North of Eden

There really was only one redeeming thing about this whole worthless episode. ALEX! She was so cute and funny when she said "I'm not one of those Asians" about her lack of math skills. And she was frankly smoking in the get up she was wearing at the veto meeting. So hot. A sexy girl with a great personality. The complete package. She was the most well cast person this season. Speaking of casting I remember thinking that JUSTIN was wasted on BB OVER THE TOP. If they could have known how much gold they had in him he should have been saved for regular season. Wouldn't everyone rather have him than Matt who while likable is pretty much a casting dud? Dominique and Raven did not speak ONCE! Cody gets a lot of hate but everything he said about Paul was absolutly true...the idiots WILL take Paul to the end and they aren't even Betas...they are Omegas. Once he's gone this thing is going to start tanking even worse than it already is because Paull has YET ANOTHER week of safety and on top of that it likely will be a very boring enevitable boot of Jess. All of a sudden to me anyway Christmas is giving off vibes that she could turn out to be a villain....there seems to be something catty about her...and I liked her originally but her stock is starting to drop.

Thank you! This post sums up every thing that is wrong about this season perfectly!

I hope you are right!

This season started out with great promise. It seemed to have been one of the best casts in a while but it all unraveled once Paul was trotted out. It has literally become THE PAUL SHOW. Not only do we have the Executive Producer working overtime to protect her pet and shepard him to the winner circle but now we have people in theory that are competing with him for the half million actively helping him win. I couldn't believe it when they started giving Paul tickets. Can someone please explain how over half a dozen people would willingly give up a summer of their lives, leave behind family, friends and their jobs all is order to help guarantee some famewhore creep from last season is the winner for the money they are allegedly competing to win for themselves? I sure as hell can't figure it out. Cody going home would be the worse thing that could happen right now because then there would be NO ONE against Paul and with Alison Grodner propping him up with safety he would take complete control of the game. MAVEN should have had a wake up call that Paul was willing to risk them and they are likely at the bottom of the pecking order. By the way...we should all be prepared for the Alison and her producing team to "influence" Christmas in the diary room at some point in the future when her using her "Ring of Replacement" will be a way to save Paul if he finds himself in jeapardy some how. It's going to happen people so lets just sit back and wait to see what scenario is involved for this to happen. The only thing I liked from Paul tonight was the last DR where he carefully laid out how a Ramses veto win could upset his plans. I have little doubt given the producers manipulations that since Paul is guaranteed safe next week too then they will find a way to manipulate a Ramses win so they cut Jose loose and keep the Paul vs Cody feud going as of right now its the only real storyline the show has (we didn't even get any Alex/Cody/Jess triangle tonight). I really hate that Alex is anywhere near the block....if the America Vote wasn't likely a fraud and Alison picks the DOT winner...then I would think she would get the votes. She strikes me as the true fan favorite. I like Christmas and all but she's drunk on the Paul Koolaid.

Well, you would be hard pressed to find a more obvious piece of cannon fodder than Jillian. There was but a single diary room clip of her from the top of the hour until eviction. Even Julie Chen was clearly bored with her and couldn't muster up even any pretend interest in the interview and basically gave her the bum's rush. Not enough Alex!! Speaking of which I would have died laughing if when Cody bolted out of the HOH room and away from Jessica he ran down to Alex but alas he went into the yard. As long a Cody is squarly aligned AGAINST Paul then I have no beef with him. They are all idiots if they let him coast through the end of the game...they need to wake up and see that Alison Grodner is doing her level best to grease the way to crowning him a winner. Where the hell are the FCC investigators when you need them? Paul acting like the victim after the veto was repulsive given how Alison and her producers are moving heaven and earth to place him in one of those final two chairs in September. Tell me why again Kevin and Ramses are talking up space in this game? Elena picking her nose on live tv was unfortunate. Screw Josh and Kevin for breaking up what was shaping up to be an epic cat fight between Jess and Christmas...damn it that was Money Shot of the night and they ruined it. I bet even Julie was pissed because the end of the fight left her to break away to unenthused interview. Every year I pray for the end of the antics and theatrics in the hallway during the live vote...every year God remains silently in his tub.

When all else fails LIE about your attempted murder when you have absolutly no reason to. More importantly though....IRENE BEDARD! Where has she been? That lovely woman doesn't get enough roles. She doesn't just have to play native american specific parts after all as seen here. The show gets points just for casting her.

Word!!

I'm going to give credit where its seriously due. Out of hundreds of BIG BROTHER episodes...and I never thought I'd have Shakespeare and BB in the same breath but that was episode was absolutly Shakespearian. To Wit: Cody-he wants Alex SOOOO BADDD...I was literally hyperventalating with laughter when he Freudian slipped her name during pillow talk. I wonder at what point he realized he'd picked the wrong woman? Then we have Alex...who seems to have no interest in him whatsoever and he doesn't seem to realize it. In the future if she nominates him we will see him having deep regrets at what was he thinking and he will turn on her....but right, now...right here...is apparently the real deal...he's so into her. I hate that this played out in Paul's favor as Alison Grodner (who was probably having multiple O's when her plan of protection to save him worked) was no no doubt craving when she orchestrated the entire three week bull shit....but again we go back to Shakespeare....Christmas (who I was cringing when it appeared was falling for Paul) is the one to pay the price for Paul's safety and Paul can only sputter indignation at his one chance at a showmance goes on the block. Meanwhile everyone is blaming Cody but how was he to know that the powers that be had orchestrated things to protect their pet. And besides...about him not trying to win the comp..he wasn't going to win at that point anyway....I don't know why the others didn't realize it. Okay, enough Shakespeare...now some random things. Love her or hate her....Jessica doing the sock shuffle was the cutest thing. I forgot Joshua was in the house until he appeared in a non verbal clip while Dominique and Jess were talking. I know Matt isn't really old...espeically compared to me...but Raven looks like a LITTLE GIRL...it may not be unseemly but it sure LOOKS unseemly. To wrap up...I am so happy for Alex winning and getting to stay but in my heart I know it's only a stay of execution....there are too many people arrayed against her and she would have to go on the veto run to end all veto runs to stay.

F'ing Paul. 50 percent of what went down with Megan lies with her and the other 50 with Paul. He could have cleared the whole thing up but because he's a piece of s#$t he let all that happen. As for Megan I hope she paid closer attention to details when she was interogating ISIS or El Quida Bad intel can be disasterous in war time. Speaking of Paul the blatant likely producer manipulation is already reached sicking levels. Not for one moment do I not believe there was a slot behind the spikes that could be opened and the right medallion shoved in to make everything peaches and cream for "your boy". And did he actually win that vote or was Allison Grodner setting the whole thing up to ensure that he remain in the house for three weeks. Show me the proof, show me the vote tallies and I will admit I was wrong....until then I don't believe it for a minute. In what world is Alex not considered one of the babes? She was so sexy the way she is limber enough to do that trick with her legs when she was working out with Cody. I'm dissapointed in her though that she could have saved herself. As super fan she should have promised the world....people always reneg in the end any way...just ask Kaysar after he let go of that key. Why sugar coat it....with personal emergency BS...Megan quit plain and simple. Kevin is super creepy but did love the Cowboy being all "Like Hello" as to whether Cody was going to get laid. And what...no love from the musclebound boys for Dominique and Christmas? Can't put a finger on it but there is something off putting about Raven.

I have been thinking he looks like a young Tom Cruise or his cousin...forget what his first name is...Mapother who played Ethan on LOST.

Paul gets the first confessional Paul gets to narrate the competition. Paul gets to play for HOH Does anyone know the name of the website that tracks just how many confessionals a Houseguests gets per episode. I like to see just how much they are going to shove this camera whore down our throats. Some notes: Joshua is one one way trip to self destruction...what? It's been a day in the house and he's acting like his family got sent to Auschwitz...never to be seen again? You'll see the very, very soon I guaranteee. How did Megan go toe to toe interogating ISIS prisoners when a puffed up douche bag mama's boy can run rough shod all over her to the point where she is apologizing to HIM? Kevin looks so out of place that it is almost as if he's wandered in from a whole other show. I didn't need to see Nicole again so soon but it was very disrespectful him sitting their lounging on the couch and not even trying to see who she was. Speaking of Nicole even was looking at Joshua like he was a lunatic. That was pretty funny. Love Amy just for her coming up with "he stirred up a whole pot of crazy" I have to use that! Plus she fills out a bikini nice. I was so worried her face would be on the nominations. I like that Cody is going to target Paul but I can already see it being undone by Matt...he's bought the Paul koolaid and if they let this guy coast to the end again shame on them. Dude broing up...the BB version of wash, rinse and repeat.

Okay....I don't think I have ever seen the wheels come off the wagon that quickly. It was off to a fantastic start...the female eye candy is off the hook and as straight guy even I would have to give a pause for Matt. Plus whoever compared the The Goodfella to being a super hero movie villain had the funniest line of the night....and then it fell apart in one word.... Paul When I heard a "fan favorite" which is code for "Alison Grodner favorite" I immediatly started cringing because I watched BB OVER THE TOP and saw the episode when they trotted out Paul so I knew he was Grodners latest pet. Sure enough but who should appear but it wasn't just enough to have him back....then the ENTIRE GAME shifted to be about him!! And if it couldn't possible get anyworse the episode veered into complete ALISON GRODNER FAN FIC....it's like someone flipped through her fan fiction on Jesse,Big Jeff and got to the Paul fic and actually filmed it. How else could you possible explain an entire segment where both men and women housegests were forced to perform fellatiio on Paul to stay in the house. I literally COULD NOT WATCH that...I fast forewarded it. Just sick, completely sick. I F#%king hate Paul and his friendship schtick and his nasty beard. That was kind of rude of Ramses to call Amy the token asian to her face...perhaps she would like to believe the casting directors found something they liked about her more than just being Asian. On the plus side Cody (young Tom Cruise lookalike) hates Paul so if that makes Cody a friend if you go by the whole enemey of my enemy thing. At the very least I was happy that only one of the three people (not counting Paul) that I could have lived with leaving the house as a Jody was one that actually went.. Finally every year on every reality show I ponder the same thing. It's been nearly 20 years since SURVIVOR started the genre and to this day I do not understand why they insist on cutting diary rooms or confessionals in the middle of competitions....its usually clear based on the demeanors shown who won and who lost. Amy and Matt where WAYYY to cheerful in theirs to ever have been in any danger.

Just watched now. I think the renewal will make a lot of people happy as most would not have wanted the final episode to be Brooke winning. I'm mixed about the win. They did deserve it based on their performance this episode but the caveat that they would never have gotten there without people helping Brooke so much during the race. My biggest regret is seeing the Amazon woman and her policewoman partner that went out leg 2. I so wanted to see more of them and I'm sorry they went out so quickly. I wish there was a way to bring them back but due to the concept it seems near impossible. No one knows when the race will be airing next season but a good old fashioned "no gimmicks" or "returnees" is what's needed!

The Final Tally: So...it's cancelled...mainly due too WGN's change in programming. However the plummeting ratings based on the woefully creative mess didn't help things. I'm not sure why OWN or BET aren't picking this up as of this posting. You would think there would be huge support for the show. They say its $5 million per episode to film. I feel Oprah Winfrey could probably get that from her piggy bank. If it does get picked up it really, truly needs a creative overhaul.

Not feeling all the hate this series seems to be receiving. I love it more than I thought I would. Must be all the book people that are disappointed...but never having read the book I’m immune. I’m really enjoying the story, probably the 1850 stuff more so but it’s all good to me. The one thing that frustrates me is I’m rooting for young Eli and it’s a downer to know that he grows up to be such an a-hole but he took baby steps towards redemption in episode 9. Will it last…stay tuned…season 2 is a go! Also it helps I find Elizabeth Frances as Prairie Flower radiant and captivating whenever she’s on screen. The only real complaints I would level at the show was that they didn’t cast young Eli with more of a heartthrob type actor…he is supposed to grow up to be Pierce Brosnan after all! And that the young daughter is an annoying pill.

Yes! Just watched now. So happy Officer Sarah won! She played the best game and deserved it. What a bitter taste it would have been if Culpepper had won! Troyzan=Wasted Space. I hope the producers where slapping their foreheads when even he as much admitted on to the jury that he was goat and was rewarded as such with zero votes. Why, why, why...did they bring him back?! Good thing Sarah has the million though because her undercover career should be effectively over. Best part of the whole 3 hour extravaganza was one simple line from Michaela. "Please let her finish her statement" showing she would not suffer the rude idiot that is Brad Culpepper. Bring back Michaela! (but wait a season or two so not everyone will be gunning for her). No more Ozzie please...that ship has sailed!

Well I don't think I've ever seen a chicken come home to roost as quickly as NOT voting out Culpepper when the chance presented itself. Sending Andrea home managed to set in motion a chain of events blowing up several people's games...and I think it's real unfortunate that Michaela as she said "make no sense being the one the entire screwed up second tribal got pinned on. Nobody knows Troyzon has the idol....he should have been the one to get the votes even though he would have saved himself. I hate that Brad had the satisfaction of voting out Michaela...he's had it in for her work weeks now and finally got his way. We saw the true Brad tonight on several occasions when he was nasty. I laughed at him when he tried to quote "Big Jeff" from BIG BROTHER about someone "getting got" and nobody paid him attention. Glad Michaela seemed to take it so well in the end confessional. If they don't bring her back someday its their loss.

Just watched now.... I believe I would have murdered Michael in the car if he was my partner and he continued to drive us deeper into the mountains. Team Fun is incredibly lucky that Michael is the most inept character to appear on CBS since Gilligan. I'm in awe of his stupidity. Saw flashes of the nasty poser again with Becca tonight. When I was lost in Montreal trying to get to down town I simply kept driving in the direction of the tall buildings. When you have a big honkin' bridge in view how can you not point your car towards it and get there. I want to marry the bride. My lord she was beautiful. Editors hate Brooke by sticking in the flashback of her swearing no U-Turn because I know I certainly forgot about it. Phil pimping out the greeter? What the hell. Love the three by the look of them possibly Asian tourists in the background taking pictures of Team Number 1 at the mat. At least those photos didn't get wiki-leaked.

Time for a post-mortem. In two words the whole season can be boiled down to two words....Disjointed Mess. In my earlier post I theorized they burned through to much story and characters in season one and were left scratching their head how to fill a season two. Adding to the problem was Jussie's pregnancy. It is what it is. These things happen in real life but if there was ever a time to go to the old body doubles/hiding behind a potted plant now was the time. Writing in to the story resulted in the non-sensical sight of a hugly pregnant Rosalee running around the Deep South with Noah not even having a clue. Worse yet the kid is an albatross to a future season. Are we to believe either Noah or Rosalee would be up for more daring do when they have a kid at home? I don't normally recommend replacing the showrunners on their own show but after this season it would be desperatly good idea. Look what they did this season. The leads were reduced almost to bit players (Did Chris Meloni have other commitments). Rosalee is suppose to be the main character but you wouldn't know it. Everyone but Cato was a shadow of their former selves. Ernestine gets my vote as most ruined character. She's a dope fiend now? C'Mon...what a waste of Amira Vahn. Everything was written for people and by people apparently with ADD. Things skipped wildly around that it was a confused mess and sloppy as hell (in the last episode Georgia and Elizabeth don't wonder where the new border Cato has gone off to). So bang...that's it for the white plantation owner and Ernestine's protege...no resolution...never to be seen again. In a ten episode season precious time was wasted on the prlogues with Bookime. He could have been introduced in the last episode for all the impact it really had. It could have been any random blind slave needing a help...and I won't even go there sacrificing a whole episode for the Harriet Tubman stage play. Not all was bad. Episode 8 and the return to the plantation was by far the best episode of the season because it felt like REAL UNDERGROUND...revisiting familiar places and characters. I absolutly loved the episode...especially Rosalee standing up to her brother TR and being open about it. Also Elizabeth's character arc made her the most improved character. Loved her turn into a militant. (I feel there might be more with her and Cato in the future as he DID save her). Look...they've set up Harper's Ferry...(intersting to me...I don't know what the real Harper's Ferry looked like but that fort was a dead ringer for my local tourist attraction Fort Ticonderoga.)what they need to do now is get new writers who can craft an epic narrative around it and not completly blow through the whole story of the raid in the first episode and then back to more disjointed mess. This show can be saved for a potential season 3 but they have GOT to get focused and tell a linear and clear narrative.

Probably best to dump the whole Rittenhouse storyline and do something ala QUANTUM LEAP where they get lost in time and are trying to get home. You could still keep the ground team I suppose back at base trying to help retrieve them. Wouldn't quite be the same show that we knew but obviously some concessions are going to have to be made.

HELL YES! Thank you NBC! Can you say JERICHO and not one damn peanut (or was it a Devil Dog? That was the favorite treat of our beloved lifeboat pilot) had to show up at NBC headquarters!

Late to the party here but I still have my two cents. Teams upset that LOLO had the audacity to want to win the leg by not helping them. The nerve I tell you! Two huge missed opportunities. 1. Not paying royalities for the classic music used on the old samsonite luggage commercials where the luggage was being abused. 2. Not flying in some of the couples from the Blind Date season to be the couples in the gondolas being serenaded too. Now this will not be a popular opinion but in a way Brooke is the MVP of the season. She gives the show someone you can love to hate. Some as seen here actively rooting against. But I'll tell you what about Brooke...she's real. She's got no filter and for her the cameras don't exist and I find that refreshing. And there is good in her because she is real you could see she was genuinally happy at the end of the episode when Non Elim saved the brute and Liz. (I feel they HAD to know it was NE based one not having appeared yet)+I have a soft spot for spoiled brats since I had a crush on WILLIE WONKA's Veruca Salt...she of the red dress when I was seven. On the other hand I grow to loathe Becca more and more each episode. I liked her for the first two until she was unmasked as a nasty poser when the passports went missing. Since then I know everything she does is an act and she's bringing mugging for the camera to BJ and Tyler levels. Brooke is real and Becca is a phony. .

Now that its all over I will chime in. I don't understand all the hate this continuation series got. Yes, I absolutely love the Jack Bauer character but I also love the concept of this show. Real time with exciting twists and turns. There is literally no other show like this on television. I would gladly welcome back Eric Carter, Nicole, The Sentator, Andy and the rest. FOX should give it another chance. I think expectations in a world of universally low ratings across the networks were too high. This isn't 2007, 1997, 1987, 1977 or 1967....ratings simply are never going to be sky high again and that is the fact. One last thing. These 12 episodes were head and shoulders above anything offered in Season 6 which featured Jack's family is Evil...no I men really EVIL plus an atomic bomb going off in Valencia and nobody is the slightest bit panicked and people are even playing tennis outside Martha Logan's bungalow. LEGACY you've got a least one fan!

I've been a Michaela fan from last season and tonight made me love her even more with the honest emotion and regret at having voted Zeke out. Plus she got to demostrate her athleticism in both challenges...nearly winning the individual immunity. In the long run though I think maybe she and Sarah should have stuck to their guns about Zeke. There is an inherent danger in keeping Culpepper and Sierra around. Can't wait to see how Tai feels about his buddy Culpepper throwing votes at him...bottom of the pecking order anyone. Aubrey is the equivalent of a background extra....this deep into the game and there is not one memorable thing she has done to justify bringing her back. (I have this insane hope that someday Flicka will be brought back...I know...wishful thinking but...whenever I see a wasted space like Aubrey I can't help it!) Don't worry Zeke fans....everything about Zeke screams he will be one of those players Probst will keep bringing back until they win or die trying.

The wedding episode was on fire. Four times as many laughs as "Spring Cleaning". It's always nice to shake up the format and move to a new location and weddings are always fun episodes. Yeah, lots of laughs and forward momentum in the stories plus Deana cleans up good in a dress. Sad there is only one episode left until fall! Are we supose to know the woman crossing out Cheyenne's face?