Big Brother 11, August 27: The Madness of King Jeff

Every season, there seems to be one houseguest who gets seriously power-trippy and paranoid during their stint as Head of Household (HOH). Russell displayed this behavior earlier this season. However, based on the last episode and the recaps of the live feeds over the past week, it appears that HOH Jeff is truly this season’s victim – leading to a rather unfortunate and dramatic personality change combined with an aggressiveness that he hasn’t displayed at all up to his winning of HOH. It’ll be interesting to see how he handles the remainder of his tenure as HOH.

Previously on Big Brother, HOH Jeff berated Jordan for not paying attention to the minutia of the game as closely as he wants her to. (Honestly, it’s like expecting a poodle to memorize Yeats. Jordan is pretty and nice, but she’s not gifted in the brains department.) Jordan and Jeff’s relationship began to show signs of strain as Jeff developed a rude, belligerent, and bullying attitude as the week went on.

The Power of Veto (POV) competition had a banana theme and Casey returned to provide the voice a rapping gorilla. As there are six houseguests remaining, everyone participated and they raced around to find bananas with the names of the previously-evicted printed thereon. One houseguest was eliminated at every round and Jeff just beat out Michele to win POV.

After no deliberation at all, Jeff used to POV to take Kevin off of the block and put Russell up in his place, a plan that had existed all week which took no one by surprise.

Missed anything? Check out William Hammon’s recap right here. Also previously on Big Brother, Chima was bat-poo insane. Now she’s in her rightful place within the Reality TV Hall of Shame.

Now, on to this week’s episode of Big Brother 11.

Hooray for live studio audiences and the visibly fertile Julie Chen. (Bringing back the live audiences a few seasons ago is a great decision, IMHO.) Once again, Russell dressed up nicely for the live eviction.

As is the usual format (and thank goodness we’re returning to it), we jump back in time to just after the end of the POV ceremony. Kevin confesses that he’s super-pleased at the outcome of the ceremony and that Jeff is playing right into his and Natalie’s plan (and he’s right). Jeff admits that he cut a deal with Kevin and Natalie wherein he would be safe from nomination the following week if he managed to get Russell evicted. (There’s a deal that’ll be broken in a heartbeat.)

Russell confides that Jeff has shown how untrustworthy he truly is. He’s majorly ticked off and gives a veiled threat that the next few days are going to be hell.

In the bubble-wrap room, Kevin and Natalie heap thanks onto Jordan and vow that she and Jeff are safe if either wins HOH. They all agree that Russell needs to leave and that they’ve assured themselves a final four of Jeff, Jordan, Kevin, and Natalie. However, Natalie confesses that Jeff is the target the next week if either she or Kevin wins HOH. Kevin and Natalie find their way to the storage room and do a happy dance of joy.

Michele finds Russell in the splish-splash room and offers her sympathy and support. Sensing impending doom, Russell expresses his hope that she wins the next HOH. Michele admits that she and Russell aren’t the closest of friends, but they’ve bonded as an alliance in the house and recognizes that her game is sunk without him.

Later, Russell lounges in the backyard and Jeff goes to chat with him, calling it time to “face the music.” Jeff starts out the conversation in the worst way possible by pointing out how smart his plan is, daring Russell to agree with him. Russell points out the final four deal that he, Michele, Jeff, and Jordan had previously agreed to. Jeff counters that Russell and Michele have a final two deal, which negates any other deals. Natalie and Kevin enter the backyard on the auspice of playing pool … but really just want to watch the impending fireworks. Michele sunbathes nearby and also notes the heightened tension. Only Jordan isn’t in the backyard.

Jeff continues to try and play the alpha male and points out that his actions at the POV ceremony show that there’s no longer a final four deal.

Operation Cause Chaos goes into effect as Russell threatens Jeff with physical violence if the two of them end up in the jury house together. Jeff chuckles at the notion, and then says that he’d give up a shot at winning and hit Russell in the mouth if he talks to him that way again. Jeff tells Russell to “man up” and to recognize that he’s been defeated. Jeff further says that he’s not scared of Russell.

Natalie rushes into the house to get Jordan in on the argument. (Because Natalie loves to cause drama.) Back to the drama, Jeff says that he can take Russell in a street fight, but Russell looks unconvinced. By now, Jordan arrives at the scene and tells Russell that he’s just pissed off that he got played in the game. Russell dismisses her as Jeff’s “lap dog.” The argument continues with useless, inane insult after useless, inane insult.

Nearby, Kevin seems to be enjoying the festivities. Jeff tells Russell that he “got got” seven times in a row, because nothing smacks of intelligence like mindless repetition. In private, Jeff says that he’s not surprised as Russell’s outbursts and that no one wants to keep someone like that in the house. (Ironic, isn’t it?)

Later, Kevin and Russell play pool. Russell admits that he knows he has Michele’s vote to keep him, but that he needs just one more to stay in the game – noting that Kevin is the swing vote. Russell points out that Jeff would be without a physical match in the game if he were to be evicted. Russell also offers that he’d be gunning for Jeff if he remained in the house, and that he could do so without Kevin getting any blood on his hands. He outright offers his allegiance to Kevin.

Kevin confides that he can’t stand Russell, but the game is all about finding those who can further your own interests and carry you farther. Keeping Russell in the game as the biggest target does have some appeal. However, to do so would mean to evict his closest ally, Natalie.