Jeff went out on Big Brother 11 rather simply. He played hard and put all the blame for his eviction on himself for not winning the last Power of Veto. In many ways, it took his eviction for me to truly appreciate the fact that Jeff wasn't nearly as good a player as Ithought, he was just really, really likeable. He's all-American, a college football player who has grown into a handsome and successful man. It's impossible not to be charmed by him,which definitely explains why he got the Coup d'Etat. In our interview with the evicted HG, Jeff talked about his relationship with Jordan, his potential for friendships outside the house, his love of Chicago, and his secret crush on Ross Matthews. Once you're back in the real world, what is the one thing you're most excited to learn about that happened while you were in the house? Chicago sports. I'm anxious to see how the Cubs and Sox are doing. Do they have a chance for the play-offs? And, more than anything, how the Bears are looking for the season too come. Have you decided whether Jordan will go with you on the trip to Hawaii you won, or are you still weighing your options? It's between her and Ross Matthews - love that guy. But I'm kidding, still weighing my options What was your most enjoyable experience in the house? Meeting Jordan. The Coup d'Etat was a close second (thanks again, America!). Meeting Jeremy Piven was awesome (fellow Chicagoan!). Honestly, this whole experience was amazing. What was your least favorite moment in the house (other than being evicted)? The day Dan (winner of season 10) came to host the "Ugly Truth"competition. I was embarrassed by all of our actions. That was a rough day. What houseguests do you most hope to maintain relationships with after the show is over? Who would you like to never see again? Obviously Jordan. Beyond that, I would like to maintain friendships with any ofthe houseguests who'd like to maintain a friendship with me. What are you most excited about or scared of moving into the Jury House with Jessie, Lydia and Russell? I'm excited to see if we can all move on from the game and get to know each other outside the game. If you could redo this season, what if anything would you do differently? That last PoV. I needed to know those alien faces better! Would you ever want to be in another season of Big Brother? Ask me in a couple of months, but I don't think I'd be opposed to it. If you could be on any other reality TV show, which one would it be? Flava of Love [sic]. Kidding! The Amazing Race and Survivor intrigue me.

Evicted "Big Brother" house guest Jeff says he's going to "keep in close contact with Jordan and go from there." More of the interview, plus video of his interview with Julie Chen, after the jump. Now, just so you know... the all-caps is all Jeff. I thought it was too funny, so I left it the way it was. What were you up to before Big Brother? WORKING! I SELL ADVERTISING TIME FOR RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. What are you planning on doing after it's over? GETTING BACK TO REALITY AND SEEING MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. EAGER TO SEE WHAT LIES AHEAD! Most of my readers want to know: what's going on with Jordan? Are you two going to try something out after the show? I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO KEEP IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH JORDAN AND GO FROM THERE! Do you regret ousting Russell last week? Most viewers seemed to think you, Jordan, Russell and Michele could've skated to Final Four and then just competed as two pairs. What was wrong with that? NATALIE AND KEVIN SEEMED LIKE A BETTER PAIR TO COMPETE AGAINST...I ALSO FELT THAT RUSSELL WAS NOT GOING TO HONOR OUR FINAL FOUR AGREEMENT AND WAS COMING AFTER ME NEXT. Why was Russell & Michele sticking together for Final Two any different than you and Jordan doing the same thing? MICHELE WAS MY ALLY FOR FINAL 3 WITH JORDAN...I FELT RUSSELL BOGARDED INTO MY DEAL! How do you think the Jury House members will react when you arrive? CHRISTMAS IS COMING EARLY TO THOSE THREE, BUT I HOPE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE CAN ALL GET PAST IT AND ENJOY THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IN THE JURY HOUSE. You really seemed like one of the nicest people on the show. What was with tossing around the f-word (for gay men) all the time? Did Kevin call you out on it and, more importantly, do you regret saying it? It seemed out of character for you. I DO REGRET SAYING IT...KEVIN NEVER CONFRONTED ME...I ACTUALLY CONFRONTED HIM AND APOLOGIZED FOR USING THAT WORD...BY NO MEANS DID I MEAN TO OFFEND OR USE IN A DEROGITORY MANNER. Who is playing the best game so far? MICHELE. Who is playing the worst game? NATALIE. Do you have any words for your fans? (They are legion, particularly the female ones) THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COUP D'ETAT...I'M BLOWN AWAY...THANKS, AGAIN!

He quickly became a fan favorite in the "Big Brother" house, now Jeff talks to ET about his feelings for Jordan -- and his biggest regret! ET: How does it make you feel to know that America wanted you to go all the way for the win? JEFF: It makes me feel great! I didn't realize until Igot out of the house. I was overwhelmed by the response. I really appreciate it (thanks, America!). At least not winning, it's awesome to know that people were on my side and that makes the pill easier to swallow. ET: What's up with you and Jordan? JEFF: It's hard to develop a romantic relationship under those circumstances. The friendship that we have is definitely real, and the feelings I have on my end are definitely genuine. ET: What is your honest opinion of Michele? JEFF: Michele was always a huge question mark to me,even to this day. I think her motives were real and heartfelt, but she's the one person in the house that I could never truly figure out. ET: After all of these weeks, why did you decide to trust Natalie and Kevin, two of the biggest schemers in the house? JEFF: It was either trust Natalie and Kevin, or Russell and Michele. Both sides were a big risk, in my eyes. Ultimately, I decided to take out the strongest player of the four, win Michele back on my side and take my chances (hoping I would have beaten Kevin and Natalie straight up). ET: Any regrets? Do you think you could have done anything different to stay in the game? JEFF: No regrets. I put it all on my shoulders. I wishI would have won that last Power of Veto. If I had done so, I think Imight have won the game. ET: What's the hardest part about being locked in the house? JEFF: The hardest part is, I think, the emotional roller coaster you go through on a daily basis. There's a lot of downtime and a lot of scheming going on every day. Having no connection to anything else but the game makes it that much more stressful. There are no breaks in the "BB" house!

Keep passing the word cbs.com/world log on make a profile, help a brother out ha I start ATWFF one week from today on The Early Show in NYC @jeffschroeder23 can't wait for the show to start! Online friends around the world are ready to help!! @MyLadyKat thank you so much!!! hope i come through for everyone! @jeffschroeder23 Looking forward JEJO chat 2morrow! Safe travels 2 u and Z @Singermomm talk to you tomorrow, looking forward to it @jeffschroeder23 Are you having a going away party in Chi before you leave? You and Zsolt seem to get along really well that's a big plus @JCavi8 yes with family and close friends! and Z is awesome im in good hands! @jeffschroeder23 Oh! Hey Jeff! I just want to say have a lovely and safe adventure. I can't wait to watch! @Jess_BBLove i appreciate it! hope you enjoy it as much as i do! @jeffschroeder23 Journey of life time about to begin. Wish you much success and lots of happiness. Congratulations on pursuing your passion. @starrtwin dreams do come true!! @Jeffschroeder23 So excited for the new show, and can't wait for tomorrow night's chat with your fan site, Thank you for agreeing to do it! @Hellataz thank you for everything, looking forward to it myself!!! @jeffschroeder23 If you and Zolt make it to Cinci i got you covered will help out anyway we can! Safe travels,Keep you in our prayers!! @varneys04 thank you and thank you!!! keep that in mind! @jeffschroeder23 Are you gonna rock a chicago hat of some sort? clothing options will be limited i gather with just a backpack. @JCavi8 gonna try to rep Chicago of course but yes clothing is limited? @jeffschroeder23 You've gotta be gettin pumped! Is jordan still in town or is she doing her show from home tonight? good luck bro! @JCavi8 thanks, she's back home now, and ready to get this show on the road!!! @jeffschroeder23 Big Brother isn't the same without you <3 @Melanie_Speich thanks @jeffschroeder23 we know u r enjoying u r time with Jordan and family but give us a tweet please @lucinda_09 you got on now!!! @jeffschroeder23 @zsoltluka @awtff@BBJordanLloyd Saw Jeff's ad on BB tonight. I'm SO pumped, can't wait for kick off. Good vibes to you @maggiemae802 i appresh, not long now, can't believe it!!! ready to go!!! @Jeffschroeder23 @Zsoltluka Please be honest, my feelings wont b hurt... Do u want fans at the NY launch on the 26th or is it 2 intrusive? @singingmary it would be an honor!

Jeff Schroeder’s web series starts: I’ll “be myself and show what I know, which is not a lot” CBS » by Andy Dehnart / July 26, 2010, 11:19 AM Almost three years after Amazing Race 2 winner Alex Boylan traveled around the world with no money, Big Brother 11 and Amazing Race 16 cast member Jeff Schroeder will do the same thing. He left after appearing on The Early Show this morning, and his journey will unfold on CBS.com. You can e.mail Jeff or annotate an interactive map to give him advice about where to go next, and offer your support, perhaps suggesting that he stay with you. I talked to Jeff a few weeks ago before the trip began, and asked the inevitable question first: Why is he doing this solo and without his reality TV partner and girlfriend Jordan Lloyd? “I don’t think this show is for Jordan,” he said, adding that “Jordan is right next to me” but she’s “busy with school” to become a dental hygienist, so “she’s going to let me do this one solo.” “Everything’s going good,” he said, adding that they “see each other, on average, every two to three weeks.” Why take on this new series? “Traveling period I’m interested in; I want to see everything,” Jeff said, and contrasted it with Travel Channel-style shows. “It’s actually on the ground level, seeing it through the eyes of the locals, visiting places that might have not have ever have visited or get the chance to speak their voice or their opinion and show their culture, so this is a whole new aspect of traveling and to me, it’s exciting, and I’m lucky to be part of it.” Instead of traveling 160 days, like the first season, Jeff and his camera operator will travel for 100 days. Also different: Social media is a lot more prevalent, which will make their journey easier. “We’re lucky enough now to have Twitter and more of an online community, and Facebook; people are more interactive online, so we have that much more power to travel around the world,” Jeff said. “We have a little bit more power at our back with the online audience, so it’s going to be amazing. I don’t know what to expect, but I just expect amazing things.” He’s traveling with camera operator, producer, and series co-creator Zsolt Luka, who was also with Alex during the show’s first season. “We’re together all the time,” Zsolt told me, and that means it’s “just like two guys backpacking” so they can go “where traditional crews wouldn’t have access.” He and Jeff will look at ideas and offers and “weigh them and decide and go there,” and said that “sometimes complete strangers will help us” if there’s no help from the online audience. “Jeff is completely without a penny,” he said, but as the producer, “I can have money, [but] it’s not like Jeff is going to sleep on the street and I’m going to sleep in a hotel, because I’d miss the story.” Zsolt added that “there is no contingency plan, there is no security detail, no one is getting our backs. If he can’t move somewhere, he is going to be stuck. I cannot suddenly whip out a credit card and facilitate the trip for him.” During the first season, Alex and Zsolt were stuck in Dominica for 14 days. Most people, Zsolt said, “can’t really grasp how interactive it is and how much power and control it gives to the audience,” adding that the improvement in technology and access to the Internet will mean they can spend more time on human stories. “It was unprecedented in 2007, and still unprecedented now.” I asked Jeff if he was worried Big Brother fans would be too distracted by watching the hamsters to help him out, and he laughed and said, “I hope not! I hope not. Big Brother’s definitely distracting and takes up a lot of time, as I’ve learned, but hopefully they can check back in while they’re online … While there’s that downtime, hopefully they can click over to my show and help me out.” (Of course, that was before we knew this season of Big Brother would be so painfully boring.) His time on the two previous CBS reality shows, Jeff said, both “taught me something. Just the patience being of being in Big Brother … hopefully the patience that I learned on that show, if we are stuck somewhere, hopefully some of those patience will kick in that I learned on the show.” From Amazing Race, he has the experience of “just traveling” and related things like going through customs, but he pointed out that here, “it’s not a race; I get to enjoy the moment. There’s a lot of times on the race where we ran past a great monument or landmark, and you don’t get the time to enjoy it.” Jeff is obviously excited and passionate, but as you can see, he is still Jeff Schroeder, so sometimes he’s not always able to express that as clearly as he might like. For example, I asked if he was concerned about the open-ended nature of the trip, and he said, “With no risk, there’s no reward. So I’m kinda going in with open eyes and focusing on the positive aspect of things, you know, rather than, is this going to go wrong or is that gonna happen—not focusing on any of that, because I know there’s going to be bad times, but the times that I’m going to have are good are definitely going to outweigh the bad, so I’m just focusing on those right now, and take each day as it comes and just enjoy every moment that I have,” he said. Jeff had been selling radio advertising and expects he might have to go back after Around the World for Free concludes, but he told me, “I would like to continue in the industry.” However, he pointed out that “I was doing things before Big Brother,” including modeling and commercials, and he said “it was just a hobby to me,” but now this has “become more real to me.” Then again, he re-emphasized that “to me this isn’t show business” because “I’m not playing a character.” It seems like Jeff’s heart is in the right place, but sometimes he’s not the best actually expressing that, which should make his hosting interesting, to say the least. I asked how he viewed his role as a host, and he said, “I wasn’t playing a character on either show. I was just being me; luckily, the audience just picked up on me and they got my jokes and they got my humor. … I’m just gonna naturally put myself into a situation and I think that just the situation itself is going to speak for itself. I don’t really have to do much. If I’m in India or some other weird country, or whatever, wherever I’m at, the situation is going to speak for itself, and I’ll have plenty of jokes for everybody, but more than anything, I just want to show what lives are like in those countries, and in those different places, and the story’s going to tell itself. I’m in a situation luckily that there really is nothing that I have to do other than be myself and show what I know, which is not a lot, and I’m sure a lot of other people don’t know a lot about different cultures. If I’m learning, hoping the audience learns with me, and hopefully the natural humor comes out of the show, and great experiences, and good times. That’s what I think we’re trying to capture here.” Source: http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/cbs/2010_Jul_26_around_world_jeff_interviewi

Jeff Schroeder ('Around The World For Free') Thursday, July 22 2010, 10:00am EDT By Lara Martin, News Editor With successful stints on Big Brother and Amazing Race already under his belt, reality favorite Jeff Schroeder is now embarking on his biggest challenge to date with Around The World For Free.The second season of the interactive CBS reality show will see Jeff leaving his friends and family - including girlfriend Jordan Lloyd - at home while he attempts to cross the world in 100 days with no money and only the help of his online audience. With the venture kicking off on the Early Show this Monday, we caught up with him - and editor/cameraman/producer and travel partner Zsolt Luka - to find out more... How are you feeling ahead of the big sendoff? "The best way I can describe it is like going away to college or camp where you're scared but you're excited about the anticipation. You know it will be a great summer or school year, you're nervous in the beginning but once you get into it you have the best time ever." Jordan recently told us that she'll miss you - was it a hard decision to leave your friends and family for so long? "It was an absolute yes when they were thinking about me. It's what I want to do, I want to see the world. To me, it's a no-brainer. Would you rather be stuck behind a desk or going out and seeing the world? I know I'll miss my family and obviously I'll miss Jordan, but we'll be in touch through phone and computer all the time. You don't get a chance like this too often so when opportunity knocks you have to open thedoor for something like this." Would you say being on The Amazing Race was good preparation for this? "I guess, somewhat! (laughs) Jordan won't be with me this time! We could have used Zsolt on The Amazing Race! It prepared me a little. It's definitely a totally different scenario we're getting into here but it was good preparation." What will you be bringing with you besides your satellite phone and computer? "I haven't picked out my wardrobe yet but you don't want to be carrying around a lot of stuff. I definitely learned that from The Amazing Race when I dumped half my pack. I think I'll pick out a couple of my favorite T-shirts, maybe two pairs of shorts, some underwear, a goodpair of shoes, some flipflops and swim trunks and I'll be ready to hit the world!" What sort of preparation can you do for this? "I work out, I try to hit the gym three or four times a week so I'm working on my endurance. I think I need to work on my patience because there will be a lot of downtime, long bus trips, waiting on the side of the road, waiting for people to reply, so I think working on my patience is more important than the physical part." Zsolt:"This is more of a mental thing. It isn't a race, we're not trying toout run a clock. It's a human thing of how do you keep going for 100 days non-stop - often 16 or 20-hour days - away from your family and friends?" Do you speak any languages? "I do not, so this is a question for Zsolt!" Zsolt:"I speak six but I would trade some of those for one Asian language. We're not taking the talking dictionaries along. I want to see Jeff mime his way through a situation with a smile! I don't want him to have these crutches to lean on, I'm not going to help him too much either. Of course, we're buds on the road and have each others' backs, but the interesting thing is how he will stumble through a Tokyo or Thailand or India if necessary." Do you have any idea which countries you will be visiting yet? "We have no idea and that's what is so great about the show. It's all up to the audience and it's all interactive - they get to journey with us. We're seeing it through the eyes of the locals and bringing the audience with us. They determine where we go." You're starting in New York City. How will you decide on your first destination? "After we walk off the Early Show set on July 26, the show starts. I have no money, only my computer and satellite phone to stay in touch with the audience. I'll log on and see who has made a profile and can help me out and that will determine which direction I go. We want to stay away from the season one route,we don't want to repeat the same direction he (Alex Boylan) took through the Caribbean and South America. We want to make our own path and go with the flow, whatever the audience suggests." Zsolt:"Sometimes many different suggestions might come in and Jeff and I will decide on the fly which one we like best. But sometimes we may be in an extremely remote location like the jungle in North Thailand and it'sonly a stranger on the road who can help us because no-one from the online audience is reaching out, at which point we have to hitch a ride and see what happens." Did you ever imagine you'd be in this position a year ago when you entered the Big Brother house? "Never! Me and Jordan were just out to dinner yesterday and talking about that exact same thing. What a difference a year makes! To be on two reality shows and then doing my dream travel show, it's exactly that, a dream come true. I could never have imagined it, but if you stick hard to your dreams and know what you want in life it can happen, it's crazy." Are you interested in pursuing a TV career now? "It would be something I want but who knows what will happen after the show. Right now my focus is 100% on doing the show and wherever the chips fall after the show, they will fall." Jeff and Zsolt will begin their journey on the Early Show on July 26 on CBS and fans can follow their entire experience on the Around The World For Free website Source: http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/interviews/a247860/jeff-schroeder-around-the-world-for-free.html

JeffSchroeder23 Tweetfest - Tuesday July 27/10 Thanks for all the support from everyone! Keep the offers coming. Also @atwfflive is me to, but with updates all day long for the show. WOAH!!! mindfuck -- watching re-runs of the surreal life and @jeffschroeder23 is on an episode for about 30 seconds! WEIRD! @cccaitlins haha i lost!! @jeffschroeder23 What's up Jeff! Hey how do we direct msg you on cbs? @RachelLyn_H go to message jeff on the bar on the bottom of the page at www.cbs.com/world I'm to busy pouting right now..no tweet from @jeffschroeder23 .. lol.. @Inn123 i was done cause we keep going through tunnels but here ya go! @jeffschroeder23 if you are in some wired land and cant get the score i have your back! Are you ready to eat crazy stuff like Alex did? @RadRealityShow thanks bro i would love that @jeffschroeder23 Question viewers R dying to know...undies or swim trunks on the greasy pole? Or both? ;-) @nyluvs haha gotta watch the webisode i guess? @jeffschroeder23Hope U, Zsolt & John are having a blast, just FYI if U ever getstranded, Zsolt can call me & the fan site has you covered. @Hellataz hope it doesn't come to that, but i really appreciate it! @jeffschroeder23 LOL do you need me to twet you on the road how the bears are doing ! WE start soon!!!! @RadRealityShow no i'll keep up with that for sure haha. @jeffschroeder23 the video of you and jordan made me tear up, and i'm a grown ass man! haha this trip is gonna be awesome for u man @JCavi8 haha it was a funny story, jordan took off crying and i was stuck with the camera in my face haha... whata ya gonna do??? @jeffschroeder23 Im having a really tough time lately dealing with the loss of my dad. You have been a god send. Thank you. You're da best @Fedfan1414 if i help get your mind off of it for a while im glad i can help... sorry for your loss... @jeffschroeder23 Cubs or Sox? Twins 1 game back. Currently Twins & White Sox are winning. @PaulDReed to be honest i love my bears! if one chicago baseball team is having a better season i'll cheer for them cause there chicago @jeffschroeder23 Myself and My grandma wish you all the best! Just showed her the video of you saying goodbye to (cont) http://tl.gd/2pfk9m @rkosxdestiny thank you, and thanks for your support!!! @jeffschroeder23 we are actually in Lexington, VA a few hours south of DC. If u're still interested I can make it happen. @anirtakfleurs i'll keep that in mind... @jeffschroeder23 LOL. No, I'm home. But thanks for the update. R we going to see Z vid of you walking the greasy pole? @maggiemae802 haha, yes you'll see the whole thing soon! @jeffschroeder23 good luck on your journey me and the mrs were big fans of you and jordan on big brother last summer @Stevo618 thank you very much! @jeffschroeder23u & Jordan awww on that video- Zsolt tugging on r heart strings 4sure-safe travels guys& Jordan we all think ur wonderful! @Singermomm opps i got you mixed up with mary haha, but i know you too lol @Singermomm you got through! what's up? thanks for coming out to NYC it meant a lot to me... i truly appreciate the support! @jeffschroeder23 my husband is Police Officer & wants 2 know if u'd be interested n riding along w/ him as he patrols?we can get u from DC @anirtakfleurs YES!!! is he an officer in DC? would love to do that? ask him if he could find out if it would be cool if we could film it? @jeffschroeder23 It's been great following U around on this trip. I can't wait 2 get home, each day 2 see where U R and what U R doing. @maggiemae802 i appreciate it, on a train on my way to DC right now in case your not home haha.... thank you for following along @jeffschroeder23 I'm going to try and contact some cousins I have in Italy in case you end up there! Its really cool in the mountains @Rebz2945i would appreciate that! have some family of my own in Italy that ihave never actually had a chance to see? maybe this summer? @jeffschroeder23 Glad your having a great time! Loved the video of you and Jordan, tell Zsolt were loving his work! @varneys04 thanks you... and i just should Z your message he smiled haha he loves it! lol but he is good no joke! @jeffschroeder23 PLEASE come to DC! We would love to have you @sarahnicolexoxo on my way!! a lot to see in DC anything special you like i should see? @jeffschroeder23 following you has been awesome! This is so cool & so much fun! Its going to be so exciting 2 see the world thru your eyes! @golfgirly12 Thank you! having a blast! and thanks for all you support, see your updates often, i appreciate it!!! @jeffschroeder23:hey hope u travel to ireland it wud be awesome @Marhearsyou never been. would love to get out there! @atwfflive @jeffschroeder23 so glad you got ur train ticket to DC. @akitamocha me too! thanks for all your support see you popping up around the sites a lot i appreesh!! @jeffschroeder23 Are you gonna come to Barcelona? If you are, get in contact with me for any help or advice! @CriticoEnSerie i appreciate it! i'll let you know if we do... never know? @jeffschroeder23 Any chance of you coming to England? We have a place for you to stay and some home cooking if you do! @CourtneyTweet7 if we do i'll let you know.... Thanks @jeffschroeder23 im gonna keep you up on sports news. terrell owens signed with the begals today 1 year dont know the money ammount @emmit222 Really? I didn't have a chance to check that out... Thanks for the update! @jeffschroeder23 When are you coming out to Texas/Arizona/California Area? @24ASL not sure? on my way to DC now, never know what tomorrow brings? @jeffschroeder23 do me a favor jeff, blow that shithole up while you're in the area. I hate the blowsox and their little league field. NYY @Stevo618 haha i gotta say i loved Boston, but im not getting in the middle of a Sox/NYY feud lol

Amazing Race‘s Jeff Schroeder Traveling the World Without Money July 26, 2010 In the past year, Jeff Schroeder has seen it all. He not only survived an extended stay in the Big Brother house, but he came within sniffing distance of the final two and was ultimately voted “America’s Favorite Juror.” After a guest appearance on The Bold and The Beautiful, he tackled The Amazing Race with his girlfriend, BB winner Jordan Lloyd. Now, Jeff is setting off on his own as the host of Around the World for Free, a Web series for CBS.com that will take him across the globe for 100 days with no money and with viewers determining where he goes, how he gets there and where he stays. Schroeder talks with PEOPLE about what he’s packing, what he’s willing to eat, why this show is a dream come true and how he and Jordan make their long-distance relationship work. –Reagan Alexander You have said that doing a travel show was your ultimate dream and now it’s been realized. How does it feel? Not to be too philosophical, but I’ve learned that anything can happen if you really believe in it and want it enough. I’ve been saying it for a long time and I know that BB and The Amazing Race were spring boards for me to get this show. But it’s an amazing feeling to realize a dream. So many things can go wrong in 100 days. Are you nervous? If you look for problems or if you go out looking for the bad, then you’re going to find it. I have to focus on the positive and keep telling myself that there are good people out there and that everything is going to be good. My attitude is that I know things are going to go well but I’m hoping things go even better! You’re traveling with a single backpack and you have to travel around the world. What are you packing? I have to pack light — some shorts, some shirts. I’ll just have to pick out a few of my favorites. I wore my Saint Anthony chain on BB and Amazing Race,but I think my parents are getting me a St. Christopher chain. He’s the patron Saint of travelers, so it’s just going to be, my backpack, my Saints and my camera guy. Are you catching up on your world cultures or are you going into this fully blind? Obviously I’m no world traveler but I kind of want to go in blind. I want to learn as the audience learns. I think I’m an average, everyday guy and I want everyone else to be on my page. I want to go into this with an open heart and open eyes. You’ll be depending on strangers for food. Is there anything you won’t try? I’m going to try everything at least once even if it’s disgusting. I can only imagine that it’s rude to throw up after a meal, but there maybe a few instances where that happens. I have to be open to new cultures and new cuisines — it would be rude not to, so I’m just hoping that my stomach can handle it. You’re going to be relying on others for shelter as well. What can you offer as a house guest? I’m going to help out any way that I can. I really enjoy cooking, but I don’t really know the ins and outs of a kitchen. I can whip something together but more than anything, with the cameras there, we’ll be showing the way that they live and showing their culture as they see it, not just from an outsider’s point of view. How are you and Jordan doing? We’ve had our bumps but no break-ups and everything is going great. We only get to see each other every two weeks or so. We have to travel back and forth but we vacation together and do a lot of fun things together. Lately I’ve been busy with the show and she’s been busy with school, but having to work with a long-distance relationship really worked out for us because when we finally get a break from what we’re doing we’re so excited to see each other. So far, so good.

Around The World For Free: Exclusive Interview with Jeff Schroeder Posted on 07/15/2010 by Gina in Big Brother and Cast Interviews by Gina Scarpa In just a few short days, Jeff Schroeder, of Big Brother and The Amazing Race, will head out on another adventure. He'll be circling the globe in just 100 days with absolutely no money in season 2 of CBS's web show Around The World For Free. In season 1, The Amazing Race's Alex Boylan visited 16 countries and now, it's Jeff's turn. The best part about the show is that fans are able to interact with Jeff, tell him where to go, offer tips, and even set him up with a ride or a place to stay. Today, we spoke to Jeff and the co-creator and Emmy nominated field producer Zsolt Luka in an exclusive interview about their upcoming exciting trip. Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you want to do this show? A. Jeff: Big Brother and The Amazing Race were amazing but before any of those things, my dream was just to travel the world. I think I was influenced by my grandparents and I just have it in me. Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How is this experience of traveling the world going to be different than The Amazing Race? A. Jeff: I think it's going to be a lot different. I'm not with my girlfriend, who is sitting right here. No disrespect, Jordan. It's different in a lot of ways. There's no race involved. This is enjoying life. A. Zsolt: It's a lot more influenced by the audience. We really mean that. Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When I read about the show, I was trying to think of people that I knew in other countries, places I could suggest, or tips I could give. Do you get that a lot from people? A. Jeff: Absolutely! That's exactly how the show works. It's a small world. You ever bump into someone in a different country? It's like that! It's like making this small world true. I could be in, say, India and people would wonder how I'm going to get around but someone I know is connected to someone and that's how. It's going to be amazing. Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Are there places that you're hoping to visit? A. Jeff: There are definitely places that I want to visit. I want to see the whole world. It also has to coincide with what the audience wants to see, though. If it's on my direct path, that would be great. I've always wanted to see Australia. There are places in Asia that I haven't seen that I don't even know about. That's the excitement of this. Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What did you learn from watching Alex and Zsolt on the first season? A. Jeff: I think just the way they handled themselves. They seem like they were always in good spirits and excited about the moment. They went through their bad times but they looked like they were having good moments. Goodness is always right around the corner. Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Are either of you concerned about your safety? A. Jeff: That would be my first concern mainly. My mother is in my ear about the show and she wants me to be safe. Jordan wants me to be safe. If I had a concern, that would be it. Sleeping on the street and not knowing where I'm going to stay but that's also the excitement as well. You have to have a little danger to have an adventure. A. Zsolt: We went out there with no security in season 1. It's a small crew. We were pleasantly surprised. We went out during the Bush era when maybe Americans were not received with open arms and we didn't face any hostility.

Jeff Schroeder From CBS Amazing Race and Big Brother Came To Gloucester To Film Around The World For Free We hosted him at our house last night along with the crew, director and my boys The Rabbit and Benny Goodman. But first we had a whole lot of fun in Gloucester. When I first realized he was coming this way my first thought was to have him go lobstering on one of our boats but then midway through the afternoon the perfect idea for some good tv. Any of our loyal readership knows about the triple pincher clawed lobster that we got at our dock last Saturday. it was the first one I had seen like that but we sold it off at the end of the night never really knowing where it was going or if it would be eaten the next day (which I have no problem with BTW). But some of our readers, the newspaper people and television people that came down to cover the story about the triple pincher clawed lobster all asked if we would let it go because it was a “special” lobster. We don’t take special measures to release these lobsters normally as the afternoons here are all about getting the lobsters in and out of the building as quickly as possible and of course to sell them to people that will pay the bill for said lobsters. So when in the very same week one of lobstermen Mike Tupper aboard The Freemantle Doctor brought in an albino lobster one of only two I’ve ever seen in my entire life handling millions and millions of pounds of lobsters down here since I was a kid Mike asked if we could keep the lobster in the tank so he could show his father in law. OK now here is where the idea came to me- We have Jeff make the decision since the name of the show is Around The World For Free- He could eat the special albino lobster and all the lobster he could eat or he would have to walk the Greasy Pole and earn the right to release the incredibly rare albino lobster back to the sea. I presented the two options in two envelopes One said EAT THE LOBSTER- The Other envelope said FREE THE LOBSTER. Mark Ring, skipper of lobster boat The Stanley Thomas took us out to the Greasy Pole and Jeff made his decision. Here is Jeff on the Greasy Pole taking some advice from my boy the Rabbit Here he is on the pole. Jeff Schroeder and Joey Ciaramitaro at The Crows Nest Gloucester MA More to come from our adventures in Gloucester including video, pictures at Passports, The Crows, Nest and of course the fate of the albino lobster. Source: http://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/jeff-schroeder-from-cbs-amazing-race-and-big-brother-came-to-gloucester/

JAPAN Monday, August 16, 2010 Aboard the mighty Shinkansen I am digging through my Tilley vest pockets for the fourth or fifth time, a type of end-stage frantic energy coursing through me, as I try to locate a mini-USB cable for one of my edit drives. It was in my hands just moments ago but now it has disappeared amongst the vest pockets and the seat surface completely swamped by camera gear, headphones and the like. I feel tears coming on since I am convinced I just saw it, and yet I cannot locate it again for the life of me. Is this how it's going to be in my old age? A small Japanese child is eyeing me eagerly from across the way, noticing not only that I'm one of only three gaijin in car 14 of the Yokohama-Hataka express this morning, but also that I'm the only one moving about in my allotted cubic yard of space with frenetic energy. I look at him with an exasperated "And now what?" expression, and slowly, he breaks into a huge smile. They are a reservedly friendly people, the Japanese, and this boy is no different - it takes him a while to warm up. I think his smile has brought me luck though - I find my cable twisted up amongst the cords of my phone charger. That would be vest pocket lower-right in the current configuration of my gear... I'm set. The extreme fatigue is fine, ultimately. The body retains its regenerative capacities, for now. I remember Mike H, our amazingly gracious and generous host, and the first exchanges I had with him."Tell me you're waking up now and not that you haven't slept!" - he writes me at 4am one morning before we meet. Those emails give way to "Dude, you gotta get some rest!" when we are finally together in Yokosuka... and eventually, when it sinks in to him that this is in fact my modus operandi, he resigns himself to mere quiet gestures of "You alright?" and finally, only a type of reverent silence remains, embellished with a few late night tweets of praise (regretfully those caring tweets unleash an avalanche of concern from the audience, who simply cannot grasp the situation, yet they care. I do appreciate it. I am fine) Mike knows full well we're cut from the same cloth, though, and I think a deeper camaraderie develops between us during the days spent in his quietly manicured neighborhood in Yokosuka. As always, I try to reassure people that I am fine with sleeping only a few hours - but most don't understand, so in the end, I resign myself to evasive answers. Before undertaking the Mount Fuji summit assault, I don't dare tell Mike and Jeff that the only sleep I had gotten was in the car ride to base camp... they probably wouldn't have let me undertake the quest. But alas, here we sit on the Shinkansen, in blissful comfort, resting and relaxing as we hurl towards Fukuoka, the memories of the mountain's brutal pain reduced to a few pangs in the quads, nothing more. Japan. What a place! As with other virgin lands, I do no prior research whatsoever before flying in to Narita. However, memories will not be muted, and I recall many a detail from a great high school friend, years before. Tales of how the sushi is simply incomparable to anywhere else where you might've thought you had the "best of the best of the best". How the Japanese are willing to pay $20 for a nice grapefruit. Their staggering average savings compared to our debt-ridden West. The organized precision of this society - and so on. Would I experience any of this? Our good fortune and the high level of comfort we enjoyed in the US continues at Narita. Tai Hirose is there, well-mannered as all Boy Scouts tend to be, but with an almost unrestrainable joy and a huge smile as he greets Jeff and proceeds to lead him through the airport. We're set - a ride to Tokyo (the perimeter town of Kawasaki, actually), room and board in Tai's house, and ample time for both Tai and his mom to chaperone us around town if need be. There is. We are quite fatigued when we arrive at their house late at night, so there is only energy to appreciate the meal at this time. The delightful details of the Japanese household await to reveal themselves on a future day. I am happily surprised though at the sparkling energy of Tai's mother Yayoi. She's stealing scenes left and right, and not just easy ones like the talking stove and the über-cool toilet - she's hamming it up at the dinner table too. The father is a quiet gentleman, hanging back from the table but always ready with his well-oiled movements to refill the sake glasses. I recall my friend Jonathan saying how much pure, rich tastes and textures were valued in food, and tonight is no exception - the noodles are simple, as are the various pickled vegetables and tempura - but the tastes definitely give you pause, in a good way. It's only the following morning that I notice the extremely neat, compact, tidy and elegant aspect of nearly everything in this smaller house. The lines are precise, the colors generally neutral, the use of space throughout is ingenious - you never feel cramped even though there are many more bodies now. I am digging the very elegant gate markers on all homes in the neighborhood - all of them individual, yet somehow conforming to the same overarching aesthetic - a simple, quiet beauty. I regret not being able to see Tokyo at night, beyond the drive from the airport. On its own, that drive stands as a jaw-dropping experience too - a ride across the Rainbow Bridge with the massive skyline on the other side of Tokyo Bay - definitely up there with NYC from the Triboroat night. However, I had planned to spend at least a couple of hours in Ginza, Shinjuku or Roppongi at night... this was not to happen. The reality of production hit once again... we were either producing too much or too little, delivering too much or too little, always with imperfect timing - so cuts had to be made, and it was easy to cut the night shoot after we had already experienced Shibuya and Harajuku during the day. So how is it to walk across the intersection made famous by Baraka and countless other films, the Shibuya Scramble? Well, it's pretty amazing, but we were all surprised that human density not withstanding, the Japanese maintain a very comfortable bubble of personal space everywhere. No matter where we trekked across Tokyo, we were never jostled or treated in an unfriendly way. The time will hopefully come when I can return on a private visit and perhaps stay for a few days with these great friends we've made along the way. The roller-coaster of the emotional connections we make with each new host family is one of the blessings of this journey - though at times it can be intense, especially for the ATWFF host, since he is most often thrust into the position of "entertainer" while the crew hunkers down for the endless edits. Jeff has done an admirable job on this front - and we'll see how he holds up down the line. Well into the Season One trek, I remember Alex, charming smile never leaving his face, being eternally grateful when he could finally close the door after long stints of entertaining everyone around him. But apart from this, for me personally, one of the great sparks of interaction is seeing how a given family reacts to the extreme production environment that they're suddenly parachuted into when we arrive. It starts easy enough. They are usually surprised when one of us is unable to attend a dinner at the house - "But why? Aren't you hungry?" - and it builds from there, mild layers of disappointment stacked one on top of the other. Cables taking over every surface of the house is easy... but cutting a sightseeing day short is sometimes a very personal defeat. I remember sweet Yayoi looking up at me in disbelief, when, after a solid four hours of sightseeing through Shibuya, I decided to cap the day after our shoot at the Meiji Shrine. "But we can't stop!" she exclaims, clutching the Japanese version of her top-ten sightseeing book, "We still have so much to see! I have activities planned until 11PM!" She points to page after page of botanical gardens, more shopping avenues, museums and so on. "We can't. It's too much footage already." I try to reassure her, but her expression has clouded over and she never really recovers her smile that day. I have to grin and bear it - it's happened before and it will happen again. On we go. After Tokyo, our time in Yokosuka is still comfortable, but it's a different vibe since we're now in an American home. Our host, Mike, runs a tight ship, not just because he's with the Navy base in town but as a result of a long tradition of scouting (his connection with Tai). They live in a nice quiet neighborhood not far from the water and the vibe is really nice. The Tropicana in the fridge is a nice touch and it's only a matter of time before they're aware of my chocolate affiliation too. Regrettably, I'm arriving in Yokosuka with a huge backlog of editing, so I start missing family events right from the get-go. Luckily, Mount Fuji looms as the big equalizer the following day. t's easy to write these lines from the comfort of the Shinkansen, but only two short days ago we are getting into a car at 2am and heading towards the iconic mountain with Mike and daughter Victoria. What makes a man want to climb a mountain and expose himself to all the pain and suffering? The answer, as I am walking up the slopes of Fuji in the early going, is a resolute "stupidity". The climb is an endless torture. Jeff and I both go into it with a shocking naivete, even though we are forewarned by Mike several times. I still remember Jeff in his tank top, spraying himself with suntan lotion in the parking lotat base camp. Fast forward two hours, and a bitter arctic wind is beating down on us, the lunar landscape is bitter and visually impenetrable, we are completely frozen, eyes fixed on the ground infront of us, mechanically advancing our sweaty bodies to near collapse, turn by turn... I pride myself on my mental endurance, but to physically challenge oneself to near-marathon feats is simply baffling for me. "But you'll be so proud of your achievement afterwards" says Mike. Small comfort. We are nearly blown off the mountain several times on the way up. But even before, just walking the trail through the forest at base camp, I'm checking the beating of my heart several times. Heavy moisture hangs in the air and my lungs are struggling even on the gentle slope. Luckily, the vapor dries out soon after reaching the 6th station (there are ten in all, and the bus takes us to the fifth, about halfway up the 3700m mountain). It is extremely rare, but thoughts of mortality are entering my mind. Mentally, I think both Jeff and I give up several times along the tortuous climb to the top, but this is probably completely normal. Mike's encouraging words and gentle guidance keep our stamina up. His daughter bounds up far ahead of us - she's under 18 and it's already her fifth time summiting. For Mike, it's his tenth. For me, most likely my one and only - on any mountain. No need to frame the summit pic and mount it on my desk - it'll be a good story down the line, but for the moment, no desire whatsoever to pursue anything similar again. How I eventually make it to the top is beyond me, but over five hours after setting out, we are enjoying not only a hot bowl of ramen noodles but also the boisterous, zenmaster-like laugh of the chief engineer of the tenth station, whom Mike affectionately calls "Yoda". Only a few minutes pass, and I'm already flirting with the coy waitress who's circling around us in the cold wooden hut. "I work on mountain only one week more!" she exclaims with a huge smile. All staff have to live on the summit for the July-August "open season." Her joy accompanies me down the slope, which is in some ways even worse than the climb - an endless series of switchbacks of loose gravel. My knees are buckling and unlike Jeff and Victoria, I am unable to run down, but need to take it one meticulous, measured step at a time. I take a hard fall at one point with parts flying off my trusted Sony V1U in all directions.Somehow, the waterlogged camera survives to fight another day. The tape survives as well, although I have to digitize the footage in 5-second chunks. It's worth it in the end. We are vegetables on the drive back home, it's been an 18-hr day, but when I look over the footage in the wee hours of the morning, I can tell it's going to be an epic tale. All the ingredients are there. Characters, camaraderie, hardship, struggle, triumph and heart-soaring adventure. Now, all I need is time.

TOKYO Reflections... across the ocean Wednesday, August 11, 2010 What a whirlwind these past two weeks have been. As we were getting ready for the launch in Chicago, I recalled how before the launch of Season 1 I slept not a wink the night before the Early Show. This time would be better, I thought, but of course I was wrong. No sleep at all before the Chicago departure, and merely a single hour before this year's Early Show launch. Jeff seems a bit concerned - "Dude! You gotta get some sleep!!" but I think it's slowly dawning on him that this is how it's going to be, for the entirety of the trip, his own endurance rising day by day. I can't help but compare the two beginnings since there are so many parallels. In 2007 we were completely unsure and somewhat terrified about what would happen at the launch, our website was shaky at best, and yet the exhiliration of those first hours on the streets of New York still stand unmatched. The shock and awe that yes, people were willing to step up, right out of the gate, and get us moving on immediately. Our shared joy at discovering, together with our hosts, that this adventure could actually fly, even though we stumbled through our first few days down the East Coast. And then, the excitement of setting out abroad with that first flight to Puerto Rico... a life-changing journey was underway. Fast forward to 2010. This time, it's supposed to be "proven formula". Built-in audience. The massive support of the network. Way-more advanced technology. And yet, it still comes down to a rushed, 5am frenzied packing exercise on the final morning. Have we brought enough. Is it distributed fairly amongst the 3 backpacks (Alex and I could only walk one or two blocks when we launched in 2007 - the nearly 75-lb backpacks were insane). Are we going to regret not packing a dozen miscellaneous adapters, any one of which may prove life-saving (in the technical sense at least) in the jungles of Laos? There are a lot of departures this time around, each of which dilutes the rawness a bit. First, leaving the production office in Santa Monica. I've been living in a suitcase for over a month, splitting my time between the office couch and Alex's gracious hospitality in his Paris-throwback pad in Santa Monica. A quiet walk at 5am on dark and empty Santa Monica Blvd to throw some letters in the mailbox. Stashing the well-worn suitcase in the closet, saying goodbye to a few worldly comforts - but it's not too bad. Hey, I'm bringing along Armani jeans this time around, coupled with a few Asian-flavor collared shirts ("You're rocking that tunic, bro!" - writes my best friend Malcolm fromToronto). Put on the last remaining ATWFF white T-shirt and off we go. Chicago is a bit of a blur since we've done it all before but now must turn it on again - another dinner, another goodbye party, more editing in the Schroeders' basement. Jeff's observant mother Mary knows full well to fill up the bowl of chocolates downstairs, and she does, in between the amazing pannini sandwiches and endless coffee. The downstairs area is completely taken over by our cables and laptops. The parents know that separation is imminent, yet they hold their gentle supportive energy, unwavering and strong till the final goodbye at O'Hare... big thanks to them both. Jeff is already tired of having said goodbye umpteen timeson camera... and we're on our way. Charlotte is a breath of fresh air in every sense. Jordan is upbeat as she takes us for our haircuts. It's pavement-melting heat and we are feeling it. We are moving and shooting a lot now, so much so that on the first night I have to face the inevitable - I can't film the dinner segment, must stay behind to edit the Chicago webisode. But this is the reason we have brought along a third colleague this time around, and John jumps to the task, capturing the Cajun barbecue feast for posterity. I stay behind in Jordan's lovely home, her extremely friendly rescued dog resting at my feet the whole night. As before, we are fortunate to beset up with some great independent music from our long time music collaborators Jason and Tyler (want to add that CBS Records have also come through with some of their solid artists) and I find a couple of tunes with a country flair for this segment. I've never heard of "Dark Country" as a genre, but definitely digging it. It'll be great for the road trip to Raleigh-Durham airport. And soon it's upon us, we are rolling through the green flatlands, Jordan's brother Peyton getting us there, bantering endlessly with Jeff on the ride, at times sad, but more often than not doing their bro thing with huge laughs... This LAX-Narita flight I'm on as I write this seems far too short (at 10hrs... don't laugh - I'm used to the 14-hr longhauls to Bangkok) and Istill have editing to do to finish the last story from LA, so I'll keep it short. I cannot possibly touch on all the great people and places we've seen in these past 19 days since the Chicago departure, but what has been unchanged is the people's great hospitality and generosity. Each connection is just as intense and immersive as anything we've done in Season 1 - well, perhaps our comfort level is slightly elevated since we are enjoying far wider exposure than before. But day to day,experience to experience, it's just as fresh and spiritually-renewing as it ever was. And all this will go up a notch once we land in Tokyo.The everyday will become the exotic. The tried and true will become the unknown. The massive on-location audience we enjoyed in the States will taper off. But all this will make for a better show - for everyone. I pushed hard during these first couple of weeks to keep the webisodes as raw and immersive as possible, though I wish I could've delivered them a bit sooner. Tried to jam-pack as much content as possible, and to hear from Jeff "in the raw" wherever possible. Now that we're in international waters, we're going to adjust the edits a bit to turn the stories around faster, and also because we will be needing your help on a more urgent basis. Want to take the interactive site up a notch as well (regarding my own and Jeff's participation) - we have not evenmbegun to use it to its maximum potential. Really looking forward to alot of "fork-in-the-road" moments where Jeff will just stop and throw to the audience, asking them to help him make a crucial decision. The user-generated tips will become vitally important as we get farther and farther from the safety of home. My hope is for the interactive site to be a buzzing hive of activity... knowing full well that while we can't possibly respond to or address all submissions, we will benefit greatly from all savvy tips. Never been to Tokyo... very excited to stop by finally. I've spent extended time in a number of 10-million plus cities, but metro Tokyo, which is pushing 30mil+ is going to be mind-boggling. That's two times the number of all Hungarians on this entire planet - in a single place. I actually heard that in contrast to a place like Hong Kong, where the number of foreigners (and English speakers) is quite large, in Japan the same ratio hovers closer to zero. And sadly none of us count Japanese as one of our fluencies. So stay tuned for a lot of mimes and gestures on the streets on Shinjuku... Till next time - -