THURSDAY, AUG. 10, DAY 9
Hisam tries to rally the older folks to team up against the youngsters who have already formed more than one alliance with themselves, noting how the show has regularly pushed out the old oddballs sooner than the young majority. This is the first season to feature more than 2 older folks in the game…another first. So, keep that in mind as the show continues.
Luke said something inappropriate, involving a G-word?…but they claim it was a word for black folks? I can guess the word, and it would start with N, not G. [Unless the word was gangster?…and that’s bad because?…it stereotypes black folks?]
[According to TMZ, which I just happened to catch at the right time, the following day, Luke used THE N-word, twice. That’s not how I remember the scene, but it went so fast. And, somehow, within less than a day, TMZ mosquitoes got in touch with or acquired testimony from Luke’s parents who claim he has (ethnic) step-siblings and is not racist. I’d like to go out on a limb and say I’d peg Luke more likely an ignorant white guy than a racist one. But, TMZ just joked at Luke’s expense. They say it was the crew behind the scenes who caught and reported Luke, but from what they show of the other houseguests, IIII’m pretty sure Cory had a hand in the matter; he looks rather guilty in a few takes, the little tattletale. I still say Jared’s mom plays a part in Luke’s removal. But, now I think Cory is partially to blame. And, Hisam looks flabbergasted, standing behind Luke, when the latter spouts off in an oddly casual, comical way. I don’t think he even realized what he was saying as he tried to sound witty. I cannot believe these contestants were not previously screened for this sort of thing. And, you mean to tell me no one else in 25 seasons has slipped this way? No one spoke as casually? ‘Doubt that, unless their fishing from a very select “Christian” pool.]
But…that was enough for eviction?? I don’t particularly favor the guy, but he gets kicked out of the game for a slip of the tongue? He wasn’t even being confrontational or judgmental. [I know someone who uses the word “jag” as a casual insult for people he doesn’t like. Would that cause a shutdown of the show if he said it in front of…well, Jag?] He tried to make Kirsten feel better in her tough situation as the first target for eviction. He was trying to be social and casual and used one tiny inappropriate piece of slang! Cripes, BB. It was a slip he didn’t even know was out of line, apparently. He didn’t point a finger and start a fight with the word. But, I guess you can call this “the unexpected.”
Isn’t there such a thing as a verbal warning before such a final decision? Are there not moments, when the show is in it’s 24-7-access format, when the crew can correct and direct players? I seem to recall watching some of the 24-7 footage and hearing a crew person give directions before the group was recorded for broadcast television. I think someone used inappropriate language and was cautioned. Did anyone caution Luke after a previous slip?…was the televised incident not his first?
What a humiliating and scary scramble this is. ‘Comic book fail.
Here’s how I think Luke should have been evicted: He gets into a fight with Jared on Day 45, who is already tripping a negative nerve in my brain with his general aura and behavior. And, when it gets really heated, he points at Jared and says whatever is so offensive from today, foaming at the mouth with contempt because he can’t take Jared another day. Momma Cirie intervenes, and Luke says something hasty to her, too, because Mom is too much like a cunning lioness, watching her prey from a cliff, ready to pounce and tear them apart.
Now, THEN, you could present a case in which Luke was in the wrong, though rightfully angry. He had time to “learn the rules” (if he’s that stupid) and get to know people so he’d have a better idea of what’s fair and not fair to say on a more personal level, not to mention the more general levels these shows can’t seem to exploit enough. [Gee. I’m sure glad they didn’t bring in someone who uses more casual slurs/cussing or who is a heated Italian; that would be a disaster. Ay? Cuz Italians don’t get “woke,” we’re perpetually blunt and in your face. Kapeesh? Manners only go so far.] I’d rather he act wrongly in anger than casually say something he didn’t think was wrong until someone called him out. As far as I could see, he wasn’t being inappropriate or mean, just naive. He felt bad afterword and presumed he was in some kind of trouble; maybe he even realized something would happen for his slip. But, damn. Out already? ‘To do what? Does BB send him to some “re-training camp” to do community service for the people he wronged…with a slip of the tongue? Is Luke going to wear an orange jumpsuit and stab roadside garbage with a stick, in an ethnic neighborhood, now?
Actually, here is how I expected Luke to be evicted, on Day 78 (roughly estimated): He has survived this long because the dude is built like Hercules and has some wits, so he’s not a complete moron but is a “comp” machine. And, let’s face it; this show is Survivor on drugs. It’s a long, wacky endurance competition without any privacy. Luke has become quite the ladies’ man…for the few women who can appreciate that, this season. [This certainly isn’t the typical crowd of “hot singles” who pair up for multiple “showmances.” Is that cruelty toward older folks?] But, his final Y-number alliance is starting to fray. It’s time to bite the hands that joined you. And, he’s seen as the biggest threat to a weaker player’s victory, so majority rules against him. He’s on his way to Jury with a silly half-smirk on his big, strong face. The first few jury members make a comment about hoping Luke would win or not join them shortly before he does the latter, and everyone has an awkward (staged) laugh. For the final vote, he picks the carried floater or the biggest weasel, not the best strategist who worked the hardest to get to the finish line, not the one with the best reason to win (a real, truthful case of moral value, if there is one), and not someone who could be his best friend, as usual. The losers all take time to consider applying for another reality-TV show in the chain, wondering if that might provide better results at the CBS carnival. The End.
Even Julie Chen (Moonves), the hostess of the show for all 25 seasons, has said some stupid stuff, trying to be social with the houseguests. You cannot tell me whatever Luke did was death-on-delivery.
[Seriously, if my suspicions are right, and Cirie (and Jared) are behind this, I really hate those two people. They’re like the worst soccer players who cry foul and roll on the ground just to get a free kick before getting up and smiling, again, knowing they were not truly hurt. Hey, Cirie? Can you get Jared out of the house? Okay. Evicting Jared. Wait. I cannot do that. He is my son.]
I guess we all should just not say anything but small talk that’s scripted and safe, hmm? [Good luck with that.] But, it’s okay to utterly humiliate these players in other ways…yea. And, it’s okay to bang pots and pans until your few remaining housemates are so furiously annoyed they want to walk out. So, you could win the game by just being obnoxious. That makes sense. [Not.]
Talk about selective language and changes that can slip you up; so it’s okay to throw the word “bitches” around because one player used it and was stamped with that as a catchphrase. I see. But, whatever Luke said casually was utterly unacceptable. Hmm. As dumb as he wanted to play, I don’t think a health nut and geek, like him, would be that dumb. So, I am guessing what wasn’t aired was someone reporting him to Survivor Mom, who then reported him to the Diary Room crew like a good, cut-throat reality-gameshow player.
[I told you Jared and Cirie would be dangerous and blow up this game. They’re toxic. The only thing Jared seems good at is “crowing” to his mom, reporting every little thing he overhears, which is pathetic and annoying…and yet they air that much because the show can’t get enough whispering on camera??! They won’t win unless this is pre-arranged, or Cirie just has that sway with every authority. Heck. Just spare us the 100 days of gossip and fussing and hand her the check, while you’re at it, if she’s pleading unfairness somehow.]
In a previous season, there was a woman so religiously furious that she was throwing out words and names for housemates which would have made my skin split. I think she got away with it because everyone else in the house was so loosely religious that they didn’t care what she said. Or, maybe they were all part of the same cult. I would have been completely unraveled and on edge around her. I take my faith seriously and would never call someone such names (nor throw religious terms around) unless I was convinced they were true evil…and even then I’d avoid them because I don’t want that evil rubbing off on me. But, no one said that behavior was wrong. So, she could go around calling people whatever she wanted because it wasn’t “racial” (or one of the ugly cousins).
In another season, a very attractive and silly woman had a complete meltdown for what people were saying about and around her, and she was left alone until evicted, not right after the meltdown. [At least, I don’t think that’s when she left.] I’m sure she said a few things that I’d consider unnecessary. But, instead, she was spotlighted, almost heralded for it. I guess it’s okay if you’re of a “minority.” You can do whatever you want and be a star. But, white folks? No. You’re on the naughty list. So, watch your mouths.
Aaand, didn’t we just wrap up a season, last season, in which some young guy said something inappropriate about “black people” and was forced to make a public confession to the other housemates? Didn’t that take up a whole episode and bleed into other episodes? It’s a foggy memory. But, I recall a rather PSA-worthy episode which annoyed me for seeming so scripted.
There are at least two lawyer-type people among the cast, including Bowie Jane and Mecole; can we get their take on the case at hand? They were not witnesses, I don’t think. Do we need to set up The Big Brother Court to get a fair trial?
As expected, mob mentality, no matter what they say about racial slurs, stereotypes and supporting people who aren’t the majority, reigns supreme. Whatever the alpha dog says goes. And, Reilly leads the pack, already. Everyone falls in line, like dominoes. It’s rather pathetic, when you consider all the recorded footage of talk in corridors. What a huge waste of air time.
In short, Kirsten was nominated early and had no chance. So, let her cry and go home, where she can restart her start-up and, hopefully, move on with a healthy life. As predicted, the “black” folks (if I can use that word?) are not in charge, this season. Kirsten was just the first to go.
–Wh-What is with Jared and the head scarf??! What is he doing? Is it some kind of hair protector? Is he cultivating buds under there? It’s really stupid-looking (and not exactly masculine), along with his flashy bling. ‘Just my opinion. A shower or medical procedure cap (those thin scalp covers doctors and nurses wear in ORs/ERs) would be better. He flashes that beaming grin and converses with his mom too much, too. ‘Just saying.
I can’t quite tell if Kirsten is genuinely surprised to learn Jared is Cirie’s son, she looks as if she’s forcing herself to sound remotely surprised. Maybe she was just preoccupied with her own drama, having a reality check.
The goodbye videos continue to be annoying and poorly cut, piecing together bits of things the people confessed or tried to politely say. Reilly is making a blatant apology to someone she hastily targeted for doing the same thing she did (dipping into multiple alliances), in case Kirsten would ever have an impact on a final vote, should Reilly make it to the end. I wouldn’t dump the idea, but please just air the videos as the people voice them. Don’t piece together bits to make it sound…good. That looks shady. I can’t feel good about what someone says when I can easily see it was cut and pasted together. Heck. I could turn a suicide note into a sunny love letter, that way.
But, that’s just part of the show’s confusion. The crew pieces together everything and adds music for added impact, and people get confused by what just happened. Who said what when? How does anyone remember what happened what day when this “collage-ing” of episodes occurs? If someone watches what became of their confessions in the Diary Room, would they still believe it happened or wonder if their words were not cut, pasted and twisted? How does this help people already torn between strategy and friendship/love coexist in a positive way? Isn’t the whole mess just humiliating?
And, when you’re the first to go home, can you honestly tell them how you know them well and look forward to being friends on the outside, ninety-one days later? Even though you’ve spent over a week together, that doesn’t mean you took the time to get to know every person in a group this size, with all of their various social behaviors and comfort zones. I’ve been on a few retreats with as many people, and I was lucky if I learned a few things about half the crowd before we went our separate ways. I’d get more out of the introductions from the first episode of Big Brother, every season. And, as for friendship, by the time you get out, you may be a different person or in a very different mental place which denies you the opportunity to reconnect. Or, the person you hoped to connect with is not available for whatever reason. Maybe they no longer want to be found or the paperwork associated with the show denies contact for some reason.
A rather unpleasant and uneventful episode. But, plenty of food for thought…if you don’t mind the grumbling.
Oh! I didn’t know. Did you know? August 10th was Valentine’s Day. Hmm. Well, this is scary, humiliating, comical news that just scrambles my brain.
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