Author: Brian Porreca

August 20, 2015 7:08pm PT by Brian Porreca

 Sonja Flemming/CBS

THR ranks the final eight houseguests.

“The only difference is, tonight one of them must leave,” host Julie Chen said of Johnny Mac and Becky both on the block.

It’s now day 64 in the Big Brother house, so Chen brought some replays of moments from the game to the houseguests in order to keep them entertained. The clips included Meg breaking a fall with her face and James continuing his prank marathon. Who didn’t get the last laugh though? This week, it looks like Becky’s game went off the rails, leaving the final eight houseguests left to battle it out.

So, who’s got the power?

Before a jury member returns next week, it’s time to rank who currently has the best shot at taking the half million dollars home.  

8. Vanessa: This could go either way. If she survives another week, then as Shelli said tonight, “If they want any chance of winning this game they got to get her out.” But, she’s currently the target this week no matter who wins. Austin and the twins claim they’ll throw the “Head of Household” to make sure someone else gets the job done, so it looks like the once front runner no longer has the best hand.

7. Meg: She may float her way to the final two, but that doesn’t mean she’s playing the best game. She also has no shot of winning if she makes it there on finale night. It’s time for her to step up and help her “Asian hillbilly” James. That doesn’t mean losing another “Head of Household” in the first round like tonight! Looks like she’s still just playing for second place. 

6. Steve: He’ll likely win another “Head of Household” in the next double eviction of the summer, but can he handle the pressure? If he takes a shot at a target like Austin or the twins than write him a check, but if he knocks out the safe choice, Meg, then his game was wasted. “Steve has always talked to himself to a degree,” his mom admits in tonight’s episode. He has the support from his mayor and #Trombonists, but unless he steps up in the final weeks the other houseguests’ fear of his brains will ultimately get him booted. 

5. Austin: Right now he’s never been nominated, but when he does, most likely with Liz, he’ll throw the “Power of Veto” competition and seal his fate. If him and the twins can keep trading off power for the rest of the summer, they could be a three headed monster final three, but it’s highly unlikely.

4. Johnny Mac: As much as America loves him, currently his closest ally is Steve and that doesn’t look too promising at the moment. In tonight’s episode they both decided to align with Austin, Liz, and Julia in order to remain safe, but can that plan actually work? If Shelli or Becky come back in the game he could wipe out the other houseguests like Novocaine and sneak his way to finale night. 

3. Julia: The man who likes to give her sister hickeys, among other things has been a shield for the two twins from Miami. It could be a “Twin Takeover” with both her and her sister in the final two, but it’s doubtful that she’ll make history by being the first winner to not have their face on the memory wall until the middle of the game. 

2. James: Big Brother gods send this man a “Diamond Power of Veto.” He deserves it. If Jackie returns to the game and helps out him and Meg, then he will walk away half a million dollars richer, but right now Austin and the twins are standing in his way. 

1. Liz: Becky admitted that if she gets back in the house she’ll target the twin, but will that matter? Before the game started she would not have been on the radar to win, but count her votes. She’ll for sure have three votes in the jury with her sister, her stalker, and Vanessa so will only need two more to win the game. With the numbers on her side, for votes and currently in the game her and her sister could both even make the final two. A season 8 repeat, but with twins. If she’s sitting next to James though, by a miracle sent by Big Brother fans everywhere, then she’ll lose to the prankster of the summer. 

Who do you think has the best shot of winning this season? Remember there’s a difference between who you want to win and who will win. Take the poll below and chat about it in the comments section. Stay tuned to The Live Feed for all things Big Brother. 

Who is the Favorite to Win?

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August 19, 2015 1:03pm PT by Brian Porreca

THR has an exclusive clip from the ninth “Power of Veto” competition of the summer.

Nine houseguests are left in the Big Brother house. And fewer contestants means more boredom.

They have about a month left of their 97 day seclusion from the outside world and have to find ways to remain sane. The one player who cops the laughs and keeps the excitement up in the house is James. With prank after prank he continues to remain well liked by the other houseguests. Is he playing the best social game? Well, it’s obviously better than the awkward Steve who had trouble handling his “Head of Household” reign. 

After splitting up the power couple, Shelli and Clay, James has now positioned himself in a spot that could see him sitting in the final two. How will he win? If he keeps up his social game and doesn’t cower to using the backdoor to evict someone like the rest of the house has done the self proclaimed “Asian hillbilly” could wind up half a million dollars richer. Watch The Hollywood Reporter‘s exclusive video from Wednesday’s Veto competition where James scares Julia while still keeping the good times rolling. 

Big Brother airs Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on CBS. 

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August 14, 2015 12:00pm PT by Brian Porreca

Shelli Poole (left) and Julie Chen  CBS

THR Talks to the first jury member of ‘Big Brother’ season 17.

Before she entered the house for season 17 of CBS’ Big Brother, Shelli told The Hollywood Reporter, “I don’t want too much power too soon.”

Looks like her strategy changed at some point, because she wound up dominating the game. By having a showmance with Clay from night one, it was easy for her to be targeted, yet she and Vanessa traded off as Head of Household and kept their “Sixth Sense” alliance safe. With both women on the block in Thursday night’s eviction, it looks like the other houseguests decided Shelli was the bigger threat. Still, she was all smiles and laughs when she met host Julie Chen. Is she hopeful that she’ll return to the game in another juror twist? The Georgia native and oldest contestant this season (33) tells The Hollywood Reporter about her best shot of getting back in the game, and laughs off that alliance she made with Audrey and Da’Vonne. 

(Disclosure: Because the nine-person jury is underway, houseguests will now answer 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.)

If you had gone home last week and Clay had stayed, do you think he would have been targeted as much as you were?

Probably not. I think he would have still been put on the block. However, Clay may have been able to sway those three votes [Meg, Jackie and James] because of his “bro” relationship with James. 

You’re now in the jury house, and Clay is outside in the real world. Do you expect him to stay faithful to the showmance you had?

Do I “expect” him? I don’t think that’s the correct word. Of course I hope he does because I know that our feelings are real. I’m not naive to not think that things could change outside of the house for him, because, I mean, look at him. However, after the finale things can easily pick up where we left off. My heart will definitely still be there for him.

If you are able to return to the game by battling against other jury members, which houseguests do you think you’ll have the best shot at beating?

Austin and the twins — and Meg.

Right now, which houseguests will you not even consider voting for if they make it to the finale?

If things go the way the game has been played thus far, I would not give my vote to Austin. He has not won competitions, he has not worked strategy, he has gone on week to week with whatever the HOH wants to stay safe. He has leaned on the twins and used them as a shield. But I still love ya, Austin!

Before you entered the game, you told us you would play like Monica from Friends. Do you think you played like Monica would have, and is Clay your Chandler? (Keep in mind the couple went on to have twins.)

Oh my God! (Laughs.) I think I channeled my inner Monica. Maybe I was a little less pushy [in my campaigning] where I could have been a little more fiery, but overall I feel proud of the game I played. Clay was my Chandler in the sense that he allowed me in the driver’s seat 😉 But he’s way more manly than Chandler ever was!

Who from the prejury evicted houseguests besides Clay do you wish could be in the jury house with you and why?

Hands down, Jason. I fell in love with Jason the second he walked into the Big Brother house and I have missed him ever since he left. He’s hilarious, spunky and sweet as pie. I just love him. 

You, Audrey and Da’Vonne started the first alliance of the summer on night one, yet you evicted both of them. Do you think if you stuck to that alliance you would still be playing the game? 

Ha! What alliance?! Seriously, that was such a joke … we had literally just walked into the house and hadn’t even met the other houseguests! Also, 24 hours later, Da’Vonne was choosing someone else to save over Audrey or myself. I didn’t have a chance to “stick to the alliance” because they turned on it first. 

Big Brother has had two weddings — Rachel and Brendon, Danielle and Dominic — plus an engagement with Jeff and Jordan. Given your and Clay’s age difference, will there still be wedding bells in your future?

I don’t think either of us are rushing down any aisles. But I’m not surprised that Big Brother relationships have lasted outside of the house because it’s such an intense, growing environment to share with someone. That being said, we’ll just have to let the real world show us what that age difference really means.  

Were you hoping Shelli’s alliance with Da’Vonne and Audrey would stick? Will Clay and Shelli’s relationship survive outside the game? What do you think about Shelli admitting to being in the driver’s seat in the relationship? 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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