Friday, September 21, 2018

DC SocialPulse Extra: Before Final Reckoning EP11 & AYTO7 EP's 6-7

*** 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  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Happy Friday... hope you all are in a good mood to finally usher in the autumn. Ahead of us here, the juicy stuff of the Pulse diaries covering this week's two explosive episodes of The Challenge and Are You The One?... hope you all are ready to see how your favorites saw the three hours' worth of TV that we'll be bringing you all the action, reaction and interaction coming your way this weekend.
   But until that begins here tomorrow, enjoy and indulge in the in-between interactions of our cast leading up to this week's episodes, plus they reacted to last week's even more explosive event of Eminem dealing a "Kill Shot" at Machine Gun Kelly, as well as more love for Cheyenne & Cory ahead of their jump into Teen Mom land.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

MTV Reality: Floribama Shore - "Girl Bye"

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

BY DC CUEVA                      
■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Hey there, happy early weekend to all of you - especially for Browns fans, and welcome along to the week that was Inside MTV Reality. And quite a week that we'll be focusing on as we usher in the new TV season this weekend... so much so, that this week we're starting things a little early on a Thursday night - early Friday for some of you. And ahead: tensions boil over both in South Africa on The Challenge and in Hawaii for our AYTO friends, and plenty of other things too. But first, Floribama Shore... and more emotions in Florida.
   If the press dub Floribama as the more relatable of all the iterations of the Shore franchises that air on MTV channels anywhere, than last week offered proof of it in a roller coaster of emotions. Candace got a call about Gator Jay from back home that caused her to rethink her relationship with him after that disaster of a visit from him. After a test showed that she was not pregnant, the house threw Kortni a party on the beach, but she then had mixed emotions about the whole situation that was further magnified when she revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage.
   And at night's end, Jeremiah was dealt devastating news when he got word of his grandpa's death... and this week the group will do whatever they can to keep his mind off of it before he tends to a thing greater than this experience: being with family. However, things get out of hand when one of the girls gets drunk and puts a damper on the night's activities, causing a sudden friction with one she's grown close to in Panama City Beach. And the roommates split up with a girls' trip to try and patch things up, and a guys' weekend with the house all to themselves... and with a surprise visitor.

After the jump, Episode 11 of Season 2 of Floribama Shore. Welcome on in... hope you enjoy.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

DC ExtraTime: The Famous Dave Shad

BY DC CUEVA                      
■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Imagine this: being someone who's had the opportunity to meet some of the most well-known people of the moment in sports and entertainment, and all of this before you get to make your debut on national television. Meeting just the one person you worship the most out of anyone else would someone's life so great -- I can attest to that when I met Linkin Park and the late Chester Bennington more than a decade ago. But, how about meeting multiple famous figures of the moment from entertainment, sports or just plain-old pop culture?
   If you're one of the millions of people who live in America's two largest metropolitan areas -- New York City and Los Angeles, then you know that the more than half of the television production that airs on national networks are shot and filmed in these areas. They range from network newscasts and late night talk shows to the reunions and after shows for MTV reality series which we covered before on here, and the major big awards shows that gives this pop culture aficionado reason to tune in.
   DCBLOG's ExtraTime frequently showcases those times when the people of the MTV reality TV world get a chance to meet many of the biggest figures in pop culture: Chet of Real World Brooklyn meeting Ryan Seacrest, Zac Efron and the one who is our President; Challenger Kailah meeting Kevin Hart, Pauly & Ronnie from Jersey Shore, Floyd Mayweather and her idol Halsey (before "Closer" and G-Eazy); and Michael of Are You The One? Season 6 meeting Fergie and Neil Patrick Harris... and so is another guy from last fall's lovefest.

Before being cast for the first AYTO season to take place in the U.S. mainland, Dave Shad had already made a name for himself going to some of the biggest pop culture events to take place down in the Southland. When not studying on the campus of USC before he went onto the show, he applied to various websites that offer opportunities to regular fans to serve as "seat fillers" at various awards shows. This experience is usually free or for a small fee, and offers those who go to the shows a better live experience, just as it is for those watching it on television.
   Members of seat-filler clubs are given free tickets to members if there are unsold seats at sports events, concerts, movie premieres and the like. The most prestigious "seat filler" jobs goes to those who go to the Oscars or other major awards shindigs, where while the winners or presenters are going through the task of going onstage to accept their award, going into the press room to talk to the media backstage and pose for the paparazzi, or for longer stints if they are performing.
   It's because of his experiences being a seat filler and being a normal fan at awards shows that, you might say, that he's become in a way, "The Famous Dave Shad." And along with the occasional meeting outside these events in bars and in the streets around the entertainment capital of the planet, below are snapshots of him getting to meet some notable figures in the sports and entertainment worlds, spanning basketball, UFC, music and even an event that took place just two nights ago. And one of them is someone who MTV fans may be familiar with from the past year.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

DC ExtraTime: Winning in the Daytime

From during The Challenge Invasion and Are You The One? Season 5

BY DC CUEVA                      
■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

If you're one of those people who might be older than the average MTV viewer, are a college student or one of those who are a stay-at-home parent, then you spend your afternoons having to fend for yourself at home, while also perhaps enjoying that refreshing feeling of having to sleep in. One of those daytime activities includes watching daytime television: from addictive soap operas and all kinds of talk shows, to daily sessions with the many courtroom shows and newsmagazines, there's something for everyone for every taste. And for someone like me, there's also those live daytime sports events like PGA golf, European soccer and, of course, March Madness.
   That springtime tradition is only part of the leadership position CBS has proudly boasted in network daytime programming, as this past week the Tiffany Network marked 30 years now as the #1-rated choice for those needing a TV companion while the kids are at school and everyone else is at work. The Eye's daytime lineup includes The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Talk with MTV alum Sharon Osbourne and Big Brother hostess Julie Chen - who's also wife of CBS head honcho Leslie Moonves. Also on the slate are the two remaining game shows left on network daytime, something that was a staple of daytime TV for years before settling into the 7-8PM timeslot of syndicated prime access, and then with ABC and NBC currently airing shows in prime time. That provides some context for this rather fun installment of ExtraTime.

Sunday, September 16, 2018

DC ExtraTime: Cheyenne & Baby Ryder - The Reveal, Baby Shower & Birth

From last year during coverage of AYTO and The Challenge; DCBLOG will offer more on them & Cory when it looks at their arrival on Teen Mom OG before its October premiere.

BY DC CUEVA                      
■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB


From during Real World Seattle in Oct. 2016

CHEYENNE'S PREGNANT!

Well, it's safe to say that wouldn't be a season in the Trifecta without mentioning anything about babies... we've sure had a good number of them in our time covering this world on here. In our RW season preview, we told you about Tyler from AYTO Season 4 announcing his incoming entry into fatherhood, and as Tony from RW Skeletons & two Challenges prepares to become a dad for the second time in nine months next month, they and so many others who've gone through this experience now have some company: another one is on the way.

It seems as if the AYTO Season 3 cast - Team Ohana - has had quite the past 13 months: two couples in Zak & Hannah and Chuck & Britni still together, Amanda & Nelson dropping into Rivals III, the many adventures of Kiki, and of course Mike making his much talked-about crossover into RW land. And of course, there's that most eventful finale and its ending 11 months ago that earned them the Underdog Award on last year's Reality Debrief Awards. Now, they have something in common with a few other alums of their show and so many others in the wider Trifecta ecosystem.

IG @CheyNotShy
It wasn't that long ago that we were discussing inside the Strategy Room about what could possibly happen if Devin & Cheyenne could make a run at Bananas & Sarah when they were second at the end of the first stage of the Rivals III final. That didn't turn out that way, but along with Team Princess holding up to the pressure at least now there is an additional consolation prize to go along with adding to that prize money that Devin singlehandedly helped them win the $750,000.

On Wednesday while many's attention were split among Real World, the debate and baseball, Cheyenne announced on Instagram and on her 24th birthday with a simple caption news that would reverberate in the Trifecta: "the greatest birthday present in 24 years πŸ‘ΆπŸ½✨." That angel who's about to be a mom revealed her baby bump to everyone, all part of a 24th birthday party and baby reveal party thrown for her in her L.A. pad to reveal to the world her new munchkin and was captured for those on that social media platform to see. A Snapchat story captured all the excitement and plenty of dance moves for the big day, as well as her eating a cupcake that revealed the gender of who the baby would be, and it turned up pink - which means she has a baby girl coming.

She further adds on IG, "Thank you for all of the loving text, calls, and comments.. yesterday was one of the best days of my life full of love, happiness, and support! I am having a girl πŸ’—πŸ’•πŸ‘‘." We send our congrats out to Cheyenne and the Floyd family and wish her all the best.


DC ExtraTime: Cheyenne & Baby Ryder - After Birth

From during The Challenge XXX and 3 months after Baby's Ryder's birth; DCBLOG will offer more on them & Cory when it looks at their arrival on Teen Mom OG before its October premiere.

BY DC CUEVA                      
■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

With Nelson and Hunter aligning with Cory, Britni winning the first female Presidio and Devin & Amanda holding fort in Redemption Island, it wasn't long ago that they and their AYTO Season 3 castmates were the new kids on the block. It was at this very time in early August 2015 that the group who affectionately called themselves "Team Ohana" was just enjoying some R&R between filming their season and them being revealed later that month as MTV's newest class of newbies. Of course, we saw them pull out a Miracle in the Islands, the man who plotted that ascend to superstar status, and even saw one of their own head to the Real World Bad Blood house and score a blonde who happens to be on this Challenge. And of course, they have made a lot of noise on here.

Instagram @CheyNotShy
And then, there's that baby. As we told you back in our last cycle, Cheyenne revealed her entry into parenthood on her birthday last October through an Instagram post and then had a party with family and friends that doubled as the gender reveal, and it being a baby girl. Then, she had her baby shower in the company of her inner circle as well as Devin, Britni's perfect match entrepreneur Austin and (as a result of her & Chuck splitting up recently) the lone remaining lovebirds of that season who's still together, Zak & Hannah. And in April, the moment arrived when Ryder K. Floyd was born and social world was abuzz in sending their heartiest congrats to the newest mom in the MTV family.

Last week on her YouTube channel as the young one turned four months old, Cheyenne shared a YouTube video of her giving birth to Ryder K.  There, Chey shared her experience of going into labor this past spring and the enormously painful process of that coming of age moment whose rewards are of welcoming her new baby girl.  And if you're a parent or someone who's gone through this experience - including my sister who's had this two times, you'll relate to her. Enjoy the video below.



That video helped to launch Cheyenne and Ryder's own YouTube vlog where the mom plans to share some of her experiences in this first year of motherhood. Last week, she posted a video of baby Ryder going swimming for the first time, and just yesterday came another clip, this time in castmates -- or better yet, uncle and aunt -- Zak and Hannah got to meet her as well as them posing for pics for their new clothing line.




- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC ExtraTime: An Experience in Getting A Nose Job

BY DC CUEVA                      
■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Earlier past year, the world's most popular platform for offering binge-worthy goodies, Netflix, announced its latest high-profile steal. With the promise of a nine-figure paycheck, it successfully persuaded top TV producer Ryan Murphy from his longtime perch at 20th Century Fox to come over to a streaming platform that's helped change everyone's viewing habits. He's the behind-the-scenes impresario behind FX's American Horror Story whose latest season Apocalypse debuted this week, spinoff American Crime Story including its acclaimed portrayal of the O.J. Simpson trial, and FOX's first entry into owning the musical drama genre, Glee.
   Murphy's first high-profile TV hit was the medical drama Nip/Tuck, which ran for six seasons and earned 45 award nominations. Over 100 episodes, it followed a leading plastic surgery center based first in Miami and then in Los Angeles, and offered a glimpse into the lives - both in & outside the operating room - of founders & doctors Sean McNamara and Christian Troy, played by Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon. As FX began embracing HBO-style premium content, Nip/Tuck featured graphic, partial-depictions of plastic surgeries given to patients, and featured reality-style storytelling of arcs being told in multiple episodes - unique in this subgenre.

There is a member of the casts of both The Challenge Final Reckoning and this spring's U.S. version of Ex On The Beach who knows what it's like to go through having plastic surgery themselves: Angela Babicz. Just after she came home from filming her season of now-erstwhile Oxygen series Bad Girls Club --  Twisted Sisters (its last before the channel's shift to crime), she looked in the mirror and thought to herself that her nose didn't feel right. Angela felt insecure about it, and it was magnified much more when she saw herself and her side profile on television... and in HD.
   In having constant nightmares about her nose and while her season was on TV, she decided to make a change. And after doing plenty of research, the surgery she chose was one that's known to most as a nose job, but to those who work in this field, it is known professionally as "Rhinoplasty." While traditional plastic surgeons and those who work on jaws and faces are capable to work on noses, those who specialize in working on them, ears and throats are known as otolaryngologists, and those who check out Wikipedia's article on this subject have an idea of what this grueling process is about.
   Its description of "Rhinoplasty" reads: "...a plastic surgery procedure for correcting and reconstructing the form, restoring the functions, and aesthetically enhancing the nose by resolving nasal trauma, congenital defect, respiratory impediment, or a failed primary rhinoplasty. Most patients ask to remove a bump, narrow nostril width, change the angle between the nose and the mouth, as well as correct injuries, birth defects, or other problems that affect breathing, such as deviated nasal septum or a sinus condition."

A year after going through this life-altering journey, Angela shared on YouTube in spring 2017 an in-depth video on her experience of going through rhinoplasty... one that saw her spend the summer of 2016 and the ensuing months afterward going through a traumatizing process that made her stronger. As she cautions at the outset, a Heads-Up that the photos shown in Angela's video embedded below, as well as certain aspects of the surgical process, may be graphic to some readers.

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? Season 7 - "Spilling The Tea"

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

BY DC CUEVA                      
■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Welcome back... hope you all had a great weekend as we soak in these last hours of what is summer's last Sunday before the solstice takes place in a few days. This week in MTV Reality has seen plenty of waterworks in Panama City Beach, and plenty of vomit and feelings of revenge in South Africa. What about of what's going down in Hawaii? We're about to look at it with the Pulse of the Season of Fate on Are You The One?.
   Every season of this show has - what we like to call here - its "Ex-Plosion" moment, and last week the exes of some of the singles made their annual pilgrimage to AYTO... and this year, it took place not in the main house as in the seasons past, but outside of it as part of the show's first-ever overnight relationship rehab. There, we saw plenty of old wounds open up among the singles and most of their exes who came for their opportunity to close up old feelings and perhaps spur new ones. A power couple had to test waters, another ex got aggressive, and the Texas ladies man found himself torn.
   With the girls and guys back at the house, this week sees them turn their attention back to the game itself. One of this season's international-born castmates stirs the pot a bit when he decides to disobey a sacred Vegas code of what happens there stays there. For the girl who's been in a lot of drama in the past month, her jealousy at the developing relationship of that guy from the Lone Star State only adds to what we've seen from her. And with them going nowhere despite early Truth Booth success, the house does what others have done: mix it up and make a bold gamble at Matchup.

We'll have all the action, reaction and interaction to this week's episode and of whether the house can get back on track in the quest for love and money coming up, as we bring the weekend to a close with this late night 'Pulse of AYTO. Glad you're here to experience it with us.