> @DC408dxtr / @DC408dxnow
DCBLOG welcomes you to another edition of DC WRAP for The Challenge Bloodlines. Though I'm focused on this site's special NFL series here, there's still room for extensive Challenge coverage as well, as we prepare for the season's homestretch.
Last week, we saw many a DQ in the water, more voting drama, a lopsided veteran showdown in the Pit, and the cast in New York to wrap up the season. We also saw the demise of the returnee's of this season in Abram & Mike, as well as TJ letting the group know of the return to the original paired bloodlines format before the two-team format as well.
As this site is pressed for time due to both that DC Big Game series and personal matters over the weekend, we'll again be carrying the usual Things to Know episode recap to next week - that means three episodes will be reviewed there just prior to the final pre-final mission. But as for this week, we'll delve into the Strategy Room for a look at where this game stands as we have the sort-of tribe merge with now five teams left in this game. And along with more fan reaction, DC ExtraTime has a baby shower and two members of Team MTV enjoying wedding bells. Join In for all that after the jump.
STRATEGY ROOM
Into The Final Five
First, if you're familiar with our Are You The One? coverage - and giving an ode to it two years after the Season 1 premiere last week, a section we do here while we cover that show is called The Strategy Room. There, I get to turn from being a fan of this show who presents this site's unique coverage of the Trifecta to becoming an analyst of sorts and look at the game situation as it stands and look at what could possibly happen down the stretch. And given my fascination with boxing the past year and me wearing an HBO Sports shirt as my social media profile pic, I get to become Larry Merchant if only for a few paragraphs (but of course without the legendary analyst's grey hair).
With Bloodlines now into its homestretch (if you can believe it, since we started this over a month ago and as I always say, time flies when you're having fun), we felt like extending The Strategy Room segment into our Challenge coverage as we enter the business part of this season with only five teams left. This season has been anything but normal with some of the top teams being knocked out early by way of injuries or surprise losses in the Pit, and a lot of drama taking place both in and outside the playing field. But as they say, the more things change and the more things stay the same...the two main characters most of us had going into this & had in the final podium are still in Turkey.
As we are now into the final five teams and with the game now changing back into the original bloodlines pairs format used for the season's first two weeks, what we'll do here is do an evaluation of what they've accomplished through 9 challenges & Pits. Then, we'll look at some scenarios that could play out as we head towards the final. So, here you go...
● Aneesa/Rianna: A lot of you wondered why Aneesa is still doing these Challenges after all these years with her original Real World having debuted 14 years ago this winter. Considering what we saw with her deciding to bolt from that challenge above the city and last week in the water might suggest that she should hang up the jersey for good after this Bloodlines season wraps up. But remember, she is the most experienced competitor that's left here in Turkey, and sometimes it's experience that can carry you to a final. Aneesa was in that spot on Rivals II when she was with Diem in the last elimination, just missing that ticket to the final. She knows this feeling all too well.
● Bananas/Vince: For Bananas, this season has already been a redemption of sorts after what he went through on Exes 2 in getting back to that spot of being in this late season scenario with the start line of a final in his sight. In a way, he can be thankful for getting to this position considering what we've seen from his bloodline Vince this season...it's unfortunate that the former footballer has not performed up to what expect of someone who's provided the Midas touch of sorts to most of his partners on these Challenges. But if there's someone who can push a partner harder than anyone else on here when there's money at stake, it's Bananas.
● Cara Maria/Jamie: For someone who bears the title of "Best Player Not To Win A Challenge Title," Cara Maria has certainly been the key figure of this season. Her bringing along parole officer Jamie to Turkey has paid dividends in him winning last week's Pit vs. Mike, and could ride a wave of momentum into the winners circle. But obviously, there's been distractions in her hookup with Thomas early on, and then dealing with Abram coming to Turkey unexpectedly as replacements. Now with both of them out of contention, her attention turns back entirely to the game and how to take the cash. If they can keep eye on that goal the next few weeks, someone else will have that title she currently has now.
● Cory/Mitch: We all had some strong expectations for Cory in his Challenge debut, and in a way he's performed as expected to get to this spot of a possible rookie finals berth looming, save for the water DQ happened last week. For Mitch, he proved himself in the Pit in being the beneficiary of what happened to Dario & Raphy, but mission-wise not much after another DQ and him falling 2 weeks ago. Sure, they don't have the CV of the team below who shared quarters in SF, but what Cory has is his strength in being more capable to handle his 1st challenge than what happened to Jay, and a brother-like bond with Mitch. They could sneak in and perhaps finish at least 3rd.
● Jenna/Brianna: If you had Jenna & Brianna make it here this deep this season, you're probably jumping for joy now. The blonde has been on a mission of sorts after seeing what happened with her and Jay in the final last year and them being in that spot as a pure lay-up. This time though, Jenna has really proved herself and then some: three eliminations, three wins - and taking out KellyAnne & eliminating Camila - both past finalists. She also had to endure an early brush of possibly going home early when Bree cried uncle over bakery drama, but with the bloodline thinking twice it's saved them here. They have a shot to give this girl some redemption should they make it into the three.
Given how this game has shaped up throughout this season, all eyes point towards a potential heads-up battle with Bananas vs. Cara Maria for the top spot. We all know this show has had a history of unexpected drama taking place late when all eyes are on that pot of gold and anything is possible. But given how they're the key names in this drama, it's almost a done deal that the previous champ will face the perennial bridesmaid in a few weeks. They just need to keep calm in these final couple regular challenges and the stage will be set. It would literally not be right for this season to come down to a showdown not featuring one or the other versus two of the other pairs.
It's essentially a toss-up between those top two, but a slight advantage might be given to the redhead given her history being in most finals since her debut and how JB's bloodline Vince hasn't performed well this season. He can offset that Vince disadvantage by those five wins under his belt, and this essentially being his day job...no guy devotes as much energy to training for Challenges than Johnny. But Cara has become a fitness guru back in Montana, and given how finals test every ounce of what players have in themselves, as well as having plenty a Finals experience as well, Cara will be ready more than in the past.
And then, there's the three other teams. On their RHAP podcast this week, Ali Lasher told Brian Cohen that she doesn't care who finishes 3rd and the main event is Bananas/Cara Maria. In essence, it's a horse race to see who could join the duo for the two-day marathon for the cash. There's Aneesa's seniority and many brushes with winning like what's happened to Cara. There's Jenna's great season in the eliminations that has her flirting with a chance at redemption. And there's the strength of rookie Cory and his tight-knit bond with Mitch. It's so hard to pick from those three who could go to the final, but remember - a slip-up down the stretch can turn a potential vets showdown into a cakewalk for one, or even all three of them could contest the most unlikely final ever.
That, of course, is down the road. But as for tomorrow, the return to the paired Bloodlines format of the first two weeks sees us go back to where the one who wins this and next week's missions becomes power team and have Pit voting control vs the last-place team; and whoever wins next week gets that finals ticket too. As speculated on the aforementioned RHAP, Brian and Ali feel the last two eliminations will be a girls one for this week, followed by the guys for next week.
It won't be necessarily the last place team who goes in since there's there's two all-guys, two all-girls and a coed pair, but should the power team be either of the vets, no doubt they'll let the rookies go for that ticket. If the rookie Ex-Plosion duo crash the bash down the stretch, then they can flip the script and let two of the three veterans go for it all much earlier.
Bananas has been put on blast for backstabbing two of his partners this season, but the question now is of will he save Aneesa? Remember, only Bananas/Vince and Aneesa/Rianna have not entered the Pit so far - JB would like to have it that way, and Aneesa knows what happened there on Rivals II. Another possibility is if Cara wins next week on guys day, would she put in a rookie team in and save the Bananas showdown for the final? If either Aneesa or Cory become power team, will they put one or the other in the respective Pit? And what would Jenna & Bri do? No one knows.
As we head into the final run, it might not be the best Challenge season ever...the EP-9 recap done by Entertainment Weekly voices its opinion on how this has gone on. But the essence of what makes watching Challenges so compelling for the fans is how it plays out when there's cash and pride on the line. The final stretch of any season has always provided us with some of the best television MTV can offer in a reality TV sense, and this Challenge should be no exception.
#DCSocialPulse EXTRA
Again, we don't have our usual Things to Know recap this week, but that didn't deter DCBLOG from bringing you more fan reaction to last week's episode. Here you go...
> Fan's View
@CSUGradAkirk: Got a good feeling about this episode tonight #TheChallengeBloodlines@CSUGradAkirk: Abe and Bananas would be an unfair pairing for rivals they'd dominate the whole thing #TheChallengeBloodlines
@CSUGradAkirk: Such a terrible move on Brianna's part #thechallengebloodlines
@CSUGradAkirk: I don't hate bananas but I've never wanted him gone from a challenge then this one based on his stupid partner #thechallengebloodlines
@CSUGradAkirk: Jenna's face gave it away who was the surprise lol so obvious #thechallengebloodlines
@CSUGradAkirk: #mitchwatch #thechallengebloodlines
@CSUGradAkirk: I wish that was Vince on the other end of that wall and not Jamie #thechallengebloodlines
@CSUGradAkirk: Ayiiia Elizarraràs RT Tweet of the night right here why hasn't @ayiiia_eliza gotten another shot at the challenge @ayiiia_eliza
@dc408dxtr: @CSUGradAkirk 5 words I always like saying: so what do ya think? Twists just keep coming & w/ this sorta tribe merge it's game on now.
- @CSUGradAkirk: @dc408dxtr coming down to the wire man crazy that this season just premiered just December 2nd and now its almost over
- @dc408dxtr: @CSUGradAkirk yeah, it's hard to believe there's only 6 pairs left. And as I always say, time flies by very fast when you're having fun and you're right, we started this back last month & soon it's gonna be the end. At least there's RW31 on St. Patricks Day.
- @CSUGradAkirk: @dc408dxtr no its down to five I thought and Survivor 32 coming up next month cast was released today
- @dc408dxtr: @CSUGradAkirk oh, I don't know exactly how many teams are left since so much has happened. Hard to keep up w/ everything and gosh, busy time ahead for the RTV fans w/ that, this Challenge, next RW and Idol.
@busdriversroute: My spidey senses are tingling. Crazy shit happened tonight right? Let's do this #TheChallengeBloodlines
@busdriversroute: When we get backwards hat @tjlavin you know the challenge is going to be lit #TheChallengeBloodlines
@busdriversroute: One week you're listing the colors of the Turkish flag, the next you're submerged with a psychopath. The Challenge is wild #TheChallenge
@busdriversroute: Insert Vince being pathetic joke here #TheChallengeBloodlines
@busdriversroute: The king does it again. Don't doubt the king. The king stays the king @MTVBananas. #TheChallengeBloodlines
@busdriversroute: Hey @lashtweets, I finally said something right! A broken clock is right twice a day after all #KingBananas #TheChallengeBloodlines
@busdriversroute: The secondhand embarrassment for Jenna with Zach is unreal #TheChallengeBloodlines
@busdriversroute: Wait where was the clip of Zach dying on the mountain in Free Agents? #TheChallengeBloodlines
@busdriversroute: "@kristanxmarie: Aneesa backing up @busdriversroute and @lashtweets with the "cousin" weirdness. #TheChallengeBloodlines" RT YES x1000
@busdriversroute: I blame this loss 100% on Abram. Where the hell was self bloodying? Show me some heart/lunacy #TheChallengeBloodlines
@lashtweets: That's one effed up cloth #cutfromthesamecloth #TheChallengeBloodlines
@lashtweets: Dodo beach? that's not appropriate or anything #TheChallengeBloodlines
@lashtweets: Straight up there is no way i would have been able to even participate in this challenge #TheChallengeBloodlines
@lashtweets: DID CARA JUST SUGGEST ABE SHOULD HAVE KILLED BANANAS?? send help. this cant be right. #TheChallengeBloodlines
@lashtweets: "ITS SCARY DOWN THERE" #mitchwatch #TheChallengeBloodlines
@lashtweets: Where was this in Zach's intro? #TheChallengeBloodlines https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZNwEF-W0AUO1kz.jpg
@lashtweets: IF JAMIE AND CARA GO HOME RIGHT NOW WHEN THEY SHOULDNT HAVE EVEN GONE IN I WILL LOSE MY SHIT #TheChallengeBloodlines
@lashtweets: If I can trust the MTV edit..I'm about to lose 2 people on my fantasy team...#TheChallengeBloodlines
@TheSteamer: I definitely couldn’t do that challenge. Surprised Jenna made it as far as she did. #TheChallengeBloodlines
@TheSteamer: I’m not sure, Vince, but I think CT would have fared better. #TheChallengeBloodlines
@TheSteamer: I’m thinking we’re due for a cliffhanger with the elimination. #TheChallengeBloodlines
@TheSteamer: I loved TJ’s subtle disapproving glance at the blue team after Mike volunteered himself. #TheChallengeBloodlines
@TheSteamer: Wait, it’s cool for Abram to vote for his friend but it wasn’t for Bananas? #TheChallengeBloodlines
@TheSteamer: The Johnny Bananas Backpack!! It never gets old. Never. #TheChallengeBloodlines
@TheSteamer: “You survived”? Really? Is that the goal? Did Cara expect him to get impaled? #TheChallengeBloodlines
@TheSteamer: I like that the preview didn’t spoil next week’s edition of Watch How Vince Screws Up. Surprise me! #TheChallengeBloodlines
@BarstoolBigCat: Wish Leroy was still around for this one.
@BarstoolBigCat: Yo how do they make those air pockets though? My mind is blown.
@BarstoolBigCat: Probably should have given them flippers to make this even half way fun.
@BarstoolBigCat: Aneesa, what a quitter.
@BarstoolBigCat: Vince is a BUM
@BarstoolBigCat: Yo @vinnypig you STINK
@BarstoolBigCat: Bananas may have to kill Vince in the offseason, gotta get that stink off
@BarstoolBigCat: Love this conversation. Jenna is somehow playing Bananas. Laying there acting dumb.
@BarstoolBigCat: Gotta love Abe giving a bunch of reality television stars a speech on ethics and morals.
@BarstoolBigCat: Just gotta pray you go up against Zach, he's looking slim. Must be in between cycles.
@BarstoolBigCat: This looks MISERABLE
@BarstoolBigCat: BEAST
@BarstoolBigCat: Zach is soooooo overrated. What a joke. Jenna deserves better
@BarstoolBigCat: God dammit. Why did you put yourself in Mike? Why are you so dumb!
@murtzjaffer: .@MTVBananas and @AbramBoise working together. I LOVE this and I love this show! #TheChallengeBloodlines
@murtzjaffer: This is my favourite episode of #TheChallengeBloodlines so far. @MTVBananas @AbramBoise just showed why they own this season.
@murtzjaffer: Yes yes yes! Red Team! #TheChallengeBloodlines
@murtzjaffer: I unfortunately think this is the end for @MTVBananas. I hope I am wrong. #TheChallengeBloodlines
@murtzjaffer: Omg!!! I can't believe what just happened! Brianna and Jenna! #TheChallengeBloodlines
@NotoriousAJM: COME THROUGH ABE!!!!!! Let these fools know wassup!!! @AbramBoise #TheChallengeBloodlines
@NotoriousAJM: See, this is why Abram is forever be one of the greats!!! #TheChallengeBloodlines
@Itslluna: Tonight's episode reminds of of the Triwizard tournament from Harry Potter. @ChallengeMTV #TheChallengeBloodlines
@Itslluna: If tonight's episode of @ChallengeMTV ends in "To be continued..." I'll throw a drink. #TheChallengeBloodlines
@Itslluna: I'm so confused by that box! How is it only half-full under the water?? #TheChallengeBloodlines @ChallengeMTV
@Itslluna: Looks like all of that Spartan Race training paid off! @banksy878 #TheChallengeBloodlines
@Itslluna: Get it together @banksy878! I'm rooting for you! #TheChallengeBloodlines
@kendallongg: CT & ZACH 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 #TheChallengeBloodlines
@kendallongg: @AneesaMTV commentary this episode has me weak 😩😭😂😂😂😂 #TheChallengeBloodlines
@kendallongg: I'm crying at Mike on the third pole against Zach 😂😂😂😂😂😂 #TheChallengeBloodlines
#DCExtraTime
A TADISON BABY SHOWER
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| Credit: Twitter @t_raines33 |
It was a pink-themed celebration for everyone invited, and the man in blue captioned on Instagram, "This little lady is going to make an amazing mother @madiichanning #BabyHarper #8months." He added afterwards on Twitter, "I was truly happy this weekend, happier then I have been in awhile," taking note of the stress he's been through recently when we saw him on that Challenge and everything we saw there in Turkey.
No doubt it has been a most-eventful year-and-a-half for Tony & Madison in them clicking on that first night in Chicago and never letting go, then the baby news spreading throughout the MTV world in August, and obviously his eventful stint on Bloodlines with brother Shane. But something that trumps everything else is family, and that includes the great responsibility of being a parent. And it will be on February 18th that Baby Harper will be welcomed into the world, and we know that they will be great parents to the young munchkin.
They won't be alone when it comes to babies in the MTV world: Laura from RW St. Thomas will welcome her new baby within a week of Baby Tadison, while there's a slew of others too many to mention who have or have welcomed new additions to their family in the coming weeks. Again, congrats to Tony & Madison.
WEDDING BELLS
This week, some wedding bells for two members of Team MTV.
● First, last week saw a Real World Austin veteran and 4-time Challenger get married once again, as Melinda Stolp became Mrs. Collins as she got hitched to her new husband in Wisconsin. Longtime fans know her as that bubbly and lovable Midwesterner who got close to Bostonian Danny after he got injured in a street fight in Texas and their love affair blossomed during the season. They later got engaged during the season-ending reunion and competed together on Gauntlet III before filing the divorce papers as she went off to Cutthroat, but saw them again on BOTS II in Turkey. Now she's found her man, and we congratulate her and wish them all the best.
● And second--in the interest of the broader MTV audience, Monday saw the long-anticipated wedding of Teen Mom OG sweethearts Catelynn Lowell & Tyler Baltierra, where there was not a dry eye in the house as the franchise's own perfect match finally tied the knot. And as of last week, another of the original girls is getting married too, as Maci Bookout announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Taylor McKinney out in Venice Beach while in town taping the reunion. Congrats to the both of them on their life-changing moments as well.
● And second--in the interest of the broader MTV audience, Monday saw the long-anticipated wedding of Teen Mom OG sweethearts Catelynn Lowell & Tyler Baltierra, where there was not a dry eye in the house as the franchise's own perfect match finally tied the knot. And as of last week, another of the original girls is getting married too, as Maci Bookout announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Taylor McKinney out in Venice Beach while in town taping the reunion. Congrats to the both of them on their life-changing moments as well.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
And that will bring to an end this WRAP of Episode 9 of The Challenge Bloodlines. Again, an extended post covering the last few episodes will be on next week - dependent upon my NFL posts, but in the meantime if you want more from the week that was on Challenge land, check out these webcasts and first up, a blog...
● For a unique, first-hand look at Bloodlines, check out two blog posts written by Michael on Abram's Soundcolor Studios site at www.soundcolor.org. There in post #1 and post #2, Mike writes about the choice he was faced with when the call came from Turkey to come in to The Challenge as a replacement, and then the trip to Turkey for the show itself. He's slated to write his 3rd post to discuss his own Challenge experience, so be sure to check it out there.
● In case you missed it last week, check out the Google+ Hangouts by Ashley Weitzel-Hill (@AshleyWeitzel) that's she's done on Mulyx Media. Check out her shows with Abram & Michael and Tony from last week as they discussed everything you wanted to know about what's happened to them in Turkey. Also check out her chats with Candice, Shane, Violetta from RW30 and Big Brother's Johnny Mac on MM's YouTube channel.
● With everything that happened last week, it's no surprise Brian Cohen (@BusDriversRoute) and Ali Lasher (@LashsTweets) had plenty to talk about on the EP 8 RHAP on Rob Has A Podcast. They discussed the competitors' poor showings, CT & Zach's returns and Mike's volunteering ways. Also check out Brian's Bus Drivers Route blog to see the updated fantasy Challenge leaderboard plus previous shows here & YouTube.
● There's our favorite video recap host, Ace Nichols (@AceNichols33), who you can check out her recaps for all the Bloodlines episodes on YouTube. As this is being posted tonight, Jan. 26, she has just posted her double recap for Episodes 8 & 9 after taking a week off as she is in Louisiana for the Mardi Gras celebrations. Check out that and all her recaps at her YouTube channel, and also check out AfterBuzz TV and their recaps at www.afterbuzztv.com.
● And check out Andrew Kirk (@CSUGradAKirk) and all of his MTV coverage on YouTube, SpreeCast, BlogTalkRadio and the BTRTV blog - including his must-listen chats with many across the MTV Trifecta. I plan to again bring AK back on here at season's end for our traditional post-season wrap and to preview Real World Go Big once we crown a winner, so do join in here then.
Of course, be sure to follow my live tweet home - DCNOW at @DC408DxNow for live tweets of tomorrow's episode. And while you're watching it out west, join the discussion at #DCChallenge... you may see your thoughts in next week's posts, and you can also join at my other hub @DC408Dxtr; I plan to do some other live tweets coming up, schedule pending & subject to change.
Again, thanks for reading and until tomorrow on DCNOW, thanks for reading and talk to you then.
- I AM DC
● With everything that happened last week, it's no surprise Brian Cohen (@BusDriversRoute) and Ali Lasher (@LashsTweets) had plenty to talk about on the EP 8 RHAP on Rob Has A Podcast. They discussed the competitors' poor showings, CT & Zach's returns and Mike's volunteering ways. Also check out Brian's Bus Drivers Route blog to see the updated fantasy Challenge leaderboard plus previous shows here & YouTube.
● There's our favorite video recap host, Ace Nichols (@AceNichols33), who you can check out her recaps for all the Bloodlines episodes on YouTube. As this is being posted tonight, Jan. 26, she has just posted her double recap for Episodes 8 & 9 after taking a week off as she is in Louisiana for the Mardi Gras celebrations. Check out that and all her recaps at her YouTube channel, and also check out AfterBuzz TV and their recaps at www.afterbuzztv.com.
● And check out Andrew Kirk (@CSUGradAKirk) and all of his MTV coverage on YouTube, SpreeCast, BlogTalkRadio and the BTRTV blog - including his must-listen chats with many across the MTV Trifecta. I plan to again bring AK back on here at season's end for our traditional post-season wrap and to preview Real World Go Big once we crown a winner, so do join in here then.
Of course, be sure to follow my live tweet home - DCNOW at @DC408DxNow for live tweets of tomorrow's episode. And while you're watching it out west, join the discussion at #DCChallenge... you may see your thoughts in next week's posts, and you can also join at my other hub @DC408Dxtr; I plan to do some other live tweets coming up, schedule pending & subject to change.
And as for here, make sure to bookmark DCBLOG for full MTV Trifecta coverage: Pulse diaries, Wraps, dedicated ExtraTime posts and more. But the full focus for me is on DC Big Game 50: a special series of posts looking at the NFL and football coinciding with Super Bowl 50. My first post looked at the week-long preparations of an NFL team leading up to gameday, and post #2 will look inside football and television that should be up as soon as this weekend. Depending upon which events I plan to go to, be sure to follow DCNOW, DC Instagram at IG @DC408Dxtr and DCBLOG for my SB coverage as we lead up to Panthers-Broncos on February 7th.
Again, thanks for reading and until tomorrow on DCNOW, thanks for reading and talk to you then.
- I AM DC
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