B. J. Averell
Encyclopedia
Brian Jeffrey "B.J." Averell (born November 26, 1979 in Camden, New Jersey
) is a Harvard graduate and reality show contestant who won The Amazing Race 9
with teammate Tyler MacNiven
.
, Averell graduated from Collingswood High School
in 1998, and attended Harvard University
. In 2000, he ran for Undergraduate Council president. Considered a wild-card, Averell was twice cited with campaign violations before being forced to shut down his campaign.
At Harvard, Averell was a member of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals
and the improv group On Thin Ice
. He also wrote daily comic strip "The Neil World" for The Harvard Crimson
. With fellow Harvard student B.J. Novak, he co-produced and hosted "The B.J. Show," which one year featured Bob Saget
reprising his television roles in a few skits and ending the show with his own standup routine. He would eventually graduate with a degree in religion
, and move to Los Angeles
to pursue a career in entertainment.
in Boston
to Philadelphia aboard a Delta Express
commuter flight, and was denied access to the small jet because his assigned seat had been given away. Averell slipped past the attendant at the gate, blended in with other passengers crossing the tarmac and proceeded to find refuge in a rest room and settled onto a toilet seat. "Once I got on, I figured maybe through some stroke of fate no one would have to use the bathroom," Averell said. He was given away by another passenger and arrested before the flight departed. He was charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing. He later told a news photographer he was surprised at how easy it was to stow away.
Averell pled not guilty, and two months later state prosecutors and Delta Air Lines agreed to drop all charges against him. According to Averell’s lawyer, the decision came because the student "was not belligerent to anyone".
of the American television series The Amazing Race
. He and his teammate, Tyler MacNiven
, whom Averell met during a "Semester at Sea" four years earlier, beat out ten other teams to win the show's $
1 million prize. BJ and Tyler, as they were identified on the program, were nicknamed "the hippies" by the other teams.
BJ and Tyler came in last in two legs of the race, but luckily both legs were non-elimination pit stops. Host Phil Keoghan
said, "They enjoyed every single moment they were on this race, whether they were in first or in last. They kept their spirit all the way to the end." “If it’s this successful to be hippies, we might as well stay hippies,” Tyler said at the finish line in Denver, Colorado
. B.J. added, "I think that on this Race being cerebral doesn't help as much as being in the moment. It's just great to stay positive and really enjoy each other's company. Our friendship is what got us through it."
For the All-Star season of the show though, BJ and his best friend were not selected to join the competition. His best friend posted on Former Racers Blog the following statement:
"What would be ironic is if someone were putting together an all-star version of the race and contacted teams like Lynn & Alex and Brian & Greg, but did not contact us, the most popular and amazing team of all time, about it,"
To which BJ replied:
"Trust me, if they were doing that, they would contact us. We were the most well-liked team ever to compete on the Race, as shown by CBS's own website. I'm sure they wouldn't just pick a gimmicky team like Rob & Amber or a 'competitive' team like Colin & Christie, and turn their backs on friendly winning teams like us and Chip & Kim, leaving us to find out about it from some gossip site like tvgasm.com. We were the most winningest winners ever to win. I imagine they'd do something like they did with Big Brother, and let the fans vote on which teams they'd like to see compete. That would be the smart thing to do; better than casting fighting couples again."
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
) is a Harvard graduate and reality show contestant who won The Amazing Race 9
The Amazing Race 9
The Amazing Race 9 is the ninth installment of the American reality television show The Amazing Race. This season featured eleven teams of two with a pre-existing relationship in a race around the world to win one million dollars. The show premiered on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 and concluded on...
with teammate Tyler MacNiven
Tyler MacNiven
Tyler MacNiven is an American filmmaker and reality television contestant.-Stanford University Admission Campaign:MacNiven first received attention in 1998 when, while a senior at Woodside High School in Woodside, California, he launched a political-style campaign to supplement his application to...
.
Education
A native of Collingswood, New JerseyCollingswood, New Jersey
Collingswood is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 13,926....
, Averell graduated from Collingswood High School
Collingswood High School
Collingswood High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Collingswood in Camden County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Collingswood Public Schools....
in 1998, and attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 2000, he ran for Undergraduate Council president. Considered a wild-card, Averell was twice cited with campaign violations before being forced to shut down his campaign.
At Harvard, Averell was a member of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals
Hasty Pudding Theatricals
The Hasty Pudding Theatricals, known informally simply as The Pudding, is a theatrical student society at Harvard University, known for its burlesque musicals and for its status as the oldest collegiate theatrical organization in the United States...
and the improv group On Thin Ice
On thin ice
On Thin Ice, is a Harvard College Improvisational comedy group. Founded in 1984 by Brigit Fasolino Vucic, On Thin Ice is Harvard's oldest improv troupe....
. He also wrote daily comic strip "The Neil World" for The Harvard Crimson
The Harvard Crimson
The Harvard Crimson, the daily student newspaper of Harvard University, was founded in 1873. It is the only daily newspaper in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is run entirely by Harvard College undergraduates...
. With fellow Harvard student B.J. Novak, he co-produced and hosted "The B.J. Show," which one year featured Bob Saget
Bob Saget
Robert Lane "Bob" Saget is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. Although he is best known for his roles as Danny Tanner in Full House, host of America's Funniest Home Videos and Future Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother, Saget is also known outside of television for his blue...
reprising his television roles in a few skits and ending the show with his own standup routine. He would eventually graduate with a degree in religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, and move to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to pursue a career in entertainment.
Logan Airport Incident
On November 24, 1999, Averell showed up late for a 6:15 p.m. flight from Logan International AirportLogan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
to Philadelphia aboard a Delta Express
Delta Express
Delta Express was a no-frills "airline within an airline" brand owned and operated by Delta Air Lines from 1996 to 2003. The airline was headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia....
commuter flight, and was denied access to the small jet because his assigned seat had been given away. Averell slipped past the attendant at the gate, blended in with other passengers crossing the tarmac and proceeded to find refuge in a rest room and settled onto a toilet seat. "Once I got on, I figured maybe through some stroke of fate no one would have to use the bathroom," Averell said. He was given away by another passenger and arrested before the flight departed. He was charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing. He later told a news photographer he was surprised at how easy it was to stow away.
Averell pled not guilty, and two months later state prosecutors and Delta Air Lines agreed to drop all charges against him. According to Averell’s lawyer, the decision came because the student "was not belligerent to anyone".
The Amazing Race
In 2006, Averell appeared as a contestant on the ninth editionThe Amazing Race 9
The Amazing Race 9 is the ninth installment of the American reality television show The Amazing Race. This season featured eleven teams of two with a pre-existing relationship in a race around the world to win one million dollars. The show premiered on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 and concluded on...
of the American television series The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race is a reality television game show in which teams of two people, who have some form of a preexisting personal relationship, race around the world in competition with other teams...
. He and his teammate, Tyler MacNiven
Tyler MacNiven
Tyler MacNiven is an American filmmaker and reality television contestant.-Stanford University Admission Campaign:MacNiven first received attention in 1998 when, while a senior at Woodside High School in Woodside, California, he launched a political-style campaign to supplement his application to...
, whom Averell met during a "Semester at Sea" four years earlier, beat out ten other teams to win the show's $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1 million prize. BJ and Tyler, as they were identified on the program, were nicknamed "the hippies" by the other teams.
BJ and Tyler came in last in two legs of the race, but luckily both legs were non-elimination pit stops. Host Phil Keoghan
Phil Keoghan
Philip John "Phil" Keoghan is a New Zealand-born television personality, best known for hosting the U.S. version of The Amazing Race on CBS, since its 2001 debut. He is also the creator and host of No Opportunity Wasted, which has been produced in the United States, New Zealand, and Canada...
said, "They enjoyed every single moment they were on this race, whether they were in first or in last. They kept their spirit all the way to the end." “If it’s this successful to be hippies, we might as well stay hippies,” Tyler said at the finish line in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. B.J. added, "I think that on this Race being cerebral doesn't help as much as being in the moment. It's just great to stay positive and really enjoy each other's company. Our friendship is what got us through it."
For the All-Star season of the show though, BJ and his best friend were not selected to join the competition. His best friend posted on Former Racers Blog the following statement:
"What would be ironic is if someone were putting together an all-star version of the race and contacted teams like Lynn & Alex and Brian & Greg, but did not contact us, the most popular and amazing team of all time, about it,"
To which BJ replied:
"Trust me, if they were doing that, they would contact us. We were the most well-liked team ever to compete on the Race, as shown by CBS's own website. I'm sure they wouldn't just pick a gimmicky team like Rob & Amber or a 'competitive' team like Colin & Christie, and turn their backs on friendly winning teams like us and Chip & Kim, leaving us to find out about it from some gossip site like tvgasm.com. We were the most winningest winners ever to win. I imagine they'd do something like they did with Big Brother, and let the fans vote on which teams they'd like to see compete. That would be the smart thing to do; better than casting fighting couples again."
Acting
- In 2005, BJ played the part of an escaped criminal in the movie "Saving Shiloh".
- Also in 2005, BJ appeared in the 4th episode of CSICSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
's 6th season. He played a member of a cult that committed suicide in the episode titled "Shooting Stars." - In 2010, BJ appeared as a beer vendor in the 9th episode of Weeds's 6th season, entitled "To Moscow, and Quickly."
- Introduced himself as Bingo on Control TVControl TVControlTV is a live interactive reality web show produced by Seth Green. Starting October 6, 2010, 25-year-old Tristan Couvares began the experiment of having his life filmed all day, every day, for a duration of 6 weeks. The team from ControlTV, has officially announced that they are preparing to...
while crashing on Tristan Couvares's loft as a "couch surfer" for Control TV.