There was so much game play packed into this hour of "Celebrity Big Brother," we hardly got to see any banter or fighting between the contestants. Instead, we got to witness the house united against one of their own as alliances continued to shift and betrayal rang loud and clear. During the reign of Ariadna Guttierez, there will be blood! Not literally, of course, but you get the point.
We did get to see some hardcore insensitivity from Brandi Glanville -- you go girl -- and Metta World Peace finally unleashed his inner beast. Meanwhile, Mark McGrath continued to intentionally do nothing and attempt to float through the game. It might be safe to say that he's the only professional floater left in the game. We'll see how long that works as a strategy.
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View StoryWe're going to run this season like you'd run a department store. Each product, or celebrity, may have come in with equal value, but pretty quickly you start to see that certain ones aren't working. First, you try discounting them to see if they can turn things around and become solid performers again. But if that doesn't work, it's time to put them on clearance so you can sell them out (the door). With that said, let's take a look at our inventory, ranked from our strongest performer to our weakest.
SPOTLIGHT ITEM: Omarosa's ... Kindness?
Omarosa revealed a softer side in our latest update of the happenings in the White House. The houseguests didn't really get into their usual doom-and-gloom banter about Donald Trump himself, but instead focused on the First Lady, Melania Trump. Ross Matthews asked if she was nice, while Mark wondered if she really speaks seven languages.
"She's amazing," Omarosa replied. "I don't understand why people don't think that she's sharp. She speaks so many different languages. She's sharp." She also gave the First Lady props for how she renovated the White House, saying she has "impeccable taste."
Ross theorized that a lot of the hate she gets from people is probably because on top of all that, she's "gorgeous."
So yeah, Omarosa's being really nice right now and we're kind of shook. But she also knows no one is gunning for her at the moment, so once she's in those crosshairs, we expect classic Omarosa will make her triumphant and very aggressive return.
WINE AISLE
Here you'll find Brandi Glanville, sipping from a glass and sounding off about her housemates, her life, whatever she wants. As the wine aisle was closed in the last episode, we missed Brandi throwing some serious insensitivity to Keshia Knight Pulliam, even as the former child star was begging to be sent home so she could breast feed her child.
"I need to feed my kids, too. It may not be breast milk, but I have to provide for them," the former "Real Housewives" star shouted at Keshia in a flashback. "I don't even have a chance. I'm just saying, we all miss our kids. I know. I get it, but food is food." Keshia leaving was throwing a wrench in the backdoor Shannon Elizabeth plan, but it's just a game, Brandi. Have another sip. Maybe a full bottle.
"I just saw Shannon. She said good morning. That's my story." There's the Brandi we know and love! At another point, after a lengthy conversation, Brandi interjected with, "That said--" and then a long pause. Finally, she added, "No idea what I was going to say. My meds are kicking in."
During the golf-themed challenge, Brandi provided the best commentary of her performance. "I hate golf," she explained. "It sucks and I suck at it. And honestly, I'd rather be at the 19th hole. You know, guys, that's the bar."
Can Brandi narrate the whole show?
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Ross Matthews ("Chelsea Lately") may not be in power this week, but he might as well be. His alliance member Ariadna took the HOH crown, but Ross is still sitting pretty, a member in good standing of two Final Four alliances ... at least that was the case. A little too much celebrating tipped Shannon and James off that the tone of the house was shifting, but much like Keshia and Omarosa learning they were on the bottom, there is little the two can do alone.
Ariadna Guttierez (almost Miss Universe) really stepped up her game when she won Head of Household in the last episode, and she proved she was here to play the game and play it hard in this episode, nominating her two primary targets to get them both on the block. She figured she didn't care which of James and Shannon went home, just so long as she broke up that power duo. But was it a power duo? Shannon denies it was, and it may have been just a friendship.
Marissa Jaret Winokur ("Hairspray") continues to maintain her strong position with the right people, and has had a hand in every decision that's been made so far. Unlike Shannon, she didn't reveal herself to be a master strategist and competition beast, but she may be every bit as masterful as her friend. So far, like Ross, her mastery of this game and her subtle manipulations are flying under the radar.
Brandi Glanville is on the right side of the numbers still, and her mind is properly in this game. She also has managed to keep herself out of the spotlight thus far, despite rather aggressively going after both James and Keshia (that we've seen so far). As the numbers dwindle, she'll need to keep a tighter lid on that trap if she wants to stick around.
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Metta World Peace (NBA) has arisen. "They just unleashed Metta World Beast. Game on," he said. Bitter that Keshia was sent home at her request when he wasn't, Metta has decided to play the game, and it came at just the right time. Before the switch in power away from Shannon, Metta was looking like a solid backup plan to get booted because he'd expressed interest in going home.
Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray) is laying low and playing virtually no game at all, and that's totally his strategy. At least everyone seems to like him, but he's also rather expendable as he's not part of any alliance and not really doing anything. Eventually, he's going to have to become Mark McBeast and join this game.
Omarosa Manigault ("The Apprentice") has a stay of execution at best because Shannon and James are bigger physical threats than her and she has no allies. But make no mistake, she is still on elimination row. It's just not her time right now. And her tendency to lash out when backed into a corner is only going to get her pushed out sooner. She needs to soften her game, even when pressed, if she wants a chance. Either that or just win every damned competition that matters.
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James Maslow ("Big Time Rush") has been a target since day one because he's such a physical competitor. Even though he's still in it and fighting, his time is probably going to come as the overall opinion has remained the same -- that boy needs to go.
Shannon Elizabeth ("American Pie") clearly played her cards too soon, revealing herself to be the single most dangerous player in the game. Now, with Keshia gone and Omarosa a free agent, she's suddenly public enemy number one. Started at the top now she's here, and unless she dries her tears and gets her head back in the game, she is done before the POV happens. It's time to get your game face on, or you might as well pack your bags.
OVERHEARD IN THE CHECKOUT LANE
- "I don't care about the money. I just want some people to go because they wouldn't let me go home to my wife." Metta
- "This house is crazier than backstage at a Sugar Ray concert in 1999." Mark
- "I'll check in with my alliance and make sure everything's okay, but I think we're fine." Shannon (she's totally not.)
- "I'm told Shannon is the target. Oooh, I would love to be the one to take the shot." Omarosa
- "Yay, I finished first. That's because I was first." Brandi (during the cruise-themed golf challenge ... she did not do great)
- "Marissa is single-handedly proving that that stereotype about theater kids not being good at sports is probably true." Ross (during the challenge)
- "I step up to my turn and immediately I have millions of thoughts going through my head. What if an iceberg hits us. What if we drown. What if one of my friends fall in the ocean and she's like, 'Come back, come back!'" Metta (during the challenge)
- "You know it really isn't a bad photo, after all. It's kind of nice." James (after being nominated)
"Big Brother: Celebrity Edition" is on all the damned time! Upcoming installments in the next week air on Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.