EW.com talked to Jerry MacDonald, the 75-year-old great-grandpa from Texas, about feeling lonely in the house, fighting with Dan, and how he didn’t really touch April’s boobs in the beginning of the season. (When you’re done reading, click here for Josh Wolk’s hilarious recap of last night’s episode.)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How many seasons of Big Brother have you watched? More importantly, why watch Big Brother than say, C-SPAN or The History Channel?
JERRY MACDONALD: I’ve seen every season. I like the challenge of Big Brother, the excitement of it. I like to see people go at it, people who use their brains and their hearts to play the game.
How much were you sure that Dan would take you to the final 2? Were you 50 percent sure? 100 percent sure?
None, because of his relationship with Memphis. I knew I was out because Memphis returned two shirts I had given him that my daughter had sent to me. They were a little big so to test the waters, I gave them to Memphis. He wouldn’t try them on. Just before the vote, he brought them back to me and told me to give them to my son-in-law. That was a signal that he and Dan had made a deal.
Maybe he just didn’t like the shirts.
They were nice, expensive shirts. They were brand new.
Let’s be honest, though — for a good while in the house, you didn’t seem to like Dan at all and yelled at him constantly.
I don’t think he was friendly. He played a pretty nasty game over all, not just with me, but with other people. He’s not too well liked among the jury.
After the jump, Jerry talks about calling Dan "Judas," wearing his military hat, and touching April’s boobs…
You called Dan "Judas," which means Jessie would have been Jesus.Why the biblical references? Why didn’t you just call him a miserablelittle putz and call it a day?
He was using religion. He kept saying if he confesses, all will beforgiven. He kept pushing the Bible thing so heavy, so I used Biblereferences. I think Dan’s a bright young man who is arrogant. And Ithink he needs to grow up. He’s like a child — rather, I think he’s agrandchild.
You lost your temper a lot in the house. Do you usually behave that way at home or was it just these kids who set you off?
I was never as mad in the inside as I appeared on the outside.Whenever I’d walk away from a fight, you could see me smiling. I knewwhat I was doing.
Big Brother watchers say the Jerry we saw in primetime wasmuch different than the Jerry we saw on the Internet. How would youdescribe your behavior in the house?
I was really polite to everyone. When someone won a competition Icomplimented them. When someone got nominated I shook their hand. Inever really got nasty or mean about anything. The only time I reallyhad a confrontation was with Dan and Memphis and when I suggested toMemphis that he was a womanizer. He told me he was going to become mybiggest nightmare. I looked up to him and said, "I don’t think so." Idon’t fear people.
Were you lonely? We often saw you wandering alone. Would people talk to you?
I played the game alone. It seemed like people were afraid to alignto me. I had to zig-zag alone through there. Everybody I tried to makea deal with broke their word to me right up to the end. To get this farunder those circumstances was quite amazing.
A lot was made out of the fact that you were the oldest person ever to play Big Brother. Why on earth would a mature man like you want to hang out with a bunch of 20-something knuckleheads?
It doesn’t matter whether they were 20 or 30. I wanted to do it formyself. I like the challenge. I was in sales and marketing for 38years. I like games. I can carry my weight. I’m healthy and strong tomentally compete. I thought I did a pretty good job. Of course, if Ihad won the money I would have found something to spend it on.
You touched April’s boobs in the first week. Dude, explain yourself.
You know, that wasn’t me touching her boobs. That was her walkinginto my hands. That’s exactly what happened. She started walking up tome and pushed them into me to show that they were real so I put myhands up to protect myself.
That’s pretty funny, Jerry.
I meant it to be.
You talked a lot about bringing honor to the Corps. Jerry,really: How does appearing on a cheesy reality show where women runaround in bikinis bring honor to the Corps?
That has nothing to do with bringing honor to the Corps. I wore mymilitary hat and things like that to bring honor to the troops servingin our country. Because of them we remain free. The game has nothing todo with that.
You told Julie that this was your last hurrah. That’sso…depressing. If anything, shouldn’t this empower you? Why not do Survivor or The Amazing Race now?
You know, I may just try that, if I get home and get in bettershape. Half the people on those shows self-destruct early. I could justlie down, act passive and probably get halfway through doing nothing. Imay just do it.
If you enjoyed our chat with Jerry, check out our recent BB Exit Q&As with Keesha, Renny, Ollie, and Michelle by clicking the name of the contestant you want to read about.
Comments (1-30) of 35 Add your comment
Thanks for asking Jerry some tough questions…although he is still lying. He said some pretty nasty stuff. Please remind him the cameras are on him 24 hours/day & “yes” we hear everything.
No one would align with him because he sucked up to the new HoH every week.
He only lasted that long because he was draggged since everyone knew he’d be easy to beat in the final 3.
Dan is twice the man he’ll ever be.
Oh yeah, to all the residents that live near Jerry, don’t go anywhere near the golf course, Chili’s, or the VFW on Thursdays…that’s his all day drink and drive day.
I had some respect in the beginning for Jerry, he acted like a grandfather to the rest. But later, he showed his true self, not too smart, equally manipulative (sorry, Jerry, I am almost as old as you, so you can’t say, I disrespect). The reason he stayed that long because he was no threat to anyone. The only person who is genuine is Renny. I am delighted to see Jesse, April, Libra, Ollie – voted out early. Michelle is too vindicative. I hope Dan win – he is a good strategist . People think he lied, backstabbed … but it’s a game . Some players took it too personally. It seems Dan and Memphis are OK, if either one of them become the winner. That’s true alliance and friendship.
“I was really polite to everyone.” Seriously? He said some of the most vile things I’ve ever heard.
Thanks Lynette, you tried to put it to him, give hime some food for thought anyway. My guess is Jerry’s been in denial about his behavior for a very long time, he’s likely used to lieing about the things he does. At least you didn’t sugar coat it for him though as CBS and Julie did.
I was a little put off with all his marine porn he wore all the time. You would think he retired after a long, illustrious military career, but he served one enlistment. I served a couple of enilistments in the military, that was over 15 years ago, my life moved on. Sure, I have a few knick knacks, and a shirt or two, but come on, one enlistment 50 years ago, get over yourself Jerry.
This should have been the quote I used. “I never really got nasty or mean about anything.”
I can’t decide who’s more delusional, April, Michelle or Jerry.
PLEASE DO NOT VOTE FOR HIM for Viewers Choice.
He is a hypocrite and said some of the most vile things ever said by a player and floated to whoever had the power.
Please vote for the person who actually played the game and was nice about it.
Vote Keesha for America’s choice…if for no other reason but to stick it to April.
I agree, give the America’s vote to Keesha. That will really get April mad! I cannot believe April told Ollie “Keesha is jealous that I am prettier than her”. Ok, she just made herself ugly saying that! I hate APRIL
Loved this interview. So glad you asked tough questions. Even though he still lied and is delusional. He was hateful to the people in the house that tried being nice to him. the things he said about Keesha especially were revolting and I hope her family lets him know they saw it and did not appreciate it at all tuesday
Go Dan, you deserve the 500,000 – I also voted for Keesha – If she wins, I hope the cameraman pans in on April’s puss – bet she won’t be smiling then.
It’s amazing that Jerry is still lying–not only to himself but to other people as well. He said nice things to the other houseguests? BS. He called Keesha a c*nt. Besides calling Dan a Judas, he said he should burn in hell. He lied about being in an alliance with Dan and Ollie (and depending on what day you talk to Jerry–April too). Jerry, the reason you were alone and no one wanted to align with you was because you told boring-ass stories, lied, twisted what other people said (Did you really hear Keesha and Memphis say that they were going to Lake Tahoe to celebrate after the finale? If you did, then get your ears checked. Keesha was suggesting to Memphis to take his girlfriend there.), could never keep a secret, and was untrustworthy. How about that, Jerry? Maybe that’s why no one wanted to have anything to do with you. Can you blame them? Dan is 10x more mature than your 75-year old body ever will be. I’m glad that 2 good guys made it to the end. GO DAN!
I just want to add, Jerry has admitted to spending every Thursday drinking and driving during his activities at the golf course, the VFW, and Chili’s. He not only drinks and drives, he takes the beer with him in the car!
PLEASE DO NOT VOTE FOR HIM FOR AMERICA’S CHOICE!!
And I have it on tape, if you don’t believe me!!
This man got the BEST edit in the history of BB! If anyone could have see the vile, disgusting, ridiculous person that was shown on the live feeds there would be NO WAY he would receive ANY votes as America’s Choice! UGH……..
Jerry is delusional. He was a disgusting, arrogant,rude, filthy mouth, and filthy thoughts, nose picking, know-it-all who told boring stories and had trouble listening to anything besides his own voice. I am voting for Renny to get the money as she was truly entertaining.
Jerry seems to have forgotten about motorboating April’s skanky boobs and he’s also forgotten the unprintable words used to describe his hate of women in the house who didn’t want his disgusting hands on their boobs. Jerry is a disgrace, too bad most of the people who watch BB will never see or hear what Jerry was really like in the house. The edit he was given is criminal, he’s a horrible person.
Jerry had the most ugly potty mouth ever, he is a dirty old man and should be home with his wife that he said he takes care of 24/7, not on a show where he touches girls boobs the first nite, calls Dan Judas and tells him he is going to hell, then what he said about Keesha ewwwww he is just nasty. If he was my hubby only thing he would get when he got home would be a cast iron skillet right in the face, door slammed and locks changed, let him go stay at the VFW, unless they moved without a forwarding address !! Jerry you should be ashamed of yourself saying you were repersenting the veterans!! A young girl paid for while in service and brags about it. Get over yourself I am sorry for your family. Shame on you !!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the direct questions we all wanted to know. That was right on!!!
I thought they all were basically a bunch of conniving cutthroats willing to harm whoever they had to harm in order to stay in the house. I don’t see any particular person having a higher moral ground to stand on than any other, especailly the Catholic school teacher. He was one of the bigest liers and manipulators in the group. I will be surprised if this goes over well with the rest of the faculty, administrators, and parents of children that attend the school where he teaches.
I have friends who are CBS only watchers. They couldn’t have possibly been more supportive of Jerry. Then, I invited them over to view the live feeds & an episode of BBAD that I had TIVO’d one evening. It happened to be the night Jerry was up for eviction with Ollie & spent the entire day in bed sulking. Keesha was the only one who went to spend time with him & see if he was okay. It was also the night that he went on a vile tirade about her to Ollie as soon as she walked out of the room openly saying which part of his anatomy didn’t need her part. He couldn’t have been more vulgar about it if he tried. To say they were shocked, would be an understatement! Yeppers, I agree, that disgusting old degenerate received the single best edit in the history of the show. Grodner & her flunkies should be proud – they managed to turn a demon into a saint before our eyes! Nice trick! I have to wonder if we should bother to vote because that AC $25k check may already be made payable to Jerry?
Be surprised then matt because his coaching staff has been interviewed and they understand Dan is playing a game and just like poker he is doing what it takes to win. They are excited to have him back and cheering for him.
Jerry, I’m sending you this note personally. Real Player keeps replaying the whole season from day one on 24/7 feeds after show ends. I think invest in buying them for at least two months so you can see yourself and refresh your memory. You called women the “a”, “b”,”c” and a word some people call a cat the “p” word in nasty ways. Maybe being 75 you just need your memory refreshed.
I really feel sorry for your family hearing of you being married before and announcing you never told them but dropped that bomb to America first. Keesha truly was kind to you and did everything and tried to be kind but the name calling by you way uncalled for in any form of life especially in a “game”! Also look at the polls and see that April, Ollie and yourself were the bottom people of the 13 even below the people who were voted out the first couple of weeks,why. Because this is a game not a place to degrade or have sex or defame people. Your poor son for all of us to hear of his life we cared so
Wow did Jerry show what a delusional moron he is in this interview!! I also watched the live feeds and he’s just class-less white trash. My father is 71 and a marine as well, he’s nothing like this or belongs to the VFW or other “drinking” activities. If Jerry wins the $25K and not Renny, I will really pissed at CBS for their editing of Jerry!
What a great interview, thanks for the hard hitting questions. Anyone remember hearing Jerry gripe about two guys from a previous season that he thought were “vulgar” (his words) on Showtime After Dark? I couldn’t believe my ears. Jerry said they were so vulgar talking about one of the women, and that their language was so offensive he couldn’t stand it. “It was so unnecessary” Jerry said. Then he went on to say how the women weren’t even there to defend themselves from the vile comments. He complained about the very behavior he had mimicked all through the game. I also thought I’d fall on the floor when I heard him say he repaid everyone in the house for any obligations owed them. I can’t even come up with the appropriate words to show how strongly I feel about this lying, delusional mess of a man. Good we’re all commenting, perhaps those who vote America’s Choice will see all the web comments and vote accordingly.
Gawd, I HATE this bitter, mean, old goat. He’s too dumb or too senile or perhaps just too delusional to SEE that his old ass was DRUG to F3. No one there wanted to WASTE and HoH on this loser. I pity his poor family. He reminds me of a washed up degenerate that only had his 4 yr Marines stint to show he has a life. Now it will be his Big Brother experience. Thanks To CBS wonderful angelic edit of this booger-picker, he will brag til the day he dies how he made it to F3. CBS…grow some BALLS and show this creep for what he is.. We ALL know the truth.
If you all don’t want Jerry to win the AC $25K prize, vote for someone else at
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/big_brother/polls/
glad to read that dan’s coaching staff is cheering for him. i thought dan’s bb play was brilliant and i loved the way he took the vile old guy’s tirade. dan showed a lot of class by not arguing with the old goat, i don’t think i could have held my tongue as well. jerry and his cohorts are going to be shocked by how they are despised by most fans of bb. how does bb get so many delusional people to appear on their show?
I wonder if Jerry will watch himself on BB with his family. I’m sure he’ll see what a great example he was to his children, grandchildren, snd greatgrandchildren. He taught the family how to be a sexist pig and how to put down women. He taught the family it’s ok to lie if you take off your militay gear, but to get offended and abusive if someone does the same thing with his cross. He taught the family it’s ok to buy a woman for sex if you’re lonely and in the military. He taught the family it’s ok to grab a much younger woman’s breasts on national tv. He taught the family to go ahead and drink and drive. He talks about the joy of having a family. I wonder how much joy the family found in watching the old letch on tv. I know if my grandfather had been dumb enough to go on a show like BB, he would not have brought the dishonor to our family that Jerry brought to his. Hopefully Jerry’s family learned their values from Jerry’s wife.
worst season of BB – Jerry is another in a line of contestants that were just awful. Renny was really the only interesting character who played the game and still seemed to stay true to self without making the mistake of being stupid, just outplayed. My dad was in the service as long as Jerry; it was something he did and he took pride in it. Falsely wrapping yourself in a flag for a friggin’ GAME SHOW is insulting but I guess freedom means a different things for different people. I’m sure my relatives who have died and suffered in service to this country wouldn’t shake their heads at Jerry’s actions but be glad they did what they did so he could protect himself from April’s deadly projectiles of lust.