(S11E09) I understand that we're in troubling economic times. I realize that budget cuts are affecting many companies. But really, Big Brother. We are talking the national television level here. Are there cutbacks in the creativity arena? The idea of a banana costume unrelated to anything specific is in and of itself a bit odd. But, such a cheap unisex half-costume takes the step to badly bizarre. I mean, it gives Casey yellow man-boobs. I don't blame him for being an angry banana man.

Sigh. This season's clique twist, and the extra advantage to the athlete clique in particular, have twisted the way the season has gone down so far. I didn't care for Jessie in his own season. I'm not an advocate of hamsters getting a second chance on the show unless it's an "all star" season made up entirely of previous houseguests. Bringing in Jessie in power in a clique boasting an extra member is a recipe for athletic domination.

It's not fair! Oh, I know that life itself isn't fair. But I can't help but wonder what if no one had returned to the house? What if all of the cliques started out on an even field? I think Natalie would be a lost, mouthy waif without her buddy Jessie. Russell and Jeff don't click so much now in the clique. Without Jessie, they'd click even less. That said, I guess the inner teenager in me thinking of Carrie must snicker a bit about the "populars" being offed first. Mind you, I do enjoy Jordan. It's just the thought of offing cheerleaders which I find amusing.

I begrudgingly give credit to Jessie for playing a better game this season than he did last season. While I still think of him as a tool, he is a power tool. And the power tool is playing the rest of them for fools. He got over his little fuss-budget "they disrespect me if they don't come to me for deals while I'm head of household" bit from last HoH. He sought out everyone's opinion for the replacement nominee in the case of the power of veto saving a nominee.

Then he did what he wanted to anyway -- he kept Ronnie the Weasly Rat Boy Geek safe. That only benefits him. It doesn't really benefit his clique per se as Ronnie doesn't have the same relationship with either Russell or Natalie. By keeping Ronnie in the game, the athletes have the extra number to get rid of a strong player for the other side.

Neither Jordan nor Michele are really strong strategic players. But his new nominee replacement choice is. We're talking banana man Casey. I truly like Jordan. I find her refreshing and, from watching the live feeds, she's not as dumb as they're portraying her on the show. She has some game. Casey has more game, though. When Michele took herself off the block and Jessie put Casey up, I had a fleeting thought that if Casey stays, it's going to be a more interesting house. I'm all for brouhahas! Do you think Casey staying would make it more entertaining? I like both hamsters for different reasons.

I feel compelled to touch on the power of veto comp. I know these hamsters are vying for a half-million dollars, but I would never go on television wearing a pig nose and pink clinging body suit while wallowing in mud. Perhaps if I just had to do that to earn the bucks, maybe. However, we're talking a whole three months of humiliation, all of it aired on the Internet and national television. Ew! I wonder if winning $2,500 will put a larger target on Jessie's back? I wonder why they couldn't have a better banana suit for Casey.