House of Dreams, Episode 11: Ladies’ Choice

Before getting started on this week’s review, a recap of the remaining builders:

1. Flor, formerly a lawyer and the remaining villain of this show;
2. Matt, who wants to give the house to a former student;
3. Viveca, the “circus arts performer” (read: juggler);
4. Naomi, an artist in the areas of photographer and pillow-making;
5. Mike, bartender, obnoxious party-boy.

On with the show! It begins with a recap of the previous episode, where George materialized a third red hat from the dirt and Mike, Viveca, and Tony all found themselves in possession of bad keys. Two brand-new vehicles were added to the prize package. At the Elimination Ceremony, Tony made a very emotional but ultimately unsuccessful appeal and, in a 2-1 vote, he was eliminated.

OK, on to this week’s activities.

Day 39:

We begin with reactions to last night’s Eviction Ceremony. Matt feels used by Flor because although she took the high moral ground in not voting against Tony, had it come to a crunch, she’d have dumped him in a second.

Tony’s elimination has made them realize they’re getting tantalizingly close to winning the house. Most of the players express their feelings that they have a real chance to win.

It’s time to work on the house, and Foreman Joe Bukey informs our handy handful that the next building task is to install the flooring in two more rooms. Standing there, it becomes very evident that five people is a very small workforce and as Flor is one of them, only so much progress is possible. However, she’s actually working today, and even gets a blister. Joe celebrates Flor’s first blister with the group, who have only mock sympathy for her.

This brings us to the weekly Key Ceremony. George is resplendent in his jet black shirt and once-beige shorts. This time camera angles are used to trick us into thinking George mounted the stairs with aplomb. I mean, it’s Emmy-worthy cinematography.

George makes mention of the small size of the crowd and reminds them that they have a 20% change of winning, and an 80% chance of losing. Well, some 20%’s may be bigger than others.

As you may remember, no one is immune from the Key ceremony any longer. Viveca is called first to try her key and gratefully pass through the door.

Next up is Mike, who is not so lucky. He bangs his head on the door and moans “Back to back!” Most reluctantly, he claims a red hat. George remarks, “Buck up.” And when Mike repeats himself, George chimes in good-naturedly, “Oh, pipe down!”

Next, Naomi and, after a lengthy series of commercials too exciting to recap here, Flor are both able to get through the door successfully. Last man standing, Matt is forced to claim the second red hat. George makes him try his key anyway. I’m not at all sure why, as playing the game with only one red hat seems a little silly. Sure enough, Matt had a bad key. Well, that was suspenseful!

Mike notes that this is the first time two guys have had the red hats, and even catches George off-guard with that one. As it seems there are no hats buried in the sand or anyplace else this week, the yellow hats are sent back to camp. George has now caught up with the “two guys” angle and calls them “Stan and Ollie, Mutt and Jeff, Felix and Oscar, Pat and Mike.” OK, cute, but in “Pat and Mike,” “Pat” was played by Katharine Hepburn … so that one seems a bit odd.

On their way back to camp, Mike points out that the two guys will have their futures decided by “three unpredictable women.” In an aside, Matt says, “I always wanted to go up against Mike, ‘cause I thought it was such an easy win.” Oooh.

Several clips are cobbled together here, some not new. First we re-view Mike saying he’s just a big fun-loving guy who isn’t an “ass” or an “idiot,” then we get Matt’s clip explaining his plan to give the house away. Mike’s aside calls that statement “B.S.” We are next reminded of Mike’s plans to “throw raging keggers with my buddies” at the house.

The next aside is from Matt saying he thinks Mike “doesn’t need a house, he just needs to get some help, get his life straight; I don’t know what his deal is.” Finally, we get the replay of Mike’s more serious words from last week where he said he wanted to use the house to “give me a future.” Hmm, two stories not quite as compelling as Tony’s.

OK, enough sniping. As the red hats express their ideas about the voting, Mike is very confident that Flor will not vote for him. Who can disagree with that? On the other side, Matt feels Naomi will vote for Mike and he needs to consider making a deal with Flor. Yes, that’s a winning strategy – for Flor!

In a confessional from Naomi, we learn she is torn on how to vote. No, you didn’t just flip to the review from a previous week, she is yet again torn on how to vote. Good God, woman, have a plan and work it! She doesn’t really believe in Mike’s newfound maturity as he keeps lapsing into talk about “hot tubs, chicks, and cool whip.”

Stunningly, she also tells us Matt has changed his story. He no longer wants to give the house away, he wants keep it and let people live there. Naomi believes this was his plan from the beginning and she’s not impressed with the about-face. Matt expounds on this, saying he’d like to help his former student for a short time, then provide the same opportunity to Tony’s family. Wow! If he makes it to the end, I’m thinking Matt has Tony’s vote all sewn up!

In the next segment, Viveca is also wimping out. She tells the camera she would feel better losing to Matt. Mike is concerned that “one freaky law-graduate circus juggler” is going to decide his fate.