I Fought So Hard I Have To Get Another Shot Of Botox

     I'm going to start this blog as a writing exercise, a reason to get myself writing on a more regular basis and hopefully as a jump starter to the stuff I really want to be writing.  Its hard sometimes to just jump into a project cold.  I hope to use this as a warm up for any of my writing sessions.  I'm going to focus on pop culture stuff, my opinions on TV, movies, music, that kind of stuff.
     I thought I would begin by following a TV show, break down episodes of something I enjoy watching critic style.  The middle of the summer is not really the opportune time to start such a project.  My choices are limited.  Everyone and their mother is writing about Mad Men, so as much as I would like to dissect those episodes, I'm not sure I could add anything of value that hasn't been mentioned elsewhere.  Rescue Me has become so loathsome and silly, even though I still watch it, I'm not sure there is anything of substance to write about episode after episode.  Everyone is an asshole and will always make the wrong choice... that's every episode of the show summed up in one sentence.  I feel dirty watching Jersey Shore no matter how hard I laugh, so I couldn't imagine what writing about it would do to my soul.  So, I'm left with Big Brother, my summer guilty pleasure for the last 9 years.  I don't watch the on-line or Showtime stuff, nor read any of the feeds, so all my comments and reactions are based solely on the CBS shows.  Without further ado...

     Sunday's episode, Episode 14, began with a Head Of Household (HOH) competition.  The alliances going in are Matt, Enzo, Lane and Hayden in a secret alliance they are calling The Brigade, Rachel and Braden in a very open showmance alliance, and Regan, Britney and Kathy left as floaters.  The housemates are standing on a narrow plank surrounding a giant paint bucket.  They are allowed to hold on to a rail behind them as they are sprayed with bursts of paint and hit with an equally giant paint brush.  The last one standing on the bucket plank wins HOH.  With Rachel as out going HOH, it was up to Braden to win in order to assure the couple would stay off the chopping block.  Has there been a more annoying couple in the history of reality TV?  When Rachel laughs it makes me want to punch my television.  And Braden comes off as the most whipped human on the face of the planet.  Braden falls out of the competition quickly and when Rachel gets mad he comments, "All I wanted to hear was that I did a good job."  Is it an act?  Does he realize that Rachel is a dead weight tied to his ankle?  He may have thrown the competition to get her kicked out, but I'm not sure I believe that.  I'm going with he's just plan pathetic.
     Soon after Braden falls out, Britney comments that she feels safe this week and falls out as well.  She may be safe this week, but is getting rid of Rachel and Braden in her best interest?  It's hard to tell, not being in the house, what the housemates know and don't know about each other, but I find it hard to believe that nobody thinks the boys may have a pact.  Kristen pointed out the possibility to everyone on her way out.  Would it not make more sense for the three floaters to pair up with Rachel and Braden to knockout one or two of the others before they have numbers?  I hope Britney plans to team up with the surviving member of the couple, but I would have tried to make my move this week.  The same goes for Regan.  He was one of the last two on the paint bucket with Matt.  He never tried to cut a deal.  Why didn't he try to cut a deal?  When Rachel or Braden is gone at the end of the week, he's going to be on the outside.  Why not try to do something about that now?
     Matt ends up winning the HOH and in the process gets to choose to open Pandora's Box or not.  He chooses to open it and gains the Diamond Power of Veto, which will allow him to veto any nomination over the next two weeks, but also allows there to be a new saboteur.  The new saboteur is Regan.  This new power seems to pretty much seal the Brigade's power hold on the game.  No matter what happens next week, Matt will have final say on who will be on the block.  Even if the floaters make a pact to gain a number advantage, Matt will be able to negate it.
     To no one's surprise, Matt nominates Rachel and Braden.  We are left with the image of a crying Rachel as she exclaims, "I fought so hard I have to get another shot of botox because I have so many wrinkles."  Don't let the door hit you in the ass, Rachel!