Importance of HOH
I only started watching Big Brother with any real attention span during last season, so I don't know for sure how HOH has worked out before that one. It seems that HOH is going to be the key to this season, however. So far, the "sides" have alternated being in power and their teams have remained balanced. While it looks bad for the Jedi today, if they win HOH then they can nominate 2 Sith and by next week it will be 3 to 3 again, and with James being on a POV streak, he has to be the favorite to get into the final 2. If the Sith win HOH, though, that's probably it for the Jedi. So it all comes down to whichever side can win HOH two times in a row, it seems.

Firm alliances are key, too. If Howie hadn't sold out his alliance by nominating James and Sarah instead of two of the Siths, the Jedis would have been in power now. The Siths might talk bad about each other but they've consistently voted as a unit and that's given them a major advantage.

I mentioned elsewhere that I dont remember HOH going back and forth between sides so evenly before, and it was pointed out that there has never been such an equal divide amongst the HGs before. Its true. They were split evenly down the middle. So if not for the Howie HOH screwup, it would have kept going back and forth equally all the time. Other years it was a definite factor becasue there were usually more than 2 teams in the house. It was usually that small unoticed group that really held the power and was able to make it less of a numbers game because the numbers were never that even unless there was someone up that everybody hated equally. Yeah I think HOH is an important factor when it gets down to the point where the sheep have to start nominating themselves. Up to then, its a given from where the nominees will come from. If HOH is a sheep, you know a S team member is going, if it was an S team member, you know a sheep is going.

Re: HOH Competition
What would make the HOH competition better is if the outgoing HOH could compete. I just don't understand why the outgoing HOH can't compete to regain his/her title.

I'm glad the current HOH can't compete. It would be boring if a really stronger player got in and picked everyone else off week by week. Since the HOH has to leave each week, you never know how the balance of power may shift. It keeps things interesting.

Re: HOH Competition
The strongest players don't always win. Well, unless you're James and its a POV competition you're taking part in. :wink: I see your point, Pika. I still don't like not having the current HOH compete, though. It just doesn't seem fair.

I think Janelle should have got to compete after hers becasue she only had the room and her CD for 24 hrs. In that case, I think outgoing HOH should be able to compete.

I don't think the outgoing short-week HOH should compete unless all outgoing HOH's get to compete. The HOH room and CD and stuff is nice, but really, HOH is all about holding power in the game. Letting Janelle compete last week just because she didn't get to stay in the HOH room as long as the others would give her "side" an advantage of having one more player in the competition, that none of the other HOH's had. That said, I like it the way it is. You get power when you win HOH, but then you have to deal with the possible consequences of your actions as HOH the next week. Plus, James has proven that one player can win almost every POV, and I would hate to see a BB where one person won every HOH. :evil:

When it comes down to the final 3... the person who won HOH in the week prior gets to play again right? I think that this should be the only time its allowed. The short HOH, while is obviously sucky for being short, it's good because you aren't HOH long enough for ppl to take notice really. (it was Drew last yr remember? and he wasn't targeted) Although I don't think Janie could blend into wallpaper if she tried.... LOL.

Yes, last HOH gets to pick who's going to the final chair with them. I remember Cowboy begging the HG's last yr to give him HOH when there 4 of them left, he literally wanted them to throw it just so he could have it. Not win it.. just have it. :roll: Because it was agreed that the final 3 would be drew/diane/cowboy.... ( for the record I don't remember who the 4th wheel was... )