BB18: Live Feeds into Sunday Evening - September 11

Much better than that horribly messy "bun."

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Betrayed Boyz:

• Well, they were thinking the schedule would be changed up a bit as we head into the final days of the season.
• Now they know for sure as the PoV meeting was held this morning instead of its usual Monday slot.
• There weren't any surprises. 
• Nicole chose not to use the Power of Veto.
• Paul and Victor will remain on the block and one of them (Victor is the plan) will go home ... tomorrow.
• Sure, the show will be on Tuesday evening (8pm ET/PT). But the actual eviction will be taped tomorrow night. Tuesday's show should have the comic veto comp and meeting, plus the first eviction of the week.
• I expect an extended live feeds block from sometime tomorrow afternoon to um ... whenever.
• Everything remains calm in the house. Victor and Paul continue to be friends with all and friendly to all despite Victor's initial outbursts after being betrayed.
• They have their cards once again. I'm surprised BB hasn't brought in the dollar store arts and crafts stuff.
• The dominoes remain among the missing.
• And, of course, Pablo has never returned. I hear he's getting psychiatric help for stress from being attached to Paul so often.
• Lots of small talk, production talk (You are NOT allowed to talk about PRODUCTION), previous hamster talk, final comps of previous seasons, how much Victor and Paul miss boning ... you get the drift.
• They had the yard for a bit, but complained of the heat.
• Now they'll probably complain about being locked inside for comp set-ups!
• Victor and Paul practiced their speeches. They want to be witty, yet biting. I think they think they're ZingBots.
• That's about all I have for you tonight!

They have the cards again.

Eat, eat, eat. Sleep, sleep, sleep.

Like a kid stealing from the cookie jar

BB18: HoH Comp Completion, Nominations Show Blog Party - September 11, 2016

Hamster watchers ready?! Who will rule the slip and slide?

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be constantly updating this entry. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area!

But first ... we have to sit through "previously on Big Brother."

Okay, we pick up on the slip and slide HoH comp! Paul and Victor are still thinking their final four with Nicole and Corey might keep them safe. Victor can't compete in the comp as the outgoing HoH. Nicole tells us it might be best to get either Paul or Victor out this week. In a clip, Corey tells James they have his back. He then talks to Nicole about it. Then both talk to James.

Uh-oh -- Victor and Paul need to watch their backs! 

These slip and slide comps always have plenty of funny falls. I wouldn't want to be the one falling, though. Nicole is going for the smaller container to get the big scoop. Corey is in the lead with the big container. James is in second. Paul isn't doing well at all. 

Nicole gets the big scoop. Paul is still trying to go for the big scoop. They edited this to make it seem like he was closer to Nicole than he actually was. Corey is doing the comp amazingly fast. 

Corey wins HoH! 

Paul and Victor are pretty confident that they'll be safe this week even though one would have to go up as a pawn with James. 

Victor says it's great to finally have an alliance that wins and keeps their word.
:X

Into a segment about how James and Natalie patched things up before the live show. He apologizes to her for the things he said. She hides under a blanket. She still claims she never threw him under the bus, but if she did, she apologizes. Say what?

A Corey on Nicole salty water prank bit, then onto the HoH room reveal. He got Taylor Swift music, not surprising at all.   

Corey and Nicole talk. Corey wants to put Paul and Victor on the block, Victor the target.  

Paul is starting to worry about "sneaky" James getting in Corey's ear. Too late and James didn't need to get in Corey's ear anyway! Paul offers to go up as a pawn against James. Heh.

They're editing the show like there might be doubts about the nominations.

Corey goes on an anxiety-driven cleaning jag.

It's time for the nominations ceremony!

Corey nominates Victor and Paul. He tells them that strategically it's not in his best interest to put James up. If one was up, they could win veto and he'd have to put Nicole up. Victor and Paul took it okay on the surface.     

Victor tells us how betrayed he is.

I say, hey ... it's Big Brother. Trust no one.  

Remember -- the next episode is TUESDAY AT 8PM ET/PT this week! 

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - September 11, 2016

Good morning! Since it's Sunday morning, it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. If you're here for Big Brother news, everything I have for you can be found at this link. I'll be posting another live feeds report late tonight as well as live-blogging the aired show. But this ain't that. This post is a year-round regular "feature" while Big Brother is a summer obsession. Or, something like that.

That said, this week's off topic post is a bit abbreviated for a few different reasons. First off, today is the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. That struck this area, the NYC Greater Metropolitan Area, quite hard. Many folks here work in Manhattan. Several people in the local area died in the attacks. My company lost seven people on one of the planes. It's a somber day and we'll never forget.

Also, my sprained ankle and the heat factor this week limited my desire to take photos although I did work this past week. I'll include a few of those in next week's off topic photo post.  

911 Memorial, Scotch Plains, NJ

September 12 is Vincent's "birthday"

On September 12, 2009, I went into the city to New York City Animal Care and Control (NYCACC), the shelter system which handles all the strays, abandoned, etc., animals in all five boroughs of the city. I went to the East Harlem (AKA Spanish Harlem) location and met a cat they called "Sal." Unfortunately, due to volume, the shelter system is a fairly high kill one. People want kittens. I wanted a cat. Sal, whom I decided wasn't a pizza delivery guy, I renamed Vincent. He was due to be euthanized the next week because he was a cat, not a kitten. When I opened his cage door, he leaped on my shoulder and purred so loud I could hear him over the cacophony of dogs barking and busy street traffic. He was the one and he's been my best friend ever since. This is a shot of him on the train home on adoption day.

Good food, good company

I went to a big backyard cookout with friends yesterday. The food was amazing! The company was great and a good time was had by all.

BB18: Live Feeds into Sunday - September 11

I have a few days left

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Dwindling Days and Deflated Egos:

• With Nicole winning the Power of Veto, Victor sees the writing on the wall.
• He's expecting to be evicted for the third and last time this week.
• Paul is a bit resigned that he'll be following Victor out of the house. 
• Oh, he's asking a lot of questions and plans to study for a mental HoH, but much of his bravado about how he and Victor are ruling the game has ended.
• He knows that, without Victor, he's not horrible in most comps (except the slip and slide!). But he's not the competition beast kind of guy. He's more the guy who stands behind the competition beast kind of guy.
• Victor and Paul, in a talk with each other, spoke of the good run they've had in the house.
• Victor, in particular, is proud of his integrity and loyalty.
• I would guess that would make his parents proud. His potty mouth might be another matter.
• But we ... the constant audience for the hamsters ... know that integrity and honestly don't get you far in the game of Big Brother.
• Loyalty, on the other hand, is indeed a good thing in the game. But it's the loyalty between a few people from the start that seems to work best. Think of Danielle and Jason. Think of Derrick and Cody. When hamsters allow the flip-flopping alliances with the weekly power that be, it's not a good thing. Victor and Paul were loyal to each other, but they flip-flopped with the powers. Would they have made it to the end as a lone wolf duo? I don't know.
• I'm kind of surprised that neither Paul nor Victor are trying to convince Nicole to save one of them. But that would be futile. Whichever one saved if James went up ... the other one would go home.
• I think we're in for doldrums this coming week because Victor and Paul are accepting their fates so peacefully and everybody is in the "we're all friends and it's a game" mode.
• About the only excitement would be if Paul manages to win the upcoming HoH or veto.
• Otherwise, we're going to be on auto-pilot.
• You can unbuckle your seatbelts and return your seats to recline. 

Nine days and one wake-up left!

I'm an a__hole. I know it.

That bun always looks like a rat's nest!

BB18: Live Feeds into Saturday Night, Power of Veto - September 10

Has Corey given up Nicole for Victor?

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Stuporheroes:

• I was out tonight. Uh-oh!
• So, this will be rather short and sweet.
• The Power of Veto comp was the comic book one.
• And, Nicole won the Power of Veto!
• It sounds like James did the worst of the bunch.
• Victor is sure that he's going to be the one sent packing.
• And, that's probably true.
• Paul wants to study hard for HoH because he knows he's on the real short list.
• Everybody is getting along and friendly.

I love the HoH pillowcases with his dog pics!

Coreeeee!

Now Victor has gone to Nicole!

BB18: Live Feeds into Saturday - September 10

Why do guys do that with their hair?!?

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Vindictive Voles:

• Okay, they're hamsters, not voles. But hamster doesn't begin with a "v." Voles are rodents, so it's all the same family!
• Although, for all of Paul's pacing about after the nominations went down ... after all of Victor's "you betrayed me, we can't be friends in the house" proclaiming ... the boys took a nap and woke up friendly with all once again.
• Sigh.
• Boredom.
• It seems that the deck of cards went the way of the dominoes -- a BB ghost must have stolen them.
• They're locked inside while the PoV comp set-up is being built in the yard.
• All they have to do with themselves is talk, eat and sleep.
• I think, between the two nominees, Victor is pretty certain he'll probably win PoV later today and save himself while Paul is resigned that he will probably be evicted if that's the case.
• But he never cared. His life is tight, y'know. He has his wealthy parents, his world travels, his extensive life experiences and education. 
• I have to wonder what that would have been like back when I was a child of 22. Maybe I'd be smug and arrogant, as well.
• All of the hamsters, on the block or not, are wearing down as we get to the countdown to the end. So am I. I've gotten to the point where I'm irked at such things as Victor's annoying laugh or Corey's silly way of making his hair into a boy's faux-hawk.
• Don't even get me going on Nicole's voice! 
• Remember the days when the Have Nots had PB&J instead of slop? That's a popular late night snack in the house these days when they don't HAVE to have it.
• All of the hamsters settled into an amicable pattern without any full-blown tantrums, screaming, fisticuffs, kerfuffles or brouhahas.
• I'm disappointed.
• James and Nicole retired to their separate rooms early while Corey, Paul and Victor small-talked.
• Gah. Nothing to see here.
• It will be interesting to see who wins the PoV. 
• If Nicole, Corey or James win it, chances are that it won't be used.
• If Victor and Paul remain on the block, will they campaign against each other?
• Hmm. 

Reluctant acceptance of their fates

They like PB&J - never eat slop as a snack!

Jamesy lives on!

I used to suck my finger when I was five

Yes, you are making me yawn.

BB18: Live Feeds into Friday Evening, Nominations - September 9

Nominations today

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Betrayed Bros:

• First, my apologies for not posting sooner than now. I had feeds problems which worked into browser problems which worked into total frustration on my part. I guess I should be happy I didn't have these issues last night while posting about the show and endurance comp.
• Grr.
• Anyway ...
• When I last left you, I told you that it would surely be Paul and Victor on the block, James working with Nicole and Corey.
• Whether this is the result of the rumored Nicole/James pre-season final two pact, I just don't know.
• Corey is going about it logically -- putting the two biggest obstacles against him (or Nicole) winning on the block.
• His target is actually Victor, as he knows that getting Victor out -- and keeping him out -- is going to be the hardest.
• But, if Victor wins Veto and takes himself off, Paul will go.
• As the morning started out, Paul and Victor were a bit suspicious about James spending so much time with Corey and Nicole.
• What's he saying?
• Should we go up there?
• However, in the end, they were sure that Nicole and Victor would not betray their final four deal. Yeah, one of them had to go up with James. Paul even volunteered to be the pawn.
• Their dreams were shattered when it was finally time for nominations.
• Corey kept with what I reported overnight -- Paul and Victor are nominated for eviction.
• For the longest time, Paul just paced around.
• Victor is hurt. After all, he never would have done that! He plays with integrity!
• These recruits who don't KNOW the show don't realize that integrity has no real place in Big Brother.
• As I type this up, I have the feeds on. Victor is upset, going at Corey.
• Corey is telling him he didn't want to be in the place of having to put Nicole on the block if someone wins veto.
• Corey is telling him it's strategic -- two strongest players, etc.
• Corey earlier told Paul that Victor put him on the block, another reason.
• Corey (and Nicole) have both said it hurts.
• Corey is reminding Victor that he (Vic) said before that anyone sitting next to him (Vic) in the final two would lose.
• Victor says they might be friends outside the house, but they're no longer friends inside the house.
• He vows to come after them.

The final three? In their minds, at least

What's with Victor doing this?

Boys on the block

BB18: Live Feeds into Friday - September 9

Will his bro Corey turn on him?

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Buttery Buffoons:

• As you know from my last post (go back and check it out if you haven't already), Corey easily won HoH.
• Well, not "easily" per se.
• But he just glided with those scoops of butter on the buttered track while everyone else struggled. No one was really close to him at all. Nicole and James did better than I thought they would at the comp. The butter comp showed Paul no friendship at all.
• One thing I've noticed as we approach the final days of the season ... Corey has come to life. He's winning comps. I listened to him talk strategy with James in the late night hours and ... get this ... Corey actually has insight into the game and knows what's going on! And, he actually has a decent vocabulary!
• After watching his vacant eyes and smile for most of the summer, this is a bit unsettling. 
• Maybe not unsettling. But I have to give the guy a lot more credit than I've been doing all season. 
• Victor seems to feel a bit put out that Paul did SO poorly in the comp. 
• Paul might be the worst performer I've ever seen in one of these slip and slide comps over the seasons. And, there have been some who were very bad at it.
• James didn't want this HoH as his eyes are on the next one and, though his style was bad, for the longest time he had second place going.
• But no one was close to Corey.
• If I fell as much as some of them, I'd be hospitalized this morning. Nicole said the hill was higher in BB16 and every participant that season had to see the medic.
• The others picked on Paul some because he's always bragged about his skating background (among other brags). Heh.
• In talking about Natalie going, Paul claims her act was one to try to win America's Favorite Player. 
• Well, duh!
• Paul and Victor seem to be scrambling a bit for favor from Nicole/Corey.
• Paul said he's willing to be a pawn if they save him.
• But surprise, surprise ... Corey told Nicole he'll be putting Paul and Victor on the block.
• In a talk with James, Corey tells him they have his back.
• Nicole told Corey he needs to tell James about the final four deal they made (and will break) with Victor and Paul before one of them tell him.
• Nicole is actually frightened thinking of how Paul and Victor will react to the nominations.
• Meanwhile, Paul and Victor talked about how sneaky James is.
• Heh.
• But Paul is certain James is going up on the block (and will get voted out).
• It appears he just could be wrong!
• Nicole started giving Corey all kinds of reasons to doubt James in the game.
• What?!?!
• Oh. She made an off-side comment about giving the show footage. 
• Nah, this isn't scripted. But she seems to know the show will not want to air boredom in nominations -- they want some mystery or doubt thrown in there!
• The nominations should be Paul and Victor, with the target of Victor this week.
• If they can't get Victor out, it will be Paul out. 
• Let's see how this goes down ...

Ew. My eyes! My eyes!

Who wants to see my HoH room?

Reading his letter from home

After we get Paul and Vic out, it's Nicole, you & me

BB18: Live Feeds HoH Endurance Comp Updates - September 8

As soon as the live feeds return, this post will be updated with the happenings and screen caps of the HoH Endurance Competition. Refresh the page to get the latest updates!

10:02pm ET - I have audio, no video on the feeds.
10:03pm ET - Video came up to join the audio.

It's sad that I recognized Nicole breathing heavy.

10:11pm ET - Corey still in the lead. Paul still second, but falls almost every time going back for a refill. Nicole still working to get the larger scoop. James switched to the big container, did not fill the small one for the larger scoop. He's slacking. He has said he wants to win the more important NEXT HoH.

James

I was mistaken -- Paul is going for the small container. I didn't have a good angle on him. Corey is WAY WAY in the lead.

10:20pm ET - Into Jeff interview loops for a bit.

James again ... or still.

10:27pm ET - Corey is almost on the halfway mark.  No one else is anywhere near him. Nicole SHOULD be able to get the larger scoop, but is having trouble figuring out how to do it. James is still crawling. Paul is still falling.

10:29pm ET - Nicole has the big scoop.

No butter friendship here

Definitely not an even race going on

10:41pm ET - Corey more than halfway full. James in second, Nicole in third. Paul might as well give up the ghost -- he gave up on the bigger scoop, but is way behind everyone else. Nicole is the only one with the big scoop.

Getting there

The bigger scoop isn't huge

We keep having intermittent Jeff interview (Derrick) interruptions.

10:52pm ET - Paul is still trying for the larger scoop although he's also been putting butter in the larger container. Why is he even bothering?

10:56pm ET - Nicole is almost at the halfway mark on the large container. Corey still way in the lead.

11:00pm ET - A long more than just a few minutes Jeff interruption. Grr.

It will be over soon

11:07pm ET - COREY WINS HOH

THE WINNER!

BB18: Live Eviction, HoH Comp Start Blog Party - September 8

Are we ready for this? I know I'm SO ready!

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be constantly updating this entry. Refresh the page to get the latest news. As always, the real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

Since they're advertising CBS Access to watch the HoH competition tonight, an endurance comp is ahead of us. There will be a separate post at 10pm ET to follow that competition. I ask those folks who want to talk about the comp (or see what's happening) to join us on that additional post after the live show.

Here are the blog pool picks going into tonight's show:

Natalie Negrotti - Sharon N, Jackie P, QuixoticElf, Orkmommy

Corey Brooks - Fred aka TwoBlackAces, Barbara B. W., Dierdre, Cheryl in NC

Paul Abrahamian - Jackie, Arf Barf, WolfpackRed, chrob61

Nicole Franzel - Kelsey NY, Grove Wiley, Nickelpeed, Sharon C  
James Huling - Becky, Donna in Alabama, Sharon S, Willie J
Victor Arroyo - Helenann2K, RBennie, Janice, Monty924

EVICTED
Glenn Garcia
Jozea Flores - Sasha, Merrilee, Tammy, Petals, JonMD1267
Bronte D'Acquisto - Jean in Tampa, elee86, Russ, Cheryl, Donna in FL
Tiffany Rousso - meb, SueGee, David, Jessica UNderwood
Frank Eudy - Dr_Celine, Dennis Comfort, Stephanie in Baltimore, PDX Granny

JURY
Da'Vonne Rogers - Donna in Alabama, uncartie, MarthaLight, Donna NY
Zakiyah Everette - Tilde, Jo C, Jenng326, Ayana, jennifer
Bridgette Dunning - Brian, Indiana Jane, Caela, Chauncey, Paula Bell
Paulie Calafiore - Joel, Chacha, Sally, Ed In Ohio, Buzzmaam
Michelle Meyer - Rich, Chase, Glenn, Anonymouse, Delee

Let's get this party started!

Before the recap, Julie said a showmance, bromance and romance were on the line. She thinks James and Natalie is a romance?

There will be a jury segment and a Jeff/Jordan bit tonight.

Is the honeymoon over for Natalie and James? Well, yeah ... but. Nicole wants to work with James. Natalie is angry about James's game moves with Nicole and Corey. Lots of discussion on who to keep, lots of distrust of Paul/Victor coming from Nicole. Paul and Victor are also trying to get on James's good side.

The Natalie/James bicker segment aired. Now all four of the others in the house are sympathizing with James.

Jeff and Jordan time. They were getting married on the 24th but got pregnant in Mexico during the winter, married in March. It's going to be a boy. Jordan thinks Victor will win the season; Jeff thinks Paul.

Jury segment as Michelle arrives. Da'Vonne is really ticked that James threw the comp to Nicole. Bridgette is shocked Michelle didn't get the hint she was the target.

To the living room - talk to the nominees.
Natalie - Thanks her family, honored to play, James is my new best friend and soulmate.
James - Family, honor to play with Natalie, my game and faith is in y'alls hands.

The votes to evict:
Paul -- Natalie
Nicole -- Natalie
Corey -- Natalie

Unanimous (as expected) ... Natalie is evicted. Despite live feeds threats earlier, she's all smiles and goodness going out the door.

HoH Comp (start) time. Victor can't compete as outgoing HoH.

It's a movie-themed slip and slide, they need to get 8 gallons in the container -- first to do so. Small container can be filled to retrieve a larger scoop. Corey is off to the best start followed by Paul. Both of them are going directly for the larger container. Nicole and James aren't doing as well, both going to try for the larger scoop.

Schedule change - Tuesday and Wednesday, football on Thursday.

In a few minutes, a new post will pop up here to watch the HoH comp on the live feeds. Join us over there!

BB18: Live Feeds Overnight into Thursday - September 8

Make her go away. Please.

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Monotonous Mice:

• Oh, wait. They're hamsters.
• Hmm ... there might even be a rat or two in there.
• Rodents!
• It's almost painful to watch the feeds.
• After sleeping away half the day, Natalie is keeping James up all night talking.
• Doesn't she realize that he needs some sleep so he can compete in the HoH comp?
• Not that the others provided any late night amusement for us.
• Now, I watch the live feeds. My TV cable company dropped POP, so I don't watch BBAD at all. During other seasons since BBAD it bothered me that the house hamsters acted like the BBAD airing time was the only time they were being watched and did all kinds of stuff during those hours. 
• This bunch? Not so much. I can just imagine someone channel surfing wondering why one channel has people sleeping via night vision cameras.
• They sleep away a good portion of the day, too.
• Well, they should be well-rested to return to the real work-a-day world.
• Not that many will, of course.
• They all talk globe-trotting or, at least visiting each other in various states. I guess money grows on trees somewhere. Of the ones left, I think all still live at home with parents except James, maybe Natalie.
• I'm very tired of hearing Natalie blow her own horn. I had to listen to how she is what makes one charity and she is the best at this, best at that.
• I don't go around doing that. Even when I think I'm good at something, I just let the results speak. At least I hope so.
• (I do have the best bunch of people hanging out on this blog ... but that's not just me!)
• Let's see ... what else happened?
• Um. They played poker with Starburst candies as poker chips.
• That was exciting.
• Not.
• I think BB took away their dominoes when they gave them the cards.
• What would have been better would have been BB giving them tons of dominoes and challenging them to create falling dominoes stuff around the house to see who can make the most fall.
• You know what I mean.
• In other news, it seems extremely likely that James will be staying. Nicole and Corey want to work with him and they're two of the three votes.
• Paul and Victor even think they might get him to work with them. That's the third vote.
• Nobody has told Natalie that she's no longer a pawn, but a target.
• Yet, her erratic behavior, her constant talk of going to jury and her speech ... she knows.
• James keeps being patient with her.
• One thing has changed, though -- James is no longer trying to convince her that he's the target.
• She needs to let him go to sleep! 
• He is a much kinder person than I would ever be in those circumstances.

Late night PB&J cravings

Talking about the PoV comp with James

If he goes next week, we never cared

This SHOULD be his response to Natalie