Jeff & Jordan: Up next, our own reality show!
February 12, 2010 ι Jarett Wieselman
CBS doesn't typically allow cross-pollution between their reality shows -- you'll never see "Survivor's" Russell on "Undercover Boss." But every now and then, the network sees something special in a duo (like Rob & Amber) brought together by fate (or the CBS casting department) and gives them another chance to go for the gold.
Such is the case with Jeff Schroeder and Jordan Lloyd. This Sunday the "Big Brother XI" sweethearts will trade their slop passes for passports when "The Amazing Race" waves its green flag on another exciting season. And since I was straight up obsessed with these two for the last half of 2009, I had a million questions.
Are you still together? Why come back to reality TV? Did Jeff ever take Jordan on that Hawaiian vacation he won on "BB"? Turns out, I'm not the only one.
PopWrap: Catch us up on what you've been doing since "Big Brother" ended.
Jeff Schroeder: Everything's good with me and Jordan. We've seen each other a lot since "Big Brother" and doing this show let us be together more since we both still live in different cities. So right now we're just taking it day by day.
PW: How does it work with being so far apart?
Jeff: She likes to Skype, so we do that all the time.
PW: So when I asked my readers what they wanted to know about you two, the overwhelming question was, did they go on the Hawaii trip together. So, did you?
Jeff: Man, everyone loves that question! We didn't go to Hawaii -- but we're planning a trip to Antigua, which I think trumps Hawaii anyway. We're gonna stay in a tiki hut.
PW: Is that the number one question you're asked by fans?
Jordan Lloyd: People love that question.
Jeff: Also, "are you guys still together?" But they'll ask it when I'm standing right next it her, so that's a weird one.
Jordan: People also ask if there will be a Jeff and Jordan show.
PW: Will there be one?
Jeff: I don't have the answer to that ... but we are still together and didn't go to Hawaii [laughs].
PW: What made you sign up for another reality show?
Jordan: I wanted to do "The Amazing Race" because I've never traveled and knew I wouldn't just up and go to another country by myself. I knew it would be the experience of a lifetime and I'm so glad I got to do it with Jeff.
Jeff: My passion is traveling, so it was a no-brainer for me when I was approached to go around the world with Jordan.
PW: Have you guys gone back and watched "BB?"
Jeff: I haven't. But Jordan has.
Jordan: I haven't watched everything, I've seen a lot. But it made me mad. I couldn't believe I was so naive about certain people. Especially when they showed what people were saying in the diary room. It was like, "oooh, that's what they were saying about me!"
PW: I ask because they certainly showed both of you having a lot of blonde moments, so do you think other racers underestimated you because of that?
Jeff: I don't know how many other teams even knew who we were at the start. Some also might not want to have admitted they did. But eventually our personalities came out and the teams became more receptive to working with us and being our friends.
PW: Was that a strategy, working with other teams?
Jordan: We were open to working with other teams if they were willing to work with us. In the beginning we felt very shut out by the other teams.
Jeff: I don't know if we put out a bad vibe or they were jealous, but ...
Jordan: It didn't feel like they wanted to work with us. So we just decided to work on our own and not worry about them.
Jeff: It was the same way in the "BB" house, we depended on each other and didn't need anyone else. We were used to people not wanting to work with us after "BB," but we would have liked a little help along the way.
PW: When you guys were on the starting line, did any of the teams intimidate you?
Jordan: Mike and Lou are big guys!
Jeff: They look intimidating, but you can't focus on that. You never know what's coming and size could be their downfall. I get into a weird mentality where I'm really worry about myself since I'm my biggest obstacle in a lot of cases.
PW: Was there one country you were hoping to visit on this "Race"?
Jeff: I've always wanted to go to Australia.
Jordan: I'd say Scotland.
Jeff: Man, she just pulled that one out of nowhere!
Jordan: [laughs] I didn't really care, I just wanted to go somewhere different.
PW: Compare the two shows: which is harder?
Jordan: They're hard in such different ways.
Jeff: "Big Brother" is like running a long race, "Amazing Race" is like doing a lot of super stressful sprints.
Jordan: I'd say working together on the race was harder for me. Jeff gets so mad at me sometimes.
PW: So do you think this is your last reality show, or might you pop up on "Survivor"?
Jeff: I'd like to make a guest appearance on "Man vs. wild." I love that guy!
Jordan: I wouldn't do any other shows ... unless it was a Jeff & Jordan show! It probably won't happen though.
Jeff: Anything is possible!
"The Amazing Race" premieres Sunday at 8pm on CBS
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