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

BB18: Live Feeds into Wednesday Evening - September 7

Breakfast cooking at 1:15pm their time

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of a Pernicious Pom-Pom Pal:

• Yes, breakfast was being cooked there well into the afternoon here ... almost early evening!
• These are the sleepingest (yeah, that's not a word, but I never cared) bunch of hamsters ever.
• BB gave them a deck of cards.
• Goody goody. Now we can watch them play cards, play dominoes or play chess.
• I'd rather puppet shows by Victor with Baldwin!
• James is still just lurking around with Natalie.
• Hasn't he been hurt enough?
• For the most part, those two remain segregated from the rest.
• Natalie has been acting weird ... almost like she's high on something although that is improbable, to say the least.
• Paul is all antsy.
• At one point he kept running around peeking in the windows until the BB voice shut that down with a "Stop that!"
• I really wish James wouldn't mumble so much. I turn up the feeds volume to hear him and then the others shout.
• Supposedly, Natalie and James agreed to be just friends.
• I still think he's hurting. She pulled off some rather mean moves and he has been nothing but thoughtful and considerate to her.
• Yet he remains patient and kind to her.
• It still looks like James will stay out of the two.
• I need for her to go.
• She's irking me.

James packs

Paul is acting up a lot today. "Stop that!"

Lost in thought? Or, just lost?

Oh boy! We can watch them play cards!

Yet James still hangs with her

BB18: Power of Veto Show Blog Party - September 7

Hamster watchers ready? Let's get this show going! 

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 -- please join in on the fun there as we watch the show together!

But first ... a recap.

We pick things up after the nominations ceremony. Victor vows to do the same with James as he did with Paulie. Natalie knows she's the pawn, but doesn't want James to go.  

Nicole cries in the Diary Room because she feels guilty that James is on the block after James saved Corey last week.

Paul overhears Natalie being all cheery about being on the block and he sees no friendship there. He wishes she hadn't been told that she's the pawn. Natalie thinks that Nicole set them up. She seems to be blaming James for their previous decisions (like she had no say in the matter).

Natalie decides, since she "betrayed" Paul and Victor, she needs to talk to them. She apologizes and throws James under the bus! She told them they had her back and she shouldn't have trusted James.

WHAT!?!?! 

Paul, especially, sees right through her and neither he nor Victor like that she threw her "ride or die" under the bus. Paul and Victor go right to Nicole and Corey about the talk. Natalie lies to James or at least omits the part that she threw him under the bus. 

Veto comp time -- all play because they're down to six. It's a McGyver related comp tied in to promote the new CBS show. They have to each escape "the compound" using MacGyver ways. The one in the shortest time wins. The winner also wins a trip to the MacGyver set in Atlanta. (Ah, that's why someone won a trip to Atlanta!) 

Natalie: 9 minutes, 6 second. Since she has completed her mission, she is allowed to watch Nicole (next one) on a monitor. Nicole isn't doing as well. Heh. The clock went over Natalie's time and the compound "blew up." Nicole is out. Victor is up next. He almost got it!

James is up. He does horribly in the comp. Corey is up. He takes over the veto from Natalie with a time of six minutes, fourteen seconds. 

Paul's turn. He does poorly. Corey won the veto.

Oh, geez. James tells Natalie that he's going to tell the others to vote him out. He said that had he won veto he would have taken her off the block.

The others talk about which one needs to go. Victor wants James to go because he's the one who got him evicted. But Natalie is stronger at comps, smarter (?) and more. Which one? 

James goes to Corey to ask they vote him out. Yikes. Corey is noncommittal.

Natalie asks James if the threw the comp, then asks if he has a final two or three deal with Nicole. Showing a lot of distrust there, girl. She tells him she will never talk to him if he works with them. She says she's going to go home because she trusted him. James is really hurt. He would never do that to a friend.

Paul and Victor want to talk to James about Natalie throwing him under the bus. Maybe James will realize she's no "ride and die" for him! 

Veto meeting -- each talk for a moment, James won't campaign against Natalie. Takes blame for himself being on the block. Corey does not use the PoV.

BB18: Live Feeds into Wednesday - September 7

Mmm! A half-gallon of ice cream!

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

• Still no fisticuffs.
• But there was a bit more excitement in the late night hours than there was all day yesterday.
• BB gave them alcohol, a rarity this season.
• Not that they gave them enough to really do any damage. It was like a six-pack of beer and a couple of bottles of wine for six people.
• Unless one person hogs that all, there really isn't much to get excited about!
• The big excitement started with someone outside the yard and a megaphone.
• Ah, memories of Kitty, the Megaphone Lady of BB2 (if memory serves), memories of fans throwing candy and notes over the fence, memories of banner planes ... the good ol' days of Big Brother!
• We got fish and then into Jeff highlights loops.
• From the context of what little was said without being interrupted by fish or Jeff, it was something about James and Nicole in an alliance.
• Well, WE knew that they did have one. But is there too much water under the bridge since the beginning? Are they deep down that loyal to each other to be such good actors? Hmm. They were friends outside the house before going in together. Hmm.
• The other big news is that James finally woke up and realizes that he and Natalie will never be a couple.
• Well, duh.
• She went off to bed to sulk while James talked everything out with the rest of the hamsters.
• Interesting.
• So, James keeps (whether it's his intention or not) working his way into the midst of the others while Natalie continues to alienate them.
• Yet James keeps caring about her and doesn't want to see her hurt.
• Gah!
• Natalie told James she never threw him under the bus.
• I say, "Did too!"
• I have to admit that she does seem to be a bit torn between wanting to stay and wanting to go.
• She told James she wants him to stay and can't campaign against him.
• Yet, we know she has.
• I have a personal bias in this because I think James is an honorable truly nice kind of guy. But I also don't think Natalie ever really intended this to turn into such an infatuation on his part. She's looking for friends and good times. He's looking for the love of his life.
• At this point, they're both hurting in different ways.
• It seems the latest Natalie crisis had to do with the megaphone and an Nicole/James pre-show final two deal.
• Hmm.
• I don't see Corey getting all up in arms about it.
• But we did see Nicole tell Corey she wants the final three to include James with them.
• Hmm.
• The Natalie/James "discussion" went on for HOURS and isn't really resolved although by before dawn she was scarfing down ice cream while he joked around in the kitchen. 
• She even wanted to self-evict at one point. James "shattered her heart," y'know. 
• I hate to quote Paul but, "Go ahead. Never cared."
• Of course, James apologized to her.
• Sheesh. She should be apologizing to him!
• But that's how James is.
• It's looking quite possible that he will stay this week instead of Natalie.
• I think Nicole wants him to stay (final two deal?). Corey will vote whatever Nicole decides. That would be all he needs to stay. Paul is likely to vote with the other two.
• I hope that's the case even though I've been very disappointed with him this season.

Most likely to remain a couple afterwards

So, this is my neck?

I won't miss these two.

I've invested too much in her. (D'oh!)

Whazzat? I hear something!

BB18: Live Feeds into Tuesday Evening - September 6

Boring

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

• I really have almost nothing for you today.
• If there was any game talk, it was off camera.
• There were no kerfuffles, fisticuffs or brouhahas.
• Victor got his HoH camera.
• And fun was had by all.
• One interesting note is that Natalie and Nicole talked.
• That in and of itself is a bit unusual these days.
• But they weren't talking game.
• They were talking marriage and children.
• Nicole wants both before she's 30.
• Natalie isn't interested in either marriage or children.
• Things that make you go, "Hmm ..."
• I wish I had more.
• Maybe there will be fisticuffs overnight.

Boring

Bored

BB18: Live Feeds into Tuesday - September 6

Figuring days left vs. hamsters

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

• When I last left you, James had blown his own game by throwing Nicole under the bus to Paul.
• But, as we know, this is Big Brother and waffles are a favorite feast in the house.
• We still have until Thursday evening for them to change their minds again ... and again.
• All along, the HoH (Victor) has wanted James out this week. That was his intention when he put him on the block. He even told Natalie that she was a pawn.
• The trouble with that is that the HoH doesn't have a vote. Not even a tiebreaker vote in sight this week.
• The votes are Paul, Nicole and Corey.
• They had swapped favor for James staying until yesterday when James blew up Nicole's game to Paul.
• Now they're waffling back a bit ... again.
• But first ... there's the Wednesday controversy. Y'see, Paul told the other that Julie had said she'd see them Wednesday, thus putting a panic into them that the eviction night changed for this week.
• I saw (and heard) James ask Paul about whether he was certain Julie said Wednesday while Paul was playing pool yesterday. He said, "Yes, Wednesday, September 21st."
• D'oh! That's the finale night and YES, she will see them all that night!
• So, I'm not sure why they're all still fussing about the eviction night changing.
• Out of boredom, Paul tried to access the tunnel from the phone booth to no avail. Poor Paul.
• Paul and Victor had another talk with James. Hmmm. Now they're thinking that Natalie might be the mastermind of the pair and that James is just starting to realize what she's been doing.
• Hmm.
• On the other hand, Natalie went into one of her "no one talks to me" hissy fits with James.
• Well, yeah. The rest are more likely to be talking about her rather than to her. But a lot of that is her own doing. James actually mingles more with the others and his results are different.
• Paul talked to Corey.
• It sounds like the Keep James Plan is once again in effect.
• Paul thinks that James is sure that he's going home and keeping him will rattle him and he'll do poorly in the HoH comp.
• Hmm.
• Nicole told Corey she wants the final three to be them ... and James.
• Hmm.
• Of course, this is all subject to change ... again.

Victor is a folding maniac

They finally got to play dominoes

James mingles during the night