So I wrote these about a week ago when the cast was first released... figured I'd post my first impressions here (from the Hollywood Reporter interview + Jefferviews bottom portion)
I'll post my final rankings in the bottom, like I did last season (not that anyone cares, more for my own recording I guess. I remember last season I swore off doing this plus watching BB, but it's a drug and I can't not consume it.............
1. Megan Lowder
Pros – She is a dog walker, is a fan of Derrick, applied to the show and is an actual fan, interesting background, manipulated her way into ousting someone to take their spot as president, was saved for BB19 instead of BBOTT, anti-famewhores and floaters, not looking for showmances
Cons – Not into female alliances (but does want to take a girl to the end, so +), is a fan of Victor, might play too hard and be too aggressive
2. Kevin Schleuber
Pros – From Boston, genuine fan, Derrick helped get him cast at a casting call, seems like a fun older person without a gimmick (i.e. Donnie)
Cons – Might not fit in with the younger crowd
3. Cameron Heard
Pros – Doesn’t fit the annoying awkward nerd achetype, yet another fan, is willing to flirt to get ahead despite having a girlfriend so maybe drama there, will choose winning over friendship
Cons – Confrontational, won’t be able to keep his mouth shut, could go home early
4. Ramses Soto
Pro – Another superfan, realistic expectations, solid strategy
Cons – Will probably align with alpha bros to advance himself
5. Cody Nickson
Pros – Hates Victor, isn’t a famewhore, is from Iowa, applied for the show
Cons – His name is Cody and looks like a combo of other Cody/Brendan
6. Christmas Abott –
Pros – Strong female, seems to have a solid strategy, competitive
Cons – Stupid name, seems like a recruit and not too familiar with the game, hates Jozea
7. Alex Ow
Pros – She is a blonde Asian, good personality, cares about the environment
Cons – Recruited,
8. Dominique Cooper
Pros – Seems to have a good personality, will probably give good confessionals
Cons – Appears to be a recruit and not too familiar with the game
9. Raven Walton
Pros – Quirky, great sob story
Cons – She is a Frankie and Victor fan, annoying
10. Jessica Graf
Pros – Might have a good social game
Cons – She was recruited (but appears to be a fan despite that..), not really interesting
11. Jillian Parker
Pros – Has a great personality, not a mactor, will probably have a good social game
Cons – She is a Donald Trump supporter and Republican, so she is probably an awful person, especially since she was worried people would see her Facebook
12. Josh Martinez
Pros – Thinks Paulie “fucking sucks”, will probably do well socially
Cons – Says “your boy”, thinks he is Evel Dick, seems douche
13. Jason Dent
Pros – He is a rodeo clown that just wants to be famous
Cons – Has never really watched the show, he is a rodeo clown that just wants to be famous, confrontational
14. Elena Davies –
Pros – Unapologetic about being a fame whore, not looking for a showmance,
Cons – She is part of the Clay/Corey circle of recruitment friends, was recruited through social media
15. Matthew Clines
Pros –
Cons – Boring, into weight-lifting, definitely has only seen BB16, claims he can read people which is always a kiss of death.
16. Mark Jansen
Pros – Applied to the show, Team Zakiyah (vs. Paulie),
Cons – Poor taste in former hamsters like Jessie and Brendan, probably going to try to be in a showmance, seems like a famewhore, non-confrontational (aka boring), is yet another “personal trainer”
Megan Lowder
Pros – Relatable, great personality, humorous, silver hair
Cons – Giggles a lot
Alex
- Adorable personality, hilarious, gamer, not super emotional, thinks she is like James #AsiansForTheWin, good strategy, already wants to return
- Wants to align with the guys, might be focused on showmance, might annoy people
Cameron
- Intelligent, goofy, likes Settlers of Catan, strategic, Survivor fan, RHAP listener
- Tangential, a bit awkward, opinionated, overconfident
Christmas
- Great strategy, personality, and physicality, , Helen Kim fan, self-control, loves her dog, will give good diaries
- Might be too threatening
Dominique
- Entertaining, well-spoken, cute, likable
- Emotions, might not be able to hide her feelings, heated
Mark
- Good personality, used to be fat, huge fan, smiles a lot, big heart, relatable
- Showmance
Elena
- Good personality, wants a strong alliance, will give good diaries, awesome voice
- Personality might clash with others, abrasive, Gonna be a floater (even though she hope she doesn’t), gonna scream in diaries
Matthew
- Believes people can trust him, solid personality, an older more mature/less annoying Paul, gets along with people, loves alcohol,
- Might be too high energy, not very strategic
Kevin
- Awesome accent, interesting character
- Constantly touches people when talking, might annoy younger kids, good chance of being first boot, long winded
Jessica
- Huge fan, potential good social game, wants to play back to back, here for her mom
- Subdued personality, wants an epic showmance
Josh
- Lively personality, fun
- Says “baby” too much, is gonna be a diary screamer a bit cocky, a bit high energy, will probably play too hard too soon
Raven
- Solid competitor, pigtail buns, positive and upbeat
- Annoying, says phrases like “single as a pringle”
Ramses
- Quirky, a Michelle-esque newer superfan, positive, cries to Disney movies
- Annoying, will definitely shout in diaries, others might not want to align with him, naïve
Cody
- Single dad, wants to team up with a strong woman, not about showmances
- Stiff and awkward, doesn’t really seem right for TV, all about honesty, boring
Jason
- Friendly, thinks on his feet, good under pressure
- Doesn’t have a strategy, overthinks, stupid hat, doesn’t watch, annoying, sounds like David Spade
Jillian
- Nice person, .
- Terrible speaker, a bit stupid, doesn’t seem strategic, won’t last long
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FINAL RANKINGS:
1. MEGAN - This was tough but she is different from the other ladies we've seen in recent times and there is something familiar about her that intrigues me, so I'd love to see her do well.
2. CAMERON - He's also relatable, has a good personality, and is a refreshing take on the 'nerd' archetype, which I don't think he even belongs to, but is being shoe-horned there due to not being an alpha bro.
3. CHRISTMAS - She is a tad overrated already so that might make me irrationally dislike her, but she seems to have a lot going for her and she seems hilarious.
4. Alex - Paola was my pre-show favorite going into BB16 and that flopped, so I hope as far as energetic Asians go, Alex doesn't become an uber pawn or an early boot. I am hesistant to rank her higher cause I don't expect her to play an amazing game like the others, but I love her as a person.
5. Mark - On paper he is extremely dull and douchey, but his personality is endearing and I think he'll be successful at the social aspect of the game because people will easily trust him and want to work with him. I don't think he has the ability to go all the way, but I think he'll help whoever does.
6. MATT - I thought he was going to be a bore and didn't think I'd like him, but as far as alpha bros go, he and Mark seem like they will provide more than just muscle and annoyingness like Cody.
7. Kevin - He's a GREAT character. I am just sad he was the only person from his age group really cast. People keep saying this cast is older than most, but Kevin sticks out like a sore thumb, so I hope he is able to blend and kick it with the younger kids. I worry for him though.
8 Dominique - I feel like she is a solid personality, has an amazing background, and will make for a great contestant. However, she was more forgettable a week later than I imagined she'd be, which is why she ranks in the middle. I hope she rises as the season unfolds, but for now, she'll be here..
9. Elena - Her connections to Corey/Clay worry me, but I am glad we got her and not another bland white athlete from Texas A&M. She is already 10x more interesting than either were their entire seasons. I hope she embraces her bitchy side, because she will rise in my books, although that might get her sending packing faster.
10. Jessica - A lot of people are rooting for her but I think she's kind of bland. I think she has a good chance of making the jury stage if she plays her card right, but she is a bit overrated for someone who was really dull in her pre-show stuff. I like her more than I dislike her, but she feels like more of a supporting character than a star and I feel like I won't really remember her name from a year from now.
11. Ramses - Another person I feel like I should like more, but I am just kind of annoyed. I think he'll give great soundbites and will perhaps rise as long as he isn't too intolerable.
12. Josh - I feel like he is bound to crash and burn like the constant comparisons to Jozea and Devin fortell. BUT I would love for him to surprise me and calm down a bit once inside the house.
13. RAVEN - I really want to like her, I really do, but there is something about her I just find annoying. Normally I would adore a woman like her and root for her, but between her manufactured quirky demeanor and her voice, I can't get over it (just like Bronte). I like her pig tails though so I hope production keeps forcing her to wear them.
14. JILLIAN - She is a huge miscast and is yet another person with a dull personality. Pretty sure she was cast to fill the bigoted blonde spot, but she doesn't have the personality or attractiveness to even pull that part off. Hope she is Jodi'd.
15. JASON - I am already annoyed of his 'character' and the first episode hasn't even aired yet. I predict pre-jury but because I hate him already, he'll probably go far just to spite me. I keep forgetting his name though more than anyone else, so that's telling.
16. CODY - He is incredibly DULL and has an awful personality on top of it, the little there is of one. I think more and more people are ironically rooting for him, but he can go early. I think we're stuck with him for a while like Corey, but hopefully he'll be more of a Clay and vanishes early.
.::[LEADERBOARD]::.
[16 pts] -- Megan
[15 pts] -- Cameron
[14 pts] -- Christmas
[13 pts] -- Alex
[12 pts] -- Mark
[11 pts] -- Matt
[10 pts] -- Kevin
[09 pts] -- Dominique
[08 pts] -- Elena
[07 pts] -- Jessica
[06 pts] -- Ramses
[05 pts] -- Josh
[04 pts] -- Raven
[03 pts] -- Jillian
[02 pts] -- Jason
[01 pt] -- Cody
