Real Jenius

So, Jen is toast.

I’m referring, of course, to Big Brother 8 where the memorable Jen Johnson got kicked out after being “back-doored” by Daniele. For folks (like contestant Amber) who don’t know the meaning of that term in the game, it means that Daniele nominated two other folks – Amber and Jameka – then won the Veto power herself. Normally, you’d think that since Daniele is the one who put them up on the block, she’d leave well enough alone. But instead, she made a deal with Amber (more on this later), and replaced Amber with Jen, who was voted out unanimously, 6-0.

Jen threw a fit in her own weird, controlled way…first destroying cartons of Dick’s cigarettes (which it’s not clear whether he understands, as he assumed she’d merely hid them in the footage we saw), then breaking her agreement to eat nothing but Slop and eating “regular” food. (It should be noted at this point that her guilty pleasures were a Turkey Burger, apple and cottage cheese. Somehow I think if it were me, I would have gone a little less of a healthy route.) As such, she became the first player in BB history to get assessed a penalty vote, one that didn’t matter (which she understood, though her competitive spirit took a drubbing with that display.)

Jen mystified me all season because she has an exterior, almost sociopathic demeanor of “Nothing bothers me, and I don’t even understand why it should” that is amusing in the way it infuriates those trying to hurt her feelings. (Hi, Dick!) But she’s definitely detached in a sort of weird way that either means she’s able to compartmentalize in a way that most folks can’t, or she’s just fucking crazy.

In any case, Amber would have gone home were the deal not made with Daniele. In one of the funnier sequences of the year, Amber first was counseled by Jameka (who not only was up on the block with her, but her partner in Sanctimonious Religion) not to give up too much to Daniele…then she walked in and Daniele offered that, if she took Amber off the block, she’d want Amber to agree that if she won Head of Household next week, that she wouldn’t nominate Daniele.

Amber quickly agreed. And then…without provocation, she stated that the deal was good for the rest of the show until she won HoH. That is, if she doesn’t win for a month, she still won’t put Daniele up on the block. Nor would she vote for her to be evicted. And I’m pretty sure she also signed over the pink slips of her car. It was astonishing how much she threw out there for free, to the point that 20-year old Daniele couldn’t help herself from grinning so widely it was almost a full on laugh.

God, Amber is just so dumb.

In any case, Jessica managed to win HoH now, which is interesting, and has her join Daniele as the only two-time HoH. In all likelihood, she’ll keep the foursome (Dick, Daniele, Eric and her) together for one more week, and put Amber and Jameka right back up on the block, with Zach as the replacement if necessary. If that happens, I’d expect her and Eric to go after Daniele (and vice-versa) sooner than the final four, since that’s what this game is all about.

It’s been a long but interesting season on the show, and I expect it will be very good for the next month or so as it wraps up. Can’t wait!