Rob Rausch Praises Eric Nam’s Ear for ‘Pitch’ on ‘The Traitors’ — But Was the Singer’s Guess Right?
Treachery and deceit are always in the room when it comes time for The Traitors roundtable, but musical pitch? That came into play as well on the fourth episode of season four, which arrived on Peacock Thursday (Jan. 15).
Singer-songwriter Eric Nam’s professional experience came into play as the contestants argued over who to banish from the Scottish castle in a debate filled with sharp clapbacks from the accused. It all started with The Bachelor season 23 star Colton Underwood pointing a questionable finger at Tiffany Mitchell of Big Brother 23, accusing her of being a traitor due to what he considered suspect gameplay that indicated to him her malintent.
“Last night, I was part of a conversation with a group of people in which you laid out a plan — ‘We’re going to go for Ron [Funches], then we’re going to go for Yam Yam [Arocho], then we’re going to go for Michael [Rappaport],’” he explained. “You laid it out in a strategy — you didn’t lay it out with suspicions and facts. I don’t know about you, but this game changes very quickly, and at times, I struggle to have one solid name …”
“You struggling today, but go ahead, ’cause you’re wrong, but I’m listening,” the gamer shot back. When the former football player praised her as dangerous and called her a puppet master, she responded matter-of-factly, “No, I’m the smartest. I’m definitely smarter than you.”
During the back-and-forth, the “Can’t Help Myself” singer — who during the previous episode was tied to a tree, blindfolded and was at risk of being murdered by the traitors — dropped his head, shaking it back and forth.
“I could’ve came here and played it safe and gone with either Ron or Michael. I’m taking a big chance and putting a target on my back. … I’m not the only one who thinks your name,” said Colton before asking his target how she spelled her name after she urged him to vote her out.
“T-I-F-F-A-N-Y,” she responded coldly. “Like the company.”
After more heated debate, which saw Ron once again targeted due to his closeness with Donna Kelce, who was revealed to be the secret traitor and banished in episode three — the K-pop singer finally spoke up. “I have something to say. For myself yesterday at the murder decision, I gave a plea to the traitors,” he began, bracing himself to drop what he knew would be a big reveal. “If you’re a traitor, you heard my plea. I said, ‘If you murder me tonight, I hope that my ghost and the ghosts of all the other faithfuls haunt you for the rest of your life — and I heard a laugh. I’m 99% sure that laugh was you, Tiffany.”
As Tiffany’s head dropped in defeat, so, too, did jaws around the table in shock. Love Island USA‘s Rob Rausch’s eyes popped open at the namedrop as he looked around at his fellow players, mouthing, “WOW!”
“I’m a musician, I listen to music over and over. I obsess over one song for 40 mixes,” Eric continued, making his push for Tiffany. “Maybe my ears went wrong yesterday ’cause I was so nervous, but it really cemented it for me.”
The Big Brother player, who at this point was tearing up, fired back, “You might need another career just for while you’re here.”
As host Alan Cumming had the contestants read off their votes, several players explained that Eric’s ear was the deciding factor for them. “Tiffany, I voted for you. After hearing what Eric said, I mean, I’ve listened to his music,” Rob shared. “The man knows pitch.”
And with the majority of votes going to the gamer, Tiffany was banished from the castle.
But was Eric’s ear for pitch correct?
As the gamer stood in the Circle of Truth before her exit, she addressed her fellow contestants. “I told myself coming into this game, ‘Be careful with how you are because not everyone will understand.’ But I am truly proud of how I played this game. And you all should be proud of yourselves too, because you have proved that you get what you deserve,” she said as Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” played ominously. “You all didn’t deserve me … because I am a faithful.”
New episodes of The Traitors drop Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.
