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Showing posts with label #DCBlog #MTVTrifecta #AreYouTheOne #AYTO #RealWorld #TheRealWorld #TheChallenge #Rivals3 #RealityTV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #DCBlog #MTVTrifecta #AreYouTheOne #AYTO #RealWorld #TheRealWorld #TheChallenge #Rivals3 #RealityTV. Show all posts
As we near the end of 2017 amidst the warmth of the holidays, there have been a lot of big moments and unexpected surprises both in and outside the ecosystem this site calls theMTV Trifecta in the course of the past 12 months. We saw anguish and elation for the Seasons 5 and 6 Are You The One? casts, the arrival of the newbies of Floribama Shore, and the survival test of Stranded with a Million Dollars. And of course, there's the move of making The Challenge a year-round happening with not one, not two... but four seasons of the fifth major pro sport airing this year alone. And as a result, DCBLOG has been churning out a record number of posts to more readers than ever, including ExtraTime stories such as these.
And before we begin our usual year-end review of the reality TV year this Christmas weekend, there's the latest life-changing moment for not one, but two people in this always fascinating world of the people who make this world happen. It's of something very familiar in one who has been on recent Challenges who started like many others on a Real World season, and we've seen so much happen to him since. But this also links all three shows we cover extensively here, as he is also linked to an Are You The One? alum, and for which they were casted together on one season and saw one of the many love affairs he's had in front of MTV cameras. And in the end, the result is two things that take on greater priority: the responsibility of family and raising a young kid at this young adult stage.
This is the very scenario that, just now, is beginning to play itself out in Real World Ex-Plosion alum and soon-to-be six-time Challenge competitor Cory Wharton and AYTO Season 3 alum and Rivals III finalist Cheyenne Floyd, and where of all things, a baby, has brought them together yet again.
For the first time in twelve months, those of us who follow the MTV Trifecta can take a breath after what we have seen in five seasons of the three shows this site covers the best. In mid August, we had the double season finale of Are You The One? Season 4, which followed the eventful final week of The Challenge: Rivals III. Both had endings similar to what happened in the past, with this year's cast of 20 singles shaking off a late blackout to notch two truth booth matches en route to their payday, while we're still reeling from Johnny Bananas' payback move on Sarah in the Season 28 finale. But of course, as we talk to you this break won't last very long as are now into the countdown to Season 32 of Real World as Bad Blood begins in a month from now in Seattle.
For now here on this last day of the summer season, on this expanded edition of DC WRAP we'll look at some of the key moments from the August homestretch of the Trifecta, covering the last jungle and the final in Argentina, and the second half of AYTO in Hawaii. We'll head into the Strategy Room for the final tidbits from Hawaii and south of the border. And on ExtraTime, we'll have an exclusive look at a fight that's never seen the light of day until now, as well as a Rio Olympics link with the Trifecta and a reunion of originals. That's all ahead.
On the same day that we saw the start of this last phase of this Rivals season - the fifth major pro sport, the one sign that fall is coming came at various cities across the country when NFL Training Camp began in the heat of the summer. As we wrote here last year when we looked at NFL Films in our sports series, we're into that time where one sport will grab our attention and never let go until February... that is, with perhaps the exception of this year when 28 sports will do that starting Wednesday when women's group soccer matches begin the Rio Olympics before the Rivals finale. And as we present this post to you, this is the last weekend that there isn't an NFL game to look forward to, as the Hall of Fame Game between Green Bay and Indianapolis takes place next week.
It's with this in mind that we'd like to look at those times when the Trifecta gets to intersect with those who are, no doubt, the leaders of that offensive platoon and where teams' fortunes can hang by a thread just by what he does guiding teams late in the 4th. Of course, we are talking about the quarterback of an NFL team. And we'd like to share with you three instances of these sightings.
From: TW @EricBanks
● AARON RODGERS w/ BIG EASY: Last year, the biggest play of the 2015 NFL season was what happened in Detroit on Thursday Night Football in December. Just two days before our fellow Challenge friend Theresa Gonzalez would give birth to her new baby, her fiance, TJ Jones, was playing for the Lions, and the team from the state she grew up in, the Packers were given new life by a Detroit defensive penalty and gave them one more shot to steal a win after trailing the whole game. A 61-yard heave downfield from their own 35-yard line found Green Bay TE Richard Rodgers in the end zone, and is emblematic of the kind of play that can break the internet and break hearts when one goes deep in the final seconds and wins at the final gun.
The Super Bowl XLV MVP has been longtime friends with one of The Challenge's Eric Banks and they often hang out with one another during the NFL offseason, most especially for his home state's biggest party in as The Kentucky Derby, as you see on your right from when American Pharoah began his run to glory at the 2015 race. It's been ten years since we first saw Big Easy on Fresh Meat I, and it's because of his role of one of the Trifecta's most-infamous moments -- him gassing out and being medically evacuated from the Guantlet III final and costing his packed Veteran team a win -- that inspired him to get fit and healthy, and made great strides in losing 70 lbs. from where he was at 310 when he began. It's also why when players are given that call to be a Challenge, they must get in tip-top shape for everything that awaits them. And as we told you here, Eric now does travel in helping students to Spring Break right each March.
● ROBERT GRIFFIN III w/ AYTO's WES: Second, if you're reading this post from Cleveland, then you no doubt have had the summer of your life in the afterglow of the Cavaliers' NBA championship and LeBron James becoming a legend in your Northeast Ohio neck of the woods. Over the NFL offseason and three months before that curse was lifted, the Browns - who've endured heartache themselves since winning the city's last title in 1964 - made a splash when they acquired Robert Griffin III off the waiver wire. After a strong rookie season, a injury-riddled next three seasons would slow his seemingly inevitable ride to become one of the league's top QB's, and was released by the maroon & gold after four seasons. Now, RG3 is looking forward to a fresh start in the Dawg Pound as they look forward to a new start after the end to the merciful era that was Johnny Football. It was the day after his Are You The One? cast had their million dollar moment in March 2014 that a member of those Originals - Wes Buckles - got to meet RG3 in his then-Phoenix hometown and was among the first to get congratulated on their win. He posted on Instagram, "Looking like a damn crest commercial 😁 Had the pleasure of meeting that dude Robert Griffin (RGIII) yesterday 🙌 He's a fan of #areyoutheone.. Who knew? Lol Real cool dude tho. Much love and support from the west coast bruh." And when news of Griffin's move to Ohio came, Wes reposted, "#TBT to that one time I got to meet and talk it up with that guy @rgiii. It's been a rocky road but you're gonna do some amazing things in the #dawgpound! Blessings on blessings."Similar to what may happen in the season's homestretch, Wes was in a love triangle with Kayla and Ryan during his season and the group voted them in consecutive weeks to determine their fate, which in the end saw Wes and the now local news anchor become their third Truth Booth match.
IG: @Dean_BP (Kaepernick
wearing NY hat to Dean's left)
● COLIN KAEPERNICK w/ DEAN: Finally, those people like me who are Bay Area sports fans have showed concern the past couple seasons with how the San Francisco 49ers would at one moment be a top NFL team and were just yards short from a Super Bowl title, and are now also-ran's in what is the NFL's toughest division of the NFC West. The attention has been on Colin Kaepernick, who became the starting quarterback after struggles by Alex Smith, and Kaep began to rise to become a top quarterback. The Niners would capitalize by signing him to a long-term deal while he was at the height of his powers, and stayed strong during the 2013 season but ended in Richard Sherman's arms. And then, poor play in 2014 would ultimately see him hold the clipboards as a backup, where he still is as he now battles Blaine Gabbert for the starting job for the red & gold. Well, one person has had the chance to become friends with Kaep - and that would be Dean from the most recent Real World season, Go Big or Go Home in Las Vegas earlier this year. In a screencap of a IG picture from Dean's hub I took before he deleted it to keep the number of pics there to just a minimum, you see Dean hanging out with Kaep and fellow friends during the offseason after their run to New Orleans and SB XLVII. The QB isn't the only well-known person Dean got to hang out with before he made his way to the Gold Spike in DTLV - Downtown Las Vegas if you don't know: he also got to do a cameo part on the FOX comedy Anger Management with that show's star Charlie Sheen, all as aspects of the comedian's personal life has been put out in the public eye of abuse and him contracting the HIV virus. Of course, Dean got divorced before going to Sin City, then saw him go in drag, celebrate being single and being more likable than most of the house. Starting pitching in baseball, a power forward in hoops, a goalkeeper in hockey and soccer...they all hold keys to their teams' success in their various sports. But no one holds the fate of any football team - pro, college, high school - than a quarterback. He controls the offense when they have the ball, provides leadership to the team, and can be the one who is given the most praise or the biggest blame if they win or lose. All three of the quarterbacks we've profiled here have all made their marks in the NFL, and now as we look forward to the new season, Rodgers looks to lead his Packers to the top of the league, while RG3 looks forward to starting anew in what's become a sports capital of late, and Kaepernick will be anxious to prove himself when the ball falls into his hands.
The fields of broadcast journalism and sports TV production are something I've long been fascinated with - not surprising given how much of it I watch both in and outside the MTV and sports worlds; we'll be looking as aspects of those in my fall series of posts in between Trifecta cycles. For two members of the Are You The One? alumni who have money now, they have something in common: they have prior experience of doing things on camera before they were put on a reality TV show with money and love on the line.
Before she was cast on Season 4 of this romantic experiment, Alyssa went to Illinois State University outside of Chicago. And in between looking for guys on her campus she was busy pursuing stories for the local newscast on her college's in-house TV station and it being seen on local PEG cable channels in the nation's 3rd largest media market. She also anchored newscasts as well, honing her craft of reporting news in this suburb of the City of the Big Shoulders.
About now, the back to school shelves at your local store will soon be shifted over to Halloween stuff with candy, costumes and the like for the big night that comes on Monday, October 31. One of the stories Alyssa reported during her year in the journalism program was going to a synagogue where for one day, it turned into a ghost investigation site as residents came to learn more about the church and whether it's haunted or not. Check that out below, along with her anchor reel.
Well, Alyssa will have someone to look up to when it comes to transitioning from on a nationally shown reality TV show to being a local name. When we met Kayla Lusby on Season 1 two years ago, she was that southern girl who had graduated from Ole Miss -- alma mater of fellow MTV alums Dunbar (RW Sydney) and Layton (AYTO S2) -- and had a toxic relationship with her athlete boyfriend. But she's remembered mainly for what happened late that season when she confessed to Amber about kissing who would ultimately be her husband, Ethan, and getting scolded by the perfect match and the house turning on her. Kayla was also at the heart of a love triangle between her, Colorado guy Ryan and Arizona crush Wes, where the truth booth settled the triangle with the lasers eventually siding with her and Wes as the house's 3rd perfect match.
It's true that she wasn't the most well-liked person in the mansion in Kauai, but Kayla has definitely found her calling in something she's most passionate about in liking being on camera. Before being cast, she did a DJ shift at Ole Miss' campus radio station, did a project for ESPN-U and interned at TV newsrooms in Memphis and Nashville. That experience, along with a short stint in Phoenix radio, ultimately landed Kayla a job at the NBC/FOX duopoly in Monroe, LA and El Dorado, AR - the Arklamiss as the locals call it. Plus, this is the 137th ranked TV market which serves a large viewing area of northeastern Louisiana, southern Arkansas and western Mississippi. By week like many others in the business, she's a general assignment reporter gathering stories for the various newscasts during the day. But since this isn't New Orleans or any other big city, she doubles as a video journalist in shooting video in addition to writing stories and doing on-camera reporting. Yes, Kayla does more of the work you'd find in small market TV, unlike what you'd find in the big cities. But by weekend, she is behind the anchor desk, where after doing some substitute work Kayla became weekend anchor at KTVE back in May. And of course, this past month her newscasts were sandwiched in between NBC's Olympic coverage.
Below is Kayla's demo reel with a compilation of her work from before she was cast on AYTO.
As we prepare for tonight's finale of both this Season 4 of Are You The One? and this MTV Trifecta cycle, we bring you an abbreviated edition of the WRAP. Last week, the cast saw the exes of the guys arrive in the house and saw Giovanni put everyone on edge when he won that week's challenge and threaten to turn the game on its head. But it's the game that caused the house to go haywire when they notched a late blackout and saw them lose $250,000 this late in the game.
Ahead, we'll head to the Strategy Room to look at what lies ahead for them as they try to recover from that blackout and try to salvage $750,000 just as last year's cast did. Plus, we'll share with you the latest piece of good news for two members of the Trifecta alumni. Join us here next.
A bit later than we expected here - and apologies to everyone, but taking a brief break from the Olympics to bring you the WRAP covering last week's Rivals III finale, and last week's Are You The One? as well. Last Wednesday was the season finale of The Challenge, which ended in rather controversial fashion. And last week in Hawaii, we saw a fight between Giovanni and Stephen at the Match-Up which came about a move was made on Julia which - as it turns out - plays a huge role in this week's episode which we'll have it covered on this week's post.
Due to Rio 2016 being given priority, we'll be discussing the Rivals III finale and the homestretch of this AYTO season on our postseason posts coming next week. But coming up, a scaled down WRAP with the results of several Twitter polls done in the days that followed last week's finale and final fantasy scoring. Plus, we'll show you sightings between several MTV castmates from the South to Sin City. Join in next.
Welcome to the month of August and to this edition of DC WRAP, as we begin to get into business mode of the two competition shows of the MTV Trifecta. The Rivals III Challenge has now entered its final after paring down from a semifinal four to a final three by way of a straight trip into the last Jungle that saw something familiar take place in the last piece of prelude to the final. And on Are You The One?, we now have our second Truth Booth match, as well as another love triangle emerging involving the resident wolf of the house now looking at getting close to one of the key girls from earlier in the season, which may spark some fireworks in the stretch run that's to come.
As DCBLOG will now be devoting energies to doing our posts covering the Rio Olympics, we'll be tabling the Episode recaps to after the Games - and this Trifecta cycle - conclude. But coming up, we'll be taking another trip into the Strategy Room to look at where we now stand with the bulk of the final coming our way on Wednesday. We'll also have the results of our first-ever DC FORUM Polls on three questions that we posed to Twitter followers following the episodes, along with our usual features. And on ExtraTime, we'll tell you who Sarah's other Rival is, and let you in on a sighting between two originals. That's all next.
As we are in these last few days of July and look forward to turning the page to August, welcome on in to DCBLOG as we cover this week in the MTV Trifecta. Ahead, our usual weekly posts covering this week's episodes of The Challenge and Are You The One?, along with a slew of other things as well as things are now getting serious in South America and in Hawaii. But first, we begin with something a bit musical to get your weekend started.
When we began our coverage of AYTO Season 4 on Memorial Day weekend, we mentioned to you about the musical side of some of these singles. There's Prosper making a name for himself in the hip hop world, and him collaborating with Tori after their trip into the truth booth. There's also him getting to know Mac Miller before he became famous, and her talking to other music luminaries which we'll touch on here soon. And just recently Asaf dropped a music video, and Gio made an ode to the girl that won his heart but ultimately got heartbroken in Kaylen.
DCBLOG's uniqueness is to provide a look at the people of the MTV Trifecta in a way you likely won't find anywhere else, and in this instance, an important part of the person we are profiling isn't even mentioned one bit in their MTV bio. As we have commenced the season's second half, which we will look at Episode 6 later today, there's one castmate who's already become well-known for her musical prowess. And, this season happens to be her reality TV return after being part of a show that introduced us to the girl group of the moment and one of the biggest acts in music right now.
This week, she was part of the latest big moment to go down at the place where million dollar dreams can live or die by 10 beams - and it won't be the last. On this edition of DC ExtraTime, we to beyond the the fight for love and money and into how it all began for one of them as we look at the music of Are You The One's Francesca Duncan.
As you begin this last week of July, welcome once again to DCBLOG and to DC WRAP as we look back on last week on the MTV Trifecta ecosystem, before we head into the second half of Are You The One? Season 4 tonight and the Argentina portion of Rivals III in a couple nights from now. Last week, we saw Jenna's relationship with Zach being put into focus, while the field for the final four was determined by Bananas & Sarah winning again, and Wes & Nany losing the last Jungle before that trip down south. And over in Hawaii, we saw the end of Giovanni & Kaylen as he began to get close to other girls in the AYTO house, while Cam got hung over and Nicole get rejected.
Coming up, the key moments from last week in the Trifecta, plus fantasy scoring and the winners list. And we have a triple dose of ExtraTime as we'll share you the musical side of the man they call the Wolf, hip-hop connections between two of this summer's castmates, and a fan favorite takes over the Big Apple. All that and more is next.
In the aftermath of what happened last Wednesday on The Challenge: Rivals III, DCBLOG would like to revisit a story we told you here while we covered Season 2 of Are You The One? two years ago. There, in one of the first times where we got to present stories involving the people of the MTV Trifecta at the end of our posts covering this franchise, we discussed when the first instance of a major life-changer occurred to a popular Real World cast of recent years, and the interesting side story that took place there involving one of the key figures from this past week's episode, and for which we'll be explaining what's next for that person afterwards. Enjoy this bonus piece of DC ExtraTime before we bring you a recap of this week tomorrow on DC WRAP.
As you begin your week, we begin ours with the WRAP covering last week in the Trifecta, all ahead of beginning this cycle again tonight. In case you missed it, we saw a gigantic upset in a double elimination last week on Rivals III that saw some clarity on the game as we reach five teams left. And over in Hawaii, Are You The One? saw a good old love triangle emerge, along with a couple deciding to call it quits.
Coming up, a somewhat limited WRAP as we'll have an expanded edition of our episode recap (for reasons we'll explain there), plus the Winners' List and DC ExtraTime with more on one of the key figures of the episode. Join us next.
Welcome back to DCBLOG as we bring you the back end of our Rivals III doubleheader of posts covering Episode 10 from this week. We saw the female challengers being kidnapped by TJ for the next challenge that saw the girls reveal everything about this season, and the guys having to match their answers to that of the girls...all while they are buried alive. It was Dario & Nicole that won, but it's their choice of Cory & Ashley going in that has everyone buzzing as they now face a potential jungle against Nate & Christina, but also affecting the relationship of Nicole and her cousin Nany.
Now again as we told you in the 'Pulse, the episode ending with a a cliffhanger means that our recap of this episode will have to be deferred over to next week, but it won't mean we'll ignore covering this week entirely in what's usually our original writeup on the week that was. We do have, though, fantasy scoring, fan reaction and an ExtraTime looking back to the most notable moment for the person who has to sit through the gameplay plans of her partner. Stay tuned for that here.
Welcome to another edition of DC WRAP as we cover last week in the MTV Trifecta ahead of Episode 10 of Rivals III coming up tonight. Last week, we saw a top contender take control of the game and soccer take center stage in Mexico, while we had an 11th girl sighting and good fortune for the Are You The One? house in Hawaii.
Coming up, a recap of the week's top moments, the Winner's List and fantasy scoring from last week's episodes. Plus, another edition of DC FORUM as I will offer thoughts on the potential game-changer that lies ahead on the next Real World season, and something that happened to me this past week that you all should know about. That's all ahead.
If you're a loyal DCBLOG reader, then generally punctuate our posts covering the MTV Trifecta of the Real World/Challenge franchise and Are You The One? with side posts covering the people and the stories of these shows. This week, we're re-posting these bits here for the sake of those who don't want to scroll all the way down to these stories, as well as the timing of two stories that have taken place in the past couple weeks of the tragic shootings in Orlando, FL two weeks ago and the Cleveland Cavaliers' NBA title win a week later. Enjoy these pieces of DC ExtraTime.
As you begin the new week, we begin ours with another edition of DC WRAP as we cover last week in the MTV Trifecta ahead of Episode 3 of Are You The One? coming up tonight. Last week, we saw talk of marriage two weeks in dominate the buzz in the AYTO house, but of big time drama in the Rivals III house where Camila & Tony were kicked off for violent behavior as well as an unusual mission.
We'll have an extended DC FORUM commentary on that ladder, a mini-recap of the former, plus fantasy scoring and fan reaction to last week in the Trifecta. After that, it's part 2 of DC ExtraTime's special series on the Orlando tragedy as a one-time Central Florida resident makes an emotional trip to the Pulse Nightclub that was the site of a senseless act of terrorism. All that is next.
As you begin this new week, welcome to DC WRAP as we review last week in the MTV Trifecta before the weekly cycle begins once again. And if we thought the comeback last year's Are You The One? cast had was something, no doubt it's JV compared to, of course, what happened last night with LeBron and the Cavs pulling off the greatest comeback in NBA history - more coming up later here.
Last Monday was the premiere of Are You The One? Season 4 where we saw a twist right out of the gate where the house was tested about love at first sight which didn't turn out that way but the group did manage to garner three beams and get off to a good start. And a couple nights later, we had Episode 7 of Rivals III where Camila continued her bickering with her partner Tony while she received unfortunate news from back home, and where the power team squandered a chance to change the game completely.
Ahead, our standard lineup of the Things to Know recap of last week, plus Winners List and Fantasy Scoring. Afterwards on ExtraTime, three of this season's players and a Challenge great try their luck at a favorite of their childhood, plus a musical perfect match and a Real World reunion. That's all next.
This Rivals III Challenge season has already been as dramatic as you can get, and has just about reached its halfway point, and we are in that time where we should know who will be in this game for the long haul. Of course, there's still a lot left to be decided although more than half the original field are still in the running, including a few of the notable big-name veterans - one of them being the subject of not just this week's episode but also this dedicated edition of DC ExtraTime.
For Camila, she has had a stellar run to becoming one of The Challenge's biggest names. We first met this native Brazilian on a special Spring Break edition of the show in the spring of 2010 when she was a University of Nebraska student enjoying that vacation in Mexico. Ironically enough, that mini season had a moment where after she ate a hot pepper in the scorching sun, she collapsed to the sand and players had to call medics over to get immediate help while she was wincing in pain. Luckily, she was okay and after being part of the winning team formed by Challenge vet (and now podcast host) Susie Meister, the drama she provided that week was enough for producers to invite her to join the big show on Cutthroat later that year. Though she was in the same position as the AYTO kids are here of being relative outsiders in having not earned their way into the big leagues by being a past RW alum or a Fresh Meat partner, it has certainly paid off in the long run.
In Prague, she left her mark both competitively (a deep run as a rookie) and in the house where her outspoken manner drew the attention of the girls including Theresa. That argument with her got them paired up on Rivals I, where they both got into words with Jonna & Jasmine, and saw Jazzy KO a mirror. Of course, there was that famous tirade she had on Battle of the Exes that is no doubt her signature moment, and somehow she & Bananas won the final. On BOTS 2 came another meltdown when she went off on Big Easy Eric for quitting an Arena, and she got into words with Jemmye on a ride back from the club. Those two got paired up on Rivals II and won the last Jungle to get into the final but settled for a 3rd place showing. And of course, there's been the three times in the past couple years that she's got into the face of her frenemy, Nany; and what we've seen with her and Tony.
But, there's a side of the Camilanator that a lot of you don't know that she has. It's a musical side of her and, in a way, we like to call it The Softer Side of Camila.
As you prepare for what happens tonight in Mexico, welcome again to DCBLOG as we review last week on Rivals III. Last week, we saw the teams strip down in the Mexican heat at the end of a grueling mini-final that separated the big dogs from the others in Bananas & Sarah winning. But we also had some controversy as the mystery behind a simple token saw Camila & Tony get caught cheating and being demoted down into the Jungle and sparing Nate & Christina. We also saw Vince and Thomas get into words, but also saw Tom get bad news from back home that, rightfully so, put family and health ahead of being in this Challenge and denied an elimination confrontation between Camila and the team the Power Team voted in, Nany & Wes.
Ahead, a recap of last week, our Winners List, the Fantasy Trax and fan reaction. Plus, ExtraTime offers thoughts on the eerie coincidence of watching last week and Challenge stars gather in New York. Join us here next.
Welcome back again to DCBLOG as we continue our ride through the Trifecta and Rivals III. Week 5 saw the third mission of this season, and the second elimination as well, see the demise of a team with finals experience as them trying to work together and inexperience get the better of them. A night of name calling saw the week's power team face a decision of whether to safeguard their best friend or have their teammate's back as her enemy is making life in the house a living hell. And the only team who was eliminated from this game returned as a replacement team.
We will cover not only Episode 5 of this Challenge but also Episode 4 for reasons we'll explain there after the jump, plus a check into fantasy scoring, winners list and fan reaction. And on DC ExtraTime, we will join with a key figure from last week as she tackles the huge challenge she has ahead of going to culinary school, along with my memory of the man who's called The Greatest. Join us next.
As we reach single digits in the countdown to Season 4 of Are You The One? - and with a press event that took place last Thursday in MTV's New York headquarters, there's a simple reason why I have this thing called the MTV Trifecta... Three reality TV shows airing on a relatively young cable channel with the same formula of big time drama and dynamic, relatable personalities. Simone was part of a renowned original cast of the newcomer of the bunch two years ago and gave us something to believe in when it comes to love. The whole cast really connected with all of us and it's the success of that first season that has them on these Challenges and why there's Season 4 in more than a week.
There have been occasions in the course of the past 25 years of this ecosystem of AYTO, The Real World, and The Challenge, where castmates are having a second exposure on our national airwarves after they were on a previous TV series, not counting commercial or music video work. For the newest Real World mom, Jonna appeared on Discovery Hub's Endurance as a kid and won a trip to the Amazon before she went to Cancun. We first saw Real World Hollywood's Briana on season 5 of American Idol before we saw her document her evolving musical career. And for AYTO 4, we saw Francesca and Asaf on previous FOX reality shows which we'll look at during this coming season. Speaking of that network...
For two members of both the first season of AYTO, and one from Real World Portland, their MTV debuts weren't the first time they were on a nationally shown reality TV show. That came all the way back in 2012 when the FOX network aired a summer dating show called The Choice. So You Think You Can Dance's Cat Deeley hosted the show that took the idea of spinning chairs and blind auditions from NBC's The Voice, and instead of music, it put in four celebrities sitting in those chairs like Adam, Blake, Gwen and co., and contestants making pitches to the single celebs with the hope that they would land the person of their choice for a date.
Those who were featured in that lone season included Jersey Shore's Mike the Situation and DJ Pauly D, Singled Out alum Carmen Electra, DNCE's Joe Jonas, and Rob Kardashian, who we showed you hanging out with Prosper from AYTO 4 a few weeks back and is now an engaged man. Also trying their luck in primetime were Tyson Beckford, American Idol's Taylor Hicks, Miss USA Rima Fakih, NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp and frequent rule-breaker Ndamukong Nuh, and Olympians Steven Lopez and Seth Wescott... quite a star-studded list.
Before we saw them go for love on that original AYTO season in Hawaii two years ago, we saw Brittany and Chris Scali try their luck on The Choice. For Brittany, the luck of being from New England saw her be in the same episode as the new cover athlete for the Madden NFL series: Rob Gronkowski. For one of the other contestants that pleaded to Gronk, she told him that she was a virgin, but unfortunately Brittany didn't get chosen by the Patriot.
For Scali before he got close with Paige and then as part of the love triangle with Jacy and JJ that ultimately decided their $1 million payday, he was on the all-girls episode that featured Electra, Fakih, Australian model Sophie Monk and Playboy’s Hope Dworaczyk. Chris went to all four ladies to plead about what he had to offer to the lady who took over for Jenny McCarthy on Singled Out.
It went all the way down to the last round for Chris, and when faced with picking him or another guy, Carmen chose Chris and he scored the date with her. On their date, and she had what they call "a manny paddy" and he even told her that he would even move to L.A. for Carmen. That didn't materialize, but of the two AYTO originals, we have only the episode featuring the Brooklynite.
And before she let loose on Real World Portland and then on her two Challenges - and being featured in a poignant ExtraTime recently, Nia came to The Choice looking for love. On the same premiere episode as Jersey Shore's DJ Pauly D, Nia was paired up with soap opera actor turned film producer Jason Cook. Go to the 40:00 min mark for her part in the episode, and - you guessed it - Nia also wins her way to him. So began the rise of the girl we call Hurricane Nia.
I would always tell people that even if they don't like the quality of play during the NFL offseason, there is always people who would watch those meaningless games because somewhere down there, there could be a draft steal somewhere on the sidelines - ask Tom Brady. If you're a reality TV fan who watches competition shows a lot and sees all of those contestants looking for love or money --- keep an eye out for them. They may pop up on your screens again, perhaps even to that trio I call the MTV Trifecta. It's happened to Nia, to Scali, and to Brittany.
