DC ExtraTime Flashback: Before They Were MTV Stars - The First Step

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB/TK

The story of MTV Reality represents the history of the non-scripted genre as it is recognized by fans and those in the industry, encompassing nearly three decades of some of the most unique programming on television. In the coming months, DCBLOG ExtraTime is proud to bring you a special Flashback series as we look back at some of the most memorable moments, greatest shows and incredible personalities that have helped to shape this entire genre.

For nearly three decades now, MTV has written the book to an entire industry of how to do, perfect and master a genre it has made its own: reality TV. Starting with when The Real World premiered in 1992 and continuing with the likes of The Challenge and so many other shows since then, an entire form of entertainment was born which paved the way for every network to have a piece of the reality pie, and has produced a litany of incredible moments, shows and people that consistently dominate pop culture.

   So many of the biggest figures of the moment right now, and of the past twenty-eight years, come by way of MTV Reality shows: from a group of strangers from in & around New York City who became the closest thing to a royal family as MTV has ever produced, to a man who blazed a trail before eventually becoming part of the new Fab Five on Queer Eye. And thousands of others have followed in their footsteps on a slew of shows that range from just those living their lives on camera to competing their tails off in the quest for glory, and so many others along the way.

But regardless of whether they've done just one show or many of them over several years, for most of these people they share a common trait: their journeys to being part of the MTV family began began by simply auditioning to be on a show on the channel (or sometimes outside of it), or simply being chosen thanks to having an incredible story or background that would relate to the young adult crowd that watches its programming. And for many of them, they took time out of one of their days to create a video that would eventually change their lives and make them part of television history.

   If you are fond of the milestones we all get to mark in our lives, you'll never forget the first time a baby got to say anything out of their mouths, or when they take their first steps. For sports fans, there is nothing like winning a championship for the first time or when, as a parent, you see your son or daughter make their debut on the playing surface. And for musicians, there's that ultimate coming-of-age moment when you get to hear your song on the radio for the first time.

As we here at DCBLOG prepare to begin our ninth year going Inside MTV Reality and covering The Challenge Double Agents this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we'd like to take a moment to look back at that time where some of those who have been part of this family got to film a casting tape that would eventually bring them to the likes of not just Real World and The Challenge, but also Are You The One, Jersey and Floribama Shore, and so many other series that have graced the channel.

   No matter how young they look, how long it's been since they made these tapes or what they were doing before becoming part of what's called the "D-List," there's nothing like taking The First Step.

DC ExtraTime: Team MTV Takes Over Wild 'N Out

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Instagram @KirkMedas

During the three-month offseason in between seasons of The Challenge, fans of that show and MTV Reality were offered some juicy special attractions: one of them saw Nicole, Marlon, Jemmye & Laurel head to Ex On The Beach's first winter-themed season, Peak of Love. But it was the state of Florida that played host to ample amounts of drama and fun in the sun with two shows that walked the red carpet together at last year's Video Music Awards and then shared the marquee in the sultry Siesta Key and the wild-fest of Floribama Shore.

Season 3 of the ladder saw Mattie Lynn Breaux go from being a finalist of War of the Worlds to joining fellow rookie of that season, Gus Symrios, and the rest of his crew in their new playground of the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, now known as Tompa Bay after Tom Brady's signing last month with one-time NFL doormats, the Buccaneers. During their summer in SPB, she helped relive the joys of her young self that viewers first saw on CMT's Party Down South, and Mattie even got close with Gus' frenemy, Jeremiah Buoni, among other things over the winter.

This past week, four of those Southerners Mattie lived with in St. Pete Beach in between her times on The Challenge took on a different role to what they have been used to. Instead of puke 'n rally and chi-chis up - or even getting minted with a tattoo souvenir, they got to take the stage of one of MTV's most enduring hits which began fifteen years ago. And they were spectators to a mic-drop meeting of two former best friends... only part of the times when some familiar faces to MTV fans have shared the stage with Nick Cannon and friends under the bright lights of Wild 'N Out.

DC ExtraTime: The Kedo Guido Takes Las Vegas

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Ten years ago this summer, MTV was faced with its first summer without the show that guided them through their first period of 21st century renewal in Total Request Live, which signed off one last time from its Times Square studio in late 2008. But there was a week in early December of 2009 that would shape the channel's next decade, one whose roots were planted that summer by Amber Portwood, Catelynn Lowell and Maci Bookout when they appeared on 16 & Pregnant, and whose progress through the early stages of parenthood were documented on spinoff series Teen Mom.

   A few days before they and original girl Farrah Abraham extended those 15 minutes of fame with a show that has now lasted ten years, another group would help set the path that would help to reinvent MTV during an age where YouTube, Netflix and social media would compete with the attention of the short attention spanned millennial audience. Jersey Shore debuted on December 3, 2009 and from the start the show made a big impact... first for negative reasons before the show even debuted in placing the state of New Jersey and the Italian American population in a bad light. It was further amplified when a then-uncensored clip of a man punching a female castmate at the bar gave it unwelcome publicity during those first weeks in the midst of the holidays.

   But eventually, things would come around thanks to any kind of publicity... and fans and viewers alike would ultimately embrace Snooki, Mike The Situation, J-Woww and the rest of the group during the show's original six-season run, numerous spinoffs and the whole group getting together for the Family Vacation revival last year. Everything from famous one-liners and catch phrases to the romance of Ronnie & Sammi and the group's unique dynamic would become cultural hallmarks, as did the time share house and Danny's Shore Store on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk that became the epicenter of attention of the public every summer by the Atlantic. Their success inspired many Shore spinoff series in Britain, Europe, Latin America and here at home with Floribama Shore.

While #SamRon, Snooki & J-Woww, and the Sitch's abs were the focus of those first two seasons, someone who flew under the radar early on was Vinny Guadagnino, who takes pride in being a proud mama's boy being raised on Staten Island from a traditional Italian-American family. His mom, Paola, was born in the town of Sicily on their family farm, and immigrated to America at age 13. When he gave birth to her, he almost died upon delivery and had to spend a few weeks in hospital before it became safe for him to come home to eventually becoming a middle child with two sisters.
   Vinny has always been that one who the girls always love to bring home to mom, but having a near 4.0 GPA college, who loves to write stories and has a political science major & an internship for a NY State assemblyman under his belt, he also has the smarts that would also be welcome to parents. And had the show not been a success, you would've likely seen him in the hallways of law school... his LSAT test took place hours before his national TV debut.

   As we've seen both in those first two seasons and then in this reboot, Vinny sure has a long history with Angelina... and there was that time long ago when he was spotted in bed with Snooki. We all know that he is the master of the fist-pump, and he also got to invite celebs to his house for his own talk show in the company of his family. And of course, there's the famous bromance with DJ Pauly D. that's brought them to so many places together the past decade, including their latest chapter on A Double Shot at Love with Pauly and Vinny, undoubtedly the most hilarious and lighthearted of all the romantic reality shows that have been on TV this year.

   Both those who know & have followed Vinny all this time know about his family's famous Sunday dinners, for which it became a weekly tradition for his adopted second family. Last year, who can forget Paola & uncle Nino flying all the way down to Miami with their food for a big dinner with the group towards the end of that first Vacation, followed by another one on Thanksgiving. Both mama Guadagnino and her son even had their own cooking show on The Cooking Channel.

   But also in the nutrition department, Vinny has become the most prominent celebrity to endorse the keto diet: a plan that embraces low-carb, moderate protein and high fat. His own keto diet Instagram @KetoGuido has over 700,000 followers, and has seen him shave off 50 lbs., earning Kourtney Kardashian and Halle Barry's approval. And it was just this summer that he dropped his own keto cookbook in bookstores to bring his newest passion into the home kitchens of families everywhere.