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July 11, 2004
Tonight’s Double Eviction - Monica & Ashalea
What a big night for Big Brother fans, eh? Tonight was the double eviction, and shocking no one, Monica was the first to get booted (and by a pretty “massive” margin too - she got 43% of the vote, her nearest rival at the time merely with 13%).
A brief pre-eviction chat with Gretel in the diary room simply confirmed that Monica wasn’t going to last much longer - not even fifteen minutes longer, in fact. When Gretel had asked all the other housemates who they wouldn’t like to see win the million dollars, they all refused to answer. However when the question was posed to Monica, she quickly replied “Bree” - and got an earful of booing from the audience for her trouble.
After Monica had her name read out by Gretel, I was half expecting Ryan to switch into Saxon mode - blubbering and asking for his mummy - but thankfully it appeared his mind was mostly on the next eviction and although sad, he didn’t get too mushy when Monica said goodbye. We do have something to be thankful for - no Jeff Buckley lyrics were uttered (or at least not loud enough for me to hear.)
A subdued (but luckily for her, no longer booing) audience greeted Monica when she arrived at the eviction stage. Gretel was friendly enough but even her positive spin on Monica’s last two weeks wasn’t enough to wipe the audience’s memories of the manipulative, shrewd intruder that was Monica. When asked who her least favourite housemate was, Monica replied “Bree” though for the life of me, I can’t think of anything Bree’s done to deserve Monica’s obvious dislike of her. Sure, when Bree left, Monica had her best chance at fitting in with the girls and become the “buddy” of the guys , but it’s hardly Bree’s fault she was wrongly evicted and had to re-enter the house so why take it out on her?
Oh and another thing - everyone called Wes boring, but Monica’s footage of the past two weeks was more fucking dull than watching paint dry on the Popstars Live stage. Other than her attempts to slut about with Ryan, did she do anything remotely worth watching?
Time for a second eviction! My only real hope was that the second evictee wouldn’t be Bree, since it would be horrible for her to have bothered re-entering the house only to be swiftly evicted again. I thought the evictee would probably be Catherine, possibly be Bree, and hopefully be Ryan (simply for something unexpected). I really did not expect Ashalea’s name called out.
Now I’ve got to be honest with you, I don’t understand myself at all. At first, I wanted to strangle Ashalea. Then I tolerated her but thought she was over-acting a bit. Suddenly, out of nowhere - I began to like her. No matter what you can say about Ashalea, her emotions were always genuine, and she was one of the few housemates to stand up to Fer-ryzie (even if her comparison of her & Merlin’s situation to Ryan & Monica’s situation was rather off-target). She was never boring - frustrating at times, certainly, but never dull. Some of the great laughs this year were due to Ashalea (being pelted by balls, being thrown in the pool, being frightened by Trevor, being stuck in the chest) and that’s a pretty cool thing to have on your Big Brother resume. Better than being known as The Whinger, The Feral Bloke, The Cryer, The Bitch, and The Wannabe SNAG, that’s for sure!
So when Ashalea’s name was called out, and her face immediately fell - hell, even I was feeling terrible! She was never in it for the money, and that endeared her to me more than a few other housemates (who may or may not have been evicted tonight also - ahem) who might have university degrees and common sense.
Gretel liked Ashalea too - before Ash went on stage, I said to my housemates “You watch - Gretel likes Ash, so she’ll hold her hand” and sure enough, some hand holding ensured. Ahh Gretel, you’re the mum Australia never had - and some of us had sex with. Actually, just Saxon. I feel ill (despite my support of Graxon).
As per usual, we got to see Ash’s best footage from inside the house, and if you were ever in doubt to her importance in the house, the reel should have cleared you of it. She was funny, she was endearing, she was at times incredibly ignorant and at other times incredibly sharp. Most importantly - she improved immensely after Merlin left the house and she could focus less on pursuing him and more on being herself.
Finally, Ashalea was one of the few housemates who the “Guess what I have in this envelope” question wasn’t completely useless on. I mean, geeez - there’s a great big Mitsubishi logo on the envelope and it sounds just like a pair of keys, what on earth could it be?
This eviction though, Gretel did it well. She reminded Ashalea of her remark in the house that when she left Big Brother, she’d like to save up and buy a Mitsubishi Lancer (though if she said any other car, I’m sure she would have been overdubbed). When Gretel pulled out the envelope and handed Ashalea the keys, Ash was the first evictee not to act like “Oh, a car, whatever… now where’s the nearest Neighbours casting agent?” - she began sobbing with joy right away and actually made you feel glad that someone was finally grateful for all that they’d received as prizes for sitting on their arse for weeks.
Ashalea, I don’t know how you did it, but you broke me down. I like you, dammit. Thanks for being an entertaining housemate. Now scoot down to the local library, pull out a geography book and get reading - I want to see you on Half-Arsed-Celebrity Who Wants To Me A Millionaire doing a Molly Meldrum.
Gretel Clothing Summary!
Drunk bridesmaid, with a dash of brothel!
— Filed under Big Brother Bonanza 2004
Comments
couldn't agree with you more on both points. what a cow that monica is... i think she new she was going and she was hoping to take bree with her. and according to the latest update on her in the official diary, she made one last play for ferryyyziee in her goodbye video, as well as putting down bree... well hopefully we will all do our best to vote out ferryyyzzziee so they can reunite and fuck up jeff buckley lyrics together. i'm just hoping he doens't win so we dont' have to suffer with a monica/fryzie 2 hour romance special where he gets the million bucks and the girl... oh please let it be trevor or paul or catherine or bree... and bugger! i loved ash! i was the same as you, at first i was like oh no, then hmmm and now i think what a top chick! she's cute and funny and sweet and i thought she was the best entertainment of the show... i mean really - her impersonation of a flying cat when trev scared her between the two beds was hilarious - i laughed till i cried! and her ash-isms - well, i love em enough to spam to my mates around the world. bugger i didn't think she'd win, but i didn't think she would go this time. bugger...
Posted by: dls | July 11, 2004 11:00 PM
oh my god and gretel's outfit! like did she forget to put her dress on over her petticoat after her and saxon got it on in the dressing room? ughhh... black lace and red satin are scarey even in the budior... cheap cheap cheap
Posted by: dls | July 11, 2004 11:01 PM
I would like to thank the BB site for posting the ugliest pic of Monica ever, reacting to her eviction... you guys have gotta link it, as it surely shows that bitch's true colours. I agree, the "Monica's eviction show" was as dull as watching a Parliamentary discussion on tv. The crowd was quiet which showed how they felt about this (apart from the occasional boo from the crowd - loved it!. I cacked myself laughing when they showed Fryzie's whispering into her ear in the dark.. she didn't expect that! Ha!!! The look of horror trying to be disguised was one of the highlights of the evening. Joe, she isn't worth a tear mate.
Posted by: Anny Phillips | July 12, 2004 12:52 AM
omg that was FRIKEN HILARIOUS! But poor Ashalea insert crying emoticon x5 I loved Ash too, she was one of my favourites (Although i new she wouldn't win i thougth she make it further than the crap-ass bore-fest CATHERINE!)
Posted by: george | July 12, 2004 2:11 AM
Hey, maybe you could have an ongoing blog following the exploits of Ashalea ? ash.com.au or ashalea.com.au
Come on Jess, she wasn't that entertaining. The humour was generally instigated by Trevor or Ryan with Ashalea just as the passive foil. And she basically was repeating the one joke her entire sojourn, namely "that's obvious to a 9 year old, I'll pretend I don't get it so they all laugh."
19 years old. Not 9. Tertiary education (well, TAFE at least). Apparently speaks Japanese. Asks "where is the Berlin wall" when sitting next to Wes the teenybopper pinup. Giggles coquettishly. Hmmm.
I just want to add ashalea.com.au, ash.net, ash.org, ash.com.au just in case her fans start searching they'll hopefully end up here :)
Vengeance is mine.
Posted by: epicurus | July 12, 2004 2:53 AM
Must say, however daft Ash appeared at times, it was nothing to the sheer stupidity displayed by Monica.
First the Ryan thing. Yes, I do understand that instant connection, two hearts beating along to Jeff Buckley blah, blah, but I think everything Monica did in the house was carefully planned and as honest as the children overboard affair. Despite this, she still stuffed it up and it was very tiresome listening to her waffle regarding the ryan/joe/monica love triangle.
Then she continued to dig her own grave by sniping at Bree and then trying to make up for it. Bloody hell, if I ever need counselling from a social worker, I know who to avoid.
BTW, I ended up liking Ash almost against my will and can't believe she was booted last night. While she's not someone I'd want to go treking through Nepal with, I'll miss her antics :-(
Posted by: Tee | July 12, 2004 11:53 AM
Oh my god this may have been the best eviction show Ive seen yet,it damb near brought me to tears, and just when i was about to give up the whole bb thing to,It was boring me to tears Oh and im over the moon that monica has gone i was totally disgusted in the way she has treated our bree. whats up with that shit
Wouldnt you be having second thoughts if she was your councellor, I think she is the one who needs help
Posted by: kay | July 12, 2004 1:10 PM
Completely agree. I will miss AshAlea a whole heap, and all the more so that she provided really the only surprise evction of the series.
the only thing i dont agree with however is the fact that you DIDNT want Bree out.....
BREE SHOULD NOT BE SITTING IN THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW!! ASH SHOULD BE IN HER PLACE> FULL STOP
nobody likes bree, she is a awkward bumbling loser, whose EVERY WORD is a backhanded attepmt to APPEAR as something OTHER than what she is.....
i have never seen someones brain tick over as easily as on brees face....
she thinks "oh, i might look a bit bad here, or a bit pathetic.......hell... ill just say something.......(usually a complete lie) that makes me look good again.
NOT ONCE (that is NOT ONE SINGLE TIME) did i fall for it....
she MUST go next week. and lets only hope that ashleys 13% (yes thats how much of australia wanted her out) was REALLY bree's 12% and then we can "fix the mistake' once more!!
Posted by: Ben | July 12, 2004 4:09 PM
I agree with how false Bree seems. Every time she does or says something negative, she does a 180 to avoid public backlash. I've never seen any BB member so conscientious of her behaviour, so very verbal about the BB cameras and how people are perceived.. Puh-lease! BREE! Lighten up and have some fun.. Bree is the total opposite of Paul who doesn't give a crap about who thinks what of him.. he's in it for the experience and THANK GOD he's there.. He deserves to win for at least making the other housemates get off their arse and do something constructive with their time in the house! Keep fishing for bites Paul.. and win that bloody million.
Posted by: Anny Phillips | July 12, 2004 4:31 PM
You absolutely summarised my feelings towards Ashalea perfectly, champ. Totally against my will, I began cheering for her. I barely recognise myself anymore...
Posted by: Jess | July 12, 2004 8:01 PM
I like Bree and I hope she stays. I know loads of others who like Bree too so I guess the "nobody likes Bree" statement was a bit of a generalisation, bless :)
Posted by: Jess | July 12, 2004 8:02 PM
I dunno, epicurus - maybe I'm just getting old and soft-hearted. But she really did sort of win me over by the end, and I do think she improved stupidity-wise by the end.
I'm sorry, but your false Ashalea URL dropping doesn't compare to me signing you up as an Ash fansite contributor last night :) Mwahahahahahahaha
Posted by: Jess | July 12, 2004 8:10 PM
Of course, in saying that, maybe I'm blind to Bree's manipulations since as I said earlier, I'm getting totally soft. But I really don't see it?! I think she's quite down to earth with a dash of smart arse about her.
Posted by: Jess | July 12, 2004 8:14 PM
Hi all,
Been away so watching on the sidelines, and got back to catch up with the double eviction. As much as I enjoy the show, I think Ash has probably come out with a bit of psychological damage from it all... she just seemed gutted and euphoric at the same time... completely all over the shop.
The Ash eviction is probably one of the great arguments against reality television and the effects it has on its participants...
Anyways, just my two cents... anyone with me? tdc
Posted by: tdc | July 13, 2004 12:29 AM
I must confess I did soften towards her a bit...so sad seeing her reaction
"I can't leave here....this is my home"
My opinion personally went up furthermore when she made the faux pas on the nomination show about using a secret code with Bree that they developed under the doona cubby a few weeks back. Not just divulging that info, but doing so on national live TV, so it has to be dealt with to protect what little credibility remains this season.
No one in their right mind, or with any semblance of common sense, would shoot themselves in the foot that badly. Question is now, did her and some other HMs actuvely collude on nominations >
Posted by: epicurus | July 13, 2004 7:34 PM
Anyone know where I can get hold of the transcript or video of Monicas goodbye. I missed the damn thing.
Thanks
pat
Posted by: Pat | July 13, 2004 8:02 PM
Good point - to an extent I agree. I don't believe that persons who are not, well, very thick-skinned, a bit of an exhibitionist/narcissist and so on...well, they shouldn't be allowed in. But of course we don't know exactly what kind of psychological / medical assessment is undertaken prior, or after, big brother. Some people who have gone into the house have clearly not coped at all (eg Aphrodite this year, Anita the intruder (?BB1) leaps to mind also). If they suspect someone is not going to be able to manage then they shouldn't go in. If they think someone won't manage during or after the time in the house and still allow them in - for the TV potential - that's just plain evil.
It would be fascinating to see a 'where are they now' follow-up from earlier seasons...seeing the repercussions a few years down the track would address these concerns methinks.
Posted by: epicurus | July 13, 2004 9:53 PM
Transcript here (BBBA)
http://forum.behindbigbrother.com/viewtopic.php?t=2325
Posted by: epicurus | July 13, 2004 9:55 PM
Agree Jess, I don't mind Bree at all, even though she has been a tad self-absorbed since her 'reinstatement'and hope this passes quickly. Don't think she is outstandingly calculating either, especially in comparision to that master game-player Paul.
Posted by: Tee | July 14, 2004 12:20 PM
man bree is hot. ryan doesnt noe wat he is missing out on. cant believe he said he would rather root a guy that her. i hte monica shes sssooo booorrriinnngggg. it was a mistake putting her in the first place.
Posted by: philip | August 1, 2004 3:38 AM