It’s a new season of Big Brother, and thank God for that because Big Brother 8 sucked pretty bad. The story line (“estranged” 40-year-old father with the mind of a two-year-old and his self centered brat of a daughter who thought everything was nooottt faiirrrrr allegedly got over their own egos and became very close… yeah, I threw up a little bit instead of saying “awww…”) and associated blatant rigging tainted what could have been a good season but just simply was never allowed to get off the ground on its own merits because the producers were just way too in love with the power the America’s Player twist gave them to care about anything else.
Thanks to the writers strike, Big Brother is being given the best time slot it’s ever had. While going up against American Idol the next few weeks isn’t particularly a good thing, this does mark the first time the summer staple has premiered during the regular season. Here’s what we do know. There will be no America’s Player twist this year (yay), and players will be combined into teams with their soulmates (as if) and will do everything together. Beyond that, it’s anybody’s guess. We don’t even know how long the season will run, as that’s something that will probably be decided as time goes by, perhaps dependent upon how well the show does in the ratings. They could rush it and have it done before April, or they could opt to keep it on through mid-May, with twists in the game from double elimination weeks to having the pairs split up after a month.
This is what I’d like to see this year. When the producers rig the show (and they will), I want it to be less obvious. How long do you give me before I’m disappointed?
Julie Chenbot is back with a cast of 16 in Big Brother 9: ‘Til Death Do You Part. All the cast members are allegedly single and looking for love, which they’re apparently going to find on a reality show. It could happen. The houseguests will be combined in teams of two with their Big Brother appointed soulmates, with whom they will do everything together, from voting to sleeping to being evicted.
Everybody’s allowed to enter the house like any other season, but the bedrooms are locked. The seven girls are the first ones to enter, and they’re waiting for the nine guys (one’s gay, one says he’s bi but seems to lean more toward the guys). Sharon and Jacob, who dated on and off for 12 years (uh, he’s 23 now) until he cheated on her, are about to be reunited. Hey, I saw this twist already in season 4. Jen and her boyfriend Ryan are the other twist that we’ve seen already in season 6. They will work together as a team and try to get through undiscovered, and if they do, they win half a million dollars.
Sharon immediately begins telling the women she’s pissed off that her ex is there. If she’s smart, she’ll use it to her advantage. Then again, CBS may just force them to work together.
Matt already wants to sleep with every woman in the house, and probably some of the guys as well. It’s just a question of whether he’s more in love with himself than any of them.
Alex takes a page out of Kail’s book, pretending he doesn’t own a company.
Julie breaks the news to the houseguests, telling them they each have a “perfect match” sitting in the room with them. Then she tells them they’re going to play as teams.
The pairs are:
Alex & Amanda (he’s happy about this)
James & Chelsia (she likes motorbikes, not one being pedaled across country)
Natalie & Matt (he’s happy she’s… breathing)
Jen & Parker (not her boyfriend Ryan)
Joshuah & Neil (there’s a surprise)
Jacob & Sharon (she’s not happy, but he seems okay)
The last two couples are stuck in sleeping bags.
Ryan & Allison
Sheila & Adam (he calls her ma, and she can’t stand him)
Some of the partners are stupid idiots and are immediately trying to put a wedge between themselves and their partners. They better get over it, or their time in the house will be short lived. Sheila says she’s too shallow to be with Adam (at least she’s honest). Sharon’s ready to punch something.
Now that they’ve got the teams, power couple is up for grabs. One member of the couple will be suspended in the air and lowered on the other partner, then they’ll both be hoisted back up. The last ones standing will win power couple. Allison’s not impressed with Ryan’s profuse sweating but doesn’t care and wants to be a team. Sheila quits at 5 minutes because she hates Adam. This is just pathetic. Can’t they just be thrown off the show for being babies? Neil and Joshuah are out at 9 minutes. Amanda and Alex are out at 28 minutes. Sharon and Jacob give up knowing they can’t win, but they worked together pretty well all things considered.
Now that half the teams are out, Julie makes an offer: whoever can bend down and grab a pillow will get $10,000 if they win, a big risk to take. Matt & Natalie aren’t interested, but the others try for it. Not worth the risk because not only will you possibly fall or at least strain yourself, but you also get people thinking “They already have $10,000, so they don’t need to win.” Jen grabs the pillow, as does Chelsia. Allison falls in the process, eliminating her and Ryan. Likewise, Chelsia falls in this effort. Parker & Jen negotiate with Matt & Natalie, promising them safety for the week. Since they have a pillow, Parker & Jen also win $10,000, in addition to being the power couple.
Adam’s hoping he and Sheila get kicked out. I can echo that sentiment.
Parker’s thinking of targeting Ryan & Alison… good luck getting that past Jen.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Big Brother 9 Episode 2, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on CBS.