Hall of Shame Moment: Howie’s Bad Decision Leads to ‘Big Brother’ Ruin

As Big Brother 6 draws near its close, we can look back and shake our heads at the season. This edition was more divided than any before it, and perhaps even more than any that will come after. There was only one time when both sides agreed to work together. That time represented the turning point in the entire game – and it also must be recognized as a Reality TV Hall of Shame Moment for Howie.

I am, of course, talking about when Howie agreed to nominate his own then-allies, James and Sarah, evicting Sarah and eliminating any chance he – or any of those on his side – had of winning the game. (As I write this, there is still technically a slim possibility that Janelle could win, but I doubt it will happen and even if it does, it doesn’t help Howie out any.)

There were so many problems with Howie’s actions that it’s difficult to know where to begin. Let’s start with making promises without consulting his alliance-mates. Rachel, for one, was horrified to learn that Howie promised Maggie & Co. that he would nominate James and Sarah. However, by that time the deal was sealed. Howie apparently didn’t want to go back on his word. After all, isn’t that why the whole house banded together to target James? (Mind you, Jennifer had no problem doing the same thing the very next week.) Howie acted without thinking, allowing himself to be manipulated by Maggie, a member of the opposing alliance that wanted him gone! There was no rush other than the one Maggie was putting on him – Howie had plenty of time to make up his mind, but he chose to make a rash promise.

That promise took two people who had joined his own alliance and pushed them out the door. Kaysar worked hard to pull James and Sarah into his group. Everybody swore loyalty to each other. Then Howie chose to believe what the opposing alliance was telling him and undo everything.

Let’s make sure we’re clear. Yes, James did say (and swear on the Bible) that he would target Howie and Rachel if he won HOH. But so what? He was working on another player in the opposing alliance, something that everybody should have been doing. And whether he said it or not, Howie was not there and chose to believe those who had a vested interest in saying goodbye not only to James, but to Howie himself!

What makes this entire situation worthy of mention here in the Hall of Shame is that Howie had a situation that was favorable to the long-term survival of his alliance and, indeed, himself – and he completely blew it. It was an absolutely horrible strategic move. Howie found himself HOH at a key time in the game. His alliance had five people (himself, Rachel, Janelle, James, Sarah); the opposing alliance had five people (Maggie, Ivette, Beau, April, Jennifer); Howie had the ability to put his alliance one ahead, tilting the game in their favor.

But it was in Maggie’s best interest to not see that happen. Howie allowed himself to be manipulated into doing the dirty work of the opposing alliance! Maybe James did need to go at some point, but that point should have come under different terms. Howie could have put his alliance one ahead and kept a hug challenge threat on his side. They could have used those advantages to potentially win more HOHs and whittle away the Friendship. Then, later, when it was safe, Howie could have turned on James if he so chose.

A further part of Howie’s error comes to light if you look more deeply at the game. The person evicted under Howie’s HOH reign was the second to last to not be in the jury. By evicting a Friendship member at that time, Howie could have ensured one less vote against himself if he had made it to the Final Two against any remaining member of that alliance. Instead, he evicted Sarah and put the Friendship at a numeric advantage in the jury box.

James was a threat in the Big Brother game, but even he admitted that the only reason he stuck around as long as he did was that other people made even stupider moves than he did. Howie’s was the stupidest – so stupid, it was shameful.

Some people might argue that Howie’s move was no worse than Kaysar trusting Jennifer and getting evicted again for his trouble. However, Howie’s move began the process that led to that point. If Howie hadn’t made this wrong move, Kaysar never would have even been in a position to make the deal with Jennifer. And because of Howie’s bad deal, Kayar was led to believe by his own teammates that it was okay to make that deal. It all comes back to Howie.

Howie seems like a great guy and a lot of people (myself included) really liked him in the house. But we cannot simply ignore a horrible strategic move because we like somebody. Howie trusted somebody from the other side rather than his own alliance. He turned the game upside down in his mistaken belief that ousting James was to his own benefit. Quite the contrary, the Friendship was his enemy, and he lost sight of that. Howie’s bad move pitched his alliance into a downward spiral from which they never recovered. It simply must be recognized as a Hall of Shame Moment.

David Bloomberg is the Editor of the Reality TV Hall of Shame, and can be reached at RNO@pobox.com.

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