This is Big Brother though, and you always have the chance at the veto to save yourself. This week's veto competition looked at first as if it would be a skeeball challenge, but instead of rolling a ball and trying to get it in a hole, the ball had to be bounced into the hole. Whoever could bounce their ball into all the holes the fastest would win the Power of Veto. Diane ended up with the shortest time, and thus had the chance to take herself off the block. When she was originally nominated, she was blindsided by the decision. Drew took her aside and said it was his plan to keep their relationship a secret. The gist of his message made sense. When Diane knows of a plan, she is not the best at playing a role and being nonchalant. He didn't tell Diane of his plan to nominate her because the whole thing would have looked less real if Diane was in on the plan. In theory this was great, but the way Drew explained it left Diane with even less conviction in their relationship. He went crazy a couple of times when Diane asked Drew if he trusted her. Marvin was thoroughly convinced that Diane's nomination was a ruse, and it sort of was, but they didn't know it. Unsurprisingly, Diane used the veto on herself. Drew put Nakomis up in her place, which further added to Marvin's malaise. Although he has been up four or five times previous, each time he has found himself waking up the next day without the satisfaction of meeting the Chenbot face to face.

Marvin was not that lucky this time, as we had another unanimous eviction and Marvin finally met Julie. As Marvin left, he didn't have much to say to those people who just voted him out. Maybe he was thinking over his decision to nominate Adria. Maybe he was thinking of how awkward it would be to visit Adria in the sequester house, Maybe he just ran out of fried chicken jokes and ways to fit "personal indictment" into a sentence. Whatever it was, Marvin left the house about as bitter as any this season. That bitterness soon melted away as Marvin bounced in to meet Julie Chen, taking and then kissing her hand. (Only time will tell if Les Moonves is more bitter than Drew.) After a little more chit chat, Marvin let us know he also thinks Adria is the antichrist. It was particularly funny as Marvin was talking about Adria's bible thumping. You see, Marvin wanted everybody to know that he didn't use the bible as a crutch and lasted two whole days longer than Adria. That knowledge has got to be particulalry satisfying. Just as he was about to leave (with no goodbye videos because of time constraints), Marvin once again tried to kiss Julie's hand with this awkward sort of leg lift move thrown in, but Julie fended him off with a furious clenched thumb. High drama indeed.

The only thing left to do in the episode was an HoH competition. We have the long-awaited game where things are removed from the house and the house guests must remember what is missing to win.(It's also about time for the "house guests shop for things by ripping them off the rack" luxury.) Anybody giving a wrong answer is voted off. Michael jumped out to an early lead, but eventually it was Nakomis that won the competition, her third win this year.

As I said before, at this time of the game, you have to look several steps ahead. Out of this cast, Nakomis is the one that has been able to do that the best. Too many of this season's house guests believe that a modeling or acting career will be waiting for them as they leave the house. Perhaps they don't think they need to think ahead? Nakomis hasn't blown away the physical challenges, but is adept at getting the HoH when she needs to. Her nominations will be interesting, because she will be able to mold the final participants. The Girl Power alliance, as some have taken to calling Nakomis, Karen, and Diane, is looking mighty powerful right about now. Amazingly, there are still two of the four horsemen around, and they will be trying to keep themselves in it for the final two days. Nakomis could beat anybody if she makes it to the final two. Karen would beat anybody except Nakomis. Drew and Michael are even, and Diane is pretty much playing for second place. Whoever wins, I think that CBS should do a sequester house only episode, because the combo of the gay guy, the black guy, and the two women those two consider the devil twins will make that house more interesting than what is going on the actual Big Brother lot.

Posted by J-Unit on September 6, 2004 1:28 PM