A Reality Check With ... Kail Harbick (CBS's "Big Brother 8")

RC: Are you a fan of previous Big Brother seasons?
Kail: I watched BB since season 1 & have not missed a season since. I had a fascination since & kept watching it every year. I said, "I think I can do that. I would like to try that." I started to apply in season 5 and finally made it in season 8.

RC: Who are your favorite players of all time?
Kail: Lisa is one of my favorites and Jason.

RC: Did you feel that revealing that you are a business owner would hurt you in the game?
Kail: Yes, I did think there would be a lot of judgement being a multi-business owner. Evel already felt like I was a strong player, I don't know why. I didn't wanna field all the questions & talk about it all the time. I didn't wanna go there. If I was blessed to make it to final 2, I didn't want that held against me.

RC: Any opinion on Jen turning down half her winnings? She did say that she wasn't here for the money.
Kail: I think they think that she's quirky enough that they probably believe her. She is there just for the experience. It's not beyond her by any means.

RC: Your husband said you weren't yourself in the game. Was it hard to hide some of who you are for so long?
Kail: For the most part, I was myself. Maybe what he's talking about was that I didn't laugh as smile as much as I really do. That was for a couple reasons: I was homesick & I was on the block. And I was walking around eggshells around Evel.

RC: Do you feel someone like Evel Dick should be allowed to play the game the way he is?
Kail: He definitely robbed me from my experiene of having an enoyable time. I felt that he twisted all my words and basically, ruined me.

RC: What happened between Amber's outburst at Eric at the vote that turned things around and kept him in the house?
Kail: I don't know what happened, I would like to know what happened. I don't know what the thought was behind that. Dustin told me clear up to the live show that I had his vote. So, he lied.

RC: Do you think the housemates used your early alliance as a reason to get rid of you?
Kail: Yes, I do. That's correct. They all had alliances, they just called them their best friends.

RC: What was the hardest part of being in the BB8 house?
Kail: Eating slop and I was surprised by how homesick I really was. I don't know if that's because I had Evel always on me but that surprised me. I was always mad at myself, saying to myself to get over it. I am still thankful that I got to experience it.

RC: What's it been like since being out of the house?
Kail: They take you to a motel and you're still secluded and not in the world. I kind of feel like I'm still in the house so I haven't felt like I've left yet.

RC: Anxious to get home?
Kail: I'm kind of getting word back to me that there will be a lot of people at the airport and I'm looking forward to that. Being in the house, I don't know my days or times and haven't been on schedule. I think I'm gonna live life like that for a while.

A new episode of Big Brother airs tonight on CBS

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Big Brother 8: An In-Jen-ius Nomination (7/29/07)

Dick is convinced that Jen went against him, attempting to vote out Kail. Actually, it was Eric but as America's Player, he has to keep that under wraps. Nick and Amber speculate that it was Jessica who went against the house. Amber really thinks it's Nick. Paranoia is spreading throughout the house. Lucky for Eric, his name hasn't been mentioned once. Dick decides it must have been Nick and is now gunning for him.

As Head Of Household, Dustin is after Jen, Kail, Zach, and Nick. Amber is so excited for Dustin and, not surprisingly, can't contain her emotions about it. In his HOH room, Dustin is so happy to see all his pictures of his family and receives a letter from his brother. Dustin breaks down and he very much misses his family. It must be hard for their families to see them on tv but for them not to see their families and be so out of touch with the rest of the world.

At dinner, Dick and Amber get into a huge fight because Amber says that her dog is like her child. Amber continuously says, "Love is love" and defends herself while Dick won't drop it. He continues his reign of terror in the house by playing practical jokes in the middle of the night. Also running against Dick in the unpopularity contest is Zach, who doesn't appear to have many fans in the house. Daniele sums it up by saying: "I would rather eat slop for a month than have to sit with Zach for an hour." Ouch.

When Dick tries once again to talk things out with Daniele, it doesn't go well. Daniele is frustrated and emotional and doesn't feel like being in the house is worth it anymore. She doesn't want someone putting her down and his words over the years have really damaged her. Dick goes back and forth between trying to be understanding and getting very defensive. He ends the conversation, consoling her and vowing that things will never go back to the way they are.

It's time for the food competition and of course, everyone is looking to steer clear of slop. The houseguests partner up and while some are happy with their partnerships (i.e. Jen & Amber, Nick & Daniele), some are less than thrilled (i.e. Dick & Kail, Eric & Zach). Partners must find pieces of a puzzle to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Jameka & Jessica, partners, have been on slop for 2 weeks and look to finally have some real food. They end up winning and couldn't be more excited.

As the winners, Jameka & Jessica must choose five people to put on slop for the rest of the week. Dick was chosen first, since he hasn't been on slop before. They put Zach on slop next and then Kail, Nick, and Jen. Jen is actually happy to be on slop because it will help control her indulgence in food and perhaps she'll shed a few pounds. That's a new way to look at it!

Kail goes to Dustin, asking to be put on the block as a pawn to get someone else out of the house. She's fully aware it could backfire but she takes that risk. When Jen goes running to Dustin in order to save herself, he calls her out, thinking that she was the one who voted for Kail. She at least gets him thinking of putting up Zach.

Let's check in with America's Player, Eric, to see what he has to pull tonight. He needs to try to get Jen nominated for eviction, which he's happy about. Dustin tries to figure out who he should put up: Jen, Nick, or Kail. Everyone is on board for Nick & Kail but Eric keeps pushing for Jen. At the nomination ceremy, Eric gets his wish as Jen & Kail are nominated for eviction. Both are worried but it seems only Kail needs to be, as Dustin lets us know Kail is no pawn. She's the one the house wants out.

Who will win Power of Veto? And who will leave the Big Brother house? Find out this week on Big Brother 8 on CBS.

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A Reality Check With ... Mike Dutz (CBS's "Big Brother 8")

Mike Dutz is a 26-year-old painting contractor from Wisconsin and became the 3rd houseguest evicted from the Big Brother House in last night's live episode. His alliance to Kail and his refusal to be anything other than himself cost him the game. Mike takes time to talk to RealityCheckByGina about "the dumbest move in Big Brother history" & the Mrs. Robinson Alliance.

RC: Were you a fan of previous seasons of Big Brother? Who were your favorite players?
Mike: Yeah, the first season I watched was season 6. In season 6 which led right into All-Stars, my favorite players were Janelle & Kaysar.

RC: What made you want to participate in Big Brother 8?
Mike: I thought it would be a very unique challenge. Being that I am the person that I am & holding the values that I do, I thought it would be an awesome reward to go through the game without manipulating & lying.

RC: In the exit tapes last night, Dustin said he really didn’t know you. Can you tell us a little more about yourself?
Mike: I’m a guy who’s very intellectual. I like to have conversation that have depth & meaning to them. I like to talk about politics, religion, science, math, history – the boring stuff that people don’t talk about. That’s why it was hard with some of the people in the house. They watned to scheme or talk strategy

RC: In the first episode, when host Julie Chen mentioned there would be rivals, did you think perhaps you could have one in the house?
Mike: I knew 100% there wouldn’t be a rival showing up.

RC: Did you feel it threw off the game to have people in the house with such animosity towards each other?
Mike: Yeah, it threw off the game. The strategy I had coming into the game was immediately thrown off when people had a history together. I had to take a different approach.

RC: What made you decide to align yourself with Kail so quickly?
Mike: The reason why was more pressure than anything. She became HOH the first week, sought me out, and asked me to be in an alliance with her. I felt pressure to do so because if I didn’t, she’d view me as a threat. It was an effort to save myself but it just so happened to work out where we align ourselves with the same values. It wasn’t my immediate choice.

RC: How soon after the “Mrs. Robinson Alliance” was formed did you realize it wasn’t going to work out?
Mike: It was probably sometime in week 2. The communication levels were dropping immensely. I started having trust issues with Nick. I thought he was playing both sides. There were some occurrences I’d ask Nick a question & I’d get a different response than what was told to me by another person. The other person was Jen & I don’t think she had any reason to lie. The trust factor was getting real low. Nick never talked to Kail so she felt out of the loop. The paranoia took over and communication broke down.

RC: Julie told you last night your move to get Dick out of the POV competition has been called the dumbest in Big Brother history. How do you respond to that?
Mike: I think people are overreacting in that aspect. I think the dumbest move would have been compromising my own character & hiding behind the shadows of others, floating through. I took the opportunity to show my values in that I was a man true to my word in hopes that people would truly see what I was doing.

RC: Why do people go along with Dick’s every move despite how confrontational & argumentative he can be?
Mike: I’m not exactly sure why people are going along with it. It might coincidental because he was HOH in the third week so people went along with it. He flies off the handle pretty easily. Nobody wants outbursts or to feel uncomfortable. I think it was a matter of the scenario at hand.

RC: Were you surprised to learn that Eric is America’s Player & must do everything they say? Do you think that could be his demise?
Mike: I was really surprised. I certainly wouldn’t have found that out until later on in the game when the votes couldn’t be hidden as easily. Thinking back, Eric was acting peculiar. I think it very well could be his demise. If anything were to make him crumble, that would be it.

RC: Who is the best player in the house right now? Who’s got the most game?
Mike: Honestly, going back to Eric, I think he has the most potential in the house. He has everyone from all sides liking him. He has that in his favor where I don’t think anyone would really consider putting him on the block.

RC: What’s in the future for you now that you’re out of the Big Brother house?
Mike: I’ll be going back to everyday life before the Big Brother house. If some opportunity comes along & sweeps me off my feet, I’ll consider that.

The next episode of Big Brother airs Sunday night on CBS

Get your Big Brother links at sirlinksalot.net

Big Brother 8: Dick's On A Power Trip (7/24/07)

Dick continues his vendetta against Kail & Jen continues as he vows to get one of them out of the house, preferably Kail. She tries her best to start thinking up a game plan to save herself but it might be a long shot. The two nominees plot together to stay in the house but Kail feels like Dick will get his way. She doesn’t want any of her former alliance members competing in the Power of Veto competition but Mike swears that, if he wins, he’ll take one of them off the block.

Let’s check in with Eric, America’s Player, to see what his next assignment will be. His next task is to vandalize the property of Jen. He executes this by putting mustard all over one of her “Jen” shirts when she steps outside for a minute. Jen’s reaction was the following: “It was just like, kinda like, Are you serious? Like…” Like. Jen overlooks Eric & immediately goes for Dick & Daniele as the culprits.

Before the Power of Veto competition, players must be selected. Besides Dick, Kail, and Jen competing, Zach, Nick, and Jessica will also play. This is Kail’s worst nightmare & Dick continues to stir the pot by getting inside her head before the game. Suddenly, the competitors are wearing silly Mad Hatter outfits & the backyard has been set up like a tea party. The houseguests must stand on a pedestal with a glass balanced on their hat. Whoever lasts the longest, wins.

Kail goes out first and it looks like her chances are staying in the house are gone. The houseguests not competing get to come out in ridiculous outfits to try to distract the others. Jessica, not being able to control her laughter, goes out next. She is followed by Nick & Zach. The last two standing are Jen & Dick, who tries to convince Jen to step down but she won’t hear of it. Dustin jumps in to distract her by putting on the unitard & dancing around. Kail notes that everyone works to get rid of Jen while only Mike goes after Dick.
Mike steps up with his loyalty to Kail by helping her get Dick off the pedestal. Dick responds by threatening to put Mike up and Mike rattles his cage so much that he actually steps down! The day does not continue to go Dick’s way as he finds out Zach, Nick, and Jen were in the HOH room without his permission. He doesn’t want Jen in the room & he flips on Nick for letting her in. Dick gets paranoid thinking Nick was in an alliance with Jen & Zach, talking game in his room.

Dick confronts Nick who swears he’s not in any alliance. The only alliance he has is with Daniele because he likes her so much. Daniele pulls Dick aside to tell him that he’s pissing everyone in the house off by going on a power trip & talking down to everyone. Dick calls her out because her relationship with Nick is complicating the game. Nick has gotten in the way enough that makes Dick want to maybe get rid of him now. Hear that? Hope for Kail!

At the veto meeting, Jen (of course) uses the Power of Veto on herself. This leaves Dick to choose a new nominee, and he chooses Mike, sticking to his original plan. Who will go home? And who will America ask Eric to try to get eliminated? Find out on Thursday’s all new episode of Big Brother 8 on CBS!

Get your Big Brother links at sirlinksalot.net

Big Brother 8: America's Player Accomplishes His Mission (7/22/07)

The house is full of mixed emotions as Dick became Head of Household on the last episode of Big Brother 8. This spells trouble for people like Kail & Jen while keeping others like Amber & Daniele safe. Kail put herself in the line of fire by being the only vote on Thursday to evict Dick. Her alliance betrayed her, leaving her all alone & emotional.

Kail gives up her alliance to Dick, in hopes to save herself. He calls her “retarded” for trusting people she doesn’t even know and says she’s not a “smart player”. She therefore feels that she isn’t a threat but Dick’s nominations for Jen & Kail are pretty set. However, he’s thinking of flipping to Zach for his shady dealings in the house.

Boredom in the house leads to a wrestling match between Eric & Jen. Place your bets. Eric slams Jen on the ground … more than once. Jen evokes a little a revenge by hittin’ some sensitive spots! Jen was declared the winner … Jen-ius! The guys, meanwhile, make a list of celebrities they think are hot. Nick says he’d do Ryan Reynolds (from “Van Wilder”) which freaks Zach & Dick out a little. Nick’s got a top 5 list of guys & girls. Also on his list, for those interested: Matthew McConaghey, Hugh Jackman, and Brad Pitt.

Dick & Daniele meet up in the hammock for a heart to heart. She’s upset over Nick’s feelings for her because it puts her in an uncomfortable situation. Her boyfriend is the only one who has been there for her the last 2 years & she doesn’t want to jeopardize that. Dick provides an ear & a shoulder to cry on. He is quite fatherly at this moment to her.

Jameka is looking to get off slop. She is so miserable eating it that Amber is brought to tears – for the second time this episode! While she drools over the food that the others eat, Dick says he feels like he’s eating a hamburger in front of starving Africans. Jameka takes offense & stands up for herself, feeling the pressure of trying to represent her race well.

At the food challenge, the houseguests take a ride down a slide into a giant bowl of pasta in pairs. They had to find giant meatballs with food written on it that matched. They had to make the most pairs they could in 5 minutes because whatever they matched is all they could eat for the week. Beer, cucumbers, lobster, chips, cereal, & sweet breads were just a few of the foods they would get to enjoy.

Eric’s assignment this week as America’s Player is to try to get Jen nominated. Dick seems set now on Kail & Zach but Eric uses his power of persuasion to try to change his mind. At the nomination ceremony, Jameka is called out as being safe first followed by Jessica & Amber. Eric is the next to receive a key as well as Daniele, Dustin, Nick, Zach, and Mike. No surprises there: Kail & Jen are up for eviction this week.

Who will go home? But first, who will win the Power of Veto? Find out on Tuesday’s all new episode of Big Brother 8 on CBS.

Get your Big Brother links on 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

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

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

A Reality Check With ... Carol Journey (CBS's "Big Brother 8")

On last night’s Big Brother 8, 21-year-old Carol Journey became the first houseguest to be evicted from the house. She attends University of Kansas and is the daughter of Kansas Senator Phil Journey. When Carol arrived at the big brother house, she found that her high school rival, Jessica Hughbanks, was also in the house. Carol spends time with RealityCheckByGina to talk about old rivals & new housemates.

RC: What made you want to be a part of Big Brother? Were you a fan of previous seasons?
Carol: Honestly, I had never watched a season before the whole audition process. To be frank, I had no intention of ever being on a reality show. I just wanted to finish my degree, get on with my whole, and be an adult. This was never something I intended to do.

RC: Was it hard to adjust to being confined to a house & cut off from the rest of the world?
Carol: It wasn’t necessarily being confined that was hard. It was being followed by cameras, having no privacy, and being paranoid the entire time

RC: When you heard housemates had rivals in the house, did you think you would be the one to have a rival?
Carol: I had no idea that I would be one of the ones to have a rival. I couldn’t think of anything that would be entertaining, in my opinion, about a conflict in my life. I really did not think it would be me.
RC: What is the main problem between you & Jessica, besides you once owed her five dollars?
Carol: I have no idea what the cause of the conflict would be. We were best of friends in middle school. In 8th grade, we got into a fight about I don’t know what. Apparently, five dollars. It was 7 years ago, I was 13. It had to be something so pathetic & petty that it wasn’t even significant. I just remember a fight on my front porch, we were yelling at each other, and I went in the house & slammed the door. We went to school the next day & ignored each other.

RC: You handled yourself well sitting with host Julie Chen last night watching the nasty things Jessica said about you. What was going through your mind?
Carol: When I saw the things that Jessica said about me, at first, I was angry. I was like, “Are you kidding me?” I never said one thing about her while I was in the house. I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I felt bad for her, she showed America how immature she is, and that’s sad that that’s how she wants to show herself.

RC: What friendships did you form in the house during your time on Big Brother?Carol: I had a great time with Jen & with Kail. I think those two girls are amazing & I wish them the best of luck. I’m so excited that Jen is HOH. I hope she kicks Jessica outta there! The boys were sketchy though, not so much friend-types.

RC: You only received 1 vote to stay in the house. Were you hurt or were you just up against a tougher competitor, Amber?
Carol: I did not think that Amber was a tough competitor at all! Nobody wants to be the odd man out, nobody wants to cause that vote that would make them a target for next week. Everyone wanted to vote me out because they didn’t want to stir up competition or make it a close vote, like a 5-6.

RC: What do you think contributed to you being the first one evicted from the Big Brother house?
Carol: It was simply the fact that, to the other players, I was willing & able to go home & okay with it. Amber was crying every 5 minutes saying, “Please, please, I can’t go home” where as I was saying I was homesick. I was ready to go home the minute I walked out my front door. It’s okay, I didn’t go for the money, I went because I thought it would be fun.

RC: Have you watched any of the show yet & were you surprised to learn anything once leaving the house?
Carol: I have not been able to watch any of the shows until after my interviews. You can call me back after I watch them & I’ll tell you what I think!

RC: What are your future plans?
Carol: I am going back to college. I’m on summer vacation so I didn’t have to take a break. I’m going back to University of Kansas, then I’ll get a job, and be an adult. I’m a business/marketing major. I have a dream of becoming an executive CEO of a marketing firm & dominating!

A new episode of Big Brother airs this Sunday on CBS

Get your Big Brother links at sirlinksalot.net

Big Brother 8: The House Gets Trashed (7/10/07)

It’s Day 5 in the Big Brother house & eviction nominations have just been handed to Amber & Carol. Kail, the Head of Household, nominated the two for performing poorly in the HOH competition. Amber is upset because she & Kail are both mothers & felt they should look out for each other. She also feels that God put her on the block to teach her something. Carol feels guilty campaigning against Amber … but does it anyway.

Different strategies start to creep up throughout the house. Dick uses his sensitive parental side to bond with Kail while Nick uses his body & “inviting smile” (as he puts it) to romance the ladies of the Big Brother house. Jen tells the housemates that Nick tried to make out with her, which is apparently a big lie. Joe stirs the pot & causes a big fight between the two. I smell a plot to get rid of Jen ASAP.

It’s time for the Power of Veto competition. The HOH, two nominees, and three random housemates will compete for immunity. Danielle, Nick, and Jameka are also selected to participate. If a houseguest wins Power of Veto, they have the opportunity to change the nominations or keep them as they are. The houseguests competing are each given a veto to hide throughout the house. The object of the game is to have your veto found last. Once your veto is found, you are out of the game.

While the players ransack the house, the remaining houseguests have to sit in the HOH room & tensions run high quickly between Jen & Dick. The house is completely trashed but someone did the best job hiding their veto. Daniele’s veto (hidden in the slop) was the hardest to find & she wins Power of Veto in the Big Brother house. Amber jumps on Daniele right away, trying to get Daniele to save her & put up Jen instead.

America’s Player, Eric, has been given his first assignment. He must make up a traumatic story from his past and tell it to Kail. Eric, the new actor of the house, threw some Visine in his eyes and ran to the HOH room to share his sob story. I have to say: the story was a little lame. He said his high school girlfriend, who reminded him of Daniele, had a serious eating disorder and broke up with him. Ummmm … no death? Disease? Is it just me? Eric, you gotta get a little dirty here, buddy.

The boys continue Amber’s mission to get Jen out of the house by getting in Daniele’s ear about it. However, Daniele stays strong and keeps the nominations the same. Who will be the first houseguest evicted? Which nominee do you want Eric to vote out? Check out cbs.com/bigbrother for all the details on how you can play a part in the game!

Big Brother is back Thursday night at 8pm EST on CBS

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Big Brother 8: When Hating Your Picture Is The Worst Of Your Problems... (7/8/07)

When we check in on the houseguests, they're still reeling from the news that some of them will have rivals in the house. Carol & Jessica are former high school rivals, Daniele & Dick are an estranged father & daughter, and Dustin & Joe are bitter ex-boyfriends. Daniele takes the news the hardest, having a very shaky relationship with her dad. She hasn't spoken to him in years but she won't be able to avoid him anymore. Dick tries to smooth things over but Daniele isn't ready yet. Dustin & Joe are also unable to talk things out & Joe campaigns to have Dustin immediately removed. Carol attempts to put high school behind her but it looks like Jessica is still roamin' the halls!

Kail is HOH (Head of Household) and will have a tough decision to make in putting up people for eviction. First, the housemates' pictures go up on the wall, making Jen very emotional. She's never taken a worse picture! We should all have such problems. Joe provides some comedy, saying she acted like someone died & then throwing in that he loved his own picture!

Back to strategizing: Kail & Mike form a quick alliance and try to pull in 2 more. Zach is pulled in to the group as well as Nick. Before nominations are thrown down, a veto competition must take place. The housemates are split into two teams who must transfer as much butter from a pump into a giant bucket of popcorn by scraping it off each other. Winners get food for the weeks, losers get Big Brother slop (which may just be the nastiest food created in a lab). The red team creams the blue team, very much earning their food for the week.

Time to check in with America's Player, Eric, and see what assignment America has given him this week. Eric's got to tell a traumatic story from his past & America will decide which houseguest he will tell that story to. You can vote free online at www.cbs.com/bigbrother.

Speaking of America's Player, Eric is the first to be called out as being safe at the nomination ceremony. Joe, Zach, Daniele, Jen, Mike, Jameka, and Nick are also safe. Dick, Jessica, and Dustin all have immunity this week so that leaves Carol & Amber without keys to safety. Kail calls out Carol & Amber for being the first ones out in the HOH competition, therefore being weak players.

Who will win the Power of Veto? How will Eric's first task as "America's Player" go down? Check out Big Brother's next episode, Tuesday at 9pm EST.

Don't forget I'll be talking to the first evicted houseguest this Friday!

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Big Brother 8: New Season, New Twists (7/5/07)

It’s time for a new season of Big Brother and we’ve got a new crop of 14 houseguests. There’s a new twist and some houseguests will find themselves with unwelcome roommates – an estranged father & daughter, bitter ex-boyfriends, and former high school best friends. The drama meter just hit 10! First, let’s meet the new houseguests:

• Amber, 27, Cocktail Waitress
• Carol, 21, Student
• Daniele, 20, Waitress
• Dick, 44, Bar Manager
• Dustin, 22, Shoe Salesman
• Eric, 27, Talent Management Assistant
• Jameka, 28, School Counselor
• Jen, 23, Nanny
• Jessica, 21, College Student
• Joe, 23, Receptionist
• Kail, 37, Business Owner
• Mike, 26, Painting Contractor
• Nick, 25, Former Pro Football Player
• Zach, 30, Graphic Designer
  

The new houseguests settle in to get to know one another and just as they do, they learn that there are actually two separate groups (a group of 11 & a group of 3) in the house & they'll meet up soon. First, the group of 11 will compete in the first Head of Household competition. They head to the backyard, choose partners, and go stand in front of one of the giant mushrooms set up. Houseguests seated on the mushrooms will be asked true & false questions about their partner. Each false answer causes the mushroom to spin faster. Whoever can stay on their mushroom the longest, wins.

Amber cannot seem to get one answer right and her partner Carol goes down first. Zach & Jen are eliminated next followed by Daniele & Mike. Eric tries to throw the competition but he inevitably keeps getting answers correct, leaving him & Kail in the final two against Joe & Jameka. Despite Eric's efforts to sabotage his duo, he & Kail end up winning but only one can be Head of Household. The group of 3 who have been watching the group of 11's every move will decide who becomes HOH. They choose Kail, much to Eric's relief.

It's time to meet the group of 3 who have been waiting to join the remaining housemates. The first to join the group is Carol's high school rival, Jessica. The next is Daniele's estranged father, Dick. Finally, Joe's ex-boyfriend Dustin joins the housemates. There's one more twist before tonight's episode comes to an end. For the first time, one of the housemates is "America's Player" and throughout the game, play the way the viewers want him to. Eric has been chosen as that player and the houseguests have no idea! Viewers can give directions to Eric at cbs.com so start dictating.

The next episode of Big Brother airs Sunday night at 8pm EST

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