Yeah, when the show is essentially a "game show," the con-*test*-('")ants can take legal action if they feel the outcome was anything other than a product of what the con-*test*-('")ants themselves did. And if a staffer was found to be complicit in some sort of vote-swaying, that person would be fucked.

And yet not a single BB con-*test*-('")ant has sued over this issue though many have complained about the DR swaying their vote. Wake me when someone sues and wins.

And I'm not sure how America's Player factors into the whole they can't sway their votes thing, he works for money from production and sways votes.

Since the whole 21 scandal (thank you, Quiz Show!) game shows have been super anal about not stepping over that line, generally speaking. They get SCREWED -- both production and the network -- if they're found to have been fixing the game in anyway. My suspicion regarding people claiming the producers are trying to influence them is this: when they get in the diary room, they're clearly asked about whatever drama is going on in the house and how they feel about how XYZ are behaving, XYZ being, more often than not, the nominees. Because production needs to get interview bites to explain how everyone is feeling about everyone. But because the con-*test*-('")ants are already so freaking paranoid, their reaction can snowball into "WHY ARE YOU ASKING?!?! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?? WHAT DO YOU KNOW?!?!"

Whereas all I know from working in reality back in the day is that, seriously, we could not have come up with the crazy shit that people do on their own if we had a week to plot things out, although I only ever really worked on one competition type show, and I wasn't really in the field, so I can't guarantee how much producers there managed to direct things.

Anyway, as for how the whole America's Player figures into this, I think it's different because the viewer is telling Eric what to do, rather than the producers directly. That's why, when you vote, you are given the option to vote for anyone else in the house rather than just a selection. I'm pretty sure that CBS's lawyers worked on that section of the show guidelines for a LONG time though, because it's definitely the most questionable.

BB has always felt way more manipulated to me though. From things like certain veto comps seeming tailored to favor the houseguest they most want saved that week, the way ceremonies are occasionally held at seemingly random times to catch the house at exactly the right moment. I just remember things like last year, after Will worked on Janelle for about 2 hours, the nomination ceremony being RIGHT afterwards. Like they literally dragged her immediately into the DR so no one else could talk to her, and Howie and Kaysar were all, "WTF?" because they thought they still had time. Even yesterday, >>the veto ceremony was about 2 hours late, conveniently when they were still trying to solidify the plan to put Dustin on the block...which Jessica ended up doing. Then there's stuff like in BB6, where I remember Maggie and April constantly bitching about how they were sick of the DR trying get them to keep James, which Maggie being Maggie and pretty much unswayable made her want him gone even more. Heh. She was such a bitch, but I have to kind of admire her game skills.

But yeah, usually they cut the feeds whenever they talk about the diary room, but a few clips make it to youtube once in awhile. Jess, Jen, and Dick joking about it and Jen talking about the Eric vote. So anyway, I wouldn't say rigged, but I do think they're pushed a lot.

Wasn't there some monkey business a few seasons ago that had some crazy on TWOP call the FCC to complain about the violation of the game show rules and they were told that these types of shows did not fall under that category? I swear I remember reading that.

Ugh, I've been nauseated since the middle of this episode. The generous edit that Dick is getting - "I'm doing this all for my little girl" - c'mon. Everyone in that house is pretty hateable (with the exception of Jess and I can't believe I am about to say this, and Jen) but he is off the charts. He can claim that he's telling the truth or that he's trying to get them to hate him so they vote him out instead of Dani but I think that's all a load of crap. He relishes being an a-hole and there is no excuse for all the vile things he has said to people. Which in no way excuses the vile things that Dustin, Eric, and Amber have said, but the only person who offended me as much as Dick has is Amber (though Dustin remark about what he calls his dog is a really close second).

Daniele is on my last nerve - if she hates it so much and really wants to leave she can walk out the door. Stop whining about it. And her "crying" in the HoH was so fake I can't believe anyone bought it.

Jess girl, I like you but stop believing everything people say! Everyone is lying - watch out for yourself!

I do hope Dustin stays in the game, because Dick would be unbearable. However, I'm worried that America (and therefore Eric) will vote to evict Dustin because of the edit that Father of the Summer is getting. My speculation on the votes is Jameka-Amber voting to evict Dick, Zach-Dani-America voting to evict Dustin with Jen being the swing vote. I hope she votes to evict Dick as revenge for his month of verbal abuse, but who knows? And does anyone know if Eric can refuse to vote America's way? Because if he doesn't he is so evicted next week. EVERYONE will turn on him and it will be even worse than last week.

How many times did Dickhead say he was doing this for his stupid whiny offspring? I just wanted to reach through the TV and punch his lights out. I can't remember ever hating any reality show person as much as this waste of space. I desperately hope he gets voted out because I can't watch his shit anymore without going into a rage blackout.

While I find Dick annoying, I want to punch Jameka, Eric, Amber and Dustin all in the face every time they open their mouths. I really really cannot stand any of them and their holier than thou attitudes. I just want Dick to stay to piss them all off.

Right, I agree, and further I don't have a problem with it. I think getting them in the DR and turning their mental cranks is totally part of the game. Fittingly enough this week they're pressing for Dustin to hit the road, cause D&D are a storyline goldmine.

Jen under pressure.

Okay, Eric/America made Jessica cry. I hate them. I do think it's hilarious how everyone has the right instinct about the other players, and completely the wrong thought process to get there. Ergo Jessica can't trust Dustin/Eric because.... they have a secret alliance with DICK! Oh Jess, I thought you were smarter than that do the house math when in hell have either had one on one time to plot this secret alliance, the LNC hang out together all the time.

This show is always my summer guilty pleasure and I totally adore it, but I'm so bored this year. It's way too much Dick/Danielle boohooing about their relationship every episode for me. It's like 40 minutes of the two of them and their family problems and a few minutes of all the other idiots. I need more time with all of the idiots. And I don't watch this show for family drama unless it's the story of somewhat cold Nikomas and her dimwitted half brother. Otherwise, bohoring. I'm really disappointed since I look forward to this starting every July!

Yeah, I miss all the plotting and planning against one another, but I think that's what you get when you cast such a high percentage of HUGE IDIOTS. Evil Dr Will would have every single person in this cast working for him without even knowing it by this point.

Eric is the worst Silent Treatment Giver ever. Why didn't he actually pretend to be SLEEPING? Or tell someone else that he had laryngitis and then hang out with the whole group, so his silence was excused/not as obvious?

While I like Dustin, I almost want him to go this week, just because I find the LNC so sanctimonious/uninteresting. On the other hand, I am getting really sick of Daniele. Like, she easily could have avoided her current issues if she'd been smart enough to sidle up to people over the course of the week and say, "dude, I'm so sorry my Dad is being such a douche. Now you know why we don't talk. I wish I could shut him up, but he just doesn't listen to me. I'll be relieved when he's gone." No one is playing this game very well, except, hilariously, maybe Jen.

I actually think Daniele handled that fine -- I can kind of understand wanting to ignore the situation as your first instinct, and I think it ended up working decently well that she gets to say she was pushed over the edge by Jameka. It makes her look a little more attacked for his behavior, with the hopeful added bonus of making some of them think Jameka was a bit of an ass. I thought it worked pretty well. Because I HATE Jameka. Hopefully some of the other house asshats will too.

I heard that Dick gave a really heartfelt speech at the veto ceremony, and they completely cut that out. Interesting. I feel like they can't decide WHAT kind of edit to give him. But I do think all the bites they're putting in where he says, "Oh, this is for MY DAUGHTER," are sort of there to expose how sanctimonious he's becoming about that. Like, I don't hear them and think, "Awww, suddenly I love him." I think, "Oh, get over yourself already, this is not your easy way out of her hating you for her whole life."

My big hope though is that Jen and Zach are dumb enough to vote to keep Dick and that America forces Eric to vote that way also. Not because I want more Dick (hee) but because I'm so tired of how SMUG and SELF-RIGHTEOUS he has made everyone else. Can we do a mass eviction and then let Jen, silly pointless Zach, and Jessica duke it out for a while? With Dr. Will coming by for visits? Please?

Yeah, in the midst of her tirade Daniele did say that they'd all seen her tell him to quit it and that she's apologized to all of them for it, and no one denied it, so I don't think that was the problem. I think it's just that they're all terrified to stand up to Dick and that Daniele makes a way easier target for them. Although, even then they pretty much had to go 5 on 1.

I don't really like or dislike Dick, but man, just for the sake of drama, Dustin HAS to go. As awesome as the eviction would be, it's the aftermath that I want to see. Amber and Jameka would reign holy hell down on the house...or weep in the corner.

In live feeds news, >>dude, they had a little person, a barbershop quartet, and a pirate in the house today! I found one bizarro clip of it. OMG, so awkward and hilarious. Afterwards, there were apparently bunnies on the kitchen table. This show is so cracked out.<<

This is exactly how I feel. Oh man, the names that Amber would call Eric...I get the fun reality TV thrills just thinking about it.

I was so disappointed in Jess last night for letting Jen of all people manipulate her. Maybe she shouldn't trust Eric or Dustin, but getting all paranoid about their supposed alliance with Dick b/c Jen, someone you haven't trusted AT ALL, says so? That's just idiotic. She needs to take a deep breath and try to think rationally for a second. Or two. Geez.