Posts : 4252 Join date : 2008-09-05 Age : 52 Location : Chicago
Subject: Meet the House Guests Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:35 am
Laura - 21, Bikini Model
Braden - 28, Surfer
Kevin - 29, Graphic Designer
Lydia - 24, Make-Up Artist
Casey - 41, Teacher & DJ
Jordan - 22, Waitress
Russell - 24, Mixed Martial Arts Fighter
Natalie - 24, Tae Kwon Do Champion
Jeff - 30, Ad Salesman
Chima - 32, Freelance Journalist
Michele - 27, Neuroscientist
Ronnie - 30, Gamer
Last edited by Erika on Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:57 am; edited 5 times in total
Erika HOH
Posts : 4252 Join date : 2008-09-05 Age : 52 Location : Chicago
Subject: Re: Meet the House Guests Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:18 pm
Photos:Get to Know Your 'Big Brother'
Get to Know Your 'Big Brother' MSN TV visited the 'Big Brother 11' house for all the details on summer's new houseguests MSN TV's correspondent Jen Johnson, of "Big Brother 8," recently visited the set of "Big Brother 11" for one-on-one chats with each of the contestants, who kindly revealed their backgrounds... more and strategies for the show. Read on for Jen's uniquely qualified take on the personalities that will duke it out under constant observation.
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Casey Age: 41 From: St. Petersburg, Fla. Occupation: Teacher and DJ Status: Married with two kids
Jen's Take: Casey seems very nice -- talkative without being annoying, charming without being creepy, and interesting without being too much. He is a fifth-grade teacher and nighttime... more DJ with two sons and says his family is No. 1, with his love of music at No. 2. Living without both is going to be tough for him. He is also the oldest houseguest and the only houseguest with children. He is a little scared that his wife will be jealous while watching him and wishes he had spent more time talking to her about his game play. He has no set strategy, not because he doesn't know how to strategize but because there really isn't a way to plan anything without knowing the rest of his housemates. He probably will be a character, and people watching the show will like him. He has a good shot at doing well in the "Big Brother" game.
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Lydia Age: 24 From: Torrance, Calif. Occupation: Special effects make-up artist Status: Single
Jen's Take: Lydia is a fun girl who looks like she is really outgoing but is actually kind of shy and reserved. After meeting her for only a few minutes, I trusted her, and I think ... morethe other houseguests will feel that as well, if they take the time to talk to her. She hopes that her housemates will be open-minded, and doesn't like when people judge her or others. She loves music and will really miss going to concerts while living in the house. It is tough to read how well she'll do -- she wants to fly under the radar, but she has a lot to say. Among her many tattoos is a pawn on her finger; only time will tell whether she uses her housemates as pawns or becomes one herself.
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Laura Age: 21 From: Atlanta, Ga. Occupation: Promotional model Status: Single
Jen's Take: Laura is going in with a lot of gusto. She has been a big fan of the show since season 2 and says she is ready to go in and win. I think she may come across as a strong competitor to the... more other players, but that is not what she is concerned about. She is worried that her considerable cleavage will serve as a disadvantage, especially since she does not want to have a "showmance." She hopes that there are pushover-type guys in the house so that she can use her looks to manipulate them, yet she worries about how she'll be edited on the show. A self-professed "Big Brother" nerd, she has always loved to get all the details on the show and has spent considerable time on the message boards in the past. Laura may be the most cut-throat player this season by a long shot, so she'll either be out early for freaking people out or she'll last until the very end.
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Kevin, aka Campbellicous Age: 29 From: Chula Vista, Calif. Occupation: Graphic designer Status: Has a domestic partner
Jen's Take: This boy is good times. He's witty, stylish and loves girls, just not in that way. While on the show, he will miss his nine-year anniversary with... more his domestic partner. In his own words, he will fill the gay roll with "plenty of gayness" -- meaning, for "Big Brother" fans, he is more of a Joe than a Dustin. He hasn't planned much as far as strategy but says he does plan to hold back the fact that he is a former Jehovah's Witness, at least for a while, for fear that others will judge him. Previous gay houseguests have done well on this show, and there don't appear to be other housemates that would give him a hard time. He hopes that his parents, whom he hasn't talked to in years, will be told about the show and will watch him and maybe even be proud of him. I don't know if Kevin will win, but I think he'll make it to the jury.
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Braden Age: 28 From: Santa Monica, Calif. Occupation: Surfer and model Status: Single
Jen's Take: This was the one interview that was simply awkward. General consensus so far in the media is that something's up with this guy, but no one is sure what. The Santa Monica surfer ... moreboy comes across as cocky when it seems that deep down he's not. He started watching "Big Brother" when his friend Nathan was on season 4, and he thought he'd like to do it this year ... then bam! He is on. Braden's hobbies are surfing, which he's done all over the world, and talking to girls, which from my experience is a little surprising. Looks like Laura will have a guy she can use for the season. I don't really think that he will go far in the game, but people's in-house personalities vary widely from their interview personas, so who can really tell.
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Chima Age: 32 From: West Hollywood, Calif. Occupation: Writer Status: Single
Jen's Take: This super single girl, as she puts it, is full of life, fun and has a very positive aura. She is very bubbly, which will either be a great asset or her greatest downfall. She says she ... moreis going to downplay her energy for at least the first couple weeks so people don't think she's annoying. While she is excited to go in and play the game, she really hopes she doesn't get put on slop. If she wins the money, she will first pay off her school loans and then take a trip with her mom and grandma. Fully anti-showmance, she assures me that if there is a guy in the house she finds attractive, she will wait until after the show to pursue him. I'm not sure if Chima is mean enough to win the game, or has the will power to lay low when she needs to, but time will tell.
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Russell Age: 24 From: Walnut Creek, Calif. Occupation: Real estate broker and MMA fighter Status: Single
Jen's Take: This Mixed Martial Arts fighter seems to have a good handle on life and the "Big Brother" game. On my first impression, he seemed to be thinking two steps ... moreahead, always planning for what was going to come next. Although that is great in this game, it's not great if people know that's how you are, so we'll have to see how he acts around his housemates. He really hopes there are no criers in the house, as he doesn't know how to handle them, and he seems to have a lot of life experience, which comes in handy in this household. He will likely make it at least halfway with his competitive drive and charisma -- that is, if he can lay off the fighting for a few months. He also hopes that he doesn't encounter his perfect person while in the game because he doesn't want a romantic relationship for anything but strategy.
Erika HOH
Posts : 4252 Join date : 2008-09-05 Age : 52 Location : Chicago
Subject: Re: Meet the House Guests Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:25 pm
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Jeff Age: 31 From: Norridge, Ill. Occupation: Advertising salesman Status: Single
Jen's Take: I vote Jeff as the houseguest most likely to get played. He seems too nice for such a cutthroat show and is going into the house wanting a fairytale romance. He thinks meeting someone... more under these circumstances would be an amazing story to tell. Although it sounds all nice and dandy, we all know that you don't move into the "Big Brother" house looking to date. If anything, you want to go in and avoid such a thing. Besides that deficiency, Jeff seems like a really genuine guy, even living by the motto, "Treat others as you'd like to be treated." Another positive is that he comes from an athletic background, so he has a good chance at endurance and physical challenges. Will that be enough to overcome his overwhelming niceness?
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Michele Age: 27 From: Pasadena, Calif. Occupation: Neuroscientist Status: Married
Jen's Take: Michele is sooo excited to be on the show. She is a super fan who has been watching since season 2. Besides that, Michele says, she has the brains to get to the end of the game. ... moreAlthough she may be right, I think that the second she tells her housemates that she is a neuroscientist, they are going to have her on their brains as someone to get rid of. She plans to hang out under the radar. That strategy may work when a rocket scientist shows up as her housemate. Here's hoping she gets away with being a super smarty-pants.
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Ronnie Age: 30 From: Belpre, Ohio Occupation: None Status: Married
Jen's Take: W.O.W. in the house. For those of you stuck on World of Warcraft, "Big Brother" is a great way to detox from the gaming life. I too was a serious gamer, and now I'm clean! Ronnie has a very gamer-type... more personality. Gamers are very good at gaming, but they also tend to be somewhat antisocial, and "Big Brother" is a very social game. Ronnie is also a national speech and debate champion, which probably means he is a good talker. And when I think "speech and debate," I think Eric (from "Big Brother 8") on steroids, so that will be fun to watch. Overall, Ronnie has a good shot of making it far in this game, if not to the end.
Jen's Take: There are so many things to say about Natalie: She is a manager, which means she is used to having power over people; she is a poker player, which is helpful in this game, as any ... moregood poker player knows how to pick up on her opponents' tells; and she was also the bronze medalist in Tae Kwon Do in the Greece Olympics, which shows that she has determination. Overall, she has so much to offer in this game that I can only imagine she'll go far. That is, if she doesn't get trapped in a showmance -- she says she's not looking, but I think she and Russell have a ton in common, and if the chemistry is there ....
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Jordan Age: 22 From: Matthews, N.C. Occupation: Waitress Status: Single
Jen's Take: Jordan has to be the sweetest person of the season, at least from her first impression. She was one of the "Big Brother" recruits, which means that she had never seen an episode prior to a ... moremonth ago. She says that not having access to the world won't be that big of a deal considering that she doesn't have Internet access or a computer. Jordan is really excited to move into the house so she can have her own bed, as she currently shares with her mom. I'm hoping she makes it at least to the jury house so she can have the full experience, and so she can win some money to bring home. That said, I think the only chance she has of getting anywhere in this game is if others notice her sweetness and use her to further their own goals. People will see that she is not a threat.
Erika HOH
Posts : 4252 Join date : 2008-09-05 Age : 52 Location : Chicago
Subject: Re: Meet the House Guests Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:39 pm
Braden Bacha 28, Single Surfer, Santa Monica, CA
For Braden, a showmance isn’t out of the question. He plans to use the ladies to his benefit, especially if it means it’s going to get him farther in the game. A good friend of Nathan Marlow, Ali’s hunky hookup from season 4, Braden’s favorite past seasons are 4, 5 and 10. He loves traveling and one of his goals in life is to buy a house in Costa Rica.
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Mark’s take: “If I were to compare him to a previous contestant, I’d probably say he’s like Zach from season 8 but that would be an insult to Zach.”
Casey Turner 41, Married 5th Grade Teacher, St. Petersburg, FL
The oldest contestant in the house, Casey doubles as a middle school teacher and a DJ. An avid fan of the show, Casey says his favorite season is season 8 and his favorite past houseguest is Evel Dick because of how upfront and honest he played the game and was still able to win. As for Casey’s own strategy, he plans to lay low at the beginning and feel out who are the power players in the game, so as not to end up on the wrong side of the house at the beginning.
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Mark’s take: “He’s a really, really likeable guy and very down to earth.”
Chima Simone 32, Single Journalist, Hollywood, CA
Chima says she’s willing to throw her moral compass out the window before she steps foot into the house because she’s ready to play and ready to win. She says her personality is very strong, one that you either love or hate, so she plans to start off the game more reserved, then slowly warm up to everyone. If she were to play against anyone from a past season, Chima says she’d pick Jesse because he’s all muscle and brawn and she’s the exact opposite—no muscles, but a lot of brains.
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Mark’s take: “She was really bubbly, extremely likeable and had a really good energy. We had a great time talking to her and she didn’t seem as nervous as the other houseguests, just really happy to be there.”
Jeff Schroeder 30, Single Advertising Sales, Norridge, IL
Jeff plans on excelling at the physical challenges, but also wants to lay low at the beginning of the game. He thinks he’s most like Dan from last season, because he wears his heart on his sleeve and plans to play that way, too. If he had to pick one past houseguest to play against, he’d pick Brian because he thinks Brian’s multi-alliance strategy was a bad first move. One thing Jeff doesn’t plan on doing? Having sex in the house.
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Mark’s take: “America will enjoy him. He’s a good-looking guy and I enjoyed talking to him. I think he’ll emerge as a real player.”
Jordan Lloyd 22, Single Waitress, Matthews, NC
Jordan shares a room with her mom and her brother and doesn’t have an internet connection, so it’s no surprise that she hasn’t seen much of the show. She hopes that there are cute guys in the house, but she’s not necessarily looking for a showmance, especially since she doesn’t want a guy to use her, then get rid of her. If she wins the money, she plans on buying a house for her mom and brother and paying off some bills.
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Mark’s take: “She’s a really cute, Southern girl, but she’s naïve. I’m kind of afraid for her.”
Kevin Campbell 29, Single Graphic Designer, Chula Vista, CA
Kevin is also a diehard fan of the show (he’s been auditioning since season 1), to the point where he gets upset when people are cast who haven’t heard a thing about it. He’s very passionate about gay rights and gay marriage, but he also plans not to “lose his damn mind” like previous gay contestants. He “hearts” the twists from seasons 5 and 6, and plans to play the “BFF” role in the house. His favorite past houseguest? “Janelle, I love the bitch.”
Laura Crosby 21, Single Bikini Model, Atlanta, GA
According to Laura, she is a huge Big Brother “geek.” Her favorite season is season 8 and she loves Dick and Daniele, though she says if she had played then, she would have kicked them out sooner. Laura says she’s here to win the game, win the money and show all the Big Brother nerds that they can make it into the house and win it all. She thinks showmances are a strategic mistake and feels that they have made easy targets in the past (like Ollie and April).
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Mark’s take: “She’s an encyclopedia of Big Brother. She critiqued a lot of past houseguests on their moves and it’s clear she’s passionate about this.”
Erika HOH
Posts : 4252 Join date : 2008-09-05 Age : 52 Location : Chicago
Subject: Re: Meet the House Guests Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:43 pm
Lydia Tavera 24, Single Special Effects Technician, Torrance, CA
Lydia wants to be a valuable ally to everyone, so that no one sees her as a threat. She says she’s not above flirting with guys or girls if it’ll get her farther in the game, and her goal is to earn everyone’s trust. If she were to win the game, she would put the money towards opening up an amateur art gallery, because she believes in giving the “little guy” a shot.
Michele Noonan 27, Married Neuroscientist, Pasadena, CA
Michele is another Big Brother fan entering the house this season. She loved parts of season 10, though she thought there wasn’t a lot of gameplay there. She also loved season 8, especially Evel Dick and Daniele (sense a trend here?). She thinks that because Big Brother is a social experiment, she can use her professional background in neuroscience to control the house, though she plans to lay low at the beginning. Upon entering the house, Michele says she looks forward to maybe meeting some old houseguests and compares herself to her favorite player, Janelle: “We’re both fit, beautiful and smart!”
Natalie Martinez 24, Single Tae Kwon Do Champion, Gilbert, AZ
Natalie, unlike the others, does not have a favorite past season or a favorite past player, but she’s sure of one thing: she doesn’t like Dick. She thinks he’s a total jackass and he crossed the line with Jen, especially when he burned her with his cigarette. She’s currently in an on-again-off-again relationship with another guy and describes herself as “not completely single.” She says she would like to play against Jessica from season 9 because she’s an easy target.
Ronnie Talbott 30, Married Gamer, Belpre, OH
Ronnie has seen every season of Big Brother from season 2 on and loved All-Stars because he thought everyone felt they had something more to prove than before. A self-professed video game geek, Ronnie says he’s competitive and not afraid to backstab, lie or manipulate. He has many favorite houseguests, including Dr. Will, Jen, Dan and Janelle, all because of how they played the game or the entertainment value they brought to the house.
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Mark’s take: “Ronnie’s appearance doesn’t fit what’s on the inside, and I think people are really going to underestimate him. They might size him up as an easy target and realize later that they were wrong.”
Russell Kairouz 24, Single MMA Fighter, Walnut Creek, CA
Russell thinks he’s one of the strongest houseguests entering this season, and plans to use that to his advantage. He says his strategy is to befriend the next strongest houseguest and use them to get to the end of the game, and then turn on them at the last minute. Russell tells us he has no problem doing whatever it takes to win, even if it means treating everyone like pawns. Russell thinks Dick is the biggest prick in the world, but season 8 was still his favorite season.
Erika HOH
Posts : 4252 Join date : 2008-09-05 Age : 52 Location : Chicago
Subject: Re: Meet the House Guests Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:08 am
Erika HOH
Posts : 4252 Join date : 2008-09-05 Age : 52 Location : Chicago
Subject: You Ask, They Tell Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:09 am
Erika HOH
Posts : 4252 Join date : 2008-09-05 Age : 52 Location : Chicago
Subject: Re: Meet the House Guests Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:04 pm
Erika HOH
Posts : 4252 Join date : 2008-09-05 Age : 52 Location : Chicago
Subject: Re: Meet the House Guests Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:07 pm
I usually am not a fan of tribute type videos but this is pretty funny and very well done!
Colton BB Addict
Posts : 510 Join date : 2008-09-13
Subject: Re: Meet the House Guests Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:56 pm
Chima's song should be "Diva" - Beyonce, and Jordan's should be "Small Town Girl" - Kellie Pickler. I liked the video though.
leahtahd BB Addict
Posts : 665 Join date : 2009-08-03
Subject: Re: Meet the House Guests Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:13 am
Wow! my first impressions on this cast were so wrong! My favorites before the premiere were Natlaie and Lydia. I hate them now!!! I also called Laura for the win.
Lorraine HOH
Posts : 4575 Join date : 2008-09-06
Subject: Re: Meet the House Guests Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:33 am
My early favorite was Casey! I wish he had lasted longer! Loved that banana man....