modified Segways -- and grab at the giant dangling ice cubes. In the center of the track are three barrels, one for each clique, on a spinner. Players should try to put the ice cubes into the barrel of the clique they're trying to force into being a Have-Not. And they have to wear special Big Brother beer goggles to warp their vision further.

Jordan doesn't seem to understand the game at first, as she gets at least three cubes into her own barrel. Kevin is targeting the Brains, claiming that he's only trying to help Ronnie out because he needs to lose weight anyway). Kevin is also trying an unusual tactic of throwing the styrofoam cubes at his own can in an attempt to knock some of the cubes out, but I never saw this to work.

When time has been called, Jessie starts counting the cubes. The Offbeats have 12 cubes in their barrel. Jordan miraculously only has 11 cubes, but the Brains have the unlucky 13th cube and will be the Have-Nots for this week.

But all is not lost for the Brains! In addition to Big Brother slop, America has voted to let them have one other food combination this week, and America chose for that to be... Cabbage and Cocktail Weenies! Ronnie says he'll actually enjoy the cocktail weenies, and plans on having weenies in barbecue sauce all week long. Hey, sign me up! "This is like a triple-bonus word score for me this week," he says. Chima hears him and thinks, "My team is full of dorks," as Ronnie prepares to dig into the weenies while Michele hefts a pair of cabbages.

Jordan is the next person to approach the HOH room to ask Jessalie about seeing Ronnie gone. Her reasons? "Because he's a snake... I don't know, that's just my honest opinion... I think it would benefit the whole house." Jessie says he surely doesn't want to go against the house by any means, and Jordan leaves, secure in the knowledge that Ronnie will be the target. She goes to tell Jeff that Jessie is "sticking to the plan" which prompts Jeff to say, with relief, "I feel as good as it gets in the Big Brother house."

An unusual bit of bonding occurs with Kevin and Russell, out in the hammock. Russell admits he's burned some bridges with ex-girlfriends, and learns that Kevin has been with the same partner for nine years. Kevin likes the stability of the relationship, and DRs that bonding with Russell was a very interesting experience: "Kudos for trying," he DRs. Russell confesses in the Diary Room that he admires and respects Kevin for sticking it out for nine years (apparently Russell gets bored easily).

Lydia explains that, because of the juggling of the Haves and Have-Nots, the beds are always being switched around in the Big Brother house, noting that the only person who's never had to switch beds is Natalie. Lydia's never had a bed to herself, and with Natalie presumably sleeping in the HOH room she thinks she can finally crash in Natalie's bed. Uh-uh. Nope. Natalie isn't giving up her bed. This aggravates Lydia into staying up all night, which is how Kevin finds her in the back yard practicing yoga. He tells her she's playing dangerously by pitting herself against Natalie this week, setting herself up for nomination.

And, of course, Kevin's right. Inside, Natalie is telling Jessie she doesn't even want to talk to Lydia anymore. She wants Jessie to tell Lydia not to talk to her, as well, putting Jessie in the middle once again. Jessie asks Natalie if she can't even be civil to Lydia. "She wants to split us up," spits Natalie. "She's jealous! And she's bringing nothing to the table!" Well, honey, Jessie's table might be a bit more accommodating than you think, and while Jessie's been a fairly docile fellow, I think that given the choice between the two of you, he's likely to go with the one who isn't giving him ultimatums all the time.

But for now, Jessie -- poor, hangdog Jessie -- goes to Lydia to ask her if she wants to go upstairs to talk. Natalie is up on the HOH room watching it all on the video monitor. Lydia declines Jessie's offer, saying that when she wants to talk to Jessie, she wants to talk to Jessie, not the Jessalie HOH creature.

Nomination Ceremony

As we gear up for this week's nomination ceremony, Casey DRs that he'll be happy with Jessie if Ronnis is the one evicted. But Ronnie says that he feels as safe as he possibly could this week, while Michele moans, "Nobody cares if I walk out the door." Look at that, she is smart after all! Make some friends, girl!

 

On the Block
Jordan	Michele

Jessie brings out the wheel of misfortune, and begins pulling out the keys, with Russell, Jeff and Natalie enjoying safety from eviction. In order, the keys are:

Chima
Kevin
Casey
Lydia
Ronnie

Saving Ronnie for last makes me wonder if Jessie is sending a message to the house, or to Ronnie. Meanwhile, Jordan and Michele are on the block, and Jessie gives the best nomination speech ever -- he says nothing! Just a shrug. No reasons at all for his choices! Brilliant!

Diary Room Fallout

Michele: I'd like to think I'm closer with the Athletes than Jordan is.
Jordan: Hopefully me and Michele are pawns so we can backdoor Ronnie.
Jessie: Michele and Jordan aren't exactly "killer instinct" competitors.
Ronnie: It's Jessie, the Governor... and he just pardoned me!

 

Previous Episodes:
Episode 07 | Episode 06 | Episode 05 | Episode 04 | Episode 03 | Episode 02 | Episode 01