Big Brother Canada 3 Week 1 Eviction: Pilar or Risha?

The fans are in control of the first eviction this year. With no Live Feeds until after tonight's show, we have been asked to vote based on first impressions alone. All we have to go by is the one hour premiere episode, brief written bios and videos shot while the houseguests were in sequester.

The houseguests have been in that house since last Thursday, and have already formed friendships, sized up the competition and planted seeds for alliances to form. They think THEY are voting tonight, based on those alliances. When you watch tonight, look for any houseguests who may have anticipated this twist.

Then there are the nominees themselves. Pilar and Risha think they have been campaigning with their fellow houseguests, when in reality they haven't been able to campaign with anyone. Even if they suspected it was "Canada's Vote", playing it up to the camera would have fallen on deaf ears.

So, how did the fans vote?

Pilar is a pretty, young athletic girl. I think her introductory video was badly edited to emphasize her supposed Talla-like qualities. She seemingly laughed for no apparent reason. Other than that, there was practically no further information on her. She was given little airtime in the premiere episode, but what we DID see was nothing like the girl who was promised to us. She seemed quiet and reserved. Sindy with an S said she nominated her because Pilar didn't talk to her. After she was named as the replacement nominee, she went to the group for consolation. There is no doubt that Pilar is a bright, perky and attractive young girl, from a great family and has a lot of supporters. I just have the feeling that we have seen enough young 20-somethings, and the superfans out there recognize this.

Risha came across as mature, with more of a backstory, and with incredible sex appeal. Sure she's a cougar but at least she went in the house with a strategy in mind. She came across exactly like we expected from her bio and video. After the PoV Ceremony, she immediately separated from the group and went up to the bathroom to be alone. Normally this would have been a bad thing to do, but it would have pulled on the heartstrings of many a fan out there. I think the fans want to see more diversity in the houseguests, and will want to see the mix that a middle aged woman with game can add to the cast.

The major thing to consider with the Canada Vote is fan voting influence, and casual fan vs. superfan. Voting influence is the factor that your vote has and depends on the points you have earned on the official site. The casual fan only signed up after the premiere and have earned few points. At best, they have a 2X influence. The superfans signed up as soon as the official site relaunched - well over a week ago and have already reached 5X the influence (maybe more?). Oh, and one more thing...if you think it's just Canada voting, you are sadly mistaken.

There has been a lot of campaigning on social media, mostly Twitter for both Pilar and Risha. The apparent winner of this is the Save Risha camp. By apparent, I have to consider the fact that these numbers and Twitter's "Reach" stats has been seriously skewed by a few ardent fans who have been tweeting relentlessly, and some well known alumni.

My prediction?

I am leaning toward Pilar to be walking out of the door to meet Arisa and be the first guest on Side Show. But who really knows? No Live Feeds really suck.

Leave your thoughts in a comment...come on, don't be shy. I'm nice, really.

The People's Couch

Bravo Canada has announced the series premiere of The People's Couch (formerly Gogglebox Canada) for July 13, 2014, 8:30 PM ET. Here is the cast that you will be watching watching TV. And no, that's not an indication that I didn't edit this post. In case you have never heard of it, The People's Couch is an observational reality show. The cast members are real people who give their own unique opinions and criticisms of whatever they are watching on television. The series originated in England as Gogglebox, and it's a huge hit. Apparently the Canadian version has picked up the franchise's U.S. title. I don't know if this will go over well with Canadian audiences, but as with most new series, I will reserve judgement until I watch at least two episodes.

Gogglebox!!! It's coming to Canada.

UPDATE: (July 4 2014) Gogglebox Canada has been renamed 'The People's Couch' (Canada) and premieres July 13 2014 at 8:30 PM on Bravo.

"What pray tell is a Gogglebox?", you're asking? Some sort of new Google app? A new NSA spy software? A new gaming device? Nope, nope and nope. It's a British reality based TV show that films regular people like you or me in their homes watching a variety of TV shows, and capturing their reactions. Simply put, it's a show about people watching TV (everything on TV including series, movies, documentaries, news, sports and even commercials). I am going to give you some time to think about that for a while...but please play the Final Jeopardy music in your head while you think.

Finished?

Okay, so your first reaction is probably "who the bejesus would want to watch that?" Trust me, a lot of people would. Make no mistake, many people asked the same question when shows like Big Brother premiered. Gogglebox has become a big hit in the U.K., and has also been franchised in the States under the name The People's Couch. Get it? Like The People's Court? Okay. Here's a glimpse of what Gogglebox is all about in this British trailer.

One of my favorites is the "Steven Hawkin" (a deliberate misspell) episode. One of the regular cast members wonders if Steven Hawking is British, why he has an American accent and if he has it (the transcription device) on the wrong setting. Another finds it hard to pronounce the word "physicist" and says Hawking does astrology. I have included that video here as well.I think Gogglebox's appeal draws from a number of our own inner feelings, much the same way as various forms of social media do. There is something about the "share" factor...knowing that other people think or feel the same way about things as you do. Picture an episode of Canadians watching the Olympic Men's Hockey final, and I think you can see the possibilities here. For some people, there may even be an ego boost watching people make embarrassingly uninformed (I won't use the word dumb) comments, like me watching the Steven Hawkin clip. Just picture an episode revolving around Rob Ford on Jimmy Kimmel, The Amazing Race Canada or The Walking Dead. Perhaps you are interested in auditioning for the show? Producer Ron Carroll, the showrunner for hits such as Undercover Boss Canada, Be the Boss Canada, and Canada's Next Top Model, is at the helm of Gogglebox. You can submit an online application HERE. As the application says, You can be a reality star, and you don't have to leave your couch! The deadline for application is April 19. Applications are only being accepted from people inside the GTA. Your "group" must consist of 2 to 4 people, aged 14 and up, and you must submit a photo with your application. Keep in mind they want opinionated, entertaining people.

Big Brother Canada 2 Recap of Episode 12: Time to Purge the Scum

We had to wait 3 days for this? Then suffer through the entire episode just to see Sabrina and Andrew's faces? Good grief.

The aftermath of the announcement that Canada is the new HoH has everyone very nervous. As Sarah put it, "if Canada likes the First 5, we are safe. If they don't like us, then 2 of us will be on the block." Everyone who is not in that alliance is loving it. After the announcement, everyone breaks into little groups in the backyard. Gee, I wonder who is allied with whom? Within minutes, Jon and Neda have already guessed the noms will be Sabrina and Andrew. Excellent. Sabrina stresses in the Diary Room that she is the one doing all the work in the alliance. Of course she did. She's a one trick pony. That's all she's got.

The house guests must sing O Canada once every hour. Who wants to see our HoH room? These guys our drinking our beer...eating our poutine. Arlie and Sabrina talk, and Arlie is just going to tell her whatever she wants to hear. All the while Arlie just knows that Sabrina is at the top of the list.

Got to love Arlie. He's alone in the storage room and talking into the camera just as if he is really talking strategy with the HoH. Meanwhile the others are using the Diary Room to make their pleas, or are suddenly acting all nice nice with each other.

The Have Not comp is set up like a Prom. One team member must act out a dance, while their team mate has to guess. Jon and Adel end up on slop, because neither knew what the frack they were doing. Big Jon in the Half Not room looks like he just ate the cookie that made Alice grow. Or was it the drink in the bottle? Whatever, he looks ridiculous.

Meanwhile, everyone watching this episode is probably throwing their Timbits at their TVs, and yelling "Just get on with the bloody Nomination Ceremony!!!"

But first, more of the HG's thoughts on who the nominations might be, and reflecting on their own gameplay. There are some very paranoid people in that house.

The time is here. All the HGs walk down the stairs to the living room, contemplating the chances of being nominated - as if they are the bachelorettes, all dressed up and  off to see if they will get the final rose from The Bachelor. Hilarious. But first, a commercial break.

Arisa breaks the news by naming one or two HGs at a time, and telling them if they are safe or not. She names Sarah and Andrew and says "one of you has been nominated. Sarah...you are...safe". Andrew, "I knew it". Which makes you wonder if he's known just how despicable he's been. Huh. Got ya Andrew. The last two are Sabrina and Rachelle. Arisa once again tells them that one is safe, and one is nominated. Rachelle and Sabrina hold hands and Sabrina says to Rachelle, "Its okay, we are friends". Arisa, "Rachelle...you are safe". Rachelle's response wasn't a comforting line to Sabrina. Nope. It was "Thank God!" Ha ha ha. And then come the waterworks from Sabrina in the Diary Room.

Next up on Wednesday's episode is the POV competition. It has already been played. If you want a hint who won it, let me say the person with the POV is unlikely to use it. It will be a big move, and the Veto holder must be feeling like they are the biggest person in the house right now.

Big Brother Canada 2 Canada's Nominations: No Big Surprise.

It's pretty well safe to say that judging from the online community, both Sabrina and Andrew will be Canada's nominees for eviction. That was pretty much realized after the first hour or two after the voting was announced on Thursday's show. It's even safe to say that the diehard fans out there knew this instantaneously. The general consensus is that everyone wants the First Five alliance fractured before the season becomes too predictable. Any house guests outside of that alliance who have tried, like Paul or Ika have been voted out. When you combine that with the fact that both Andrew and Sabrina are the most hated (on a personal level) by the fans...then its ding ding ding...we have a winner, folks! There's just been too much nose-picking, crotch scratching and other vile habits.

The fans are chomping at the bit in anticipation. Not just to find out who the nominees are either. They want to watch the live feeds to watch these two turn on each other. For any newbs out there, the live feeds have been down since Saturday morning and will not return until after the show tonight. After Dark was also cancelled for last night. The official reason is that Big Brother wants to keep the reveal a big surprise. They fool no one. They want the ratings. The "Canada as HoH" is sponsored by Twistos and they want the most bang for their buck. So much for the whole idea that Big Brother is a social experiment. I really hope they post the live feeds for yesterday and today after the show.

The next step in getting one of these two evicted is the POV comp. Here's a great scenario for you. Let's go with Andrew and Sabrina on the block. If you go by several unofficial online polls, Kenny and Rachelle are placed  in a distant 3rd and 4th, respectfully. What if Kenny wins POV and takes Andrew off the block? Rachelle would go up as replacement. How will the house vote? Very interesting indeed. 

Recap of Episode 5: Double, Double, Toil and Trouble, Fire Burn and Cauldren Bubble.

For the first time this season, we are not treated to shots of Sean in the bathroom without his shirt. Instead we get Chris Harrison opening the show. Ugh! He comes in to talk to the girls and demonstrate his remarkable ability to count women. "There's 11 of you now". Gee thanks Chris. Glad you cleared that one up. I was a bit confused. He also tells them they have 1 hour to pack their bags and get to the airport, because they're going on a worldwide tour. What...is this The Amazing Race now? The first stop is Montana, yee haw! Worldwide tour? Really? Since when is Montana, Alberta, St. Croix and Thailand a worldwide tour?

Recap of Episode 4: Thunder-Thighs-Tierra Tantrum Time

Hey, it's already episode 4, and we start off with what else? Shirtless Sean going through his grooming routine...again. Makes me wonder if Sean will be able to take a shower without a cameraman when the show is done.