07/26 - Mike Boogies Out the Door

There was a moment during Thursday’s episode when I thought I had inadvertently switched channels to ABC’s The Bachelor. A very dapper man was handing out flowers to the six attractive ladies before him, and the drama was palpable. As it turns out, that man was Mike, freshly evicted and bidding goodbye to the female houseguests. I must admit, I was a bit disappointed to see the painter from Wisconsin leave the game so soon.

Unlike the evictions of Carol and Joe, I didn’t see this one coming. But, as Julie loves to remind us, you have to expect the unexpected.

Going back to Tuesday, shortly after the veto ceremony Dick shifted gears and decided Mike posed a larger threat than Kail. The other houseguests didn’t need much coaxing—Nick, Dustin, and Amber seemed downright eager to get him out the door.

Personally, I’m not convinced Kail is as hopeless as they suggest. Yes she’s shaken now, but I predict she’ll rebound and will be a lot more stealthy in her scheming from now on. The game is always twisting and turning, and the houseguests may come to regret this decision.

If Kail does prove to be a contender, at least no one can blame Eric. Per America’s request, he campaigned against her full-throttle, but no one took the bait. (Perhaps they were too distracted by Dick’s nonstop farting.)

Tonight was significant because it was the first time Eric’s role as America’s Player has interfered with his game-play. By voting to evict Kail, he dangerously defected from the majority. So far no one suspects him (Dick instantly accused Jen), but if word gets out this could hurt our secret agent.

Anyway, congratulations to the new HoH, Dustin. I thought I’d be excited by having him in power, but that was when I thought Dustin was sweet and nonjudgmental—AKA the anti-Joe. But tonight a different side emerged as he displayed cattiness on two occasions: First he condescendingly called Kail “putty in his hands,” then he used his goodbye video to lambas te Mike’s reserved nature.

Now that's he's in control, I wonder who Dustin will nominate for eviction. Unlike Dick, he doesn't seem to have any enemies, so I have no clue how this week will unfurl. Anyone want to take a guess?

Other thoughts:

+ Julie was dressed pretty conservatively in a peach-colored top with matching sweater. She may have passed for a hip elementary school teacher tonight, but that just means she’ll be breaking out the body glitter next week.

+ Daniele’s boyfriend, whose name I think is Doormat, doesn’t seem that threatened by Nick’s advances. I don’t know about you, but I felt incredibly uncomfortable hearing Doormat talk about marriage and trust while watching footage of his girlfriend getting cozy with another man.

+ With her hair teased to outrageous proportions, tonight Jessica looked like an extra from the Hairspray movie who wondered off the set.

+ This is the second time this season the veto replacement has been the one to leave.

+ Is Jen “playing dumb” a genuine strategy, or does it contribute to the Paris Hilton-ification of society?