Monthly Archives: May 2016

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BIG BROTHER 18: SECOND CHANCE – Which Houseguests Should Make The Cut?

With less than a month to go before the premiere of Big Brother 18, rumors are beginning to circulate about who will be moving into the Big Brother house this summer. Will it be all returnees? All Newbies? Or some sort of combination of the two?

My guess, we will have two more seasons of newbies, which will set us up for the most epic season of Big Brother ever; Big Brother 20:Winners. By season 20, we should have enough interesting winning houseguests to create a dream cast that will pit all (or most, sorry Adam) of the winners against each other, to see who will reign supreme as the Greatest Big Brother Player of All Time.

Another possible, and maybe more realistic option, season 18 will be Big Brother: Second Chances. This will give the producers one more chance to have their favorite houseguests (that have never won the game) be a part of their epic 20th season of winners.

One issue that casting has been running into with All Stars, is the common availability times of their “must-return winners.” No Big Brother: All-Stars would be complete without Dan, Derrick, Jun, Dr. Will, Evel Dick, Hayden M, Rachel, etc.

So, if the producers give them all two years notice, and inform them that Big Brother 20 will be a winners season, with a $1 million prize, their golden children will have an ample amount of time to clear their schedules for the summer of 2018.

That leaves us with the question of who will get their second chance to become a Big Brother champion? The following, are the 18 guys, ranked in order of least to most deserving to get their second chance.

* Sticking to the rules put in place by Survivor: Second Chances, the houseguests that have played the game ONLY once, and never won, will be invited to be a part of the Big Brother: Second Chance cast.

For Part 1 of the list (#18-13) Click here.

12. Jason

(photo credit: abc.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

One of last season’s more memorable houseguests, Jason Roy is one of the biggest Big Brother superfans to have ever played the game. Unfortunately for Jason, he just missed out on making the jury. During his stay in the house, Jason either won HoH or was a nominee every week, which means he didn’t fly under the radar, and actually had an impact on the house dynamics.

Jason was not afraid to cause controversy, or stand up for himself or his friends in the house. If he had the opportunity to play again, it would be interesting to see if he would be more successful if he didn’t have such a big mouth, and was able to bite his tongue.

If he could fly under the radar and make the jury, Jason is social enough, and a good enough competitor to make it to the end. Once there, Jason would be able to use his massive amount of BB knowledge to sway the jury to give him the win.

11. Crazy James, BB9

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Big Brother 9 is the red headed step-child of the franchise, as it was quickly thrown together due to the writer’s strike, and the only season to have aired in the winter. For the most part, the cast was completely forgettable, and considering the season’s winner used his prize money to start an illegal drug ring, didn’t pay his taxes on his prize money, and was sentenced to 4 years in prison, it is unlikely he will ever be appearing on BB again.

But what about the season’s most memorable houseguest, Crazy James? Technically James already received his “second chance”, as he was evicted from the house in week 4, only to return back to the house the same night of his eviction. While he went on to win an impressive 3 POV’s in a row, he was evicted again just a few weeks later and became the fourth member of the jury.

Crazy James, who is easily one of the most eccentric houseguests the show has ever casted, is now 8 years older than he was in 2008. Maybe he would use his second chance as an opportunity to win the game and make some money, rather than use it as an excuse to have a 3 month party. It would also be interesting to see how a batch of “semi-normal” houseguests, would react to Crazy James, rather than the complete lunatics that were on season his season.

 

10. Judd, BB15

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Was Judd so loved by America because they had literally nobody else to root for in season 15? Or would Judd be as likable and popular if he was on a season that wasn’t littered with controversial, universally hated houseguests?

Judd was a solid game player, and has the ability to fly under the radar and be likable enough that he could easily win a second chance season if given the opportunity. If Big Brother: Second Chance does happen, you can fully expect another summer of Judd and his wildly popular, hideous bear shirt to have a ticket to the show.

(photo credit: bustle.com)

(photo credit: bustle.com)

 

9. Russell, BB11

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Russell was one of the most explosive houseguests to ever play Big Brother. He had intense confrontations with multiple houseguests, including fan favorites Jeff and Jordan, and the even more explosive Chima, who was later expelled from the house.

Russell played a good game for the first few weeks, until he started arguing with his roommates and finding himself in the center of all the house drama.

If Russell can contain his temper, and control his outburts, he could do very well in a second chance season. And if he can’t, well, at least he would deliver on the entertainment value, and supply us with some amazingly good technotronic-type brawls.

8. Memphis, BB10

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Memphis Garrett is the only finalist in 17 seasons that has received zero votes to win the game. Typically, that would be enough of a reason to say that he wouldn’t deserve a second chance. But, if you take into consideration that he was against Dan, who many consider to be the best to have ever played the game, then it is easy to build a case for Memphis to return.

Also, due to the fact that he received zero votes, maybe he will come into the house with a completely different strategy, and instead of riding coattails, maybe he will win some HoH’s and be forced to make some big moves. One thing is for sure, if he plays again, he would be sure to avoid making the same mistake he made the first time, and be sure to sit next to someone he has a chance of getting votes against in the final 2.

7. Frankie, BB16

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Hate him or hate him, there is no deny

ing that Frankie Grande was a major part of Big Brother 16, and it is inevitable that he will be moving back into the BB house at some point in the future.

A second chance season needs to be filled with entertaining, competitive houseguests that viewers will either be rooting hard for or against. As much as the majority of Big Brother fans would be perfectly fine with never seeing Frankie return to the house, once they think about the possibility of watching him be the first person evicted, all of a sudden, his return seems much more tolerable, and perhaps even exciting.

 

Continue to the Top 6

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Who Deserves To Be Part of Big Brother 18: Second Chance (The Men)

With less than a month to go before the premiere of Big Brother 18, rumors are beginning to circulate about who will be moving into the Big Brother house this summer. Will it be all returnees? All Newbies? Or some sort of combination of the two?

My guess, we will have two more seasons of newbies, which will set us up for the most epic season of Big Brother ever; Big Brother 20:Winners. By season 20, we should have enough interesting winning houseguests to create a dream cast that will pit all (or most, sorry Adam) of the winners against each other, to see who will reign supreme as the Greatest Big Brother Player of All Time.

Another possible, and maybe more realistic option, season 18 will be Big Brother: Second Chances. This will give the producers one more chance to have their favorite houseguests (that have never won the game) be a part of their epic 20th season of winners.

One issue that casting has been running into with All Stars, is the common availability times of their “must-return winners.” No Big Brother: All-Stars would be complete without Dan, Derrick, Jun, Dr. Will, Evel Dick, Hayden M, Rachel, etc.

So, if the producers give them all two years notice, and inform them that Big Brother 20 will be a winners season, with a $1 million prize, their golden children will have an ample amount of time to clear their schedules for the summer of 2018.

That leaves us with the question of who will get their second chance to become a Big Brother champion? The following, are the 18 guys, ranked in order of least to most deserving to get their second chance.

* Sticking to the rules put in place by Survivor: Second Chances, the houseguests that have played the game ONLY once, and never won, will be invited to be a part of the Big Brother: Second Chance cast.

18. James, BB17

(photo credit: abc.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Big Brother 17 fan favorite, James was not afraid to make big moves and stand up to the game’s power players. If he were on a Second Chance season, he would be playing with even bigger, and more intimidating players than Clay and Shelli. You could fully expect James to play the same type of game and target the big dogs, ensuring that his HoH’s would be explosive and shake the shit out of the Big Brother: Second Chance house.

 

17. Enzo, BB12

(photo credit: abc.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Enzo formed “The Brigade” on Day 2 with Matt, Lane, and eventual winner, Hayden. After getting to the final 3 with 2 of his Brigade members, Enzo was evicted in third place after Hayden won the last HoH and choose Lane to sit with him in the finals. Because he was in a solid alliance that won 3 of the first 5 HoH’s (and the other 2 being won by Rachel, who had much bigger targets to fry), Enzo didn’t really have to start playing the game until the jury. Once there, he was in the majority alliance, which continued to dominate the HoH’s, winning right up until the end of the game.

Being the only person in his alliance to never win HoH, it would be very interesting to see what Enzo would do, had his Brigade alliance not won 7 out of the 11 HoH’s of the season. Did he throw the challenges, knowing that he had plenty of guys to win and do his dirty work for him? Or was he really just an awful challenge competitor? Will he be able to solidify himself into another powerhouse alliance? Or would his strategy be completely different without Hayden, Lane, and Matt protecting him? Big Brother: Second Chance would be a perfect time for Enzo to prove he is deserving of another shot.

16. Cody, BB16

(photo credit: abc.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Anyone that watched Big Brother 16, knows that Cody’s fatal game mistake was taking his “Hitmen” alliance member, Derrick, to the finals, over the guaranteed win with Victoria. Other than his final decision, Cody played a nearly flawless game, but receives very little credit because Derrick (deservingly so) completely overshadows him.
It is impossible to tell if Cody could have got to the finals in BB16 without Derrick. But, Cody is certainly more than likable enough to get him deep into the game again. Does he have the strategic game plan needed to end up in the finals without his hitman bro, Derrick? Big Brother fans, as well as Cody, deserve the chance to find out.

15. Johnny Mac, BB17

(photo credit: abc.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Sure Johnny Mac was a fan favorite last season, but it was his unique strategy of volunteering himself to be nominated so he could throw the BoB challenges that gained him trust with the power players, and kept him safe for the first few weeks.

But, if Johnny Mac played in a season with no Battle of the Block, would his strategy still work? Or would he learn from his previous season that he can only get so far without forming solid alliances early in the game. Johnny Mac started to step up his game towards the end of his stay in the BB house, but unfortunately for him, it was a little too little too late. Hopefully if he plays again, we will hear Johnny Mac in the Diary Room, screaming about alliances and blindsides, rather than being back on the block and throwing challenges.

14. McCrae, BB15

(photo credit: abc.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

McCrae played a great BB game until his attention started to shift from game play to romance. McCrae became more concerned with his dysfunctional relationship with Amanda, than he was with strategizing and getting his targets out of the house.

If McCrae plays Big Brother again, and avoids being sucked into a showmance, he has the potential to beat even the best of the best.  

 

13. Devin, BB16

(photo credit: abc.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Unanimously voted out in week 3, Devin had one of the biggest falls from power Big Brother has ever seen. After the first couple of days, Devin was sitting pretty; being a part of the massive all-guy alliance, in addition to a few side alliances.

Week 2, upon winning HoH, the power went right to Devin’s head, as he nominated Zach, and went against his alliance.

One week, and a few epic meltdowns later, Devin found himself evicted from the house on day 28.

He may not be one of the most popular houseguests, but it would be fascinating to see what Devin would do if he was given the opportunity to keep a level head and play again. My prediction: he would be voted out in week 3 again, after having an even bigger meltdown and an even more disastrous fall from power.

Continue to #12-7

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5 TV Shows You Aren’t Watching, But Should Be

With more networks shoveling out new dramas, comedy, and reality shows than ever, it is nearly impossible for anyone to keep up with all of the best programming. In addition to the hundreds of channels of televised programming, we are now able to choose between series on additional platforms, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, just to name a few.

Whether or not you watch the most popular dramas, such as Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead or Empire, or buzz-worthy comedies, such as The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, or New Girl, it is impossible to deny that they are powerhouse shows that are impossible to get away from.

But what about the shows that are not at the top of the Nielsen ratings each week? Does that mean they are not as good, or simply that they are not being talked about as much, because people have not given them a chance?

Below are the 5 shows that you are probably not watching, but absolutely need to be.

 

5. Game of Silence, NBC (7 out of 10 season 1 episodes have aired.)

The fact that NBC decided not to renew the series for a second season, does not mean that Game of Silence is not worth spending the time on. In fact, the story may actually be better condensed into one, 10 episode series.

Silence is a drama based on the Turkish series Suskunlar, which tells the true story of four teenage boys whose foolish childhood mistake sends them to prison for 9 months. Once there, they encounter horrific acts performed by the inmates, as well as the guards and warden.

Years later, the childhood best friends are reunited when tragedy strikes one of the men. From then on, every episode reveals another secret that one of the group has been hiding, and a series of twists and turns will keep you captivated, and get your brain spinning in circles wondering what will happen next.

As the weeks go by, the actors are getting more comfortable with their characters, and in turn, give better performances (the younger version of the main character, Jackson, played by Curran Walters is the best acting in my opinion. It’s a shame we do not get to see more of him.) The storyline is unique and unlike anything else on TV. And now that NBC has announced there will not be a second season, the 10 episode series is a great way to spend a rainy weekend, or binge watch a few episodes a night, and you will see how the story unfolds in just a week’s time.

Game of Silence airs Thursday nights on NBC.

 

4. Animal Kingdom, TNT (episode 1 is available online. The series is set to premiere on June 14, 2016)

If you are envisioning a Disney theme park, or a live stream of cute monkeys swinging from jungle vine to jungle vine, then promptly eliminate those pleasant images from your brain before preparing to watch the new TNT drama, Animal Kingdom. 

Based on the 2010 Australian film of the same name, by David Michôd, Animal Kingdom centers around a 17 year old boy that is forced to move in with his criminal family clan, after the death of his mother.

The premiere episode introduces us to Josh “J” Cody, and follows his journey as he re-introduces himself to his family that he has been cut off from for roughly 10 years. He quickly builds unique relationships with his grandmother (who is unlike any grandmother you have ever met), and his four uncles, who all have chosen to live a life of crime.

The pilot starts slow, but finishes strong, and sets the stage for a family-oriented criminal thriller, that, if done properly, could potentially fill your “Sons of Anarchy” void that has been tearing apart your heart and soul for nearly two years.

 

3. Veep, HBO (Currently airing Season 5)

Sure, Veep has won plenty of awards, including Emmy’s for Best Comedy Series, Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Louis-Dreyfus), and Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Hale), but it still does not have the water cooler factor that it deserves.

Do to the outstanding writing, and acting by the ENTIRE cast, you can start watching Veep in any season, and at any episode, and you will quickly catch on to who these characters are, and how brilliant this show is.

Not only is it the funniest show on television today, but I strongly believe it is one of the funniest shows in television history. It takes every boundary that you think you know about television comedy, and pushes it right the hell off the cliff.

The May 15th episode, titled “Mother”, is so bold and daring that as you are laughing your ass off, your jaw is on the floor because you can’t believe how wildly inappropriate the jokes are. If you are offended easily, say, by Stephen Hawking jokes, or Anne Frank references, or jokes about pulling the plug on your dying mother, then Veep is not for you. But, if you can appreciate the humor, and can take a joke, Veep will instantly become your new favorite television comedy.

Veep airs on Sunday nights at 10:30pm on HBO

 

2. Preacher, AMC (Episode 1 premiered Sunday. Season 1 will consist of 10 episodes.)

Preacher is AMC’s answer to not being able to have 52 Walking Dead or Walking Dead spin-off episodes, per year. Co-Created by Seth Rogan and based on the comic book of the same name, Preacher is a drama, it is a comedy, and it is a thriller, all rolled into one fascinating series.

Sure, there has only been one episode, but with so many unique characters, amazing acting, and casting perfection, Preacher could be exactly what AMC needs to solidify themselves as one of the best networks for original series on television.

First 4 minutes of Preacher…

 

 

1. The Night Manager, AMC (6 part mini-series, final episode airs tonight at 9pm)

Rather than thinking of The Night Manager as a television series, think of it as a 6 part James Bond movie that has 6 climaxes rather than 1.

The Night Manager is a British-American series based on the John le Carré novel of the same name. It tells the story of Jonathan Pine, played by Tom Hiddleston, former British Soldier, turned hotel night manager. After getting recruited by an intelligence operative, Pine must infiltrate the operations of one of the “worst men in the world”, Richard Roper, played by Hugh Laurie.

The acting is flawless. Jonathan Pine, (Hiddleston) is one of the most intriguing television characters in recent memory, and Hiddleston delivers his performance so perfectly, that it is nearly impossible to imagine anyone else playing this character. Laurie’s character Roper, is one of the most lovable villains that has ever been on TV. It is difficult to determine whether or not the fact that Roper is such a villain, yet you actually want to be best friends with him, and part of his crew, is a testament to the exceptional writing, the phenomenal acting by Laurie. Or both.

The only awful thing about The Night Manager is the fact that it is only 6 episodes, the last of which airs tonight on AMC. Do yourself a favor, and treat yourself to six hours of this masterpiece.

 

“Tom Hiddleston and co round off arguably one of the greatest series of all time.” – The Sun

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