Mad Mad House, Episode 5: A Suspension of Disbelief

There is a moment in most good reality shows where the entire season comes to a head. On Survivor for example, it’s the merge. From that moment on, everything is changed. Strategy is rethought, alliances are abandoned and reformed, and immunity becomes the only thing that can protect you. When people look back for the defining moment of Mad Mad House they will point to two things. The first was the elimination of Bonnie last week, and the second occurred during this week’s episode. If you missed the most recent episode of Mad Mad House and are here to find out what happened, I am truly sorry. I’m going to try my best to describe what transpired, but I can only give you words. This was something that really needed to be seen to be appreciated and mere descriptions cannot help but fall well short of the mark. Once again there is a lot of ground to cover, so let’s jump right in, shall we?

We begin this week right where we left off, with Bonnie receiving enough necklaces from the Alts to be sent home. If you read last week’s recap, you know that I was very shocked and upset at the reasoning behind Bonnie’s untimely exit. It turns out I am not alone. The houseguests gather in the living room after the elimination ceremony and Eric tries to verbalize his feelings but cannot, faltering in mid-sentence. In an interview clip, Jamie tells us that, “Bonnie was like my best friend. She was like… my mom.” In the living room everyone tearfully tries to move on while attempting to grasp what the consequences of Bonnie’s ouster may be. They are grateful that Bonnie was smiling through it all and Eric confesses that he was on the verge of tears himself. In interview Nichole says that she understands the reasoning behind the elimination. “She has been a safety blanket for a lot of people,” she explains. If you are curious as to how Bonnie feels about her elimination, and what she has been doing in the time since she left the Mad Mad House, be sure to check back here at Reality News Online for an exclusive interview, which I’ll be completing in the next several days.

In another part of the house, the Alts have gathered to discuss the fallout from the elimination ceremony. Fiona is still in her “crone” mentality which is physically manifested in somewhat toned down clothing and very little makeup. She tells Art and Avocado that she believes she really freaked Nichole out by giving her a necklace during the ceremony, but that Nichole needed to learn that she wouldn’t last much longer in the house without a big change in attitude. It looks like she’s right because back in the living room, Nichole is seeking an answer. “What the hell did I do?” she asks the group. She tells them that she’s ready to find Fiona and press her for an explanation and not take “no” for an answer. “If you don’t want to talk about it now, then please let me know when you’re ready,” she says, telling the group what she wants to say to Fiona. Although he appears sympathetic and attentive, Noel is feeling quite the opposite. “She… was… pissed… off. No one gives a necklace to the L.A. Princess,” he tells us sarcastically. “This was the first time I saw the real Nichole coming out.” After everyone heads off to bed, Noel and Eric meet together in the courtyard to discuss their “Let’s get Nichole voted off” strategy. They agree that Eric’s successful attempt to manipulate Fiona into giving Nichole a necklace has really rattled Nichole’s cage. They realize that if they back off for a day or two Nichole may make some mistakes and worsen her chances all by herself.

They also think they have the game figured out. I hate to say, “I told you so,” but consider it said. In last week’s recap I made no secret that I felt the Alts had made an asinine move in their decision to have Bonnie “graduate” from the house and we now see why: “I don’t want to change too quickly,” Noel says, “I’m not going to change overnight.” In interview Eric explains to us that each of the houseguests now realizes that if they “transform” their spirits too quickly they may wind up being voted out just like Bonnie. On the other hand, it’s important not to seem like you cannot change either. “You have to find a happy medium,” he says, and I hope he doesn’t mean he plans to start tickling Ta’Shia's feet. (Ba-da-BING)

No sooner is the decision made to back off on the manipulations for a while then Eric and Fiona head upstairs to Fiona’s bedroom for a chat. Eric immediately thanks her for giving Nichole the necklace because it meant that she (Fiona) realizes that he isn’t trying to fool her. At this point in time however, Fiona hasn’t just taken the bait, she seems to have swallowed it whole. “I think you and the other Alts agree that the winner of this game will walk out of here with a hell of a lot more than a hundred thousand dollars,” she says. While Eric manages to hold a straight face as she includes him in as one of the Alts, the importance of it isn’t lost on him. “I am the Puppetmaster,” he proudly declares in an interview clip.

In any show where the cameras are rolling 24/7, boredom becomes a major factor. Sometimes the producers show their sensitivity to this by providing magazines, cards, and in some cases even a pool table. The guests in the Mad House aren’t that fortunate. Fiona however, came prepared. She’s brought along her Jenga. No, this is neither an anatomy metaphor nor the name of her pet “familiar.” It’s a game that is the opposite of pickup sticks. You start with a tall stack of wooden sticks. The object of the game is to remove a stick from the bottom of the tower and add it to the top without toppling the entire thing. It’s Fiona’s favorite because “it’s such a metaphor for life.” I would like to explain this statement, but I have no idea what she’s talking about.

Nichole comes into the room just as a new game is beginning and decides to brave the waters with Fiona. “I think coming into the game,” she says, “everyone had an idea of what was expected of them and what it was about…” she gets no further before Fiona interrupts her; “What did you think it was about?” As Nichole begins to answer, Avocado takes his turn at the game and removes a piece with a quick-as-a-wink snap of his wrist. As he places the stick atop the tower everyone oohs and ahhs at his move. “That was the coolest Jenga move I’ve ever seen in my life,” Fiona says.