Jessica Graf and Cody Nickson are heading to the starting line in New York to race for $1 million.
The Amazing Race is adding another Big Brother couple to its roster.
Showmance duo and fan-favorites Jessica Graf and Cody Nickson are moving from the Big Brother house to The Amazing Race starting line.
It will be a live event, as CBS is inviting fans of the duo (otherwise known as Jody) to witness them take off at Washington Square Park (Fifth Ave. and Waverly Place) in New York on Sunday, Oct. 1. The public start will begin at 11:30 a.m. and as of now Jessica and Cody are the only names being revealed for The Amazing Race's upcoming 30th season.
This won't be the first time the two shows have crossed over. Big Brother couples Jordan Lloyd and Jeff Schroeder as well as Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas have all had their turns at The Amazing Race. And Race alums Jackie Ibarra and Jeff Weldon moved into the Big Brother house in season 17.
Jessica and Cody's selection into the Race world won't come as a shock to most viewers as the two were fan-favorites in season 19 and Cody walked away winning "America's Favorite Houseguest" and $25,000.
The two were considered the underdogs as well as victims of bullying all season long after their other competitors made them targets for the majority of the game. While considered fan-favorites the pair have also faced scrutiny by viewers. For Jessica's part some of the comments she made inside the house were perceived by viewers and former alumni as racist and Cody faced backlash throughout his time on the show after making transphobic comments on the show's 24/7 live feeds.
All will be revealed on how they handle The Amazing Race when they meet host Phil Keoghan, but for now The Hollywood Reporter caught up with them before they ready, set, go.
What were both of your reactions when you found out you were going to be on The Amazing Race? Jessica Graf: I got a phone call on my drive home from casting asking if I wanted to do AR with Cody and I said absolutely. He responded with, "Great! I'll have someone at your house in an hour to pick up your passport. You leave in 14 days." I was floored. I figured it wouldn't be for at least a couple of months. It all just happened so fast that I had to force myself to stop and take a second to process the information! Cody was still in jury sequester and we didn't even get anytime to really talk about it. We're just diving right into another project and it's extremely exciting!
Cody Nickson: Just as long as Jess wants to be on it, I'm cool with it.
Cody, when did you find out? What surprised you more the "America's Favorite Houseguest" win or this?Nickson: I already knew before finale. But I suppose AFH was a bigger surprise.
Why do you think you both were selected to do The Amazing Race over your other Big Brother houseguests?
Nickson: Well, I didn't like the other houseguests, I just thought they were duds the whole time and I guess America thought so too.
Graf: Same.
If you were to play with two other Big a Brother couples who would they be? Why?Graf: Duo wise, maybe Cody and Paulie Calafiore. Those guys are great and I think we could team up with them and do some damage.
Nickson: I guess whoever the weakest players in BB history are.
Graf: Why?
Nickson: Easier to beat them.
In Big Brother you disagreed a lot. When having to make a decision for Amazing Race who out of the two of you will you decide to listen to? Graf: This is something Cody is going to shine in. So this time around, he's the boss. But he shouldn't get use to it.
Nickson: The process with us is pretty simple. . . I decide on something without thinking. . . it fails. . . she tells me I'm an idiot. . . then we do it her way.
What do you predict being the biggest challenges for this?
Graf: Being seen as a threat and making enemies too soon. The last thing I want is a double U turn sending us home.
Nickson: Agreed.
Will you be better racers than Big Brother players? Graf: In Big Brother, we weren't ever given a fighting chance after Cody's HOH. I can't imagine this cast being equally a pack of scared little girls. I'm hoping we're competing against people who appreciate good competitors.
Nickson: A girl with a broken foot won a sprinting competition on BB19. . . Yes there will be better racers on Amazing Race.
What do you think about Jessica and Cody heading to The Amazing Race? Do you think they'll do better than they did in the Big Brother house? Chat about it in the comments section below.
