As far as short-timers go, Lawon's act got old in the first two outfits.

Being Nominated is both a Blessing and a Curse...

Whoever survives gets an advantage: Big Brother Golden Key...

That key guarantees their ride to the Top 10... They can't play in any competitions during the ride to Top 10, but they WILL still vote...

Another twist will be dropped on Sunday's episode it seems... and it sounds like the POV may be used to save a couple... we'll know more by Wednesday...

On the other hand, the key robs you of direct influence. Can't take HoH and put up your own nominees, can't win Veto and pull someone off the block. All you can do is sit, wait, and hope someone needs your vote. Rachel pinned it: it can turn the possessing hamsters into the ultimate floaters.

LAST EDITED ON 07-07-11 AT 10:17 PM (EST)

So, does the blessing outweigh the curse, or vice versa?

Guaranteed coasting to the top 10 isn't that great a benefit if you're expecting to survive four evictions anyway. On the other hand, while you're robbed of direct in-game influence apart from the vote, you're still free to scheme.

It seems that the veteran pairs would want this more than the newbies in order to keep their pairs intact -- three vet pairs going into the top 10 will halve the newbie herd in a hurry. The newbies, on the other hand, aren't strategically set in their pairings and really don't need the Golden Key unless they lack confidence they'll make the top 10. Even so, a newbie getting it will keep it out of any vets team's hands.

Um... If a Vet gets a Golden Key, that means another Vet is EVICTED...

LAST EDITED ON 07-07-11 AT 10:48 PM (EST)

Ah, hah, true, assuming vets go up as pairs, right? If so, the GK is the last thing they want if they want to stay together.

(eta) And there's one more assumption. Let's say you win the GK. Can you decline not to use it if you do hold it, or are you required to follow the GK rules simply by virtue of holding it? If you opt to not use it, then of course you put yourself (and partner) at risk of going on the block while having normal non-GK rights, but you've also kept the key out of someone else's hands. In which case, the HoH may want to force the issue. For now, I'm assuming simply holding it confers its benefits/penalties.

As it stands in the TV-edit so far: the vets are paired with each other, and so are the newbies... Now, whether that will continue to remain the same or not for the rest of this week/twist? Remains to be seen...

"If you opt to not use it, then of course you put yourself (and partner) at risk of going on the block"

As I understand it, you only get the GK after your partner has been evicted and you've survived the first vote. It a guarantee that you can't simply go after both members of a pair and it's also a way to make sure that, at most, 3 vets leave in the first month.

Yeah, I went back and replayed that part of the show where Chenbot explains how it works and I arrived at the same conclusion you did.

LAST EDITED ON 07-07-11 AT 10:38 PM (EST)

It basically strikes me as an excuse twist. If pairs are nominated together and saved together, then a single remaining partner can't be put up on the block until things split back to every hamster for themselves -- which, at a really wild guess, will happen when there's ten left. So those survivors are going to be safe until that stage no matter what happens, as long as the gameplay format remains stable. And if they thought about it for a few seconds, they might realize that. In real cage time, some of them likely already have.

But depriving them of HoH and Veto chances -- well, as said before, HoH frequently breaks down to 'the power to go home next week', so there's an argument to be made that you're better off not fighting for it. Veto, though -- that's a stinger. That's removing the power to play vizier to this week's temporary royalty. And that's a problem.

ETA: Does the ban on key-holders playing in all competitions extend to food and luxury? We already know the Have-Not idiocy is back, and if you Have Not A Partner...

And one major mistake all the newbies are making: why do they think the boomerangs won't see each other as the greatest competition?

I'd be very surprised if the oldies don't make it to F10: Adam and Shelley are star-struck by Dickie and Jordeff respectively so they are likely to forget about their newbies-to-the end-alliance. Porsche and Kalia wanted to throw their partners under the bus even before they heard about the golden key. And there's still the diary room that can make sure the stars stay!

Yep. The DR. I'm thinking at *least* 50 percent of the retreads stay to top 10, and at least 2 make the jury.

That's actually the bare minimum that will make top 10 and jury... because of the Golden Key twist.

and on time, too...

We resume coverage at the end of the Golden Key revelation... It's still Day 1.

Apparently, Golden Key holders will not have to worry about Slop/Have Not status either...

Everyone's reacting to the twist and some are even willing to take out their partners to get a Golden Key.

Dicque wants to organize the Boomerangs to nuke the newbs and then blast the Golden Key floaters...

And lo and behold, the Donatos are again on speaking terms... and he has a new title: Website CEO...

Porsche wants to get her and Kevin aligned with Rachel/Brendon... since Rachel has now won 3 HoHs out of 4 possible competitions (the only one she didn't win was the first one of her season...) and Brendon won a couple of POVs as well... Kevin says yes to her face, but isn't happy about it in confessional...

Jeff/Jordan also discuss organizing the Boomerangs together since that might be their best way to advance... but then Jordan farts.

Rachel utters the most obnoxious words of any week: "Who wants to see my HoH room?"

The new HoH had a round bed, big ol' couch, fish tank, and of course the HoH bathrobe.

Afterwards, Brenchel and Donatos hold a conference about how they want to play this Golden Key angle/twist as they strategize... which Dicque laments isn't Brenchel's strong suit... AT ALL!

Scheaming (n.): A combination of scheming and screaming.

Rachel's DR specialty.

Rachel left that refrigerator door open so long while she was gabbing about strategy that the milk went sour.

Brenchel are discussing things up in HoH:

Brendon wanted a massage, but Rachel wanted to put on makeup. He said she didn't need it and after being asked about her teeth, he quipped that she paid enough for the teeth... which she says are natural... That leads to specualtion about Cassi and whether or not she's had a nose job...

Dominic and Cassi are talking about aligning up at least half of each of the newbies' partnerships to try to protect themselves...

They confab with Keith and Lawon in the (currently) Library Room about this plan... and Dominic has named the alliance

*drumroll*

The Regulators

Dicque, meanwhile, is trying to bring Porsche (and probably her partner Kevin) to the Boomerangs' side...

Brendon thinks Rachel is the most beautiful thing in the world (notice I didn't say 'girl' or 'woman' there), telling her she shouldn't do Botox or liposuction, blah, blah, blah. But she likes the Botox. I don't who is the greater dimwit between these two, Rachel or Brendon, but Brendon's love is blind and Rachel seems to be the better schemer, including keeping him in her web.

May not be completely PG-13: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS02EEI5P9k

The Regulators

Death by Ex-Lax.

Porsche tells Kevin about aligning with the Boomerangs... and Kevin isn't impressed because Porsche promised his vote to their side, and he didn't want to do it... (whoops)

LAST EDITED ON 07-10-11 AT 08:49 PM (EST)

Losers go into the worst rooms of the history of Big Brother, take cold showers, and must eat BB Slop.

Shelly/Cassi/Lawon/Kalia
All Boomerangs: Dicque/Daniele/Jeff/Jordan
Adam/Dominic/Porsche/Kevin

Each team must soak up as much 'milk' as possible where they will be milked to fill up their 'milk' jugs (water bottles)

The backyard is made to look like the Moon. Also the cow jokes are flying as well....

Cows get body slammed by their 'milkman' to get their jugs filled.

Green team has the lead (Lawon's team), with Blue right behind (Boomerangs)

Kevin is just plain humping his 'cows' to get the milk out... Blue's taking the lead, Green's now in 2nd...

6 jugs to fill, and Blue's on the last jug!

Blue finishes! Dicque/Daniele/Jeff/Jordan are haves! Daniele's happy that she won her first Have/Have Not competition... (she really hated being on slop on her season...

Green team finishes as well: Kevin/Porsche/Adam/Dominic are haves!

Lawon/Kalia/Shelly/Cassi are the Have Nots... and it's time to reveal... the Padded Cell Have Not Room! Have Not room's lights must always remain on, too! The lights are fluorescent, to boot...

Note to BB writers.

It is cow TIPPING not cow HUMPING.

It's like the script concept is: "Now that they're on our contract, let's milk these hamsters cows for all they're worth. And let them do the milking for us."

Shelley said it, that was totally weird, enough to make her a bit more loco. And she says this in the have-nots' padded cuckoo's nest room.

I spent all the time between Rachel's costumed arrival and the start of the challenge thinking about ways to get back at the producers. And then the challenge started, and I switched to thinking of ways to kill Keith.

I'm still thinking of ways to kill Keith.

I can't find anything painful enough.

That comp. was all kinds of funny.

Dicque tries to swing Adam over to their side (with or without Dominic) that sounds to Adam more like an ultimatum than anything else...

Meanwhile, Shelly is telling Jeff/Jordan about her husband, who stayed at home to help raise their daughter as her job took her everywhere...

Rachel is discussing with Jordan about her nominations... more about who to keep over who to get rid of...

Rachel is thinking about nominating Keith/Porsche (because she's worried about Keith) or Adam/Dominic (because she wants to keep Adam)

I think I see smoke coming out of her ears...

Give Rachel this much credit: she has reason to sweat out this decision. She knows enough about the game to realize what typically happens to the first HoH. It may not have occurred to her that the lovefest stops Thursday -- yet -- but she knows some form of payback will come riding in no matter what move she makes.

Then again, she chose to have a strategy discussion with Jordan.

"Then again, she chose to have a strategy discussion with Jordan"

That reminded me of a quote by Cesternino along the lines of two half-wits sharing one brain.

First thing to note is the keys are red this year.

Rachel hauls out the cheese wheel and Brendon's key is on top of the wheel. They are inserted as a duo.

Donatos are safe.
Jeff/Jordan are safe.
Lawon/Kalia are safe.
Shelly/Cassi are safe.
Adam/Dominic are safe.

Keith/Porsche are nominated. She claims strategy was the basis of her decision...

Porsche wonders what happened, and Keith wants the Regulators to help him dust Porsche off of his shoulder...

They tease the upcoming departure that is known to the live feedsters, and how it will change how the game is played....

LAST EDITED ON 07-10-11 AT 09:09 PM (EST)

They don't say who, even though it's already well known to the more avid BB communities. Stay tuned for ED's netcast.

(eta) The order of those keys are telling, and I wonder if Rachel did it intentionally or subconsciously. The first two safe teams are the vets, leaving only the newbies' keys remaining. That's a clear of an open threat to the newbies as any.

(etaa) ED's twitter: My recorded statement about leaving the Big Brother house will be posted on {my web site} after tonight's episode airs on the west coast

What I found strange was seeing how muxh he really was into the game and the scheming.

Whatever it was that caused his departure sounds like it was pretty unexpected, and I think until they told him about it that he was serious as a heart attack about winning. He said on the 1st CBS show that the only reason for him to be there was to win, and I don't doubt that.

LAST EDITED ON 07-13-11 AT 10:12 PM (EST)

It's Wednesday night and they're introduced as pairs for the final time in one piece...

Day 5: Porsche's wondering what happened, and Keith is confident because he's (hopefully) got the Regulators and the rest of the newbies backing him up...

Dicque was the one who suggested these nominations....

It takes BOTH Brendan and Rachel to explain to Porsche that they're aiming to get her the Golden Key. Daniele is observing in HoH as well... It takes a few Clue X4 bashes, but she maybe gets it... but they're still worrying about it since she's not happy about it...

Dominic/Keith are happy about the nominations... and Keith wants to throw the POV to get the Golden Key himself... (which is what the Boomerangs wanted her to do as well, to eliminate Keith...)

Again in the Have Not Room, we get a confab with Keith, Kalia, and Cassi about what he plans to do in the POV... Lawon arrives and Keith explains if his couple wins the POV or are pulled off by the POV, someone else gets hit by a Backdoor because Porsche will (may?) vote with the Boomerangs...

DICQUE, PLEASE GO TO THE DIARY ROOM!

We don't see what the conversation in the DR is, but he never comes out of it...

Jeff finally realizes after an hour or so... Daniele notices as well... Looks like he's MIA, though... They can't find him, and wonder: Why is he in the DR for more than 2 hours?

Daniele: I know he know he likes to talk, but... come on!

RACHEL, PLEASE GO TO THE DIARY ROOM!

'I'm on the block, so I'm going to throw the Veto!'

The Golden key was inserted into their brains and given a twist to the left.

Rachel re-emerges quickly and tells them that Dicque went home to deal with 'an urgent personal matter'...

Since that makes Daniele partner-less, she is awarded the first Golden Key and will be now safe until the Top 10.

Fallout has Adam a little depressed about it...

Daniele once inside HoH starts to break down... Jordan arrives and lights a fire under them by telling them that Keith was smiling in the Supply Room.

Only Jeff and Jordan are not whining about how not fair this development puts them in... Even Jordan starts to have doubts... Jeff rallies the troops, with a blur/expletive filled tirade...

He's loving life right now. He's practically openly celebrating about Dicque's departure and he even wants to make the moves on Daniele. That antagonizes Shelly.

He then gathers most of the newbies in the Padded Cell Have Not Room, and goes after Kalia... which starts to antagonize Kalia, Lawon, Dominic, Adam... and the already antagonized Porsche...

Keith's brain is now actively working to destroy him.

Throwing the veto when you're on the block in week one is incredibly stupid.

LAST EDITED ON 07-13-11 AT 10:15 PM (EST)

Daniele now receives her Golden Key and finally sees the benefits: I'll play the social game and make friendships.

Rachel draws out: Jeff/Jordan to play with her and Brendon, and Porsche/Keith.

Adam will host... Both Porsche and Kevin now DR plans to toss the POV away... They summon her up to make sure that she's gonna throw it, and she now seems the benefits of doing so....

Adam's dressed as a cop, and everyone's in superhero costumes... Jordan notes that there is only one place that is important to look at in a male superhero's costume...

Both of the nominees are throwing it, and don't know the other one is doing so as well...

Guys are getting pieces, which pulls the girls upward toward the top of the puzzle. The pieces will spell VETO vertically...

It's a toss-a-palooza for the blue Nominees as Jordan's getting frustrated in Yellow, compared to the HoH pair in red...

Jordan laments that she didn't want to do the puzzle because the throwers are doing better than her..

Rachel/Brendon win the Veto! They both get the Blingies of Safety...

LAST EDITED ON 07-13-11 AT 10:15 PM (EST)

After Jeff/Jordan make a slightly sulking DR together....

Keith/Porsche both say in a combined DR... IT WAS HARD! (Hard to throw, that is...)

New Have Not Bonus choices:

Gum Drops/Grits
Jellybeans/Jerky
Rock Candy/Radishes

Jerky would give them a little more protein, and slop is perilously close to being mutant grits anyway.

I think the Rock Candy/Radishes might be good for a laugh: They'll break their teeth trying to eat the Rock Candy, and then when they try eating the Radishes they'll be in for a little heat surprise...

And that should tell you everything which was wrong with that fiasco.

'If I throw the Veto, he's going home!'

'If I throw the Veto, she's going home!'

One of you is wrong.

Brendon/Rachel, along with Jeff are now gonna try to use the POV to their advantage. feeling everyone out.

Adam/Dominic are up first: They try to make a deal that as long as they don't put them up as replacement nominees, they won't be put up next week either originally or after POV... Dominic doesn't really care for the deal in the DR.

Kalia/Lawon's up next and she's the one in the DR not happy about the offer either...

Shelly/Cassi are now up in HoH, and Cassi tells them to their face that she's worried about Brendon/Rachel's alliance with Jeff/Jordan will take precedence over them... That gets a Rachel DR in which she's wondering if they're gonna be replacements...

Rachel then talks to Keith and tries to get an offer through to him... He agrees to her face, but doesn't care in the DR... I don't think his poker face is holding up well....

From what I've seen up to now on TV, Dominic seems like the smartest newby but maybe I missed something that the live feeds showed.

Jeff is getting another stellar edit, his HOH room speech made him look like a football coach whipping his team into shape.

After hearing from Brendon/Rachel about their debates about using it... and then from all the newbies about whether they want them to use it or not...

They give the nominees a chance to ask for the use of the POV... it seemed half-hearted (Porsche's original speech was apparently forgotten on a re-shoot, though...)

POV is not used, and both Porsche and Keith celebrate in the DR, proclaiming that the other one is going home.

Who will it be? We find out in 24 hours and a little more...

Yeah, that was worse than ridiculous, wasn't it? Both of them are so cocksure that the other one is gonna get evicted and they are gonna get the golden key, and by 10PM on Thursday one of them is gonna get one of the biggest rude awakenings in the history of Big Brother. They'll eventually both go, but since Porsche has huge boobs I'm rooting for Keith to get the boot.

My third reason for wanting Keith to go home is the arrogance

##### looked very unsteady when he got up to go to the diary room in last night's show.

And in his message on RTV he said BB had checked on him several times since he had left the show.

Still wondering about his exit.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheUnreveal

Do we get a Deathly Hallows discussion?

Beyond that: two down, twelve to go.

Considering that movie's scheduled for midnight showings around the world... who knows?

Solid. White. Suit...

Maybe we finally get the explanation?

I think "personal reasons" is all we are owed.

Day 9.

Both nominees are confident that they have the votes and will get the Golden Key and will be able to relax until the Top 10.

Keith tries to 'be a good sport' about his possible eviction to Porsche's face, but they snipe at each other in the DR... and then the Regulators alliance start to plot in the Have Not room.

We get to see the Boomerangs playing Big Booty and other various games in hopes to try to get them to vote with them...

Rachel called Brendon by her nickname for him Bookie (or however it's spelled) while he was playing the bean bag toss game (Cornhole)

Adam/Dominic tease him about it, and eventually heads up to HoH with Rachel and tries to get her to not do that again... it's embarrassing...

...and the argument continues the next day.

They try to make sure that Adam's still with them in the alliance or not... after Dicque supposedly brought him over.

They decide to let him pick the name of the Boomerang's alliance.

Adam suggests "Adam's Angels" which gets gigglefits.

The newbies are trying to figure out which way to vote as to not 'rock the vote'... or in other words: Waffles are in season!

Demasculinate?

Not nearly as much as the garbage disposal method.

too soon?