From Week 2 of The Challenge XXX in July 2017
BY DC CUEVA
What we've seen with Cory making what might be a costly power move on the veterans, Ashley's latest meltdown and seeing Jenna again reminds us that it was four years ago at this time that the Rivals III pair and Barbie's ex were going through their final casting interviews. Shortly after, their MTV journey began in that summer of 2013, where something took place in the Bay Area backyard of yours truly: No, not the America's Cup and Oracle Team USA's miracle comeback but something else.
In the Polk District of San Francisco, this was where the reinvention of a reality TV icon took place when MTV decided to mess around with history and redid The Real World as we know all it and as we knew it before, as it returned to where it had its most significant season. For Season 29 which would ultimately be titled Real World Ex-Plosion, the show was revamped in most every way: gone was the iconic "This is the true story" intro and other old-school elements, in came more of the behind-the-scenes magic that takes place on the show and an edgier filming style.
And of course, there was the introduction of what those who've watched The Challenge for years have been used to: twists being thrown into this house of seven strangers. As we look back on it now a few years later, it might be somewhat mixed, but it was the drama of what happened there in the Bay Area made that season so enthralling to watch... and not just because I got to see my neck of the woods on a show I love. No wonder why I have a DVD set of that season in my video library (you can get that on Amazon, by the way).
In the Polk District of San Francisco, this was where the reinvention of a reality TV icon took place when MTV decided to mess around with history and redid The Real World as we know all it and as we knew it before, as it returned to where it had its most significant season. For Season 29 which would ultimately be titled Real World Ex-Plosion, the show was revamped in most every way: gone was the iconic "This is the true story" intro and other old-school elements, in came more of the behind-the-scenes magic that takes place on the show and an edgier filming style.
And of course, there was the introduction of what those who've watched The Challenge for years have been used to: twists being thrown into this house of seven strangers. As we look back on it now a few years later, it might be somewhat mixed, but it was the drama of what happened there in the Bay Area made that season so enthralling to watch... and not just because I got to see my neck of the woods on a show I love. No wonder why I have a DVD set of that season in my video library (you can get that on Amazon, by the way).
There were five sets of exes in a Real World Ex-Plosion house that you would consider it to be a more than full house than usual: Arielle & Ashley C., Jenny & Brian, Cory & Lauren, Jay & Jenna, and the person who is our co-subject: Thomas and his ex, Hailey. They came into that house having been an on-again, off-again couple of high school sweethearts for several years including going to the same college and the both losing their virginity to each other. And we saw glimpses of them in the bar in Fort Worth, TX when he left to go out west, and after hitting tennis balls with twin brother Stephen.
Of course, for a man voted "most likely to be on a reality TV show" in his senior year in his yearbook, little did he know of what awaited him when he touched down in the City, expecting that this would just be a typical Real World season with nothing to worry about. And when Tom did move into the house, he became attracted to one of the two ladies who were given the shaft and didn't have to worry about their exes potentially moving in. Houstonian Jamie came to San Francisco having gone through a rockstar relationship with a member of a rock band who was touring around the country, but given his busy life on the road didn't even bother to take time off tour to move in or spend time with her.
With him having made it official with Jamie, Thomas pretty much knew ther he was in for a weird rest of his stay in the city with being close to his new girlfriend he had just gotten to know, and his ex Hailey who had just moved in. And during the season, Tom found himself in the middle juggling Jamie and Hailey, and it included the ex going off on him. But in the end, the ladder left early to go back to the Lone Star State, and Tom & Jamie left the Bay Area boyfriend and girlfriend, and stayed together for some time afterwards.
But after more than a year of enjoying each other's company in commuting between Dallas and Houston, Jamie & Thomas broke up just before he did the first of his three Challenges, Exes II with Hailey. It was on his sophomore go, Bloodlines, that he had a hand in bringing the relationship of Cara Maria and Abram to an end in him kissing Cara in that van in Turkey being caught on camera by Johnny Bananas and her being awarded "Dirtiest Breakup" on The Dirty Awards. And recently - and after what we saw from her which cast a shadow on a Bloodlines season she would eventually win, Cara cut all ties with Abe in a social media rant.
As for Thomas and Jamie, as we all know time does heal wounds, and just a couple weeks ago, they got to meet for the first time since that breakup. Below is their Instagram post.
As for Thomas and Jamie, as we all know time does heal wounds, and just a couple weeks ago, they got to meet for the first time since that breakup. Below is their Instagram post.
In the comments, while Jenna left a simple "Awww," Cory was left saying "WOOWWWWWWW👀👀👀👀." And Jamie cleared the air in saying, "We're just friends y'all 😂." At least, this story has a happy and civil ending, unlike many of the other relationships we've seen in MTV reality land.
- I AM DC
