Andy Herren and Aubry Bracco Talk BB28 Wednesday Veto Ep Recap, Week 9

RHAP: We Know Big Brother

Andy Herren and Aubry Bracco join Rob Cesternino and Maggie Morgan for a deep dive into Big Brother 28's Week 9 Wednesday Veto episode, anal

Key takeaways

Barrett's nomination of the Icons marks a pivotal turning point in the game, disrupting their alliance momentum.
Andy Herren defends Barrett's move as necessary and strategic, comparing it to his own gameplay style despite some differences.

Main topics

Barrett's HoH nomination strategy
The power dynamics among the Icons

Notable quotes

"He needed to do this. If we let them keep going as a unit, they are just going to get more and more powerful." – Andy Herren

"I think Barrett's got a little HOH-itis... the speech was a bit over the top." – Aubry Bracco

Conclusion

The panel agrees that Barrett's move was strategically sound but socia

Transcript preview

Speaker 4 (0:08) Hey, everybody. What's going on? Rob Sestranino. And we are back. And we have gotten an incredible loaded panel to talk about everything from Big Brother here tonight. And we have a little bit of everything for you here tonight. It's a night of the crossovers, of course, here with us. First, let me introduce a woman who is going to help us through everything from the live feed tonight. It's Maggie Morgan. Maggie, how are you? Speaker 2 (0:38) I'm great. I'm so excited and honored to be here with two just incredible guests. And I'll let you take it from there. A Speaker 4 (0:46) star-studded night, okay? A night of winners, of course. Fresh off of winning Survivor 50. Back with us, one time... Big Brother commentator for EW magazine. It's Aubrey Bracco. Aubrey, how are you? Speaker 1 (1:03) Great. I'm excited to be here. It's been a long season. Really rooting for my survivors. It's rough in those streets, but I'm still here and I can take it. Speaker 4 (1:14) Okay. And I'm very excited to welcome back the winner of Big Brother 15 gets brought up all the time on Big Brother Unlocked. It's Andy Heron. Speaker 3 (1:25) Hello. I'm so happy to be here. This is going to be very fun. Speaker 4 (1:29) Yeah, this is a fun panel to talk things through because I feel like that in Andy, I think that we have somebody who has been very vocal about, okay, I'm very excited about, okay, the vets are on their heels. And here in Aubrey, we have somebody who's, hey, I am openly rooting for the vets. And I think this is going to be a very fun. discussion to have together. But you two also have some history and are friends. How do you two know each other so well? Speaker 3 (2:01) Do Speaker 4 (2:01) you want to Speaker 3 (2:02) take it or should I? Speaker 1 (2:03) Oh, Andy, I want to hear your take Speaker 3 (2:05) on it. Speaker 1 (2:05) So Speaker 3 (2:05) I was in LA in 2019 for Pride and it was right after Edge of Extinction. And so I truly, I think I was texting with Kelly Wentworth and Kelly was like, I'm here with Aubrey and Lauren and we should all meet up. And so we all met up. It was Kelly Wentworth's birthday. But while we were all hanging out, I feel like Aubrey and I just got to talking and we were like, oh, there's a connection here for sure. And there was such a strong connection that Aubrey then for like basically an entire afternoon of my vacation came and hung out in my Airbnb with me and my friends. And while we were together, we discovered that we have the exact same birthday. down to the year, which Speaker 4 (2:49) was Speaker 3 (2:49) very exciting. And then over the years, I feel like we, I mean, it ebbs and flows how we stay in contact, but we always will send like a long message if we haven't talked recently, checking in and like saying that we love each other. It was so thrilling to watch her win Survivor 50. Yeah, I love her. I love Aubrey so much. Speaker 1 (3:12) I feel the same way about Andy. First of all, I never knew how like you can go to pride in West Hollywood or you can do with Andy and his entourage. And it's like a life changing moment. I have such fond memories of that 48 hours hanging out in your Airbnb. I've never seen a crew like that. I loved all of you. And I just have that thing with Andy. I met Andy once. I felt like I knew him from a former life. And then. I hadn't watched 15. I hadn't watched Andy's season. I know it's got its lore. But I just admire so much about Andy. It's Speaker 2 (3:47) having Speaker 1 (3:47) a comeback. I don't know if you'd call it that. I'm just going to say what I love about it is that everybody loved Andy. Andy could stab you in the back almost in the way Ceri could, and you'd be like, do it again. Andy didn't do it. He's my best friend. So I think Andy's... Underrated. Underrated. Across the board. He should be on every show. I love him. Speaker 4 (4:11) Maggie, have you ever met a birthday twin? Speaker 2 (4:14) Yes. I worked a serving job right before I moved to New York. And four of us there had the exact same birthday. Oh, Speaker 1 (4:22) my Speaker 2 (4:22) God. And I was one of them. Speaker 1 (4:24) I know, I swear. Speaker 2 (4:25) No, we all had different ears. So not like this. You two, it's a special connection. The Speaker 3 (4:30) ear truly was like a... Truly shocking gaggy moment when we figured it out. Speaker 4 (4:36) Yes. Okay, well, we have a lot to talk about tonight. Plus, we will preview tomorrow's big, big day tomorrow, as we say here on Wednesday, as an icon will go home on Thursday night, and we can talk all of that through. Andy, let me start with you. And I'd love to get your take on Barrett and his HOH. I know you were very excited about what Barrett did this week. I think that there's also been some comparisons to is Barrett playing an Andy-like game? So what have you thought about Barrett? Speaker 3 (5:12) I mean, OK, so I have seen the vision all season. I've just really liked him. I mean, in general, I just like him as a person. But also I'm just like this, this person clearly knows the game. He's smart. He has good sense for it. Let him cook. Like when people were like, he's just furniture. I never bought into that. I did not agree with that. I think that he has not played a perfect game. I think he has definitely had like stumbles, but I do. Sorry, Aubrey. I do think he did the right thing this week and he needed to put up the icons. It was time. I'm sorry. Like if we let them keep going as a unit. They are just going to get more and more powerful. He needed to do this. And people are like, I'm sorry, the icons have revisionist history. Dee and Angela were both talking about how they would like potentially put him up. And so this is ridiculous, like hearing them. Yes. They like, Speaker 4 (6:05) yeah. But I will say, if I may push back, Andy, that maybe, maybe. You might have revisionist history to say that I saw the vision the whole time. Had it not been for them pushing him and putting Mallory up on the block, he wouldn't be doing this. Speaker 3 (6:20) So, I mean, sure. But also what I will say is I just never thought that he was like the nothing burger of a player that a lot of people thought he was. I'm not saying that I thought he was going to like mastermind a bunch of things, but I do think that he did not deserve to be like. near the bottom of like every player ranking all season. And it does not shock me that he did this. Speaker 3 (6:45) And it's like, I like the comparisons to me. Well, Speaker 4 (6:49) we know that. Speaker 3 (6:50) I think that a lot of them ring true. I think that some of them aren't as true, but I definitely still... Speaker 2 (6:55) Before we go too far into that, let's wait till the spoiler section and I'll tell you how he's quite different. Speaker 3 (7:01) Yeah, Speaker 4 (7:01) yeah. Okay. Aubrey, did you feel like that Barrett made a wrong move this week? Speaker 1 (7:09) No, I don't actually think Barrett made the wrong move. But I got to say, I was really shocked with the whole thing on the episode with Drew. I think I've been hearing a lot about the icon's privilege and arrogance. And I'm just like, I think Barrett's got a little HOH-itis. Like, he made his move. I think it was the right move for him. But I think the way he's handled it a bit after, like, Drew Speaker 2 (7:37) is pissed. Like, Drew was with him. Speaker 1 (7:41) The veto draw was true. He's like a tight ally with him. I think there's a lot of like underestimating Barrett, overestimating Drew's itch to go to the other side. There's been a lot of miscalculation. Drew's been like this odd like smokescreen or anti-smokescreen like Q was in 46. and distracting people. And I'm just like, Barrett, I thought that you got the Drew social game of it all. For me, it was a social game, folly, the veto draw. And the social game was what Barrett has had the entire game. So I think that he made the right move. But I also think, I mean, I'm going to sound like such a hypocrite, because I am. But the Speaker 3 (8:24) whole Speaker 1 (8:25) speech, too, when he nominated the icons, too, I was like... I don't know. For me, I'm like, it's a little over the top. We're trying to be showmen a little bit too much here. Speaker 3 (8:35) I think he made the right move not choosing Drew. I think there was a chance that Drew would have taken an icon down and he didn't want to have any chance whatsoever that that would happen. And I like understand it. Speaker 1 (8:45) But why? But he could have told him first. Yes. OK. Someone clue him in. Yeah. Speaker 2 (8:50) Yeah. Speaker 3 (8:51) I Speaker 2 (8:51) totally disagree about Barrett's move in general. I just think that there's no way that you he should have put up the icons, but he should have put up D. Devens and Yash. And then if Yash wins the veto, then Angela goes up. Like you just, you literally know that Yash is contractually obligated to get rid of you if he wins HOH. And you know, he's so capable. And yeah, he's throwing them, you think, but also like he's lying to you about it. Like there's, there's just no way. in Big Brother, if you are going to do something like put up the icons, make yourself a big target, you got to win out at that point. And you got to win out with the people that you can win out with. The people that he knows for sure will keep him safe are Drew and Melody. Melody can't win anything. Drew can win a lot of things. So like you just have to go hard at those three, hope one of it sticks, and then you'll deal with the repercussions later. That's my opinion. As somebody who like wouldn't really be able to win comps in Big Brother. Speaker 4 (9:52) You know, I think that putting up the three icons was the big move. You know, Andy, I saw on chat BCC, I believe you called him Barrett Milagros. I don't remember what his real last name is. And I think that that was like, we've been waiting all season. Like that's what Mallory wanted. Put up all three of the icons. And I think that, you know, I guess he was trying to pick a side of, okay, I'm going to side with the other. So rather than alienating Yash also in this whole week, it didn't ultimately work that way. But I guess I see the vision of what he's, okay, I'm going to try to go all in on one side of the house. It's just not as clear cut as he would like to have been. Speaker 4 (10:41) I'd love to go back to, we talked about the nominations at the start of the episode. This is the third time this season that we've seen the nomination ceremony really devolve into, I've been calling it's like a trader's roundtable in terms of the arguing that ensues after these nominations. This is really something that we don't see in Big Brother. Andy, is the meta shifting? Is this something that we will see in future seasons of Big Brother? I Speaker 3 (11:11) like it. So my first love of Big Brother is strategy. But man, a close second, it's fighting and drama. And I really want them to be like screaming at each other and fighting. And so I like it a lot. Especially as someone who like... I, this season I have stepped back a little bit from online just because it has been out of control. And so I really do like, I keep up with Tara and I keep up with you guys, but then I like watch the episodes. And I think that it's been really fun to see these in the episodes. I don't know. I like it when people are screaming at each other. What can I say? Yeah. Speaker 2 (11:49) Aubrey. Drew said in the house recently that the icons and the survivors just treat it like tribal council. Do you see that comparison? Speaker 1 (11:59) Oh, yeah. I mean, I've been to very live tribals. I've been to them all. I've been in Rick Devon's tribals. I've watched Rick Devon's. It's very similar to me. I just can't handle Angela when she just started saying, swear on your brother. I'm like, it's entertaining, but I'm like. Put it on your brother. Put it on your brother. Your win equity. Does she think about that? I like, I don't know. It's just, it's wild. Great TV. Great pick. But I have a very different style, which on 50s, I like to shut up and like let it roll. I'm like, what are you doing? Speaker 3 (12:39) Shut up. I mean, I know I sound like a hypocrite because like my season, all it was was fights and I'm just like sitting bug eyed in the corner. Like I don't say a word throughout any of them ever. So like, who am I to talk? But like, although it's funny because I say that, but also living through them, that was when I was like, oh damn, I am on Big Brother. Speaker 1 (12:56) Yeah. Speaker 4 (12:58) Yeah. I mean, there's nothing better on reality TV than when you're in a room full of people that are fighting. I mean, that's like the, like. The best feeling of just being like, like watching like a fight happen in real life and not being in it. It's incredible. Speaker 1 (13:16) And I loved Melody. I'm living for Melody keeping her lie. I love that little her face. And she's just like, I didn't tell anyone it was me when she voted to evict Taylor. Wow. And didn't tell anybody. She's just, everyone's framing Yash. Speaker 3 (13:32) I mean, it's the one good thing she's done all season. So we have to give it to her. Don't even get me started, Annie. She Speaker 4 (13:40) got Ashley out. She Speaker 3 (13:40) got Ashley out, remember? Speaker 1 (13:42) I love Melody. I love Speaker 3 (13:44) her. Melody as a character is like my favorite person in the Speaker 1 (13:49) show. Speaker 4 (13:50) Absolutely. But Speaker 3 (13:51) from a strategic standpoint. Don't forget that. Abysmal. I'll Speaker 1 (13:55) say it abysmal. The art of doing nothing is just as valid a strategy. That they Speaker 4 (14:00) got rid of Lyric to keep her. And that was like what, imagine the sliding doors moment where that doesn't happen and they keep Lyric. I don't want to. And the red corner sticks together. Speaker 1 (14:13) I'm so glad the red corner. She saved the season. Speaker 4 (14:16) Yeah. Melody. Speaker 2 (14:17) My main issue with Melody is that, like, you have been given a gift from the Big Brother gods, which is a man who can win competitions who is obsessed with you. Like, you better Morgan Pope that to the end. You know? And I'm not saying that, like, it has to always, those types of Big Brother god gifts always have to come in the form of, like, you are a woman and they are a man. Like, look at what Derek did with Cody. You know what I mean? And 16, like if you have a man who is obsessed with you, who will win you and you can't get him to do something good for you in that, like, what are we doing here? You know, like what? Come on, Melody, get your head in the game. Speaker 1 (15:00) I Speaker 2 (15:00) don't know what you're talking about, Speaker 1 (15:01) bro. Speaker 4 (15:05) Okay, so then tonight as things were unfolding after the nomination ceremony, we saw a little bit of a tiff between Dee and Devins. And this was where Dee was telling Devins that Drew isn't with them. The reality is that we know that Drew still is. You know, I think that Rick has had his doubts of whether or not that... Drew is actually with them. Aubrey, what did you make about this fight between Dee and Devin's? Speaker 1 (15:41) It's so interesting. I can see both sides of it. Like Dee is so knowing them both. Dee is so talented at like. sniffing out what's ahead. I always say she's proactively defensive and she's like, wake up, wake up to what's going on. But then there's also like, at what point, especially when you're hanging out with Angela all the time, is it turning into paranoia? And so I can also understand how Devin's is like, stop it. I know I have a brain, stop it. And like, I know them well enough to know that like, he wouldn't feel comfortable. I don't think. saying it like that unless they were really close and I could tell by the way it kind of dereacted she's like whoa but it's I can see I literally can see both and it's like you're in that game it's when there's murky water and you're like is it this or is it that and well that was those wild wild to see that little it was like family having a little fight Speaker 4 (16:32) yeah But like family, it didn't seem like it was something that really stuck. I mean, I feel like there were other things. He laughed Speaker 3 (16:41) and it was fine. It definitely seemed like a quick little argument among two people who love each other a lot. Speaker 4 (16:49) Yeah, Speaker 1 (16:49) I didn't. I was like, I Speaker 4 (16:51) don't want to let it. There's been times when she gets more annoyed with him when he's making a joke than when he's shouting at her. Speaker 1 (16:58) Yeah. Speaker 4 (16:58) Totally. Yeah. Okay. Speaker 4 (17:02) One of the big things is the bribe and all of the discussion of the bribe and Yash trying to get away with it. Andy, I'd love to get your thoughts on the BB bribe. And do you like what it's added to the season? Speaker 3 (17:18) No, I think it's stupid. I think it's a really bad power. It's just like, it doesn't make any sense. The rules are fast and loose. And I just think that like, so let's say someone gets it week two. Could they have been like, you can't nominate me and my 10 closest allies for the night you know what i'm saying like it's just yeah what are the what are the limits here and i guess it's like it's on production not on d d like broke it and like figured out a good way to use it and so i have to give d credit there but i think that in productions like eyes this was a short-sighted idea that i do not think they really knew what to do with and like i think it's stupid i keep hearing that like It still is in play if D goes home, which I think is really stupid. Yeah, I think it's a dumb power. Although I also, I mean, as with everything with Big Brother, they have a good idea and then they just don't implement it very well. It's like these powers, it's fun, but giving one person a diamond power of veto and giving another person a never not pass is crazy. What are we doing? Speaker 1 (18:19) Yeah, it's fair there. It's just not. I'm like, I want like a checklist with it or rubric. Like, I don't know. Like, I want like I need someone to spell it out for me. And I think someone like I saw the letter and I still I was like, how many people? Like Speaker 3 (18:35) the confused woman meme on multiple occasions being like me trying to understand the BB bribe. Like, I just do not get it. Speaker 1 (18:43) Yes. Like Speaker 3 (18:44) Barrett, even I feel like his reactions to learning about it. He's just like. what? Like, this is so stupid. Like, and being like, so you could have kept me safe too? Why didn't you do that too? Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, it just, all of it is dumb. Speaker 4 (19:00) Yeah, maybe this is a hot take and it probably is. I think the bribe has been additive to the season. I think it's made the story interesting, and I think that especially if Yash wins the game despite this bribe, I think this is such a cool story where he made this deal, and at the time I was like, he should have just said, hey, you know what, screw all three of you, I'm not taking your bribe. People would have loved that. But he took it, and he's in this bad spot, and he... does not want to work with these people. He's incentivized to not work with these people, but he's also trapped. It's so interesting. We've never seen anything like this. Okay, Speaker 3 (19:41) I Speaker 4 (19:41) agree with Speaker 3 (19:41) that. I do. I agree that I think it has like made the show fun, but I think like from a logistics standpoint, sorry, I think from a logistics standpoint, it is dumb, if that makes sense. But I do think it is intriguing to watch what has been happening with it. Speaker 4 (19:56) Yeah. It's like Dee broke the thing. She made a deal that was wild. But what's wilder is that it still could work out for Yash. Right. Speaker 1 (20:07) Yeah, I think he had... There's something about Yash where... He just has it. Yeah. I'm like, I like, I think he's going to win. I felt that way for a few weeks. I'm like, what is he just, it oozes off of him. Like he just makes everyone comfortable. I'm like, I like feel it. I Speaker 3 (20:26) mean, I think Speaker 1 (20:27) if Speaker 3 (20:27) he gets to the end with, with any icon, he absolutely should win. Like they all had all these advantages. He was disadvantaged. Every advantage. Speaker 4 (20:35) I was talking about this earlier tonight. I did a podcast with Taryn, the BB Mailbag on Patreon. And Maggie, I talked about this scenario, though, where, okay, Yash and Dee are in the final three. Yash and Dee have won part one and part two of the final HOH. Dee sits there, isn't even like turning in cards. She's blatantly throwing the final HOH. Yash wins it. has to now take D to the end against his wishes. D stands there like, he didn't even want to take me. I had to, that he made a deal with me. He had to take me. How do you not vote for D? Speaker 2 (21:21) I'm voting for D. I'm 1,000 % I'm voting for D in that situation. She's brilliant. Are you kidding? She trapped him all game. Also, like, he could have, if Yash knows what's good for him, he would win. Like, HOH next week. Yeah. Make it a wash. Put up the FAP side of the house. Wash it away. And then he can start winning and targeting who he actually wants to target. Speaker 3 (21:46) I don't know if I agree with that. I still think she has gotten so much power through advantages and powers. Yeah. I would vote for D and Yash at the end. I mean, there's still a lot of game to play. I think if D wiggles her way out of eviction this week, she's moving up in my rankings. Speaker 1 (22:03) Like, I think she should Speaker 3 (22:04) win. But, like, I do think there would be a