TV Guide Online: Were you shocked to be nominated for eviction so soon? Lori: No, only because Marvin won Head of Household and I knew he was going to nominate me.

TVGO: Do you regret choosing the $10,000 windfall over food for the household? Lori: I don't regret it, but I definitely do think that it had something to do with the fact that I was nominated. It made me a target immediately.

TVGO: Marvin said he nominated you because you were the strongest player in the game. Do you think he meant it? Lori: I do think that he meant that. I think that he's pretty sincere. I think that I was the biggest threat to him, so I think he meant it.

TVGO: Might "Nakomis" and Michael's family ties affect the game down the line? Lori: No. I've spoken to Nic and I've heard her say a few times that she will vote him out if she has to. I think she's more solid with the girl alliance.

TVGO: What do you think about the twist with Adria and her twin, Natalie, playing as one person? Lori: I could not believe it. I'm totally shocked. I think that if they make it to Week 5, the two of them in, it's gonna depend a lot on who gets Head of Household. If they get it, they have a strong chance [of going far in the game].

TVGO: Do you think the other houseguests will hold it against them? Lori: I think that the guys will. I think that the girls will use it to their advantage.

TVGO: Do you think anyone will be able to stop the Four Horsemen? Lori: I think that if Will gets Head of Household next week, he has the guts to put them out. I think that Karen — I hope — has the guts to put them out. Definitely Adria. There's a few people that I think will definitely put them out.

TVGO: Is there a weak link in that foursome? Lori: Drew. Something's starting up [emotionally between him and] Diane; I don't know where it's going to go, I'm not really sure, but that could possibly make him the weak link of that group.

TVGO: What did you miss most about home during your stay in the BB house? Lori: I can't believe how much I missed food. I was having dreams about food... Pizza — I was craving it.

TVGO: With no TV, no radio, no newspapers, no books, what did you do all day? Lori: It was absolutely the most boring thing I've ever done in my life. I think we started going crazy. We would just talk and talk and talk, and then everyone just went a little bit crazy. I think that that was our amusement.

TVGO: Who was the most annoying house guest? Lori: Jase and Scott. It was a tie.

TVGO: Who was the messiest? Lori: Holly.

TVGO: Anything you'd do differently if you could do it all over? Lori: I think I would just try and stay a little bit more low-key and not make myself seem as powerful as everyone thought I was.

TVGO: After eating it for a week straight, how do you feel about peanut butter and jelly? Lori: Hate it. Never again. The thought of it makes me want to throw up!

Big Brother 5 airs at 8 pm/ET Thursday and 9 pm/ET Saturday and Tuesday on CBS

Wednesday, July 7, 2004
DNA dilemmas on 'Big Brother'
By JOHN POWELL -- Jam! Showbiz

'Big Brother 5' is now a game of genetic jeopardy.

On last night's dizzying debut episode, the 'Project: DNA' (DNA standing for "Do Not Assume") theme came into full affect igniting the intense drama the series is loved and hated for. In the first twist of the new season, the producers revealed that houseguests Jennifer Dedmon, the 21-year-old restaurant hostess from Texas and Michael Ellis, the 23-year-old security officer from Oklahoma, are in fact half-sister and half-brother. Jennifer and Michael share the same father but Michael has never met him. His single mother raised him. Although neither knew about their bond at the start of the game, Michael has puzzled out the truth by discretely questioning Jennifer about her life. Michael has yet to make his suspicions known to Jennifer on the show. "I've put the pieces together and know I have a sister in the house," said Michael in a Diary Room interview on the show.

Michael's revelation may throw a wrench into the works of the alliances that are being formed in the house. Michael is part of the self-proclaimed "Knights of the Roundtable" alliance with Scott, Drew, Jase and possibly Diane. While Karen, Lori and Will have formed an opposing alliance, it is not yet known where Jennifer stands in the mix of things.

In a controversial move that is sure to raise the ire of those who take the 'Big Brother' game quite seriously, the producers have also introduced sets of twins who will alternate playing the game. It appears that the twins will "play as one" by sharing the prize money and take turns at living in the 'Big Brother' house. Diane Henry, the cocktail waitress from Kentucky and Drew Daniel, the college graduate from Ohio, have admitted to having a twin outside of the house. Drew's brother is named Ben.

These aren't the only twins in the house though. It wasn't mentioned on the debut episode but Adria Okins has a twin sister named Natalie and the two have competed in and won many fitness competitions as 'The Fitness Twins'. They even have an official Web site at fitnesstwins.com.

The premiere also saw the first Head of Household crowned as Jase Wirey, the volunteer firefighter from Illinois, won a trivia - treadmill challenge. Jase now must nominate two of his fellow houseguests for eviction.

The producers threw a twist into the first Food Competition too, which required the houseguests to gather up special balls from a spinning apparatus shaped like a strand of DNA. Since Lori Valenti, the yoga instructor from Boston, had retrieved a special ball, she was given a special deal. Lori was offered $10,000 US in cold, hard cash. If Lori declined it, the same deal would be made one by one to the other houseguests. If she took it, the houseguests would lose the Food Competition and forced to eat a diet of peanut butter and jelly for a week. Lori took the money and now faces the wrath of the other disgruntled players.

On this Thursday's episode, viewers will discover who Jase has nominated for eviction while on next Tuesday's, the first Power of Veto Competition under the as-yet-to-be-unveiled new rules will be held. The first eviction will take place on next Thursday's live show.