I have been watching Big Brother since season 2 when I was
sucked in by the enthralling play of Dr. Will Kirby, widely regarded as the
best player in the history of the game. There have been the players like Dr.
Will or Dan Gheesling, who until now stood alone atop the heap. There have been
winners like Mike Boogie and Hayden Moss who have done well enough and those
like Andy Herren and Maggie Ausburn who have been downright horrible.
And now, there is Derrick Levasseur. A cop from Rhode
Island , Derrick was one of my two favorite players
from the beginning of this season next to the brash Zach Rance. And Derrick
played the game — yes, I will say it — perfectly.
Never on the block in 55 nominations and renoms. Never
targeted during the “most twisted summer yet.” Never on anyone’s radar as he
made big moves, orchestrated different strategies and puppeteered who he needed
to when he needed to. Derrick’s game was flawless because he never had to be
the one to pull the trigger. He was the truest of true hitmen.
And it was impressive, which is why the jury (minus two
clearly misguided votes) handed him $500,000 dollars.
In the game of Big Brother, being named a great is not easy.
I am such a deep fan of the show, my favorite overall show on television and
until this year, it was simply Will and Dan. Period. End of discussion. Not
only does Derrick join the conversation, he eclipses it. Yes, Derrick had the
blueprint of Dan and Will to work from, just as Dan had Will’s blueprint to
use. But, Derrick did it better. He was real and sincere and was never malicious.
Again, I loved the games Dr. Will and Dan played, but at times they were, out
of necessity, malicious. Derrick never was. Derrick was real and Derrick was
bold.
And this wasn’t an easy season either. Almost anybody on
this year’s cast could have won last year’s show full of boring, non game
playing, some racist and downright horrible “contestants.” But this was a good
year with good game players. Zach played well, just too over the top. Frankie
and Caleb played strong games, as did Nicole and Cody, all in different ways.
And Derrick, he picked them all off….one by one.
As Big Brother has now been renewed for two more years, I
will continue to watch every episode and I am sure at some point, again be in
awe of someone’s game play. But very likely, I will never be in awe like I was
at Derrick’s game play.
Because in 16 seasons, not a single person has played the
perfect game. Not Will. Not Dan. Not Evil Dick. Nobody. Nobody until Derrick
Levasseur.
Derrick played the perfect game. And for that, as a Big
Brother fan, I am grateful.
