Hannah recaps/reviews Episode #4 of Next Food Network Star!

Photo credit:  Food Network

After taking some time to recover from the stress of tonight’s episode, I’m here and ready to give my thoughts on the episode.  This week centered around the concept of a dinner and a movie and the remaining contestants were split into three groups of three for the challenge.  This week’s challenge gave each group a movie genre:  Romance, Western, or Musical.  Each group would have to make a 60-second movie trailer to introduce their dishes to a focus group.  The groups meals would consist of three dishes: an appetizer, the main entrée, and a dessert.  The teams fell as follows:

Photo credit:  Food Network

Team Romance:  Viet, Damaris, and Chad
Team Western:  Russell, Nikki, and Stacey
Team Musical:  Chris, Lovely, and Rodney

Automatically, I am on #TeamRomance considering two of my favorites (Viet and Chad) both landed on that team.  At the same time, I also like #TeamWestern a lot.  #TeamMusical, yeah, sorry but I’ll pass.  After having some time to plan their genre-centered meals, they went and taped their movie trailers.  After the preview for this episode, I was quite excited for the movie trailer portion of the episode!  The editing made the movie trailers look terrible during the filming, but they ended up being pretty great – as predicted!  #TeamWestern’s movie trailer was pretty calm and Nikki had a great performance.  At the same time, Russell did a lot better than the filming made it look like he did.  #TeamMusical was great – as they made a song to introduce their meal!  I love me a good song and dance!  Rodney was difficult to understand, and the crowd disliked that, but Chris and Lovely were pretty good for their parts.  And finally, they saved the best for last.. #TeamRomance.  Their movie trailer was hilarious.  Damaris was to choose between Chad and Viet (who were representing their dishes).. think: The Bachelorette!  Clearly, the choice was obvious, but Damaris was smart in deciding that she couldn’t decide!  Therefore landing her both Chad and Viet!  (Somewhere, a jealous Hannah lurks.)

Now time for the Russell rollercoaster!  I’ll start this week first with Russell!  As predicted in last week's review/recap, Russell indeed continued on the Russell rollercoaster!  We have now seen Russell go from the bottom three, to the top three, back to the bottom three, and then right back up to the top three!  While next week could be a little sketchy, if he does continue on this path, it’s certainly entertaining to watch.  Russell had a good performance for the movie trailer, but his food was lacking some this week.  While I would have enjoyed his western spaghetti (because bacon,) the focus group and judges were underwhelmed by it.

Photo credit:  Food Network

Next, Viet.  Okay, I’ll start this one by telling you that you lucked out if you’re in the group of people that doesn’t include my family, who had to watch this episode with me.  Frankly, they ignored me by having phone conversations or leaving the room.  (Added note: My sister appeared to be #TeamViet, so it must run in the family.)  But this episode was stressful when it came to Viet!  Viet made his first appearance in the bottom three.  I knew it was coming when the judges and focus group weren’t big fans of his dessert.  I thought the dessert looked good minus the whipped cream stuff.  (I only say that because whipped cream is one of my biggest fears, but anyways)  I just didn’t want it to happen, him being in the bottom three and all.  And I’m not going to lie, I did start to worry when Alton (my favorite judge) went all anti-Viet this episode. (How could you do this to me, Alton?)  I don’t really see why the judges can't picture Viet improving, and unless there’s something that isn’t being shown, I don’t really get why they think he needs to improve so much.  But as previously mentioned, I’m biased (and also, not a Food Network star and/or professional chef) so maybe my opinion doesn’t count for anything.

Another good thing about this episode was the return of Nikki.  She had a great performance in the movie trailer, and despite having no background in working in a restaurant environment, she did a good job at getting her dish cooked under the given conditions.  I think a lot of the reason why #TeamWestern was so successful was because of Nikki.  Yay for Nikki domination!  At this point in the competition, I think Nikki is a great contender and I’m so glad that she’s on #TeamHannah.  Also, Chad returned on this episode!  He’s been doing great up until now, but they’ve not been showing too much of him.  Chad was hilarious in the movie trailer and his chicken wings looked AMAZING!  Also, while it didn’t get the best reviews, one of the dishes that I thought looked the best this episode was Chris’ lobster macaroni and cheese.  I mean, I’m kind of obsessed with macaroni and cheese, so if you just throw macaroni and cheese in as an option, I’ll choose it 9 out of 10 times.  But besides that, it just looked delicious and it made me want to reach through my TV!

Lovely becomes the fourth person eliminated from #NFNS, leaving only eight stars to compete
for the title of the Next Food Network Star. (Original photo credit: Food Network)

#TeamHannah had a great showing this week and all of the remaining five team members stayed out of the bottom three (and the top three were all from #TeamHannah! I told you, #TeamHannah is unified!)  so that was awesome.  So while it’s sad to see Lovely leave, I really don’t mind it too much because that takes Austin’s team down to three, giving me a 5-3 advantage in the draft.  

Also last minute thoughts: I was sad that the dials played such a small role in tonight’s episode since they are one of my favorite parts!  Next week’s episode looks great!  I think it’s the episode where the judges purposely mess up things for the contestants during their presentations in order to see how they’d handle the situation if it were to occur!  And to my surprise, it was announced that one of the first four eliminated contestants will re-enter the competition!  Who will it be? (I kind of want it to be Andres, but I expect it to be Lovely.  Although I know I should want it to be Danushka, considering she is the only one of the four from #TeamHannah.)  You can watch the first episode of Star Salvation HERE. (After watching the first episode, I guess this Star Salvation runs for 5 weeks, so even if any of my favorites get eliminated, they'll have the chance to get back in the competition! YES!!)

#TeamAustHan Drafts the BB15 Houseguests!

The moment has finally arrived! As we do with all of the shows we cover here at AustHan's World, Hannah and I have made our draft picks for #BB15. If you're not familiar with our #AustHanDrafts, you can take a look at some of our past selections here and here. Basically, we use our first impressions to build a team of contestants labeled Team Hannah and Team Austin. Both of us hoping of course to select the overall winner. Now with #BB15, we also have the #BBBrackets event taking place. Although both Hannah and I are excitedly filling out our brackets, as all Big Brother uber fans should. The #BB15 AustHan draft is a completely separate event.

Austin's Thoughts:

• GinaMarie – I had to go with GinaMarie in the first round because I felt instantly connected to her. I love Italian New Yorkers! I also think she’ll fair well in the Big Brother house. I see an air of drama surrounding her, and I love that. In the long run, I feel like she could win her way to the end. She may be a bit too abrasive to form many in house friendships, but I see her being strong in competitions. I also love that she has two first names! GinaMarie is Austin's answer to BB15 bliss. As Nicole Richie would say, do you love it?

• Judd – What can I say about Judd? He’s one of only two guys that stuck out to me while watching the interviews (the other is Andy whom I'm in love with and Hannah stole). You can tell that he knows what he’s getting himself into, and how to handle it, which I like. Compared to the other guys in the house, Judd is the most likely to win #BBMVP. Guaranteed! He’s also knowledgeable game wise, and I can respect his reality TV aspirations as being similar to my own. #Twinsies.

• Elissa – Calm down, I haven’t gone all main stream. I loved Rachel during BB13, and have come to accept her and her occasional reality TV faults for what they are. So, imagine my surprise when Elissa made it into the house this season. Alright, so there wasn't actually a “surprise” moment surrounding this, but you get the point. I immediately knew that I would cheer for Elissa, because I see her as being a slightly more matured version of Rachel. That coupled with the beastly Reilly blood flowing through her yoga veins, is enough for me to label her a competitor. She also plans on withholding her true identity as the sister of Rachel, which if played correctly, could be fun to watch. I doubt that’s what will actually happen, but what do I know? Bonus points: She's already married! So, we don't have to worry about any "bookie" moments for E! #Winning

• Amanda – What’s not to love about Amanda? She knows what she’s getting herself into, she’s from Long Island, and as we've established I loves me a tough New Yorker. I have so many high hopes for Amanda, its unreal. I really want to see her and my BB15 spirit animal GinaMarie become the female Dan and Memphis. Like, please become best friends and provide me with hours of entertainment. I seriously just got so excited typing the prospect of that, that I should be deemed bi-polar. I experienced that much of a mood swing! She’s a real estate agent meaning she knows how to close a deal, and I love a Mandy (because she will herein be referred to as that). See BB9. Bueno!

• Candace – In case you’re not sensing a theme among my selections here, I picked Candice because she’s FIERY, and Austin love-a-da-fire when it comes to life inside the Big Brother house. The one thing that sticks out to me about Candice, is her ability to adapt. She recently found out that she was adopted, and her life did a “complete 180 in a matter of months". Kind of like life in the Big Brother house does, huh? For that reason and that reason alone, I think Candice will have no problem making herself at home this summer. She also loves Ian and is from NOLA. Hello post-season love connection! 

• Kaitlin – I was kind of hesitant to select Kaitlin, because the one interview I watched of her came across as a bit boring for my taste. I like bold personalities, and I didn't receive that sort vibe from her. That being said, her written bio is what changed my mind. She plans to be closed off, and hates drama and fake people. Before your groans of “why in the world would you pick her then” grow any louder, hear me out. I see Kaitlin has a blank piece of paper. She’ll be very neutral. This will either help her advance in the game, or hurt her immensely. Only time will tell, but I have an odd feeling that this pick may not have been the worst. 

• Spencer – Initial thoughts; Spencer will be the ultimate puppet. He doesn't seem overly assertive to me. That being said, he is a James BB6 fan. Should he model his game after James, and combine the fact the he, unlike a few of the men in the house this season, has a brain, he should be in an excellent position for success. I've not sold myself on Spencer being my ticket to winning this draft in the slightest, but I do think he’ll manage to keep me in the game a little longer than some. Shout out to his favorite activity - Watching TV because, yeah, that’s basically my extracurricular life.

• Jeremy – Jeremy was the last kid to be picked in the gym class that was the AustHan BB15 draft. I can’t stand him in any way. As soon as he opened his mouth, my douche meter exploded. Generally when the set designer has finished building the BB house for the season, he and his crew remove their tools. This year, they left one behind. I have zero faith in Jeremy, and I gladly ask America to never vote him MVP (or vote him MVP every week depending on how that plays out) and for the houseguests to vote him out week one. Better yet, give him the Jodi treatment! If Big Brother made him famous, he would WORK HARD TO STAY FAMOUS. I can’t, I just can’t. You like boats Jeremy? Well,  I hope your Big Brother boat ends up like the Titanic. 

Hannah's Thoughts:  Thanks to John Cochran's win on Reality GameMasters, I got the first pick in this draft.  While I won't brag about now being 2-0 in drafts against Austin, I will brag about these draft results!  I have officially declared Andy as my spirit animal for the #BB15 season.  I don't have to look any further than his bio!  First off, he teaches!  I will be teaching!  Also, anyone who loves eating candy, making lists, ranking things (He would so fill out a BB Bracket!), teaching birds to call his dad "gurl," eating ice cream too fast, and being adorable IS A FRIEND OF MINE. (Best friend.)  Just everything about his bio, is me.  It makes me wish I had auditioned (as planned) and gotten in the #BB15 house.  You would have seen so much #Handy this season!  Nick is my destined BB crush for the summer. Also, Nick is originally from Ohio which made him a lock to be on my team.  McCrae is a super fan, which I love.. dearly!  (Plus he's a pizza delivery boy! Omg!)  I feel like Helen has the ability to takeover the #BB15 house.  I chose Jessie because she seems pretty likable - she kinda gives me a Jillian from Big Brother Canada vibe. (But hopefully I will like her!)  I picked Aaryn.. for really no reason at all other than to have Zach on #TeamHannah this season.  I like Howard, and I maybe would have picked him sooner, since he's a fan and whatnot.  But I simply could not get over the fact that he said Jason (one of my all-time FAVORITES) was from BB2 in his CBS Bio! (I really hope that was a typo!)  And David, well.. I disliked him less than Jeremy. (And Spencer. GOD! Don't even get me started on Spencer!!)

Also, I should probably add that when I ranked the cast in terms of their planned strategies, 6 of the people I ended up picking fell within the top half.  Just so you don't think I solely chose these people blindly off my personal opinions of them.  (Although I should also add that Andy wouldn't have been my first pick had I picked on planned strategies alone!)


There you have it Big Brother fans. The results of the #BB15 #AustHanDraft. Because Hannah and I are overly competitive people, we want to know who you're putting your support behind. Are you #TeamAustinBB15 or #TeamHannahBB15? Let us know on Twitter @AustinBarns @theonlytrace @AustHansWorld and as always in the comments below. Be sure to use the hashtags because, well, we're obsessed with them.

And don't forget to get your #BBBrackets, print one off and get your family and friends involved.

BONUS: Don't forget to click the Big Brother After Snark tab to submit your pre-season Fan Chat questions, comments, theories, and concerns about the season. Don't miss your chance to be featured in the premiere episode of our Big Brother After Snark recap show on June 24th. 

AustHan's World Presents Big Brother Brackets!

Now that the BB15 cast has been released (which you can find HERE), AustHan can finally make the announcement that we have been waiting over a month to make.  That announcement is Big Brother Brackets (which can also be referred to as BB Brackets, BBB, Triple B, whatever you please!)

Austin came up with the idea for BB Brackets, and I then took on the task of running absolutely wild with it. It has been a lot of fun to plan and create, and I hope that you will find it as fun and exciting as I do.  BB Brackets will work similarly to the March Madness brackets, but perhaps a little differently since there are no distinct match-ups and you will have to plan them yourselves.

You can find and print the full-sized bracket by clicking this link.

Above is the bracket that you can print (and then fill out and complete.)  Each slot on the bracket is numbered 1-16 for the different houseguests.  It is up to you to rank them.

The basic guideline for filling out you bracket:

Plan out your ranking of the 16 houseguests.  If you think someone will be the first one out, then put them as the 16 seed.  If you think someone will win the whole thing, put them as the 1 seed.  Planning your ranking out on a separate piece of paper or typed out list first will keep you from making any errors - which keeps you from having to redo anything!

The basic rules for scoring your bracket:

1. Every time you guess the correct eviction spot of a houseguest, you will score 5 points.
2. Every time you guess the correct round in which a houseguest will be evicted, you will score 1 point.
3. For each houseguest that you predict will make the final four that ends up actually making the final four, you will score 3 points.
4. For each houseguest that you predict will make the final two that ends up actually making the final two, you will score 5 points.
5. If you predict the right winner of Big Brother 15, you will score 10 points.
6. For added entertainment, we have added in a showmance prediction.  After looking at the cast, you can predict one showmance.  You can add this on your bracket after you've finished filling it out by placing a heart next to each of the names of the two houseguests in your predicted showmance.  If these two houseguests end up actually getting in a showmance, even if they "break up" at some point during the season, you will score 4 points total.

I went ahead and described more of the rules and guidelines for filling out and scoring your brackets, so if you need to read further, you can do so HERE.

Also, we have gone ahead and added a few prizes to BB Brackets - which are all AustHan's World related prizes, or as we like to refer to them.. AustHan Gold.  These prizes are merely there for fun and there may be more added later, but essentially, BB Brackets was just made for entertainment - much like March Madness brackets are.  Have competitions against your friends and family and tell us how they go!

If you do want to win a prize, there are rules posted along with the rules and guidelines for brackets, which are, in case you didn't click it before, HERE.

BB Brackets is officially open to all and I hope everyone has a lot of fun with it.  Will you be filling out a bracket?  Do you like the idea of BB Brackets?  Let us know your thoughts on it all via the comment section below!  (Or you can always tweet me @theonlytrace, Austin at @austinbarns, or AHW at @austhansworld!)

BONUS: Don't forget to click the Big Brother After Snark tab to submit your pre-season Fan Chat questions, comments, theories, and concerns about the season. Don't miss your chance to be featured in the premiere episode of our Big Brother After Snark recap show on June 24th. 

BB15 Twists Revealed

Photo Credit: CBS

CBS shed some much needed light on the newest season of Big Brother today, providing fans with a more concrete look at the season’s new twists. As promised by host Julie Chen, America will indeed have a crucial role this season. Each week, the fans will take to their electronic devices to cast their votes for the Big Brother MVP or #BBMVP, with the winner being awarded a mystery power. What could that power be? We’re promised that all will be revealed during the season premiere one week from tonight. What we do know is that for fans, the game starts Thursday! America will have the opportunity to vote for the first MVP before the houseguests move into the house. Voting will open following the release of the season 15 houseguest bios Thursday on the CBS website.

But that’s not all Big Brother fans; in addition to the #BBMVP show runners have shared an even bigger twist with the public. This season, the Head of Household won’t nominate just two of their housemates for eviction, but THREE. It appears that no one will be safe from the block this season.

On thing that immediately sticks out to me about the third nominee twist, is the Power of Veto competition. Normally, 6 houseguests compete for the POV. The 2 nominees, the HOH, and 3 players selected at random. Will we see 8 houseguests competing for the coveted power this season?

In non twist news, several details of the new front of the house (Julie’s studio) we’re also released;

The mid-century style of the BIG BROTHER house continues on host Julie Chen’s newly remodeled set.  The multi-story front of the house features a new high-gloss stage, a lighted runway and a massive 103 inch plasma screen, as well as several other screens, for Julie to monitor and communicate with the Houseguests.

In addition to the fun that CBS has planned for viewers this season, we here at AustHan’s World also have some exciting things planned. As soon as the bios are released, you will most definitely want to point your browser to AHW. If you like prizes and competition, we can promise that you won’t want to miss this! 

There’s a go big or go home vibe striking me this season, and I'm loving every second of it. Are you? Let us know on Twitter or sound off below. 

Day #19 of the 26 Days of Eric Stein!

"The sad thing is my arms and legs, they looked pretty decent in the dress.  I am a fairly petite fellow, but y'know, I pay up.. I paid the piper and I did what was asked of me."

Today's picture and quote come from episode 20, when Eric and Jessica played beer pong against Daniele and Zach and each team placed bets against one another.  The BB8 cast played a lot of beer pong while in the house and I don't think many other houseguests in other seasons have done so.  I think it's stuff like that that keeps live feeds viewers entertained though, so I can only hope that the BB15 houseguests break it out again this season, or at least find their own way to entertain themselves and us viewers.  Some of the bets that were made in these games were:

1. If Eric and Jessica won, Zach would have to wear Jen's bikini.  If Eric and Jessica lost, Eric would have to wear women's size small booty shorts. (Eric and Jessica lost, and Eric paid up on the bet.)
2. Whatever team lost, the teammates would have to wear each other's clothing.  This is what today's quote and picture come from - so you can therefore see that Eric and Jessica also lost that bet.  (Note: How in the world would this one have worked out had Zach and Daniele lost?  Given their differences in size, I'm pretty sure that Zach wouldn't be able to fit in ANY of Daniele's clothing?)

The Big Brother 15 House Makes it's Debut

Photo Credit The Hollywood Reporter

As the June 26th premiere of Big Brother 15 quickly approaches, Entertainment Tonight has given fans their first glimpse inside the seasons new house. Among the features of the newly renovated hamster cage house, are a swanky new kitchen, a freshly updated backyard, a nomination couch (that we're promised is part of the twist!) and a gorgeous spa inspired bathroom.

 Host Julie Chen also teases that fans will see 15 new faces this summer, and one "familiar face" that's "not what you think". The speculation has already begun. Many on Twitter are claiming that Rachel Reilly's sister Elissa will be among the new crop of houseguests. Others claim that various Survivor contestants could make an appearance. Who do you think this mysterious "familiar face" will be? And, what do you think of the new house? Let us know in the comments below, or Tweet us your theories.

Get your first look at the house with host Julie Chen below.



BB15 Tour with Julie by DreamersVids

Day #18 of the 26 Days of Eric Stein!

"If anyone asks you where you got it from, I'm going to claim I have no idea what you're talking about."

Today's quote and picture both go along with Eric's America Player task where America chose for Eric to share a special moment with Jessica by giving her his childhood woobie.  As a huge fan of Eric and Jessica, I love any task that involved the two of them, but I really enjoyed this one because it was overbearingly cute.  Plus Eric had a lot of fun completing the task and it helped further the bond between him and Jessica in the house. (Even if it wasn't actually his childhood woobie.)  Woobie had no arms, which was quirky and great and he went on to become a member of Eric and Jessica's little family - as pictured above.

AustHan AVA's Day Seven - Villain You Loved to Hate

You voted, and the results are in! Who is your favorite Big Brother villain?

The nominees for villain you loved to hate are…

·   Dr. Will BB2 and BB7

·   Alison BB4

·    Scott BB5

·   Eric “Cappy” BB6

·   Mike Boogie BB2 and BB7

·  Evel Dick BB8

·  Josuah BB9

·  Jesse BB10 and BB11

·  Rachel BB12

·  Dani  BB13

The AVA goes to…RACHEL REILLY BB12 and BB13. Congratulations Rachel! This is Rachel’s second win in the 15 days that are the AustHan AVA’s. Everything about Rachel is explosive, and I love her for it. This is what makes her a stand out and one of the biggest stars in the world of Big Brother. Let’s take a look at some memorable Rachel moments.

Video Credit (Friend of AustHans World) Jeremy Woods on YouTube. 

Be sure to congratulate Rachel on her win on Twitter! And, don’t forget to check back tomorrow to find out who you voted to award the AVA to in the dumbest move category. 

Day #17 of the 26 Days of Eric Stein!

"In all sincerity, Earl was a big part of my life for the past 7 years.  As a pet, he was somewhat boring to watch, impossible to play with, and angry at the world - overall, he was quite surly.  However, he was my surly iguana and he will be sorely missed.  RIP Earl."

This is how I like to imagine
Earl the iguana.

It's been a while, so I'll make today's quote one from another one of Eric's MySpace blogs.  This one was about the death of his pet iguana, Earl.  While it was a sad post, it had the Eric touch of humor in it and was quite amazing.  The way he described Earl as being "angry at the world" makes me imagine Earl as being almost as hilarious as Eric. (Other reasons to quote this quote:  It has been almost 7 years since BB8 - okay, so, 6 years in actuality, but that's almost the same thing.  So that would mean Eric has ~somewhat~ been a part of my life for the past 7 (but really, 6) years.  Also, the timing is pretty spot-on since Eric was just eliminated from Reality GameMasters and he will be sorely missed from that.. by me, at least.)

And today's picture doesn't related at all to the post, but it was one of my favorite Eric pictures during the summer of 2007 and I'm pretty sure I used it as my MySpace profile picture for an extended amount of time.

And in all sincerity, this post reminds me of this song. 

Hannah recaps/reviews Episode #3 of Next Food Network Star!

Photo Credit: Food Network

This week’s episode centered around the contestants working with mystery ingredients.  The judges (only Alton and Bobby this week, since Giada couldn’t be there) wanted to the contestants to show they could cook using anything given to them, even if they had never seen the ingredient(s) before.   The quick challenge at the beginning of the episode split the remaining ten contestants into two groups.  Alton’s group was made up of Chris, Nikki, Lovely, Stacey, and Rodney.  Bobby’s group therefore consisted of (my three favorites) Viet, Russell, and Chad, along with Damaris and Danushka.  Alton and Bobby would taste the dishes made by the contestants on their team and then would each choose a winner from their team.  The winner would win an advantage for the week/episode.

Each of the ten were given different mystery ingredients to use as the centerpiece of a dish.  I couldn’t even begin to tell you what these ingredients were named – let alone what they were!  I forget just how little I know about food until I watch a show like this on the Food Network.  I will tell you that I have heard of one of the ingredients, the dragon fruit (which was Danushka’s ingredient) and I have a strong urge to try it sometime!

When it came to judging the dishes, Alton was quick and to the point, which I loved so very much.  In the end, Alton wasn’t overly impressed with a lot of the dishes.  He had never seen bitter melon used the way that Rodney had used it, and he really liked it, so he named Rodney the winner of his group.  Bobby found Damaris’ dish with the mystery ingredient of mango pickle to have a lot of flavor, so he named her the winner of his group.  Damaris said that mango pickle is comparable to bacon, so I’m very intrigued by that, if I’m to be honest.

It was then announced that Alex Guarnaschelli, the famous judge from the real ‘Chopped,’ would be a guest judge on the panel for this episode’s Chopped challenge.  It was also announced that Damaris and Rodney, as winners of the quick challenge, would be safe from elimination for the week and would serve on the judging panel during their respective team’s rounds.  Quite the advantage, but if not played right, could also be a great way to make enemies!

Photo Credit: Food Network

The first round consisted of Viet, Russell, Chad, and Danushka.  Their mystery Chopped ingredients were things found at sporting events:  beer, hot dogs, peanuts, and cotton candy.  I loved this round of the episode because it was full of great moments!  Danushka was frying things “out of boredom!”  Then Viet told the story of one of his fondest food memories from childhood – when his parents would work long shifts, so he would cook ramen for himself and add chopped up hot dogs to the ramen.  (Note:  While I have many fond cooking and eating memories involving ramen, I cannot say the same about hot dogs.  I once choked (and therefore almost died!) on a hot dog around age 8 and haven’t eaten one since!  Sorry Viet!  #TeamAnythingButHotDogs)  Damaris was a pretty great judge overall, and delivered a great moment when she told Danushka that she didn’t look excited to be there.  This resulted in Danushka being somewhat offended, but never fear, because Chad was there to back Damaris up!

The second round consisted of Nikki, Stacey, Chris, and Lovely.  Their mystery Chopped ingredients were kid friendly food items:  chicken nuggets, fruit leathers (I was so confused by this name!  They were Fruit Roll-ups!), goldfish crackers, and apple juice.  Overall, I think these ingredients would be harder to combine all together to make something great, but hey!  I’m not a professional chef!  I wasn’t overly impressed by anything from this group, besides Nikki’s dish!  Nikki made a chicken nugget and broccoli spring roll and HELLO!  I need to try one of these ASAP.  There is no vegetable that I love more than broccoli and lately I have been going overboard with chicken nuggets, after taking a three year break from them, so this sounds like it was invented just for me!

Now enough of the straight-up recapping, it’s time for some of the fun stuff!  Up first, the paragraph dedicated to Viet.  Why?  Because why not.  Besides the above-mentioned Viet moment, there was another great moment when Viet found Damaris’ ingredient in the quick challenge (mango pickle) to be a bit “unfair” because it was an ingredient packed with a lot of flavor, whereas a lot of the other ingredients weren’t.  I don’t know why, but Viet seems like such a peaceful person so when he’s feisty, it’s entertaining to watch.  (Don’t judge me.)  While Viet’s presentation wasn’t as great this week as it was last week, I still thought he did good. “Literally.”  But, Bobby wants Viet to be more passionate about what he does.  I’m guessing this was just meant presentation-wise though, as Viet’s food was great for the third week in a row.   Another week of Viet’s safety in the competition is another week void of depression for yours truly!  #TeamViet

Because, I like Russell, I will now take you on a roller-coaster, much like Russell takes us viewers each week with his constant switching from bottom 3, to top 3, and back to the bottom 3.  Since the Viet section was a “good” thing, now I will give you the things that I didn’t like about this episode.  First off, the lack of Chad!  He did get some good moments – like having one of the best dishes of the week and defending Damaris’ performance on the judging panel, but I feel like the editors are taking a break from building Chad’s story within the show.  This worries me, but maybe they’re just saving all the good things for once some of the others have been eliminated?  Also, the Russell thing!  I never know what to expect with this guy on the show, which I guess is almost a good thing since it keeps things from being predictable.  I can only hope that next week, Russell will continue on, what I am now formally referring to as, the “Russell Roller-coaster” and will be back in the top 3 – or at least the middle of the pack! (As per Danushka’s wishes of her own spot in the group!)

Photo Credit: Food Network

Now, let’s go back to the good moments.  Chris had a great moment on this episode when he shared more of his story.  His story being that he was a former drug addict and alcoholic and that food was what helped save his life and get it back on track.  He wants to use food to change the lives of others like he used it to change his own.  Before this moment, I didn’t feel like there was a lot of depth to Chris, but this showed a lot more about him and made him seem a lot more personable.  I can only imagine that it takes a lot of strength to share that kind of story with others, but I’m so glad Chris decided to tell it!  It has given me a much better outlook on him and has made him less forgettable. #GoChris!  He also had another great moment during the Chopped challenge when Stacey was not going to finish, so he spent his free time to help her finish on time.  This episode did a great job of showing his kind and caring side.  (Even though I’ll always believe the main reason he helped her was the fact that she is on #TeamHannah, as is he.  #TeamHannah is a unified unit, people!)

But, not so unified to remain undefeated in the AustHan NFNS Draft!  This week #TeamHannah lost its first member in Danushka.  While I wasn’t a Danushka fan, as I found her to be less creative than the others in the competition, I really enjoyed her different personality and confessionals.  She added some humor to the show without even trying, which I loved.  I will miss some of the drama that she brought to the show, but as with most shows, the drama always has an expiration date and then it’s gone and only the strongest remain.  It’s just unfortunate that today was the expiration date on the drama brought to us by Danushka!

With the elimination of Danushka, there are 3 stars down with only 9 stars remaining to
compete for the title of Next Food Network Star! (Original Photo Credit:  Food Network)

Next week’s episode looks rather amazing, as the contestants look as if they’ll be put into teams for the challenge.  They will be making movie trailers for their food and the audience accompanied by dials will return, which you know I love!

Day #16 of the 26 Days of Eric Stein!

Photo Credit: CBS

"Welcome to the veto competition, baby!"

Eric never got picked to play in the veto competitions during Big Brother 8, but finally, the day came and Eric got picked to play!  (Note: At the time BB8 aired, I hated that Eric never got to play in veto competitions, but looking back, I love the fact that he hosted so many of them.  #BestVetoHostAward)  The veto competition ended up being the Otev one, except it was a Cheshire Cat-like creature instead of Otev.  The houseguests were given answers to riddles, then they'd race to find the matching riddle, which was attached to a rat. (Like in today's picture.)  The last one to arrive back with the right riddle would be eliminated each round.  

This veto competition was at the final 7.  Jessica was HOH and had nominated Amber and Zach.  In the final round of the competition, it came down to Eric and Amber.  Editing made it look like Amber had found her rat first - and that Eric found his at about the same time.  Eric sprinted back, whereas Amber didn't, so Eric
won the veto!  This was such a proud moment for me during BB8 and I love rewatching it from time to time.

Thinking back, though, I kind of hate that Eric won this veto, but solely because of the America's Player twist.  Eric wasn't allowed to use the veto since America didn't have time to vote, but I'll always believe that Dick could have gone home that week.  Not that I wanted Amber to stay, but the outcome of BB8 would have been so different!  And by different, I mean BETTER.  (So, I don't know, America's Player is probably not my favorite twist ever.  So if I ever said that, I retract it now.  I didn't realize how much I hated that twist until I started writing these.)

AustHan AVA's - Days Four and Five Best and Worst Big Brother Season

As we enter day’s 4 and 5 of the AustHan AVA’s, we've reached one of the most telling categories of all, best and worst Big Brother season. Yesterday’s post got lost in the shuffle, so today we’re bringing you the results of BOTH the best and worst categories.

Each season received a nomination in both categories, for this “prestigious” award. The voters all seem to have stuck together in this vote, in true Big Brother voting fashion. Are you ready to see which seasons you've crowned the best and worst in BB history?

The AVA for Worst Big Brother season goes to…BB13!

This award comes with zero bragging rights. Who really wants to admit that they were a part of the “worst” season ever? I honestly can’t even bring myself to issue congratulations for this one. It just feels awkward! To be fair, I don’t think the season was horrible. I just think it was different. I enjoyed the returning duos, and I really liked Adam, Shelly, Dominic, and Cassie. I also enjoyed seeing Rachel win, and transform her characterization. I love different things about every season, so I’m not really the best judge. This is why I placed the vote in your hands!  Let’s take a look at some BB13 clips.

Video Credit - CBS

The reveals don’t stop there. Today is the 5^th day in our AVA countdown, and that means that you've also crowned the best Big Brother season. Which season did you award the bragging rights to?

The AVA for Best Big Brother season goes to…BB10!

Congratulations to the cast of BB10! BB10, as anyone who knows me knows, is essentially my all time favorite season. So, I’m overly excited about this win! Everything about BB10 was perfection. From the twistless season, to the AMAZING cast, to the drama and fighting, did I mention the AMAZING cast? The summer that was BB10 never saw a dull moment. Not one! For BB10, I will not be providing you with clips. Because, let's be honest, there are way too many to choose from. So, here's a link to the Quirky Dude Big Brother archives where you can enjoy a look back at the winning season. 

 Be sure to send your congratulations to the cast of BB10 on Twitter using the hashtag #AustHanAVAWinner. And don’t forget to leave us a note in the comments section about your all-time favorite BB10 moment. Or, your least favorite (or favorite) moment of BB13. 

Day #15 of the 26 Days of Eric Stein!

"I have no game whatsoever as it relates to women.  Y'know, I'm just a 5'7" Jewish kid. And it just so happens that when in comparison to an ogre and a 44 year old pervert, frankly, I'm the best thing that's remaining here and it's working for me."

Yeah, we're finally there.  There meaning a Jeric-related post.  Jessica and Eric are my favorite Big Brother showmance ever, and while it sadly didn't work out, I still enjoy reliving the Jeric moments by rewatching BB8 episodes from time to time.  In particular, in planning these posts.  Jessica and Eric started off as having a very jokey, flirty relationship which is slightly different than most showmances, which are just annoying and gross.  Jessica and Eric's relationship grew over the course of their time in the house and it was so fun to watch!

Today's quote comes from when only three guys remained in the house: Eric, Dick, and Zach.  This is another great Eric quote, but I mostly love this moment of the show so much because of the shot it shows of Zach when Eric calls him "an ogre" in the diary room.  If you don't remember, it flashed to Zach, in the pool doing some strange movement in order to get water out of his ear.  (At least, I hope that's what he was doing.  If that was a dance move, then I give it a D!)

Day #14 of the 26 Days of Eric Stein!

"I mean, truth be told, the only reason I really signed up for this is I'm hoping that Reality GameMasters 2 is all the hot girls playing Twister and I'll be asked back in your capacity.  So, y'know, I'll live to fight another day.  It's all good."  

As mentioned on Day #5, Eric is currently a part of the online game series "Reality GameMasters" brought to the world by Rob Cesternino and company.  Well, today's picture and quote sadly come from the fourth episode which made its premiere today, or shall I say, yesterday.  Eric became the second person eliminated from the game.  (If you are not caught up, be sure to catch up through Rob's YouTube Channel.  I won't ruin the first elimination for you.)  Instead of moping around over Eric losing and placing fifth AGAIN, I will look at the positives of this situation:

Okay, there aren't many, but could Eric's quote be enough to start a campaign for Reality GameMasters 2?  Could it also be enough to use as a campaign to get Eric on another edition of RGM?  I mean, I doubt it, but a part of me says "Yes!  Yes it is!  #TeamEricSteinForRGM2!"  Below is a ballot for whether or not Eric Stein should be on the next season of Reality GameMasters.  You can either mentally check your answer, or you know, type your answer in the comments below!

Note: Yes, this post was super late.  I have this condition called "I do absolutely nothing on my days off from work."  But, it's still Thursday on the west coast, so cheers!

#TeamAustHan Weighs in on the BB15 All-Stars Rumors

With all kinds of #BB15 rumors swirling around the internet, many people are discussing the possibility of a second All-Stars season. Because of that rumor, we here at AustHan's World thought it would be fun to craft our dream Big Brother All-Star's 2.0 cast.


Hannah's Dream All-Star Cast:

Guys:

1. Josh Souza (BB1) - I want to see someone return from season one that isn't Chicken George.  Given the different format of Big Brother today vs. what it was in season one, I think Josh could excell in the BB world today.  Plus, he would be underrated since he'd be basically a newbie.
2. Dr. Will Kirby (BB2) - I don't know if Dr. Will would ever play the game again, but I really wish he would/will.  He is my all-time favorite (strategic) player of the game.  Dr. Will shaped the game in a big way, and sadly, some people have forgotten that and need to be reminded. (Dr. Will is #1!)
3. Hardy Hill (BB2) - I would also love to see Hardy play modern day Big Brother.  He's in his 40's now so it'd be interested to see if he'd still be a good physical threat. (I think he would still be fine.)  Plus it'd be cool to see if he still holds a Big Brother grudge against Dr. Will.
4. Jason Guy (BB3) - BB3 was my favorite season and I'm not afraid to say it.  Jason would be good to have on Big Brother again because he's a very likable and trustworthy guy (as he proved in BB3.)  
5. Eric Stein (BB8) - Eric needs the chance to play Big Brother again without the weight of America's Player weighing him down.  I don't really know if people would look at him as a threat, so that would be really cool to see.  Plus Eric is great for entertainment value and I greatly miss him hosting veto competitions!
6. Ragan Fox (BB12) - I really have no clue how Ragan would fare on a season with the people that I've picked, but he could probably do better on a season without the Brigade there to stop him.
7. Ian Terry (BB14) - In realistic terms, I don't think there's a possibility of Eric and Ian (my two personal all-time favorites) ever being on the same season.  But this is all imaginary, so I can make this happen!  I would like to see Ian play again and to see what strategy he would try to play his second time around.

Girls:

1. Danielle Reyes (BB3) - I'm pretty sure she's said she'd never play again, but I just want to see her and Jason play together again so badly!  They are my favorite alliance of all-time.  Plus she would be a great strategic female to have on the cast.  Also, I would love her to finally get the win she's deserved ever since she lost Big Brother 3!
2. Amy Crews (BB3) - Yeah, yeah, another person from BB3.. I can't help myself though!  Amy is my BB spirit animal so obviously I have to include her.  I would love to vote for her to have cheese during her weeks as a have-not!
3. Jun Song (BB4) - A girl winner of BB that I don't dislike!  The fact that she remains in the Big Brother community makes me like her more and she obviously still loves the game.  So if she would go back (I don't know if she would?) I would totally support that!
4. Nakomis Dedmon (BB5) - Basically I needed to get someone from BB5, but Nakomis is deserving of a spot for being the one to come up with the Six Finger Plan - showing that she has some good strategic thoughts!  Even if the veto is different today.
5. Jen Johnson (BB8) - Jen is great for entertainment and drama value and while I didn't like her too much in Big Brother 8, I wouldn't mind seeing her back to compete again.  She wasn't too bad at competitions either.
6. Natalie Cunial (BB9) - I wasn't a Natalie fan during Big Brother 9 at all, but then again, I haven't gotten around to rewatching that season, so that could change.  But I do remember her a lot for her personality, so that's why I added her in. 
7. Keesha Smith (BB10) - Keesha was my favorite female from the BB10 house and made it quite far on her first season, so I would love to see her have a second chance at the game!

Austin's Dream All-Star Cast

When it comes to my cast of dream All-Stars, my focus is really on the more recent seasons. That's not to say that I dislike anyone from the early years, I just feel like many of them have moved on from BB. That being said, here's who I want to see included in the next All-Star edition of BB.

Guys:

1. Frank (BB14) - Even though I rooted against him during BB14, I still secretly loved him. This guy loves the game, and he's a total beast. The fact that they finally got him out of the house is a miracle in and of itself. An All-Star season would be nothing without Frank! 
2. Evel Dick (BB8) - I honestly can't count his return during BB13 against him. An All-Star season would be impossible without Dick (as he himself has also stated...and you've got to love it!). From his ruthless game play, to the mind games he's capable of playing with people, he deserves a third second shot at the game. I also want to see him in a season without Danielle! The two are better separate than they are together. You really can't recreate the magic of BB8 a second time. 
3. Alex (BB9) - I loved Alex! Of all the male houseguests in season 9, he was hands down my favorite. He got shafted because of Amanda, and I want to see him play the game on his own. He has what it takes to be a great player, he just needs to be given the right environment.
4. James (BB9) - James fought hard during BB9, he was also one of the stand outs that season. I want to see him play the game a second time with that same tenacity, and without a showmance. 
5. Eric/Cappy (BB6) - I was in the minority when I cheered for Cappy back in the day. Having rewatched the season, I realize why. However, that doesn't stop me from wanting to see him play the game again. Especially mixed with some of the above personalities! Cappy vs. Dick anyone? 
6. Dustin (BB8) - During BB8 Dustin, was again, one of the stand outs. He set himself up well, and I think he could have gone far...had he not been screwed over. That being said, I'd like to see him return and play a slightly more methodical game. Using his personality to again wedge his way into the inner circle of the house. 
7. Memphis (BB10) - Memphis Garrett is an absolute necessity for BB All-Stars 2.0. I like the general presence that he brings to the house. I'm also curious to see what he can do without Dan by his side. Dan was the brains behind the Renegade operation, there's really no denying that. So, I'd love to see him try to recreate that with Alex someone else, or abandon that persona all together and play with a completely new strategy. 

Girls:

1. Jessica (BB8) - How can you think of past BB lady HG's and not think of Jess? You can't! She brings  a light and airy spirit to the house, but she can also play the game. Having had time to mature since her season, I think we would see an entirely different Jessica in the house. Much as we would have had she made it on BB11...better known as the day I fled the room immediately after the premiere to sulk. #Booyah
2. Sheila (BB9) - If you're not aware of my undying love for Sheila Kennedy, you don't know me very well. In case you can't tell, I'm BB9 obsessed. If you've never watched it, you need to get your BB9 on with QuirkyDude and YouTube like yesterday. Seriously! Sheila was hilarious, she was fun to watch, and she loved to complain at times. Something I like to do! We're BFF's! She made it to the final 3 before being screwed over, and it's my dying wish to see her play the game of Big Brother at least one more time. Everyone needs a little Sheila in their lives! She knows the game, and she knows how to be social. Winning assets that will hopefully earn her a final 2 spot. #TeamBigShe
3. Libra (BB10) - Anybody want cake? One of the most classic Big Brother lines of all time, and it comes from Mrs. Libra Thompson. Better known as one of the stars of BB10, and a great source of conflict. She was smart, she was a fan, and she knew how to cause confrontation. Something every Big Brother houseguest should be well skilled in. I love me some Libra! Another season rewatch plug for ya, BB10 is where it's at. In fact, if you've never seen BB8, BB9, and BB10, lock yourself in your house, draw the blinds, order a pizza, and lock yourself away for 9 months worth of BB bliss. All-Stars would be nothing without Libra. Or her mad birthday party skills! 
4. Michelle (BB10) - Michelle Costa is amazing. I mean, seriously, amazing! She's got a feisty personality, and she loves Big Brother. A common theme among my AS2.0 picks. I really feel like Michelle had an untimely exit in the BB house, and she had the potential to go much further. Curse you  Dan Gheesling! Just kidding, I love him. But still! Michelle is a fighter, and there's nothing better in an All-Star, than someone who will go all out to win the game. 
5. Ivette (BB6) - Again, I really liked Ivette during BB6. I was pro-nerdherd at the time. Don't judge me! She should have made it back into the house during BB7, but "America's vote" was obviously a popularity contest. I think she brings a much needed "strong woman" vibe to the house, and she's not afraid to get things done. Ivette and Michelle would make exceptional allies me thinks! 
6. Renny (BB10) - I love Renny! She made BB10 so fun, and she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She was confrontational, without being confrontational. So what, she wasn't the best at competitions, I could care less. BB is a social game, and Renny is the definition of social. I would also pair her with Sheila, aka the alliance of my dreams. Like, please, be on the same season as me. Both of you! I'll gladly walk at final 3 just to see you two sit next to each other in the end. 
7. Rachel (BB12) - Can you really have an All-Star season without Rachel? I mean, come on. She's a BB beast! I love her. I also think it would be interesting to see how she fairs against some of the people on my list. I also want to see her sans Brendon for an entire season, as opposed to only half of a season! 

There you have it Austhanites, our dream All-Stars cast list. Do you agree with our picks? Sound off in the comments below! Or, share your own All-Star picks with us on Twitter @AustHansWorld.

AustHan AVA's Day Three - Best Big Brother Winner

No matter how different a season of Big Brother is from the last, there’s always one thing that each season has in common. Only one person can win! As we head into day 3 of the AustHan AVA’s we've reached one of my favorite categories. Best Big Brother winner! So, who did the voters give such a prestigious title to? The answer might surprise you.

The nominees for best Big Brother winner are…

1. Eddie
2. Dr. Will
3. Lisa
4. Jun
5. Drew
6. Maggie
7. Mike Boogie
8. Evel Dick
9. Adam
10. Dan
11. Jordan
12. Hayden
13. Rachel
14. Ian

The AVA goes to…IAN! Congratulations to the most recent Big Brother winner Ian Terry. An underdog with a strong love for the game, Ian made a HUGE impression on BB viewers last summer. Not only did he achieve his dreams of making it on the show he loved, he landed a spot in the Big Brother history books. Let’s take a look at some of Ian’s best moments. 

Video Credit to Todd Christensen on YouTube.

Those clips make me nostalgic for BB14. What a great summer, huh? Be sure to congratulate Ian on Twitter @TulaneTerry and let him know of his #AustHanAVA win. Arguably the biggest win of them all! 

Day #13 of the 26 Days of Eric Stein!

"I'm tickled pink and it really makes me quite pleased to know that America hates Jen as much as the rest of us in the house."

So, here we are at the halfway point of the 26 Days of Eric Stein!  Today's quote and picture come from another one of Eric's America Player's tasks.  This one was when he had to vandalize the personal property of the houseguest that America chose.  Of course, America chose Jen.  So when Jen left the room in which she slept, Eric hopped to it to get the task done.  He retrieved the mustard and went into the room to where her pillow (she used the "Jenth Degree" tank top as a pillowcase) was and squirted it all over the shirt.

When Jen saw it minutes later, she asked who was "in the 2nd grade."  The house launched a tiny investigation and I think, at the end of it all, Jen seemed to think it was probably either Dick or Daniele.  Eric warned the house, that if anyone ever put mustard on his stuff, he would beat them.

"At least have the decency to use ketchup!" -Eric

So there it is!  Day #13!  What was your favorite moment from the first half?  Are there any particular moments that I haven't covered, but you would like me to cover in the last half?  Tell me in the comment section below!