JeffAndJordan

The producers of 'Big Brother 13' (Thu., 9PM ET on CBS) definitely found a way to make these first few weeks of the season more compelling and interesting. And we're not even talking about the twist of returning houseguests to stir things up.

!!SPOILER ALERT!!

In fact, this 13th Season Premiere featured two twists that left the eight new players with eight jaws hanging on the ground. The first twist threw opening strategies out the window, and the second one threw elimination strategies out the window. Now no one really knows what to do.

(S16E05) Brave soldiers marching as to war ... or maybe it's just a team from 'The Amazing Race' hoping to make the pit stop without interference from the Red Baron. The episode started off on a new and different note. After arriving at the last pit stop, the teams were taken to an undisclosed location. They didn't know; we didn't know. Mais oui, we all figured it out. It turned out that the lack of whereabouts knowledge wasn't what affected this leg. It was all about over confidence. That can end up biting you in the butt.

(S16E03) "Run like scalded dogs?" Well, that's a new one on me. It was said by one of the cowboys on 'The Amazing Race' tonight and is just about as pleasant as the "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater" saying. Who comes up with such evil sayings? What twisted minds create such horrid images? Probably some of the same minds who create challenges on reality television competition shows.

(S16E02) 'The Amazing Race' is the reality television show that most viewers want to live vicariously through. After all, who really wants to be stuck in a house with strangers? Or eat bugs? Nope. We want adventure! A whirlwind trip through countries, cool challenges, a quick cultural dip into unfamiliar territories, and more. Sure, there's a million dollar prize at the end. But I think the show attracts some teams almost as much for the adventure of it all. However, teams caught up in the adventure sometimes take their eyes off the prize and face Philimination.

(S16E01) It's always hard to keep the teams straight during the first few episodes of any reality show. 'The Amazing Race' is no exception to the rule. True, as a 'Big Brother' fan, I'm all too familiar with Jordan and Jeff from last season. But that leaves ten teams to confuse me! At least the teams are diverse enough so that my main dilemma is figuring out who is whom on the same sex teams. I mean, really, which one is Jordan and which one is Dan? At least I can tell the male and female Jordans from different teams apart! And I also know Chile isn't China.

(S11E25) It's the end of the line for the two lovebirds of the Big Brother 11 season, Jordan and Jeff. With both of them sitting in the nomination chairs tonight, it's inevitable that one will go home. Kevin and Natalie hold the power in the house, and lone wolf Michele is but a lone vote. Kevin doesn't vote unless there's a tie.

(S11E24) Kevin wanted to win the head of household on Big Brother 11. Sure, the room and the basket of goodies is always fun. But the tough part, especially this late in the game, is making the right nominations and planning ahead for the veto competition. Nakomis (BB5) did it right. She literally invented the backdoor plan -- put two hamsters on the block, but neither of them your real target. Then, if the veto is used to save one, slap up your target with no way to escape. Did Kevin do that? Nope. He put his two targets on the block.