A Reality Check With ... Anya Garris and Hok Konishi (FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance")

Last night may just be the worst night to get eliminated from "So You Think You Can Dance" and no one knows that better than Anya Garris & Hok Kinishi. Leaving the competition in 11th & 12th place, they narrowly missed making it onto the national tour. One was surprised at the elimination while one saw it coming. Find out which is which as Anya & Hok sit down with RealityCheckByGina to discuss their time on the show.

RC: Can you tell me a little about your dance training & background?

Anya: I’ve been dancing for 15 years, doing ballroom dancing. Along the way, I took ballet. Most of the time, I was concentrating on ballroom.

Hok: I started dancing when I was 15, I believe. Back then, I was in school & doing judo & violin. I just knew dance was what I wanted to do. I went to a hip hop studio & started learning dancing once a week for an hour, that was it! I went to that studio for 2 years but then, I felt like I should just practice by myself and do whatever I want. I went on by myself, started doing movements, and whatever I felt.

RC: When did you come to the United States & what was that experience like for you?
Anya: It was in 2001 & it was a very different experience, coming here with no family. I was a teenager & I didn’t know the language. It was definitely a challenge! I was fortunate that people brought me out here to represent them in dance.

Hok: I went to a college in Japan and they had a foreign exchange program. I decided to do 2 semesters out here in 2004. After doing those 2 semesters, I realized that going back would be pointless. I decided to quit my school and transferred to a school out here. It was a hard decision but I really wanted to live in a different country and see how far my dancing could take me.

RC: Anya, is this your first year trying out for SYTYCD & what has the experience been like for you?

Anya: Yes, it went by so fast and then you wait and then you wait. You don’t know what’s going on because you’re always running somewhere. You had to stay focused & have your concentration.

RC: Hok, we’ve seen you try out before. How was it to finally make the top 20 dancers?

Hok: It felt really good & it was such a blessing. Last year, I was still debating if I should take my career as an artist or as a dancer. But after last year’s experience, I cried and that was the first time I had ever cried with dancing. I saw that it was really what I want to focus on. When I’m way older, like 50, and my body doesn’t function right, I might start painting.

RC: What have the judges consistently critiqued about you throughout the competition?

Anya: My solos but they can understand why because being a ballroom girl, it’s hard to dance well on your own.

Hok: They always told me how I’m not technical compared to the contemporary dancers and so-called trained dancers.

RC: Were you surprised that you ended up going home last night?

Anya: I’m not going to hide it, yes I was surprised. I felt through the competition, I always got really good feedback from the judges. I thought I brought everything to my performances. Hok: I actually did see it coming, as sad as it is. I was doing the math and from what the judges were saying to me this week and the previous week, you could see the picture and see what they’re going for.

RC: Do you have any words for your former partners on the show?

Anya: Being a ballroom girl, I was nervous to have a new partner, because I danced with Pasha for nine years. Danny was the one person I met in New York when I auditioned. We’ve known each other since day one. Danny is such an amazing & talented dancer. We had really great chemistry. It was magical to perform together.

Hok: I feel a little sorry that Jaimie had to work with me because it must have been really hard for her. She’s really used to working with partners. For the guys, you do have to be confident and she’s used to working with guys like that. Compared to those people, I think I lacked with a lot of stuff. I do feel a little sorry. At the same time, I had a great experience.

RC: Will Jaimie & Danny be dancing together next week?

Hok: No, next week, they’re changing up the partners.

RC: Did the judges speak to you last night & what was said?

Anya: I honestly & unfortunately did not have the chance to talk to any of them. Usually, we have time but last night was the night of people making it into the top 10 so it was a very important night.
Hok: Nigel & Mary said their regular stuff: “Sorry, you were good,” and things like that. Wade said, “We’ll be seeing each other pretty soon”. I respect him so much

RC: What are your future plans? Will you keep training & pursuing this professionally?

Anya: I have been pursuing this for the last 5 years. Pasha & I have performed in competitions & teaching in NYC. I truly don’t know because I think I really want to use this experience. I truly believe I’ve grown as a performer & changed as a person. It was such an amazing time.

Hok: Definitely, this is just the beginning! I’m just going to work harder than ever & if possible, I want to travel the world. It’s really nice to show my dancing on tv but I would want to show people what my dancing really is & inspire people. That’s why I started dancing.

So You Think You Can Dance airs Wednesdays & Thursdays on FOX

Get your dancin' links at sirlinksalot.net

A Reality Check With ... Joe Barber (CBS's "Big Brother 8")

23-year-old Joe Barber was looking to make waves when he entered the Big Brother 8 house. What he got was a wave of his own when he found out his ex-boyfriend, Dustin, would be joining him. Daniele & Dick were on the chopping block this week so it seemed Joe was safe until Daniele won the Power of Veto. She took herself down & Jen (as Head Of Household) put Joe up, where he met his demise. Joe takes time to talk with RealityCheckByGina about his time in the Big Brother house.

RC: You are a fan of previous Big Brother seasons. What did you think you would bring to the table in season 8?
Joe: Being such a fan of the show, I felt that I had a lot of the same strengths as Dr. Will & Janelle combined. I really could’ve worked it. I had that whole manipulation aspect going on & I thought if I had more time, I could’ve built some strong alliances.

RC: How did you end up becoming a part of the new season of Big Brother?
Joe: I never applied before & I applied on the last day. I decided that this year needed to be about me after going through the breakup. The first thing I decided to do was apply for the show.


RC: Your game needed to change when you found out your ex-boyfriend, Dustin, was in the house. What adjustments did you make to your strategy?
Joe: The whole game went out the window. I didn’t want to be there. It took me about a week & a half to get back into game mode. It’s like being in a race and they’re like, “Ready, Set” and before they say “Go”, the guy shoots you in the leg. I tried to focus on the positive aspects of being there.

RC: Did you think you’d have a rival?
Joe: The second they announced the rival, I knew it was me. Dustin’s a very charismatic guy… it’s not until you’ve known him that you see what a jerk & how self-centered he can be. I knew he was charismatic and he’d get on the show.

RC: Was it more important to you to stay in the house or to make sure everyone knew the things Dustin has done to you?
Joe: By the second week, Dustin & I were able to tolerate each other & not trash each other. I wanted him to give me the opportunity to apologize. I took all his friends & his best friend. When he needed his best friend the most, I took him. At the time, I was like, “Wow I’m awesome, I did this” but then I felt guilty. I wanted to apologize & I did.

RC: I have a conspiracy theory that Daniele & Dick are working together. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Joe: I agree! It’s not a conspiracy theory, it’s the truth! For not talking for so long, they sure talk a lot now. Daniele does a good job saying, “I’m so disgusted by my dad”. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable it is to sit with your dad & listen to his sexcapades. But blood is thicker than water.

RC: How do you feel when you found out Eric was America’s Player?
Joe: I thought that was brilliant. I think that’s the best twist they’ve done in any season. They’re really set the bar high. It helps the viewers be part of the show every week. They have an effect on situations and what they can get Eric to do. It’s a brilliant twist and someone deserves a promotion.

RC: Nate (Dustin’s best friend) said some harsh things about you last night in his interview. How did you react to that?
Joe: Actually I didn’t get a chance to watch the episode. It’s been a busy day. The way I need to apologize for what I did to Dustin, Nate should apologize too. Nate was his best friend. But Nate’s a theater kid and he needed to get his 2 seconds in. If he wants to piggyback off me, that’s fine.

RC: Did you form genuine friendships in the house?
Joe: I’m very close to Eric & looking forward to spending time with him in NY once this is over. I love Jessica, she’s as sweet as pie. Nick is awesome, even though he screwed me in the end. I won’t hold it against him, he’s a great guy.

RC: The vote was 9-1 last night to evict you. That had to hurt a little.
Joe: It hurt a little bit that I got the one vote. But I had told Jameka & Jessica not to vote for me if they didn’t have the votes. Dick could’ve put them up this week saying, “You guys tried to evict me.”

RC: With Dick being the new Head Of Household, that has to be a nightmare for some people.
Joe: I would say for Jen, Mike, and Kail it definitely is. Dick & Zach are getting along better. Dick is an extremist, he’s going to go one way or the other. He could put up Jen & Kail or he could do something crazy & turn the house upside down.

RC: Do you have a way that fans can contact you?
Joe: I’m gonna have a MySpace set up for myself. I’m getting back to Chicago. I’m looking forward to the opportunities the show has give me. I like putting my Joe spin on things.

A new episode of Big Brother 8 airs Sunday night on CBS

Get your Big Brother links at sirlinksalot.net

A Reality Check With ... Jupiter Mendoza (CBS's "Pirate Master")

Jupiter Mendoza was born and raised in Santa Rosa, CA. She publicly acknowledged that she is a lesbian when she was 16 years old and is very proud that she had the strength to do so. She has been working in the service industry for the last 11 years. Her hobbies include dancing, spinning poi (fire), swimming and writing. She describes herself as a caretaker who is vivacious, outgoing and spiritual. Jupiter was cut adrift on this week's Pirate Master after being deemed an ungrateful crew member. She's here to talk with RealityCheckByGina about her time on the show.

RC: Were you a tomboy growing up?
Jupiter: I was absolutely a tomboy & still am! I grew up with all boys. We jumped off rocks, rode dirtbikes, and played hard. You had to be competitive. I grew up on the Russian River, too, so I was always fishing & swimming.

RC: Would you consider yourself athletic?
Jupiter: I don't consider myself as athletic as I was when I was younger. Now, I dance 2-3 times a week & that keeps me a little more lean.

RC: Is there ever going to be a mutiny on this ship?
Jupiter: My concern for the crew is getting Jay on board to mutiny. Thought he may say he's willing, he may just be saying that. But there is a possibility there.

RC: What was your reaction when the "ghosts" (previous players cut adrift) showed up to compete against you?
Jupiter: It was interesting. Half of me was like, "Oh my God, what are we in for?" Some of those pirates cut adrift were cut because they were athletic. But the other half of me was happy to see the pirates I had grown fond of. In the big scheme of things, I wanted the ghosts to win in the treasure hunt because we were over Azmyth being our captain. I was nervous & excited.

RC: When did the big turnaround start with Azmyth? He was popular in the beginning.

Jupiter: I saw Azmyth in a different perspective when I got the black spot. He was greedy - not how I had envisioned him. It was disappointing. He was definitely power tripping.

RC: Were you upset that you were called ungrateful after trying to go to bat for the crew to the captain & his officers?
Jupiter: I was disappointed about that. Here I was, standing up & being the voice and I suffered the consequences. I considered them my crew as much as the captain. I was sticking up for them & they made me seem like a fool. It was hard watching the show back & hearing what they had to say.

RC: You seem like someone who just is who she is. Would you have played it any other way?
Jupiter: No, I wouldn't change it. Honestly, I don't live my life with regrets.

RC: Did you form any genuine friendships out there?
Jupiter: Someone on the ship said to me, "Stop getting so attached." But I'm the caretaker. I bonded with Cheryl, she was really there for me. I got a little attached to her. And, of course, Sean because we were in the galley together day after day. As time went on, I formed a friendship with Laurel too.

RC: Do you want to stay in the entertainment industry?

Jupiter: I will hopefully continue planning events, which is what I do now. I would love to continue doing reality, be a personality. I'm not sure how to go about doing that.

A new episode of Pirate Master airs Tuesdays at 10pm EST on CBS

Get your Pirate Master links, matey, at sirlinksalot.net

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 12 (7/18/07)

This week may be the toughest one yet for the dancers on FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance”. The top 10 dancers make the national tour which means the two eliminated tomorrow night just missed it. Tonight’s top 12 will be judged by Nigel, Mary, and guest judge Wade Robson. Let’s see who does enough to make the tour.

Sabra/Dominic – Jive choreographed by Tony Meridith (“I Do The Jerk” by Ryan Shaw): If you didn’t know Dominic wasn’t a ballroom dancer, you might be fooled tonight! The pair come out swingin’ exhibiting great energy & chemistry. Wade says that from week to week, they give 100% commitment, Mary thought they were terrific, and Nigel calls them the best two partners he’s ever seen work together (with the exception of perhaps Benji & Heidi). To vote for Sabra & Dominic, call 1-888-TEMPO-01.

Jaimie/Hok – Broadway choreographed by Tyce Diorio (“Mister Bojangles” from Fosse): Tyce creates a piece about an old man who is visited by a spirit and is able to dance the way he could when he was young. Though it seems to feature Jaimie for most of the time, it’s still a solidly danced routine. Wade feels that Jaimie has stepped out from the pack but didn’t get Hok’s character, Mary didn’t feel it did a lot for her, and Nigel felt Tyce played to Jaimie’s strenghts. To vote for Jaimie & Hok, call 1-888-TEMPO-02.

Sara/Pasha – Jazz choreographed by Mandy Moore (“Body Language” by Queen): Do yourself a favor and find a picture of the costumes these two wore tonight. It’s worth a good laugh, in a good way. Mandy choreographs a brilliant, 80s jazz piece for these two to work with and they give it all they’ve got. Wade liked it a lot, Mary wasn’t sure if it was a top number, and Nigel hopes they did enough to connect with the audience. To vote for Sara & Pasha, call 1-888-TEMPO-03.

Lauren/Neil – Contemporary choreographed by Mia Michaels (“Let The Drummer Kick” by Citizen Cope): Mia choreographs a piece that is unique and unlike what one might expect from her. They dance it well and they’re mostly together but I’m not sure I understand what they were going for. In fact, I’m lost. Let’s see if the judges have a clue. Wade loves a twisted mind & gives props to Mia, Mary’s with me & totally confused but she liked it, and Nigel isn’t sure he enjoyed it because he didn’t get it. To vote for Lauren & Neil, call 1-888-TEMPO-04.

Anya/Danny – Fox Trot choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux (“It Had To Be You” by Brian Evans): Anya & Danny are looking to fight their way out of the bottom three & get on to the tour. Despite being a contemporary dancer, Danny actually impresses more when doing ballroom & of course, Anya is in her element. Perhaps they’ve done enough. Wade says he finally believes Danny’s emotions on stage, Mary has loved them since the beginning & felt they did not disappoint tonight, and Nigel calls it the best fox trot he’s ever seen. To vote for Anya & Danny, call 1-888-TEMPO-05.

Lacey/Kameron – Hip Hop choreographed by Dan Karaty (“Here I Come” by Fergie): I don’t think anyone has to worry about these two making the tour. The two dance well together & do all they can to pull off Dan’s vision. Wade wants to see Kameron a little lighter on his feet & says Lacey’s performance is more professional than personal. Mary & Nigel agree with Dan with Nigel feeling in particular that Kameron didn’t bring it. To vote for Lacey & Kameron, call 1-888-TEMPO-06.

Time to vote! The live elimination will air tomorrow night on FOX at 9pm EST. Don’t forget I’ll be talking to the eliminated couple this Friday on RealityCheckByGina!

Get your dancin’ links at sirlinksalot.net

Big Brother 8: Jen-uinely Pissing Off The House (7/17/07)

Jen made waves when, as Head of Household, she nominated father & daughter Dick & Daniele for elimination. She said they both gave off negative energy but Joe calls her out for having negative energy herself. Dick says that Jen never liked him from the beginning while Daniele says this is all about jealousy over flirtations with Nick. Once again, Amber is crying over the nominations … and she isn’t even on the chopping block!

Nick makes the dumb move of sharing his alliance with Kail, Zach, and Mike with Daniele. A pretty girl can make you do strange things. He vows to keep her in the game, even taking the fall for her if he has to … all because he’s developed feelings for her. And, thus, we have our first BB8 showmance! Meanwhile, Zach & Mike spend some man hammock time together, debating over whether Nick can still be trusted. They conclude that he can. Silly boys. Nick is playing you all the way to the end.

Let’s check in with America’s Player, Eric, who’s received a new assignment. He has to sleepwalk into a housemate’s bed and America chooses Joe. Amazing. Thank you, America. Eric carried out America’s orders and cuddled up with Joe’s leg. Since he didn’t wait for Joe to kick him out, Eric failed his mission as America’s Player and banks nothing.

It’s time for the Power of Veto competition. Jen, Dick, and Daniele will be competing along with Mike, Joe, and Amber. Dustin is chosen as host. Before the game can start, Amber stops for a quick cry break, crumbling under the pressure. Of a veto challenge. On a reality show. Jen threatens Amber, saying that if she changes the nominations, she’ll put up her closest friend in the house, Dustin, as payback. Jen’s behavior officially pisses everyone in the house off.

For the POV competition, the backyard has been turned into a cut throat Christmas party. There are 6 packages under the packages and one contains the veto. To determine the picking order, houseguests will be playing curling, a winter sport. Once everyone has a gift, people can switch gifts until the person who did the best in curling gets the last pick. Amber throws the competition and Daniele ends up coming in first, winning the Power of Veto.

At the veto meeting, Daniele decides to use the veto to save herself. This leaves Jen to choose a replacement and she throws Joe on the block. Who will go home? Find out on Thursday’s elimination episode of Big Brother 8 on CBS.

Get your Big Brother links at sirlinksalot.net

A Reality Check With ... Camille Becerra (Bravo's "Top Chef")

Camille Becerra hails from Puerto Rico, and is the proud owner of Paloma Restaurant in Brooklyn, New York. She incorporates Latin spice into her kitchen, and is all business when it comes to her cooking. She has worked in all aspects of the restaurant business, and often surprises people by her occupation. Her fellow chefs were surprised and upset when she was eliminated on last week's episode of "Top Chef". Camille sits down with RealityCheckByGina to dish about her time on the show.

RC: I don't feel the viewers at home really got to know you during your time on Top Chef. Can you tell us a little more about yourself?

Camille: Sure. I'm originally from Puerto Rico but I grew up in New Jersey. I went to culinary school right after high school. I moved to New York and did everything in the restaurant/bar industry. I worked at clubs, I promoted, I worked in kitchens, I bartended. Eventually, I went to Brooklyn and opened a restaurant and this fall, I'll be opening a new one.

RC: Has cooking always been something you've been passionate about?
Camille: Cooking has definitely always been something I'm passionate about. I love having people over for dinner parties and hanging out. It all stemmed from that.

RC: What made you want to be part of Top Chef?
Camille: Owning my own restaurant and having a daughter ... I don't have time to watch tv. People had been saying that I should be on the show. A friend of mine works at Marquis in New York City and one day, people from Top Chef came in there for a nightcap. She said to them, "Shut up! I have the perfect person for you!" They called me the next day and it all kind of went from there. I had never seen the show but I met a lot of wonderful people. The day I left, I was in awe of the respond I got from my fellow chefs.

RC: Yeah, I was going to say that you and Sandee were both very popular and received a nice response when it was time for you to go. That had to make you feel good.

Camille: It was very nice, I was floored by that! I'm so busy here in New York and, in a sense, I was looking forward to coming back. I was a little in shock when I was on the show because I had no communication with the outside world. I couldn't talk to my daughter, even on her birthday. I had no idea how the business was doing, what sales we made, etc.

RC: What chefs really impressed you?
Camille: I learned a lot from Dale. He's completely creative and a well-rounded chef. I loved Sara (from Jamaica). I loved her passion and she knows everything about every ingredient.

RC: How do you stay focused in a very chaotic & stressful situation like a cooking competition?
Camille: You just do it. Cooking is a very meditative kind of work. It's easy to close everything out. You make a plan and stick to it ... that's enough for me.

RC: Dale really blamed himself for your exit. How do you feel about what he said on the last episode?
Camille: That's sweet but not the case. I was ready to come back. No one there owned a restaurant and it's hard to understand what that is. To me, it made all the sense in the world to leave.

RC: Do you feel you learned something from being on the show?
Camille: Oh yeah! It completely reinspired me. When you do something too long, it starts to become not as interesting as it was. The show refueled that for me. I learned so much from the creativity of others. There's no way of not learning there.

RC: Tell us a little about the new restaurant you're planning on opening.

Camille: Well, it will still be in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is great - it's an artist community for people who can't afford Manhattan prices. It's what Manhattan was in the 70s. The new restaurant will be a notch up from my first restaurant. It will be open later. It will be like a bistro but with a Brooklyn edge.

A new episode of Top Chef airs tonight at 10pm EST on Bravo!

Get your Top Chef links at sirlinksalot.net

Age of Love: The Town Crier Is Asked To Leave (7/16/107)

Bachelor Mark Philippoussis is now dating six beautiful women in their 20s and their 40s. Host Mark Consuelos lets Bachelor Mark know that he must choose three women to spend a day at the beach with. Mark will get the opportunity to take the women to do the things he likes – one of those things is surfing. He chooses Megan, Maria, and Mary to join him. Amanda was immediately jealous and disappointed she wasn’t invited.

None of the girls are any good at surfing, especially Megan, who gets smacked in the head a bunch of times with the board. Meanwhile, Amanda stresses & paces the apartment, trying to keep her mind off the date. She’s also feels alienated from the remaining women in the apartment, Jen & Jayanna. Jayanna says that she feels Amanda’s feelings are much stronger than Mark’s and she’s probably right.

When Megan is chosen for a private walk with Mark, Mary then becomes jealous. Maria tries to ease her nerves but Mary’s emotions (as usual) get the best of her. Maria feels at this stage in her life, she doesn’t need to chase a man so she takes a secondary role. While Mary continues to try to get Mark’s attention, he rudely doesn’t pay attention & interrupts as her has during each interaction they’ve had.

Amanda is chosen to go on the 2nd date along with Jayanna. Mark takes the two women to a movie night with him but before the movie starts, he pulls Jayanna for a drink alone. You know Amanda does not like that! During the movie, Jaynna felt Mark’s body language was directed towards her, not Amanda. Amanda doesn’t take it lying down, and holds Mark’s hand under the blanket. Looks like Mark is caught between two women!

Finally, Mark gets one woman all to himself – Jen. He shows up at the apartment to take Jen on a motorcycle ride and jealousy rules the house. What a surprise, Mary is crying. The 40s don’t seem to mind as much as the 20s do that Mark is dating so many women. Maybe they’re more secure with themselves. Jen has a romantic date with Mark while Mary cries the day away.

The elimination moves from the apartment back to outside by the pool. Mark calls down Jen first, saying he had an incredible time & asks her to stay. He also asks Megan, Jayanna, and Amanda to stay. When he calls Maria down, she calls him out saying that he didn’t take the opportunity to get to know her better. Once again, Maria had told the women she was going and once again, Maria decides to stay. This leaves Mary to take the fall and she is sent home.

Stay tuned as I’ll be talking to Mary this week on RealityCheckByGina

Age of Love airs Mondays at 9pm EST on NBC

Get your Age of Love links on sirlinksalot.net

Hell's Kitchen: Can't We All Just Get Along? (7/16/07)

It’s down to three men against three women and the game is on. Chef Ramsay wants them to take their skills to the next level by creating one appetizer and two entrees using only leftovers. Both teams are given the same ingredients to work with and are given thirty minutes. While the men get right to work, the women stall (mostly because of Bonnie) trying to decide what dishes to make. While Bonnie & Brad shine, Josh & Jen fail to impress. It comes down to Julia & Rock to get a win for their team. Rock pulls off a win for his team with a higher quality dish.

The women’s punishment will be dull just like their performance in today’s challenge. They’ll spend the day cleaning the restaurant & unloading the deliveries for the restaurant. The men, on the other hand, get the opportunity to evoke a little revenge on Chef Ramsay by way of paintball. It’ll be the three guys against Chef Ramsay and they’re pretty excited about it. Like Josh said, “Any employee would love to shoot their boss … not real shooting!”

The men go into paintball a cocky trio but Chef Ramsay is a bit of a paintball pro and takes them out one by one. Meanwhile, Bonnie screwed up the entire delivery by not checking it before the trucks left. Tonight’s service must go on, though, and both teams will come up with their own menus: three appetizers, three entrees, and three desserts. The teams only have an hour to prepare their menu and get back for dinner service.

Customers will be able to choose from both the blue and the red menu. Right off the bat, the women have orders pouring in while the men wait around for someone to choose their menu. Thirty minutes into service, the men begin getting orders but appetizers are served and sent back as quickly as they went. The women move ahead, serving their entrees first and despite her team’s resistance to her ideas, Julia’s strip steak is the most popular item ordered.

Chef Ramsay screams in Josh’s ear that he can’t cook & his team leaves him in the weeds while he tries to get some lamb out to his customers. He gets it together & manages to catch up with his entrees. However, dishes continue to get sent back on the blue side while Bonnie tries to cook in the red kitchen without the gas on. Wow.

Not surprisingly, there is no winning team but Julia is called out as the one person who was consistent and impressive. She will be safe tonight and can put up one member of her team for elimination. The men will have to agree on someone to put up. Julia chooses to nominate Bonnie while the men agree to put up Brad and NOT Josh. In the end, Bonnie is asked to stay while Brad leaves Hell’s Kitchen.

Stay tuned as I’ll be talking to Brad this week about his time in Hell.

Hell's Kitchen airs Monday nights at 9pm EST on FOX

Get your Hell's Kitchen links at sirlinksalot.net

A Reality Check With ... Tessa Walker (NBC's "Age of Love")

23-year-old Tessa Walker doesn't care what people think of her. She can't stand pushover guys and because of her headstrong attitude she insists she won't get along with anyone in the house. An executive assistant from Peoria, AZ, Tessa enjoys being pretty and well kept, but knows that she is more than just a pretty face. She sits down with RealityCheckByGina to talk about why she wanted out of Age of Love.

RC: How would you describe yourself?

Tessa: I would say I’m an intelligent, fun woman.

RC: What made you want to be part of Age of Love?

Tessa: It was an exciting new concept. I thought it would be an opportunity to meet someone I wouldn’t normally get to meet. I was very excited about meeting Mark – he was society standard.

RC: Were you in the dark as much as the women in their 40s about the twists?

Tessa: Yeah, we didn’t even know about the 40s until elimination night. We were told for a whole week that we were the only ones there for him. We were shocked & pissed off actually. The 40s had extra time with him. We only had 5 minutes before the first elimination.

RC: Some of the older women I interviewed from the show felt you 20s got a bad rap. Do you agree?

Tessa: They absolutely stereotyped it to make it interesting. They asked us ahead of time, “Are you going to be upset if we make you look bad?” It’s to be expected, though. It’s reality tv.

RC: Your bio states that you didn’t expect to get along with any of the women. What did you mean by that?

Tessa: What I actually said was that I don’t get along with women. I don’t care about gossip and I don’t have time for drama. The women that were in the house were amazing, though, and I was really fortunate to meet them. If I was stuck with typical 20-year-olds, I would’ve pulled my hair out! I formed good relationships with all the women in their 20s. We could not listen to music, we could not go out the front door, so there was forced interaction with these women.

RC: Did you form bonds with any of the women in their 40s?
Tessa: I had the most in common with Jen. We had the same outlooks, values, and morals. Kelli was my roommate & she was just a breath of fresh air. It took me a little while to get to know Maria but she has a lot of depth and really listens to people when they talk. Jayanna was just classless & tactless the way she was against the 20s but she later apologized.

RC: I heard that you were saying you wanted to leave on the night you were eliminated. What happened?

Tessa: I told him on the date how I felt & I compared my feelings to his connection with Amanda. He understood what I was saying. There wasn’t any romantic connection but we had a lot in common & he’s a great guy.

RC: Do you have any regrets or are you glad you did the show?

Tessa: No, I’m glad I did it. It was a great opportunity & I left with five great girlfriends.

RC: Are you planning on staying in the entertainment industry or are you back to your life in Arizona?

Tessa: I’m in Arizona now. I was contacted by my agent to do the show so there’s definitely interest there. But it nothing comes my way, I’m happy with my life & my career.

A new episode of Age of Love airs tonight on NBC at 9pm EST

Get your Age of Love links at sirlinksalot.net

Big Brother 8: A Nasty Nomination (7/15/07)

To everyone’s dismay, Jen became Head of Household on the last episode of Big Brother & it looks like some unpredictable nominations are coming our way. Since her housemates feel she’s an idiot, they figure strategy will play no part in her decisions and she will rely purely on emotion. That probably means Dick is in trouble. And that probably means Daniele (for jealous reasons) will be nominated. Ooh, father pitted against daughter. Can you say drama?

Despite their disdain for Jen, most of the houseguests suck it up & kiss up. Dick decides not to give her any of the attention she so desperately seeks. Spoiled Jen complains about her HOH room, saying she doesn’t like the pictures. What is it with Jen & issues with pictures? Joe makes a play to get rid of the rivals (Dick, Jessica, and of course, Dustin) but Jen’s not buyin’ it. She turns to Kail for advice and when Jen guns for Nick, Kail steers Jen in a new direction.

Before nominations can be doled out, the houseguests must compete in their weekly food competition. It’s men against women (with Joe playing for the women) in a game show style challenge, where they must identify ingredients in various pies. The teams are neck & neck, eating disgusting combinations such as hot dog & strawberry pie and tuna & jelly beans pie. Yuck! The women (and Joe) end up losing, leaving them on slop for the week.

It’s time to check in with America’s Player, Eric, to see who America wants him to try to get nominated. Seems America wants him to get rid of Jessica, an unlikely target in Eric’s mind. But, in the spirit of the game, he’ll do as he’s told so he immediately heads for Jen to plant the seed. It seems like Dick may have avoided being nominated until he starts calling Jen a “bitch” & verbally assaulting her. Well, apparently Dick won’t be receiving a key tonight.

America’s Player has a new challenge. Eric must develop a sleepwalking disorder and sleepwalk his way into a housemate’s bed. To get in on the action and tell Eric whose bed to jump into, go to cbs.com/big brother.

At the nomination ceremony, Jameka’s name is called first for being safe followed by Kail. After that, her alliance Mike, Zach, and Nick are deemed safe. Jessica follows along with Amber, Dustin, Eric, and Joe. It’s father against daughter in a nasty nomination ceremony. Jen says the house will be happier without them. We’ll find out if they can save themselves on the next episode of Big Brother.

A new episode of Big Brother airs Tuesday night at 9pm EST

Get your Big Brother links at sirlinksalot.net