This week's elimination episode of Big Brother: 'Til Death Do You Part once again proved that first impressions (and second, and third, and fourth) aren't necessarily always correct. Who would have predicted a few weeks ago that needy Natalie would become one of the power players of this season?

Spoiler only has 7 letters, otherwise Natalie would think it was a clue.

Seriously, though, before we get into the nuts and bolts of tonight's episode let's take a second to talk about Natalie and her newfound confidence and determination. If there was ever any doubt that sometimes a woman is definitely better off without a man, she is living proof this is true. Since Matt was evicted she's become quite the driving force in the house, swaying Adam on who to nominate, correctly identifying Joshuah as a secretly powerful player and then eventually winning a clutch HoH for her alliance. If she has a successful HoH week I think this will be one of the biggest turning points in the game so far. Just two weeks ago she was following Matt around like a wounded puppy and generally making a fool of herself. Not to say that her mental capacity has improved in the last few weeks (for example, she thinks Alzheimer's disease is called "old timer's" and has problems spelling words like night, light and right) but the distraction of an eligible boy in her radius has been removed and she is here to play the game. Props to the girl for gaining back some of her self-respect.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled recap. Julie greets us and leads us into a package that picks up right where the veto ceremony lets off, and from the first few seconds its so obvious who is going home the show doesn't even attempt to have us think any differently. What is interesting is how it shows Chelsia completely cracking up in the days following her nomination, getting increasingly agitated with Natalie and even going so far as to destroy a batch of Easter eggs Natalie lovingly decorated. She then goes on to berate an absent Natalie (who has wisely left the room to avoid the attack) by yelling and calling her "white trash." How...Mean Girls of her. Also, it's boring to be that immature. At least come up with clever insults, Chelsia! Putting someone down because they haven't had the educational opportunities you have had is just silly. Oh, and she does all this while sporting a University of Iowa t-shirt. I'm sure all of her fellow Hawkeyes are so proud. James even turns on her, confirming that she's so alienated the rest of the house he cannot even throw her a sympathy vote lest it affect his game.

We then return to the houseguests only to learn of Sheila's attraction to Evel Dick. When I return to consciousness after blacking out in horror, Adam's family is giving the typical "he's really nice once you get to know him" speech that every relative and family member of a reality television show cast member is required to do at some point. In this case, though, I actually kind of believe them. Adam may be an obnoxious brute, but he seems to have a decent heart. Also, his high school yearbook picture is so fantastically awesome I cannot bring myself to hate him. Until now, I never knew the guys in Jersey had hair just as big as the girls. When Julie does Adam's HoH interview, he curses on live television which was also very awesome. CBS is surely thanking their lucky stars for 7 second delay technology right now.

Before the anti-climactic live vote both Sharon and Chelsia are given the chance to give a speech to sway their fellow houseguests. Sharon gives a benign little talk, but Chelsia obviously knows she is leaving and positively goes off, berating the houseguests for being phony and accusing them of breastfeeding off each other or something to that effect. Nonsensical and disgusting! Sweet. When Chelsia is unanimously evicted, she again gives an even more venomous tirade to her fellow houseguests. Sheila comments about her immaturity, and although I don't think Sheila is much better I have to agree. Chelsia then whispers something to James and Joshuah, which she later explains to Julie were basically just pep talks for the HoH competition. I don't think that's going to work out so well, Chelsia, so if you were considering a motivational speaking job after this you might want to look into other career options.

The HoH competition this week is called "Big Brother Election," where basically CBS polled viewers online to see how they would answer certain questions about the houseguests. The houseguests are then asked multiple choice questions about how they think America answered. The houseguests with the most correct answers at the end of seven questions is the winner, and Natalie pretty much runs away with the competition, only getting the last question wrong. Just when I am celebrating Natalie's newfound intelligence, she tells Julie she's excited about the win so she can hear her Yellowcard CD, and my doubts spring back anew. Out of all of the CD's in the world...Yellowcard? Hopefully her nominations will be more thought out than her musical choices, that's for sure.

Favorite quotes:
- "I would say he has a bit of Rain Man in him sometimes." - Adam's mom, talking about his incredible memory
- "Chelsia is currently like the S.S. Titanic. She's sinking and I'm a passenger on the ship." - James

Comments

What can ya say about James--the kid is nothing if not loyal! :-S

doodleflap | Mar 26, 2008 7:26:29 PM | #

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YAY YAY Go Natalie!!! James and Josh...one is going.

Linda | Mar 26, 2008 8:59:02 PM | #

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James' cry about not giving Chelsia a sympathy vote to save his own skin was a bunch of crap. He has a target on his back bigger than sin and he can't dig himself out of the hole he has made for himself. A sympathy vote for Chelsia wouldn't have hurt him in the least. Her actions were highly childish, but so was his when he got back in the house. I swear James is one of the biggest hypocrites to have ever crossed the Big Brother house.

With that being said, I was horrified that Natalie won HOH. I Was gunning for Josh or Sharon.

Mark O. Estes | Mar 26, 2008 11:01:30 PM | #

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i agree with posters from the previous episode that james strategy of revenge is not serving him. i didn't like him at all in the beginning, but i liked that at least he was playing the game. but not so much anymore. and yeah forget loyalty, jeesh....

anyway ryan, josh, and sharon seem to have the best games going. and if there is any justice, the sanctimonious natalie will be gone soon.

dl | Mar 27, 2008 12:06:24 AM | #

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Ugh I can't believe Natalie won. (And the questions were SO easy!) I can't stand her. At first I was disgusted at her sickening devotion to Matt - now I'm disgusted at her ridiculous religious speak and new found 'empowerment'. Wait til she watches the whole show after it's over and sees how Matt really feels about her. I'm beginning to hate the trio of Natalie, Shelia and Ryan - Adam seems to have put himself in a nice position of being not so terrible as the others. I wouldn't be surprised to see him flip if things turn around. I'm pulling for Joshua - hopefully his bond with Ryan will help him survive until Natalie's gang loses power. I like James, but his "revenge" plan is the wrong way to go about surviving the game. I wonder what Chelsea will think of him after she sees all the fabulous gay porn he's done?

walt | Mar 27, 2008 1:22:30 AM | #

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Chelsia will gargle for 3 days non-stop while re-enacting the scene from Crying Game in her shower.

Julie's Shirt | Mar 27, 2008 3:28:09 AM | #

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Natalie went from being delusional and mopey to being delusional and self-righteous. She didn't become empowered without her obsession, Matt; instead, she's doing everything she can to get revenge on the people who voted him out. That has nothing to do with self-respect and everything to do with her sick belief that Matt really loves her. I won't even bother watching BB again until Nat's reign of terror as HOH ends. I hope Joshuah and Sharon are still around to boot her fanny out the door!

SteveS | Mar 27, 2008 3:35:03 AM | #

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I have to agree, I don't think Nat is suddenly empowered, especially since she talks about "Matty" every three seconds! She is doing this because then when she gets to sequester, she can say "look what I did for you Matty!" in her creepy desprete way.
I like James and I respect that he and Chelsia recognize this is a game and they agreed to not let their feelings ruin their game play. James still has a chance and what good is a pity vote? I think we sawa bratty side of Chelsia that no one liked and James was smart to distance himself from that.

Mandy | Mar 27, 2008 6:40:12 AM | #

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Yikes! Natalie is HOH? Who knew she had it in her (no pun intended).

The best thing that's happened to her in BB9 is having her idot boy-toy Matt voted off. Now she can concentrate on playing the game. I really don't like her at all, but I have to give her credit.

Natalie, along with James, Joshuah and maybe even Ryan are the only ones playing this game. Like Chelsia said "Adam, grow a spine, you're playing like a baby". How true. Sheila is a big floater. And Sharon is like wallpaper. She's just hanging around, but you barely notice her.

I'm still gunning for James, Joshuah and Ryan to go all the way.

Peace.

JVice | Mar 27, 2008 6:45:30 AM | #

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Mark, I agree with you. Does James think the others will suddenly decide not to get rid of him because he voted to evict Chelsia? It's appropriate that his partner was nearly as big a hypocrite as he is. As abysmally as she treated others, she had the nerve to criticize them for their behavior. Good riddance.

Carrie, your point about first impressions really does hold true. I also would have never pegged Chelsia from the beginning for being the vile, spiteful person she turned out to be. And your recap was great. Your spoiler comment made me laugh out loud. :-)

Beth | Mar 27, 2008 7:41:25 AM | #

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these are the most ignorant people Ive EVER seen!! Im embarrassed to be caucasian..
and how OLD is Natalie? Adam looks like he's a downs symdrome person..So, he might actually win! seriously, these people need to go into witness protection after the show..they're horrible excuses for human beings. and
James looks ridiculous with that hair..wtf? bunch of goony losers..actually missing evil dick!!

lizouttavegas | Mar 27, 2008 7:45:52 AM | #

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I heart Natalie!

Couldn't have been happier that she won. Perfect for an exciting week.

Ron | Mar 27, 2008 8:58:56 AM | #

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does anyone know what the tatoo on james chest says that is always blocked out by cbs?

katie | Mar 27, 2008 9:27:19 AM | #

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I like Natalie. Sure, she's dumb as a rock and incredibly needy, but I also think she's probably the only truly "nice" person in the house. I felt bad for her when Chelsia destroyed all of the Easter eggs she decorated. That was pitiful, and it looked like all of the house hamsters were embarassed by it.

Cornelius | Mar 27, 2008 9:31:28 AM | #

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To answer Katie's question: The chest tattoo is of the Brawny Man, and the shoulder tat is of a priest with a gun to his head.

El | Mar 27, 2008 9:44:02 AM | #

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James tats are way worse than that, go to Silly Hamsters site and you can find a picture of them. All I can say is, JAMES ICK!! And I hope he goes this week.

Jo | Mar 27, 2008 9:53:59 AM | #

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with natalie winning, james is pretty much d-u-n.

thursday | Mar 27, 2008 10:07:08 AM | #

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Jessica, loved the part where you said you blacked out from shock about ED and Sheila! As for Natalie developing a sense of self respect...Big Brother editors seem bent on destroying that. Like when Natalie is screaming "Here's the Beaver" and then the camera pans down to show her in a mini skirt with her legs spread open! The Big Brother fan in me giggles, the gay man in me spit takes Dr. Pepper all over my living room!

I am not happy that Natalie won HOH as now my future Power-of-Attorney Joshie is is danger but hopefully Ryan will keep playing his secret alliance and convince Natalie to go after James big time. Let James go and make some gay porn in the sequester house and get him out says me!

Billybob | Mar 27, 2008 12:23:26 PM | #

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the problem with this season is that the players i like are not aligned together. i like ryan...but i hate EVERYONE else in his alliance. i would like to see ryan/sharon/joshuah/james vs. adam/natalie/sheila.

and as for chelsia's tirade...i LOVED it. if you know you are getting evicted...why NOT go all out. as much as she hates natalie, the funniest thing she could have done was to spend several days talking about how cool it would be to be alone with matt in sequester. and if she wanted to have some strategy, let james in on the plan- and then have a fake fight/breakup and talk about how to get back at james, she was totally going to hook up with matt. this would drive natalie INSANE...maybe even so insane that she volunteers to get evicted so she can go to sequester to fight for her soulmate...ahahahahahhha.

s | Mar 27, 2008 12:41:11 PM | #

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I figured that if cbs was blocking out his tattoos they had to be pretty horrible. I was worried that it was a swastika or the N word or something bad like that but even a priest with a gun to his head . . . James is a lot less likable, I have a feeling, that we are all being led to believe.

katie | Mar 27, 2008 12:46:08 PM | #

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Go to cbs.com and check out the forums. people will descibe whats going on in the live feeds. They are all much less likeable than the broadcast shows lead us to believe. There was a lot of really horrible stuff said by chelsia during her rant that they didn't air or elude to on last nights show

mike | Mar 27, 2008 2:13:03 PM | #

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Mike is right. Even watching BBAD you can see how true Katie's words are. IMO, Chelsia and James have been by far the worst. Josh is nasty too, but they've shown bits and pieces of his rantings on air.

Beth | Mar 27, 2008 2:39:25 PM | #

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you see, part of the problem is, like the "Fur-ends" everybody who plays these games forgets everything 20 seconds later. Yes, Natalie is going to go after James but, do we REALLY think James did that poorly in the HOH competition that NATALIE won?!? My guess is that he threw it so that he'll win the POV competition to put Natalie in the unappealing position of having to nominate someone she doesn't want to...

Lets forget about all the talk about what color the kid's hair is and acknowledge his skills in playing the game. Chelsia is gone & now he has no distractions to take him off his game. I see Evil Dick moments in the future for evil James.

Having said that, i still think his best move is to get into that Josh, Ryan alliance, have Josh continue to drag Sharon around & use her against Joshie (sorry Billybob he will have to go, but perhaps a jaunt up north after sequester house shall cheer u up :)) to leave two of the (in the mind of the players) dirtiest players to fight it out for the $500K

kennyg | Mar 27, 2008 6:10:33 PM | #

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kennyg, although I dislike James, I do believe he's smart, and I thought he was playing a good game until he let it become personal and his goal became revenge instead of winning. But if your scenario of him throwing the HOH competion was true (and I don't for a second think it is), THAT would be dumb. Give up guaranteed immunity for the possibility of POV? Just to make Natalie "nominate someone she doesn't want to"? So she nominates Sharon, who is not a member of her alliance. Big deal. In his never-ending quest for vengeance, James wants Ryan and/or Adam gone, and the only way to accomplish that would be to win HOH.

Beth | Mar 27, 2008 7:32:11 PM | #

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this is where i may falter a bit. I maybe missing some crucial info by not watching BBAD. perhaps i'm not seeing James' true colors, but with chelsia gone i would think we'd see, perhaps not revenge, but more annoyance to the house (it worked for ED). this is easily forgotten if he happens to swing people his way, or if somebody in the house causes some drama (it HAS been awhile hasn't it, Sheila?) i do get that everybody wants James out, but if Josh truly wants to win this game the "Master of the House" better bring him along. Having never been put up for eviction only makes you the "rat" people know this and so should Josh. Beware of James the Snake. (sorry for the old school reference)

kennyg | Mar 27, 2008 7:57:55 PM | #

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How anyone can like Josh and Chelsea is beyond me, they are the most disgusting, vile, cruel, vindictive Tw&ts on TV. thank goodness the b!tch Chelsia has gone.
It's great that Nat is HOH and lets hope that Josh and James are kicked out of the house real soon!
Nat or Ryan to win.

Bren | Mar 27, 2008 9:11:17 PM | #

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Woo Hoo! Natalie is HOH and Chelsea is gone. What a great episode of Big Brother. Now Natalie needs to get the whole house in on back dooring James this week. It would be great if she told James he was safe, didn't nominate him. Then she could tell whoever wins POV to take somebody off and then she can throw James on the block! Get that pink haired freak out of the house!

Brianne | Mar 28, 2008 8:48:19 AM | #

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Yuck!

Natalie is HOH. She's such a hypocrite. Talking to God in her slutty shorts with her boobs hanging out? Please...give me a break.

Everyone knows this game is not about honesty. It's about manipulation. I loved Chelsia and her going away advice to the others left in the game. Way to go!

Billybob, where have you been!
"Here's the Beaver!" Priceless. I hope you were able to clean up your living room from all that Dr. Pepper.

Go JAMES!!!
Go JOSHUAH!!!
Go RYAN!!!

WillyWonks | Mar 28, 2008 9:32:48 AM | #

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To comment further on the question of James' tattoos that are blurred...One is of the Brawny man, but underneath it, it says "prestigous c@nt" and the priest who is going to shoot himself has a thought bubble with 2 men having sex inside it.

Pickles | Mar 28, 2008 10:23:58 AM | #

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If you don't watch the feeds you have no clue how vile James, Chelsia and Josh really are. The things they do and the words that spew out of their mouth, really disgusting. Glad Chelsia is gone, can't wait to see the door hit them on the back side when Josh and James get evicted.

Jo | Mar 29, 2008 2:21:43 PM | #

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re: not watching feeds...

we can argue all day about the 2 different shows going on (the one on the feeds and the one on cbs). not everyone has time to keep up to date with the feeds. i read every line that was transcribed last year....i just dont have time this time.

s | Mar 30, 2008 5:55:53 PM | #

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re: not watching feeds...

we can argue all day about the 2 different shows going on (the one on the feeds and the one on cbs). not everyone has time to keep up to date with the feeds. i read every line that was transcribed last year....i just dont have time this time.

s | Mar 30, 2008 5:56:01 PM | #

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