Big Brother 9: 'Til Death Do You Part

Although the writers' strike is supposed to end in the next few days, some of TV's biggest hits are coming back with full force this week and next. One of my favorite shows, Big Brother on CBS, came back last night with its 9th season and a big plot twist.


This new season (the first to air in a non-Summer time slot) will also be the first to force the house guests to act as pairs instead of individuals. For the first time, all the house guests are single and in their 20s (expect for Sheila who is 45 and kind of a bitch) and are paired up with another house guest who is deemed their "soul mate." The mates will be working as pairs and will compete together, vote together and get evicted together, too.

As per the norm with Big Brother, the house guests are always told to "expect the unexpected" and this new season is no different. 2 pairs of house guests actually knew each other prior to moving into the Big Bro house. Ryan and Jen are a real-life couple who are in the house together, but NOT paired up with one another. The other house guests also don't know that Ryan and Jen are together. In another twist, exes Jarod and Sharon are paired up together, but didn't know that their ex would be joining them in the house. Juicy! There's already a bunch of tension and arguing and we've only seen one episode so far.

This season's most hated house guest is clearly going to be Sheila, the oldest and grouchiest member of the cast. As soon as the "soul mates" were announced she launched into a rant about how her mate "is not even her type" because she likes "tall, dark and handsome." Granted, her 29-year-old partner, Adam, did call her "Ma" but she was quite vocal about her dislike of her match. Sheila- did you forget that you are on a reality competition show and not The Bachelor? I have a feeling she and Adam will be the first to go at tonight's eviction.

I'm going to avoid posting about Big Brother each week (it's on three days a week, which is a bit much) but I'm sure I'll drop in an occasional recap when things get interesting.

Did you watch the premiere? If you missed it you can visit CBS.com and watch full episode. What did you think? Who do you think is going to win?

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Related Things:

• More Big Brother

Summer Sickness

The title of the post works on so many levels. First off, I'm sick of the sticky summer weather. I'm ready for the cooler Fall temperatures and wearing jeans and t-shirts without feeling like turning inside-out. Agree?

Secondly- I'm actually sick. What am I sick with? I'm not even sure. It's some sort of summer cold-achy-miserable type thing. What I do know is that there is one thing that is getting me through the day: Zicam Cold Remedy nose spray. Please don't let this photo of a stuffed-up lumberjack discourage you; this product is great! I don't know what it is, and it quite possibly could be a placebo effect, but it always makes me feel better. I think Zicam and Red Bull were the two things that got me through my last two years of college (besides the binge drinking.) I also fully expect a case of Zicam and/or Red Bull on my doorstep tomorrow. Isn't that was Rosie O'Donnell does? Mention stuff and get free stuff? Yes.

The other summer sickness that I have is my new love for Big Brother 8 on CBS. This is actually the first year that I'm diligently watching Big Bro, but I'm into it. I only started watching because there is NOTHING good on TV this summer, but I'm totally digging it now. Last night's episode is what pushed me over the edge. The house guests went from quietly scheming behind each other's backs, to flat out saying, "If you do this, I'm gonna do this!" which is slightly unusual on competition shows.

There's no way I'm gonna give a Big Brother update after every episode, since the show is on like 12 times a week, but I will just give a few notes right now. This season there's a new gimmick called "America's Player" where one contestant's actions are controlled by the viewers. Each week, America gives Eric a task to complete, like lying about something dramatic happening in his past, or getting certain house guests nominated for eviction. After every 5 completed tasks he wins $10,000. Pretty cool. What's actually neat about the new twist is that the other contestants don't know that America is telling him what to do. We'll have to watch and see if anything interesting actually comes up.

Now... let's get to the good stuff. The most hated player on the show is by far the selfish bitch, Jen. She's a self-centered nanny who doesn't care what she says to the other house guests and makes no qualms about announcing her strategy or reason for voting certain people. The cast was shaken last week when Jen won Head of Household after a fluke in the competition, but as soon as she loses power there is no doubt she'll get the boot. Everyone hates her.

The best was her reaction to their photo reveal a few shows ago. Jen FREAKED OUT and cried and made a huge scene about her cast member photo because it, "makes it look like she has these weird eye bags but they're like... not even hers!" It was amazing. That's the exact moment that everyone in the house was like, "Oh, crap. I hate her." You can watch the clip over at the Big Brother website, and view some additional photos. Oh ya, the cameras in the house are on 24/7 so you can also subscribe to the site and watch the house guests all day and night, you perv.

Big Brother 8 is on (takes a deep breath) Tuesdays at 9 and Thursdays at 8, with the eviction ceremony on Sunday nights at 8. All of this craziness takes place on CBS.

Go Inside the House of 'Big Brother' Season 13

Tonight is the premiere of one of Summer's most popular reality show: Big Brother. In season 13 -- premiering tonight at 9pm on CBS -- eight new house guests will enter the BB house to compete for the grand prize of $500,000.


Season 13 Cast (L-R): Lawon, Dominic, Cassi, Shelly, Prosche, Adam, Keith and Kalia
Eight house guests might seem like a small group, but the twist with season 13 is that these newbies will be joined by some of Big Brother's most memorable duos, with potentials like couple Brendon and Rachel, best buds Dr. Will and Mike "Boogie" or father-daugher-duo Evel Dick and Danielle.

While we won't find out who these memorable duos will be until the show airs, we are able to take sneak peek into this season's house, where the contestants will be filmed 24 hours a day. Keep reading see the photos!

Thing of the Week: Amber's Crying

I'm starting another new, weekly post on the blog called the Thing of the Week. I tend to write about a lot of things (clearly, that's what the blog is all about) but I'm going to start singling out one thing each week that deserves special attention. So, the first ever Thing of the Week is:
Amber's Crying on Big Brother 8

If you watch Big Brother this season you know that single mother, Amber, cries at the drop of a hat. She cries when she's happy, she cries when she's sad, she cries when she votes and she cries when people say mean things (or nice things) to other people in the Big Brother house.

If you go to YouTube.com and search "Amber Big Brother Crying" there are 30 clips of her bawling her eyes out. If you are unfamiliar with show, please check out some of the clips and experience her tears of joy... or sorrow... or Tuesday...

Evel Dick Wins Big Brother 8

An slightly surprising, but mostly uneventful end to a great season of the CBS show Big Brother 8. If you've been watching the show (or my vlogs) you know that it's been a very interesting season full of twists and turns, unexpected evictions and bunny suits.

The twist this season was that 3 of the house guests had their worst enemy brought into the house to play with them. I doubt anyone thought about it, but the father and daughter who hadn't spoken in 2 years would not only get over their feud, but become the strongest alliance in Big Brother history.

I've been following the show all season and was actually not that excited for the finale. Either way, Daniele and Evel Dick (yes, spelled Evel) were both going to walk away with a big chunk of change. The evicted house guests got to vote on which of the two should take home the $500,000 prize and they decided to give it to Dick. It seemed as if most made their decision on the fact that, while they didn't like it, Dick had a strategy and plan for how to play the game and it obviously worked. They didn't like the way Dick treated them, but they respected that he never strayed from his plan... no matter how "evel" it was.

Did you watch the finale? What do you think of the results?

Thing of the Week: TV Twists

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you made it through the week. I know it was only a four-day week for most people, but sometimes those can be the hardest. Since it is Friday, that means that it's time to pick the stand-out thing of the last seven days... Today's Thing of the Week is:
TV Twists

After a few weeks of some slightly boring action on Big Brother 8 the house guests were rocked when Julie Chen announced that last night would be a "fast forward" show. That meant that someone would be evicted right at the top of the show, then the remaining players would go through a week's worth of competitions in just one hour! The house guests voted to evict Jessica immediately, then they quickly played the other games and voted to evict Eric at the end of the show.

I was really sad to see Jessica and Eric go. They were a great team, and I really think that Jessica could have won Big Brother if she made it to the final two. Unfortunately, I think they both made a bonehead decision to keep their alliance with Evel Dick and Daniele instead of putting them up against each other. IT'S A GAME, PEOPLE! Don't ever put me on Big Brother (or do!) because I will back stab everyone. No joke. The next few shows are all going to be sped up, so make sure you watch!

In other pseudo-reality-show-type news, did you guys watch Tim Gunn's Guide To Style on Bravo? I'll admit that I was very skeptical at first, but I watched the first episode last night and I totally dig it! I assumed that the show as going to end up being a complete knock-off the TLC show What Not To Wear, because the premise is basically the same: Two fashion specialists go into a person's wardrobe, rips it apart, then helps them pick new things. Not exactly! Tim and his cohort, supermodel Veronica Webb, really help out some style-challenged people and show them how they not only dress better, but feel better about themselves. I love What Not To Wear, but Tim Gunn's Guide To Style goes for the same idea, but with more heart and less bitchy comments. Good job, Tim!

Did you watch either of these shows last night? What do you think?!

Thing of the Week: Amber's Freak Out on Big Brother 8

For the second week in a row Amber from Big Brother 8 is a part of my Thing of the Week. Last week Amber's crying got the top spot, and she's at it this week again! Today's Thing of the Week is:

Amber's Freak Out on Eric

I was thinking about picking Amber's awesome braids as the thing of the week, but the freak out was much more entertaining. I don't want to spoil too much if you haven't seen Big Brother from last night, but it was awesome! Apparently Amber shared a deep, dark secret with Eric, who then told Evel Dick that he was going to use it against her in the future! Oh, no he didn't! Check out the clip of Amber's freak out, but there is very strong language, so it's a little NSFW. Put on your head phones!

Have a great weekend!

Vlog: Big Brother Recap 9/13/07

Hey gang- Another night of Big Brother 8, another vlog from me and Carolyn. Last night's episode was the big one! The final 2 house guests were chosen, which means one of them will take home $500,000. Click the pic to view.

Make sure you check out the blog on Monday to see what shows we will be watching this Fall. I know you care, so be sure to come back! Have a great weekend!

TV vlog: Big Brother 8 Recap

Due to the great response of our VMA/Britney ranting vlog the other day, Carolyn and I have decided to regularly flap our jaws about what we're watching on TV.

Last night we watched a special Tuesday live edition of Big Brother 8. Only four house guests remained, and whoever won the power of veto would be sending someone home. I don't want to give too much away, so you're just going to have to watch the video to find out what went down. Let me know what you think! Click the pic for the video

Many TV Watchers Have Tuned Out

I think I've kicked my TV habit. Seriously. Well ok... I don't think that I'll ever actually ever be completely unhooked from TV, but last year's writers strike was probably one of the best things to happen to me. I admit that I am a television junkie, but that's mainly because I work in the industry and have a general interest in what shows are hot and checking out the newest series. It's not an excuse to watch endless hours of TV... just the reason why I do it... or used to do it.

The writers strike snapped me out of my TV-induced coma. Suddenly my nights were free without Heroes or Grey's Anatomy or all those other shows that used to be on but whose names I have forgotten. I'm still a dedicated watchers of reality shows like America's Next Top Model, Big Brother and Amazing Race but without all the scripted series in the way I have been able to expand my social life. A sad, but true reality, my friends. Sad, but true. The redeeming factor is that I'm not the only one who has found ways other than TV to occupy my time.

I just read an article appropriately enough in TV Guide about how viewers haven't come back to finish this season of their favorite shows. According to the article Desperate Housewives has seen a 23% drop, Ugly Betty is down 24% and ER and CSI are down 19% and 26% respectively. Experts are citing several reasons why people aren't returning they're regularly-scheduled programs. The biggest reason seems to be that people's weekly watching routines and habits have been broken. They're not rushing home to watch Lost on Thursday nights anymore because for 100+ days they had to find something else to do. They've quit cold turkey against their will and might not tune back in after breaking the habit. Apparently, a similar thing happened to daytime soaps which were preempted for OJ Simpson trial coverage. Viewers' daytime TV routines were changed and many of them never went back to watching.

Another reason is because, unlike the Fall, there wasn't a premiere week or announced return of new programming. A lot of people simply don't know that their favorite shows are back on the air (which is what happened to me with Grey's Anatomy.) There hasn't been a big push to bring viewers back, and some series are only returning for 4 or 5 episodes before going on Summer hiatus.

The estimated viewership may also be low because of DVR recording; the data just hasn't come in showing how many households are going back and watching shows after their original air date. Only 15% of Nielsen homes had DVR last year, which has increased to 24% today. DVR is a whole separate issue altogether; change demographic info along with advertising revenue.

TV execs assume that things will return to normal once Fall comes around again and the familiar shows get back to their usual schedule. They're hoping that audiences will fall back into their normal viewing habits and will once again become comfortable with their old characters and story lines... but only time will tell.

So what's your opinion? Has your TV watching regime changed since the writers strike? Are you watching different shows since many others were gone for so long? Do you think you'll fall back into your shows when they premiere in the Fall?

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Related Things:

• More things about television
  

We Need A Hero(es)!

Time for a little geeking out on my part. With the exception of Big Brother 8 and So You Think You Can Dance I have really been disappointed with television this summer. I actually had to like... go outside and stuff. *shudder* Luckily for me, one of my favorite shows, Heroes, is returning with a brand new season on Monday, September 24th. Granted, it's about a month away, but the hype has already begun. NBC has started running promos for season two... please watch:

And tomorrow you can finally pick up the first season of Heroes on DVD! I'm pumped. I'm a big fan of TV shows on DVD, because you never know when you might get stuck in front of the tube on a Sunday afternoon with nothing saved on your DVR and no marathons of Top Model running! Yikes! Gonna need to pick up this set tomorrow.

In celebration of the release, some of the stars of the show will be appearing on NBC's TODAY on Tuesday morning, and then will crossing the street and doing a meet and greet at the NBC Experience Store. I'm not going to lie... I might have to venture downstairs and get in a little nerd time. I replaced my lost camera, so maybe I'll have some photographic evidence to share in the near future... just maybe.

Regardless of whether or not I make it to see the Heroes in person, I'm really excited for season 2 to begin! I have no idea what's going to happen with the story line... or which characters will be returning... or who is good and who is evil! ay yi yi. I'm getting flustered already.

Bye Bye 2007

On the final day of 2007 I thought it would be nice to write a recap of the past 365 days and look back at everything that has come and gone over the last year... but then I realized that would take a really long time and require lots of thinking and writing, and you probably wouldn't want to read it anyway. So, I have decided to share a few of my favorite blog entries from '07. Yes, I'm that lazy.

One of the great things about living in New York City is that chance to see some great concerts. I was lucky enough to see Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Kelly Clarkson up close and personal.

In March Carolyn and I decided to treat ourselves to a vacation, so we headed down the white sandy beaches of Miami for some R&R.

I had such a great time that I went back with my friend Kelly 4 months later.

Of course I always have my trusty cam with me, so I took a few photo spreads at cool places like the Conservatory Gardens and the American Museum of Natural History.

I started a new job with iVillage.com in May, and start producing a daily video called "On This Day."

In May my cousin Erin had a baby girl, Maura, who I quickly became obsessed with.

June was a quiet month, and I spent a relaxing afternoon at The Bronx Zoo and took a ton of photos.

It was also in June that I discovered a website that changed my life: SomeECards.com

In July I was paid a special visit by my Mom, brother Drew and cousin Jim.

And we kept our Independence Day in the Park tradition alive!

Somehow Buffo The Clown managed to creep back into my life after years of repression.

Britney's VMA performance in September sparked Carolyn and I's vlogging debut. Which led to a recap of Big Brother and America's Next Top Model.

and I turned 25 and had a great birthday weekend!

I know there were so many other things that happened that I've written about (and a lot things that I didn't write about) that I can't remember at the moment, but I want to say thanks to everyone who helped make 2007 one of the best years ever. Also, thanks to everyone who reads my blog on a daily/weekly/by accident basis! I really appreciate the comments and feedback, and hope my little piece of the web brings you at least mild enjoyment.

Thanks for reading, and here's to another great year in 2008!

Quick Things 7.9.11

Some quick links that are worth checking out...

• 23 of the Creepiest Robots Ever
• Kinth? Treresa? Sharonica? The Best Starbucks Cup Spellings
• Snow Delay At The Airport? Blame Planes And Clouds
• How 10,000 People Kept a Dinner Party Secret
• Cute and Creepy! Charity Juicer Runs On Smiles
• Time-Lapse Video of a Month of Chicago Sunrises
• Go Inside the New Big Brother House
• How to Fix Five Common iPhone Injuries
• 5 Record Stores that Changed Music Forever

Thing of the Week: Reality Show Shockers!

Happy Friday! Hope you had a nice week and have an even nicer weekend! And now, your Thing of the Week:

Reality Show Shockers!

In last night's eviction ceremony, the houseguests made a major move and voted to evict Dustin out of the Big Brother house!

Clearly Dustin was shocked by this vote, and you can expect to things to really shake up in the next few weeks. Click his pic for the video.

In other shocking plays, Sabra was voted America's Favorite Dancer on So You Think You Can Dance last night. I think she's great, but what was really shocking was the fact that Lacey was cut right away.

She definitely deserved to win, in my opinion, but each of the top four dancers were fantastic. What did you think? Click the pic for Lacey and Sabra's weird Wade Robson choreographed "foxes" dance.

So You Think You Can Dance

You can argue with me all you want, but I will say that So You Think You Can Dance is probably the best show on TV this summer. As I said in my previous post, I really don't like much of anything that's on the telly right now, but SYTYCD has always been one of my faves.

Now that the audition episodes are over and the actual competition gets going, the real fun has begun. In case you are unfamiliar with the show I'll tell you how it works. Much like American Idol, it has two nights; a performance night and a results night. Performance night pairs up the dancers and makes them do a routine in a particular style (hip-hop, ballroom, contemporary, etc) and then the viewers vote to keep their faves on. On results night, the three pairs w/ the lowest votes each perform solo dances of their choice, and then the SYTYCD judges cut one guy and one girl from the show. I definitely like the fact that although America chooses the bottom six people, the judges (people with actual dance experience) vote off the worst.

My favorite part of the show is the beginning of results night, when all the remaining dancers perform together in a group number. They always seem to be shockingly good, and it's really fun to see everyone together dancing for fun. Last week's show featured a dance choreographed by Wade Robson that still gives me goosebumps when I watch it. Even if you don't appreciate dance as much as I do, you can enjoy this piece. The choreography is awesome, and I don't just mean how the dancers are moving... the camera moves are amazing, too. I can't imagine having enough creativity to think that up. That's probably why Wade is the man. Check out the performance of "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" before big brother yanks it off the web.
Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See


Wade Robson also choreographed one of last season's best dances to "Ramalama (Bang Bang)" so check that out, too.
Ramalama (Bang Bang)



So You Think You Can Dance airs tonight and every Wednesday at 8pm with the results Thursday at 9pm. You can head over to Fox.com/dance to learn more about this season's contestants and play some random trivia game. Unfortunately, the website offers little in the way of videos. People (like me) want to watch the performances over and over again... you should get on that, Fox!

Meet the New Cast of 'The Celebrity Apprentice'

16 new celebrities will be compete against each other in the new season of The Celebrity Apprentice, premiering Sunday, March 6 at 9pm on NBC.


They will use their fame, contacts and business acumen to win weekly tasks, while ultimately raising money and awareness for their respective causes. As per usual, Donald Trump and his advisors -- who also happen to be his children and colleagues -- will stand in judgment of the celebrities in the Boardroom. Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are back and will welcome their younger brother, Eric Trump, who will be filling in as an advisor, as will longtime Trump Organization employee George Ross.

So who will face off in the Boardroom in the new season?

You're Followed! The Most Popular 'Celebrity Apprentice' Contestants on Twitter

With the new season of The Celebrity Apprentice premiering Sunday night at 9pm on NBC we've seen a ton of promos featuring the "crazy good" (emphasis on crazy!) celebs going at it on the show. Get to know the all the contestants here.


Beyond the cast drama, the whole point of the celebrity version of Donald Trump's reality show is to raise money for charity. In the past, the most successful players in the game are the stars who use their network and popularity to bring in the dough.

Popularity is measured in many different ways, but in this day of digital life having a big online fan base is just as important as selling out shows and performances. Out of the 16 contestants on the new season of Celebrity Apprentice 13 are on Twitter, so let's take a look at their number of followers and see who might be able to get ahead in the social media game.

Spend Your Gift Cards on These Winter Reads

By Sherri Breitigan, Contributing Writer

Thanks to the gift-giving season, many people now have gift cards for bookstores, or are looking to return The Purpose-Driven Life because they already have three copies.

To ease your literary angst, take a look at this short list of various reads; some old, some newer, that fit a spectrum of tastes and purposes. Break out the hot cocoa, fleece blankets, and the adult footy pajamas you ordered secretly from the SkyMall catalog, and happy reading.

Meditations in an Emergency by Frank O'Hara This short collection of poems is poignant and arresting, with O'Hara writing in the same time period of other poetic greats like Ginsberg and Kerouac. However, he manages to stand out against such a powerful crowd, and his words have stayed with me since. For a contemporary reference, Don Draper on Mad Men read from this collection during the second season of the show. Recommended for: Those tiptoeing on the side of literary and looking for a good commute read. Not recommended for: People avoiding self-reflection.

'Hereafter' Leaves Viewers In Limbo

By Billy Nastyn, Contributing Writer

"What do you think happens when we die?" No one really knows the answer, but with a title like Hereafter and Matt Damon as the leading man, you would assume that you're about to get some intense cinematic insight. The question really is how (and will) this movie get us there with or without some new "I see dead people" twist? Although the trailer and advertisements tout Damon as the film's star, the storyline is actually told through three separate and eventually intertwining story lines.

Hereafter stars Damon as George, a gifted/cursed individual with the ability to tap into the afterlife. Surprisingly, he hardly appears during the first hour of the film, besides the introduction to his reclusive life in San Francisco. George's mission is to find normalcy since becoming overwhelmed with requests to help people talk to their deceased loved ones. His dilemma arrives in the form of a girl (Bryce Dallas Howard) in his late night cooking class and has to face his life's eternal conflict head on.

Marie (Cécile de France) is a French journalist choosing a souvenir from a street market in Indonesia and is swept away by an absolutely terrifying tsunami. If this movie succeeds at one thing, it's consuming you in a near-death experience. You are controlled by that wave and you can feel the danger of every object capable of crushing you. Her visions of the afterlife haunt her upon her return to Paris where she is given leave from her job to cope.

Off in London, we meet synced up twin brothers (George McLaren and Frankie McLaren) covering up for their mess of an addict mother. Their family dynamic may be dysfunctional, but within their introduction you understand the strength that holds them together. When younger brother, Marcus, tragically loses the person closest to him he can help but want to search for answers about the afterlife.

Summer Friday: Warning Signs Your Friend Might Be a 'Jersey Shore' Guido

Every Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day I'm going to be featuring guest bloggers as a part of my "Summer Fridays" series. This week's post comes from comedian and writer Chris Vespoli who shares with us the warning signs that someone you love may be a friend of Snooki.


To millions of Americans, MTV's Jersey Shore is a spray-tanned, greasy orgasm of drama and violence, but to me, it's something far more important. It's an educational tool -- a cautionary tale of misguided youth. You see, no one is born a Guido; Guidos are genuinely good kids who just got swept up in a turbulent sea of Ed Hardy t-shirts and LA Looks Mega Hold hair gel.

Side note: Please realize I use the term "Guido" not as a racial slur towards Italian-Americans, but as a general term for the hard-partying Jersey Shore cast and other tri-state twenty-somethings like them. After all, Ronnie is only half Italian and Snooki is actually Chilean, so to label the word an epithet is pretty misguided in this situation (no pun intended). Also, I can use the word because I myself am Italian-American, so there.

So, in order to make sure this doesn't happen to one of your friends, it's important to recognize the seven warning signs below.

Your Friend Makes Constant, Non-Ironic Use of the Word "Bro"
If someone who is not your brother starts calling you and everyone else he knows "bro," that's usually one of the first signs that something is up. Whereas normal dudes might bust out a "bro" only during a heart-to-heart talk, Guidos use it in nearly every form of social interaction. Be cautious: Use of the word is often accompanied by an increase in aggression on boardwalks, as in Ronnie's "come at me, bro!" + face punch combination in Season 1.

He Treats G-T-L as if it were a Buddhist Mantra
As popularized by Pauly D and The Situation, going to the gym, getting an artificial tan and doing your laundry is the daily routine by which every Guido maintains his "freshness." You'll know it's time for an intervention when your friend starts spending more time and money on his appearance than he does on paying back his student loans... Oh, and his skin will be a bright shade of orange.