By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Being a showmance couple on "Big Brother" is risky. Sure, it means you have a sure partner but it also means you become an easy target.
That's what has befallen likable lug Clay Honeycutt and his "bless her heart" lady friend, Atlanta interior designer Shelli Poole.
They are the stereotypical "popular" football player/cheerleader types and inseparable in the house. As a result, some people kissed up to them. But others? Not so much.
Southern boy James Hulling has seen several of his allies fall by the wayside thanks to the "Sixth Sense" alliance (Austin, the twins, Vanessa and Clelli, as Clay and Shelli are now known).
Shelli and James were the last two up during the Head of Household competition. Shelli, who was about to fall off, made a deal with James that she would purposely jump off if he would ensure her safety - and that of Clay. (Vanessa Rousso, you are the ultimate third wheel!)
But James wasn't keen on keeping to his word. He told his plans to Becky Burgess, a potential ally, who instead went to Clelli to tell them what was going on. They tried to feel out James and tell him they had nothing to do with Jason's elimination last week. He didn't really believe them. He placed them on the block for eviction.
On Wednesday's episode, Clelli was incensed. Clay threatened James but James, a former prison guard, was unfazed. "We haven't betrayed you in any way - at all," Shelli said with a straight face.
"I've been on the block too many times while Shelli was in power," James said to the cameras. "There's no way that you were looking out for my best interest. Y'all had your hands in all the cookie jars and you got caught!"
Clelli tried to throw both Vanessa and Austin under the bus, refusing to take responsibility for their actions. Vanessa was deeply emotional and upset. Then Shelli broke down in front of Vanessa. "Why this week?" she said. "This is the week that breaks us up."
James, in the meantime, knew he has blood on his hands and was okay with it.
For Clelli, the Power of Veto was the only way to possibly save them.
But they both lost. And James won, meaning status quo. Either Clay or Shelli is guaranteed to go home.
"It's disgusting," said Shelli, as she did some sort of ridiculous punishment that involved doing a "regimen" 2,400 times with a sword.
Bottom line: things are not looking good for the remaining Atlantan. (Dunwoody native Jace Agolli was cut week one and Villa Rica's Audrey Middleton was out week four.)
Between Clay and Shelli, Shelli is widely seen as the game maker with Clay going along for the ride.
Her attachment to this Clay guy, who "Big Brother" mocked Sunday night by noting how often he garbles his words.
UPDATE: Go figure! Clay poured on the charm and convinced the entire house to keep Shelli around! Wow!
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