You’ll be skating to work tomorrow because Twin Hell finally froze over.
On Thursday night, lightweight Big Brother 17 contestant Julia Nolan was evicted by a vote of 3-0.
In favourite-to-win Vanessa Rousso’s words, “This may’ve been a half million dollar decision.”
Less than two weeks before the finale and 85 days into the season, superfan Steve Moses was the first Head of Household to even attempt to split up the most dangerous alliance in the game -- let alone actually accomplish it.
While delusional wannabe wrestler Austin Mattelson was Steve’s silly initial target, plans shifted when “Judas” scored Power of Veto and took his loathed ponytail beard off the block.
In his place, Julia joined her sister, Liz, on the eviction line.
Not too surprisingly, the passive-aggressive house decided to eliminate the weaker twin -- and not the stronger one, who also happens to be embroiled in a powerful showmance.
Oh my lanta – this isn’t your drunken step-father’s Big Brother.
This latest exit, in a sea of frustrating evictions, is emblematic of a lot of sloppy, short-sighted and narcissistic game play this season.
Blame the Millennial “iCulture.”
While the cast has been entertaining and intense, providing fans with addictive live feeds due to over-the-top personalities and daily meltdowns, cowardly strategy has ruled the game.
In fact, CBS President Les Moonves, who is married to Big Brother host Julie Chen, shocked fans and critics by saying in a Vulture interview that “this wasn’t a great year for casting on Big Brother. Usually you have one or two disappointments. I think we had five or six disappointments.”
Q & A with Big Brother's casting director
Postmedia recently caught up with Big Brother USA and Canada casting director Robyn Kass, who has been finding these lab rats since season 2. We asked about Moonves’ comments, a possible celebrity version of the game, and a Big Brother Canada preview.
Are you happy with the cast? I think you did very well finding a group of likable yet psychologically compromised people.
"Absolutely! It’s funny, because you really never know. It’s been an interesting season… watching it all play out. A lot of fan favourites left early, which is always a bummer. But I do love it because it’s been a season of game players. No one is sitting back - and that’s all I can ask for."
Do you know when you’ve found an “it” cast before they air?
"I think I do, but I’m not always right. Sometimes I’ll get that 'Hallelujah' feeling after every single person I wanted made it through testing, background and network approval. But usually, there’s always someone I wish had made it in, so it’s usually '85% Hallelujah with some hope!'"
Did you read Les Moonves’ harsh and confusing comments on this season’s cast?
"Of course. My Twitter blew up immediately so I couldn’t avoid it! I haven’t talked to anyone about his comments yet. Listen, everyone has their own opinion…. and, of course, I respect his opinion more than anybody’s. I hope he wasn’t disappointed with the whole cast, but I’m not a mind reader! I don’t have a crystal ball. I don’t know how people are going to play out. It’s been a polarizing cast. Fans who loved last year’s cast don’t like his season’s, and vice versa. I’ll listen to anything Les has to say. We’ll see what happens next year."
Everyone raved about your casting choices, and you knocked it out of the park, but once certain promising players entered the house they went into “summer-camp” mode or self-destructed, ala Audrey Middleton, who was a great find.
"We definitely couldn’t have called that. Audrey was amazing from the second we saw her application online to the moment she went into the house. But there is no way to tell how someone will fare in the pressure cooker that is Big Brother. Audrey went to a place that no one expected; and from her exit interviews, she didn’t expect it either. Because I’m always in the studio waiting for the evictee, the number-one thing a houseguest says: 'If I was playing last year, I would’ve won.' Would Vanessa Rousso run circles around [last year’s winner] Derrick Levasseur? The cast dynamic and chemistry is also an important factor."
Big Brother contestants are littered with Millennials. Where are the “older” peeps? I doubt we could find an Evel Dick anymore. Will we ever see an authentic “society” in the house? Mature contestants can bring wisdom – or even more chaos – to the game. Most of BB’s past older players have been fan faves. I don’t get it.
"Whenever someone says to me, 'Why isn’t there more of this or that in the show?' my answer is always this: 'The best people, at the time, get on the show.' For example, say we get 10 thousand applicants each season, I would say 9,600 of them are 32 and under.” And if you consider only 1 out of 100 people move forward, the question is: do we put someone older in just because they’re mature - or do you put someone in that is younger because they’re a better character? It’s a back-and-forth discussion. And some older people don’t apply because they think we won’t cast them. That’s the problem. It’s a supply-and-demand issue – and it happens all over reality TV."
To be clear: it’s not a network mandate to cast people under 30?
"No! Next season, if we have amazing people in their 50s or 60s apply, bring it. Please apply if you want to be on the show - no matter what your demo is."
It always irks me when there is just one gay contestant on a season, but this year, you represented the entire LGBT community! (Austin admitted to bisexual tendencies during live feeds.) Congrats!
"We’re all very proud. Everybody is going to have an opinion on what I did wrong this season, but we’re all happy that we represented a lot of types this season."
There are so many ways to apply to Big Brother these days. Does the explosion of technology and social media make it easier or harder to find compelling people?
"I love it! We are able to reach out to so many people now. I don’t think a lot of fans understand what my job really entails. The first thing our team does is to get the word out that we’re casting. We use every avenue possible."
There is some controversy that you recruited Becky Burgess on Tinder. Is that the new wave of reality-TV casting?
"In terms of the 'recruit' controversy, and what it all means, there’s this misconception that we meet someone at a bar and say, 'You’re cute,' and cast them on the show. That’s not what happens. What happens is, we’ll meet someone interesting and suggest they apply to be on Big Brother. 'Recruits' have to go through the same process as everyone else. Our job is to tell everyone we’re casting. For example, last year, people thought [runner-up] Cody Calafiore was cast because he was a model, but he was a fan of the show… he just didn’t know the show was casting until we ran into him."
Recruits are important in the game. In fact, I prefer them more than these overly cautious, socially awkward superfans.
"Look at Big Brother Canada 3. We had a lot of superfans, so it wasn’t surprising that the house voted together almost all the time. We need people who don’t know the game as well, because that’s when sparks fly. We’ll always cast recruits."
I can honestly say you’ve done a brilliant job casting all of BB CAN’s seasons. It’s one of the best shows Canada produces – period. And one of the best in the BB franchise. You’re currently casting BB CAN 4. Is there a difference in American and Canadian applicants?
"That’s an interesting question. Not as different as you would think. During our first season, everyone said, 'You’re never going to find villains. Everyone is so nice in Canada. There won’t be any conflict on the show.' But it’s safe to say we’ve disproved that theory! Because we’re only three seasons in, I would say there is a bit more excitement and energy when we cast in Canada. Also, Big Brother is huge in Canada, so it’s fun to cast up there. When I was first brought on, I heard so many horror stories: 'Oh, Canada is going to ruin the show and it’s not going to look as good.' Luckily, when I watched the first episode, I was so proud of it. Every time they ask me back, I’m so thrilled. The production company always does an amazing job. Clearly, I’m obsessed with Canada!"
When you’re casting a new season, are you involved in the creative/production discussion regarding twists and themes?
"If it involves casting, yes, so we can be prepared. But sometimes, casting twists happen organically. Every so often we find someone so interesting that we bring him or her to the producers’ attention."
Can you tease what we can expect this BB CAN season?
"I can’t tell you anything!"
Fair enough. Any chance of a celebrity version of Big Brother, like the U.K. does? It’s fascinating to watch stars with huge egos play this game. It’s like Big Brother on crack.
"I don’t watch Celebrity Big Brother, but I have read about it and I can only imagine the craziness that goes on! If I’m being totally honest, only for selfish reasons, they probably wouldn’t use me to cast it. They’d probably use a celebrity booker with connections I don’t have. I don’t deal with agents or managers. I know there are rumours out there that I deal with agencies, which is not true. If someone happens to have an agent, because they’re a model or actor, I don’t deal with the agent. They have to apply, just like everyone else. If there was a celebrity version, I would definitely watch and enjoy it, but I doubt I’d be involved."
If there was another all-star season, would you be involved?
"Yes. The casting process would be much shorter because we wouldn’t have to do all the outreach and travelling. I, for one, stay in touch with the houseguests the most after they leave the show out of all of production. I feel very maternal and protective of every person that enters that house."
Are you surprised there haven’t been more all-star seasons? I mean, Survivor has one every year! Or is CBS focused on creating new stars?
"As a fan of the show, I prefer watching new players. Survivor is in its 31st season, so they have a greater pool than we have. But having said that, I enjoy all-stars, too."
Survivor does air two seasons in one year, to be fair. Where are you on the audience being allowed to boo during the live show?
"Again, you’re taking me to that motherly place. I would prefer no one come out to boos, because it’s a shock and they don’t understand. Not seeing the outside world for three months is tough on its own. I don’t think it’s fair they get negative feedback before they have all the information."
Top BB players you’ve cast?
"That’s such a Sophie’s Choice question. I love them all - and for all different reasons. Some for their personality, others for the strategic moves. For example, when BBCAN 3’s Bruno [lelo] uniquely used the Veto on his [enemy] Zach Oleynik under that stressful moment of a triple eviction, it was pure genius and shook the house up. And you can’t go wrong with one of the nicest and funniest guys [BB CAN 2 winner] like Jon Pardy."
Pardy is the most handsome man you’ve ever cast on BB, right?
"No comment."
How ironic is that your last name is Kass?
"It’s hilarious! And so random! Everyone thinks I changed my name but it’s really my birth name!"
Credits: torontosun.com
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