BY DC CUEVA
We are in the dog days of the summer... and for those of us who look to the world of reality television for a sense of escape from that other reality going on outside our living room, this has already been quite the last few months. We are a couple weeks into that summer tradition that is a new season of Big Brother, coming on the heels of a Love Island U.S. season that garnered plenty of buzz in and out of the villa. Bachelor in Paradise is back with a whole new look, while a new hit has emerged in the global journey around the globe that is Destination X. And one of those who took occupancy in that airplane is BB champ Josh Martinez, whose reality story has expanded to include a series en español on Telemundo.
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| Credit: Paramount Global/MTV |
Battle of the Eras last year marked the first regular Challenge season in some time to not have any first-time competitors in the field. But to make up for that shortcoming, this year's MTV season is giving both them and the veterans a level playing field this time... and it's not just a small set of rookies who are just lucky to be here. From those aforementioned Casa Amor and summer house to a number of newbies from abroad -- and even two from the world of fight sport, they have intentions on challenging the establishment with over twenty titles to their credit... but also having to fight father time against those much younger and eager to take their throne.
Now... the next forty seasons of America's fifth major pro sport is about to begin down under in South America, in the world's southernmost inhabited nation at the foot of the Andes mountain range. And for this last few days of July at least, DCBLOG is back for this first look at The Challenge: New Vets and Threats. And welcome back, Challenge Nation...
FIRST THOUGHTS...
& MEET THE CAST
As the series description got to note when we began this countdown in earnest earlier this summer, we have seen hundreds of competitors from all around the world of reality television take aim for the biggest prize there is of becoming Challenge Champion. We've seen many great Veterans ascend to a bigger level of greatness, worthy Rookies battle tooth and nail to gain respect, and many in between too. But as Season 41 now nears -- and after the two-part duo-logy of Battle for a New Champion leading into Battle of the Eras, we now will get to see a bunch of new faces and new blood coming into this game with the number one goal of upending the old guard.
There is no doubt a tremendous deal of experience, pride and an incredible legacy the Veterans have in having held down this fort for almost as long as this show has been around -- and each have been to a final. But with those nearly two decades younger and more faster than them coming into this Challenge fold for the first time, they will have to adopt to it... and they have to do it quick. It's especially the case when, with new lives in the "real" real world awaiting, they'll have to sift through a shifting landscape of new alliances, threats, those landmines of betrayals and whatever Teej-bomb twist TJ Lavin will thrown at them. Perhaps, the Vets and New Threats may have to work together for the money come the holidays.
Last year's MTV Eras cast was the largest and most-deeply stacked field in Challenge history. This crop for Season 41 may not be the mack-daddy of them all, but of course there's something for everyone here. Among the questions we're pondering: Is there anything left in the two-winningest players ever? Can we finally get to see two long-standing veterans possibly ride into the sunset with their first title? How will two men from the world of fight sport handle the rigors of this new game? Can those who've mastered a month in the wilderness and social seclusion go from rookies to winning? And will Challenge Nation's newest mom & dad have one more wrinkle in their burgeoning story? Let's meet them now...
VETERANS MEN
- BANANAS ⭐7x, CT ⭐5x, DEREK, DERRICK ⭐3x, LEROY, ROGAN ⭐1x, THEO, TURBO ⭐1x
For the ultimate stalwarts, the veteran men have seventeen titles between them. Johnny has seven of those, CT has five, Derrick has three, and Rogan and Turbo possess those two other rings. The former three are getting up there in age having been at this for what is now two decades, and the question will be of if their hourglass is heading towards its final few seasons. For the Dreamboy dancer and the first international champ, they will have a lot to prove why they got chosen over other worthy veteran men to compete here. Same goes for Derek after placing in the money in the Eras final, as well as Theo after Bananas took him out midway last year. And for Roylee? That early exit at the hands of Tony Time has surely fueled possibly this one more shot.
VETERANS WOMEN
- ANEESA, ASHLEY ⭐2x, AVIV ⭐1x, CARA MARIA ⭐2x, MICHAELA, NANY, NIA, OLIVIA
For the incumbent women, they don't have as many rings... but Cara Maria's back once again as she tries for star #3 after falling in the final Eras elimination. Ashley's been away for four years after a second chance turned sour on Spies, Lies & Allies... but we've been waiting for her to prove her mettle, and we're glad the Millionaire's back. Aviv was the most-surprising returnee last year in making it deep to earn a return engagement as does Nia after a decent showing on Eras and All-Stars, while the USA II medivac is still on Michaela's mind as she also gets another shot. But while many of us are pulling for Aneesa or Nany to finally get #1, perhaps Olivia could be the favorite to take the next step to the throne... now with a baby forthcoming.
NEW THREATS MEN
- BEN 🇬🇧, CEDRIC, GABE, JAKE, JUSTIN, LEONARDO, WILL, YAREMI
Standing out the most among the newcomer guys is one following in Leo Rush's footsteps coming from WWE, but Gabe also warmed up for this by playing 7-on-7 football... and there's another sporty one: boxer Ben also calls the action cage-side at MMA fights. It may be surprising that we got cheerleader of all people, but an All-Star did high-step his way to two titles and Justin's athleticism may help him here. Just as Siesta Key queen Juliette invades Perfect Match, three dating show alums are coming on for something other than love: Jake and Leo from Love Island, and our lone MTV rep in Will of AYTO 9. And if you're a Big Brother fan, you have Cedric from last year to fly your flag around that live-camera binge watch... same's true for our latest Amazing Race rep, Yeremi.
NEW THREATS WOMEN
- ADRIENNE 🇦🇺, AMERICA, BLUE, DEE, IZZY, LEKA 🇨🇦, SYDNEY, TAY 🇦🇺
By contrast, the rookie ladies are a much different story... and it all starts with a sole Survivor as Dee tries to follow up her triumph on Season 45, while joining her from Season 41 is Brooklynite Sydney. All of you Big Brother fans will no doubt have your focus on America and Blue also from 2023, while our Netflix friends will enjoy the linear broadcast debut of Izzy after having to endure Lana in that Too Hot villa. But the other half of this last crop comes to us outside the U.S. -- and only our friends up in Detroit or Seattle who can access the CBC across the border saw Leka on Ultimate Challenge. And from where they're still braving winter down under, we welcome in Adrienne and Tay from the Australian versions of Survivor and Married at First Sight.
For those hoping that it's an old-school teamed challenge between the establishment and the upstarts... that wish won't come true at least at the outset. But as last Wednesday's launch episode got to tell us, for now it's a pairs challenge to start off... and that's really all we know of at this point. And that's very much how it is -- we love that suspense of what Vets and New Threats will be like this year... and we can all hope that this will be an awesome season with all the fireworks we know and love. All we can say is, bring on Challenge Wednesdays once again... and we'll see you on the couch as we watch this together (and hopefully, tell some stories along the way here).
- I AM DC
@DC408DXTR
