Love it or hate it, the "Big Brother Takeover" twist is definitely causing a stir in the house, and it started when The Amazing Race 's Phil Keoghan introduced Jeff and Jackie as the final two houseguests. The two met on the latest season of the show and went on a season-long blind date. By now, Jackie and Jeff's dating history has come out in the house, and there's been a lot of discussion about whether Jackie and Jeff would be an alliance on the Big Brother game.
There's no doubt that Jeff and Jackie shared a lot during their time on The Amazing Race and may have even had a relationship. On Austin and Jeff's "Podcast" at Home, they both opened up a little about their dating experiences and where they are now. Both make it seem like it's a thing of the past, but some tenants are very skeptical. They floated the idea that the two might get married or engaged.
What's the big deal? So what if they knew each other, who cares how much (if any) they worked together? Well, one of the leading theories among die-hard BB fans like Austin and Jason is that Jeff and Jackie are working together and trying to play it safe so they can make it to the finals and win more money.
This theory may sound as ridiculous as the rumor that Clay had twins, but there's a history behind this speculation. One of the twists in Season 6's "Secret Summer" is that seven pairs play a game together in secret, with each pair thinking they're the only one. If a pair makes it to the final two intact at the end of the competition, the winner will win $1,000,000 and the runner-up will take home $250,000. That would be double the standard prize money for the Big Brother winner and — dun dun — the money usually awarded to the winning combination of The Amazing Race .
It looks like the million-dollar prize lends credence to rumors that Jeff and Jackie could be this season's "Pair Twist." As Austin said to Jason on air: "Isn't this a second chance for the 'Amazing Race' couple? If they make it to the end together, they could get a million dollars."
Jeff and Jackie do seem to have private conversations, but are no more friendly than the other two, or even in a loose alliance. And, although Jeff tends to tell Jackie what to do, he does it to everyone, so is this his general sense of entitlement or the ultimate alliance? Time will tell...assuming, of course, that Jeff survives this week's eviction.
For all the latest on Big Brother twists and turns, as well as everything else happening in the house, check out Bustle's own Big Brother podcast , The Diary Room . Listen to the latest episode below, and be sure to check out future episodes on Bustle's SoundCloud page.
Want more Big Brother? Bustle has an app to suit your needs. This is the first place for all BB fans to look for round-the-clock Season 17 updates. But first, you need to download the app from iTunes.
Image: Cliff Lipson; Screenshot/CBS
