Interview With 'Amazing Race 16' Winners

At the outset of the 'Amazing Race 16,' brothers Dan and Jordan Pious were in it for one reason -- and it wasn't the $1 million. They wanted to realize Jordan's "lifelong dream" of being a contestant.

And boy did they ever. After logging 22 days on 5 continents, the final leg for the "bros" began with them sweet-talking their way into first class on a flight from Shanghai to San Francisco. Then, with a significant lead, the final few challenges saw Dan climbing to the top of the iconic Coit Tower, the pair guiding each other through a virtual 'Star Wars' world at Industrial Light & Magic and then making their way to Candlestick Park to be hailed the big winners by host Phil Keoghan and all of the eliminated contestants.

Does actually winning the 'Amazing Race' live up to expectations? Do these Rhode Island boys feel they played an honorable game? And what on Earth are they going to do with all that cash? Let's find out ...


TV Squad: Dan, you made no bones about hating to travel and looked overjoyed to find out that the final leg would be back in the States. Are you more or less of a travel fan now?
Dan: I would say neither. I am as much of a non-travel fan now as I was six to eight months ago. Although, I do have to say that a two-hour flight down to Florida seems like nothing after what we clocked during the race.

TV Squad: You're also a notoriously picky eater. Was the food worse or better than you'd expected?
Dan: It was pretty much what I expected. It was really bad in some places, better in others. I was really on a Snickers-only diet. Whenever I had an extra dollar to spend -- because we were on a super-tight budget -- I'd buy a Snickers. I'd seen the commercial, "Hungry? Buy a Snickers," and that's what I did.

TV Squad: We saw you struggle with composure a few times when cab drivers weren't getting you where you needed to be quickly enough. In real life, are you one of those people who's always on time?
Dan: I'm definitely one of those people but that's not what was the problem was in that one [crazy] situation. We had called a translation service, told them where we needed to go and they told the guy in perfect Chinese where he was supposed to go. And he just didn't go there. So, it was a matter of a guy just messing up and with the race hanging in the balance, that gets incredibly frustrating.

TV Squad: Jordan, did you think for one second that Jet and Cord would actually get physical with you for having "cut" the line at Shanghai airport?
Jordan: Yes. But I wasn't scared. Listen, here's the thing, at the end of the day it's a race for a million bucks. We laid low, we didn't piss anybody off for 11 legs of the race and then when the end was in sight we made our play. As I said on the show [last night], "Hate the game, don't hate the player."

TV Squad: You also said that if you won, you'd save the money to pay for your MBA. You're not going to splurge on anything?
Jordan: I'm not going to splurge. The only "extravagant" thing I'll spend it on is going to Australia. I've always wanted to go and so in a few months I'll probably plan a trip. The rest I'll save and use it to pay for me to get my MBA in a couple of years.

TV Squad: You really seemed miserable during the noodle making challenge in China. Was it just the editing or were you really hating it?
Jordan: I was more miserable than the editing showed! I was so baffled by how much I was struggling with it and before I knew it my hands were plastered with the flour and water and I couldn't make the noodles. I was worried that this would blow it, blow our chance to win. But then before I knew it, my brother was there with a hug and [calming] words and it was ok.

TV Squad: What happened to the motorbikes you won in Singapore?
Jordan: We haven't gotten them yet, but when we do, we won't have them for long. We were not kidding at all when we said that our mother would kill us if we ever rode them. When we get them, we'll be gracious. But then there's eBay and Craigslist!

TV Squad: Which of the eleven teams was your favorite?
Dan: Looking back, it was probably Steve and Allie [Smith] -- their father/daughter relationship reminds me of our family and how close we are. They are so close and would do anything for each other. Plus, he's just hilarious. I wish they'd shown more of what a funny guy he is.

TV Squad: Who was more obnoxious in real life than on TV?
Dan: Joe [Wang]. He's incredibly obnoxious on the show -- and even more so in real life. And, it's funny because [his wife] Heidi is amazing. Total yin/yang.

TV Squad: At the end of his and Jet's race, Cord said, "In the end, having our character and integrity intact, we can walk out of here with our heads held high." Do you think that was intended as a slight towards you guys?
Dan: I think that Jet and Cord think that they're high and mighty and they like to act like they're the good guys. Overall, we ran a really clean race.
Jordan: Listen, I think you only make that comment if you need validation. It's a game. We're proud of the way we played regardless of Cord and Jet's opinion. Everyone runs their race a different way and all of our friends and family and fans are proud of how we played, and that's what matters to us.