Big Brother 14 post - mortem

As a student at Tulane the $500K (before taxes) will come in handy for Ian and cause him fame there, not always a good thing...

http://www.buddytv.com/slideshows/big-brother/big-brother-14-finale-photos-88956.aspx

Wednesday, September 19, 2012
'Big Brother 14' Post-Mortem: 5 Reasons Why Ian Deserved to Beat Dan

John Kubicek
Senior Writer, BuddyTV

Big Brother 14 is over and 21-year-old super fan Ian Terry beat season 10 winner Dan Gheesling in a 6-1 vote.

Finale Recap: Ian Wins>>

Some people may agree with Janelle Pierzina that Dan not winning is an "absolute travesty," that hosting his own funeral was one of the greatest moves in the history of the game and that his ruthless lies and backstabbing was amazing.

I'll agree that the funeral was amazing, and I also have no problem with Dan's morally bankrupt style of lying. But that doesn't mean he deserved to win.

Ian Terry was no slouch and Dan was not perfect. Here are five reasons why I believe Ian deserved to beat Dan on the merits of the game and NOT for any foolish moral reasons about a bitter jury.

Dan's Cockiness

Dan may have become his own worst enemy in the final week. On the live feeds he made claims that his plan was to throw the final HoH competition so Ian would evict Danielle and take him. Dan thought he couldn't beat Danielle, but he could beat Ian. That was a fatal flaw.

It didn't help that Dan also spent most of Tuesday night rehearsing his final speech, timing it out and making sure he sucked up to all of the members of the jury. After being blindsided by him time and time again, the jury wasn't about to fall for Dan's pathetic attempts at flattery. Did he really think people like Joe and Jenn and Ashley would believe that he respected their gameplay?

Dan started believing the hype that he's the greatest player of all-time. He fell in love with his overly complex antics and manipulations. He thought he was invincible, and like Icarus, his wings melted and he fell to his doom. Of course the 'doom' was worth $50K for second place.

If Dan were smart, played to win the final competition and evicted Ian, there's a chance he could've won. I really think at least four members of the jury (Britney, Frank, Jenn, Ashley, maybe Joe and Ian) would've given Dan the win simply out of a total lack of respect for Danielle's pathetic game.

Danielle's Question

Dan's hubris was bad, but the one thing he probably didn't count on was Danielle screwing up his game. She asked Ian if he knew that Dan had a final 2 deal with her. That's when the crap really hit the fan.

I think Ian genuinely believed Dan was more loyal to the Renegades 2.0 alliance with him than he was to Danielle. But when Danielle revealed this wasn't true with her question, all bets were off. That led to Ian's final speech where the gloves came off and he systematically took apart Dan's game point by point while talking about all of his own accomplishments. Ian admitted his final speech was off the cuff and unscripted, and that genuine passion came through.

Offense vs. Defense

There was a fundamental difference in the way Dan and Ian played the game, and it had nothing to do with morals. Dan played a selfish game. All of his big moves were designed purely to get him to the end. His funeral was to save his own butt and getting Danielle to use her final Power of Veto on him was because he didn't have a final 2 deal with Shane.

Ian, on the other hand, made big moves to try and get big targets out of the game. Ian turned on Boogie and Frank because he knew he wouldn't be able to win if he went to the end with them, so he needed to take them out.

Ian played offense and Dan played defense. Defense might be helpful, but offense scores points. Dan might have some blood on his hands, but he played a far more passive game, using Danielle to get things done instead of doing it himself.

Taking Destiny Into His Own Hands

This was the overall theme of Ian's final plea to the jury, and it worked on two levels. First, it pointed out that Ian really was all alone and made his own moves. He was the only houseguest all season to actually turn on his original "team." Sure, Dan, Danielle, Britney and Shane were already working together when Ian joined them and formed the Quack Pack, but by doing so, Ian showed that he was going to control his own destiny and not let the fact that Boogie picked him decide his game. It's a lesson Willie told everyone about week 1, but Ian was the only player who listned.

Second, Ian was able to point out that Dan only made it as far as he did because he was a coach and he had Danielle. He wrapped her around his little finger, brainwashed her into doing everything for him, made her cry multiple times and basically used her to further himself in the game while operating under the guise of "trying to coach her to the end," which was obviously never his intention.

Ian's line about how Dan started the game with three lives and lost two of them right away was apt. It's a bit like the argument I had against Rachel Reilly last season. By coming into the house as a veteran with Brendon, she may have had a target on her back, but she also had someone she could trust completely. That's the most valuable commodity in this game, and Dan got that with Danielle. Sure, she may have proven to be a liability at the end, but up to that point she was a huge asset that Ian didn't have.

Ian's Alliance With Britney

Ian made a very smart move once he joined the Quack Pack. He made strategic alliances with Britney and Dan, becoming closer with those two than with anyone else in the house. Why was this a smart move? Because they were also the two most influential.

Dan's Mist was powerful, and being aligned with him was obvious beneficial to getting Ian to the end. More importantly, Ian's close ties with Britney paid huge dividends. She was the second person in the jury, and because Ian was so close with her, she was able to influence the jury in his favor.

I doubt that Ian was really this clever, but it turned out good for him anyway. Britney is genuinely a great social game player and she is great at defending her arguments and getting people to see her side of things. I'm guessing that the 6-1 jury vote is largely due to Britney's influence and her love for the kid. Why else would someone like Jenn, who hates snitches, vote for Ian?

There are leaders and followers in the game, and in the jury house, it helps to have the leaders on your side to influence the followers. Players like Ashley, Jenn and Joe were most likely eager to have some guidance on their votes, and Britney probably pushed them in Ian's direction.

I have no proof that this is how it went down, but it makes sense. Britney was Dan's biggest supporter, but the fact that she voted for Ian to win instead tells you where her loyalties were. Having her as an advocate, someone who isn't afraid to get into a big bully's face and argue her point, is a definite benefit.


So as you can see, it wasn't just about morals. It wasn't just about a bitter jury that hated Dan and didn't want him to win. It was about Ian's game, his evolution throughout the season, his mastery of competitions, his formation of the Quack Pack and, most importantly, his refusal to accept that, just because Boogie picked him on night one, he has to stick with that forced alliance for the entire game.

Ian really did take destiny into his own hands. And the result is that he became the youngest person to ever win Big Brother.

September 20, 2012
Big Brother 14 Final Thoughts
By: Matthew Boyer (GTP) | Tagged: Big Brother, Big Brother 14, polls

Big Brother 14 winner Ian Terry

Wow! What a season! Big Brother came to an exciting conclusion last night after 10+ weeks of incredible action and while I might have been disappointed in the results it was still an amazing ride. In the end the whole thing felt like BB4 where the villain loses out to the better liked HG, but it’s a game and that’s just how things go sometimes.

Congratulations to Ian. He played a hell of a game. Ian won a lot of competitions and did it when it mattered most for his survival. I was disappointed in his indignant attitude last night during the final speeches and even later in the backyard interviews. He had just walked out with with a half-million dollars over Dan but couldn’t keep himself from calling Dan “slimy” and a “scumbag” despite the same “scumbagging” moves like blindsiding Shane being what kept Ian in the game. In the end it was his likability among his fellow HGs that snagged him the win. It was a style that worked, so good for him.

Clarification: I don’t think Ian played a bad game. He made a lot of good moves and really did play a great game. I just feel that Dan played a greater game.

Then there’s Dan. Master of the Mist. Puller of the strings. Dan got second despite pulling the biggest moves of the season. Sigh. His efforts to remind the Jury that this was a game fell on deaf ears. Despite watching the big win slip through his fingers Dan left the house with a positive attitude and praised Ian for his win. Dan, you may not have won the Jury but you created the most entertainment for us to write about this season, so thank you for that. And don’t beat yourself up with the “should I have taken Danielle” scenario. You would have lost that 6-1 as well as we learned from the Jury.

Dear Jury, you get an F. It all came down to how they’d vote: personal or gameplay. The answer turned out to be personal. When I took to Twitter to ask readers if they thought the Jury voted personal or on gameplay the response was overwhelming that these were emotional, bitter votes. If you don’t believe me just listen to the backyard interviews for yourself. Shane told Jeff it was a personal vote against Dan. Frank told Jeff he was still bitter at Dan. Britney told SuperPass that Dan’s game was “amazing, amazing” but she had such a personal connection to Ian. She also told Jeff that a ketchup bottle would have beat Dan because that Jury refused to vote for him. We’ve got a poll below where you can vote and share your thoughts on if the Jury went by strategy or emotion.

The biggest Jury offender award goes to Jenn. She told SuperPass that she didn’t vote for Dan because he had won before and she didn’t want a repeat winner. Jenn then goes on to say that she had to give Dan props because “credit where credit is due.” This was the same HG who spewed venom over Ian even up to when she cast her vote. She spent 75+ days in the game, and then throws all that out and voted based on who hadn’t won the game before. What a waste of your entire summer, Jenn. This is why Big Brother shouldn’t be casting HGs based on random messages they’ve posted to Facebook. Try for someone who has a basic concept of game play and reward.

Another congratulations goes out and this one is for Frank. He won the title of “America’s Favorite” plus a check for $25,000. Considering Frank never once won a week in our popularity poll and as of last night he was tied for 3rd with Britney (he’s now in 4th) in our overall “Vote for your Favorite” poll it seems more likely that Frank won by default. Looking over things it seems the 1st & 2nd place HGs have never won America’s Choice. If a HG could place and win AC then Ian would have won it. I guess CBS doesn’t want to let them double dip and instead spread around the prizes which is kinda nice. Or maybe Frank really did win it and all the polls are wrong.

So the season is over and we’re all done with this crew of HGs and while we might be sad to see the game go that also brings the promise of a brand new season! Yes, that’s right, CBS has renewed the show for Big Brother 15 next summer! We’ll have details up later on that along with details on how to apply, but for now you can set your reminders to join us again next year.

A huge, HUGE thank you to all of our readers. This site would be nothing without you and we’re always thrilled to have you join us. Thanks for stopping by each day, discussing the latest events and spoilers, and especially for signing up for the Feeds through our links and banners. Your support is what makes all of this possible and I greatly appreciate all of you for it. We’ll see you again soon!

Just for fun, here are a couple of polls. First you can decide if the Jury voted based on personal and emotional feelings or if they voted based on game play. Secondly we’ve got a poll for who you think should have won. Ian or Dan? Share your thoughts!
Big Brother 14: Did the Jury vote personal/emotional or based on game play?

Personal/emotional
87%
Based on game play
12%

Total Votes: 2,876
poll by twiigs.com

Big Brother 14: Who Should Have Won?

Dan
57%
Ian
42%

Total Votes: 2,960

‘Big Brother’ Third Place Finisher Danielle: Shane-mance Relationship is ‘Real’

by Carole Glines | September 20, 2012 at 2:27 PM | Big Brother, Interviews

Danielle Murphree on Big Brother (CBS)

Sweet Southern nurse Danielle Murphree, who finished third on “Big Brother 14” last night, charmed and confounded fans all season. She excelled in many of the competitions and built a firm romantic foundation in the house with fellow competitor Shane Meaney. But Danielle’s blind loyalty to her ruthless coach (turned player) Dan Gheesling proved to be her undoing as she lost after taking his advice one too many times. She walked away empty-handed as Dan was the $50,000 runner up and Ian Terry the $500,000 winner. Many viewers couldn’t believe how easily the pretty nurse was manipulated by Dan and took to Twitter to vent about her wide-eyed naivety.

While Danielle lost the CBS show, however, she may have gained a boyfriend in handsome house flipper Shane just by playing “Big Brother.” And she was happy to tell XfinityTV.com in an exclusive interview this morning how it felt to finish third, her thoughts on Dan and Ian, hopes for a long-distance romance with Shane, and her reality show future.

How do you feel about last night’s outcome?
It feels bittersweet. It felt great to have made it to the top three. I’m flattered but it sucks being so close and then being evicted, so it’s good and bad.

Watch the “Big Brother” Finale:

Are you kicking yourself for trusting Dan?
Yes. Absolutely. I do have regrets. I guess maybe you could say I was naïve but I wanted to trust him. I thought he did play a good clean game for the most part. I thought he was a pretty good guy. I didn’t see the whole wolf in sheep’s clothing thing and I definitely found out a lot [after leaving] the house that I’m livid about. I think Dan was playing very selfishly and only for himself because he didn’t care who he had to hurt or ruin their game to get what he wanted. I don’t think he cared about me at all.

Why did you vote for him to win over Ian? Dan only got one vote from the jury—from you!
I didn’t have the feelings that he didn’t care until today. I have new information. The only reason I voted for him to win is because I gave him my word. I had been loyal to him up to that point and so I just wanted people to know that I was trying to play loyally. Now after learning all this information, if Dan had won, I’d be sick!

Looking back, what should you have done differently?
The first time Dan pulled his antics on me in week two should have been my, “hey, you need to get out of this” [moment]. So when the coaches re-set on week four, I would have gotten Dan out instead of Janelle [Pierzina].

How do you feel about Ian?
I think Ian’s a sweetheart. I’m definitely glad that he won it instead of Dan. I‘m happy for him.

Yet you yelled at him at the end, threatening to sway the jury against him unless he picked you for the final two instead of Dan. Thoughts?
I was frustrated. I’ve apologized several times to him for it. I couldn’t believe they’d had a final two deal the whole time behind my back — and he knew Dan was my previous coach. It felt like nobody cared and I was there just to be basically thrown away.

On a happier, note, how did it feel to be reunited with Shane last night?
Oh, my gosh! It felt so good! I missed him so much. I was so glad to see him.

That was quite a hug when you joined him on the jury!
Oh, yeah. [Pause] I can’t talk about Shane without blushing a little.

So this isn’t just a showmance, right?
No way. This was not just a showmance. My feelings for Shane were real the entire time. They still are.

What do you like best about him?
I like that he’s so, so loving and affectionate. He cares. Every time he’s been there for me. Yeah, he’d pick on me a lot and stuff but when I needed him he was always there and he never wronged me.

He had doubts about you, though, thinking you knew Dan would vote him out—
I feel so upset that he thought that I knew because had I known Dan would get rid of Shane, I wouldn’t have used the veto on Dan. There’s no way I would have put him in harm’s way so I feel terrible.

Were you able to reassure him last night?
Yes. I told him over and over again that I did not know. I reassured him all night that I had no idea and he believed me.

Will you guys date now that the show is over?
I think it’s a very, very strong possibility. I’m not going to let the distance be an issue. I’ll always, always have feelings for Shane and even if it doesn’t work out he’ll always be one of my dearest friends. But I hope it does work out! [Laughs]

What had you planned to do with the $500,000 had you won?
It’s a bummer. I would have definitely given a lot of money to my church, get my mom a new car, use it for schooling and save the rest of it.

But you beat out lots of your fellow houseguests. What about being a nurse helped you in the game?
Being able to think quickly in stressful situations definitely helped, especially with the puzzles and having to memorize patient information was a definite advantage.

Did you feel like you were going a little crazy towards the end?
I was definitely getting stir crazy, especially when I found out about Dan and Ian and I was broken hearted and missed Shane, and I just wanted to get out of there! I was ready for it to be over.

How happy are you to leave the 24/7 cameras?
It feels amazing! It feels really nice to know I’m not getting ridiculed by the entire world every time I walk around. I feel like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders and I can breathe. I’m really enjoying my freedom.

What did you learn about yourself by doing “Big Brother”?
That I can take a lot more than I thought I could and that I should go with my gut feeling. I had a gut feeling about Dan in the beginning but he kind of talked to me, said he had never hurt me in this game and [at that point] he hadn’t. I should have gone with my gut instinct [instead].

What will you do next?
I’m going to go home, catch up with my friends and family that I’ve missed the most, and see my apartment I haven’t even been in yet. I’ll go back [to nursing] in two weeks once everything has calmed down. It’s still a little overwhelming for me right now [but] I love my job.

Would you do another reality show, though?
Oooh! I would possibly do Amazing Race. I don’t know if I could do Survivor because I feel like that’s very similar to “Big Brother.” Anything where I didn’t think that I was recorded 24 hours a day, I’d consider. I’m over the cameras!

Thursday, September 20, 2012
'Big Brother 14' Winner Ian Terry Explains His Strategy on 'The Talk'
John Kubicek
Senior Writer, BuddyTV

The final three houseguests of Big Brother 14 showed up on The Talk Thursday morning to discuss the season finale. One of the most revealing moments from the interview was winner Ian Terry's "Strategy."

Why Ian Deserved to Beat Dan>>
Finale Recap: Ian Wins>>

Yes, before coming into the house, Ian mapped out a strategy for winning the game, literally. Julie Chen had his hand-written Strategy blown up so Ian could walk us through it, and it proved eerily successful. Here's a quick rundown of The Strategy.



Step 1: Watch the Try-Hards Crash and Burn, Don't Attract Attention

This was his plan for week 1, and it didn't quite work out as he planned. He did attract some attention to himself, but luckily he got a key from his coach, Mike Boogie, that kept him safe. And the Try-Hards (his nickname for people who play too hard, too fast) did crash and burn. Just look at Willie and Frank's fight from the first week that put huge targets on their backs. Or Joe, who blabbed to everyone and earned the nickname "Eagle Eye," losing everyone's trust right away.

Step 2: The Alliance of 5

The most stunning part of Ian's Strategy is that he planned on a five-person alliance and stumbled into it with the Quack Pack. He wanted a Jock Leader (Shane), an All-American (Britney), an Old Guy (Dan) and a Hot Girl (Danielle). His plan was to be the fourth person on the totem pole so he wouldn't be a huge target, but he also wouldn't be the first person to get evicted if his alliance lost.

Even more impressive, Ian's strategy involved having a showmance with Hot Girl #2 (Ashley) who was NOT in his alliance of five. This plan worked out almost exactly as Ian predicted.

Step 3: Throw Competitions

Just like Dan, Ian's strategy early on was to throw competitions he didn't need to win, like the second HoH competition that was a quiz about the burglar in the house. This worked out, because once he reached the jury, he DID start to dominate the competitions and took home six wins. He actually won the last four HoH competitions that he was eligible to play in.

Step 4: Jump Sides If Needed

Another key part of his Strategy was to jump sides from his alliance if he needed to. This worked out perfectly because he started the game in an alliance he didn't want (Boogie, Frank and Jenn), then betrayed them for the alliance he actually wanted (the Quack Pack).


Sometimes people walk into the Big Brother house with an elaborate strategy that fails immediately (just ask season 13's Keith Henderson about Keith's Angels). But for Ian Terry, The Strategy worked. As he said in his final speech, "With probability, statistics and a little bit of heart," Ian Terry was able to win Big Brother 14.