Big Brother Evictee Says Romance Was Real

A "showmance" is never a good thing for a player on Big Brother, as Nick Starcevic, 25, of Kimball, Minnesota, learned last night. This former pro football player became the fourth evictee when his housemates — already concerned about his close relationship with Daniele — suspected him of casting last week's unnerving "mystery vote" against Kail. TVGuide.com talked with Nick about why his strategy to charm his way to a half-mil changed and how his alliances with the women in the house ultimately brought him down.

TVGuide.com: The second mystery vote to evict Kail [Harbick] really messed up your game and got you evicted. How does it feel knowing now that it was Eric [Stein] who cast that vote?
Nick Starcevic: It's funny, because I really liked the twist and I think Eric was the perfect person to pull it off. I've always had an inkling that something was different about Eric and now I know.

TVGuide.com: Did his behavior in the house not add up?
Nick: In the house, Eric isn't the same as the person I saw on TV last night. He's a lot more laid-back and chilled out, and in his message to me, it looked like he was a lot more outgoing.

TVGuide.com: You were pulled into the "Mrs. Robinson" alliance pretty early in the game. Would you have chosen to ally with other people if you hadn't been approached?
Nick: Yeah, I think that's what hindered me. I'm too approachable. A lot of people came up to me and wanted to get my allegiance and I kind of got roped into it with that first alliance. I would have gone a different way if I had it to do over again.

TVGuide.com: The women in the house took to you pretty quickly but in the end they turned on you. Do you feel betrayed? 
Nick: No, I don't feel betrayed because I came in knowing that in the context of the game, things were going to happen. I had personal conversations with Amber and Daniele and I said [to them] that if the votes were against me, [they should] go with the house consensus, because [otherwise] that would compromise their situation if they decided to go astray and vote for me to stay.

TVGuide.com: Before last night's vote, you made a really touching speech to Daniele [Donato]. Can you confirm that what happened inside the house between you two was not a game?
Nick: Definitely not a game. I came in with the intention that I was going to be the flirt in the house, but as soon as I met Daniele, things changed for me. I saw a different way that I wanted to play the game. Yeah, the feelings I had for Daniele are real and were real.

TVGuide.com: What do you think is going to happen outside the house with her?
Nick: I have no clue. I'm not expecting anything for Daniele and myself beyond friendship, but if something does happen, I'm very open to it.

TVGuide.com: Do you think you lost sight of the big picture as your relationship with Daniele grew?
Nick: The big picture for me wasn't winning the half-million dollars, as naïve as that might sound. I wanted to make sure that I had people I trusted — and who needed the money — win. I'm not one of [them], but there are certain people in the game who really do and I think they would do great things with the money if they got it.

TVGuide.com: There was no love lost between you and Jen [Johnson], but she's very popular outside the house. Are you seeing something about her that the audience is not seeing?
Nick: I have no clue what the audience is seeing, but I know what I saw and it wasn't a person I really liked too much.

TVGuide.com: Kail has been nominated for eviction repeatedly, but she hasn't been voted out yet. Is Kail going to win this game?
Nick: No. If she does win the game, it will be amazing, but I think the [housemates are] going to continue to put her up on the block and keep taking the life out of her and stressing her to the max.

TVGuide.com: Who are you hoping will win?
Nick: I hope that ultimately it will be Daniele, Amber or Jameka.

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