DC ExtraTime: Dancing with a Star in Night School

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

During this past year, The Challenge has had another trilogy to dovetail with what we've been seeing with Dirty 30, Vendettas and the current season of Final Reckoning. Before the three-season saga began last year, it had the chance to fulfill the fantasy of everyone who calls this show "the fifth major pro sport" by asking who is better: the Champs aka the Veterans who you see each week on the regular shows, or the Pros & Stars from sports, entertainment and beyond who were asked to go up against the incumbent establishment.
   Over three seasons, The Challenge's spinoff series, Champs vs. Pros/Stars, saw Olympians, former athletes, musicians, a couple former reality stars and even a hip-hop star's socially active sister go up against Bananas, Cara, CT and the rest of The Challenge's finest, with Victor Cruz and then The Miz taking over for TJ Lavin as emcee. From seeing T.O. go at it with C.T. to Louise Hazel drawing limes out to determine elimination opponents... Hennessy Carolina's blow-out and Bananas & Wes going at it in elimination, Champs vs. Stars offered some juicy competition and drama in between seasons of our favorite show. But above all else, it's charity that brought them all together: all the players' efforts benefited the causes and foundations they care deeply about.
​   After Cara Maria took the winner's paycheck on Vendettas which was shoved into the last minutes of another long, dragged out two-part reunion came the premiere of Champs vs. Stars II, which also saw things mix up after an almost perfect season by the Champs when Bananas, Emily and CT reigned supreme in CVS I, as well as Cara & Darrell settling unfinished business winning Champs vs. Pros. There, the twist saw both Champs AND Stars competing on two different teams for most of the season until just before the final when they were all paired up. It made for the most competitive and entertaining of the spinoff's three seasons, and one of its stars is the person of our focus.

DC WRAP: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars III - Finale Endgame

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

We are at halftime of 2018 in MTV Reality, and what a time to be alive for those who follow these shows you love following an eventful first half of the year. We began just after New Year's Day with The Challenge Vendettas, then went to Hawaii for Ex On The Beach -- and both have certainly brought us the goods. For those into shows outside the Trifecta, there was the second half of Siesta Key, two generations of Teen Mom being joined by those Young & Pregnant, and of course, Jersey Shore Family Vacation.
   And then, there's the third spinoff season of The Challenge, Champs vs. Stars II. There, despite having just three actual champions and a group who joined them who didn't all have finals experience, nonetheless they brought their very best against an almost-entirely new group of athletes and celebrities who gave it their best shot... and then, there was the Olympian who heralded the British invasion to The Challenge who certainly put up a strong effort in a season we won't forget.
   As is custom for the final act of the major series this site covers - and in the first of two of them to come here this week, this entire WRAP is dedicated to the stretch run and final of a Champs vs. Stars season that had everything we wanted in a regular Challenge season: drama, competition, an intense final and worthy champions. We'll have some takeaways from this season, head into the Strategy Room to dissect the finalists and discuss Team Dad Bod... that is all ahead.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars III - The Reunion

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Hello, and welcome to the final week of the first half of the 2018 MTV Reality year. And as you take a break from listening to Drake's new album, recovering from both Ronaldo AND Messi getting knocked out of the World Cup earlier, prepping for your Saturday night activities or the madness NBA fans will have in just a few short hours, or watching the Big Brother live feeds amidst the summer heat outside, we have quite a closing stretch for you here, starting with one final piece of business to take care of for The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars III.
   This most eventful season began after Cara Maria won Vendettas and from the outset things have been dramatic and eventful. We had a blowup by Cardi B's sister, Champ girls obsessed with Drake Bell, and a romance that turned out for not between a Cavalier and a Queen. On the field, things were just as juicy: Louise Hazel became the first two-time celebrity participant and played this game like a veteran... so did her eventual finals partner Casper Smart in him winning two eliminations. And this season turned out to be the most competitive of all the three spinoff Challenge seasons.
   It all came down to a tension-packed final challenge where Louise & Casper, Wes & Booby and CT & Tony squared off in the rain, and in the end the spoils went the way of Team Dad Bod. All that's left to do for Tony, CT and the rest of the cast is to regather with Mike The Miz to discuss matters on the first reunion show for the spinoff. They'll discuss what went down in the SoCal sun and cold, both on the competition front and the drama taking place in between.

We'll have that covered for you here, plus we'll reconnect with someone who's made her name in the social media world as she's seen her fellow former castmate take over The Challenge in the past year. All of that is ahead... nice to have you with us.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars III - The Finale

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

It's the first official weekend of summer, and whether you're enjoying time at the beach, just lounging around escaping the heat outside watching the World Cup or prepping to go party or watch the summer blockbusters, we're heading towards the conclusion of the first half of the 2018 year in MTV Reality. And it all begins with the final act of the third spinoff installment of The Challenge, and the second Champs vs. Stars.
   Last week, it was the semifinal - the last regular challenge before the final, and the four remaining teams were offered one more chance to prove themselves before the true test begins, as they returned to where the season's first challenge took place: on the beach. And their test molded speed, puzzles and pop culture... and while some of the teams struggled one did not. And in the end, it was CT and Tony who began the deciding pairs portion of this season on top, and it was them who gained the automatic berth into the final.
   In holding all the power, the all-Champs team invited Wes & Booby to join them there - and this week Casper & Louise and Kailah & Drake who will battle it out for that last spot. And once the final field is determined, we arrive at a most-grueling final... and if you thought recent finals have been ho-hum, wait until you get to see what goes down: endurance, a wine vineyard, stages, and rain... all combining for the most intense final challenge we've had in quite a while... and for the first time in many years, it's one that may not be decided until the very last few minutes.

You and us will experience this nail-biter with all the action, reaction and interaction of this finale just ahead... and if you're looking for the In-Between interaction it's in its own post this week, featuring Father's Day, the World Cup, reflections on Ryan Knight and ghost stories(!). And once we crown a champion, stick around afterwards for ExtraTime where we'll have a fight that was caught on tape... courtesy of a member of MTV's most popular franchises.
   It's one final chance in the test to see who's best... after the jump, it's The Pulse of the Finale of Champs vs. Stars III. Enjoy it, folks.

DC SocialPulse Extra: Road to the CVS III Finale

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language and objectionable content. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Hello, and welcome to the weekend and to this week's trip Inside MTV Reality. Coming up, champions are crowned in the rain, the exes return to Hawaii, and a fight(!). But first: this Pulse Extra, with a Reunion, Father's Day, soccer mania and remembering Ryan Knight.
   Enjoy all of the interaction in between last week's and this week's episodes below, all ahead of our regular Pulse posts beginning in a bit.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars - The Semfinal

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Happy Father's Day to you and yours from DCBLOG and from this blogger and my dad. And tonight, we have a special treat for you this Sunday: two SocialPulse diaries to cover two eventful episodes in MTV Reality - starting with The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars.
   Last week saw arguably this season's strongest players, Louise & Casper, get sent into elimination to face off against the weakest players left, Jozea & Selita, and despite them giving their very best effort the Olympian and the dancer as expected took out the win and vaulted to the top of the money table. They were also part of some good old controversy when her foot moved when it wasn't supposed to be in a Twister-like endurance challenge which caught the ire of one Shane, as three teams were sent packing by night's end in this season's Purge.
   This week, it's the last challenge before the final - and in a preview of what the players should expect in a few days, it's multiple parts: on the beach, speed, solving puzzles, and pop culture all mixed in to dare the pairs who are left to have it all together. Those who finish first not only get dibs on who to put into the last elimination, but also claim their spot in the final, claim $3,000 for charity and receive a all-expense-paid trip. And if one of the dads left in this race has his way, he might have something up his sleeve.

We'll have all the action, reaction and interaction of semifinal week of Champs vs. Stars ahead, along with paying ode to the late great Diem Brown. And afterwards, we'll step into the Strategy Room to analyze this game before it reaches its climax, and on ExtraTime we'll tell you which star from many years ago is on the side of one of the competitors making his way to Final Reckoning.
   It's all ahead on the Pulse of The Challenge... it's good to have you with us.

Strategy Room: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars - The Final Four

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

This week, it's the semifinal round of The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars III, and in many ways this is the field we wanted to contest the last challenge before the final dash for the cash. We have a perfect and worthy field of those who have made it this far just this close to the final, and the $150,000 that awaits one of the four teams who have made it to this penultimate week.
   We have a defending champion looking to win a third final in 13 months, an alum of the Champs vs. Pros cast looking to notch that elusive victory to add to two titles and his elimination king status, a man who's emerged from almost nowhere the past year to have his shining moment, and a Pro turned Star who's been the standout of this season and who teamed with a cocky Star who's shown that there's more to him than being a famous Ex. We can't forget the resident heartthrob of the bunch is still in the running, his partner who's eager to try to crash the bash, and NBA player who's kept calm but is aiming for his chance at glory.
   As we head into this ninth week, we have sure seen a lot take place on this Challenge that would've qualified to be an actual regular season than a spinoff. But the field who has made it to this point is a good one that might not have the packed finals field of Dirty 30 or Champs vs. Pros, but with three of them having made good runs to here and a fourth that is still lucky to still be here, whoever emerges out of this field and into the final three will make the final much more competitive than back in January. And perhaps, we could say that this season's final could be anyone's game.

● LOUISE & CASPER: Whenever a player or a team gets hot on The Challenge this late in the game, historically this can be the formula for them entering the winner's circle... that's exactly what Louise & Casper have achieved in winning the most recent elimination that they were expected to win - which didn't come easy against Jozea & Selita, and the ensuing challenge/Purge that came after. Louise has played a brilliant game up to now that the only opponent she has to overcome is of one who we thought would be paired up with in Wes but now has compete against him for the cash. You may like or hate Mr. Smart, but you sure have to give him credit for playing a great game, winning 2 arenas, the first challenge after the re-pairing and was MVP. Now, they should be in the driver's seat.

● CT & TONY: Going into last week, this is the team who we thought would have the edge in this last phase of the season. CT & Tony dodged safety to head into this penultimate week, including him having to get through that smell in vertical Twister. CT came here as defending champion and as part of last season's winning Champs team and has all this finals experience, and we all know Tony has turned the corner in the past year becoming a force with a nickname you may or may not like but plenty to back up #TonyTime. The challenge that's up in this week's show features something Team Dad Bod has excelled at: "speed, solving puzzles, and a bit of pop culture"... this is right up both of these dads' alley and if they win, they should be the finals favorites.

● WES & DANIEL: As we wrote on Memorial Day, if there is someone who is hungry for a title then it is Wes -- the only guy of the original Champs vs. Pros men's field who hasn't won either the spinoff as Bananas, CT and Darrell have or a regular Challenge like Jordan on Dirty 30. Booby, as we also wrote in our last Strategy Room, has more athleticism to him to complement the Manipulator's politics, and they've touted their status as "Team Good Guys." They were the ones who played it safe last week in sending in Selita & Jozea, and if they win this week to claim the automatic berth, watch for what they might do in sending in a strong pair as what happened last week, or save that for next week where it all matters.

● KAILAH & DRAKE: If you are one of those who had Kailah & Drake be that team who were saved in the Purge over Tori & Lil Mama and Brooke & Shane, you must be lucky. Of course, what happened on Vendettas is still fresh to Kailah, and she was likely the one who came here with lots to prove despite a finals trip back in April - she proved that winning an elimination here. Aside from MVP honors in the last week of Red vs. Blue, we haven't heard much from Drake outside of the Champ girls obsessing over him... but Allan Aguirre on Medium touted the same qualities other Challengers have that would make him an ideal fit -- that will test him here. In our rankings below, they are in last place and likely to get cut... but as we say, anything's possible.


With all that in mind, here's the Power Rankings... come here next week for our predictions of who will win it all.

 POWER RANKINGS 

THE SEMIFINAL

1. LOUISE & CASPER

2. CT & TONY

3. WES & BOOBY

4. DRAKE & KAILAH

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars III - "When Loyalty is Spot On"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

It is the weekend, and at the end of an eventful week in our world and the past seven days in the MTV Reality community, we're glad you're kicking off your Friday with us here at DCBLOG. It's been a week full of drama both on screen and off of it, as well as the start of the ramp-up towards The Challenge: Final Reckoning to come in a month from this weekend -- all of that is ahead. But we start with Champs vs. Stars as we now head towards the end of Season 3 of the spinoff.
   Last week, the season changed yet again with the two teams being split into pairs for the rest of the season, and they then ere faced with their toughest challenge yet - and one familiar to those who competed on the first Champs vs Stars: tackling the water, going deep into the pool and completing an obstacle course underwater. Some excelled, while others squealed at the chance of getting to face their biggest fears of going swimming.
   At the end of that, Brooke & Shane took the win, and Louise & Casper were sent into elimination, and this week sees who the Stars will face off against in an elimination with a game familiar if you love parties. Then, it's all about who can go the longest in this season's Purge, as a challenge slash multiple-team elimination will take the weakest players out before semifinal week. And it's what happens during this challenge that brings out the emotional side of one player when the latest instance of someone trying to sneak one by grabs their attention.

All the action, reaction and interaction of Week 8 of Champs vs. Stars III is ahead, as we begin a busy end to this winter/spring cycle of the MTV Trifecta year of 2018 - one that has been full of drama both on screen and off as well - all starting with parties, rings and fun by the Shore. Join us for all of that as we begin this week's ride Inside MTV Reality... and welcome to the weekend.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars III - "Go Deep, or Go Home"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As you all relax on this Saturday night and this this first weekend of June, we're into the homestretch of this winter/spring cycle of our trip Inside the MTV Trifecta at DCBLOG. And in a week that's seen some social media controversy take place not only in our world but even in the MTV community, we've seen couples make up and breakup and we'll have that and a whole lot more in the next few days. But first, it's week 7 of The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars.
  Last week, we saw Challengers being put into the Cross Fire when slingshots and boxes was on everyone's mind, and saw a familiar result on Tony landing the winning shot and maintaining his hold on a game that he's in a strong position to win. And after we saw Kailah beat Ashley in elimination, Mike The Miz delivered the news to the remaining competitors that the game as they've known it all season is about to change for the third time.
  The Challenge as many of us know it begins this week as the serious business begins with the teams being reshuffled from Champs vs. Stars and Red vs. Blue to pairs of Champs, Stars and often both to eventually determine who goes into the race towards the chase. And yes, no one is safe with their alliances as things get back to square one... and in this case, it's to the pool for the always intense challenges that involve swimming and water, all in time for summer.

We'll have all the action, reaction and interaction ahead here, along with the birthday for Mr. Time himself and confirmation of great news for everyone. All of that is ahead on the Pulse of The Challenge... nice to have you with us.

Strategy Room: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars III - All Paired Up

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

This week, the real game begins on the third installment of The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars, as a twist revealed at the end of last week's elimination and episode will now see this game change drastically. There, Mike "The Miz" announced to the fourteen remaining competitors -- and who were split into Teams Red and Blue to begin with -- that for the rest of this campaign, they will be paired up into teams of two for the rest of the way until the finish line of the final challenge. And the possibility is very strong that, for the very first time, a Star can emerge victorious after we saw Cara Maria, Darrell, Bananas, CT and Emily have comprised the winners circle of the first two editions.
   And if this twist sounds familiar to most of you, this season has been following in much the same format as Battle of the Bloodlines two years ago where the game began as usual with the castmates and their bloodlines, followed by a draft dividing the teams into two and at random, then back into pairs the rest of the way. The only difference between what we saw in Turkey & Germany is that these players are mixed of the incumbent Champs and the Stars who were picked to compete against them, and now there are teams who will compete with each other to try and win the $150,000.
   With our next focus here being the Reality Debrief that will be posted here during the month of June, we won't do a recap for last week's episode. But with MTV.com providing us a leak of the teams who will be paired up for the Race to the Chase before Tuesday's episode, we have this trip into the Strategy Room to see where it all stands. So, let's get right to the point...

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars III - "Champs Caught in Cross Fire"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, and welcome to this week's ride Inside The MTV Trifecta with DCBLOG. Ahead: the already steamy drama intensifies in Hawaii when a blast from the past returns, and we begin our look at the year and season that was in reality TV. But first, we begin with Week 6 of The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars as things begin to get interesting ahead of the dash to the cash.
   Last week in the spirit of the Stanley Cup, jumbo-sized hockey was the week's challenge and in fitting fashion, saw dirty play both in and outside the rink. In the wake of being traded the previous week, Ashley stated her plans to plot revenge to the team who she was traded to, while a twist of swapping out players for the arena saw the Red team in a spotty position, as Jozea was saved from an elimination that Wes would win to add to his elimination resume.
   For this week, we turn to ingenuity, slingshots and trying to stay up top above ground while finding yourself in the line of the "Cross Fire." One team has an even number of Champs and Stars on their team, and after the near whitewash the Champs had last season the Stars begin to plot their plan to take back control of their game. More politics take place with both teams ahead of the week's arena battle, but it's what happens after the final whistle that will send things into a tailspin.

All the action, reaction and interaction is ahead on this diary, plus find out how the Trifecta's biggest super fan saw this week's drama-filled episode of Teen Mom 2, as well as the Royal Wedding and a return of some good friends from an early summer vacation. All of that is ahead on the 'Pulse of Champs vs. Stars... and welcome to the weekend, and Summer '18. It's good to have you with us.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Champs vs Stars - "Fire in the Heart, Ice in the Veins"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As you all enjoy this Super Saturday with the Royal Wedding and the FA Cup Final on the same day in Britain and a big event weekend in America as well, why not take a break from your festivities for this week's trip Inside the MTV Trifecta with DCBLOG? Ahead: the tables turn in the Ex On The Beach house, but we begin with the second half starting off on The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars III.

   Last week, the toughest challenge yet saw emojis collide with hits and tackles, and when the dust was settled Brooke had joined the infamous quitters' club (though she escaped somewhat from getting scolded) and Aneesa had to withdraw with a sprained ankle. And the other side of Ashley returned when a surprise twist was laid on the group in her being traded from her team, and leading to chaos on her part.
   For this week, it's only natural that our challenge takes place when the oldest trophy in North American sports is being contested and that this very diary is posted on the day those north of the border look forward to the most, as a life-sized game of jumbo table hockey takes center stage a few hours before Hockey Night in Canada. However, there may be dirty play on offering in the trader plotting revenge for last week's twist, and instability on the part of the team who did that one dirty.

We'll have all the action, reaction and interaction from Week 5 of Champs vs. Stars ahead, along with Team MTV celebrating Mother's Day. And after the journal, when happens when someone flies into your house expectedly? ExtraTime will head into the Funny File to look at when a bird flies into the house that a 3-time Challenge finalist calls home… and it was caught on camera.

   It's all ahead on the Pulse of Champs vs. Stars... and welcome to the weekend. It's good to have you with us.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars III - "Face Off, Gloves On"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Hello, and welcome on in to DCBLOG's 5th Birthday Weekend, and to this week's look at the week that was in MTV Reality... and quite a week it's been - kicking off with The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars as we reach the halfway point of the third installment of this special attraction.

   Last week, Team Blue found themselves all over the map when Casper disregarded his team to play for himself and costing his team a win. We also saw Tony Time continue with him taking elimination, and strategy playing a role in Team Red using their save option to keep Shane. But it all had to take a backseat to what went down before the arena: this season's pop-off queen Hennessy getting into it with Devin before nominations, and leading to her deciding to bolt back to the Bronx, like what we saw with T.O. last season.
   If the first three challenges were more like a cakewalk for these players having seen them go up a hill, play with ribbons and become human curling stones, this week sees the most demanding mission yet. It's those we love that that's physical and in your face, including those famous faces we see on our social media apps of those lovable emojis. It's what happens during and after this challenge that may change the complexity of this game, physically for one player, mentally for another, and a whole other level for one who's had their moments over the years.

We'll have all the action, reaction and interaction from Week 4 of Champs vs. Stars III ahead, along with Cinco de Mayo, the Met Gala and the return of a great American tradition: Jemmye and her live tweets of Teen Mom. And speaking of parenting, stay around afterwards as ExtraTime spends a day with the man who was a total hot mess express the first time we saw him on MTV, and who is now a new dad... find out who that is.

   All of that is ahead on the Pulse of The Challenge... and Welcome to the Weekend.

DC WRAP: The Challenge - Champs vs. Stars III: The First Three Episodes

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

In a matter of hours, the drama and competition resumes on The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars III, but not without a lot taking place in the course of the first three weeks. There have been big twists, big competition and big drama that's involved a Veteran with his own nickname when his time arrives, a Pro who's proven that she can hang with the big guns, and Stars who have proven that there's more to them than being J-Lo's ex and Cardi B's sister.
   We'll look back at the key moments of the first three episodes ahead, and we'll also have more on that link between a Champ and a man who has made his fair share of headlines down in Florida. All of that is ahead as we at DCBLOG kick off our 5th Anniversary festivities.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars - "From Rainbows to Storm Clouds"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

It is a Friday night, and as we say hello to the month of May, we bring you in to this week's trek Inside the MTV Trifecta with DCBLOG. It's been quite a week for MTV fans in watching Ronnie lose his mind on Jersey Shore and him having just revealed his baby girl in the wake of his own baby mama drama, just as what's been going down with the originals and the fourth generation newbies of Teen Mom. But of most interest is the drama that's been going down on Ex On The Beach which we will be covering later, and first here with Week 3 of The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars.
   Last week, we saw flirting and politics take over when Kam and Booby got flirtatious before last week's challenge, only for that to go away when he decides to nominate her into an elimination that she would eventually lose, but also not give her a life raft after that loss in the arena. We also saw Tony get caught in the act by the magic of video playback when his hands touched the ground during that week's challenge, which resembled both a game your grandparents love to play and what became our guiltiest pleasure for 17 days a few months ago. And yes, we saw Hennessy cause much drama as Cardi B. Mania continues to sweep the social world.
   This week, the tensions rise among one team after a Vendettas finalist who had plenty of those moments this year alone, one Star plots their chance to gain some revenge for being sent into elimination the first time out. All this comes as they finds themselves in a scenario of either wanting to play for themselves against playing for an entire team during a mind-bending challenge... quite literally. On the other side of the ball, the other team is in a precarious position of their own: trying to retain unity while some members of their own team actively do what they can to plot against others in what is still, mentally, a Champs vs. Stars matchup when it's about Red vs. Blue. And yes, when you have a pop-off queen in the room, anything is possible.

We'll have all the in-fighting, the action on the field and pop-off's covered with all the action, reaction and interaction to Week 3 of Champs vs. Stars coming up for you here, along with reaction to Kanye Madness among others. And if you're in the mood for some tunes with summer around the corner, hang with us after the diary as ExtraTime will share with you some tunes from three of the Stars.
   All that is ahead on the Pulse of Champs vs. Stars, as we begin this week Inside the MTV Trifecta. And welcome to the weekend... it's nice for you to be with us.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars III - "Over The Edge & Under A Bus"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

On a Saturday night full of Playoff excitement, laughs at the White House Corespondent's Dinner, an inspirational one-handed player being drafted at the NFL Draft and Kanye Madness taking over, we bring you in to this week's ride Inside the MTV Trifecta with DCBLOG. And after having put a bow last night on Vendettas and Cara Maria becoming Wonder Woman, our attention now turns to two shows this spring, beginning here and now with The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars III.
   Last week, the competition began for our latest group of ten celebrities and athletes including a returning Pro, a guy from Love & Hip Hop and J-Lo's ex going up against champs CT, Wes, Ashley and champs in their minds for this third installment of the spinoff. We got to see the continuation of the dominance of both the veterans and Tony in the first challenge, but then they were caught red-handed by the twist of Champs and Stars competing together on the same teams. We also saw that pro Louise pick up right where she left off, and that ex Casper Smart win the first elimination taking out who was arguably the strongest athlete going into this season, footballer Arian Foster.
   This week, those mixed teams of pros and Joes compete for the first time in what in essence is the Bloodlines format, and a hotter version of a game Canadians love that became America's guiltiest pleasure two months ago comes into focus just as it was on Duel II a decade ago. Meanwhile, a girl who found herself in a love triangle over a year ago with one who happens to be an Ex on Ex on the Beach finds herself in another relationship: this time with a star. And the week that was and is for the hottest girl in the music world right now continues to roll along as her sister decides to bring the club to The Challenge.

All the action, reaction and interaction of Week 2 of Champs vs. Stars is ahead in this reduced diary below, as this show will take on the role of appetizer on this site compared to the main event of Ex on the Beach, whose episode post comes tomorrow. Afterwards, ExtraTime will venture into serious matters when a Challenge champ who went through a lot on TV discusses something that happened recently to her... something very painful.
   All of that is ahead on the Pulse of Champs vs. Stars. And thanks for sticking with us here... it's nice to have you with us.

MTV Trifecta: Countdown to The Challenge - Champs vs. Stars III

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Welcome to Coachella Weekend, and this week's ride Inside the MTV Trifecta with DCBLOG. Thursday saw our first look at Ex On The Beach with some familiar faces from both MTV and the entire reality TV spectrum, and you can check out our preview of that here. And this coming week will no doubt be a busy one with the true finale of The Challenge Vendettas to come in a few days, and we'll have more on that coming up later.
   And as another season of The Challenge comes to an end, there was a time where fans could gather around during the offseason and speculate who would be on the next season and yearn for when their favorite show would return, while reflecting on seasons gone by. Nowadays, the thing they call the fifth major pro sport is a year-round happening thanks to when, last year, MTV gave the legion of fans something to look forward to in between regular seasons of this show by creating a new spinoff series and fulfilling the fantasies of many fans of inviting athletes and celebrities to compete against heavy-hitters and past champions to see who is tops in head-to-head competition.
   After seeing five past champions add to their stellar resumes in Darrell and Cara Maria on Champs vs. Pros, and then Bananas, CT and Emily last winter, The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars returns for its third installment come this Tuesday, all after we find out who reigns supreme on Vendettas with one of those champions in line to potentially add another crown to their trophy case. This grudge match again will find out who is best in a fantasy battle turned into reality, but this time the game changes considerably as the saying, "If you can't beat them, join them" will apply to the twist of what this season will be about.
   There are familiar names on both sides of the ball -- old guard, new generation and celebrities from around the pop culture spectrum covering music, sports and television... and the man who just became the newest dad in both the MTV and WWE communities, Mike "The Miz," returns to again serve as host. But the game is the same: the same kind of competitions we're used to on The Challenge to find out which is the best, and who will split the top prize of $150,000, all while understanding that at the end of the day, the worthy charities, foundations and social causes the twenty competitors are competing for and are passionate about are the true champions.

We'll have a look at all of the ten stars who have been chosen to make up the opposition for this season of Champs vs Stars ahead, along with who will be representing Team Champions, all as this will debut in the midst of springtime and after a Challenge that kicked off the new year. Get set and join in with us after the jump...