Two 'Big Brother' Enemies Join 'The Traitors,' Discuss Revenge

Dan and Janelle

If you're building a Mount Rushmore of Big Brother players, the first two slots on that cliff are going to Dan Gheesling and Janelle Pierzina. Not only are they two of the most successful houseguests ever to play the game, but they're also two of the most widely beloved (something you can't necessarily say for many of Big Brother's "all stars").

Janelle made her first appearance back in 2005 when she became a fan favorite on Big Brother 6 making her way to the final three. She then returned the following summer on the original All-Stars, where she set the record for most competition wins and again placed third. Her prowess, however, put a seemingly insurmountable target on her back. When she returned on Big Brother 14, she was sent packing at the first opportunity, and a similar fate awaited her on the second All-Stars. Nevertheless, with four seasons under her belt and 200 days in the house, even Julie Chen called her the "Queen of Big Brother."

Related: Six Big Changes Coming to 'The Traitors' for Season 2

Unlike Janelle, Dan departed Big Brother while the getting was good. After winning Big Brother 10 with masterful strategy, he returned with Janelle in Big Brother 14, where against all odds he managed to claw his way to second place. Since 2012, Dan hasn't competed on reality TV, but now he's returning to for The Traitors. The only wrinkle in the plan is that back on Big Brother 14, Dan was largely responsible for Janelle's eviction. Now they're the only two Big Brother contestants playing a game built for backstabbing.

Prior to their entering the mansion, Parade got a chance to sit down with both Janelle and Dan to chat about The Traitors. However, it should be noted that both strategic forces were interviewed alongside other contestants, so take their answers with a grain of salt. While some of the show's contestants might not have realized that the game already had begun, Dan and Janelle certainly did.

Perhaps the most obvious question for Dan was why return to The Traitors after such a long hiatus. "I have a beautiful wife and three kids, and after I was on Big Brother twice I'm like, 'I'm good.'" Dan said.

"I don't have any aspirations to host or do anything like that, but I recently turned 40 and my wife's like, 'Hey do you want a big party?' I'm like, 'No.' She's like, 'What do you want?' So I said, 'I want to play Traitors.'" And now he's got his wish.

Related: Meet the Full Cast of 'The Traitors' Season 2

He also cited the main reason why he didn't return to Big Brother 22 alongside Janelle. "I have three young kids and Big Brother is very taxing," he said. "It's like 90 days. I don't really have any interest in being away from my kids, and you can never call home. There's a lot of wellness things at Peacock. I'm going to have a phone call home with my kids tomorrow, which in other games you don't get. So it really was the right show at the right time, and I'm just really excited to be here."

As for Janelle's return, it's a little less surprising especially given stints on The Amazing Race and Snake in the Grass in recent years. "I mean, to play a game and to come to Scotland and play it in a castle. I couldn't say no to that," she said.

Plus, she's also a fan of the show's host Alan Cumming. "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion is one of my favorite movies because I'm a total 90s girl," she said. "That epic dance they do is still in my mind, and I'm a huge fan of Alan."

While those answers seem fairly straightforward and honest (although neither mention their love of gaming or the prize money as reasons to play), their answers to other interview questions (again, answered in front of competitors) demonstrate a masterclass in deflection and downplaying accomplishments.

When Janelle was asked how being on Big Brother (arguably the show most similar to The Traitors of those represented by the cast) would help her, she quickly pivoted to bigger threats saying, "There's people here that are here just to play the game. They don't care about the money. Those are gamers. Just because we come from Big Brother or Survivor doesn't mean that we have a leg up." If bigger gamers than Janelle and Dan exist on the cast, you'll have to point them out to me.

Dan was asked a similar question and gave an even more ridiculous answer. "I feel kind of the opposite. On Big Brother, and this is all due respect, we have to like throw a ball in a hole. I knew the competitions were gonna be big. It's been over a decade since I've been on Big Brother. Do I still got it? Or maybe I never had it." Claiming Big Brother didn't prepare him The Traitors and then downplaying his own impressive record is certainly 100% strategy.

When asked about her strategy and mindset coming into the game, Janelle pivoted to discuss her love of The Real Housewives. "It's such a good cast," she said, "I'm a huge Housewives fan. I watch all of them, so I know everything about them. I mean Phaedra [Parks], she's an OG and a queen. Shereé [Whitfield]. It's like how many memes in the world has she made. I mean I'm from Big Brother, which isn't as big of a show. These are some heavy, heavy hitters."

Dan, in contrast, didn't even answer the questions about strategy or how he prepped for the game, choosing to let Sandra Diaz-Twine and Peppermint chatter away while he sat back listening, and even asking Sandra a question of his own at one point. Did Dan study past seasons? Almost certainly, but you wouldn't know it.

When asked point blank about calling past cast members, Janelle was forced to admit she had called fellow Big Brother player Rachel Reilly from Season 1 of The Traitors.

"I talked to Rachel," she confessed. "I'd done Snake in the Grass with her, and so obviously I reached out. I was like, 'What do you think?' And she told me that it's such a fun game and that I shouldn't stress myself out because Big Brother is so long. Her advice to me was just like, 'It's really quick so you have to be quick.' Because in Big Brother we sit for days and think about things."

Perhaps the most interesting unanswered question, however, is if Janelle at any point called Dan prior to the game. When asked about their connection Janelle cited that Dan had been part of the reason she'd been evicted and then said, "Dan and I were like not ever together. Like I won't be like I'm dying to work with Dan or upset that something happened in the game where he took me out. I'm not gonna bring that into this game." But if the two had a pre-game alliance they certainly wouldn't be sharing that information with their fellow cast mates.

If you're at all worried that Dan and Janelle have lost their edge though or that this "aww shucks, who me" routine is authentic. Please think again. After Dan's group interview wrapped up, he hung back in the room with the journalists while Sandra and Peppermint exited.

"You think I'd tell you my strategy?" he said grinning. The Funeral Director has still got it.

Next, Everything You Need to Know About 'The Traitors' Season 2