'Big Brother' 16 Update :: Homoeroticism Continues

Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 6 MIN.

In what may be the most inclusive "Big Brother" cast, homoeroticism on the CBS reality show continues to bloom.

We are approaching week five of the three-month long program. So far, four of the five evictions have been women: Joey, Paola, Brittany and most recently, Amber, have been booted out of the "Big Brother" house. Devin, voted out in week three, is the only dude to say goodbye to his fellow houseguests; and he basically left because he was playing a horrible game and making the experience for everyone else a living nightmare.

With less and less women on the show, the sexy and buff men are stealing the limelight, including out contestant Frankie -- a YouTube star who is the half-brother of pop star Ariana Grande. Though his game can be best described as spotty, he's gaining attention for his ongoing showmance/bromance with Zach, who identifies as straight. Though he says he's into women, it doesn't stop him from cuddling, kissing (pecks no making out yet), massaging and flirting with Frankie.

While their relationship continues to blossom, it's pretty clear things are not going to further than where they are now, unfortunately. Though Zach said on the live feeds that he wants to have sex with Frankie, it's not out of the realm of possibilities that Zach is playing up his feelings for Frankie. It's also very possible Frankie is playing up his feelings towards Zach, even though Frankie said he was falling for the explosive Zach too.

Still -- a few weeks ago the two talked about their feelings while they were on the live feeds: Frankie jumps into bed with Zach to spoon and tells Zach, "I'm like falling in love with you a little bit...it's weird."

"Are you? I'm in love with you," Zach said. "I'm in love with you, without a doubt."

It's hard to tell who is being sincere -- this is a reality show where lies, backstabbing and manipulating emotions gets you further. It's especially difficult when it comes to Zach, who sleeps for most of the day and only wakes up to eat and yell at people.

He was co-Head of Household last week and caused a ruckus by making outlandish speeches after putting one of his own alliance member up for eviction. He called fellow houseguest Nicole a "fruit loop dingus" and Christine, who is in his alliance called the Detonators, a floater (in "Big Brother" terminology, a floater is deadweight; someone who isn't a physical or social threat in the game and floats through the game without doing much).

But Frankie and Zach, affectionately known as Zankie, aren't stealing the entire homoerotic spotlight. The other dudes in the house are some of the hottest and youngest cast members "Big Brother" has ever had. The buff baby faced Caleb, who has a creepy obsession with Amber (more on that later) and calls himself "Beast Mode Cowboy, told host Julie Chen Thursday night that he takes styling tips from Frankie and is a metro-cowboy.

The adorable surfer dude Hayden, who has a nose ring and often wears his long golden locks in a bun, walks around shirtless 99% of the time and pretty boy Cody, a former underwear model, doesn't mind Frankie massaging his butt or cuddling with him.

There is a lot of downtown on "Big Brother," and since the cast is cut off from the outside world and don't have access to TV, movies, books, Internet and music, there is only so many hours one can spend talking about strategy. So, the houseguests fill the long hours with other activities; some play chess, others read the Bible, some work out and some play chess. And some, namely Cody, like to put on a strip show to show off his near perfect physique.

In another moment, Frankie, Hayden, Caleb and Cody put on an amazing bodybuilding show for the houeguests.

The inclusiveness shown on "Big Brother" 16 is a huge leap from the reality show's season last year. A number of houseguests came under fire after they were caught on the live feeds using racist and homophobic slurs. It's no surprise that the "Big Brother" producers went out of their way to find a group of young strapping millennials to cast this season.

We're over a month into this season and there's been very little #problematic language. However Caleb did remark that he is so hungry he's starting to look like he was in the Holocaust (he definitely does not look emaciated.) And his male entitlement and ownership over Amber is pretty gross and has not been well received by fans. Quick backstory: Caleb is infatuated with Amber, who does not return his feelings. He believes she owes him something for protecting her in the game even though she never asked and specifically told him she doesn't want him to help her out. This has been going on since week one.

Now that we're down to just 11 houseguests, things are going to get dicey. With less people left in the game, there's more of a chance of someone going home. Up to this point, the houseguests have been buddy-buddy with each other with hardly any fights fights occurring, which allows editors to showcase Zankie's showmance and the other male-on-male moments occurring with the handsome hard bodies.

But I suspect the rest of the season will be focused on game, drama and strategy. So soak up the last few episodes of the dudes working out together, rubbing each other down, giving massages and even kissing. Before you know it, your favorite lover boy will be talking to Julie.


by Jason St. Amand , National News Editor

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