BB18: HoH Comp, Nominations Show Blog Party - August 21

Hamster watchers ready?! After Friday night's non-show clip show, this one should be interesting!

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!

Let's start off with a recap! 

The scariest HoH yet is ahead. Michelle is going in with an advantage of some sort from the pie-eating contest at the backyard carnival.

In the Black Box, it's smelly and sloppy. They can't see anything. They have to hold a button until a voice tells them they have 30 seconds to search for disks. It's coming back to me -- Michelle has an extra 30 seconds search. 

In a pre-HoH comp segment, Nicole (accurately) reports to James that Paul came to them about targeting James. So, there is more reason for James to move targets to Paul or Victor.

Michelle gets her 30 second advantage. She blows it and gets nothing except a decoy disk. Nobody seems to be doing well. 

Michelle accidentally lets go of her button and is eliminated. She whines.

James slipped and fell with four disks in hand more than a few hours into the comp. It's soon over and they go to the yard to tally their disks.

Paul - 5
Nicole - 5
Corey - 10
Natalie - 10

It's a tie for the win. The tiebreaker is when they brought the tenth disk back. Natalie wins by four seconds!

That puts her and James in a bit of a dilemma -- they will have to choose which side of the house they're on. 

Victor is worried they might flip on him and Paul. Nicole is worried, too. Nicole tries to talk to Natalie and James. She's pushing for a four with them (and Corey). Natalie sees sense in the idea. Nicole thinks Paul is the more dangerous of the two and that Victor and Paul together are really a team to worry about. 

Paul talks friendship, but Natalie doesn't think targeting James is friendship. In an awkward moment, Victor goes to HoH to talk to Natalie and she's in there talking with James and Corey. He reports back to Paul. 

After a Friendship Time with Paul, it's the arrival of this week's care package. It's for Michelle! Tissues, brownies and CO-HOH power! She's safe and gets to name one nominee. Nicole is super worried!

Natalie and Michelle talk. Michelle says she wants Nicole out. Natalie says they need to nominate the two strongest players in the house. Paul interrupts them. Michelle remembers that Paulie warned her that Paul is sketchy. Michelle is certain that she wants Nicole up. Natalie pushes the Paul/Victor ticket. Even Corey tries talking to Michelle. 

Michelle feels there are three duos in the house and then there's her. Natalie says that she'll put Victor up since Michelle doesn't want to do that deed. She sees the long term game sense in getting Paul out rather than Nicole. 

Nominations ceremony time! Another red alert and Paul has to do his stuff. Natalie nominates Victor. Michelle nominates Paul. Natalie tells Victor to win PoV. Michelle makes it clear that she wants Paul to go home. 

Michelle is keeping in the idea of backdooring Nicole.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - August 21, 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.

Gah. Although I took some photos I really like this past week, it's been yet another hot, sweaty, painful and exhausting week. My appetite has been off, probably due to the heat and humidity. That's okay -- losing a few pounds is always a good thing. Unfortunately, the sciatica has been hanging in and, I believe that due to it, my right knee has given out on me twice. I didn't fall either time. I don't think it's a problem with the knee replacement itself. I do think it's the sciatica affecting my use of the knee. And, people wonder why I'm so anxious for retirement ...!

There was a horrific NJ Transit bus accident with two fatalities in Newark one morning this week. It was a t-bone type accident with the driver of one bus passing away. The second fatality was a passenger on the other bus. The bus which crashed into the other was a 59 bus, the bus route I take for jaunts across town or into Westfield. When I saw photos of the deceased driver, I've been on his buses before. While I didn't know him well (as I do some NJ Transit train and bus folks), he wasn't a crazy driver at all. I'm thinking it might have been a medical issue. He was 70 years old. Either that or the other bus ran a light. Very sad.

I really don't have much more for you other than the photographs. For some reason, this week turned out to be Bird Week. Hey, I shoot what I see! Clicking on an image will bring up a larger version ...

Yes, I see you

An American Goldfinch in its autumn colors looks at me as I take his photo. His black cap is gone, with just a hint of ashy grey in its place. It's good to actually see the New Jersey State Bird for a change!

A seagull now guards North Avenue

While there is a similar pedestal for birds on the east side of the Chotola Apartment building on North Avenue in Plainfield, this one on the west side of the building is always the prize perch. Last week I shot pigeons there, this week it's the seagull.

A crow poses for me

I've read and heard on nature shows that the crow is one of the most intelligent of the wild birds. They supposedly remember individual people. I wonder if this one will remember I made him famous on the internet! Plainfield Train Station.

Then there was a bunny

I always get a kick out of rabbits standing still thinking I can't see them! Bridgewater Train Station.

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS**

BB18: Live Feeds into Sunday - August 21

The target is safe, or will be safe

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

• Now, the target this week was Paul.
• But, since Paul won the veto, the focus is shifting to Victor.
• At least, if James can do anything about it.
• It's not that he doesn't like Victor. It's that he's actually thinking.
• Y'see, they must start thinking end game. Victor is almost impossible to get out.
• You evict him; he comes back.
• Not only does he come back, but he comes back stronger than any returned hamster in the past -- winning HoH comps, getting in good graces with folks, winning Vetos ...
• He could possibly win comps until the final two.
• If he got that far, in a fair world, he'd deserve the win as the Comeback Kid who wouldn't give up.
• Since Paul was Michelle's (co-HoH) nomination, they're leaving it to her to make the renom.
• Natalie and James have decided that whoever the renom, they will vote Victor out.
• The only renom possibilities are Nicole or Corey.
• Michelle seems to have this feeling that other women are threats to her in the game ... so, she'll probably want to put up Nicole.
• James and Natalie told Nicole and Corey that they want to target Victor this week.
• If they don't blow it by acting like they feel too safe and are too happy, the plan should go down.
• Personally, I'd kind of like to see Victor go. He could then battle for the jury return against Paulie. I'd rather Victor win that than the thought of Paulie ever coming back into the house!
• In other news, they all went to bed to early. The veto comp was watery and exhausting, whatever it was!
• Victor got up and roamed the night alone.
• He first exercised in the once again open backyard. Then he visited the hot tub. Then he showered and walked around the house.
• Finally, the sole hamster returned to bed.
• And, all are asleep as I post this.

It will be her decision, Paul was her nom

All alone exercising

All alone in the hot tub

BB18: Live Feeds into Saturday Evening, PoV Winner - August 20

Should the noms remain the same?

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

• Victor thinks it's funny that within a half-hour after putting him and Paul on the block, Natalie and Michelle were apologizing.
• A whole lot of studying (in hopes of a memory comp) went on today.
• A whole lot of napping, too.
• James and Corey were picked to play veto along with Michelle, Natalie, Paul and Victor. Nicole will host.
• If the nominations remain the same, it's likely that Paul will go home.
• He irked Natalie last night by taking over the HoH bed.
• He irked James by being like a "dictator."
• And, gosh darn it, they just like Victor better!
• I don't know. To me, Victor is the bigger threat to win it all.
• And, he does have some irritating qualities himself. I understand he's a clean freak. But he's so "put upon" when he feels he needs to clean. Plus, now he won't eat pie because he doesn't want diabetes.
• @@
• James thinks that, no matter who wins the veto, either Paul or Victor must go (instead of Nicole or Corey).
• For the majority of the day, in between odd Jeff highlights clips, it was just Natalie and James talking.
• James said that if he doesn't win, he wants Natalie to win.
• It was going for 5:30pm here East Coast time when the feeds went to extended Jeff and the PoV comp.
• I'm waiting it out to give you the winner.
• I'll just sit here and whistle while waiting for the feeds to return.
• I'm tired of whistling.
• I'll hum.
• Sigh. Here, feedsy feedsies ... c'mon home to mama!
• Finally, after 10pm here ... PAUL won the Power of Veto!

Memorizing stuff

Play strategically, not emotionally

Thinking of the possibilities

Paul wins the Power of Veto

BB18: Live Feeds into Saturday, Nominations - August 20

Stroking her nominee?

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

• As you know from my previous posts, Natalie won HoH and Michelle received the care package giving her a co-HoH position.
• Oh my.
• Michelle's own thoughts on the nominees had Nicole and Corey sitting in the chairs.
• But she wants to acquiesce to Natalie as it's "really Natalie's HoH."
• James told her to think of the end game and who the biggest competitors are.
• According to James -- Victor can win comps and Paul can talk.
• Well, yeah.
• I myself am so displeased with Nicole focusing her game on yet another showmance this season that she can go away.
• But, if I were IN the house, I'd bring her to the final two and point out all she did was showmance and be cute. Then I'd collect the half-million.
• So, technically, Victor and Paul with Corey trailing way behind, are the biggest targets left in the house.
• We have no real clue what Corey can do since he's a robot. We've seen him pull a few wins out of his hat, but sometimes you have to wonder if there are even bats in that belfry or just empty space.
• The nominations came through ... VICTOR AND PAUL are on the block!
• Natalie is beside herself, thinking she's made the wrong decision. After all, she's never trusted Nicole and Corey.
• Natalie cries.
• And cries.
• James comforts her (of course) and points out that they can still backdoor Corey if veto is used.
• Paul is livid; Victor not as livid but definitely not a happy camper.
• Paul says that Nicole is behind the nominations and manipulated them.
• Nicole says that Paul is the biggest liar and manipulator in the house (now that Paulie is gone).
• A late night kerfuffle had Paul and Nicole going at each other with most of it being Paul. Victor and Corey just sat there kind of quietly through most of it.
• Corey only spoke up when Paul said he (Corey) had been throwing comps.
• "I have not! I'm just inept!"
• Okay, he didn't say those words exactly. But I'm paraphrasing here.
• Natalie cried some more and talked again about backdooring Nicole or Corey. James assured her that he can put them up next week. Hmm.
• James told her to go with her gut and that it's her HoH. Hmm.
• Paul is sure that Victor will be voted out.
• But, if he doesn't shut up, he's surely doing his own game in.
• Victor thinks he'd be good at Survivor. Well, he'd be good at the challenges, but I don't think he can take the dirt and unsanitary conditions!
• After many talks back and forth, some raised voices ... it seems to James and Natalie that it might be a good time for a blindside.
• The odds number-wise are for one of them to win veto over Nicole/Corey.
• Then a backdoor can be put in place.
• They seem to be focusing more on Corey than on Nicole.
• We'll see what the veto comp brings to the board.
• Of course, if Nicole or Corey win it, no way will it be used and it will be either Paul or Victor going home.
• And the beat goes on ...

On the block! Bamboozled!

It's such a hard decision. Wah!

On the block!

Paul and Victor try to work it

Watching the spy cam Nicole/Paul argument

Paul and Nicole go at each other