Cold Showers: The Big Brother Blog: 2015

This was the scene all over Twitter last night:

"Worst season ever!"
"Cancelling my feeds!"
"Never watching again!"
"Worst move ever!"
"Steve and John are the dumbest players of all time!"

It's understandable. It was the heat of the moment. It was a nerve-racking double eviction night. Two (or at least one and a half) fan favorites went home. I won't lie, I was right there with everyone, lamenting the preservation of Austwins through two evictions in less than an hour. I had been tweeting #FlipTheVote all day leading up to the Meg/Julia decision. I screamed at my TV when Steve and John balked at the opportunity to get someone playing the game with a twin sister - who also happens to have a boyfriend in the game - out of the game as the numbers continue to shrink. Alas, we are left with a final six consisting of the aforementioned, unshakable alliance of womb-mates and bed-mates, a poker player who literally justified the move to her ally by saying, "just trust me, I know game theory," said ally who talks to his mom on the live feeds, and a player who was already evicted from the game.

But is it really the worst final six ever? First, let's look at what this final six is. You have two distinct sides: Austin and the twins on one, Vanessa/John/Steve on the other. Vanessa fits somewhere in the middle, but is still playing on John and Steve's side. You have a showmance with a little baggage. You have twin sisters who have brilliantly navigated a twist that has put a massive target on them since week two. For those saying there's no one likable on the season, have you forgotten we still have Johnny Mac, who has easily been more popular than anyone else in the house (including the massively popular James) since the premier? Each of the remaining houseguests has overcome odds and obstacles to stay in to this point. The game is as cutthroat with these remaining six as it has been all season. There is drama, romance, uncertainty...those are usually words to describe a positive season. I get it. No one really likes Austin, Liz, or Julia...but that adds to the narrative. Right now two groups of three are going to war. An no, I can't stand Vanessa either. But you need a villain in a good story. You just do.

Now let's look at the competition (for this purpose, we'll begin with Season 2):

BB2: Bunky, Hardy, Krista, Monica, Nicole, Will

Not only did this final six consist of the greatest player to ever play the game, but it had some serious entertainment value. Bunky became a fan favorite, Krista had a love affair with Mike Boogie, and had her life threatened earlier in the game (yikes). Nicole was a very fun nemesis for Will, as he continued on his unlikely journey to conquer the first real season of Big Brother.

Verdict: Better than S17

BB3: Amy, Danielle, Jason, Lisa, Marcellas, Roddy

This was a phenomenal final six. Danielle is considered by many to be the greatest player to never win the game. She was absolutely robbed in final two. Her secret ally Jason almost played an equally masterful game. Amy and Marcellas added massive personality to the remaining cast.

Verdict: Better than S17

BB4: Allison, Erika, Jack, Jee, Jun, Robert

Considering the underwhelming strength of the cast, this was a fine final six. But compared to other seasons with better casts and gameplay, this one is honestly pretty boring. No one could have seen Jun winning, but it also kind of made sense. That's the best way to describe this season.

Verdict: Worse than BB17

BB5: Diane, Drew, Karen, Marvin, Michael, Nakomis

When people talk about this season, they talk about the original Twin Twist, and the Four Horsemen alliance. Both twins were out by this point, and the Four Horseman alliance was no longer intact. Hard to even remember the rest of it.

Verdict: Worse than BB17

BB6: April, Beau, Howie, Ivette, Janelle, Maggie

This is about as compelling as it gets. All of America was rooting for Janelle and Howie, who brought some serious drama as they warred with the likes of Maggie, April and Ivette. The drama continued to the bitter end. When this season wound down to the final six, it was in many ways just getting good.

Verdict: Better than BB17

BB7: Danielle, Erika, George, Janelle, Mike, Will

It was the all stars season, and most of the best players were still in the game. You had Chilltown's Operation Doubledate which included the popular Janelle. You also had Danielle Reyes, who's merits we've already touched on. And who can forget Chicken George? How in the world he was still in the game was as interesting as a storyline as any at that point...which is saying something.

Verdict: Better than BB17...but it was the All Stars Season

BB8: Dick, Daniele, Eric, Jameka, Jessica, Zach

You had Dick, one of the most popular to every play, along with his estranged daughter. The first iteration of America's player was not only still in (with a showmance no-less) but was playing one of the most fascinating games we'd ever seen. The estranged father and daughter, and the man being told how to play, were all within striking distance. America was at this point saying, "he/they can't actually pull this off...can they??" That's pretty compelling.

Verdict: Better than BB17

BB9: Doesn't matter.

Season during the writers strike. The season was not only largely disliked, but many fans refuse to acknowledge its existence.

Verdict: Worse than BB17...but it was season nine...

BB10: Dan, Jerry, Keesha, Memphis, Ollie, Renny

At this point Dan completely ran the game...and it was awesome. He was a fan favorite, playing a fantastic game, with a 75-year-old nemesis. No one else really mattered, but they were entertaining personalities all the same.

Verdict: Better than BB17

BB11: Jeff, Jordan, Kevin, Michelle, Natalie, Russel

America's sweethearts were still in, going to war with Russel and Natalie. Kevin and Michelle were both playing interesting games in their own rights. This was pretty compelling.

Verdict: Better than BB17

BB12: Brendon, Britney, Enzo, Hayden, Lane, Ragan

3/4 of the Brigade alliance was still going strong. They still had they're main nemesis Brendon who had outlasted his showmance partner (and future wife) Rachel. Ragan and Britney might still have been the most entertaining HGs left.

Verdict: Better than BB17

BB13: Adam, Jordan, Kalia, Porsche, Rachel, Shelly

In the first season combining multiple returning players (including two winners) with rookies, two veterans remained in the game. One of them had won the game two years before, the other was Rachel Riley. The wheels were spinning plenty as this went into the final six. Just like BB17, a fan favorite had left the game in 7th place in the second part of a double eviction ("Clown Shoe!"). Still the remaining cast was pretty compelling.

Verdict: Better than BB17

BB14: Dan, Danielle, Ian, Jenn, Joe, Shane

Dan Gheesling was putting on a Big Brother clinic. Joe was only technically part of the final six for a matter of minutes, but gave one of the more entertaining (albeit silent) eviction vote speeches during the double eviction. Shane and Danielle were showmancing, and Ian was carving his own niche in Big Brother lore.

Verdict: Better than BB17

BB15: Andy, Elissa, GinaMarie, Judd, McCrae, Spencer

This was easily the most boring final six. Andy was the most boring winner, Spencer was the most boring dark horse. McCrae was part of the most boring showmance. Judd was the most boring fan favorite. GinaMarie was the most boring legitimate crazy person. Elissa was Rachel Riley's sister...

Verdict: Worse than BB17

BB16: Caleb, Christine, Cody, Derrick, Frankie, Victoria

Cody blindly followed the puppet-master, and ultimately handed him five hundred grand. Derrick made the game look so easy, many fans lost interest weeks before the finale. Victoria thought she was at summer camp (as Zach so perfectly put it in the jury house). Caleb didn't know strategy was part of the game. Frankie was Arianna Grande's brother...

Verdict: Worse than BB17

So there you have it. I know it feels bad now. The Double Eviction didn't go as we had hoped. But it's not all bad. Is this the best final six ever? No. Is it the one we would have picked? No. Is it really the worst ever? No! And it could have been far worse. Just keep in mind that players like Clay, Shelli, Jeff, Jackie, and Jace are gone! Let's try to enjoy the home stretch of this season!

- Andrew

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Cold Showers: The Big Brother Blog

Friday, September 4, 2015

Worst Final Six Ever?

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