Big Brother 11: HoH #4 conclusion, Nominations #4

(S11E11) When we last left our Big Brother 11 hamsters, they were vying for head of household in a twisted graduation-themed masochistic amusement ride scenario. Why graduation? Well, it's the end of the cliques, and they're all solo players in the game. Folks like Natalie are feeling very vulnerable. After all, what game has that girl got other than being Jessie's pit bull? Jeff has his worries, too. While being a part of the athlete clique, he never really was a part of the group. We're finally into some strategy other than the bullies with a head-start advantage ruling the game. Good.

Now, if you read the spoilers post here on TV Squad a few days back, you already know the winner. But there's nothing quite like watching it go down. Or, to be more accurate, watch them go down. First out was Kevin, and he just happened to grab the best prize box -- $5,000. Then went Lydia, also collecting a decent prize box with a 42" flat screen television.

I outright guffawed when both Ronnie and Natalie chose empty boxes. I mean it. I guffawed. It's a wonder the neighbors didn't call the cops on me. I just can't think of any two players in the house who so don't deserve any prizes! At least Jordan got to choose who becomes a Have Not this week. That didn't quite go down on the show as it did on the live feeds, but Jessie sure did get pouty. They weren't too happy with the squash and squid either. To steal a line from a commenter on my blog -- "Squash and squid? Isn't that the Jessie/Lydia relationship?"

In the end, the deal was struck. While Jessie encouraged Russell to tell Jeff he'd put Ronnie on the block, I think it was Russell's original choice. Of all the people he might dislike or mistrust, Ronnie is number one on his hit list. He doesn't need Jessie to dictate his moves! Another editing bit I noticed in the deal between Jeff and Russell was that Russell told Jeff he was the sole vote to keep Casey because he gave his word to Casey and kept it.

So Jeff dropped down with the deal made: Russell would not put Jeff or Jordan on the block and Ronnie would go on. Russell is the new head of household. And, I'm liking this guy more and more each week. He's starting to think for himself and, for the most part, he's playing the game with a semblance of integrity. I like the idea of a Jeff and Russell alliance. As of this moment in time, they're my favorite two hamsters in the house. And I'm not just sucking up to Russell because he holds the power. My name isn't Lydia!

Sigh. Then we had to endure Lydia hitting on Russell -- he didn't buy a word of it. Ronnie hit on Russell in his own way, promising loyalty like the quivering mass of nerdiness with delusions of grandeur that he is. While I don't think Russell is as loyal to his old buddy-bud Jessie as he once was, I don't think he's ready to burn that bridge just yet. Natalie, Chima, Kevin, and Michele are probably a bit more expendable to his game right now.



Lydia's face after nominations says it all. Russell put Ronnie and Lydia on the block, only addressing Ronnie in the speech. He spoke of Ronnie's lies about him (Russell) and said he wants him out. In closing diary room bits, Russell said that Ronnie's a snake, but he himself is a mongoose and a mongooses eats snakes. Kevin told us that he's a king cobra and a king cobra kills a mongoose. Why am I so reminded of the logic behind rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock?

The coming week should be interesting when the coup d'etat goes down. Sure, there is the power of veto on Tuesday night first. But that's already happened on the live feeds. The coup d'etat will be a surprise to us all, as it must be kept secret to use.