Monthly Archives: June 2016

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Big Brother 18 Pre Season Power Rankings (Part 2)

After months of speculation, rumors of an All Star season, or possibility of a Second Chance season, and dramatic cast reveal delays that really got some fans fired up, the Big Brother 18 cast has been revealed. Well… most of them, anyway.

12 new houseguests will move into the house this week, and due to the fact that season 18 will be the longest season to date, it is safe to assume that more houseguests will be added to the mix on premiere night. If rumors are true, 4 past houseguests will join the 12 newbies, and a 16 person cast will make a full house.

Yesterday, the 12 new houseguests had their pre-season interview with Big Brother Golden Boy, Jeff Schroeider, and one thing is for sure, this season is not lacking diversity. The only lack of diversity in the cast is the fact that ALL of the ladies are brunettes. I can only assume that this is because there is still a lack of blonde hair dye in the LA area thanks to the ladies of Big Brother 17.

In addition to the four (speculated) returning houseguests, you may notice two familiar faces in the group of 12 newbies, as the Season of the Siblings will be in full effect. Big Brother 16’s Cody Califiore and Big Brother 17’s Vanessa Ruosso, both have siblings on BB18, and both are spitting images of themselves.

While the CBS pre-season interview and bio are basically worthless, and hardly tools in which to judge who will do well in the game, I am doing it anyway. Will the boys of the Big Brother 18 house form yet another male dominated alliance (likely), or will the Big Brother ladies FINALLY be able to get their act together and form a successful all female alliance (unlikely). Regardless of their gender, their ethnicity, or their DNA, the cast of Big Brother 18 is locked, loaded, and ready to give viewers a thrilling summer.

Without further adieu, the cast of Big Brother 18, ranked in order of LEAST likely, to MOST likely to take home the $500,000 prize after the longest 99 days of their lives.

Continued from part 1.

 

6. Corey Brooks

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

It is unlikely the housemates will let Corey get anywhere near the final 2, but if he does get there, he will easily be able to concoct some story about how he will use his winnings to help underprivileged children learn how to be better baseball players, or take better selfies with their bros, and will win over the jury’s heart with his charm.

But, the fact is, he will not come close to the final 2. What he will do, is get in a bromance on night 1, and get in a showmance on day 2.

Corey listed “getting sick bro pics” as one of his favorite hobbies. He will be in his glory in a BB house filled with alpha males that will certainly spend countless hours perfecting their most bro-tacular poses and the longest, most creative “secret handshakes” that any bros, anywhere in the world, have ever created.

FINAL PREDICTION: Corey’s bromances and showmances will get him evicted early on. But if he is in the final 2, he without a doubt wins.

 

5. Bridgette Dunning

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

At first glance, Bridgette seems WAY too sweet to play Big Brother. She will almost certainly be used as a pawn many times throughout the first few weeks. She will probably even be bullied by her fellow female houseguests, and be drawn to some of the guys for support.

I can see her forming a tight bond with Glenn, the 50 year old former police detective from the Bronx. You know, because they have so much in common.

She will be America’s sweetheart, and someone that is impossible to not root for. IF she makes it past week 2, she could fall under the radar just enough to win the entire game, and with America’s support, will be one of the biggest underdog stories in BB history.

FINAL PREDICTION: Bridgette will be crying by episode 3, (but crying in a cute, sympathetic way that pulls at America’s heartstrings, not in a gross Big Brother 8 Amber way) and will cry every additional episode until she is evicted week 2, or wins the game in September.

 

4. Tiffany Rousso

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

You may not be able to tell by looking at her, but the second she opens her mouth, you will undeniably know that Tiffany, is indeed, the sister of Big Brother 17’s poker playing, third place finisher, Vanessa Rousso.

Considered by many to be one of the best female strategist to ever play the game, Vanessa dominated last season, and was one HoH question away from winning the game.

Tiffany will have all eyes on her, and she has no choice but to come clean about her Big Brother legend sister, and play an honest game. If she comes across as being sneaky and manipulative, she is toast. But if she plays the opposite of her sister, and takes a more back seat approach, I think she will have the leverage of having Vanessa as her sister, to make alliances from the get-go, and make it deep into the game.
FINAL PREDICTION: Tiffany will mention her sister 39 times in the diary room throughout the season, and she will finish just a little worse than her sister, and come in 5th place.

 

3. Michelle Meyer

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

Although I am 90% sure that a female will never win Big Brother again, I still have a glimmer of hope that Michelle can be the first female (non-returning player) in 7 years to win the game.

Miraculously, in SEVENTEEN seasons, a female houseguest has never beat a male houseguest in a final vote. The five times that a female has won, they have defeated another female in the final 2.

Michelle seems like a perfect combination of likability, intelligence, and enthusiasm for the game, to be able to break the cycle. She is a legit super fan of the show, as she even watches the international versions, watches the live feeds, and gets involved in Big Brother online forums.

As with literally any other Big Brother female that has ever played the game, she could VERY easily be the first person voted out of the game (especially since she admits that she likes to go to bed early, which is the worst thing you could possibly do in the BB house.) But, of all the girls this season, she has the best chance at not only winning the game, but of being the first female to ever defeat a male in a final vote.

FINAL PREDICTION: Michelle will cruise to the jury, but will get caught playing too hard and find herself evicted just before she has the chance to make Big Brother history.

 

2. Paul Abrahamian

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Paul may not win the game, make the jury, or even make it past week 1, but no matter how many days he is in the house, he will be impossible to forget. He will be a Big Brother legend, and the number 1 source of entertainment throughout the season. Half of America will despise him, and the other half will love him.

Paul is in the house to cause chaos, and there is no doubt he will succeed. He will likely butt heads with former police detective, Glenn. But, if he can manage to send Glenn packing before Glenn sends him packing, he will run the house.

Paul will be the modern day Evel Dick, and will play the game unlike anyone has in a very long time. He will not be afraid to make big moves, he will argue, speak his mind, and will not care what his housemates, or America, thinks about him.

Paul will be nominated MANY times before he is finally evicted (or wins), and he will be the guy at the end of the game that everyone says “how the hell did he make it this deep in the game?”

BY FAR the most inspirational life motto belongs to Paul…
“To live my life in such a fulfilling way that when I’m on my deathbed, there’s nothing left for me to experience.”

If he doesn’t self evict or get expelled, he may just be the guy that everyone THINKS they want to sit next to in the end; only to find himself convincing the jury that he deserves to have their vote even though he hates their guts, and they hate his. And they will give it to him.

FINAL PREDICTION: Despite trying to get us to hate him, America will fall in love with Paul. If he can control his emotions just a tiny bit, he will win the game. If he can’t control them, he will be sitting on the chopping block every single week until his pre jury eviction.

1. Paulie Calafiore

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Like Tiffany, Paulie Calafiore also has a sibling th

at has played, and been quite successful at Big Brother. Paulie is the real life big brother of season 16 runner up, Cody Calafiore.

Cody infamously decided to take eventual winner, Derrick Levasseur, to the final 2, rather than guaranteed-victory Victoria.

Like Cody, Paulie is extremely good looking, extremely fit, extremely likable, and seems like a genuinely nice human being….. fine…. he seems like an EXTREMELY, genuinely nice human being.

Unlike Cody, Paulie has a brother that has already played the game before and can learn from his brother’s stupid mistakes.

FINAL PREDICTION: The first ever real life big brother of a past Big Brother houseguest will take home the grand prize and the title of Best Big Brother Calafiore Brother.

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Big Brother 18 Power Rankings (Pre Season)

After months of speculation, rumors of an All Star season, or possibility of a Second Chance season, and dramatic cast reveal delays that really got some fans fired up, the Big Brother 18 cast has been revealed. Well… most of them, anyway.

12 new houseguests will move into the house this week, and due to the fact that season 18 will be the longest season to date, it is safe to assume that more houseguests will be added to the mix on premiere night. If rumors are true, 4 past houseguests will join the 12 newbies, and a 16 person cast will make a full house.

Yesterday, the 12 new houseguests had their pre-season interview with Big Brother Golden Boy, Jeff Schroeider, and one thing is for sure, this season is not lacking diversity. The only lack of diversity in the cast is the fact that ALL of the ladies are brunettes. I can only assume that this is because there is still a lack of blonde hair dye in the LA area thanks to the ladies of Big Brother 17.

In addition to the four (speculated) returning houseguests, you may notice two familiar faces in the group of 12 newbies, as the Season of the Siblings will be in full effect. Big Brother 16’s Cody Califiore and Big Brother 17’s Vanessa Ruosso, both have siblings on BB18, and both are spitting images of themselves.

While the CBS pre-season interview and bio are basically worthless, and hardly tools in which to judge who will do well in the game, I am doing it anyway. Will the boys of the Big Brother 18 house form yet another male dominated alliance (likely), or will the Big Brother ladies FINALLY be able to get their act together and form a successful all female alliance (unlikely). Regardless of their gender, their ethnicity, or their DNA, the cast of Big Brother 18 is locked, loaded, and ready to give viewers a thrilling summer.

Without further adieu, the cast of Big Brother 18, ranked in order of LEAST likely, to MOST likely to take home the $500,000 prize after the longest 99 days of their lives.

12. Natalie Negrotti

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Natalie is a 26 year old Event Coordinator originally from Caracas, Venezuela. Natalie is gung-ho on forming an all girl alliance, and therefore, Natalie will be on the chopping block in week 1.

The only way a female alliance will ever work on Big Brother again, is if it is formed half way through the game. Any all-female alliance formed in week 1 will certainly be sniffed out by the guys. If Natalie doesn’t switch up her strategy and refrain from being the leader of the girls alliance, she will be gone immediately. Her best bet will be to get in a showmance to keep her safe for a few weeks. Then, once the jury stage of the game comes, stab her showmance in the back, get all the remaining girls together, and be the driving force behind an all-girl final 4. Is Natalie, who is NOT a big fan of the show, capable of doing that? No. She is not.

Need 21 MORE reason why Natalie won’t win….. here is an excerpt from her bio on cbs.com

Favorite activities: I love painting, cooking, baking, eating, napping, shopping, online shopping, doing makeup, doing hair, tanning, pageants, dancing, going on dates, playing with puppies, looking at puppy videos on Instagram and online, party planning, decorating, having tea time, getting dressed-up, doing my nails, and bargain shopping!

No need to worry Natalie. You will be back home and looking at puppy videos on Instagram and online, in no time.

FINAL PREDICTION: Second evicted, but not after a week long fling with Paulie or Victor that they both hope to continue outside of the house. Until, that is, they get out of the house and realize there are way better options waiting for them.

 

11. Bronte  D’Acquisto

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

You literally can not make this stuff up. Bronte is a 26 year old student that is studying to become a mathematician. Jeff takes advantage of this during her interview, and asks her the most difficult multiplication problem that he actually knows the answer to.

Jeff: “What’s 9×9?”
Bronte: “9×9? 89? I’m bad with math in my head. I’m not going to lie…… I know how to do it on my fingers.”

The video below is the full conversation, because it is too unbelievable to not watch for yourself. Also, full warning: brace yourself for a very “unique” voice.

https://youtu.be/P16M52fpmps

Bronte better brush up on her multiplication skills, or there is no way her fellow houseguests will believe her when they tell her she is studying to be a mathematician. They will then suspect that she is covering up an even more menacing and/or threatening job, and she will find herself talking to Julie Chen before she can even comprehend what a 13-0 vote means.

FINAL PREDICTION: Bronte will be out in week 1, and if not, she will be dragged to the final 3, as there is no way she will be able to beat anybody that may be fortunate enough to sit next to her.

 

10. Victor Arroyo

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Victor says that the 3 adjectives that best describe him are “smart, sexy, and fit.” When someone can not even come up with 1 adjective that describes their personality, I am going to go ahead and assume that they have absolutely no personality. Additionally, he says that his life motto…. his LIFE MOTTO, is “Get my money, develop my body, and get women.” I fully expect Victor to have a bit of a meltdown the first time he is on slop, and unable to fuel the “machine” that he has worked so hard to attain.

Victor will be so focused on getting involved in a showmance that he will forget that he is playing a game for $500,000.

If the women can somehow get power week 1, Victor may be just cheesy, cocky, and arrogant enough that they make him their target, and send him back to Slidell, Louisiana where I am sure they will welcome back their fit, sexy, smart, gym manager, with big, huge, muscular, open arms.

FINAL PREDICTION: Victor’s eight pack will be the first set of male abs to walk out the front door.
9. Glenn Garcia

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

While Glenn could easily be the frontrunner for being evicted in the first 2 weeks, if he can fit in with the younger crowd and find a safe place in a tight alliance, he should easily float to the jury.

The former police detective turned dog groomer from the Bronx says that he will not go down without a fight should he find himself on the chopping block. My prediction is that when he does find himself on the block, it will likely be as a pawn. His overreaction, and paranoia, will quickly turn him from pawn to target to evictee.

However, in one of the most bizarre pre interview statements in Big Brother history, Glenn informs us that he will not be opposed to flirting his way to a spot in the finals. Based on the way he obsessively hounded Jeff about his impending wedding to Jordan, if Glenn attempts to flirt with anyone in the house, he will very quickly find himself coming on to Julie Chen, and telling her how beautiful she is on a Thursday night in the very near future.

FINAL PREDICTION: Glenn will be out in week 1 or he will be 5th place.

 

8. Jozea Flores

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Jozea is a Frankie Grande superfan that recently got into Big Brother. He was far and away the most boring houseguest in his pre season interview, which could be a good thing for him. He should not be a major target, but also, will not make any major moves. He will fade into the background and let his alliance take charge.

My conversation with the Dunkin Donut’s drive-thru lady at 6:45am is more lively than the conversation Jozea and Jeff had in his interview. If Jozea can not muster a bit more energy and enthusiasm, he will come across as not wanting to be there, and that will end up being his downfall.

FINAL PREDICTION: Jozea will very unceremoniously be voted out right before the jury.

 

7. Zakiyah Everette

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Zakiyah is a pre-school teacher, and Big Brother superfan that has been watching since season 3. According to her demeanor, likable personality, and stunning beauty, I immediately thought of Zakiyah to be a front runner to win the whole game.

….. then Zakiyah began talking about how much she wants to get involved in a showmance. Additionally, she said that she “hopes to have options.”

Zakiyah’s downfall will either be that she flirts with all the guys, and she ends up becoming the other girls’ target. Or, the more likely option, she will end up in a showmance, and then become the target of the entire house.

FINAL PREDICTION: If Zakiyah can keep it in her pants and forget about a showmance, she will win the game. She won’t be able to do that, and will be the first member of the jury.

 

Top 6 

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7 Songs You Need to Hear Right Now (June 15 2016)

In what is clearly the most eclectic 7 songs to have ever been compiled on Ryan’s Countdown’s “Songs You Need to Hear Right Now”, the following seven songs will satisfy music fans of all genres. The countdown represents a remarkable 7 different genres; Alt Rock, Folk Rock, Electronic, Pop Punk, Indie Pop, Country, and Metal.

I know what you’re thinking…… I hate “Metal”, or “I despise country music.” Or maybe even, “what the hell is Electronic and Indie Pop.” But, all I can say is that if you “hate” metal, the metal song on the countdown could quite possibly be your favorite metal song of all time. Same goes with electronic, country, etc.

Point being, it would be very difficult to DISLIKE any one of these songs, even if you are strongly opposed to the musical genre to which they belong. Think of them all as a gateway drug to broadening your musical horizons.

 

7. Cassidy, Brett Dennen (Folk Pop)

Just in time for lounging around the pool on a hot summer day, Brett Dennen released his sixth studio album, Por Favor just last month. “Cassidy”, is the classic easy listening, laid back track that Brett Dennen is known for.

Unfortunately we are not able to spend all day, every day laying by the pool and sipping on Piña Coladas, but thankfully Brett Dennen is around to help us get through the shitty life moments when we are not doing such. “Cassidy” is the musical equivalent of day drinking on a blow up raft in the warm summer sun and without a care in the world. The way life should be.

 

6. Happy Pills, Weathers (Alt Rock)

Quite possibly the happiest song about being sad since Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed Life”, the jolly track about ones decent into crystal meth addiction, “Happy Pills” will almost certainly brighten up your most dreary, depressing days. Weathers, the young rock quartet from LA perfectly summarizes the continuously rising trend of taking “happy pills” to deal with your problems.

Not only will you find yourself singing along to the catchy chorus…

“I take my pills and I’m happy all the time, I’m happy all the time, I’m happy all the time…”

But you will also find it impossible to not sing along with the “LA LA LA LA LA LA’s” even more enthusiastically than the Smurfs do after yet another victorious encounter with their rival Gargamel.

 

5. Sing Me To Sleep, Alan Walker (Electronic)

Norwegian electronic dance producer, Alan Walker, is just 18 years old and already has proven he is a force to be reckoned with in the genre. His latest track, “Sing Me to Sleep”, features Iselin Solheim, a Norwegian singer-songwriter who is also just 18 years old.

Solheim’s soothing vocals and Walker’s catchy, up tempo beat, blend beautifully together to create a radio friendly, electronic dance track that even non EDM fans can get behind.

 

4. What the Hell Did I Say, Dierks Bentley (Country)

The all too relatable, “What the Hell Did I Say”, is Dierks Bentley’s second video in his 4-part series about a pair of secret lovers. After Bentley’s 2014 super hit, “Drunk On a Plane”, he became one of the biggest names in country music due to the fact that the song resonated to fans of all genres, because, you know, who doesn’t like to get drunk on a plane?

What could possibly be a follow up to the lovable, drunk plane passenger’s journey, “What the Hell Did I Say”, tells a story about drunk dialing, and the regrets one may feel upon waking up in the morning after a night of heavy drinking.

Just a much a pop-rock song as it is a country song, Bentley has a knack releasing tracks that are catchy as hell, and make you forget the fact that you have claimed that you have hated country music since you were an adolescent.

 

3. Rabbit Hole, Blink 182

Blink 182’s second album in the last 13 years is just weeks away from being available to the public, and from the two tracks that have already been released, it seems as though the album will not disappoint longtime fans.

“Rabbit Hole”, the second track from the bands upcoming album, California is everything one would have expected 2016 Blink 182 to sound like if you imagined their future sound back in 1999. Swap out lyrics about sex, nudity, drinking, and poo, and replace them with more adult issues, such as learning from your mistakes, and relationship woes, and Blink 182 is still the same band they were back in their heyday.

While the band may have lost guitarist, Tom DeLong, his replacement, Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba doesn’t miss a beat, and is a welcome addition to modern day Blink. It may be too early to tell, but California certainly has the potential to put Blink 182 back in the spotlight and prove all the naysayers wrong that thought 182’s days were numbered.
2. Let It Burn, Volbert (Metal)

If you’re like most people, simply the thought of metal music scares the hell out of you. And a Danish, Heavy Metal band… forget it, that is the stuff that nightmares are made of.

But fear not, Volbeat is here to take everything you thought you knew about metal music, and drop it on its head. “Let It Burn”, the new track off the bands sixth studio album, Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie is a metal track that even your grandmother could rock out to. The catchy vocal melody, and inspiring lyrics, coupled with a killer guitar solo, combine to deliver what may very well be your favorite “metal” song since “Mama, I’m Coming Home”, you know, the only other “metal song” you have ever liked in your life.

 

1. Roll Up, Fitz and the Tantrums (Indie Rock)

https://youtu.be/czyZcagQo84

Fitz and the Tantrums burst onto the scene in 2010 with their debut studio album, Pickin’ Up the Pieces, and I am convinced that they have not taken a day off since. Not only have they released two additional incredible albums, but each track they release continues to be better than the previous one.

“Roll Up” is arguably Fitz’s best effort to date, and has enough energy “rolled up” into three minutes and thirty eight seconds to get even the most miserable buzz kill you know to start tapping his feet and pumping his fists.