Sarah Walker

Julie Chen opens tonight’s live show telling us it’s all about Dan, both inside the house and out.  “The HGs think Dan has all the power, but he is actually quite powerless.”  

Libra and Keesha are scheming in the erstwhile hippie room, what I’ve come to think of as the skank room.  The two women believe that Jessie is coming after them, and Keesha says she hopes April changes her mind about wanting to send Memphis home.  Libra reveals her ignorance and complete insensitivity when she calls Jessie bipolar.  It’s a real disease, Libra, not an insult.  Dumbass.  Libra goes on to say that she needs to shake April and tell her that two people in her alliance are about to be gone. 

April enters the skank room during this conversation.  Libra and Keesha immediately go off on Jessie to her.  Keesha interviews in her best whiny pre-teen voice that she really tries to like April, but she just can’t because it is so annoying when someone is fake to your face and you can see right through it.  Talk about complete lack of self awareness.  Back in the room, April tells the two that Memphis has to go because he is playing the game harder than Jessie.  

Keesha and Memphis talk in the backyard.  Keesha tells him a lot of people promised April they would do what she wanted.  You know, like they did for Queen Keesha last week, when she asked them to kick out the girl she (rightly) felt most jealous of.  Memphis tactfully doesn’t throw her hypocrisy in her face, what with his ass being on the line and all, and merely replies “People are promising away their game.”

Now Keesha is talking to Dan in the backyard.  He tells Keesha he trusts her 100%, she’s the only person he can talk to, because he thinks they are on the same wavelength about certain things.  Keesha agrees and tells him she wants Jessie gone.  Dan says he likes Memphis and doesn’t want him to go home.  

Keesha and Libra are huddled in the skank room talking votes while Renny snoozes.  Keesha corrects Libra’s misconception that eight people are voting this week.  It’s hard to make Keesha look smart, but Libra’s getting damn good at it.  There will, of course, be only seven votes cast this week.  Keesha and Libra are considering going against April’s wishes and voting out Jessie instead of Memphis.  They know that Renny will do whatever they say, since she is an official member of their coven.  Keesha says they can get Dan to vote with them, but Libra doesn’t trust him.  She thinks he would go straight to April and Ollie; Keesha disagrees.  Libra says she will vote Jessie out if she has the numbers, but it will cause a big split and they have to be prepared.  

Keesha stalks out to find Dan and Memphis, who are in the backyard, and asks them to come with her.  They do so separately, Memphis first.  Keesha and Libra tell him their plan.  Dan comes in and agrees to vote out Jessie with them.  Pretty stupid, since he has no way of knowing what America will tell him to do.  Anyway, there is much back patting, shaking of hands, and general cackling as the cauldron bubbles.  When the guys are gone, Keesha and Libra hug, telling each other they can’t wait to see April’s face.  

In the backyard, April tells Jerry that she is being “double teamed by two of our alliance members” to try to get Jessie out.  She warns him it could get ugly.  Jerry thinks there is no cause to worry, because he, Michelle and Ollie will vote Memphis out, and so will Dan.  He explains that Dan will go along because Jerry brought him into their alliance, “Dan knows we saved him,” but he will talk to Dan just in case.  With a big, leery grin Jerry tells April, “when the loyalty switches, you will find that Ollie, Dan and Jerry are your boys.”  That conjures up an image I really don’t want.  By the way, has April completely forgotten that Dan came to her and suggested she put Jessie up, as instructed by America?  No concern here?

As promised, Jerry goes to Dan who is playing in the pool.  “Okay, Dan, it’s just you and me.”  He tells Dan April wants Memphis out, and there is concern that Renny, Libra and Keesha will turn against the group.  Dan says “This soon, do you think?”  Jerry replies that April does feel threatened by them, and the point is that Dan needs to stay true to Ollie, April and himself, “and if they (the coven) try to talk you into going with them don’t do it.”  Jerry contends that Memphis is also the most dangerous player.  Jerry leaves Dan, saying he’ll tell everybody “we’re okay.”  He goes straight to Jessie like a mobbed up foot soldier to a capo: “It’s done.”  

Dan is by himself in a hammock on the far side of the backyard, having a one-sided chat with America.  “These people are crazy.  Who does America hate more?  Jessie or Memphis?  If you vote out Jessie, I’m going to be in trouble.  If you vote out Memphis, I’m going to be in a lot of trouble.  America, you better make the right decision….I gave you an 18 second hug.  You can hook me up.  I hope.”

Julie Chen announces that we’re going to have a little insight into America’s player.  There is footage of Dan telling Ollie how much he loves the Catholic school where he works - St. Mary’s.  We see Dan’s football team watching his motivational speeches from the last HOH competition and generally cheering him on and saying nice things about him.  His sister thinks it is great that America is getting to see how wonderful her brother is.  His mother is concerned that Dan made a poor decision by agreeing to become America’s player, thereby putting himself in a precarious position in the house.  There is some footage of various HGs speculating on Dan’s “not quite right” behavior.

Time for a Chen Chat with the HGs.  She asks Michelle if she has “come to embrace her inner red unitard.”  Michelle replies “I love it, and I hate it, but I do love it and I look great in it and I can’t take that away from myself.”  JC agrees “You wear it very well.”  She asks Michelle what it has been like, choosing between friends on the block two weeks in a row.  (Uhhhh, let’s see….it sucks?)  Michelle replies that it’s a game and she’s got to  keep on going.  

With a shot of the sorry ass cookie cake in the background, JC says to Keesha “You had an unforgettable 30th birthday, ending with the most pathetic rendition of Happy Birthday we have ever heard.  Is all forgotten now?”  Keesha vindictively replies that no, it is not forgotten, not one little bit.

JC has an audience question for Libra: “You’ve gone a month without hearing from your family.  In the POV competition, you had an opportunity to get a letter from your family, but you chose the Hawaiian vacation for two instead.  WHY?”  Great question!!  Libra replies “Because my husband would have killed me.  We both said ‘after this whole project is finished, let’s go somewhere,’ so I thought, why not Hawaii?”  Michelle rolls her eyes.  JC asks if it was a hard decision for you to make.  Libra say smugly, “Not at all.  My kids are in great hands,” blah, blah, blah which all translates into “Of course not, haven’t you figured out I’m a completely selfish, self-centered bitch by now?  What the hell are you talking about?  Hard decision my ass!” 

Julie chats with April, who is alone (for the very first time) in the HO room.  She asks about the health of her alliance with Libra and Keesha.  April thinks they are all still allies but doesn’t feel as loyal to them.  She thinks they should be grateful, since she could have put one of them up and didn’t.  In response to Julie’s second question, April comments that Memphis didn’t ever ask her to save him or really even talk to her about his nomination.  JC then asks April about her relationship with Ollie, eliciting a big old grin.  “He’s my savior in the house.”  It’s nice to be able to “talk” with someone and not “talk” about the game.  April says that Ollie is her best friend (with benefits) in the house.  

JC now gives the two nominees a chance to make a final plea before the vote.  Jessie give a happy birthday shout out to his dad and some chic named Sheila or Sally or something.  He tells the HGs that he is a competitor, the decision is theirs to keep him or not but he wants to continue to compete.  Memphis tells the HGs that he wants them to vote for themselves and not for anybody (cough, April) else.

Time for the vote, and everyone goes as expected.  On Jessie’s side it’s Michelle, Ollie and Jerry.  On Memphis’ side is the coven.  America is the swing vote and Jessie is out.  When Julie makes the announcement, April looks disturbed if not shocked.  Jessie hugs appropriately, says to Dan “Your word, your word” and leaves.  Michelle is furious and stalks around in her red unitard and gold high heels.  

Mr. Super Strong Iowa exits the house to appreciative applause.  Julie comments “You look shocked,” but he really doesn’t.  Jessie replies “I’m not surprised.  It’s Dan.”  He says he has faith, and “God wants me to do something else right now, so it saves me two months in there with a bunch of people that don’t want me in there.”  JC asks Jessie what he meant by his parting words to Dan.  Jessie answers that Dan swore up and down to him, but “the kid doesn’t even go to church on Sundays and he’s Catholic.”  Julie asks if Jessie has any regrets, and he has none.  He also denies that anyone had any reason to call him arrogant.  Next Julie asks Jessie to play word association:  “Jerry” - “Really good shape.”  “Renny” - “Was a trip the first week.”  “Michelle” - “Very proud of her.”  “Libra” - “Deviant.”  Did he mean devious?  That fits, too, but I think he got it right the first time.

In the parting video messages, April apologizes because if he is seeing this, then something went terribly wrong.  Michelle promises revenge.  Libra and Keesha both tell him that they are glad to see him go.  Renny rudely says “Sayonara,”  as she makes a really ugly face and gives a drunken wave.  On the Early Show, JC “will reveal something Jessie will be very surprised to learn.”  The America’s Player twist, no doubt.

After commercial, JC explains that the HGs didn’t get much sleep last night.  It was Wakeup Call night.  We see footage of the HGs being screamed and yelled at by viewers who called in the taped messages.  However, amid the screaming and yelling there seems to be a smattering of messages that may have some significance.  And sure enough….

Here are the HGs in the backyard for the HOH competition.  They are lined up in booths ready for a series of true of false questions, all pertaining to information presented in the wakeup messages.  They all get the first question right.  On the second, Renny and Ollie are eliminated, April is devastated.  Alas, no HO room this week.  On the third question Jerry, Dan, Keesha and Memphis are eliminated, leaving Libra and Michelle!  The ultimate showdown!  Finally, good triumphs over evil and Michelle is the new HOH.  Libra, Keesha and Renny sit together with pasted on smiles, further deepening my contempt.  Michelle shouts “That’s for you, Jessie!  I’m gonna get them, don’t worry about it.”  America’s ex-player looks distraught.

After commercial, JC asks Michelle how she feels winning HOH.  She replies that she cant’ describe it, after the week she has had, wearing the unitard and everthing else, “I deserve this.”  Julie asks Memphis how he feels.  He feels good to still be here, “You feel the love when the majority of the house keeps you.”  Finally, Julie asks Jerry which is more difficult, serving in the armed forces or being on BB.  Jerry enthusiastically replies that he loves this.  

Julie then announces that in honor of the 10th season of BB, one player from each previous season will come back to participate in a competition with the current HGs this Sunday night.

So what do you think about the sudden shift of power?  Were you happy to see Jessie go?  Glad to see Michelle win HOH?  Even if you love the coven, you’ve got to admit that it makes for a better game than if one of them won HOH tonight.  Thanks for reading and please post a comment with your thoughts.  Be sure to check out the latest from Media Fiends: MediaFiends.com - BB10 LFs: August 6th, MediaFiends.com - BB10 LFs: August 7th, MediaFiends.com - Bittersweet.