We have arrived at Super Bowl weekend as the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons are preparing to do battle down in Houston, TX on Sunday. And for those who follow the MTV Trifecta, all is calm ahead of what kicks off two nights after Super Sunday, as America's favorite sport gives way to the fifth major pro sport, as a new season of The Challenge kicks off with the Invasion of the Champions coming up on Tuesday. DCBLOG will be here all the way to bring you all angles of this season, as well as the current Are You The One? Season 5, with everything covered top to bottom, including our preview post posted last weekend.
This season, the underdogs will have more of the spotlight with eighteen Underdogs competing in Thailand, and will ultimately be joined by eight past Champions when they arrive at some point in the next few months. And after integrating this feature into our season previews the past two seasons, this time with the influx of rookies and returnees we felt that we had to move that section into its own post this time to make it a little more easier for all of you to soak in veterans and those we've seen recently, as well as the 'Pulse from when this all began on the same day as the AYTO Season 5 premiere.
From two almost off the plane from the Pacific Northwest to two from a time when an RV was once the third jewel of this reality TV crown and many in between, there's a dozen people making either their debuts or returning from as many as a 7 years' hiatus for a chance at glory. There is indeed something for everyone with this season's cast, and it's also the case for those featured here in our introduction to these twelve competitors.
So, we ask ourselves once again, "Who Are These Newbies?" We'll meet them after the jump.
THE ROOKIES
● ANIKA / Underdog (Real World Bad Blood)
First, we meet one of the two who's rested up after going through their stay in the Real World Bad Blood house in Seattle. When we met Anika a few months ago, she was a free spirit from Brooklyn who we didn't get to know perhaps as much as the others in that house, but extra info tells us that she's experienced in marketing, events, PR and hospitality work.
She came to the Pacific Northwest with one of those stories that could've easily put her into the San Francisco Ex-Plosion house: she and her ex Will dated for three years but broke up after he couldn't much up to her dominating personality, even when the ex went to a rebound girl and got her pregnant - which angered her and made those family outings a bit awkward. After the bad blood moved in and him throwing out her food from the fridge upon arrival, they did settle their issues there towards the end, but other than that wasn't featured much amidst the drama in the house. But Anika does have an emerging brand called ASK ANIKA: a YouTube channel, website and an upcoming talk show.
She came to the Pacific Northwest with one of those stories that could've easily put her into the San Francisco Ex-Plosion house: she and her ex Will dated for three years but broke up after he couldn't much up to her dominating personality, even when the ex went to a rebound girl and got her pregnant - which angered her and made those family outings a bit awkward. After the bad blood moved in and him throwing out her food from the fridge upon arrival, they did settle their issues there towards the end, but other than that wasn't featured much amidst the drama in the house. But Anika does have an emerging brand called ASK ANIKA: a YouTube channel, website and an upcoming talk show.
● BRUNO / Underdog (Real World Skeletons)
When he first took to our screens on Real World Skeletons in late 2014, Bruno was one who takes his style seriously, taking a half hour to perfect his hair. Born in Portugal, he was surrounded by his family's old school values, a close relationship with his dad and even having his own pet pig(!). He also developed a temper problem, which when he moved across the Atlantic to Rhode Island he was a target for bullies became he spoke very little English. But one day, it all changed for him when that after getting into an argument with his girlfriend, he stormed out of the house, walked through the snow and got hit by an ongoing car and was badly injured, spending several days in the hospital.
Bruno told the Chicago Sun-Times about what he wanted for his Real World experience: "I wanted to try something that was something out of my character. I wanted to see if I can possibly make it on the show and for the experience. I just needed a change in my life, and in something like this I could never imagine doing, and here I am." There, Bruno found himself having to confront his estranged brother, Briah, when he came to visit him after having a trivial fight where the ladder told him he wished his brother died in that accident. Plus, Bruno developed a house romance, got into fights with most everyone in the house, and found himself in love with a local. He also shares the same home region as Dario of this cast, including talking to a local radio host in Providence.
Bruno told the Chicago Sun-Times about what he wanted for his Real World experience: "I wanted to try something that was something out of my character. I wanted to see if I can possibly make it on the show and for the experience. I just needed a change in my life, and in something like this I could never imagine doing, and here I am." There, Bruno found himself having to confront his estranged brother, Briah, when he came to visit him after having a trivial fight where the ladder told him he wished his brother died in that accident. Plus, Bruno developed a house romance, got into fights with most everyone in the house, and found himself in love with a local. He also shares the same home region as Dario of this cast, including talking to a local radio host in Providence.
● KAILAH / Underdog (Real World Go Big or Go Home)
On last spring's Real World in Las Vegas, we met Kailah who came to that Go Big season with a touch of Puerto Rico: her eyebrows, impressive derrière and a loud, wild card personality that seems made for the Trifecta and can owe its origins to her being a mean girl in high school being voted "Gossip Queen." She's fearless when it comes to casually hooking up, warning men to not fall for her because of the sexual prowess she possesses. Despite her being popular growing up, even today Kailah can admit that strong personality has seen her have not as many friends today and had trouble maintaining friendships within her inner circle.
In Sin City, she developed a love affair with "Jungle Boy" -Dione, whose flirtation brought them into the Boom Boom Room and then have to witness his ways with other girls including his ex Amanda (not the Amanda of this Challenge) when she came to Vegas later on. Then, Kailah hooked up with the newbie of the house Dylan when he moved in later in the season, only for him to admit at the end that he was playing her. And as we told you here last year, Kailah became starstruck and became a fangirl at the MTV Movie Awards when she met pop star Halsey that night in Hollywood, months before the songstress hooked up with The Chainsmokers for their mega-hit "Closer."
● NICOLE / Underdog (Real World Skeletons)
One of those in Team MTV who come to us from Staten Island, Nicole first appeared on Real World Skeletons - and one of four from that season on this Challenge. This girl with Italian roots has been devoted to saving and protecting lives - she's a cop for the NYPD now but was an EMT when we first met her. When not on duty, she's hooking up with girls and honing her Challenge skills in being very competitive and a gym nut - even becoming the first female to play on her football team. She's larger than life and no stranger to conflict - take those arguments she has with her triplet sisters who lived in the same house and didn't do much chores as her two other sisters got engaged.
Both me and fellow MTV insider Brian Cohen feel that she came to Chicago just to eventually do a Challenge, and with good reason: Nicole's "skeleton" amounted merely to a simple weekend visit from her sisters when they came there midseason as they tought her to just grow up, shall we say. She formed a bond known as the "Wolf Pack" with her, Bruno, Tony and Jason. But before they all left Chicago, an odd fight involving Tony and Sylvia saw Nicole stick up to him, which also saw the usually reserved Jason get mad, andled to him going upstairs to confront Nicole in the hallway. We discussed what happened there in an ExtraTime post last summer which you can check out here.
Both me and fellow MTV insider Brian Cohen feel that she came to Chicago just to eventually do a Challenge, and with good reason: Nicole's "skeleton" amounted merely to a simple weekend visit from her sisters when they came there midseason as they tought her to just grow up, shall we say. She formed a bond known as the "Wolf Pack" with her, Bruno, Tony and Jason. But before they all left Chicago, an odd fight involving Tony and Sylvia saw Nicole stick up to him, which also saw the usually reserved Jason get mad, andled to him going upstairs to confront Nicole in the hallway. We discussed what happened there in an ExtraTime post last summer which you can check out here.
● SYLVIA / Underdog (Real World Skeletons)
When we met Sylvia over two years ago, the Latina came to Chicago as a bartender and aspiring actress who loved being in the spotlight. Raised in Texas before moving to Kansas City, she got to learn such cultural traditions as drink-offs with tequila, and also one who loves to have everyone around her laugh. She's also someone who loves love, being a serial dater, having a roster of guys and now being one who, as we wrote on our preview, does some matchmaking in being a wedding planner.
In Chicago, she had the uneasy position of being the first in the Real World house to confront their "skeleton" when her boss from hell - her employer from a local bar in KC, visited the house. But Sylvia's biggest issue was with someone in the house as she was in that aforementioned romance with Bruno, and got into a house fight with Madison, but she also formed a lifelong bond with fellow roommate Violetta. Syl told the Chicago Sun-Times, "Everybody that walked out of this house all grew as people. I came into this house completely different with a lot of things going on with me. I left feeling relieved, feeling like there was a weight lifted off my shoulder. I thought I was a really good person when I walked in. I can really hope that...you see that I become a better person."
● THEO / Underdog (Real World Bad Blood)
It's been, in essence, a while since we have heard from Theo, but it appears he's been made for The Challenge thanks to his football background. When we first saw him on RW Bad Blood, he came to Seattle as a former college football player who was destined for greater things...but as it turned out, fate would intervene. As documented more vividly in an ExtraTime In-Depth more than a month ago, he and cousin Kassius were very close until one day when cops were called in to their Indiana State University dorm of a suspicious smell which was found to be marijuana hidden in their room as well as counterfeit money found in his wallet. Theo was arrested, spent jail time, given probation, suspended from school and kicked off his football team, and damaging this once close bond.
In Chicago, Theo was forced to deal with Kassius in the house once the ladder and the roommates' bad blood counterparts arrived in Seattle and moved in. There was tension brewing with the two throughout the time they were under the same roof, and given his cousin's ways it was inevitable that things would boil over, and then some. After talking to a producer for one of their weekly interviews together, Theo would go into their room and charged into Kassius' bed with punches being thrown between the two. And after telling production that there wasn't a chance he would patch things up with his cousin, in a questionable decision Theo was sent home. But now he comes here to Thailand in hopes of redemption, and with his family in mind also - his mom now who he's playing for.
● ANTHONY / Underdog (Are You The One? Season 2)
Coming to us from Chicago, Anthony first appeared on Season 2 of Are You The One? two years ago. He came to the love fest during a break from college where he wanted to find the right girl to bring home to his parents, and become more in touch with his grown-up side. Simultaneously, this frat guy also didn't want to give up that life of being the big man on campus in his suburban college outside the Windy City and brag about his package. And for any Challenge prowess he has, he also got to play on his high school's football team as well.
In that house, he hooked up with not one, but NINE girls in the house, including half of the Goon Squad in Christina and Jessica in one night. He was also part of a huge midseason house fight he had with the resident hothead of that Season 2 house Layton, where after their parents visited the house for a challenge and the parents of Jenni (who would also be in a postseason romance herself with Mr. "Do What You Love", Curtis) had told them sensitive info, the two guys got into heated words in front of most of the roommates...all before their second blackout. But in crunch time, Anthony turned serious and took the lead in the house's strategy of figuring out who was paired up in previous weeks and, combined with their late Truth Booth run, it proved crucial in his cast winning the cash.
In that house, he hooked up with not one, but NINE girls in the house, including half of the Goon Squad in Christina and Jessica in one night. He was also part of a huge midseason house fight he had with the resident hothead of that Season 2 house Layton, where after their parents visited the house for a challenge and the parents of Jenni (who would also be in a postseason romance herself with Mr. "Do What You Love", Curtis) had told them sensitive info, the two guys got into heated words in front of most of the roommates...all before their second blackout. But in crunch time, Anthony turned serious and took the lead in the house's strategy of figuring out who was paired up in previous weeks and, combined with their late Truth Booth run, it proved crucial in his cast winning the cash.
● HUNTER / Underdog (Are You The One? Season 3)
The other new AYTO rookie of this cast, Hunter was on, what has now become, the much ballyhooed Season 3 cast of two years ago. When we first met him, he was that former college baseball player from Tallahassee turned true ladies man, even if he can confess to borrowing pick-up lines from watching YouTube videos. He came to AYTO after being deeply betrayed by the only girl he ever loved and then resorting to dating every girl he laid his eyes on.
His Challenge bio does say that he's a stud and will use the money he wins, if he cashes, on helping build a gym for those with special needs and volunteering in Northern Florida to help those disadvantaged. But despite that generous spirit, Hunter's most notable moment in the house was of one time going around the house by stuffing socks into his boxers and trying to convince the girls that his package was actually larger than it is, and then getting scolded by his mom after watching it on TV. And oh, he also had an unseen moment where he became the hulk as well.
THE RETURNEES
● ASHLEY K. / Champ on Battle of the Seasons II (Real World Back to San Diego)
In fall 2011, The Real World headed back to San Diego, where we met Ashley K., where she came there from Connecticut having never lived with anyone but her mom, despite being the oldest in the RW mansion by the sea. Having graduated from UConn, she was ambitious in having dreams of getting out of her small town, which she would ultimately do. The beautiful blonde beauty had worked as a model and bartender with aspirations on sports media, and had a preference for big, tall and athletic guys despite not dating much.
Well, she met her match in San Diego when she got close almost immediately to that guy in Zach, and the two stayed together for pretty much the entire stay in Surf City - from going to the gun range to the spa and at camp. This annoyed the house's resident hothead Frank who was mad Zashley were isolating themselves from the rest of the group, which has since become standard in AYTO land. The two stayed together for some time after leaving Cali, then after breaking up (which was the first of four RW alums Zach would be boyfriend to) they were in the same place for Battle of the Seasons II. While the rest of her teammates were making news, it was only at the last elimination that we really saw her when she and Frank were sent in, and the two won their way to the final which they won. As we told you here last summer, Ashley went on a cross-country chase for The Runner for the Go-90 mobile network, and was close to Diem Brown before her passing.
Well, she met her match in San Diego when she got close almost immediately to that guy in Zach, and the two stayed together for pretty much the entire stay in Surf City - from going to the gun range to the spa and at camp. This annoyed the house's resident hothead Frank who was mad Zashley were isolating themselves from the rest of the group, which has since become standard in AYTO land. The two stayed together for some time after leaving Cali, then after breaking up (which was the first of four RW alums Zach would be boyfriend to) they were in the same place for Battle of the Seasons II. While the rest of her teammates were making news, it was only at the last elimination that we really saw her when she and Frank were sent in, and the two won their way to the final which they won. As we told you here last summer, Ashley went on a cross-country chase for The Runner for the Go-90 mobile network, and was close to Diem Brown before her passing.
● MARIE / Underdog (Real World St. Thomas)
Five years ago was when I joined Twitter the same day as Real World St. Thomas premiering, which also saw the first appearance for Marie. When we met her, she was described as "one hell of a good time" and a "down @$$ b!... and someone with a ton of 'Statitude'" - aka Staten Island attitude. She has no problem to put anyone in their place, and loves to party and drink a lot...very much needed after living with a strict police officer mom growing up. Marie always finds herself in precarious situations which produce good stories, like calling in-sick from her new bar job to party someone else and getting caught afterwards, and then losing a tooth and not missing a beat partying.
On Hassel Island, she developed two relationships: one with that gentle giant ginger Robb after the both found they were wearing the same "Hakuna Matata" tattoo and then sealing their relationship (which would last for some time after the season) with, of all things, peanut butter. The other has lasted longer in her becoming BFF's with LaToya from the moment they moved into the house, and saw them spend so much time together from pulling a prank on Swift (and then him getting back on them with chickens) to going hiking on a remote island in the Virgin Islands and almost got lost on the wilderness. And on BOTS II, her most notable moment was of being part of a huge house fight where she bumped Derek and Sam into a plant on the same night Dustin and Nany went after Frank. And an extra tidbit about her: just before heading to the Real World St. Thomas, as part of a visit an entourage from her college made to Washington, Marie spent
On Hassel Island, she developed two relationships: one with that gentle giant ginger Robb after the both found they were wearing the same "Hakuna Matata" tattoo and then sealing their relationship (which would last for some time after the season) with, of all things, peanut butter. The other has lasted longer in her becoming BFF's with LaToya from the moment they moved into the house, and saw them spend so much time together from pulling a prank on Swift (and then him getting back on them with chickens) to going hiking on a remote island in the Virgin Islands and almost got lost on the wilderness. And on BOTS II, her most notable moment was of being part of a huge house fight where she bumped Derek and Sam into a plant on the same night Dustin and Nany went after Frank. And an extra tidbit about her: just before heading to the Real World St. Thomas, as part of a visit an entourage from her college made to Washington, Marie spent
● SHANE / Underdog (Road Rules Campus Crawl)
Although this recent Challenge generation has been dominated by veterans & newbies we've profiled here, several recent seasons have included those from earlier generations of this franchise. For these last two people, Road Rules Campus Crawl aired 15 years ago, and one of those who rode into colleges across America was Shane. The Southern was born in a strict military upbringing, which meant he was moving almost all the time but got to meet new people in great towns. In high school, Shane was bullied for his feminine qualities, and it was only when he arrived at the University of North Carolina that he acknowledged he was homosexual. In a region that's been in the news lately for their anti-LGBT laws, he still lived in fear of not living up to his families' aspirations.
On that Road Rules season, he was largely in the background for much of the season except for something that happened at Alabama, where he slapped Darrell during a night of fun that turned sour afterwards, but after being forced to work together at the succeeding mission things went back to normal for them. Shane was also one of six originals who came to the last-ever Road Rules season - Viewers' Revenge in 2007 - which was also his most recent MTV appearance. Shane has appeared on four previous Challenges: both editions of Battle of the Sexes, The Inferno and Fresh Meat... his best finish is 5th place on his first Challenge, missing the final by two weeks.
On that Road Rules season, he was largely in the background for much of the season except for something that happened at Alabama, where he slapped Darrell during a night of fun that turned sour afterwards, but after being forced to work together at the succeeding mission things went back to normal for them. Shane was also one of six originals who came to the last-ever Road Rules season - Viewers' Revenge in 2007 - which was also his most recent MTV appearance. Shane has appeared on four previous Challenges: both editions of Battle of the Sexes, The Inferno and Fresh Meat... his best finish is 5th place on his first Challenge, missing the final by two weeks.
● DARRELL / Four-Time Champ (Road Rules Campus Crawl)
Lastly, there's the one who's won this thing four times and is looking to regain his crown. When we first met Darrell on that Road Rules season, he was 22 and described as "smart, funny and sometimes temperamental," and a ladies' man with the gift of gab who loves to be the center of attention. A Oakland native who was shuffled around 12 schools in Bay Area - and who shares a with Olympic & world champ Andre Ward, Darrell would find his calling in the boxing ring. That familiar boxing persona of not keeping his mouth shut got himself into fights but also attracted girls' hearts and the affectionate nickname "Don Juan."
On that Campus Crawl, he was flirting with Rachel early on despite of her having a girlfriend back home and that aforementioned slap which also brought about Darrell's homophobia. But most of the attention were on the missions of that season, where in the finale he served as a guide to the rest of his cast as they won their handsome reward suspended above ground. But Darrell has had the greatest success on the Challenge front, winning his first four Challenges: The Gauntlet, the first two installments of The Inferno, and Fresh Meat when he and partner Aviv beat teams led by future Rivals Wes and Kenny for that fourth straight win.
However, his emotions would knock Darrell out in his first try for #5: on The Ruins, his temper got the best of him when he and fellow champ/alum Brad got into a fight, and both were sent home before the final. And on Fresh Meat II, he suffered his first elimination loss - in the very first week in fact, but was also partnered with a young Cara Maria who he picked as first choice and as she began to learn the curve that would bring her to a title herself.
However, his emotions would knock Darrell out in his first try for #5: on The Ruins, his temper got the best of him when he and fellow champ/alum Brad got into a fight, and both were sent home before the final. And on Fresh Meat II, he suffered his first elimination loss - in the very first week in fact, but was also partnered with a young Cara Maria who he picked as first choice and as she began to learn the curve that would bring her to a title herself.
So, there you have it: eight Challenge rookies, a returnee from St. Thomas, a champ from San Diego and two from a by-gone age in MTV history. As we've been able to do here, we hope we did our best to help introduce these people to both the avid fans of this show and those who are new to this. When Tuesday rolls around, we at DCBLOG hope we've provided you with a better understanding of where all these people come from, who they are, what brought them here and, in some cases, what happened to them the last time we saw them here on The Challenge. Hopefully, you've given them a warm welcome the same way you've given to the rest of the cast, and it's up to this new generation to carry the torch left by those stepping aside for bigger and better things. And in the case of Darrell and Shane, a welcome back from many years away to represent the old guard of this show, just as we saw with Abram last year on Bloodlines. Let's see how all of them perform on this season.
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Tomorrow - or later today for those on the East Coast, DCBLOG will look at this week's Are You The One? as a non-match ups their relationship and all else from the Caribbean. Plus on Tuesday, we plan to present part 3 of our Challenge preseason posts as we'll be heading inside the Strategy Room for a discussion of this season with a new guest I'm planning to bring on the first time here. But, I won't be announcing who I will be talking to until after the Biggest Sunday Night of All: Super Bowl LI, for which I'll be live tweeting all the excitement from Houston between the Patriots and Falcons on Sunday.
Thank you for joining us for our look at the Newbies of The Challenge: Invasion, and make sure to rejoin us later when DCBLOG's coverage of the MTV Trifecta continues. Talk to you then.
- I AM DC
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