Tonight Big Brother has opened its doors for the eleventh time. This time around the houseguests are divided up into 4 cliques the athletes, the popular, the brains, and the off beats. In a way like 4 mini teams. Also we'll be seeing bodybuilder Jessie from Big Brother 10 again joining the athletes and being the first HOH. I personally think the athletes have the biggest advantage of the four groups. Anyone else watching?

I'm watching ! Imagine that, eh ? If it's on TV in the middle o' the week, I'll pretty much watch it, I reckon ... I'd lost interest in the show for quite a while, but the last two seasons were pretty engaging. It's very hard for me to make much sense of anything when the house is so full of people --- but I do remember concluding this pretty quickly, after last night: could they possibly have found any folks more annoying, exasperating and/or generally aggravating (in different ways) than those four that they brought back ? Yikes. And Jessie gets to stay and compete? Goody. I was totally beside myself with glee, hearing he'd packed on twenty pounds ...

Looks like it's a good, eclectic mix of houseguests this time, though! I'll be tuning in, indeed.

I couldn't agree more with your enthusiasm regarding the return of Jessie.

Before they had announced what clique each housegues was going to be in, I was able to correctly pick where each houseguest was going to fall.

I don't know about the way they decided the cliques, but I do like the idea of a team being safe if one of their members wins HoH.

Most fun with that will be when two members of the same clique start dislinking each other. You could be saving the person you would most like to get out of the house all season.

I was soooooo hoping Cowboy would get in. He is by far the least, um, offensive of that four. Ugh. Jessie. Well, at least he should be good for a laugh or two.
The whole premise of cliques made me shudder. Not that I think it's a bad idea--I think it's rather clever actually--but if there's one thing that I'd really love to leave behind in high school, it's that. I was in the smart bunch of theatre people--so I floated between the brainy people and the weird ones, me being a bit of both. In other words, constantly picked on.
Anyway, this season should be fun. Does anyone watch the Big Brother After Dark stuff?

Well our first two nominees are Lydia the off beat and Chima the brain. Personally I want to see Chima go all she did was complain and complain about the "have not" room. I like Lydia but I'm afraid she may leave because of her likeability which many recognize as a threat. Are the athletes and brains really going to be a force to be reckoned with? I still think the athletes are going to win almost every HOH and veto I don't think the brains can really offer them anything, they didn't do very well at a mental challenge of connecting pipes together not a good sign for their "intellect". I don't have Showtime so I don't watch "After Dark", is it any good?

I hope they oust Chima, too. It's probably wrong to say so, so early on and based only on appearances (as they land on me, at least) but she looks flat out scary to me, for some reason . Her back story is mighty compelling -- and the stuff that might make anyone appear a bit sideways sometimes, I realize. But, still. She looks like, at any minute, she might morph into some wild mad scientist (or something) and go ballistic on everybody. Again, just my first few impressions of the [possibly, and probably] lovely young woman .

I like Lydia bunches. But you're right. She might just be too likable, in terms of getting friends in there ...

Chima is certainly a diva, as shown by her reaction to losing the competition.

Brains don't do their own plumbing lol. Certainly not good that they couldn't work it out under pressure.

I wonder if the the whole athletes team will not be able to compete in the upcoming HoH?

I will have my fingers crossed for Lydia to win the Veto, or pull off some backroom deals to stay.

There is also the possibility as Chima said of her wanting to be voted off.

A very good veto episode tonight, a lot happening during the first week too. Lydia is taken off the block courtesy of Russell with the popular houseguest Braden. It seems that the athletes recognize Braden as a threat since he is competitve and very likeable by the houseguests. It also seems that Ronnie the brain is trying to play all sides by warning Braden about their plan, that never works in this game and he's probably going to get the axe soon. I thought Ronnie was suppose to be the "smart" one. We also have tension within the athlete cliques. Jeff seems to be isolating himself from the athletes and the athletes want nothing to do with him anymore. My prediction, I think Braden is popular enough to stay this week. I'll go with a 6-4 vote with our first evicted houseguest being Chima. This has been quite a first week for the show.

I look at how Jeff has aligned himself with the non athletes and keep looking back to Jessie's meeting with him on the first show and the "I need you to have my back conversation".

It looks like the Kevin and Lydia might be the two houseguests to skate by for at least another month under the radar.

As annoying and Jessie was last season, I don't see him as much annoying yet this season.

Ronnie's approach might be the right one for this game, he is double dealing, but he isn't trying to hide it too much. It is usually something that happens during the week that gets people voted out, especially loud screaming fights.

Chima seems the like the one who never left High School, with how she acts.

Oh, my . I was a bit *out* of the swim of things for a week ... but took the opportunity to catch up online this morning with recent events on the show. Yikes. Notably, I watched the (not televised, but shown on that live feed thing) clip of Braden having a wild, not to mention hateful and [gotta say it] totally racist, slam at a few of his houseguests. Then I had a look at the unedited interview with him and Julie Chen, after he was given the boot. Evidently, the "chat" they aired on network TV was cut down to two (friendly, palatable) minutes -- I found the one that was uncut. Holy cow! Is that guy a piece of work, or what? I'll politely sidestep any comments as to the length or width of his alleged 'character' (to be fair, it's truly hard to sum up these people after one or three appearances, saying whatever it is they happen to get caught saying) but I will say this without stalling: that guy is clearly not saturated in the IQ department of things, or so it seemed crazy obvious to me. It didn't help that he was sitting there, so under fire and naturally uncomfortable as heck, either. Miss Chen surely did chew him up and spit him out in short order (subtly), too, let me tell ya . Wow. Lotsa drama in there in the past week, though, it seems. On just a pretty obvious tendency to lapse into pure (intentional or not) ugliness, I think the house is well rid of Mr. Braden . Anyway ...

I agree, Bx! Jessie is almost tolerable this time, isn't he? I tend to think he'll get evicted sooner than later, regardless, however - while better at this as he seems this time, I still suspect that he's ultimately too self-involved to observe anything happening with the others to fare very well. But I could be wrong. I'm not sure I'm liking this Ronnie guy, all of a sudden. He seems a little condescending to me, in all his braininess. I could be wrong about him, too, though. As for Chima? I'm pretty sure I'm not wrong about her, from start until now. She-devil. She-devil-DIVA, no less. Good heavens, she even turned a comedic challenge last night into a venue wherein she could spew a little mean-spirited nastiness into the equation. Things change a lot (and quickly), however, in there. This time next week? She may be some contemporary version of Laurie Partridge? Or something ...

Wow all of this talk and nothing about this week's nominees. But I guess with Ronnie as HOH you won't know how it'll end up. He said he put up Jeff as a pawn and Laura up because he thinks she is the only one who could figure out his game. I'm not so sure about that. I think most of the house has figured out his game. It's funny a lot of people in the house are aware that he's working with both the Athletes and everyone else and they're all saying he's so smart. If he was that smart no one would be able to figure any of that out. Unless a brain wins HOH next week I'm pretty sure Ronnie will be the main target for eviction. I guess I think he's overrated by everyone, he's not that smart at this game. I don't think I've ever hated anyone on this show until now with Chima. I feel sorry for Casey he's stuck with her for 2 hours watching a movie. Some reward huh?

Well ... that was certainly a bit of a surprise last night, yes? Or maybe it wasn't ~ last night was really the first time I paid full attention to an entire episode . Ronnie is certainly right to want to get Laura outta there in a hurry. She's very smart, and would cut him down to size in seconds, given the chance. My only (personal) problem with her going is that watching would be much more interesting if she gets to stick around. She's undoubtedly easy on the eyes, too -- not that such a thing matters in that house, I know. I am sure of this, for sure: I like her a zillion times better that Ronnie. Heck ... I like Jessie a considerable amount more than I do that smug little Brain Noodle Ronnie . I'm thinking it's safe to stop paying any attention to him about now, though. He's bound to get evicted shortly, don't you think? First opportunity, he's gone. People who think like him, annoying as they are in general, tend to forget one thing: yes, the strategy is fractionally important but you're not playing chess with inanimate pieces in that Big Brother house. Drat ! These are people -- with memories, senses of betrayal, backs that don't care for getting stabbed very much. I'm still wrapping my head around that the dude is married!? Can you imagine the breakfast table at their house ? Must be a laugh a minute.

I hope Laura turns out to be as smart as I sense she is, and somehow manages to get herself saved (but I kinda doubt it). She'd have to turn against her fellow nominee hard to make that happen (and they seem like friends). In some ways? I hope she doesn't have the stomach to do that. I can't remember that other nominee's name ... but she doesn't seem like a very strong player. Maybe she'll just decide to throw in the towel this week? Laura seems to want to be there a lot more than she does. Who knows?

Jeff is no slouch, either. I can see him doing well, if the cards fall right, this season. But it's so soon to really know or even surmise ...

Watching last nights episode I am certain I can't truly follow what is going on in the house from the three, probably less then one hour once you factor in competitions, extras and commercials, a week they show us. To know what is going on behind the scenes and what people are really thinking.

You would need to keep up with the BB after Dark or sign up for the live feeds to get a better understanding of what is going on. I am not signing up for Showtime just for the BB after dark nor am I going to sign up for the live feeds.

No matter how far Ronnie makes it, he will still not be able to win the physical competitions which will be needed to make it to the end. He would need someone like Jessie to carry him there and would only be carried if they think he would never be able to win the final vote from the other members of the jury.

So far the athletes have won three of the four competitions, even though he hangs out with the other group, Jeff is still an athelete and if he wins HOH at this point in the game, all the other athletes would be safe.

The three drama time bombs I see in the house right now are Russell, Chima and Lydia. Neither of which I think can talk themselves out of eviction once the rest of the house decides they have had enough of them.

By choosing to not go through with the backdooring Russell, Ronnie seems like the Athletes (Jessie's) pawn at the moment, because Jessie was the only one who really stood up for Russell in the whole house. Best reason I can see for keeping Russell, is like I think Jessie said, if I am on the block against him, I am much more likely to stay.

Yet another compelling veto episode last night. I gotta give Jeff some credit he may not be the best speller but he can sure count money. As with the nominees it seems that no matter who goes home there will be only one popular member left while all of the other cliques are at full strength. I'm surprised by Laura I never thought she'd be the sharpest tool in the shed when I first saw her but she was one of the first to figure out Ronnie's "Master Plan" but I'm afraid she'll leave tomorrow. Ronnie may last a little longer if the athletes or brains have the power of HOH but there is no guarantee. HOH competitions are usually more mental while the veto is typically a physical competition so anyone could win. I still think Ronnie is overrated and he'll probably be sent packing if Jeff or an off-beat wins HOH.

Awwww poor Jessie the two ladies who are after his attention don't like each other. I see Jessie interact with the house and he seems normal. Then when he does his diary room talks, he seems like a caricature of the self obsessed boby builder.

All signs are for Ronnie skating by for now. The athletes dominance in the house is clear. The athletes and Ronnie have the rest of the house chasing their tails at the moment, trying to figure out why they are doing what they do, while they pick them off one at a time, with smart evictions no less.

I see at least two of the final four being Athletes.

I thought last week that Lydia would be one to skate by, but she is making choices to get her high on the list of those to be nominated. Right now it seems Chima may be the one to skate by along with Kevin.

Yep it's too bad that the athletes are aligned with Ronnie I really wanted to see that rat leave but one can only hope for next week. I wonder what exactly do the athletes benefit from him? Everyone else in the house hates him and the odds of him winning anything are quite low he seems to be more of a liability to me. I think Jessie is hoping for the veto to be used tomorrow so he can put up Casey. Too bad I liked him but he does seem to be the biggest threat to the athletes competition wise. If the veto isn't used this week, Michele will probably be sent packing and no one would care one way or the other is she leaves.

Y' know ? I really do "get it", this obsessive need Jessie's felt this week to oust Casey. It's good 'game', yes? Casey poses a greater threat than most of the others so any decent strategist would zero in on him sooner than later. But here's my (personal, mind you) problem with the likelihood of Mr. Casey going home this week. It means we'll have one more week, at least, of dealing with that entirely aggravating Ronnie . I can't remember any recent BB individual who makes me bristle, on sight, the way that guy does. But, he's surely poses no immediate threat to anybody, at this point, does he (even though he's convinced he's somehow strategized himself to safety -- I think it's much more that Jessie [never Mr. "Overall Picture"] has decided who threatens him the most, and not how the playing field might look a month from now)? If Casey doesn't get evicted tomorrow night (fingers crossed that he doesn't, from my seat) then there's surely now a big ol' target on BOTH Ronnie and Jessie. Jessie runs the risk of cutting off his nose to spite his face, historically, though. It's like he plays the game [solely] on a week-to-week basis ... and counts on luck too much. And, really -- Jordan is, without question, such a *flimsy* player. It wouldn't take much, is my guess, for Casey to save himself this week and turn the votes in her direction.

Or at least I hope so. Either way the worst case scenario has already happened. One more week, no escaping it, of watching that irksome Ronnie. I tell ya ... that guy really annoys this particular viewer. I'd be happy to like him better if was even a little bit good at the game. But I don't see it, if he is. 'Knowledgeable' about how it's played clearly does not always equate to being 'skillful' at playing it, in my opinion. He's definite proof of that, too.

I'm really hoping Casey stays but I'm not sure if he'll get the votes. He'll need the majority since Jessie would evict him in the event of a tie. I'm with you Ronnie has been very annoying and he was so lucky Jessie won HOH this week. Ronnie has been more cocky then Jessie lately, at least Jessie actually wins competitions. I think the deciding vote will be Jeff's. The trouble is he's best friends with Jordan and would probably wanted her to stay for personal reasons but realistically, Casey has a much better chance of taking down Ronnie and the athletes then Jordan, I think she was one of the last ones to figure out that Ronnie was not going to be put up on the block this week. I'm hoping for an off-beat to win HOH next week, I'm pretty sure Casey, Lydia, or Kevin would go after Ronnie or at least Jessie.

There has certainly been a shake-up around the house in the last week. No more cliques, which I would have liked to have seen last a bit longer. Russell is going his own way splitting from the Jock-Brain alliance and the anti-Jock-Brain-Alliance has formed. Michelle is proving to be a tough competitor, Ronnie is most likely on his way out and Chima is talking too much.

Jessie is certainly smarter this year in terms of trying to keep Chima from getting herself targeted. This will certainly get him farther. Natalie is starting to seem like hanger-on and not doing much to help herself. Though we haven't seen her in a spot where she is threatened yet.

The way Ronnie basically threatened Michelle yesterday was as despicable as it gets. I am still not getting the why it's all on Michelle if Ronnie gets evicted. She isn't targeting him and nothing says she has to save his worthless hide.

Another exciting week in the Big Brother house. I really hope Russell, Jeff, Michele, and Jordan team up against Jessie, Natalie, Ronnie, and Chima. I don't think Ronnie realizes how much he is despised by the viewers, on Sunday's episode he actually thought that he'd be popular enough to get the Coup d'etat calling his side "the good side" that was a good chuckle . I was a little surprised that Russell didn't tell Michelle to use the veto on Lydia so that Jessie could be put up on the block, he seems to be the leader in that alliance the other three seem useless without him. I'm not sure why he doesn't want to go after Jessie yet, Ronnie is annoying but he doesn't have any power or influence over anyone whatsoever. That being said I want to see Ronnie the Rat go and I'm pretty sure he will. I want to see Russell or Jeff win Coup d'etat after looking at the Big Brother boards on the CBS website it really sounds like Jeff will get that ultimate power. If Jeff wins it should he just throw the upcoming HOH competition? The coup d'etat wouldn't seem as powerful if an HOH has it. Can't wait for the live vote tomorrow.

The "Nerd Herd" in Season 6 (Maggie, Ivette, April, Jennifer) were universally despised by America, too, but managed to convince themselves they were the "good people" and that America loved them. Guess it's easy to get delusional in the BB house.

With people like Ronnie, I always look forward to them getting out of the house and discovering America couldn't stand them. Ronnie has resided in the bottom slot on the popularity polls since the end of week 1. Probably he already knew Michelle was going to vote to evict him, but that was just about the worst Please Don't Evict Me Speech I ever heard. Way to persuade 'em, Ronnie (the self-described National Champion in persuasive speaking)!

I'm wondering what all this will mean to Russell as he now knows his so-called "alliance" all voted against his wishes.

Delighted that Jeff won the CDE tonight. I'm hoping he'll use it to put up Jessie and Natalie, ensuring that one of them goes home. It may be a risky move, as whoever he sends out will be first in the jury house, and pretty ticked off when they get there. But getting out Jessie, the god of the Darkside, would hopefully increase Jeff's chances in the game.

I believe the CDE power has only been given in one other season (BB7 "All-Stars") and it wasn't used.

For awhile, I was hoping for a Jeff/Jordan/Russell/Michelle alliance, but Michelle seems to have blown that out of the water with the stunt she pulled with Russell on tonight's episode. There was also an incident which hasn't made it to TV in which Jessie and Natalie made up a lie to circulate about a conversation with Michelle which never took place, and Russell believes Jessie and Natalie over Michele ~ so Michelle's claiming she never said something to Russell, which she clearly did say, was a ridiculous move.

The whole way the conversation between Russell, Chima and Michelle went, was a like a horrible game of telephone. None of them seemed to have heard what the others had said, only hearing what they wanted to hear and making somethings up that weren't said.

Chima did want to backdoor Russell when Ronnie was HoH.

I am not sure if Jessie was in the room when she said it, but he was aware of the plan to backdoor him, when Ronnie was HoH.

Michelle said there was talk of Russell getting backdoored, but not the way Russell put it, which made it sound much worse. Or perhaps we didn't hear all of the conversation between Michelle and Russell.

I think whoever Chima nominates will not fall in line with what Jeff wants to see happening, I can almost guarantee a Coup de etat next Thursday.

If Jordan goes on the block it will kill Jeff to not tell her that she is safe, I wonder if the coup de etat would be voided if he tells anyone. I certainly think Natalie and Jessie or Russell and Jessie will be the ones nominated by Jeff. It stinks that Chima is HoH and can't be put up this week. The veto winner will also be safe, so this one is very important. I only mention Russell as being put up on the block, if he has more of his blow up episodes, if he avoids those he will be fine.

I agree that Jeff will probably use Coup on Thursday. Things change fast in the house, but I can't imagine him choosing anyone but Jessie and/or Natalie as replacement nominees. I don't think Jeff is disgusted enough with Russell yet to nominate him, and at this point, Russell still likes Jeff ~ so for Jeff to be responsible for sending Russell to the jury house would be a mistake.

It's my understanding that, yes, the Coup power is void if the holder tells anyone. (Thank goodness America didn't give it to Jordan!)

Last night, Jeff "hypothetically" asked Jordan how she thought the votes would go if Jessie and Natalie were on the block. I think Jeff's best strategic move would be to get Jessie out, if possible. It would cut the head off the dragon that is the "other side" alliance, and I believe Jeff/Jordan would be able to bring in Kevin and Lydia to their voting block, once Lydia's sexual forays with Jessie were at an end. (Unless she's so needy that she immediately started crawling in Russell's bed.)

If Jeff, Jordan, Kevin, Lydia, and Michelle could team up ~ and stay teamed up ~ they'd have the numbers to be a force to be reckoned with -- although Jeff and Michelle would probably have to be responsible for winning all the competitions, as the other three don't seem to have it in 'em.

So far, the athletes alliance is doing a great job picking themselves off -- first Ronnie, and now Chima is considering putting up Russell. If she succeeds at getting Russell out, what was once a voting block of 5 will be down to 3.

I'm all flummoxed now . It was inevitable, though -- things seem at that point where it's getting difficult (for me, anyway) to know what I think ought to happen next in the house. Not that what I think matters much, o' course ~ but I still like to think I have some idea(s) as to what a "sensible next step" might be. I don't, though! I suppose the biggest *knot* in the current mix is that crazy Coup d'etat thing? The knee jerk thought there was, at first, that I thought that Jeff should not even think about using it. Not at this point in the game (unless push REALLY comes to shove). My reasoning being that there are still too many people to get all carried away trying to maneuver them around with much sensible chance at success. Strangely enough, too, it seems that the two most (oddly and inexplicably) pivotal players are now up for eviction --- both as they apply to Jeff, at least. Lydia is this year's "nominate-her-weekly" one, right ? She certainly is handy that way, I'd say. And she clearly comes in mighty handy when it comes to being useful in getting rid of other more important/more potentially dominating housemates. Then there's the big "what to do?". Russell -- who I like more and more each week AND he and Jeff are an alliance to be reckoned with. But how does that, ultimately, play out for Jeff? I have a considerable hunch that Russ would stab Mr. Jeff in the back over breakfast and not miss a spoonful of his Maypo as he did it. And Jeff doesn't quite yet seem to have that killer instinct at work in his back pocket (but I could be wrong, indeed). My strategy, were I in there and were I Jeff, would be to keep Russell as long as possible. Then, as soon as the pecking order gets smaller, oust him in a wild hurry. But it all depends on how Mr. Jeff decides to proceed overall. I like him a lot, and think he's great TV. The one thing I haven't quite figured out yet (general congeniality and physical challenge prowess aside) is whether or not he's a very crafty player. Likable is terrific, yes? Likable AND strategic-with-forethought would be even better, though. The most disturbing *thing* in the equation right now, at least in terms of "annoyance", is that mega-distracting Jordan ! Ain't she a Mensa giant, or what ? Yikes! But I doubt there's any question what the appeal is that Jeff has for her (riveting conversation isn't it, is my best guess). But if Jeff keeps having power, keeps her AND Russell around (which seems likely that he'd do)? She could end up riding to the end, knocking both of the guys out of the race because she's sat back, batting her eyelashes, contemplating the reproductive habits of spiders and/or horses (etc.), and done nothing (aside from all that) to irritate anybody else! Sorry, folks . I'm just sitting here typing while thinking out loud ...

So early to tell, still, how things might or could go, I reckon. For all I know, that Chima person might continue to get her horsepower situated properly and dominate the place in weeks to come? I don't think it's too soon to say that Jessie's days are numbering as fast as excessive numbers of muscles tighten. I can't help it. He's done it again, in my opinion. He's already a non-issue, if you ask me. Bah. He didn't want to be in a 'love triangle', he says? Snort ! Well, if all you aspire to is to be worshipped you can expect at least three corners building in said angles of worshippers, eh? He kinda makes me sick . Other than that? I, for one, am still cleaning up the confetti and collecting the party hats after the week-long celebration that followed seeing that [dreadful, times twelve] Ronnie get the boot last Thursday. I won't smugly say that evicting him was the "right" thing to do, in terms of smart game play, or anything like that. But I will say that it certainly made MY month complete and powerfully better to see it happen .

With the coup in Jeff's hands and ready to be used, last nights episode had no suspense to it, knowing that the nominations come Thursday were most likely not going to be set by Chima.

The P.O.V. will be key, since only the HoH and PoV holder can't be put up by Jeff if he uses the coup.

Jessie's biggest mistake at the moment is staying overly loyal to Natalie and Chima, when it is clear their bloc of votes is now the smaller group in the house. To make it to the end you have to be able to go where the wind blows each week, keeping options open with as many people in the house as you can.

I think Jeff and Jordan are perfect for each other, his "coop di" reading of Coup de etat showed that to me lol.