Good evening! I hope everyone is holding up okay with this ridiculous heat across the country. Now, in real life the Power of Veto comp is done and over with. However, due to the schedule change, we will see the taped live eviction, the HOH comp, the Besties twist and the nominations all in a two-hour show.Please don't post any spoilers in the comments area before they air on the show. I hate to remove comments. It's bad enough that Blogger keeps sending some comments to its spam folder and I have to retrieve them during commercials!
I will be live-blogging the major events as the show airs here on the East Coast. Refresh the page to get the latest update. As always, the real party is in the comments area -- I hope to see you there! Bring icy cold beer, please!
Previously On ... and all that. Will Pooch face his demise in the game tonight?
Julie tells us that Pooch and Taylor both think they are pawns, only one is. Pooch says it's the petty girls who want Taylor out and he doesn't know why.
Kyle and Alyssa are flirting on the edge of a showmance. You can tell from this segment that they want to push the showmance factor -- they think it brings up the ratings.
The guys notice all the girls (or most of them) are up in the HOH room. Joseph tells Monte and Kyle that he thinks they are going to vote out Pooch. Joseph doesn't know about the plan, but Monte and Kyle do.
Alyssa tells Kyle about the all girls alliance that Paloma started on the first day.
Julie tells us a blindside seems certain for tonight, but who will be blindsided with the house dividing along gender lines? Ameerah tells Monte that Taylor is trying to backdoor him. She tells him that Pooch is more dangerous to her own game. But Monte isn't sure that's best for his game. Ameerah gets Nicole to confront Monte saying Pooch will go after both of the girls.
Nicole thinks the females this season are the strongest ever cast on the show. Um, well.
To the living room (as if it's live) --
Pooch - Grateful to be here. I'm already winning. Loyal. Love all y'all. (He rambles and isn't taking it seriously.)
Taylor - Love y'all. If you choose to keep me, I can be an asset to your game.
The votes to evict:
Turner - Pooch
Alyssa - Pooch
Ameerah - Pooch
Joseph - Pooch
To commercial break ...
Daniel - Pooch
Nicole - Pooch
Kyle - Pooch
Monte - Pooch
Michael - Pooch
Brittany - Pooch
Indy - Pooch
Terrance - Pooch
It's unanimous -- Pooch gets the doggy door out! Fake hugs all around.
Julie reminds him he volunteered and pawns often go home. He's shocked that it was 12 to 0. Julie tells him the five-woman alliance siezed the opportunity to vote him out when they could.
Julie calls all to the living room to unveil the new twist. The only way to enjoy a festival with a friend -- you will be playing with a Festie Bestie. By the time the HOH is over, you will have one. If you win HOH, your Bestie is safe, too. Nomination will be one set of Besties. PoV is played with Besties, too. On eviction night, only one bestie is evicted. She will tell what happens to the other best on eviction night.
HOH comp time. Get Lit is the comp. Rounds, hold down button on giant lighter, sit down when music stops. When eliminated, strategic or personal decision. First person eliminated can join Jasmine or have someone else choose. There are giant lighters suspended for them to hang onto. The lighters are moving back and forth. It's a bit like a twisted game of musical chairs although they each have their own chair.
Julie leaves as the hamsters compete. Terrance out first. He doesn't want to be Jasmine's Bestie. He gets his own table. Round two - Brittany out, also takes an empty table. Round three - Joseph out, chooses an empty table. Michael throws it so he can sit with Brittany in Round Four. Round Five - Taylor out, chooses an empty table.
It's up to Round Six. Monte out, chooses to be Festie Bestie with Joseph. Round Seven -- Nicole out, chooses Taylor as her Festie Bestie -- tells us she knows that if they go on the block, she would be safe. Round Eight starts. Indy out, chooses empty table. Round Nine -- Daniel throws it to take the last empty table. Round Ten -- Kyle out, chooses Daniel.
Round Eleven -- Alyssa out, chooses Indy. Round Twelve -- It's Ameerah versus Turner.
TURNER WINS HOH!
Ameerah picks Terrance. So, Turner gets (stuck with) Jasmine. Turner tells us he would love to have Ameerah or Nicole on the block. Brittany doesn't want to lose Michael. Turner thinks being Festie Bestie with Jasmine might give him an in with the girls that he doesn't now have. Nicole SAYS she wants to work with Taylor plus if they go on the block, Taylor is a bigger target.
Who wants to see my HOH room? Nobody, I say! Okay, they all go and he cries through a letter from his girlfriend.
Everybody has to go to the living room for the Have Not choosing. Only one Festie Bestie couple has to be Have Nots. Turner turns the task over to Jasmine. Indy and Alyssa are chosen -- they are the only couple that neither has been a Have Not yet.
Indy is rubbing people wrong, notably Terrance. Heck, just let her sulk for a bit about Have Not.
Nicole says they should put up Michael and Brittany and backdoor Taylor. She thinks an advantage will come her way if she remains after Bestie Taylor is backdoored.
Turner has decided either Nicole/Taylor or Michael/Brittany. He talks to the women. Hmm. Nicole is acting like Taylor is her actual best friend! But he is more concerned talking to Brittany, she doesn't let on anything actual about gameplay. He tells Michael he trusts him more than Brittany. Michael is worried that they will go on the block.
Nomination Ceremony time. Turner nominates Festie Besties Michael and Brittany, because they don't talk a lot of game with him.