Author: Brian Porreca

September 10, 2015 7:20pm PT by Brian Porreca

 Courtesy of CBS

After making it to the final six, one Nolan twin walks out the front door.

“Against all odds they seemed poised to make it to the end,” host Julie Chen says at the jump of Big Brother 17’s live eviction Thursday night. “Steve made one of the biggest moves of the summer,” she added about his target of “Austwins” this week. The result of his big move? After an impressive run together, surviving seven evictions, Liz and Julia‘s time as twins in the Big Brother house came to an end. But was the right twin sent home in order to further Steve and the other houseguests’ game?

Here are the most twisted moments from one twin’s last night:

Sisterly love. Fans have witnessed a lot of tears this season from one houseguest in particular: Vanessa. For the first time, audiences may have witnessed the first genuine tears in the Big Brother house and they were from the Miami twins. “You’ve got this, you’ve sacrificed your own identity,” a crying Liz says to Julia, convincing her that she is the right twin to stay in the game. “You got to fight I know you can,” Julia reminds Liz, that she’s the right sister to stay. “True love, in my opinion, is when you love someone more than you love yourself,” Liz tells Julia in her eviction speech. After a unanimous vote, Julia was the twin sent packing and Liz remains in the final five. 

Is she the biggest twist this summer? The glasses were back on as Vanessa put on her poker face in tonight’s episode. On Wednesday night’s “Power of Veto” episode, Vanessa did the unthinkable by convincing Julia to face off against Austin in the competition. Had she picked John instead, “Austwins” could have been safe this week. On eviction night she chooses which twin stays in the house. “I’m in a power position and that’s just the way I like it,” says Vanessa in the diary room. “I need to make some kind of deal with Austin and Liz,” Vanessa says before she makes a three part deal with Austin and Liz. The professional poker player is known for her love of deals and those combined with endless tears of trickery all summer has made her the most strategic player this season. Early on in the game it seemed like an even playing field, but week after week Vanessa has been a mastermind, sending houseguest after houseguest out the door. She once was a target and it looked like her game had blown up, but if she makes it passed the final four she could be this seasons winner. She definitely has one vote in jury: “I think she deserves it,” Shelli says. 

“Lingerie parties.” They would happen if James got his wish while being the only male in the jury house. He seemed to be taking his eviction better a lot better than Meg. After slapping him when he walked in the jury house, Meg told him, “I’m livid that you’re here.” Although both lost out on prize money for making it to the final two, all houseguests still have a chance to win “America’s Favorite Houseguest” and $25,000.If anyone deserves it, it’s James. 

Twin for the win? “Did the others make a mistake by keeping her and not you?” Chen asked Julia. Liz has won three Head of Households this summer, and has target Austin as a shield to get her to the end. Although she didn’t make the biggest moves in her reign as “HoH” she still managed to remain in the game with both her twin sister and showmance not being targeted until the final six. If Vanessa’s sent out of the door this week, then Liz could see a check for half a million dollars on finale night. How to heighten her chances even more? If she’s the one who sends Vanessa out the door, making it the biggest move of the summer.  

Judas dressing up as Santa Claus. Austin’s alter ego Judas may be taking some reindeer to Miami to see the twins. “I hope to see you maybe at Christmas dinner with the family,” Austin told Julia in his good bye message. Chen seemed stunned by his message, and Julia’s approval of it.  “I approve this message,” Julia says of Austin and Liz’s relationship. “Big Brother love lasts,” Julia claims that Austin could be her brother-in-law. There have been two Big Brother marriages with Rachel and Brendon and Daniele and Dominic and a third underway with Jeff and Jordan, so don’t rule anything out, but who will Liz be marrying Austin or Judas?

Do you think Liz has a chance to win the game? Will Vanessa survive another week and take home the half million? What do you think Austin will bring to Christmas dinner? Sound off in the comments below and stay tuned to The Live Feed for all things Big Brother.  

Big Brother

September 04, 2015 11:53am PT by Brian Porreca

James Huling  Courtesy of CBS

THR talks to the fifth juror about who he’d return with for an all-star season.

James led The Hollywood Reporter‘s poll of which houseguest had the best shot at winning Big Brother 17, but thanks to Steve, fans were left with another disappointing double eviction. The result: fan favorite James was sent to the jury house, elevating the twins’ chance of victory substantially and allowing Vanessa to once again get her way. 

Before he entered the game, James told THR, about how his experiences had prepared him for the game, “Working in a prison, you got inmates that are in there for life and that’s all they do is run game on you, or try to,” he said. “Obviously I’m going to take that and apply it to the Big Brother house.” He did just that and was able to read the other houseguests well, but after his alliance members were taken out of the game, his odds against the twins and a showmance dipped sharply and he was ultimately shown the door. 

Speaking with THR the day after his eviction, the self-proclaimed “Asian hillbilly” opened up about his speech, Austin and Liz’s romance and his decision not to team with Audrey.

(Disclosure: Because the nine-person jury is underway, houseguests will now answer the questions via email from THR. It’s stipulated that questions cannot in any way be a potential interference to the game and are required to be approved by production before given to the houseguests.)

You were playing to win the game for your daughter. What do you think the other houseguests are playing for?

I think the other houseguests were playing for separate reasons. Some to pay off loans and others are for a little bit of fame — Austin might want to get his wrestling game off the ground. Ultimately we all have our own reasons.

It has been open that Austin has a girlfriend. What do you think of him leaving her for Liz?

I think it was a good game strategy to link up with the twins if that was his ultimate goal for winning Big Brother, but morally, I think that was not the right way to do it.

Which two houseguests do you NOT want to see in the final two?  

I would say Steve because I feel like Steve has been floating through the game, and I would say Austin for the simple fact that he told everyone that he did not want to win the game and he used that as a strategy and that he would be the pawn every week. For a Big Brother fan, throwing in the towel is pretty much a deal breaker for me. You can’t say you don’t want to win the game. Even when my back was against the wall, I would never say I don’t want to win this game.

Why didn’t you throw people under the bus in your eviction speech?

I tried to stay out of as much chaos as I could, but I felt like the less that I knew the better. During my eviction speech, I knew no matter what I said that Vanessa, Austin and the twins formed too much of an alliance and allegiance to each other to keep me in the game. If I had gotten my hands on another HOH, I would have split that group up. 

What prank were you planning that viewers didn’t get to see?

I don’t know which ones they did or didn’t see. I played so many pranks in the house, I couldn’t use my fingers, toes and theirs to count them, so I don’t know which ones they have seen or didn’t see.

If you could come back for an all-star season, who from this season and past seasons would you align with?

Caleb, Enzo, Cody and Boogie.

Audrey tried to align with you before she got evicted. Do you regret not working with her?

No. She had so much stuff going on that she would have been taken out of the game early on or would have gotten me taken out.

Would you want James to play the game again? Does he have your vote for “America’s Favorite Houseguest”? Will the twins be in the final two? Sound off in the comments below and stay tuned to The Live Feed for all things Big Brother. 

Big Brother airs Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on CBS. 

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September 04, 2015 11:37am PT by Brian Porreca

 Courtesy of CBS

Plus: What did she think about Liz’s “Zing” from Zingbot?

She may have not have been able to win the competition, but New Jersey native Meg won the heart of her best friend James. Although there’s no romance between the two, a friendship grew after close to 80 days living together in the Big Brother house. Fittingly, it was both Meg and James who got the boot on Thursday’s episode of the reality series.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter the day after her eviction, Meg reveals who’s not getting her vote in the final two and if she threw any competitions along the way.

(Disclosure: Because the nine-person jury is underway, houseguests will now answer the questions via email from THR. It’s stipulated that questions cannot in any way be a potential interference to the game and are required to be approved by production before given to the houseguests.)

What was it about the competitions that left you with only one “Battle of the Block” win this season?

Hahahaha! I’m not one to boast about my athleticism so I knew competitions were not going to be my strongest suit. Also, you don’t expect how nerve-wracking it’s going to be out there since everything is on the line.

Throwing competitions has been used as strategy in the show’s history. Did you throw any of the competitions or did you lose fair and square?

The only competition that I threw was High Maintenance. The rest, sadly, I lost fair and square. I would like to point out that I did not come in last place except in two competitions.

What did you think of Liz’s “Zing” from Zingbot? 

Way to go Zingbot for going there! There was a big giant elephant in the room ever since Austin’s “gf” disappeared.

There was a moment where you seemed flirty with Clay. Had Shelli gotten evicted before him, would you have pursued a romantic relationship with him?

Nooooo! Clay is definitely one of my dudes. Love you Clay, but he’s a little too pretty boy for me.

Who will you not vote for in the final two?

Vanessa and Steve.

Who do you think from your season could be seen as an all star and would be asked to play again for an all-star season? 

Johnny Mac and James.

Will Johnny Mac and James succeed in a season with all stars? Will Vanessa and Steve lose if they make it to the final two? Chat about it in the comments below and stay tuned to The Live Feed for all things Big Brother. 

Big Brother airs Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on CBS. 

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