> @DC408dxtr / @DC408dxnow
We are two weeks into a brand new season of The Challenge, as the Battle of the Bloodlines is about to be turned on its head with a huge, game-changing twist will that change everything and will arrive onshore in Turkey tomorrow. And we are also approaching the end of an eventful year in reality TV for which we'll be dissecting it here with part 2 of DC FORUM's Reality Debrief of 2015 next week. But before we move into that dynamic change of pace where a draft will turn partners into opponents and will have a domino effect on this season, the tough elimination we saw last week provides the context for this dedicated edition of DC ExtraTime.
We are two weeks into a brand new season of The Challenge, as the Battle of the Bloodlines is about to be turned on its head with a huge, game-changing twist will that change everything and will arrive onshore in Turkey tomorrow. And we are also approaching the end of an eventful year in reality TV for which we'll be dissecting it here with part 2 of DC FORUM's Reality Debrief of 2015 next week. But before we move into that dynamic change of pace where a draft will turn partners into opponents and will have a domino effect on this season, the tough elimination we saw last week provides the context for this dedicated edition of DC ExtraTime.
The philosophy DCBLOG brings to covering the Trifecta is that this is a complement to all the other sites that do recaps, rankings, drafts, interviews & the like that cover The Challenge, Are You The One? and Real World. We offer an addendum to those sites by bringing you the social interaction and stories that go beyond the hookups, the hype & the highlights for a unique look at this MTV world like no other site can. Whether it's the personal hardships the castmates have endured that makes them relatable or the intimate impact it's had on fans, or great moments & people, there's a whole other side of this Trifecta world that this site strives to bring you. No wonder why MTV reality shows are best suited to thoughtful insight, analysis, reflection, perspective and storytelling.
As you prepare for Challenge Wednesday, we'll be looking back at the last time The Challenge went to Turkey three years ago, and the standout moment that turned this longtime Real World fan into a fan of its competitive brother. Whenever there's an elimination battle on The Challenge that literally turns into a heavyweight championship fight, it becomes great television and personifies why they call it "the fifth major pro sport." And for two former football players who fought tooth & nail, it was an epic 5-round battle that put me on the edge on my seat and got me permanently hooked on watching The Challenge.
In most every edition of our episode posts, we bring you stories, long & short, told from within this MTV world told through the prism of the Trifecta as it relates to the people and this franchise. But given how important it is in how this single elimination round turned me from just a viewer into a full-fledged fan of the show, it deserves to stand on its own merit in this one post. After the jump, DC ExtraTime looks back at The Battle that turned me into a fan of The Challenge.
As it returns to Bodrum, Turkey this season - and to the same house that was used when it came there three years ago (a fact noticed on Twitter by good friend Trey), Battle of the Bloodlines is the 5th straight Challenge that I have followed as a fan, and the 4th I've blogged on here. It wasn't that long ago that I wasn't into The Challenge as much as I do Real World, and in fact in the season before Battle of the Seasons II, all I watched of the original Exes was just the premiere sneak peek on MTV.com beforehand. And later, it was only when I binge watched the entire Rivals season before Rivals II a year later that I saw most of the big-name veterans for the very first time.
Towards the end of Real World St. Thomas, I had only intended on giving the BOTS 2 a trial run because of the good rapport I developed with Team MTV during my first summer on Twitter, most particularly Team STT and their fan friendliness with fans like me. Ultimately, the combination of my passion for competition as a sports fan (and it taking place just after the 2012 London Olympics) with people who I'm familiar with in the MTV world and have established a strong rapport with in my time in the social world made it easier for me to grasp onto. And me being glued to my first Challenge in several years ultimately me put on the path to create the MTV Trifecta once Are You The One? debuted over a year later.
Going into the season's 8th challenge, two alliances divided the house: one between San Diego, Cancun and New Orleans, and the other tribe with Brooklyn, Las Vegas and a hastily-assembled Fresh Meat group; both being formed by hookups between alliance members. There was what we saw with Frank manipulating castmates the same way we saw Devin do to Kiki on AYTO3. And in that 8th mission, an eating contest - best known for TJ Lavin becoming a 70's game show host - saw Team Brooklyn of Sarah, Chet, Devyn & JD win their 2nd mission and sent in the only team not to compete in the Arena: Cancun.
Team Cancun of CJ, Jonna, Jasmine & Derek were, in paper, the strongest team going into the season with 5 seasons of previous experience among the four, and had won two missions before being put into the Arena for the first time, and that unenviable position gave them a tough decision of who to put in. Plus, there was Jonna who, at the time, was heartbroken by a bad breakup back home which saw her literally lose everything and left her homeless, and got close to San Diego's Zach in the house. A first sign of Team Cancun disunity came up when, while CJ would go for the guys, they went with playing semi conservatively in putting the considerably weaker Jasmine in and leaving Jonna & Derek in case they lose. For the former punter, his reaction was, "Character is first and money should be second in this game."
After performing well in the season's first half, Team San Diego would then find themselves with their backs to the wall not one but two times. The previous week, Frank & Zach berated teammate Sam for her poor challenge performance in a demanding mini-final but she responded in winning that week's elimination. Later, the guys would get into words themselves as well, and that translated into the next week's challenge as they would finish last and were sent into the Arena for a second straight week. And team disunity was more prevalent than in the Cancun camp with the countering egos of the guys, especially when Hurricane Frank had a meltdown after that loss, which was among his many actions that defined his Challenge debut that season and his career. Good thing the even-keeled Ashley stayed out of harm's way.
After a moment of reflection in the house for Zach & Jonna with the reality that this may be their last moment in the Challenge house together (at least until Exes 2), the stage was all set for an epic showdown between teams of the same alliance once everyone gathered in the Arena. This was the matchup the Brooklynites wanted for some time to knock out half of one of the teams that were gunning for them. As expected, the much-stronger Sam goes in once again for Team 26, while Jasmine volunteers for Cancun, recognizing she's Jonna's adoptive sister (and reflective of her MTV maturity over time - she becomes a mom next week on Christmas Day). And for the guys, Zach goes in again, and CJ does likewise for Team XXII.
And then comes the main event, and like everyone else Sarah feels that not only will Zach win, but also believes that it will be a crushing win and CJ will have bones broken once this is over. The leader of Team Cancun knows his group as a whole is up against the ropes and is feeling the pressure on his shoulders of trying to keep his team afloat. And to add to that, this episode is airing just two days after his birthday of November 12...just four days after Jonna's and a day after yours truly. That added more to the allure of what we were about to witness. No one expected what came next.
With both San Diego and Cancun splitting the girls & guys heats, the battle would come down to a tiebreaker round and another best-of-3 match. And considering how closely fought the guys' round was in contrast to the girls, I assumed that this would not end in a 2-0 sweep...I was sure that this fight was gonna go the distance. The coin toss sees the guys' tails side being shown, and Zach & CJ go back into battle once again to break that tie. It's anyone's game, and with CJ having momentum on his side, he also had the slight advantage by way of what just happened in regulation.
This thriller between these two football players that left those watching on the sidelines in awe when it was over. As for reaction from everyone involved? Here it is...
For the other players in this drama...
● Frank would find himself in a Twitter beef with Johnny Bananas after BOTS2 and both were paired on Rivals II despite no prior experience together, but finished 2nd in the final to Wes & CT; then Frank himself would be booted off of Free Agents for getting sick in the house in Uruguay and abruptly announced his retirement.
● Despite initially retiring and after the loss of her late father, Jasmine would go on to be on Rivals II with the rival she now, ironically, shares a baby birthday month with in Theresa, and then was on Free Agents where she also got into fireworks with fellow fire-starter Nia before hanging them up for good afterwards ahead of parenthood.
But the impact of that Arena battle for myself was immense and long-lasting even after the buzz of that season subsided. Like everyone else, I was on the edge of my seat watching that elimination, and it was there that I became a Challenge fan and have become a loyal viewer to every succeeding season since. The sheer intensity of Zach and CJ's Hall Brawl battle is one of my favorite moments in the 16 years I've been an MTV viewer. And ever since, I've enjoyed a great deal of thrills and drama on Rivals, Rivals II, Free Agents, Exes 2 and now Bloodlines, in addition to Real World and AYTO.
But, if there's one moment that I can point to as the one that turned the tide for this longtime RW fan who watched that show only before Summer 2012 and made me a Challenge fan, then it was in Turkey and an epic elimination battle on that Challenge. And if last week's battle between Thomas & Cohutta was any indication, there's nothing like an elimination when it's as physical, one on one and as intense as you can get in a win or go home battle that puts you on the edge of your seat.
Sure, I & some of my fellow fans had more familiarity with that season's cast of mostly new faces than the hardcore fans that were used to Bananas & company. But there was some good missions, intense eliminations and big house drama that made it easier for me to get my feet wet watching a modern Challenge season for the first time. It was also where saw the late Ryan Knight & his NOLA love Jemmye make their Challenge debuts, and so did Nany & Zach.
Going into the season's 8th challenge, two alliances divided the house: one between San Diego, Cancun and New Orleans, and the other tribe with Brooklyn, Las Vegas and a hastily-assembled Fresh Meat group; both being formed by hookups between alliance members. There was what we saw with Frank manipulating castmates the same way we saw Devin do to Kiki on AYTO3. And in that 8th mission, an eating contest - best known for TJ Lavin becoming a 70's game show host - saw Team Brooklyn of Sarah, Chet, Devyn & JD win their 2nd mission and sent in the only team not to compete in the Arena: Cancun.
After a moment of reflection in the house for Zach & Jonna with the reality that this may be their last moment in the Challenge house together (at least until Exes 2), the stage was all set for an epic showdown between teams of the same alliance once everyone gathered in the Arena. This was the matchup the Brooklynites wanted for some time to knock out half of one of the teams that were gunning for them. As expected, the much-stronger Sam goes in once again for Team 26, while Jasmine volunteers for Cancun, recognizing she's Jonna's adoptive sister (and reflective of her MTV maturity over time - she becomes a mom next week on Christmas Day). And for the guys, Zach goes in again, and CJ does likewise for Team XXII.
In the BOTS2 premiere, "Hall Brawl" saw Big Easy Eric stampede his way over Wes in what was his most satisfying Challenge moment (and his most notable moment that season until he quit in the 5th Arena & broke up a romance with Devyn). That physical game returned for the week's Arena, and before the elimination began the spectators' dialogue centered around Jonna and how she didn't volunteer herself in. Sarah, Trishelle and Devyn voiced their displeasure at Jonna for not stepping up, which was the consensus verdict among those in the street clothes. The Vegas returnee feels it was a manipulative move, but she didn't fully recognize Team Cancun's tight-knit family bond.
For the girls' matchup, which amounted in the end into a UFC undercard bout, Sam tackles Jasmine in the tunnel and easily strolls to the bell to take the first heat. It then becomes a carbon copy in the second run as Sam's strength & speed becomes too much and sweeps the first set, 2-0 and give San Diego the 1-0 overall lead. Frank surprisingly would show his support for Sam on the sidelines, while an exhausted Jasmine tries to catch her breathe and compose herself, knowing she let Team Cancun down. Now, the only team w/ no first-time competitors found themselves in an unusual position.
For the girls' matchup, which amounted in the end into a UFC undercard bout, Sam tackles Jasmine in the tunnel and easily strolls to the bell to take the first heat. It then becomes a carbon copy in the second run as Sam's strength & speed becomes too much and sweeps the first set, 2-0 and give San Diego the 1-0 overall lead. Frank surprisingly would show his support for Sam on the sidelines, while an exhausted Jasmine tries to catch her breathe and compose herself, knowing she let Team Cancun down. Now, the only team w/ no first-time competitors found themselves in an unusual position.
And then comes the main event, and like everyone else Sarah feels that not only will Zach win, but also believes that it will be a crushing win and CJ will have bones broken once this is over. The leader of Team Cancun knows his group as a whole is up against the ropes and is feeling the pressure on his shoulders of trying to keep his team afloat. And to add to that, this episode is airing just two days after his birthday of November 12...just four days after Jonna's and a day after yours truly. That added more to the allure of what we were about to witness. No one expected what came next.
The first heat of the guys' round sees a long stalemate the moment the two combatants collided, but Zach begins to walk his way to his end of the tunnel. But in something that we didn't expect to see from him, CJ doubles back and drags Zach's legs towards his side for some time that trip his opponent up for an instance, allowing CJ's run to the bell to beat Zach's diving jump by a neck. That was some moment of being able to persevere athletically and on pure adrenaline, which stunned the onlookers and Thor himself: "CJ's an athlete...he's four years older than me. He's smart. I'm not surprised that CJ won this first round. This is what I've been dreading all day."
With Cancun leading 1-0, race #2 is a much different story than the first: it's an all-out sprint rather than a wrestling match. CJ and Zach spearhead into one another at full speed like hockey players going for that check into the boards, but instead of colliding they avoid the other opponent and sprint & dive towards the bell. It's CJ's quickness that gets the best of Zach's larger drama to their bells, and CJ wins the guys' round and for a moment at least, the David of this battle - Zach had fallen to Goliath.
CJ's response after that guys' round win? "I just had...I'm lost for words because there's a reason why I came in here today. There's a reason why Jasmine) came in here today. You're put into a spot and you have to step up for your team, and that's what me & Jazzy are both doing." As we eventually learned, CJ had some experience on this stage too: CJ tried his luck on American Ninja Warrior earlier that year but like all others before Isaac Caldiero, CJ would succumb to the course.
CJ's response after that guys' round win? "I just had...I'm lost for words because there's a reason why I came in here today. There's a reason why Jasmine) came in here today. You're put into a spot and you have to step up for your team, and that's what me & Jazzy are both doing." As we eventually learned, CJ had some experience on this stage too: CJ tried his luck on American Ninja Warrior earlier that year but like all others before Isaac Caldiero, CJ would succumb to the course.
With both San Diego and Cancun splitting the girls & guys heats, the battle would come down to a tiebreaker round and another best-of-3 match. And considering how closely fought the guys' round was in contrast to the girls, I assumed that this would not end in a 2-0 sweep...I was sure that this fight was gonna go the distance. The coin toss sees the guys' tails side being shown, and Zach & CJ go back into battle once again to break that tie. It's anyone's game, and with CJ having momentum on his side, he also had the slight advantage by way of what just happened in regulation.
The tiebreaker match begins, as it was in the guys' round, with CJ going low again and flipping Zach over literally, but Thor recovers and gets ahold of CJ's feet crawling beneath him. CJ would drag Zach to the edge of his end of the tunnel, and runs to the bell to take heat 1 of the tiebreaker, his 3rd straight win. Run #2 would be a carbon copy of heat 2 in regulation: another close sprint with video game moves that sees Zach hurdle over CJ and rings the bell to even the match 1-1. This battle had become so exhausting to both men, even CJ's shorts were ripped up (Derek lent his shorts to him) and Zach had developed a cut on his arm.
On the sidelines while the rest of the competitors were going nuts over what they were seeing, Jonna feels torn: "I cannot believe this is happening now. I'm cheering because it's my team. At the same time, I can't even make eye contact with Zach because I know that he's really upset right now." And for someone who brilliantly provided commentary both during BOTS2 and Free Agents before her winning my Heart of a Lion award last year, all Devyn can say was, "Zach's got to be pretty embarrassed... You are 7'13" and you got your @$$ beat by the same dude chasing your ex-girlfriend? You cannot be happy."
This set the stage for that ultimate of instances when it comes to the two competitive shows of our three in the Trifecta. If you follow all three shows like I do, it was something we had the past two years this time of year when it went down to one Matchup Ceremony for the season 2 and 3 AYTO casts. For CJ and Zach: it's a golden match: sudden death, winner take all & stays in the game, and loser & his partner gets the two plane tickets home.
The golden heat begins with, as it was in heat 1 of this entire battle, a mid-tunnel collision between the guys. But unlike what happened in the first heat of their regulation round, Zach and his big & strong frame keeps moving forward. He barrels CJ out into his side of the hallway and while he tries whatever he can to wrestle him back, Zach rings the bell. He wins this epic elimination round that felt like a heavyweight championship fight and became one of The Challenge's best-ever battles and one of the most-entertaining.
Zach's celebratory reaction after he rang that bell felt like he was back at the large wooden dome at Western Michigan celebrating a touchdown, and it was undoubtedly his finest Challenge moment. With him congratulating Zach after the win and embracing Jasmine after that emotionally draining battle as they headed off like winners, CJ handles this crushing loss with nothing but class...rightfully so for someone who gained a ton of respect as a competitor, athlete and gentleman.
This thriller between these two football players that left those watching on the sidelines in awe when it was over. As for reaction from everyone involved? Here it is...
● Dialogue after: Z - "I love you." CJ: "that's what it's about baby. We're brothers no matter what. Keep going strong. Whoop some butt and win this thing for me."
● Zach after winning Arena: "I went from getting my @$$ kicked three times in a row to outsmarting him and then out-manning him. At this point, I feel like there's nothing in this fans I can't do. I feel like today was a huge step for San Diego as a team. I don't think we're 100% better, but I think we're mending some wounds."
● Ashley after Arena: "Having to say goodbye to CJ kinda sucks. He's one of my best friends on the house. But I also very excited to see Zach & Sam back, so it's kinda bittersweet."
● Jonna: "I'm happy that's Zach's coming back to the house. But at the same time, he sent home half my team. This just sucks."
● TJ: "That is how an elimination round is supposed to be played. San Diego, it all came down to the end, and you made it happen. Congratulations. CJ, I've never seen anybody dig so deep. That was a great elimination round. Unfortunately, you came up short today. This ends your time here in turkey. You gave it your all, take care of yourselves. I'll see you on the future."
● Sam: "It just shows that it's gonna take four people to win this game. And without us two here, San Diego wouldn't make it."
● Derek: "I'm crushed because now that half of our team is gone, I know that Jonna & I are gonna be targets. And we're gonna have to work extra hard for us to stay in this Challenge."
● Jasmine exit: "I started this whole Real World experience with Cancun. And I'm leaving with my team, Cancun. So it's bittersweet for me."
● CJ exit: "I might not be leaving with $250,000, but I am leaving with stuff that means way more to me than the money, and that's friendship. We came in here as a team. We left here as a team. I became so much closer in this house with some of my teammates than I ever did in Cancun. And it's just--I'm so thankful that I came."
● Frank: "Let's move on. It's over now, and let's take one step closer to getting all four of us to this final."
And how about for those who watched that battle on the sidelines? Devyn provided her first-hand account of it afterwards to the AfterBuzz TV after show: "It was pins & needles, like literally. Even the camera guys and stuff, everybody was shook. When we left, everybody was silent. It was the most erring feeling. It was so weird, like nobody knew what had just happened. It was almost being like (inaudible) being coming out of it. It was so weird because it was crazy. Like, nobody expected that from CJ. And then the heart from it, his pants got ripped off at one point, and they put Derek's pants on...they didn't show that. It was just, 'Whoa!' I've never had more respect for someone than I did for CJ in that moment. And then that came out. It really was the like... The editing and the way they showed it - they did the best they could, but it was nothing compared to what it was like actually being there that day."
● Zach after winning Arena: "I went from getting my @$$ kicked three times in a row to outsmarting him and then out-manning him. At this point, I feel like there's nothing in this fans I can't do. I feel like today was a huge step for San Diego as a team. I don't think we're 100% better, but I think we're mending some wounds."
● Ashley after Arena: "Having to say goodbye to CJ kinda sucks. He's one of my best friends on the house. But I also very excited to see Zach & Sam back, so it's kinda bittersweet."
● Jonna: "I'm happy that's Zach's coming back to the house. But at the same time, he sent home half my team. This just sucks."
● TJ: "That is how an elimination round is supposed to be played. San Diego, it all came down to the end, and you made it happen. Congratulations. CJ, I've never seen anybody dig so deep. That was a great elimination round. Unfortunately, you came up short today. This ends your time here in turkey. You gave it your all, take care of yourselves. I'll see you on the future."
● Sam: "It just shows that it's gonna take four people to win this game. And without us two here, San Diego wouldn't make it."
● Derek: "I'm crushed because now that half of our team is gone, I know that Jonna & I are gonna be targets. And we're gonna have to work extra hard for us to stay in this Challenge."
● Jasmine exit: "I started this whole Real World experience with Cancun. And I'm leaving with my team, Cancun. So it's bittersweet for me."
● CJ exit: "I might not be leaving with $250,000, but I am leaving with stuff that means way more to me than the money, and that's friendship. We came in here as a team. We left here as a team. I became so much closer in this house with some of my teammates than I ever did in Cancun. And it's just--I'm so thankful that I came."
● Frank: "Let's move on. It's over now, and let's take one step closer to getting all four of us to this final."
And how about for those who watched that battle on the sidelines? Devyn provided her first-hand account of it afterwards to the AfterBuzz TV after show: "It was pins & needles, like literally. Even the camera guys and stuff, everybody was shook. When we left, everybody was silent. It was the most erring feeling. It was so weird, like nobody knew what had just happened. It was almost being like (inaudible) being coming out of it. It was so weird because it was crazy. Like, nobody expected that from CJ. And then the heart from it, his pants got ripped off at one point, and they put Derek's pants on...they didn't show that. It was just, 'Whoa!' I've never had more respect for someone than I did for CJ in that moment. And then that came out. It really was the like... The editing and the way they showed it - they did the best they could, but it was nothing compared to what it was like actually being there that day."
In the end, this back-to-back trip to the Dome was the wakeup call Team San Diego desperately needed. And eventually, the team would come together after that ordeal stronger and made it as a whole to the final when Ashley & Frank beat Jonna & Derek in the last elimination, which took place in Namibia. And though it was overshadowed by the guys berating Sam again towards the end of the two-day ordeal - and Frank pushing Sam with the finish line in sight, they won the Final going away.
For Zach, this would turn out to be the peak of his powers in Challenge world, and a lot of us felt that his performance in that Arena would silence his doubters. But in the next Challenge - Rivals II, he won the first two missions with Trey but saw his emotions get the best of him as both a house meltdown after finding out that he missed the birth of his niece and then losing an elimination as an apparent win was reversed on a technicality. And of course on Exes 2, he was put on blast for his behavior towards Jonna, but emerged with yet another RW girlfriend in Jenna.
For CJ, he hasn't been on a Challenge since that devastating loss, but it seems he has benefited the most from that experience. He has gone on to bigger and better things as a move from the sunny locale of his native South Florida up the way to New York City now sees him as both a fitness enthusiast and a model, and whose pictures are just about everywhere. From magazines to the local sporting goods store and beyond, to even dressing up as an elf in the city subways, CJ's Challenge exposure has certainly paved the way for the great career he has right now.
For the other players in this drama...
● Frank would find himself in a Twitter beef with Johnny Bananas after BOTS2 and both were paired on Rivals II despite no prior experience together, but finished 2nd in the final to Wes & CT; then Frank himself would be booted off of Free Agents for getting sick in the house in Uruguay and abruptly announced his retirement.
● Despite initially retiring and after the loss of her late father, Jasmine would go on to be on Rivals II with the rival she now, ironically, shares a baby birthday month with in Theresa, and then was on Free Agents where she also got into fireworks with fellow fire-starter Nia before hanging them up for good afterwards ahead of parenthood.
● For Jonna, she stayed together with Zach for some time after BOTS2 ended before breaking up, and of course they competed together on Exes 2 in feeling Thor's wrath; along with also being on Rivals II and Free Agents as well.
● For Sam & Ashley, BOTS 2 have been their only Challenge appearances to date; Ashley was a close friend of Diem Brown until her passing; and last week (IG) Sam got to meet AYTO original, Hampton Roads resident and soon to be dad Chris T.
● And Derek, who worked at the same bar with Jonna in Tempe, AZ prior to them going to Cancun, got into an argument with Robb from Team STT shortly thereafter and they were paired on Rivals II, winning the first Jungle in another Hall Brawl.
● And Derek, who worked at the same bar with Jonna in Tempe, AZ prior to them going to Cancun, got into an argument with Robb from Team STT shortly thereafter and they were paired on Rivals II, winning the first Jungle in another Hall Brawl.
But the impact of that Arena battle for myself was immense and long-lasting even after the buzz of that season subsided. Like everyone else, I was on the edge of my seat watching that elimination, and it was there that I became a Challenge fan and have become a loyal viewer to every succeeding season since. The sheer intensity of Zach and CJ's Hall Brawl battle is one of my favorite moments in the 16 years I've been an MTV viewer. And ever since, I've enjoyed a great deal of thrills and drama on Rivals, Rivals II, Free Agents, Exes 2 and now Bloodlines, in addition to Real World and AYTO.
In much the same manner that the final of season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter kick started the UFC's rise to their place in the sports world & culminating with their great 2015, that battle and other things from that season helped get me comfortable in following & covering this MTV world. Social media's fan friendly nature has allowed me to talk with so many of the castmates from the Trifecta the past three years. And ultimately, that passion was a key factor in me launching DCBLOG, for which now this site has become must-read material for those who love those shows as much as I do.
Besides me, BOTS was also the first Challenge that a lot of my fellow MTV fans I know socially got to be invested in. This was the first full one that great MTV fan and webcast host Andrew Kirk did regular webcasts for (he interviewed half the cast & 8 of the final 10), and so did fellow webcast Reality Radio. And this came after both got their starts covering the MTV world with RW St. Thomas, for which Robb, Trey, Laura & Marie making their way from the USVI to Turkey made it easier for them to embrace BOTS2, and they earned their early stripes to where they are as best in the biz. Some of my other fan followers got to call into their podcasts to talk with the cast, and two of my DC FORUM subjects went to the end-of-season reunion too.
One epic battle in Bodrum, Turkey between two warriors was a drama played out in five acts, and like any fight in combat sports, it took plenty of prologue before the main event. The fight itself certainly lived up to the hype and then some, and became an all-time Challenge elimination classic. In the end, the winner went on to winning a Challenge in his first appearance and much notoriety as a series regular with many an MTV romance. The man who lost that valiant battle left with so much respect as a competitor and went on to bigger & better things outside the MTV world. But the impact of Zach and CJ's week 8 battle on Battle of the Seasons II was enormous, in that it allowed me to expand my boundaries beyond following just that one show in the one they made their first MTV appearance on, to where now I've got three shows to follow. That battle in November 2012 was the moment that turned me into a fan of The Challenge.
One epic battle in Bodrum, Turkey between two warriors was a drama played out in five acts, and like any fight in combat sports, it took plenty of prologue before the main event. The fight itself certainly lived up to the hype and then some, and became an all-time Challenge elimination classic. In the end, the winner went on to winning a Challenge in his first appearance and much notoriety as a series regular with many an MTV romance. The man who lost that valiant battle left with so much respect as a competitor and went on to bigger & better things outside the MTV world. But the impact of Zach and CJ's week 8 battle on Battle of the Seasons II was enormous, in that it allowed me to expand my boundaries beyond following just that one show in the one they made their first MTV appearance on, to where now I've got three shows to follow. That battle in November 2012 was the moment that turned me into a fan of The Challenge.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Since our DC WRAP post yesterday on last week's episode of The Challenge: Bloodlines, two of my fellow MTV insiders provided their thoughts on their respective blogs...
● Andrew Kirk (@CSUGradAKirk) posted an article on his Big Time Reality TV blog where he offered his predictions of how the twist coming on tomorrow's episode will play out and gave his choices for who will be chosen in a draft that will be held tomorrow. Check out that post here, and next week AK will rejoin me for Part 2 of DC FORUM's Reality Debrief 2015 right here.
● And after taking a year off from blogging, David Bloom (@DavidBloom7) is back to covering The Challenge with his Retro Running Diary of last week's episode, which you can read at his Culture Challenged site. My signature DC SocialPulse social diaries are inspired by David's posts, and you can check out his thoughts on the BOTS elimination battle at the link below.
Make sure to follow DCBLOG all throughout the MTV Trifecta cycle as we bring you wall-to-wall coverage of The Challenge: Bloodlines, plus season 31 of Real World (for which filming of that has just concluded in Las Vegas), Challenge 28 (filming of it taking place overseas) and Are You The One? Season 4 later on. In addition to ExtraTime posts like this, we got 'Pulse diaries, episode Wraps and much more on the home of the blogosphere's most unique & insightful MTV show coverage.
As always, follow my dedicated live Twitter hub, DCNOW at @DC408DxNow for live and real-time tweets of Bloodlines tomorrow with my custom hashtag #DCChallenge, plus as an undercard I'll have a special Grammy edition of DC Playlist starting at 8PM Pacific. As always, you can drop me a line on Twitter @DC408Dxtr and here to leave me your comments on this ExtraTime special; and you can follow me on Instagram @DC408Dxtr, Tumblr and other social avenues.
Again, hope you enjoyed this ExtraTime special on the epic Challenge elimination battle from three years ago, and make sure to join me on DCNOW for The Challenge, music and more tomorrow. For now, thanks for reading and talk to you then
- I AM DC
Bibliography: Ultimate Challenge Radio (link)
Cast Photos of Team's Cancun and San Diego: credit MTV/Ian Spanier
