Big Brother 11 Episode 4

The athletes (except for Jeff, who hates his clique already) decided to make a deal with Lydia in Big Brother 11 Episode 3. Russell won veto and took her off the block, and at her suggestion, Braden was nominated instead. He’s up against Chima, who’s intended to be the pawn.

Ronnie’s confused how he did not go on the block considering how much he’s overplaying. Braden’s confused just in general.

Russell’s plan is to chop off the head of the snake that is Braden, Jordan, and Jeff. Braden doesn’t plan to cry about it, although Jordan does. Laura, the other member of the popular group, comes to support Braden, and apparently not having learned his lesson, so does Ronnie.

Lydia wants to know how come Jordan got so upset when Braden got nominated, whereas she didn’t cry when Lydia was nominated.

Braden blames Lydia, and he’s right. With that said, Russell wants to poke him with a stick and get him upset. It doesn’t take much convincing for him to begin attacking Lydia. Once he’s done talking about Lydia behind her back (while saying he doesn’t talk about people behind their backs), he goes out to first of all attack her to her face and then tell her Russell sold her out. Oh, and now he’s trying to get on Kevin’s bad side, too. Good way to win votes, dude.

So now Lydia is mad at Jordan, too. Jordan’s preference is to get along with everybody, and she doesn’t want to be guilty by association with the people she’s associated with. This leads to a shouting match. Then Jeff comes inside to defend Jordan, and this just allows the screaming to continue.

With so much of the house now against her because of her closeness with Braden, Jordan’s not giving up yet. Her plan: ally with Jeff, Laura, Casey, and both of Chima’s teammates to vote out Chima. Okay, she’s got Jeff, and Laura should be easy. But she wants Casey to go against the strong wishes of his team, and she, more importantly, wants Ronnie and Michele to both vote against their teammate and weaken their numbers just so that the popular group can strengthen theirs. Granted, she doesn’t have much choice, but just because this is her only plan, that doesn’t make it a worthwhile one.

Braden uses his time to apologize for anything he may have said that was wrong, but Chima isn’t going down without a fight. She doesn’t want anybody to forget the names Braden’s called everyone, and a vote for Braden is a vote for a bigot.

Votes
Russell: Braden
Natalie: Braden
Jeff: Chima
Jordan: Chima
Kevin: Braden
Laura: Chima
Lydia: Braden
Michele: Chima
Casey: Chima
Ronnie: Braden

Jordan’s idiotic plan almost worked. I’m a little confused how Michele ended up on the brains team.

In the event of a tie, the Head of Household casts the deciding vote. Braden has been evicted from the Big Brother house.

One week in, and the cliques are already showing signs of coming apart. Jeff abandoned the athletes almost right away, Casey has gone against his emotionally scarred offbeats, Michele voted against her brain teammate, and Braden has been axed from the popular team, leaving two people who don’t have any real connection.

The HOH competition is “Most likely to…” based on questions asked to Internet voters. First person to buzz in can answer. If they’re wrong, they’re out. If they’re right, they can eliminate someone else playing in that round.

Chima, Casey, Laura, and Natalie are first. Which clique would most likely skip school because they have a zit?
Laura answers popular correctly (I’m assuming from experience) and eliminates Chima.

Ronnie, Jordan, Kevin, and Jeff are next. Which clique would most likely misspell athlete?
Chenbot asks Ronnie before realizing Jeff’s light is on. He answers athletes. It’s a good thing this answer is so damn obvious. Jeff also answers athletes and is right. He eliminates Kevin.

Laura, Michele, Lydia, and Russell go next. Which clique would most likely bail on the prom?
Laura answers offbeats, which is correct. She eliminates L… Russell.

Jordan, Ronnie, Casey, and Natalie are next. Which clique would most likely miss their curfew because of a Star Wars…?
It’s a good thing he let her get out those words Star Wars. It’s the brains. He eliminates Natalie.

Next are Laura, Michele, Lydia, and Jeff. Which clique would most likely start a food fight in the…?
Laura answers athletes, which is incorrect, so she is eliminated. The answer is offbeat.

Jordan, Ronnie, Casey, and Jeff go next. Which clique would most likely give an inspirational speech while naked in the locker room?
Casey answers athletes correctly and eliminates Jeff, ensuring the athletes will not be in the HOH room.

Jordan, Michele, and Lydia are up next. Which clique would most likely spend more time with a mirror than a…?
Lydia answers popular and eliminates Jordan, the last member standing of the popular group.

Ronnie goes against Casey. Which clique would most likely blow off a date to go sho…?
Buzzing in a little bit early there, but those three letters should be sufficient. Ronnie answers popular, and Casey is out.

Michele and Lydia are against each other. Which clique would most likely take first place in the high school talent show?
Michele answers offbeats, which is correct. Lydia and the offbeats are out.

That leaves Michele up against Ronnie. Now’s the time to throw the competition, unless you just simply don’t trust your teammate. Which clique’s photo would most likely be missing from the yearbook?
Ronnie answers offbeats to win HOH. He’s gonna have to pick a side this week for real.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Big Brother 11 Episode 5, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

Survivor: Africa Episode 7

They had to be bit in the butt with the fact that Lindsey had votes against her, but Lex, Tom, and Kelly finally got a clue and voted her out in Survivor: Africa Episode 6, done in by a combination of big mouths from Frank and Brandon.

As happy as Frank probably is that Lindsey is gone, Brandon is, likewise, celebrating. He couldn’t take her any more. Not that this whole being outnumbered 3-2 thing works to his advantage. His plan is to distance himself from Kim P since one of them has to be the first to go.

Clarence goes to do his business now that he’s done digesting that chicken from the night before. Up comes a herd of elephants. Getting trampled by them now would be a bad way to die, but they leave him in peace. He might consider being more careful next time.

The question in the minds of Boran is whether it’s merger day, like they originally assumed. Merging with two chickens and a rooster left. What a waste if they can’t take them with them.

Brandon is looking forward to the merge and an individual game. He pretty much just hates his tribe.

Speaking of hating people on the tribe, Kelly has decided that she wants to vote out Lex because he’s trying too hard to win and is a totally weird person. But she can’t because it’s not a good time. What a different game it would have made for if she did flip sides in the last vote.

When they arrive at the challenge, they’re told it’s the merger. They are without name, but their new color is green. They just need one camp to live at, so everybody will return to Boran.

The immunity challenge is to stand on a log with one arm raised and connected to a rope connected to a bucket. Last one dry wins. Kelly is the first one out at 14 minutes, and Kim J is right behind her. They use this time to talk. They’re surprised by how much and how willingly Frank and Teresa gave away information. By the way, Frank hates women and doesn’t want a woman to win, so it’d probably be best to not have him on the jury. Brandon is out at 18 minutes. Kim J follows at 36 minutes and then Big Tom at 44 minutes. Frank is out at 55 minutes, and the others poorly try to hide their excitement. At 1 hour and 14 minutes, Teresa begins singing Tomorrow from Annie (badly), as the tough guys remaining show signs of pain. An hour later, they’re all still standing, though. Can Jeff tempt them with a burger? Nobody interested, so the eliminated players get it. At 2 hours 48 minutes, Ethan asks Clarence if he’d step down for a whole pizza. At 3 hours 10 minutes, Probst returns. Yeah, it’s pizza, but still no takers. The eliminated players again get themselves a meal. 8 minutes later, Lex is out, with no food to show for it. Ethan drops at 3 hours 38 minutes. That leaves Clarence up against Teresa. Nobody wants to see Clarence win. He’d like to make a deal, but she’s not willing because she’s too outnumbered. At 4 and a half hours, Probst offers some chicken, salad, corn on the cob, rice, beer, and Mountain Dew. Clarence knows they want him gone, too. He looks over to his tribe for some assurance about either himself or Teresa. They don’t care. At 6 hours, he offers rock, paper, scissors again. Paper covers rock. Teresa wins immunity.

Everybody’s happy to return to camp and have a feast. Frank doesn’t want to participate. He goes off on his own and gathers wood but does return eventually without any great deal of enthusiasm (and in a hurry to go off and get more wood). Kelly would like for him to take some prescription drugs to counteract his antisocial nature. Perhaps also something to cure himself of believing he’s an elephant.

Maji is water, moto is fire, so they combine them together to form a tribe name of Moto Maji. They all agree on the name, although nobody can seem to remember it the next day.

Now that that’s out of the way, who’s the target? According to Lex, it’s Clarence. Lex reveals to him that this is the plan. In Lex’s mind, revealing this to him at the last possible minute after keeping it from him all day makes him the ethical player. Kelly likes Clarence now, but she doesn’t like either Lex or Frank. Neither Kim J nor Big Tom are enthusiastic about getting rid of one of their own when there are still three members on the other tribe, but they’re not putting up much of a fight to go against it. Teresa will honor her word to not vote for Clarence.

Votes
Clarence
Lex
Clarence
Lex
Clarence
Clarence
Clarence
Clarence

Clarence has been voted off the island. Lex received two votes (Clarence and Teresa), and he’s not going to be happy.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of Survivor: Africa Episode 8 Smoking out the Snake.

America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 8

Last night was busier than most as far as actual talent, as America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 7 brought us Tallan Latz, the Platt brothers, and the Spiritual Harmonizers.

Chris Kegley (aka Keg, the Lone Ranger of rock) plans to be like the great rockers of Seattle. Well, his hairstyle is lost in the 80s anyway. I… don’t get it. Why did he only get one X? Piers says he’s the Lone Ranger of rock because nobody wants to play with him. Nobody actually wants to see a one man rock band either.

Kari Callin has been singing for 40 years. Because of the way she looks, nobody believes she’s a singer, but she wants to prove it for herself. She sings Somewhere from West Side Story, and she has potential. Sharon got goose bumps. Piers thinks she has an amazing voice.

A group of students named Reality have that creepy happy song playing in the background, but that’s usually a good sign. They sing Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat from Guys and Dolls. They actually seem talented, but that arrangement just didn’t work. Sharon wants them to go to a retirement home with their routine.

Destined 2 Be are dancers from Indiana. Hoff thought the choreography was terrific. Sharon thinks they have great heart and a great future.

Rashida Jolley sings and plays harp, which she learned from her late father. She performs Killing Me Softly by Lauryn Hill. Not sure what potential the instrument choice has, but her voice is great. Although Sharon thinks she’s beautiful, sings beautifully, and plays beautifully, she’s not sure whether it all works together. Piers thought she made the harp quite sexy.

College roommates Matt and Anthony (no group name) formed a song and dance act when they finally started talking to each other a few months after they began rooming together. Matt plays guitar while Anthony tap dances. Individually, this is quite good, but I’m struggling to see how it goes together. Best tap dancing Hoff has ever seen. Piers has never seen anything quite like that before.

Piano player and singer Mia Boostrom was cut in Vegas last year. She sings Georgia on My Mind by Ray Charles. Sharon notices the increased confidence and personality. Piers thinks she’s a much better singer now, though he doesn’t know whether she’s good enough to win. Hoff still thinks she’s got a ways to go.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 9, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 16

Caitlin and Phillip were sent home in So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 15, which brings us down to the top 10.

Now that just 10 are left, the judges are leaving it in America’s hands, except for the fact that the judges’ comments will heavily influence public opinion. America will be voting for individuals, not couples. This week also represents the formation of new partnerships as the old ones are dissolved to be replaced by partnerships formed at the draw from a hat. Debbie Allen joins the judges’ table.

Top 5 Girls
Style: Bollywood
Choreographer: Nakul Dev Mahajan
Song: Dholna from Pyar Ke Geet soundtrack
Nigel: All five girls had everything.
Mary: Bollywow. Anyone could end up in the final based on that.
Debbie: All inhaled the style, culture, and dress. Best top 5 group of ladies ever.

Kayla Rodomski & Evan Kasprzak
Style: Viennese Waltz
Choreographers: Tony Meredith & Melanie Lapatin
Song: Kiss from a Rose by Seal
Nigel: Didn’t see the difference between that and a fast waltz. Danced well, although it could have been a nightmare.
Mary: Painful watching Evan’s turns and leg action. Not good enough. However, his lifts looked effortless, and he pulled off class and elegance. Kayla never disappoints. Taking it to anothe rlevel.
Debbie: You handled your big woman. Kayla’s beautiful and so powerful.

Janette Manrara & Ade Abayomi
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographers: Tabitha & Napoleon Dumo
Routine: The funkmaster has to hypnotize the girl into being funky.
Song: Love Sex Magic by Ciara featuring Justin Timberlake
Nigel: Both danced great. They’ve got the funk.
Mary: That was funky. Sure was a lot of fun. Well synchronized. Just right.
Debbie: Wore me out. Mesmerizing together.

Jeanine Mason & Jason Glover
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Travis Wall (first time choreographing)
Routine: Childhood friends hooking up
Song: If It Kills Me (The Casa Nova Sessions) by Jason Mraz
Nigel: Fabulous choreography bettered by the two people dancing it. Jeanine will carry a lot of hearts tonight. The first time she’s had a partner to keep up with her technically. Both stars tonight.
Mary: You two are stars. Don’t underestimate Jason’s strength and power. On a new level tonight. Jeanine has not missed a step and keeps growing.
Debbie: A magical pairing. It’s all been said.

Randi Evans & Kupono Aweau
Style: Paso Doble
Choreographers: Tony Meredith & Melanie Lapatin
Routine: He’s the matador, and she’s the cape.
Song: Dies Irae by Karl Jenkins
Nigel: Not sure the dancing was as good as the choreography. Kupono did not carry the strength needed. Little chemistry between the couple. Didn’t feel authentic.
Mary: Did not rise to the challenge. Didn’t believe the dancing, the chemistry, or Randi’s wig. Mediocre will not cut it.
Debbie: Needed more time, but you don’t have any more time.

Melissa Sandvig & Brandon Bryant
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio
Song: Aquarius from Hair by The New Broadway cast
Nigel: Loved the way Melissa’s ballet style was used, as well as Brandon’s gymnastics. Brought back so many memories from a time long ago forgotten.
Mary: Unbelievable. Stars of the show.
Debbie: So amazingly powerful, technical, yet different. Seemless together.

Top 5 Guys
Style: African
Choreographer: Jeffrey Page
Song: Balant Funk by Ayanda Clarke & Shawn Kelly
Nigel: One of the toughest routines ever. Nobody stood out like a sore thumb. All worked hard and did great.
Mary: So much energy and so exciting. Thoroughly entertained.
Debbie: So pure and so authentic. You can’t just get up and do this. You have to train.

Brandon: 1-888-TEMPO-01
Randi: 1-888-TEMPO-02
Kupono: 1-888-TEMPO-03
Melissa: 1-888-TEMPO-04
Evan: 1-888-TEMPO-05
Kayla: 1-888-TEMPO-06
Ade: 1-888-TEMPO-07
Jeanine: 1-888-TEMPO-08
Jason: 1-888-TEMPO-09
Janette: 1-888-TEMPO-10

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Episode 17, which airs Thursday at 9/8c on Fox.

America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 7

Last week we saw opera singer Barbara Padilla on America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 6. Tonight the audtions continue.

Government contractor Jeffrey Widom is always humming. It appears he’s singing. Okay, so this is apparently a song by Mr. Bean. And I trust this guy with my tax dollars?

Tallan Noble Latz, age 9, is a guitar player. He’s picked up this talent on his own and has been playing for 4 years. If he wins, he’d like to have his mom quit work so he can spend more time with her. Hoff thinks he’s got a major career ahead of him. Piers’ son about the same age can just about play Three Blind Mice on a good day. Sharon says he’s got the soul and the right vibe.

Retired barber Tony Ferrante, 74 has always dreamed of making it on stage. He dances disco. If he were younger, he’d get more buzzers than just Piers, but he’ll get passed through because they’re inspired by someone his age pulling this off. Sharon was very entertained. Piers doesn’t think this is the next great act in America. Hoff felt like dancing. Unsurprisingly, Tony gets two votes, enough to go to Vegas. Then he calls Piers a little bitch.

Kelli Glover auditioned for American Idol Season 1, where America’s vote cut her after she made the top 32. She’s taken a break for 6 years, but I’m assuming she’s going to have a very strong voice, although I can’t say I remember her from before. She sings Beyonce’s Listen. Hoff thinks girls from Jersey rock. Piers is not sure she’s likely to win the show, but she’s good enough to move on to Vegas.

Pop group the Badd Girls say they’re really good girls. Their music has to be a dance track. They want to get the people in the club moving. They’ll be moving alright. Right out the door. Bad vocals, bad dancing, and a lot less hot than they think they are. Hoff found them to be like cats being squeezed.

Cy, Cheetah, and Boone (really?) are the Platt brothers, who grew up without television, which led them to create their talent. They are a variety act trained in dance, gymnastics, and theater. Piers thinks they’ve got all the tools, but now they’ve got to go away and really think about what their next move is when they go to Vegas.

A group of postal workers from Richmond, VA formed a group by accident one day at work. They are the Spiritual Harmonizers, ages 21-76, and they sing Boyz II Men’s It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday. Hoff thought that was awesome. Piers is normally bored by these kinds of acts but really enjoyed the lead singer.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 8, which airs Wednesday at 9/8c on NBC.