Another summer, another round of Big Brother. We're up to Big rother 5 already. Amazing. CBS promised another twist this summer in Project DNA, Do Not Assume. They delivered.
Two of the houseguests are related and didn't know it upon arriving. The related guests are Michael, a 23 year old cowboy-garbed young man who appears to be a redneck and Jennifer, a 21-year-old heavily tattooed woman with blue hair. They share a father.
Michael's mother told him the name of his father and stories about the man she knew. She never told Michael's father she was pregnant. Michael's father did not know he had another son and therefore, could not share the information with his five known children, including his daughter, Jennifer.
Sitting around introducing themselves, the houseguests shared last names. Michael started asking questions and quickly figured out that this is indeed his half-sister. Despite what is a watershed moment for him, he kept calm and did not say anything to anyone else right away.
What followed is a series of poignent vignettes in which Michael asks Jennifer questions and learns about his father and learns that she has always wished for an older brother. This is not a Lifetime movie, or a reenactment or a moment staged for some TV newsmagazine. By this point, the awareness of the cameras has faded and we watch a young man grapple with a big moment with quiet grace.
It turned weird for a while after that. After one of the competitions and the installation of the Head of Household, Michael decides to go to the winner and the winner's ally first with the news. It's unclear why he did that. He acknowledged later that it was a mistake. My only guess is that he hoped that the newly installed leaders of the house would lead the group through this process.
Article comments
1 - Rodney Welch
It wasn't Jennifer who took the $10,000; that was Lori.
2 - Justene
I stand corrected. It was Lori. I thought it was Jennifer at the time, up to and through nomination, and until now.
3 - boomcrashbaby
It's been interesting to see that the 'pretty white jocks' (jase, scott, drew, etc.) have all formed an alliance to the exclusion of the african american male, the gay male, and the older guy (the one who is nominated this week). A subconscious act, I'm sure, but pretty revealing as to how groups form in society.
4 - Justene
I am surprised at how BB has indeed become a microcosm of society.
Here's what I wonder though. The young white boys are pretty oblivious. It seems to me that the "others," having seen their type before, are more likely to stay away.
5 - boomcrashbaby
Actually Justene, that is a good point. That could certainly be it in the gay guys case.
Notice also how the girl up for nomination today doesn't fit in with the giggly blondes either. Perhaps on both sides, there is a push away from an alliance.
(as an aside, the gay guy is waiting for the right moment to tell everybody else he is gay. He's only confided in Lori so far, I believe. However, is there anybody out there who can watch this guy for more than two minutes and NOT know he's gay?) I think when he reveals it, it will backfire on him.
6 - Dwaine AKA Scooter
CBS down. South Park and The Chappelle Show up.