BY DC CUEVA
May we say hello to all of you, and welcome back Inside MTV Reality at DCBLOG with the hope that 2024 has been good to you so far. As we wrote here Saturday, this site has been on a hiatus for most of the last year & a half to something more important to me than everything else: helping my family after our biggest heartache, and also growing my reputation as a YouTuber. But with a new appreciation for what's really important to me, we're set to resume regular activity and to properly mark our tenth anniversary of covering the shows you love and a lot more than that - although it'll be a little different.
The year as far as MTV Reality television is concerned has seen a first for that longtime staple of Thursdays in that everyone who has called Jersey Shore home is now under one roof, as we await what happens when Ronnie & Sammi see each other for the first time in forever as the franchise marks fifteen years young this summer. Also turning that age is the Teen Mom sorority, where they and the one who represents this world there of Cheyenne and her fellow MTV'ers, are out of country again for their third Vacation down in South America. And then, there's the one things that what we follow the most...
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| Poster & Pics: Paramount+/Andy Reeves |
After that, this past fall and into the winter -- and prior to it eventually turning the same age as me, the show gave the opportunity for those who have not won one of these that chance to have the stage to themselves unabated. Battle for a New Champion saw a slew of new competitors and familiar faces take to the floor in search for win #1, and we saw plenty go down: a friendship of love show alumni going the way of the dinosaur, two who have mastered 39 days of outdoor captivity have control of the regular season until the finals, and even a few champions try to crash the whole thing without being mercenaries entering the game. And it was a Romanian who followed in the footsteps of a Big Brother champ in proving that those don't have to produce the big time drama and still be competitive enough to win it all.
What went down there will set up what should a most compelling battle for the ages when the fortieth season of the MTV Challenge comes our way once the autumn air hits after the heat of this summer. And this comes at a time where TV's longest-running reality competition franchise has once again hit the mainstream just as it did having the stage to itself when the world lost its mind. One GOAT and a fellow reality icon just claimed the season 2 crown of the streaming world's most buzzworthy reality show, coming after a 7-time champ also took his world tour to The Traitors just after joining fellow Villains elsewhere on the dial, one that will soon have a longtime nemesis joining in too. And we cannot forget about two other Challenge alums joining a battle of reality show GOAT's over at Jeff Bezo's place.
And it's also in the world of streaming, and in the entry of MTV's parent company into that world, that provides us with the stage to the main event of this spring... a bit later than planned, but it's one thing that's been in the rear view mirror of so many of you in Challenge Nation for some time. When Paramount+ launched back in 2021 the MTV Reality world was sure to be a major part of its offerings, and it's no surprise that The Challenge would play a big part of it. The result of that: the most exciting thing to happen in this world in years of the All-Stars spinoff series... and after the break, we bring you our first look at Season 4 as South Africa welcomes back legends, power players and more to a star-studded season that promises to be quite a season. And to Challenge Nation, welcome back again.
WHAT TO EXPECT
& 1ST IMPRESSIONS
It has been quite a while, so long it seems... that just as it was last year with the global Are You The One season, it takes having to help to re-explain things all over again before we delve deeper into this return of this Paramount+ original. So, what do we make of this whole All-Stars thing? For those who might not be in the know of what this is all about, then you must have been living under a rock.
That crazy idea by a fan so began the odyssey that has taken us to this spinoff, which was the idea of one Mark Long -- and he was a pivotal figure in bringing this all to life just as Paramount+ was about to be morphed into full motion after launching as the former CBS All-Access streaming product. And the first three seasons of the spinoff have surely not disappointed with the returns of many of your favorite players from back in the day -- and those who I didn't really follow on the show until I joined this fandom permanently back a dozen years ago.
Season 1 launched in the spring of 2021 that instantly created a tremendous amount of buzz in seeing a lot of those who you haven't seen compete in a long time, which was instantly matched by Season 2 several months later and Season 3 in the spring of 2022... and to many of you out there reading this, it sure took your mind of what else was going on in the MTV show itself. We had someone who didn't make the final in her previous starts win not one but two All-Star crowns, along with one who I watched in the first Challenge I ever watched of the 2000 season make a name for himself winning the first one... and there was plenty of drama that went down in all three seasons. Not to mention, there was the music soundtrack that made the Bunim-Murray music department probably the true MVP of this series.
The Twitter post that's embedded below (while I won't make this public on there, yes it'll still be called as such on here for those who still prefer it that way) I made last Memorial Day weekend showed a screenshot of four of those who had something in common that only those who knew had any idea of what this was all about. But thanks to the mess that put yours and our favorite shows and movies on hold over the course of the past year, it's only now that we finally have all the particulars of any MTV show season: a premiere date, the revealing of the cast and a first look at the season itself in the trailer.
In that spirit of that RT - and while you were busy last night (it was also the last night of TV’s regular season) - this was what I was watching: Instagram lives with these folks from Challenge Nation. And just to let ya know, keep an eye out for a few of them coming up then. pic.twitter.com/kAHBjva9GZ
— DC Cueva (@dc408dxtr) May 25, 2023
MEET THE ALL-STARS
And that brings us to the stars of the show: as has always been the case in this series, the group who comprises this Challenge All-Stars cast embodies the old adage that there is something for everyone. And in the case of this Season 4 crop, it includes a few of those who have followed for the entirety of their MTV trajectory from when it all began on The Real World and have continued into many of the twenty or so Challenges throughout DCBLOG's ten years in the blogosphere.
There's also those who are making their debuts on Paramount+, but who are hardly Challenge newbies having appeared in most of well over a combined 100 appearances and most having made the final with thirteen total wins. And there are a bevy of familiar veterans, but two stand out among the returnees: one who returns to this world a quarter-century after he brought the Road Rules RV down under, the other also returns almost three decades removed from that first of the three Real Worlds in the Sunshine State.
OLD SCHOOL LEGENDS
⭐ BRAD FIORENZA: When we saw him last on Battle for a New Champ, we were reminded of how revered Brad is some two decades after he first came to that San Diego Real World beach house and then going onto a dozen Challenges including winning Cutthroat with his now-ex among his few finals appearances. Given everything going on in that soap opera, Brad is one who now competes not only for himself, but also for his kids back home in the Midwest... and after falling short on AS3 he's eager for another shot at the money.
⭐ TINA BARTA: On that former Twitter platform, Tina has embraced that role of being that voice of reason of sorts, and our eyes must have beamed a bit when we saw her on both All-Stars 2 and then the last one two years ago... just the energy she brought to her return engagement was something else. And she was behind one of the most memorable moments of the series when she did what is always a no-no in this world of eliminating herself by quitting... but it's her getting injured last time out that she is getting not only another shot, but also bringing along two rookies with her -- more on that soon enough.
⭐ ACE AMERSON: It's been two decades since Ace's first time on MTV being among that group who came to the only Real World to take place in a non-English speaking locale of Paris. And he was there at the beginning of this new experiment back three years ago this month, coming after three early exits and a finals appearance on The Inferno III. But after going out to Laterrian in Pole Wrestle in that very first elimination to start this out, Ace is aiming to go a few positions better this time around.
⭐ AYANNA MACKINS: For this four-time Challenger, one of the most memorable moments of the All-Stars series came in the opening act of Season 2 when, after she won that first elimination, Ayanna encouraged her opponent to finish her job before celebrating and earning more of our respect than ever. As we welcome her back yet again, she is also in a battle that is just as towering: last October, she was diagnosed with breast cancer... and her GoFundMe appeal raised over $28,000 to the point that Ayanna has this battle won: just last month, she completed chemo.
⭐ SYRUS YABROUGH: Syrus has been an All-Stars regular having been on the first and the most-recent one, plus he helped to throw Mark's 50th birthday bash at Michael Jackson's old house. His run on that first All-Stars ended just before the final when he & Beth lost out to Aneesa & Alton, and after taking down Tyler on Season 3 he went out early to MJ. As always, a trip to his social stories shows that he's always training hard for that call... and now he's got another shot to get that second finals win.
⭐ JANELLE CASANAVE: After what we saw with her much better known Key West alum, our first champ from that RW house in that southernmost town comes back to where she gained that ring on that aforementioned Inferno III final after attaining sure luck there in South Africa. And Janelle proved that it was no fluke in not only making the All-Stars II final, but in also having a four-time champ in Darrell as her partner they finished 2nd and knocked out Brad & Jodi along the way. Now comes having to follow that up... but considering this packed field it could be a much steeper climb.
⭐ STEVE MEINKE: Steve was a sleeping giant of sorts not being seen as much on his Road Rules, but only when he came onto The Gauntlet did he get more airtime, followed by the middle leg of the All-Stars trilogy and what happened there before falling to a Teck who's bound for that Prime Video GOAT series. He will, though, have an ally coming in... more shortly.
⭐ RYAN KEHOE: Eighteen years have past since Ryan's debut on Fresh Meat I, and which has seen him compete on five succeeding Challenges including making The Island final and losing to eventual champions in the others... but his return trip on All-Stars II ended just before it really began succumbing to Cohutta in Week 2. But as he returns once again -- and considering his history of Challenge drama and the frequent hook-up, who knows what may happen next...
THE ROOKIE RETURNEES
⭐ VERONICA PORTILLO: Headlining those Rookie Returnees making their All-Stars debuts is not one, but two of those who form one of this show's most memorable trios: I got personal memories of Veronica on Semester at Sea 25 years ago and doing her first Challenge upon disembarking. And given her impressive resume over thirteen seasons and being the only three-time female champ, despite getting up there in age you can be sure Queen V will once again be at the heart of it all.
⭐ RACHEL ROBINSON: And joining Veronica and Tina for the first time in almost two decades is one who hasn't competed since Exes I: Rachel came from Campus Crawl to the first of her seven Challenges on Battle of the Sexes, but returned on The Gauntlet to claim the first of her two titles -- followed by winning Duel II and a finals berth on Inferno II. She's been a consistent top performer... but how will she fare following a dozen-years' hiatus? Good thing she's got some company.
⭐ ADAM LARSON: The aforementioned other rep of The Quest is Adam: after becoming the most erratic of the Roadies in '01, he first made his way to Battle of the Seasons I alongside All-Star Jisela and was eliminated halfway... but after a cross-country bike ride he came in better prepared for The Gauntlet: a couple dailies wins led him and Team Road Rules to the W. On that sequel he was on his way via a loss to a then upstart named Derrick... but now comes the return engagement twenty-three years after.
⭐ FLORA ALEKSEYEVA: If you saw E!'s Botched during lockdown, you may have spotted this Real World Miami alum implying to Terry Dubrow & Paul Nassif about her experience getting a boob job (a story we're sure to elaborate here). But that's only part of Flora's CV that's brought her back to TV yet again, and if you remember her relationship drama and attitude from 28 years ago -- as well as her Seasons stint with Mike in '02... consider yourself lucky in those two categories.
⭐ KEFLA HARE: In 1998, Road Rules made the long trek down under to Australia -- and while it's where Challenge champ & Brain Candy Podcast host Susie Meister made her debut as did stand-up icon Christina Pazsitzky, it's Kefla who beat them to All-Stars. And if you have memories of watching him on the very first Challenge competition twenty-five years ago and the dominant run Team Road Rules had there as well as the cameo he had in the 2000 season... you must be a superfan of this.
MODERN POWER PLAYERS
⭐ CARA MARIA SORBELLO: With her first full-fledged appearance on here since the War of the Worlds double and with the kind of notoriety she's chalked up since we first saw her in B.C., there's no question who the All-Stars 4 headliner is. Everyone knows the journey Cara Maria has been on from that early exit on Fresh Meat II to winning two Challenges and Champs vs. Pros, plus finding love and creating detractors along the way among the many who have competed in her fifteen appearances. With nine finals she's always a consistent contender, but then there's that one elephant in the room...
⭐ LAUREL STUCKY: In contrast to the one who was her partner on that historic Rivals season of thirteen years ago, Laurel comes here to All-Stars for the first time not having played up to the level that saw her reign over Free Agents ten years ago: we saw her last on Ride or Dies last year, but things have not quite been the same for her since that infamous elimination night in Thailand. Adding to this drought of not making a final since Invasion, there is also having to deal with the one redhead above and her ex... more on that in a moment.
⭐ LEROY GARRETT & KAM WILLIAMS: Until now, no All-Stars duo have come in as a couple -- and that gave us reason to pair up Leroy & Kam. His Challenge career has been storied despite having no title next to his name, and she led the way among the most recent crop of third generation female challengers... and last saw the both of them was on Double Agents making the final together. But will they come home to their new kid with that All-Stars crown? They will no doubt be motivated by both that and their past history to get this job done.
⭐ TONY RAINES: A decade has past since that taxi ride to the Chicago Real World house, and it's safe to say Tony has had quite the journey from meeting his baby mama there to having quite the start to his six-Challenge career. But we all remember that run he had post-Redemption House on Dirty 30 that saw him become a legit contender and winning Champs vs. Stars II with our new king of Traitors. All-Stars will no doubt be a totally different game, but the lights will surely shine when it's Tony Time.
⭐ NICOLE ZANATTA: Yes... undoubtedly a lot of you out there will question why Tony's fellow Staten Islander from that 30th Real World is an all-star, but as we've seen over there it's the competition that matters... and having two finals berths in her first two starts doesn't hurt -- it would've been three had it not been for an early medivac on Double Agents. But we all know that Nicole will no doubt have this game to contend with, but also the ex as well underneath the same roof as it was on Peak of Love.
⭐ JASMINE REYNAUD & DEREK CHAVEZ: Fifteen years have past since Real World at Cancun's Spring Break, and aside from Jonna the best thing Season 22 has given Challenge Nation might be Jasmine: six times we've seen her, and you all remember all those blow-ups... and that includes one with another All-Star -- and she'll aim for another deep run as it was on AS2. And for Derek, he too was also on that second season... and he hopes for a better result than being the first one to go.
THE REDEMPTION SEEKERS
⭐ BRANDON NELSON: Ever since he debuted on Fresh Meat 2, Brandon has had quite a checkered record: that infamous DQ in Western Canada, many a gulag trip on Cutthroat, dysfunctional partners on Rivals and Seasons II, and another early exit on Free Agents. His original bio states that he's one who always wears his emotions on his sleeve, yet he's always that competitor who everyone loves to be around... and Brandon is motivated to finally make that very first Challenge deep run.
⭐ AVEREY TRESSLER: She was there at the beginning of this journey for me & me fellow MTV tweeters, and if your memories are fresh of her adorable dog and that infamous fight in Portland after watching it on Netflix last year you have an idea of where Averey began her journey. It's not been so kind to her crossing over into Challenge land given her dysfunctional partners on both Exes 2 and Rivals 3... but we know everyone who works for Hooters, and in particular a NASCAR champion whose logo appears on his car in the Cup Series will be rooting for a better result than those.
⭐ TYRI BALLARD-BROWN: A few years ago we looked back at when his Omaha hometown bar was invaded by Jon Taffer's Bar Rescue, but that is only part of an MTV story Tyri has lived since he was in that Denver Real World house at 5280'. But aside from a deep run on Gauntlet III interrupted by an emergency at home, he's only escaped the first month only twice... yet, we all remember that night on Exes 2 when he got smacked on Rasheeda -- Jasmine's alter ego of course.
⭐ JAY GOTTI: A decade ago he was the one who let the Barbie Beast get away in the Bay, but it was when Jay was reunited with Jenna on Exes 2 that created his notoriety in Challenge Nation. It's what he did in that final that had everyone going for his head, but when you were put in as layups in Norway having not seen an elimination, it's reason for Jay to be given this ultimate chance at redemption and perhaps be the most unlikely of All-Stars. But he does have the advantage of having some allies on his side going in, as well as another game advantage in having won the trivia challenge on that lone season.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
DCBLOG has proudly followed The Challenge for most of the last decade, but both my family reality and the changes lately to the platform formerly known as Twitter has caused this site to rethink our blog strategy. If plans go the way they do - and a pilot in the last Challenge is a sign, our weekly episode coverage will be reimagined to just a traditional "WRAP" recap of the week's top moments while still featuring social media's best... but if not then you are no doubt in the good hands of fellow blogger Allan Aguirre and his Medium page. But what this site has done best the past decade has been to tell stories: the ExtraTime series provides the platform for us to go behind this MTV Reality world, and we have some great stories to dish out to you ahead -- and many of those Stars have been featured in our series.
If things go by smoothly, then the first edition of DCBLOG's Challenge WRAP will appear in the week ahead on here... if not, it'll be because this coming weekend will be an epic one across what I like to refer to as "DC Social Network." My DCNOW Twitter live watch of the two-part premiere will proceed PBP of the first two nights of the Coachella Music & Arts Festival with Lena Del Rey, Doja Cat, No Doubt and music's biggest stars descending on the desert... and our sessions on Friday & Saturday start at 6PM ET on @DC408DxNow followed by the YouTube live stream -- Sunday starts earlier than that due to the final round of The Masters. Enjoy the premiere, Challenge Nation...
- I AM DC
@DC408DXTR
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