September 23, 2015
Big Brother/CBS
Scranton dentist John McGuire, left, examines the teeth of Meg Maley, a native of Collingswood, N.J.
This evening marks the end of the 17th season of Big Brother, and it wouldn't be complete without a look back at the ridiculousness the region's contestants brought to the show this summer.
The season's local houseguests included 25-year-old Meg Maley, of Collingswood, N.J., and 28-year-old John "Johnny Mac" McGuire, of Scranton, Pa. Meg is a Jersey-to-New York transplant and waitress, and Johnny Mac is a Penn State alum who works as a dentist. While neither made it to the finals -- Johnny Mac was evicted just last week, and Meg in Week 10 -- both stood out as houseguests that made this season an entertaining, if not compelling, hour of television when weeks otherwise played out predictably. (Vanessa wins Head of Household again? Get out of here!)
In which case, it wouldn't be a total shocker if either of them traveled home with the "America's Favorite" $25,000 prize, awarded by viewers during this evening's 90-minute finale at 9:30 p.m. They've each accumulated rabid social media followings and consistently land in the Top 5 in popularity polls.
Here, 12 highlights from Meg and Johnny Mac's respective experiences on the show, along with who might be more likely to nab the coveted consolation prize.
(Photos and clips from Big Brother / CBS)
She came in the jean vest, she left in the jean vest. She slept in it, lounged in it, competed in it, flirted in it -- Meg all but was the vest. And, if only in aesthetic, Meg brought the fabulousness of the '90s to Big Brother.
Johnny Mac is best known for his candid -- and yes, sometimes aloof -- commentary in the diary room, where he transitions from a whisper to a shout at a 0-to-100 rate. He sounds like he's using the pet voice you'd use in private when no one's around, only louder -- a lot louder. It's the charisma he brought to a sometimes soporific cast that's irrefutably made him a fan favorite, and probably captured the attention of many of the house guests.
Meg's face plant during #OTEV #BB17 pic.twitter.com/QaNL4e1wv8
— Big Brother Always (@BigBroAlways) August 22, 2015
Ouch.
("The Office" / NBC)
Right out of the gate, Big Brother houseguests speculated that John's "Scranton dentist" spiel was a lie, since he named his hometown as what the other houseguests assumed to be a fictional town in "The Office." Apparently, no one knows Scranton is an actual place -- or, at least, the Big Brother houseguests don't.
So, thanks for that unintentionally hilarious moment, Johnny Mac.
Fellow Big Brother contestant (and Meg's not-so-secret admirer) James Huling first noted the resemblance, with the Twittersphere to follow. Do they really look alike? It's debatable. But where you will see the resemblance is in their comparable surprise face, equal parts smile and horrified deer-in-the-headlights expression.
Over, and over, and over again.
Not exactly one of Meg's finer moments, considering house guest Clay Honeycutt had what was -- at the time, anyway -- the season's most notable "showmance" with Shelli Poole. Fans eagerly await the latter's reaction to the above clip when she's finally freed from the Big Brother world and has the chance to chime in on the season's "#BBScandal."
It's a good thing you're living in New York these days, Meg -- you may need a big space to hide in.
Otherwise known for his guitar-jamming, Johnny Mac turned out to be a surprisingly top-tier bandmate (though his choreo could use some work). Meant to be a punishment for losing a competition, the trio's performances turned out to be one of the season's brighter moments, with Johnny Mac surprising the house as one of the group's more energetic members.
Plus, the get-up suited him, making him cute as a button and, well, fedorable.
Meg got a lot of flak throughout the season for not winning any competitions and, ultimately, not making much of an effort to play the game. It got to a point where houseguests were jokingly chastising weaker players by calling them "The Meg." And though Meg certainly can't de-crown last season's Victoria Rafaeli as the series' most float-tacular contestant, she stands out as this season's most apathetic.
Still, the lack of game strategy made way for all sorts of other entertaining, zany moments only Meg could bring to the TV screen.
Who can forget Johnny Mac's creeping on the twins-in-hiding for a mere glimpse at Liz's crown? It was also the moment in the season Johnny Mac seemed to wake up to the fact that he was playing a game, after weeks of submitting as the pawn on eviction nights.
James tried to make it happen -- oh, how he tried. They even seemed to have natural chemistry. Still, Meg acknowledged to Julie Chen on eviction night that it was nothing more than a strong friendship. Which means, James, you've officially been friend-zoned.
Oh, what could have been ...
Big Brother's contestants are notorious for their pandering to longtime host Julie Chen, complimenting her appearance on eviction nights and getting flustered when they inevitably see her in person. Not Johnny Mac.
Search yourselves, folks. You know it to be true.
All in all, not a bad season. Claps for Big Brother 17.
