HOLLYWOOD—The producers at CBS’ “Big Brother 16” did something they’ve rarely done on the series by breaking quarantine, not once, but twice in the same week. First, on Wednesday, news was revealed to contestant Frankie Grande that his grandfather had died. The news created a somber mood in the house. Just two days later, they broke quarantine again when they revealed to contestant Derek Levasseur that his grandfather had also passed away.

Do I believe “Big Brother” was right in informing contestants about deaths in the family yes? My concern is how that impacts the game. Frankie has already portrayed the sympathy card to a degree, those who have watched the live feeds are well aware of what I’m referring to. This impacts the game in my opinion in a way that is completely unfair because contestants don’t want to be portrayed as being unsympathetic to another person’s grief. It creates an unfair balance in my opinion. Other houseguests were hesitant in the Head of Household (HOH) competition, even to the point that Derrick threw the comp to Frankie.

While many may have thought what Derrick did was noble, I personally thought it was his attempt to get some points with the viewers. The televised episodes and live feeds are two different worlds. Some ‘truths’ about some of the contestants aren’t revealed in the TV episodes, so live feeders have a much different take on what the viewers see and what they see. So in a matter of one week, two contestants have suffered deaths in the family and have chosen to stay inside the house.

Do you want to know what is scary about this concept? The contestants are still playing the game as if nothing ever happened. Frankie appeared to be in game mode right away, and Derek mourned in his own private way. This week ‘The Detonators’ continued their mission to take out “threats” because this group is so idiotic, I can’t believe no one else has figured it out except Donny. Donny is well aware that the ringleaders are Frankie and Derrick, there is just one problem: Team America.

Honestly, this twist is not that interesting. Eric, America’s Player from season eight was way more fun to watch. How about allowing us to control votes, nominations, POV players and other things to shake up the game? Right now, the season is becoming a bore because no one and I mean no one, is making any moves worth watching.

What the hell is with this what the ‘house wants’ crap. This is “BB” not Best Friends.  Either play the game or go home. This is why I prayed that this season would have been an all-star season. Why? We would actually get to see people who know the game get the opportunity to play the game. If season 16 is pegged as the most twisted season yet, then the powers that be better start introducing some twists ASAP to change the game because the two HOH’s twist is not as compelling.

Perhaps a twist could involve the two nominees who win Battle of the Block have the ability to force the HOH who nominated them to be considered a third nominee on the block for the week. This way the HOH’s are not able to work with one another, they’d each have to play a separate game.

This week has been a disturbing one to say the least with the ‘house’ creating a vicious attack on houseguest Amber because she made it apparent the girls are being picked off one by one and that the guys needed to be targets. I get the whole Team America mission, but to personally attack a houseguest and to use another houseguest’s obsession with a contestant as the catalyst was disturbing.

Caleb doesn’t get that Amber has no romantic interest in him. She made it clear multiple times which he has not picked up on, what is worse is the house has no idea of what toying with Caleb’s emotions could do to him. He could go from zero to 60 in a matter of seconds, and some statements of physical threat have already been made. We all know about the fiasco of last season, the last thing that CBS’ wants is backlash because of some form of physical violence in the house.  Zach is a complete piece of work and he needs to be put in his place, but it’s unfortunate none of the guys in the house has the courage to nip this little twit.

We haven’t had many violent moments on “BB” and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn’t happen this season. My concern is these contestants are not willing to own up to their antics. If you’re a liar, admit it. A rat, admit it. An evil mastermind, admit it! To see these contestants compare themselves to master game players like Dr. Will, Boogie, Evel Dick, Dan and so many others is laughable; if even one veteran was introduced into this game, these contestants wouldn’t have the ability to think straight, yet alone make a move.

No one is playing their own game, except Donny. That’s why he’s the one everyone is rooting for. He’s smart, talks when he should,  is a kind person, and knows who to talk to and who not to talk to. He’s planning some big moves and I just can’t wait to see him in power. The house will be in utter chaos which it desperately needs at this point.

At first I had high hopes for season 16, but it’s slowly turning into “Big Brother 9” in my opinion, which was one of the worst seasons ever. Predictability is not fun; shake the game up in a way that we’ve never seen. Season 15 may have been the worst to date, but it was one of the most watched as well.

By LaDale Anderson