As we left our TVs on Friday night, our beloved celebrity house guests were sitting on stadium seats, hanging on for their HOH lives.
On Sunday night, we learned that after an hour and a half, Omarosa Manigault Newman won Head of Household. It came down to her and James Maslow, and he acknowledged that he wasn’t long for the game. Omarosa told the Big Time Rush star that he’d be safe this week if he dropped, and she swore on the Word of God.
That’s a heavy promise. James bought it, too.
Strategically, this apparently came down to Omarosa’s “big booty.” House guest words, not mine. Hey, maybe she is just in good shape, aside from that asthma thing.
Also, the first three to fall from their chairs against the wall were subject to Big Brother slop. This is slop’s first-ever appearance in Celebrity Big Brother — and its consumers are Metta World Peace, Ross Mathews and Mark McGrath.
Once Omarosa assumed her throne, the attention turned to the lone vote to save Shannon Elizabeth. That one vote came from Brandi Glanville, who admitted her transaction to outgoing HOH Ariadna Gutierrez. Her reasoning was that she knew Shannon was about to be evicted, and she didn’t want her to be ousted unanimously. Brandi felt sorry for her.
What’s so strange about this game is in developing opinions about celebrities. For example, Brandi’s sudden show of sympathy makes me like her. I just never imagined that I’d like a Real Housewife.
Metta, too. What a teddy bear of a guy. I thought he was supposed to be some kind of jerk. That’s what I was led to believe throughout his basketball career.
Omarosa starts using her HOH power to develop one-on-one deals with all the guys. Except Ross. He’s her target.
First, she approaches the Sugar Ray frontman and promises safety this week for his guarantee to her next week. She then talks to Metta but doesn’t get specific about any deal — I think — because there’s no real chance of him winning anything. Last but not least, Omarosa and James talk, leading the heartthrob to express his amazement that he’s working with the legendary reality villain.
With nominations looming, and with Omarosa targeting Ross, she and the former Tonight Show correspondent talked politics again.
Did you know that Omarosa not only worked in the Clinton administration, she worked in the Ready for Hillary pre-2016 campaign — that is, before the Donald asked her to join his team.
Omarosa then decided to do what she called opposition research and chat with Marissa Jaret Winokur and Gutierrez about who she should put up against Ross.
They both quickly sold out Brandi, which Omarosa saw as sketch. However, in the end, Omarosa went that direction and nominated Ross and Brandi, the former for his nomination of her earlier and the latter for her singular vote to save Shannon.
Brandi should never have revealed that. Incredibly stupid game move. Argh. Was pulling for you!
There are some hijinks with this week’s Power of Veto competition with America being allowed to trick it up. Here are our options:
Diamond veto: Veto winner can take themselves off the block and name the replacement.
VIP veto: Veto winner can use their veto twice in one ceremony, meaning that they could remove one nominee (themselves, e.g.) and then remove another after the replacement has been named.
Spotlight veto: Veto winner is obligated to use the POV.
You can vote up to 20 times until noon ET Monday. Live eviction happens on CBS Monday night.
My hunch is that if noms stay the same, the house guests will eventually keep Ross, which I think is a mistake. Alas, with these veto options out there, who knows.
My current Celebrity Big Brother rankings as of February 18. My pick is first. Kristi’s pick is second.
1. James / Ariadna
2. Omarosa / James
3. Ariadna / Omarosa
4. Marissa / Marissa
5. Mark / Mark
6. Ross / Ross
7. Metta / Brandi
8. Brandi / Metta
