DC WRAP: The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30 - The Finale in Review

BY DC CUEVA                     
■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As you get settled back into work and school - or just taking a break from taking advantage of those Cyber Monday deals, we're back as we continue along on our trip Inside the MTV Trifecta after the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Something we're proud to say after all of this is that a long season of The Challenge XXX has finally ended, but not before being a bare witness to so much drama, competition and much more since this ride began back in June when this season was first revealed. In the end, Dirty 30 might've looked like the finale of American Idol or the last moments of the Oscars in the big news that everyone awaited coming all the way at the end of the two-part finale reunion, on top of 17 episodes. And while everyone enjoyed the season as a whole including yours truly, not everyone is happy with how it ended.
   As is our custom for the season finale of any of the major series we at DCBLOG cover, coming up on this dedicated WRAP we'll be devoting the whole of this week's review to covering the final of Dirty 30... we'll begin recapping Champs vs. Stars and both last and this week's episodes this coming week along with Episodes 10 and 11 of Are You The One? Season 6 and tonight's premiere of Floribama Shore. See you after the jump as we review the homestretch of The Challenge XXX.

DC FORUM Special: Another MTV Reality Ex-Plosion?

The views & opinions expressed in DC FORUM are only of its blogger and do not necessarily reflect the views of DCBLOG or affiliated parties. This post also contains potential spoilers for some readers, please read with caution below.

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Welcome back again on this Thanksgiving weekend... Back on Black Friday, we focused on the finale of The Challenge XXX and the premiere of Champs vs. Stars, with one person being the focus for unfortunate reasons. Earlier today, we looked at Week 10 of Are You The One? NOLA, and tomorrow night it's the premiere of the new revival of an old favorite in Floribama Shore - the Southern reboot of Jersey Shore. Now, with a recap of the former still ahead, for a moment let's take a 180 and bring you the one post of this week's wave that is sure to offer plenty of tea.

Ordinarily - as we wrote a few weeks ago, it's our vision here at DCBLOG to focus our attention to the shows we are covering and those that are airing currently, and the stories that go along with them too. We don't use this site much for discussing rumors on future seasons of The Challenge or any other series that feeds castmates into the fifth major pro sport until the moment the buzz for those seasons begin. And only when we feel it is necessary do we get to discuss future matters if we consider it big enough of a deal that we should talk about it here.
   With that in mind - and with a long Challenge season having just ended, another one wrapping taping overseas and the one in between those two now airing, something has been brewing around the MTV hotstove in the past week or so. But instead of talking about who is potentially being cast for a show we love to cover here and you love to watch as much as I do, this one is for something totally different - at least to the American audience. But if you're one of those who visit our great site from outside the United States, then it's likely that you have heard of the show that resembles what happened when San Francisco hosted the total reinvention of the OG of reality TV.
   The very idea of what happened in the very first Real World season we covered here in Ex-Plosion three years ago and what premiered shortly after in the first season of Are You The One? offers the backdrop for this special edition of DC FORUM, where we'll a look at MTV's international dating series, Ex On The Beach, and our thoughts on the new U.S. version of the show that's currently in production right now, and featuring some very familiar faces. You'll want to join us after the jump for all of the juicy details.

DC WRAP Double Shot: Challenge XXX Finale Pt. 2 and AYTO Season 6 Wk. 8

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As you wrap up your Sunday and extended weekend, and for yours truly - the beginning of my birthday activities now about to begin, welcome back again as we now WRAP last week in the MTV Trifecta... a week of big time drama and twists for that matter. Last week saw the final play out on The Challenge XXX where we knew at the end of that long trek and long season that we still don't know who will get which of the $1 million under their Christmas tree this year. And over in New Orleans, someone who entertained us returned to the Are You The One? house as the exes came invading.
   An abbreviated WRAP here with just an AYTO Things to Know recap and poll results, plus we'll discuss the strange world of connections within Team MTV, as well as a Real World'er being spotted on network television. But first, we'll head into the Strategy Room for a stage-by-stage look at how the Dirty 30 final went for our six finalists... join us here next.

DC WRAP Double Shot: Challenge XXX Final Pt. 1 and AYTO6 Episode 7

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As you all settle into this short work week, welcome back again to our DCBLOG look Inside the MTV Trifecta as we look back at last week in the world of The Challenge and Are You The One? before things get down to business tomorrow night. Last week, we saw the final two spots determined for the unprecedented $1 million final of Dirty 30 in a new location on the former, while on the ladder we saw one power couple break up and more start to sizzle as they try to reverse their fortunes in Louisiana.
   Coming up, we'll delve into the Strategy Room to reveal our Power Rankings for The Challenge XXX final with less than 24 hours before we decide champions. Plus, we'll also recap last week's Are You The One? with our matchup chart and analysis, and the results of our three polls where we once again recorded double-digits for our cumulative polling. And then on ExtraTime, we'll show you some of the best from Halloween with the MTV family... so stay here with us, will you?

DC WRAP Double Shot: Challenge XXX EP15 and AYTO Season 6 EP6

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

With just hours left until Halloween arrives, welcome one more time this week to DCBLOG's WRAP of last week in the MTV Trifecta. Last Tuesday, a Dirty 30 Challenge season that's been dragging on all this second half of 2017 finally began to enter its penultimate stage with three players from the Redemption House joining the seven who had been waiting in the main house for their shot to earn their way into the final. And there, TJ Lavin informed the semifinalists that they would not be playing for the usual $350,000 that goes to the finalists for making it to the end, but $1 Million will be on the line. And in the other million dollar game in New Orleans, the Are You The One? kids were tasked with sending in their strongest power couple into what was the biggest Truth Booth yet, and it was only part of a down week in their hopes to cash in.

   Coming up, we'll recap last week's episodes for you on our Things to Know top moments, take a trip into the Strategy Room for the latest power rankings and matchup chart along with analysis. And along with the results of five Twitter polls we conducted this past week, we'll also tell you of who the newest mom and wife in the MTV community is. That's all ahead.

DC ExtraTime: Devastation and Tragedy

Following contains excerpts from DCBLOG's Pulse posts this weekend, reposted in the interest of readers for those who don't want to scroll all the way down following our episode coverage.

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

An attribute of the ExtraTime stories that appear at the end of our weekly posts and on their own is to offer a different look at the people of the MTV Trifecta, from the real-life experiences and struggles they encounter when the cameras aren't filming, to putting the events of the moment in context through the specter of these people. The three stories we're sharing with you this weekend best fit this unique aspect of our MTV coverage covering life-changing stories to two members from recent casts of these shows, and we begin after the jump with something that has dominated this year's headlines.

DC ExtraTime: Javi's Going for Love

Following contains excerpts from DCBLOG posts earlier this year, reposted in the interest of readers.

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

In this brief respite from our usual coverage of what we call the MTV Trifecta, for those who follow the entire MTV reality TV spectrum this past weekend the cast of Teen Mom 2 and their related contemporaries got together to film their season's reunion. And news has just emerged of the former husband of TM2's Kailyn Lowry, Javi Marroquin, now starting to date the newbie of the bunch, Briana DeJesus from Teen Mom 3 who joined Kailyn, Chelsea, Leah and Jenelle this season.

   With news of their relationship now starting to emerge, we thought about taking a look back to two stories that featured him from our coverage of the last Trifecta cycle earlier this year, when he first announced his intent to get cast on AYTO Season 6 on the Season 5 After Show with new host Terrence J, then going on a one-night stand with Madison from Real World Skeletons and ex of current Challenge competitor Tony.  Enjoy this bonus edition of ExtraTime.

DC WRAP Double Shot: Challenge XXX EP14 and AYTO Season 6 EP5

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

We're into another week, and as you try to get through your Monday welcome back to our DCBLOG view of the MTV Trifecta before new episodes air tomorrow night. Last week, we had a full Challenge episode, shall we say, with mission and elimination included that saw big time drama take place in between and a meeting of two giants. And on AYTO, there was also some heated drama there as well, along with a lingerie party and a mixup of sorts as the house tried to get everyone else to switch up.
   Coming up, our recap of last week with the key moments, a look at another comeback season in the one they call the bulldog making what could be his best chance at the crown, and interesting tidbits as the season by the season by the Bayou reaches halfway. And you don't wanna miss what we have in store on ExtraTime: guest appearances by a true original and one of TV's most popular series… find out who they are ahead. See you there.

DC WRAP Double Shot: Challenge XXX Week 13 & AYTO Season 6 Week 4

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As all of you get through your Monday blues, we at DCBLOG have the perfect cure in offering you our WRAP of last week in the MTV Trifecta before new episodes begin tomorrow night. Last week in Colombia, if the game on The Challenge XXX hadn't gotten serious by then it indeed has with big moves being made that may tell us who the ones to watch are as we now get closer to the final, at last. Meanwhile up in New Orleans on Are You The One? Season 6, it's something similar but amidst the bar hops the dates are taking on Bourbon, who knew that a night of sumo could see one couple head to Heartbreak City?
   Ahead, Things to Know returns with an expanded edition to cover the key moments of the past three weeks (all backed up by TBC's during this time), plus we'll look at Hunter's breakout season as he makes his plea for Breakout Performer of the Season. After the particulars, ExtraTime will focus on the man who ruled the Gulag on his breakout Challenge who's now taking on his biggest challenge yet, and of which big name superstar got to meet #SS6's resident heartthrob.  All that is ahead.

DC FORUM Special: Another Invasion of The Challenge?

The views & opinions expressed in DC FORUM are only of its blogger and subject and do not necessarily reflect the views of DCBLOG or affiliated parties. This post also contains potential spoilers for some readers, please read with caution below.

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As you enjoy the Monday of your three-day holiday weekend or just going about the start of this week if you're not off today, welcome back once again to Inside the MTV Trifecta on DCBLOG. In the last four days, we've brought you the Pulse of the latest episodes of The Challenge XXX and Are You The One? Six, plus a WRAP of those two yesterday and an ExtraTime doubleheader of music videos featuring members of both of our shows' casts. Now, to perhaps the juiciest post of this weekend's blog wave... we have saved this for last to conclude our look at Week 12 of this cycle.

   As we glide along with a Challenge season that started in the middle of the heat of the summer and has been going along at a slow but still exciting pace along with the first few weeks of AYTO Season 6 as we're now in the month of October, there is already something brewing around what those who know about baseball jargon call the "hotstove" -- the talk that takes place during the winter offseason of fans and media speculating about contract negotiations, re-signings, trades, free agency and the flood of player movement that takes place between the World Series and spring training.
   As Season 30 of the fifth major pro sport approaching its business end of the season starting tomorrow night, filming is already underway for Season 31 overseas… hence our diary for this week was truncated a bit by the absence on social media of some of this season's current competitors. But, from the very beginning of that, there's already been buzz about the potential cast of this season that will air in the new year. Need not worry, you can expect those favorite veterans you're accustomed to seeing give it a go once again.

   But, if you thought the crossover of the third leg of the love experiment of this Trifecta into the fifth major pro sport was something, imagine what it would be like if The Challenge got to welcome more new people and shows into its roll call... one of them doesn't have anything to do with the MTV ecosystem. And on this very special edition of DC FORUM, we'll have our thoughts on Season 31 for all of you to check out, so join us after the jump.

DC WRAP Double Shot: Challenge XXX Week 12 & AYTO Season 6 Week 3

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Today is the birthday of one of the MTV Trifecta's most famous alumni: Mike "The Miz," who got his start on Real World Back to New York in 2001, and went on to both several Challenges and to a successful WWE career. And on this Sunday Funday, welcome back to our look Inside the MTV Trifecta as we WRAP up last week on The Challenge XXX and Are You The One? Six.
   In Colombia, we saw two more big twists big revealed in yet another Redemption House for those who lose the coming eliminations as well as the winners of the succeeding challenge getting to send players there directly along with those into elimination. And in New Orleans, we saw Michael become the heartbreaker in the house, while the house's strongest couples were awoken by their connections which got them nowhere but almost led them to a familiar scenario that two previous casts have had after their second Matchup.
   Since both episodes ended without resolution, again we'll be tabling our usual Things to Know episode recap to next week or whenever they do end with resolution. But coming up, we'll be focusing our attention on the comeback week this week of longtime Challenge veteran Veronica, look at where the game stands in NOLA, and then look at when three AYTO seasons all converge. Join us ahead as we continue a busy holiday weekend look Inside the MTV Trifecta.

DC ExtraTime: Music Week

Following contains excerpts from DCBLOG's Pulse posts during this weekend, reposted in the interest of our readers and containing bits in relation to two current cast members of The Challenge XXX and AYTO Season 6.

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

This week following our two diaries covering this week's episodes of The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30 and Are You The One? Season 6, DCBLOG marked this past week's return to MTV of the iconic Total Request Live, "TRL" with showcasing two music videos with relation to cast members from both seasons. For the interest of those who don't want to scroll down to the end of the posts, we are reposting these bits for everyone to check out... enjoy these two pieces of ExtraTime as we mark Music Week on this site.

DC WRAP Double Shot: AYTO Season 6 Week 2 & Challenge XXX Week 11

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As your weekend winds to a close and this month of October is now starting, we at DCBLOG have this WRAP of the week in the MTV Trifecta. This past week, we saw Challengers wipe out into the waters below, one player get dealt an emotional blow in breaking up with his girlfriend, and another -- his close friend in the house -- get sent home from Colombia for getting himself in a fight with one of the top veterans. And on AYTO, we had our first Matchup Ceremony, a player find himself in a love triangle and romances abounding as their time in NOLA is starting up.
   As is our custom and policy, if there are TBC's in any episodes we cover, the reviews for that week's episodes are jettisoned over to the following week's WRAP... thus, we'll have recaps of this week's episodes for you next week as part of an extended Things to Know. But we won't ignore this week here, and coming up well head into the Strategy Room to look at where AYTO stands after its first Matchup along with poll results, plus ExtraTime has special appearances by some of music's best as well as a Road Rules reunion.

   But first after the jump and lieu of where we would review the episodes, a Challenge champion speaks out on an issue that's been everywhere in the past two weeks... Join us for all of that ahead.

DC WRAP Double Shot: Challenge XXX EP10 and AYTO S6 Premiere

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As you go about your Monday, back we are at DCBLOG to recap last week's activities in the MTV Trifecta before we go into all new episodes coming tomorrow night.
   Last week, there was something for everyone for Challenge fans as those in the Redemption House were given another chance to win their way back into the Dirty 30 and saw a veteran lady and a Young Buck win and a girl with Statitude falter badly. Meanwhile, MTV summer hit Fear Factor returned for a one-off special as the Challengers showed who's boss in a battle between Bananas, Leroy, Aneesa and Laurel faced off against the cast of the upcoming series Shredders. And in New Orleans, Are You The One? Season 6 debuted and saw a good number of hookups and love aplenty among our new group of 22 singles as Terrence J. took over as host.
   Coming up, we'll look at the key moments of this past week on the three episodes, and head into the Strategy Room to look at what's next for a Dirty 30 season that seems to not come to an end anytime soon but is heading into the middle innings... along with a look at what the magic number is on AYTO... and it's not the two-digit numbers you think they are. After our poll results, who is the latest big name to jump onto the Team Jailah bandwagon? Find out with us next.