What made you each decide to go on Snake in the Grass?Cirie Fields: It was pitched to me as a treasure hunt, Amazing Race/Survivor-type show. You look for treasure; you find money. I was like, “Sign me up. Let’s go.” So when we hit the beach, and he says, “Well, you’re actually on Snake in the Grass, and one of you is a snake,” I felt a little bait and switch. But because it was these fabulous ladies. I’m like, “Let’s go!“Janelle Pierzina: It was also pitched to me as a treasure hunt on a new show. It’s a new game. And there’ll be an opportunity for some prize money. And I thought, “Oh my god, I love competing. I can’t say no. And it’s just six hours in a jungle.” So when I signed up, and I got to the beach, I saw, like, literally my O.G. favorite players. I remember watching Stephenie fight for her life. I’ve re-watched tons of seasons of Survivor. So I was like, “This is so amazing that I’m on the beach with these people.” Like, I actually forgot about the game I was in for a second. I was like, “Oh my god, I’m on the beach with Cirie and Stephenie and Rachel.“Rachel Reilly: I heard it was a treasure hunt/scavenger hunt, kind of Survivor. And I was so so excited. I love competitions. It was from the producers of Naked and Afraid, so I didn’t know what to expect. I thought we’d be naked! (Laughs.) I thought we’d be dropped in the middle of Costa Rica. I had snake boots on. I thought we had to find our way out. But I was just I was so excited. And then, when we arrived, and I saw these girls, I literally lost my mind. It was just like, how is this real life? I’m on the beach with Stephenie; this is insane. I mean, I think that was the coolest thing. We’re all fans of each other. So when we all saw each other, we were all just like, “This is going to be epic. We don’t know what it is, but it’s going to be epic.“On the other side of things, Stephenie, what was your first reaction when you found out that you would be the snake?Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick: A little different for me! (Laughs.) Starting out, though, I was super excited. I mean, I was told the same thing. The way they kind of pitched it seemed like it was a cross between The Amazing Race and Survivor, and it was a shortened version. So I was like, “Oh, this is awesome. I love a challenge. Let’s go.” And then they pull me aside a day before the game starts and tell me the game, and tell me it’s not so much a treasure hunt. Then I see who’s there as well. I’m so excited these ladies are there. But then I’m instantly not excited when I see Cirie. (Laughs.) Because she knows me, and she’s going to know I’m lying from the second she sees me. So for me, it was a little bit different, and it was much more difficult and not so much fun for me because it was really hard.What was your approach to the game after knowing a bit more about how it worked?Stephenie: I mean, I was like, “I have to be myself because the other three know me.” But I was going to try to be more quiet and withhold some information. But then, at the same time, I’m like, “If I do that, Cirie’s gonna know I’m not being me.” And she was like, “You’re just acting funny.” And I was like, “Well, I have kids now. So I don’t be dropping F-bombs and stuff.” (Laughs.) I was saying anything I could to try to make excuses for the way it was acting.But really, Cirie knew I was acting right away. I knew she was on to me from like the beginning, and I’m not a good liar anyway. Even if I wasn’t the snake, I would have gotten caught in a lie. Like, “I peed. No, I didn’t. I don’t know what I was doing over there.” Everything was suspect because I was on the line. Everybody was on the line. So it just made it worse.An interesting detail about this group is that you competed against each other in pairs. Cirie and Stephenie both played in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, and Janelle and Rachel both competed in The Amazing Race 31. Did knowing that other person so intimately help or hurt your reads more?Janelle: Being close with Rachel, I want to be a friend of hers and be like, “Let’s work together.” And I think it made it harder that we knew each other, really. It’s such a weird element to have two pairs that know things about each other. And then we’re both suspected of the other person; it’s just so odd. There were certain elements that made it easier because you know their backstory. But then you’re just so paranoid. Because Rachel was acting so weird! (Laughs.) I literally said, “Just tell me if you’re the snake. I don’t care, whatever. Just tell me.” She’s like, “I’m not the snake.” I’m like, “Are you lying?” (Laughs.)Rachel: I got so emotional when she said to me. But when I saw Janelle on the beach, I assumed Cirie and Stephanie would think we would be working together. And I didn’t want it to be Big Brother versus Survivor, where they thought we were the snakes, and we thought they were the snake. So I just kept thinking, “Well, maybe if I downplay our relationship with Janelle. So tell me about yourself!” (Laughs.) Which is so dumb. I didn’t know what I was thinking. It was so dumb at the time because we raced together and we’re friends.Janelle: I lived with this woman in a house in Greece sequestered on Amazing Race. Girl, what?! (Laughs.) Cirie and Stephenie, you had a wrinkle on top of that in Cirie being involved in voting Stephenie out on Survivor. Cirie, was that top of mind for you at all when you were interacting with her?Cirie: I know Stephenie; I did vote her out. Sorry about that, Steph. (Laughs.) But we spent a lot of time together after that and everything was cool. So we have a cool type of relationship. And it was just looking at her at the start of the game, and you could tell she was uncomfortable. She’s right when she says she’s not a good liar. (Laughs.) Everything about her is weird, from what I know. Because we spent a month together in Fiji on the trip after Heroes vs. Villains. I got voted out right after her, so karma got me.So I know how she normally reacts. I know how she normally would respond. And as soon as Bobby says, “One of you is the snake.” I’m going to look at my girl. And then when I’m looking for support from my girl, I get scared by her! And I’m like, “I dunno…” And then, not seconds into him telling us that it’s a game of snake in the grass, she says it’s Janelle. And I’m like, “Wait a minute! We haven’t even talked about it; we haven’t even done anything. How is it Janelle?!” (Laughs.)Stephenie: I was like, “Alright. Now he’s going to tell them the game. They’re all going to be in shock. Don’t be weird and act like you’re shocked.” I’m not an actress. I’m not a liar. All of the things I’m not good at, I’m trying to be good at. And all the things I’m good at, I’m horrible at.Cirie: Don’t quit your day job. (Laughs.)So it was a three-to-one vote against Stephenie in the end. We know that Cirie had a hunch as soon as the game started. Janelle and Rachel, was there a moment for each of you that made you suspect Steph?Rachel: Yeah, it was 100% when we had that third and final clue. I had already known she was the snake when I ran in, and I saw the look on her face. It’s the same look my kids have when they do something naughty, and they’re so proud of themselves. I knew she looked so proud of herself. (Laughs.) She had the weirdest “I did something awesome” look. So that was my biggest suspicion. But it was done when we got that final clue.Janelle: So, for me, I would say the first two hours. And I knew it wasn’t Cirie because I started working with her immediately. And so I was always onto Stephenie and Rachel; my eyes were always on them. And I couldn’t figure out which one of them was the snake. I had already eliminated Cirie from the process. And then when Rachel and I did our last challenge, and she went down and actually got the key to the clue box and didn’t drop it in the ocean, I was like, “It’s not Rachel. So process of elimination, it has to be Stephenie because the other ladies were already cleared in my mind.What I found interesting about this particular group was you all came in looking for something to prove, something that you weren’t satisfied with on your other shows. Were you able to find that on Snake in the Grass, considering three of you won?Cirie: I learned to trust my instincts. If we were not to receive any clue, I was laser-focused on Stephenie. And when it turned out for her to be this thing, it did let me know, “Don’t second guess yourself.” I knew this from the second he told us what the show was. I could have been influenced by Janelle. She’s telling me exactly what she’s telling you, “Rachel’s acting weird. She asked me where I lived. Something’s off with her.” Had I let that influence me, we would have lost. But thank you for being a horrible liar and a bad actress, Stephenie. (Laughs.)Rachel: I mean, I don’t think I came to prove anything really. I just wanted to win some money. And then, when I got there, as soon as I found out what the game was, I do have a reputation for winning reality shows. So I wanted to win. This will be my third win!Janelle: This is an authentic win for me! I learned a lot about myself. I remember when they interviewed us, when they were basically picking a snake, and they asked me, “Are you a leader or a follower?” I said, “Oh, I don’t know. I go with the flow. And I like to work in a team.” Then we got into the competition, and I’m shouting orders at these poor ladies. I was like, “Okay, actually, I am a leader, and I’m really bossy. I’m so sorry.” (Laughs.)(Laughs.) Janelle, we’ve been watching you on reality TV for fifteen years! You are absolutely a leader.Janelle: Okay, so I am a leader. I know now I should never ever tell producers I follow the leader. When I did, they were like, “Huh, okay.“Again, Stephenie, you had a very different experience than the other three. Anything you learned about yourself from being the snake?Stephenie: I went in because I’ve been on Survivor three times and never won. So I’m like, “It’s short and kind of a Survivor-type show. I’ve got a chance of winning.” Of course, I didn’t know the specifics. And I didn’t know it was all about lying. So I had a much different experience. But I went in because I wanted to try to win, to prove to my kids mom’s still got it. They have no idea about Survivor. They weren’t even born yet. And I’m like, “Oh, you just wait.” Now they’re going to be like, “Oh, she’s four times a loser.” (Laughs.)Next, check out our Snake in the Grass interview with Survivor alumni Malcolm Freberg and Yul Kwon, and Naked and Afraid alum Jeff Zausch.
