Amy Wins a Guilt Trip on 'BB3'

Wednesday, September 04, 2002

Amy © CBS Television

It's Wednesday night, Sept. 4.

Last Saturday, Marcellas put Roddy and Amy up for eviction. His explanation was that Roddy was generally seen as untrustworthy and that Amy was making a fool of herself. No argument on either point, but Amy was devastated by her best friend's speech.

Tonight, Marcellas explains that his nomination of Amy was essentially an intervention -- there was no other way to get through to her. He really doesn't want her to go. Roddy is the real target. And he should be.

When Roddy confronts Marcellas about the nominations, he's reminded that all of the now-evicted houseguests he had joined forces with ended up doing dirty work that benefited him in the long run. When Danielle concurs, Roddy accuses her of lying to his face.

It seems that Roddy not only enjoys crafting his own speeches, he has a talent for putting words in other peoples' mouths. He reminds Danielle that she once said that she completely trusted him. It was a conversation that probably went like this: Roddy - "We okay?" Danielle - "Uh huh."

Because he never saw a hole he couldn't dig deeper, Roddy then tells Marcellas, "I totally and 100 percent forgive you" for nominating him on false grounds. Nanoseconds later, he chastises Marcellas for not accepting his this absolution with overflowing gratitude. To quote Marcellas, Roddy is playing the smart white guy telling the two black people that they are being crazy.

Roddy is a real piece of work, but he'll top himself before the night is over.

The conversation between Amy and Marcellas is more sincere. He explains to her that making nice with the Rodster was a bad move, but he really doesn't want her gone. Amy seems to come around to his way of thinking. He observes that when Amy is not being the ex-beauty queen or "bendable Barbie," that she is a wonderful person.

Her character is about to be put to the test.

Ages ago, when "Big Brother 3" first began, Amy made an idle promise to Roddy that she would use the Power of Veto on him if she ever won it. He reminds her of this moment, not caring that if she won the medallion and saved him, she'd be out the door.

All she asks for in return is that he vote to keep her in the house if she saves him. He refuses to give his word, saying that if Lisa went up, he wouldn't vote for her. This seems to snap Amy back to her senses. She realizes that Roddy has been playing her, and declares, "He's underestimated me."

Let's hope so, because Amy ends up winning the power of veto.

Danielle and Jason are worried sick, because they know about Amy's promise. Jason observes that Roddy would be a total pig to ask Amy to throw the game for her. That, and Amy would be turning against the very people who voted her back in the house. Danielle literally prays to God that Amy won't use the veto.

Amy gives Roddy one last chance to change his mind about promising not to vote her out. He won't budge, but gives her a free guilt trip about how disappointed he is at the "lack of integrity" that people are showing in this game. He tells Amy that he would keep his word if he had given it to her.

Nice point, but Roddy refuses to commit his word to actually helping anyone. It's a convenient trick, actually, but it's about to backfire. At this point in the game, guilt trips aren't enough to make players give up a chance at $500,000.

Amy refuses to use the Power of Veto on Roddy, tearfully explaining that she won't sacrifice herself and get nothing in return. She can't use POV to save herself, so once again it goes back in the box.

Breaking her promise was hard, but ultimately it was a smart move. Her only mistake is trying to win Roddy's approval afterward.

He tells her that she's taken advantage of his kindness, and that the guilt she is feeling is actually easier than keeping her word. Now, he says, she's shown the rest of the houseguests that her word is no good. As he gets up to leave, he tells Amy that he still loves her, and kisses her on the forehead.

Roddy's really got this act down. Does anyone else suspect that he's the type of guy who could cheat on his girlfriend, then rationally explain to her that it was her fault? On the bright side, guys like Roddy are easy to forget once they are gone, and hopefully he will be on Thursday.

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