Big BrotherlegendJanelle Pierzinaknows reality TV, and recentlycaught up with Screen Rant to share her thoughts on Rachel Reilly and all thingsBig Brother27. While Janelle hasn’t been back in theBig Brotherhouse since her appearance onBB22, the second All-Stars season, she’s competed on four seasons of the show and knows it better than most.
As a competitor onBig Brother6 andBig Brother7,Janelle made it to the final 3 twice in two seasons, tragically falling short of the endgame after playing with a massive target on her back for weeks at a time. While Janelle moved through the game with strong alliances, she was the type of player who could protect herself with competition wins.
A competitive threat,Janelle’s returns toBig Brother14 and 22were short-lived because of the massive target on her back. A highly capable player, Janelle was taken out pre-jury in both seasons, seen as too big of a threat to leave in the game. Regardless of later placement, Janelle’s regarded as aBBlegend for her competitive prowess.
Going on to compete onThe Amazing Race, Snake In The Grass,andThe Traitorsseason 2, Janelle knows her way around a reality TV competition. With Rachel, her friend and formerTARco-star, currently the only returnee onBig Brother27,Janelle shared her wealth ofBig Brotherknowledge with Screen Rantand discussed how Rachel’s doing in the difficult game.
Screen Rant: Janelle, as someone who spent a lot of time in theBig Brotherhouse, how do you feel like this cast is doing?
Janelle Pierzina: You know, I think they’re doing all right. We haven’t seen any flashy gameplay or game moves, that’s for sure, but I feel like it’s like a slow burn season and we may see that, especially if like certain people get in power like Keanu [Soto] or even Kelley [Jorgensen], or Rachel. I think that we could start seeing some really good gameplay because so far it’s just kind of been pretty ho-hum, right?
Screen Rant: Agreed. I do think it’s interesting the way that Keanu and Kelley are kind of gravitating towards Rachel at this point.
Janelle’s First Season, Big Brother 6, Featured One Of The Series' Best Twists
The Secret Partner Twist Is Still Praised For The Drama
Screen Rant: I’m going to get back to 27, but first – whichBig Brotherseason that you’ve been on had the best twists?
Janelle: Okay, I gotta think about, was there even a twist in All Stars? [laughs] I think some fans would agree with me, the [BB6] secret partner twist is a little bit, I guess, if you will, blood versus water. If we’re comparing, like having that element of someone that you are ready to die for in the house with you, competing with you, and playing with you.
I think it adds an extra bonus of emotions and it makes for really big fireworks, which I think maybe that’s why people still say to this day that season six is one of their favorite seasons. It’s because, I mean, we were in there with people who have their boyfriends, their neighbors. I had my roommate. Like there were so many different people. I think that twist in particular was probably the best twist out of the seasons I’ve been on.
Screen Rant: I still remember watching that season as a kid and it was like, it was so every week there was something huge happening. Fans are always asking for old schoolBig Brotherto return.When you think of old schoolBig Brother, what comes to mind?
Janelle: I don’t think we’re ever going to [see it again]. Old schoolBig Brotherto me is like, no one gives a s**t, ‘cause there’s no repercussions, right? Like there’s no social media. Like there was literally MySpace. What are they going to do to me on MySpace? So I think the general consensus of everyone that generation or from old school BB is that we don’t care what we’re going to say because there’s, there’s no social media and you can’t do anything to me. You can’t cancel me. So I don’t care. So I’m going to play in your face. I’m going to be nasty. I’ll be rude. Call people out how they see it. Don’t hold back. Very polar opposite than what we see now.
Screen Rant: Yeah, absolutely. I think it’s interesting because people are constantly talking about whether they’re going to make the episode or like how many times they’ve been in DR. And it’s just like, you guys aren’t playing the game.
Janelle Feels Outside Rachel Reilly, Vince Panaro’s Playing The Best Game
Vince Has A Fascinating Social Game
Screen Rant: Outside of Rachel, who do you think is playing the best game this season?
Janelle: Outside of Rachel? Well, you know, things change week to week, right? Like previously I really enjoyed Vince [Panaro]’s gameplay, although I, it’s not, you know, someone I’m like, oh my God, I want to work with him necessarily. But I think he hasn’t been busted yet. I like his gameplay so far, it’s very like Dan Gheesling, Dr. Will [Kirby] sort of thing. But unfortunately for him, Rachel’s in the house so she can see it.
Screen Rant: That becomes a problem when you have a veteran in the house.
Janelle: Otherwise, I think he would be a sure fit to win, but Rachel is onto him. So, I do think if she wasn’t in the house, Vince by far has the best like gaming mode. I think he’s good at getting people and then doing like a lot of, you know, final two with you, final two with you. And he’s in like a lot of alliances and they don’t really talk. And so people don’t really know about Vince too much yet.
Janelle Praised Rachel Reilly’s Social Game On Big Brother 27
Rachel’s Changed Since Her BB Debut
Screen Rant: It’s fascinating to watch. In terms of Rachel, she’s matured a ton as a player, since we last saw her. Obviously, her life has changed tremendously. What do you think is helping her game the most right now, and what do you think is hurting her game the most?
Janelle: Oh, I think what’s helping her the most is her social game. I think it’s improved tremendously. I think that now that she’s calmed down and she’s, you know, not as firecrack-ish, like disruptive [laughs]. That’s what her original season was very like, disruptive and in your face. I think now she realizes, she should probably be nice. And so she’s really doing a good job of doing that.
I think that, you know, I’ve played past seasons and I think she has a shot to win where, you know, when I played on [BB14], none of us had a shot to win. And you saw Dan get to the final, and he should have won. Fans would agree because he outplayed the competition, but they were so mad that season, because Rachel had just won her season and she was returnee on that season.
So they were like, no returners can win rah, rah, rah. So, we were really playing for second in season 14, but Rachel there’s, I mean, and I don’t watch the live feeds, but I think that if she can do really good game moves and continue with her good social game, I think she has a shot to win, unlike myself, Dan, Britney [Haynes], and [Mike] Boogie, when we came back. I think she’s in a better position and I think she’s doing really, really well.
Janelle Would’ve Liked To See Dan Gheesling Return With Rachel This Season
Rachel’s Adjusted Gameplay Style Would’ve Been Interesting With Dan In The Mix
Screen Rant: It’s great to see that every time somebody comes out of a conversation with her, they feel good. And that’s always a very good marker of someone who’s really playing well. It’s fun to see for Rachel when that was not the case, you know, 15 years ago. Coming in being a returnee alone is difficult. Out of anyone you’ve played with thathasn’tplayed with Rachel – so probably not Britney – who would you have liked to see come in with her?
Janelle: Oh, Dan Gheesling, of course.
Screen Rant: I wonder if they could have ever worked together.
Janelle: I think so. Now would Dan ever do Big Brother again? Probably not. But, you know, hypothetically, yeah, Dan would be great for Rachel in the house. There’s so many players that would do well with her. I think she works well with all different people from all different walks of life, really.
Screen Rant: At this point, outside of Rachel, who do you think has the best odds of winning?
Janelle: It’s so hard to say early because it’s so hard. Last week, I would have said Zach [Cornell] or Vinny, or like, Morgan [Pope]. That was last week. So now I’m like, okay, it changes so much. I would say the best chance of winning. Okay. Well, I always look for like athleticism, good social game. I think that person for me would still be Zach. Interesting. If he can survive this week.
Screen Rant: What are your thoughts on Keanu? Because I love this man, but he’s so delusional. It’s unbelievable to watch him, but he’s getting much better at the game.
Janelle: I have such a soft spot for Keanu. I didn’t like him in the beginning because, obviously, I have a personal relationship with Rachel and he was like kind of coming after her. So I was like, okay, I just can’t root for him. But now that he’s like warming up to Rachel, I’m like really rooting for him because I’ve watched him the last two weeks, and he’s actually like, I think he’s like a good person. I don’t think he’s like what he looks like from the outside, which is just a burly, sort of bull in a china shop kind of thing. He’s actually really sweet. I really like him.
Screen Rant: He’s so fun to watch. Outside ofBig Brother, we’ve seen you onThe Amazing Race, we’ve seen you onThe Traitors. I’m curious about what show has been toughest for you.
Janelle: The hardest show for me was actuallyThe Amazing Race. It was just, I mean, so many things.The Amazing Raceis so damn hard, because first of all, I was traveling with a friend, Britney was my partner. And it was like, we had no money. I just, it was horrible. Like, I don’t like to travel without money. I get scared, you know, like to be out in the world with no money, let alone no phone. It’s very unsettling and very stressful, way more stressful thanBig Brother.
BBgoes at such a slow pace that you’re not gonna, I mean, I’ve never spiraled out of control and Big Brother, because I have time to calm myself down. I can pull myself into a room. I can go read something. I can read the bottom of a shampoo bottle, whatever, [laughs] butThe Amazing RAce, you have to be so on your feet and it moves so fast. The pace of that game was like too much for me, and it was very physical. Plus, we were basically going against Amazing Race all stars. They were very good at the game.
Screen Rant: You’ve mentioned before that you probably wouldn’t return toBig Brotherin the future. What can we expect from you, in terms of reality TV?
Janelle: You know, I’ve been asked to do other shows like very recently, and I just, I feel like I’ve been doing this for 20 years now. Right. It’s my 20 year anniversary. I feel really good about what I’ve done and accomplished. I’m fine with not doing more TV. Like I’m not here to be like, sign me up coach next time I’m in, like, I don’t say yes to everything. If something came up in the future with like my kids, maybe doing something with me or whatever, or my real estate career, sure. But I don’t know, I’m really happy where I’m at.
Big Brotherairs Sundays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS.
