I know it is pretty normal for BB to do things, such as interview Kristen's boyfriend/family, to get their reaction to the showmance betwen Kristen and Hayden, which IMHO is fair enough, but what was with burying Brendon by interviewing his ex and her mother?

I don't like the guy, and loath his showmance, but felt this was going a step too far. It had no relevance to what was going on in the house, and will only cause the guy trouble in real life.

Have they ever done something like that before?

The whole segment was a bit unusual to say the least. If I were Brendon, i'd be pretty pissed off if I left the house and saw that.

I agree, it was a low blow. Then they denied him the chance to see Rachel (despite the enticing video they used to trick him), and made a joke about him looking for her in the jury house. And all the time knowing Matt was going to undermine his week as HOH with the DPOV they handed to him. Plus they seem to have manipulated him into putting Matt up so they could have their DPOV drama. (On the live feed Brendon told Enzo that he'd told Britney she was going up, then the producers told him he can't tell someone that and that he had to undo it. Then they allowed the pretzel message to get through, and who knows, maybe they suggested that trick to Rachel in the first place.)

On the flip side, that HoH comp was very much designed with Brendon in mind.

I didn't have a problem with the Pandora's box as and of itself, because it was within keeping with the spirit of the actual trial. i.e. Being tempted to open something that could have possitive or negative results. However doing it on top of the previous piece from his ex just made the whole thing crueler.

That's interesting about the producers stepping in.

It did seem to be.

Does Brendon sail? I was just going by them showing yacths in the piece with his ex, and the way he was winding the ropes.

I agree with your other example but Brendon put Ragan and Lane up on the block at first, thats probably the worst combination of nominee's if the DR wanted Matt on the block on eviction night.