Zach Cornell, the 27-year-old marketing manager from Cartersville, GA, was the fifth houseguest to be evicted on the 27th season of Big Brother.
The TV Watercooler had the opportunity to speak with Zach following his eviction to discuss why he thought he was safe enough not to use his special power, why he thinks his alliance chose to keep Vince instead, and predicts the “crazy” week ahead with Rachel as HOH.
You’re probably sick of hearing this by now, but for the record – why didn’t you save yourself?
I mean, like hindsight is 20/20, right? People told me [during other interviews] this morning that Vince was throwing me a bit under the bus and that Morgan was going to keep Vince, and that he also had a final two with Lauren.
There’s a whole bunch of things that I obviously didn’t know in the moment when I would have had the opportunity to save myself.
Truth be told, in that moment, I was thinking that I was still safe in the house. I thought that the [house’s] perception of me was very good – nobody had ever even really thrown out my name. And, so for that reason, Ava had told me that she didn’t want me to go.
So, I was thinking that I was totally fine. Obviously, in the Big Brother house, there are three or four days leading up to the live [eviction], so everything changes. Truthfully, in that moment, Morgan and Vince were my diehards. And if Morgan and Vince were on the block and I pulled myself off from it, it would not have made sense for me [to use the power] because two of my closest friends are still on the block, and I would have just wasted that power. Obviously, I would still be there, but in that mindset, I was really gamblin,g and it did not pay off.
At least you held on to the money.
Yeah, but it’s a really sucky feeling. That’s the best way to describe it. Everything happens for a reason…
Including Julie slapping you on the head with cue cards!
Yeah, I am the first person to ever say that I saved Julie on Day 1 and then on my final day, she slaps me upside the head, right?
I accept it. I understand people are upset at me for not using the power, but like I said, I still think – in terms of my own personal game move – it made the most sense [not to use the power] because I thought I was safe. And even then, I thought I had the chance of winning the Block Buster.
Why do you think your own alliance chose to keep Vince instead?
I mean, there are a whole lot of reasons. A lot was revealed to me [from other interviews], including a secret final two deal he had and Mickey potentially telling Ava that I should be the third nomination.
The morning of the eviction, I found out that Rachel was really pushing hard for Vince to go home, so people were clearly realizing that [keeping me] was better for her game.
Another reason was that I was more of a threat in the athletic coms than Vince. I also found out that Vince was really trying to pin me and Lauren together.
I felt like there were multiple reasons that built up to this outcome in the end.
Rachel won HOH. How do you predict this week will go?
Vince, Morgan and Mickey will go on the block. It’s going to be cinema this week, for sure.
I think it just depends on who she wants to backdoor in this moment.
I found out the people who watched the live feed said that Vince sat down with Rachel and said, “Can you at least give me the decency of not being backdoored?” to which she replied, “What makes you think you even deserve to be backdoored?”
I was like, “Wow, that’s crazy!” So, I know it’s going to be exciting.
I was planning on taking like a week off from watching [the show], but I will 100% be paying attention and tuning in as a fan!
I’m really excited about what’s about to go down because or Rachel. [The viewers] should be freaking out right now. The fact that she won HOH and is going to flip the house upside down.
My closest allies are [likely] going on the block, but from a fan’s perspective, you’ve got to respect that the game’s about to get crazy.
Could she win again, or is there anyone who is going to make a big move against her soon?
I was planning on making a move in terms of that had I won HOH – she was going to be my fourth nomination. Mickey said the same thing. Morgan said the same, as did Vince. There are a lot of people gunning for her.
I don’t think she’s going to last that long, or even have a chance of being at final two.
Who else do you think would make a move against Rachel?
I think Riley will. Honestly, I think everybody except Ashley, Ava, and Will.
Unless she uses her HOH to garner an alliance with Keanu, Kelley, and people that were kind of out on the outs.
Who was the easiest to connect with?
For me, it was Vince and Morgan.
I think that they’re fantastic people. I understand what they had to do in terms of the game, but it was so easy to connect with them. That’s why were staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning.
I also really enjoyed getting to know Lauren. I really plan on trying to improve our relationship once she does leave the house.
Have you heard from Zae yet?
I haven’t gotten my phone yet!
I don’t know what y’all saw, but I was like, messy crying [when he was evicted]. I’ve seen people do that in the house, and I’m like, “It’s only week one [to myself], why the hell are you crying over somebody?”
I want to see him. He’s one of my boys!
Big Brother airs Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Global and CBS. Canadians can stream Big Brother on STACK TV and the Global TV app.
