'Big Brother' Favorites Taylor Hale and Janelle Pierzina Are Ready to See "Rootable Villains" Again

855 episodes. Over 300 houseguests spending more than 2025 days within the house's camera-laden walls, winning over $12.5 million in prize money. When you look at the numbers, it's staggering what Big Brother has accomplished since premiering in July 2000. Over nearly 25 years, despite teaching us to "expect the unexpected," the summer series has anchored itself as one of reality TV's longest competition shows, producing countless iconic moments and an audience obsessively dedicated to watching houseguests every season on the live feeds.

Before diving into a new season next week, we'll get a chance to reminisce on how far things have come with the Entertainment Tonight special "Big Brother 25th Anniversary Celebration" (airing tonight at 9:00 p.m. on CBS). In the one-hour special, ET correspondent Nischelle Turner leads a look back at some of the biggest moments and players of the past 24 seasons, as well as a sneak peek of what's to come. The hour will include interviews with host Julie Chen Moonves, as well as several legends from throughout Big Brother history. Two of them, who I got the chance to also speak with today, are arguably the most popular players in the show's history.

Janelle Pierzina has been playing Big Brother on and off for 15 years, competing on four seasons. Taylor Hale is the most recent winner, having been crowned the season 24 champ after a story for the ages, going from pariah to power player. Both received overwhelming support during their respective times in the house, culminating in the end-of-season "America's Favorite Houseguest" award. Janelle was the first to win the award back in season 7, while Taylor is the most recent recipient, the only winner to also receive the prize.

In anticipation of tonight's special, Janelle and Taylor spoke with Parade.com about their reaction to participating in the special, their legacies in Big Brother history, and what they're looking for in a future fan favorite.

Related: Everything to Know About Big Brother 25 (Including When it Premieres)

Let's start by talking about this special airing tonight. I know you both ended up filming your talking heads for it around the same time. What was your reaction to get called in and get the opportunity to look back across Big Brother history?
Janelle Pierzina: It's been crazy. I'm like, "Oh my God, has it been 25 seasons? Am I really that old?!" I've played three different eras of Big Brother. It's crazy to see how the show's evolved. I had forgotten some of the great moments of Big Brother. So it's a nice blast from the past to walk through some of my favorite things that I not only participated in, but I've seen as a fan. So it was really fun to do this special.
Taylor Hale: Very surreal. I studied Janelle and her game. I studied Danielle and her game. I studied Rachel and her game before going on the show. I've said this so many times, I didn't feel like I'd be respected by the fanbase. I didn't think I'd have a real impact in the game. Then, to have the win that I did and impact it the way that I did. You get called to do a 25 season special, what do I have to talk about outside of the most recent season I was on? But it was fun looking back and saying, "Wow, these people impacted me, and it led to my win." And now I understand that my win, which is influenced by all these other people, is going to build and influence more people. Maybe we're at the halfway point! Maybe we'll hit BB 50 one day and people will talk about me and everyone else. But it was so fun to reflect, hang out with Janelle, get drinks afterward, and pay every homage and thank you to the greats before me, who breathed life to me, and put me where I am.

Yeah, genuflect to the altar of OTEV! Taylor, you talked about how much you influenced to play Big Brother based on the Cookout in season 23. And we know that people oftentimes have the previous season in mind when playing. What do you think your influence might be on season 25?
Taylor: I think my biggest fear is that people are going to go into the season and think, "Okay, I have to be a nice and make a snack and eat it all the time so I can get brand deals and a lot of money coming out of this." No! Please do not do this. If that is my impact on the game, erase my name from the books. I don't want to have that impact. I want people to understand that this game I was forced to play was a game of social maneuvering instead of manipulation. That doesn't mean I wasn't willing to manipulate people, and arguably I did.

There's so many different ways to play the game. And I'm prepared to hear people say on the live feeds that they either did or did not respect my game. But ultimately I want people to see the way I played the game as a legitimate path. Because honestly, it's all about the cards that are dealt to you. And I think a lot more women, queer, or nonbinary people are forced to play a more social game like I had to. And I just want to see that be given the accolades and legitimacy that it deserves. So don't sit back and eat a snack and get brand deals. That's phony; people are gonna sniff it out and you will not be respected. Do not take that perspective. Just understand that this is a different avenue to play the game.

Keep the Lays in the pantry! Now from that perspective, Janelle, you are someone who clearly has been looked to as an influence since the first season. How has that felt for you to make such an impact on these players through the modern day?
Janelle: I love it! I'm the Big Brother grandmother. I want to keep giving back. it's fantastic for me. I love that it's been so many years where people can reflect and come back to my prior seasons and say, "Oh, I identify with how she played the game and her character of a woman." I find that very powering. Like Taylor, I hope there's 25 more seasons.

You both have history with the old and new school parts of the game. Janelle, of course, you have played in four seasons across the eras. Taylor, as you mentioned, you studied the old school players to get into a new school season. In your opinion, what's been the biggest change between the old and new school eras of the show?
Janelle: I would say the biggest thing that I remember playing new school, I was like, "Okay, everyone wants to vote as a ten-person voting bloc. That's their mentality the first few weeks." And I'm always like, "Why? How does this benefit your game? Let's not do what the HoH wants! Let's not do what these guys wanna do. These guys are gonna go to the end and win. Let's do something." I'm very outspoken, as you know. I don't hold anything back. So for me, that was hard to play with. A lot of new school Big Brother players were very much into a large group mentality, not playing as much an individual game that could benefit their game.
Taylor: Piggybacking off that a little bit, that's what led me to win my season. People played in a way that would benefit me because of social manipulating and manueving I did. But they didn't think to play their own game, they would play my game. Same with 23, they played a game for a group cause that was noble and good. But we've seen a trend of people sacrificing their individual games. And I really want to see people be selfish again. That goes back to what I always say. I want to see rootable villains. I want to see people who are self-centered and selfish and play the game for themselves. I want to see people who are compelling and get into arguments, but are not vile to the core or trying to hurt people, but are expressing emotion. We can have villains that we can root for again. And I'm excited to see that come back. I just think the villains we've had in recent seasons, they haven't made sense or been compelling. I can't wait to have another fun villain like a Danielle.
Janelle: Danielle's a compelling villain for sure.
Taylor: Don't play a scared game! You're playing Big Brother. [Laughs.]
Janelle: And play to the very end. I feel like so many on some newer seasons, they just give up after Day 3 on the block. Old school, they'll freaking take you into the back room and try to get your vote right before going on live TV. 
Taylor: As you should!
Janelle: As you should. [Laughs.]

So you both have a history with being fan favorites, as the first and most recent person to win America's Favorite Houseguest. What are you looking for in a fan favorite houseguest when you watch a season?
Taylor: Talk to the cameras! We think that people are observing us all the time and understanding our moves and what we're doing. But there's a lot left to interpretation if you're not explaining to the cameras what's happening. And people can fall in love with you because of who you're talking to and forming friendships with. But talk to the camera; build that relationship with the fans. That's how America's not just going to fall in love with you, but understand the game you're trying to play and are executing. Talk to us; don't be afraid. Let them into your minds. That's something I wish I did more towards the end.
Janelle: For new school, if you want to be a fan favorite, you need to connect with the fans and let them know whatever you're doing. Be very vocal about it. Don't play a scared game. All of the fan favorites in new school don't play scared games. They play very open games from what I have seen. Whereas if you're playing a really quiet meek game, they don't really like that. They want to see people do manipulation, they want to see some backstabbing. I know everyone loved Taylor all season long. But I was absolutely thrilled with her endgame. That was cool. [Laughs.]

Next, find out how the SAG-AFTRA strike could affect Big Brother 25.