:B. J. Averell

A native of Collingswood, New Jersey,Sofen, Adam A. [https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2000/6/8/the-names-in-the-news-pb "The Names in the News"], The Harvard Crimson, June 8, 2000. Accessed November 24, 2018. "Averell was trying to get home to Collingswood, N.J. for Thanksgiving when he showed up at Logan Airport on Nov. 24 for his flight to Philadelphia." Averell graduated from Collingswood High School in 1998, and attended Harvard University. In 2000, he ran for Undergraduate Council president. Considered a wildcard,Graff, Garrett M. “[https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2000/11/27/five-tickets-will-seek-highest-council/ Five Tickets Will Seek Highest Council Posts].” The Harvard Crimson, November 27, 2000. Averell was twice cited with campaign violationsGraff, Garrett M. “[https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2000/12/6/election-commission-fines-candidates-pin-a/ Election Commission Fines Candidates].” The Harvard Crimson, December 6, 2000.Graff, Garrett M. “[https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2000/12/8/averell-hit-with-election-violations-pfollowing/ Averell Hit with Election Violations].” The Harvard Crimson, December 8, 2000. before being forced to shut down his campaign.Graff, Garrett M. “[https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2000/12/13/averell-ordered-to-shut-down-campaign/ Averell Ordered To Shut Down Campaign].” The Harvard Crimson, December 13, 2000.

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 a variety show called The B.J. Show,{{cite web |url=http://boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2005/12/06/class_reunion/ |title=Class reunion - the Boston Globe |website=boston.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224164456/http://boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2005/12/06/class_reunion/ |archive-date=24 February 2009 |url-status=dead}} 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.DuHart, Bill. “[http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060519/NEWS01/605190377/1006 S.J. native wins 'Amazing Race'].” South Jersey Courier-Post, May 19, 2006.

On November 24, 1999, Averell showed up late for a 6:15 p.m. flight from Logan International Airport in Boston to Philadelphia aboard a Delta Connection 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.Sweet, Laurel J. "Three passengers arrested during wild night at Logan". The Boston Herald, November 25, 1999.

Averell pleaded not guilty,"Two Enter Pleas in Logan Incident". The Boston Herald, November 30, 1999. 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 then student "was not belligerent to anyone".Riesman, Abe J. “[http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=511695 For Grad, Art Imitates Life’s “Amazing Race”].” The Harvard Crimson, March 1, 2006.

{{Main|The Amazing Race 9}}

In 2006, Averell appeared as a contestant on the ninth edition of the American television series The Amazing Race. He and his teammate, Tyler MacNiven, whom Averell met during Semester at Sea four years earlier,“[http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race9/bios/bj_tyler/ BJ & Tyler].” CBS.com. beat out ten other teams to win the show's $1 million prize. B.J. & Tyler, as they were identified on the program, were nicknamed "the hippies" by the other teams.

B.J. & Tyler came in last in two legs of the season, both of which were non-elimination legs.Bayne, Richard J. "[http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/05/18/news-amazing_race_write-05-18.html 'Hippies' win 'Amazing Race'] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20060916165934/http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/05/18/news-amazing_race_write-05-18.html |date=2006-09-16 }}." Times Herald-Record, May 18, 2006. 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."CBS. “[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/team-hippie-takes-amazing-race-9/ 'Team Hippie' Takes 'Amazing Race 9'].” CBS News, May 18, 2006. "If it's this successful to be hippies, we might as well stay hippies," Tyler said at the finish line in Denver, Colorado."[http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/05/a_frosty_finish.html A frosty finish for 'The Amazing Race']." Chicago Tribune, May 17, 2006. B. J. added, "I think that on this Race, being cerebral or being intelligent doesn't help as much as being in the moment and just being aware of what's going on around you. And it's just great to stay positive and just really enjoy each other's company. And our friendship is what got us through it."

“[http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4921106 BJ & Tyler Win Million Dollar Prize] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926232832/http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4921106 |date=2007-09-26 }}.” WISH-TV, May 18, 2006.

• An {{fontcolor|#0645AD|underlined blue}} placement with a double-dagger ({{double-dagger}}) indicates that BJ and Tyler were the last to arrive at a pit stop in a non-elimination leg.
• A {{green|green ƒ}} indicates that BJ and Tyler won the Fast Forward.

Roadblocks performed by Averall are bolded

;Notes

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• In 2005, B. J. played the part of an escaped criminal in the movie Saving Shiloh.
• Also in 2005, B. J. appeared in the 4th episode of CSI's 6th season. He played a member of a cult that committed suicide in the episode titled "Shooting Stars".
• In 2010, B. J. 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 TV while crashing on Tristan Couvares's loft as a "couch surfer".
• In 2017, B. J. appeared as himself in a Pedestrian Question segment of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.Jimmy Kimmel Live, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBtF0YqaRZo Pedestrian Question – Are You Wearing a Shirt?], Jimmy Kimmel Live, October 25, 2017

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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Collingswood High School alumni

Category:The Harvard Crimson people

Category:Living people

Category:People from Collingswood, New Jersey

Category:Reality show winners

Category:Hasty Pudding alumni

Category:The Amazing Race winners

Category:Male actors from New Jersey

Category:Actors from Camden County, New Jersey