Big Brother 11, Week 1
Already, All Hell Breaks Loose
By Eric Hughes
July 19, 2009
You hate to make claims like this early, considering we're just four episodes deep into a long summer of Big Brother. Yet I'm going to put it out there that this season is easily comprised of the reality show's best crop of contestants since the days of Howie, Janelle and Ivette on Big Brother 6.
Want one better? Perhaps – give me another week to decide – we very well could be in the middle of Big Brother's zaniest season to date. And we're only at the end of week one.
What did it for me was my general concern about who would be evicted first on Thursday's live show. My inner dialogue was the following – No, it can't be Braden! Without him the popular and brain cliques may succumb to the strength of the athletes' growing regime!
And I just embarrassed myself.
I care about these "characters". They're feisty (several AWESOME verbal bouts this week), deceitful (some major point-blank lying going on) and, well, funny (Kevin, namely).
And whoever came up with the popular/athlete/brain/offbeat clique idea is brilliant. The gimmick is paying off big time.
Let's get to the recap!
Week 1 at a glance
Head of Household: Jessie
HouseGuests nominated for eviction (pre-veto): Chima and Lydia
Power of Veto winner: Russell
PoV used on: Lydia
HouseGuests nominated for eviction (post-veto): Chima and Braden
HouseGuest evicted live on Thursday: Braden
Who should have been evicted: Chima
New HoH: Ronnie
HouseGuests remaining: 12 (Casey, Chima, Jeff, Jessie, Jordan, Kevin, Laura, Lydia, Michele, Natalie, Ronnie, Russell)
"This is the craziest house I can ever imagine... it's mind blowing"
Said by Braden to Host Julie Chen upon his surprise exit from the Big Brother house after the first solid week of game play, the surfer's quote captures the essence of this season's crop of contestants.
First it looked like Lydia was heading home. Then Braden, because he became the replacement nominee after Tuesday's competition. Then Chima, because she was from the beginning of Jessie's administration the pawn on the Chopping Block – and Big Brother history tells the pawn always goes home.
Then, surprise surprise, Braden ends up being the season's first casualty – and is humiliated on live, national television by a scheming, ballsy geek. Nerd boy Ronnie – who can name the eviction order of every Big Brother history from every U.S. season – announced to America that he was surely going to hell as his swing vote (originally secured for Chima) was cast to Braden.
Following his eviction, Braden told Julie: "Ever since the beginning, [Ronnie] seemed kind of sinister... Good for him. He's a great liar."
Apparently, no one in the house can be trusted. Earlier in the week, again it was Ronnie who told a big, fat lie to Russell. A few days later, Lydia did the same, but to Braden. These sorts of closet skeletons are going to come back to haunt the HouseGuests. And when they do, look out, because already it seems the fuse has been lit.
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