RIVALS II - The Live Reunion Revealed: Drew's View

* Views expressed in Fan's View are only those of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of DC Cueva or DCBLOG.

*** This post contains brief adult language. Please read with discretion. ***

By DC Cueva, with Drew Consolo

> @DC408dxtr, @DrewConsolo

Nearly one week has past since the season finale & reunion of The Challenge: Rivals II, and it's only now that many of us Challenge fans have fully recovered from the euphoria of a foursome of our favorite veterans deservedly winning the Final Challenge and the spontaneity of the first-ever LIVE Challenge reunion show, highlighted by a smack to the face that got the twitter-verse buzzing. And the buzz begins yet again already for another Challenge that, presumably, will start taking place later this month, and a new Real World season continuing filming in San Francisco which will premiere early in the new year, with a trailer to likely come during the holidays.

   As everyone knows, an end of season tradition for every RW/Challenge season, as well as some other MTV shows, is the reunion, where the castmates get together to discuss and look back on everything that went on from the premiere right up to the finale. And it's almost certain that there's gonna be some or more so the same drama that we saw during the season, along with some things that your didn't see or hear unless you were one of those lucky people in the studio with a front row seat to the fireworks.

In our first Reunion Revealed article that we posted a few days prior to Rivals II, we uncovered the wraps of the Real World Portland reunion with my fellow followers Kevin & Kaitlyn, from covering the conflict that took longer than it was on TV to talking about everything else of that chaotic season in Oregon which I enjoyed so much earlier this year. This time around, we'll look at the first-ever live Challenge reunion with a unique firsthand perspective of being the audience, watching that drama unfold, and covering everything that took place in Thailand in a tighter timeframe of one hour instead of a longer, five-hour session (like the RWPDX one) which is then paired down to 43 minutes to air a few weeks later after the finale & sometimes with certain items being left on the cutting room floor.

   As neither Kevin nor Kaitlyn could make the trek to Times Square this time around, I had to scour Twitter & Instagram to find new Challenge fans to get their two cents on this. The fan I found was Drew Consolo, a Brooklynite who's a huge RW/Challenge fan and also was in the audience for The Challenge BOTS reunion with Kevin, along with America's Got Talent & other NY-based reality shows. 

As for RWPDX, this post will add more to the account of a blogger & great twitter friend who was also there last Wednesday night, more on that & his stellar year in RW/Challenge land at the end of this post. For now, here's what you've here for, let's cut right to the chase. Here's Drew's View...

DC SocialPulse - RIVALS II: As They Saw It - The Finale & Reunion

*** Reader Advisory: The Following Post Contains

Adult Language. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva

So, the last weekend of September is here, and a couple days have passed since the season finale & reunion of The Challenge: Rivals II, and boy, was it a spectacular season & reunion to say the least. The question of whether or not it matched the audacity of the first Rivals season is up to anyone's opinion, but it was definitely so much better then when I got to sample a Challenge for the first time last year, and we get one of the best Challenge seasons ever. As stated by me in previous SP posts, we just about had it all this season: all-star cast, exciting action, huge fights, house drama, shocking hookups, big twists and an epic final. And in the end, we get, for the first time in a little while, a foursome of deserving winners. And as stated by both TJ Lavin and Johnny Bananas, the right teams won on this season; not to mention a indelible Challenge moment that took place on the first-ever live reunion show.

On our last DC SocialPulse post on Monday, we showed you the tweets of the cast as they watched episodes 8, 9 & 10, which included CT & Diem's enduring love affair, Wes, Johnny & CT getting into words after going into the final, Camila's latest in a slew of Challenge breakdowns, Frank's politics rearing its ugly head again and the last regular mission that saw Cooke & Cara Maria gain an automatic berth into the final, causing a bit of chaos among the veteran teams. In this final installment, The Pulse will be covering the final jungle between Diem/Aneesa & Camila/Jemmye, the intense drama of the final challenge from Dream & Nightmare Islands, and of course, the first-ever live Challenge reunion that became the talk of the twitter town, not to mention even some fun with the always-entertaining Clip Show (it's what I like to call it as an alternative name).

   As we begin, be advised there's explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. Please read with discretion if you are mature enough. :-) So, here we go, beginning with Episode 11 and starting off with the final jungle. And prior to the last jungle, those who won the last elimination on the last four Challenges eventually carried that momentum into the final winners circle...wouldn't be the case this time.

RIVALS II - The Live Reunion... As YOU Saw It

So, after the drama of both the finale of The Challenge: Rivals II and the first-ever live reunion show - for which I'm still trying to catch my breath after all the events of last night, I have a mission for those of you who were the lucky many to be in that audience in the MTV Times Square studio.

This season of The Challenge had it all and it capped off last night with another grueling final producing two worthy & great champions, followed by a reunion that made twitter headlines. Typically, reunions are some or more so feature the same type of drama that we see during the entire season. But since this time around, the Rivals II reunion was live & unedited - which means we get to see everything in an hour rather than most things, with a few getting left on the cutting room floor in a longer, taped session that's aired two weeks later. And with that, DC Blog is giving you a opportunity to talk about all the events of last night and of this season. This is the only time during the season where I actually interview people for my blog, and it's about the reunion; I leave the interviews with cast members to podcast & SpreeCast hosts like Brian Cohen at @BusDriversRoute, Andrew Kirk @CSUKirk, Reality Radio and Alex Govere @AlexGovere, though I do ask some questions on the SpreeCasts for which I make every effort to be in every cast chat.

The article I wrote on the Real World Portland reunion that two of my followers went to, Kevin & Kaitlyn, one which, compared with Rivals II, was pre-taped in advance two weeks before the finale aired earlier this summer - and posted just before the Rivals II premiere, is one of my favorite articles from my blog, receiving great reviews from both of them and has had over 100 page views. As they didn't go to this Rivals II reunion, this time around I'll be relying on fresh, new people to get your insight into the reunion process, bring us some scoop on what went on in the studio, and most importantly, giving you a chance to tell us what you thought, maybe vent a little bit too. From the punch seen on live TV to the never ending saga of CT & Diem and beyond, everything will be covered.

In the next few days, I'll be doing my best to reach out to as many of the audience members as I can to get their input. If you were in that studio being a bare witness to all the events, all you have to do is to either tweet, follow or send me a direct message to my twitter account @DC408dxtr, or for those who don't have a twitter, just shoot me an email to dc408dxtr@icloud.com and we'll set up things. All I just need to do is to watch the reunion at least one or two times over the weekend to put together the right questions to ask, and then I'll send you a questionnaire for you to fill out. You'll then have a week to answer as many of the questions in the form as you can, and you should preferably reply back to my email within a week of when you receive it in your inbox. Remember, the quicker you reply, the faster I'll be in posting it.

So, that is your mission. If you're a regular visitor to my blog, keep an eye out in the next few days for the final Rivals II edition of DC SocialPulse which will cover the last jungle, the final challenge and of course the reunion & the day or so after. I'll also write a review of this fantastic season, a sampling of the best tweets posted to me from the RW/Challenge family, and a thank you note to the entire RW/Challenge family on this great year that I've had in talking to them during RW Portland and this Challenge. Very soon, I'll start to build toward The Real World Back to San Francisco, and during the  months leading up to it, I'll be covering the sports & broader entertainment worlds on DC Blog.

For now, thanks for reading, have fun, and hope you enjoyed Rivals II as much as I did. Can't wait for what happens next. And see you here in the City.

- DC

DC SocialPulse - RIVALS II: As They Saw It - Part 3

*** Reader Advisory: The Following Post Contains

Adult Language. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva

So, fall has officially arrived, and we are just two days away from the finale of The Challenge: Rivals II. This will then be followed up by a live reunion show, a first for The Challenge. And this is also worth giving one of our fans in my Real World/Challenge fan clique a shout out.

   Brian Cohen of @BusDriversRoute, another one of those RW/Challenge fans who I've become good twitter friends with, will be attending that reunion on Wednesday, just as he and two of my followers Kevin & Kaitlyn did for Real World Portland (as seen in one of my previous posts). As TJ Lavin would say, Brian has killed it with the interviews he has had with many of the biggest names in the Challenge world, from those on this season - Johnny, Frank, Marlon, Jordan, Zach, Leroy & Knight - to those serving as armchair analysts in the screening room in Kenny & Laurel, to landing the man at the heart of this - yes, TJ. Like what Team Rookies have achieved this year, Brian has had a stellar rookie showing in doing these interviews, having also talked to Averey, Anastasia, Johnny & Nia during RWPDX and Roylee's buddy Mike before this Challenge began. Check them all out at www.busdriversroute.com.

   And it hasn't just been just Brian who's done a great job with these interviews: another RW/Challenge fan who I discovered when I joined twitter last year, Andrew Kirk (who also lives right here in NorCal), has done a tremendous job talking to more than 30 alumni on his podcasts & later on his SpreeCasts for RW St. Thomas & Portland, and both BOTS & Rivals II; follow him at @CSUAKirk. And also Alex Govere from RW Back to San Diego, who's talked to a whole slew to alumni as well on her SpreeCasts, follow Alex at @AlexGovere.

What's the purpose of these DC SocialPulse articles? Well, I've become actively engaged in social media, from talking to my close friends every day to being involved in the things I'm interested in. And as I talked about in my very first SocialPulse post for the premiere back in July, social media has definitely played a huge role in not only drawing people to The Challenge, but also to other shows too. I'm doing this as a service to those who might not be up on the social media interaction of major events or favorite TV shows such as The Challenge, particularly those on the West Coast.

   Of course, the Eastern & Central time zones, where the majority of the U.S. population lives, get to watch it first, so often folks out West stay off social media until it airs here. And when Westerners finally get to watch the shows here, they wouldn't have the benefit of being able to enjoy the great & spontaneous social interaction that cast & fans have each week that they had for the Eastern airing, particularly from their favorite cast members since most of them are likely in bed by the time we watch it here.

   That's why I retweet the cast's tweets when the episodes air out East at 7pm PT on my twitter (yes, flooded TL's) so then when I can go into my archives, I'll be able to compile all of their tweets into posts like these, so that everyone coast to coast can check out the comments of the cast & fans as the drama unfolded in real time on television, so you get a good sense of what it's like to watch this show & see how everyone reacted to every moment as it takes place.

So with that, to the business at hand...On our last DC SocialPulse post on Sunday, we covered the tweets of the cast as they saw episodes 5, 6 & 7, where we featured Zach & Trey's heartbreaking jungle DQ, the new voting method rearing its ugly head in more ways than one, and Marlon & Jordan's stunning jungle win over Leroy & Ty. In part 3 of our season in review, we'll look at episodes 8, 9 & 10, where the Challenge's most well-known couple renew their love affair, a fight among three of the Challenge's biggest names in the last guys' elimination vote, the latest meltdown for our favorite Brazilian Challenger, and much more as the competition intensifies.

   As we begin, note there's explicit language in many tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. Please read with discretion if you are mature enough. :-) So, here we go, beginning with Episode 8 and it's déjà vu all over for a couple competitors.

DC SocialPulse - RIVALS II: As They Saw It - Part 2

*** Reader Advisory: The Following Post Contains

Adult Language. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva

It's the weekend and the countdown to The Challenge: Rivals II finale continues. But for a moment, a chance to send well wishes to two relatively recent members of the Real World/Challenge family on big news they both revealed on the same day as the last full day of summer, September 21. First, Mike Ross from RW: Back to Las Vegas & finalist on the first Rivals Challenge, announced that he is now engaged to his girlfriend, Taylor, with the successful proposal taking place last night in their new home of San Diego. And just moments later across the country, Brandon Kane, the resident rock star from RW St. Thomas, announced that he is a new father, posting a pic of his companion's new baby, Charlotte, who gave birth in Boston. So, much congratulations to you two.

   Now to Rivals II: we've had just about everything you could want in a great Challenge season: all-star cast, exciting action, huge fights & house drama, big twists out of left field, and an epic final that could crown deserving champions when we finally finish on Wednesday. It's been so exciting, that for the first time in the history of everdom (taking Dustin Zito's word for it), a Challenge season will be officially released on DVD at the MTV Shop at http://shop.mtv.com and preorders are starting to be taken. And while we're officially transitioning into fall this weekend and Halloween decorations are already up in your nearest supermarket, it's not too early to say that this will be at the very top of the wish list of every Challenge/RW fan this holiday season.

   In our last DC SocialPulse post on Saturday, we covered the tweets of the cast as they saw episodes 2, 3 & 4, which saw Cara Maria arrive, Sarah getting screwed yet again after her partner leaves following one of two house fights, a girl's fear of ketchup, and Team Rookies' takeover. Today, we'll look at episodes 5, 6 & 7, where we see a mere technicality become responsible for the season's most heartbreaking moment, the cruel reality of backstabbing making its way into Thailand, and one of the best elimination battles in Challenge history as the Portlanders earn credibility in their rookie campaign.

   As we start, note there is explicit language in many tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. Please read with discretion if you are mature enough. :-) So, here we go, beginning with the eventful Episode 5, which also includes my tweet chat with one of the parties involved as I watched the drama of what happened at the end unfold.

DC SocialPulse - RIVALS II: As They Saw It - Part 1

*** Reader Advisory: The Following Post Contains

Adult Language. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva

With an hour's worth of episode time left until we reach the conclusion of The Challenge: Rivals II, for which the season finale & live reunion comes our way on Wednesday, it's safe to say it has been a spectacular and successful season. From everything that took place in the premiere, to the fights & competition, the numerous twists that got us talking and all the way to Diem & Aneesa's heartbreaking jungle loss and the beginning of what promises to be another epic final, this season has had just about everything. And the questions we have are many, but four stand out: Who's the team whose boat got capsized at the end of last week's episode? Will the best ladies team all season get their much deserved handsome reward? And will New England's most famous member of the MTV family win his first Challenge? Or will teams featuring three rookies continue the rookie revolution from last season? Those questions and more will be answered in a few days from now.

   Over the course of this weekend & early next week as we get closer to finals night, DC Blog will reach into the archives and bring you the actual tweets of the cast & fellow alumni of key moments from Rivals II as they, fans and America got to witness this season throughout the summer and into September. Our very first SocialPulse, which was posted just a few days after the season premiere on July 10th, brought you the uncensored tweets of all the cast & alumni from opening night. And in this edition, the first of four parts which will cover the rest of the season, we'll cover episodes 2, 3 & 4, including the arrival of replacement teammate Cara Maria, the two house fights that eventually led to one team's demise, the season's oddest moment with ketchup being involved, and the start of a successful campaign for a rookie group just off the plane from Portland.

   Just before we begin, as we did for the premiere, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So, please read with discretion if you are mature enough. :-) So without further ado, lets get it started, beginning with Episode 2.

RIVALS II - The Finals Are Here

By DC Cueva

Okay, here we are, or at least, we're just about there. Back on July 10th in the heat of the summer, we kicked off MTV's The Challenge: Rivals II with 32 great people all paired up with their nemesis, most of whom I've been lucky enough to interact with here in the social media world. And now, with summer in the books, school in session, autumn in the air and nine teams already flown home from Thailand, we've just about reached the starting gate of the final mission, which takes place tonight. And as always, the final in every Challenge always produces great drama with endurance, stamina, patience and stirring all kinds of emotions, all determining who will come out on top. But first comes the final jungle, and the question of who joins Paula & Emily and Cooke & Cara Maria in the final when Diem & Aneesa and Camila & Jemmye contest it right at the top of tonight's episode, which will then be followed by the beginning of the final. Expect the Clip Show to follow that, with the second part of the final to air the next week followed by the Reunion, which this time will be a live affair.

The seven remaining teams that are still in Thailand - five already assured of $15,000 - all have made their case throughout the season to be the one, and all of them have been deserving to be in the final. They have each won a mission, and four of them have won a jungle. The three pairs that equalled Leroy & Mike's feat on Rivals I of going to the final jungle-free include five of The Challenge's biggest names, which speaks to the respect everyone has for the veterans, though one of them got in just barely.

   Back when this season began, though I didn't write a predictions post as my Vegas trip loomed at the same time as the premiere, I had a handful of teams who could either win, contend, or sneak in. On the girls' side, I had Paula & Emily to win, Diem & Aneesa as choice #2, and Sarah & Trishelle and Camila & Jemmye as wild cards. For the guys, I had five teams in the running, considering their much deeper talent well: CT & Wes as 1st choice, Johnny & Frank as 2nd choice, Zach & Trey as choice #3, and my wild cards were Leroy & Ty and Jordan & Marlon. I have succeeded on the ladies' top pick, plus the top 2 on the men's side.

Here's DCBlog's team-by-team look at the seven remaining, starting with the final field that's already set in the men's draw.

- CT/WES: They are the only guys' pair where both members are veterans, having done countless number of challenges between them, but only one win to show for it (Wes, Duel 1). Like most other teams in these two Rivals seasons, CT & Wes' campaign on this season began inauspiciously and they didn't perform well in the first few weeks - take one of the missions for example. But as time has flown by in Thailand, it did take time for them to gel and overcome the historical tension these two have had, starting on that first Duel and peaking with that hours-long argument on Rivals I. After getting some help in that 1st mission win in week 5, they definitely earned the last two guys' mission wins, becoming the only guys pair to win three this season. While it isn't possible for the last jungle winners to win the final this time around--as has been the case with recent Challenges, this is a game of momentum and it began to come together for both of them towards the stretch run. And the bond was reinforced with the fight that they had with Johnny and both having a hatred for Bananas. If they're able to do well coming up in this final, and both overcome the haunting memories of them struggling & losing the last time they competed in the last challenge (which was featured in flashbacks during that fight), then my prediction for CT & Wes to win will be realized. They're the favorites to get this thing done and follow in what Evelyn & Paula did on Rivals 1: a team with a big-name veteran who's not won a Challenge finally winning their first final. And this will no doubt certify them as Challenge legends if they get this victory.

- JOHNNY/FRANK: It has been a mixed affair for this pair, after all they had never appeared on a Challenge together and they were paired only by a mere twitter beef, which left many fans shaking their heads. Yes, they won two missions and they, like CT/Wes, got into the final without a jungle visit. But seeing a big flaw on this season of Johnny being exhausted & throwing up at the end of the last guys' mission Rampage, and also not being entirely fit for Rivals II as he has been in previous challenges, will play a factor in the final. While Johnny has done well with the politics, Frank did well competitively but had his politics questioned yet again by sending a friend in & eventually sending Jonna home, just as he did with Marie on BOTS, though they got over that after the season. Both Johnny & Frank know how to carry momentum into the winners circle by winning the last elimination and then the final, but they will come into this final in just about the same position as the rookies: underdogs. Should they not do well in this upcoming test, there's a greater chance they could finish in that uncomfortable position of last in the final behind the vets & rookies, but then again unlike the first Rivals, they already have $15,000 just for getting here. So, they must be able to step up and do reasonably well so they don't finish with a bronze, and do their absolute best to have a reasonable shot at Johnny's 5th and Frank's 2nd straight Challenge win. But from hearing from the fans, I can get a sense that this is the duo that fans would prefer to not win and would like them to finish last.

- MARLON/JORDAN: If you saw Jordan & Marlon on Real World Portland and then had them in the final 3, you're very lucky. In a deeply stacked field full of big names & newcomers, Team Rookies have definitely made a name for themselves with what has to be the best rookie performance ever on the Challenge. Like what we saw with Leroy & Mike on Rivals I, these two first-timers flew to Thailand with their RW not on TV yet and everyone else in the blue of what they have in store competitively. The combination of the All-Big XII experience Marlon had at Texas Tech and Jordan being versatile in a number of sports despite having only one full hand has made their rookie campaign all the more impressive. Something the Vegas bromance didn't do in Costa Rica was that the Portlanders went into elimination not once, but twice. And not only did they win both of them, they also took out a contender - Leroy & Ty - in stunning fashion in their very first jungle. And they were also brave enough to handle the politics very well, even sacrificing an alliance they had with Theresa just to keep themselves in the game, the only drama that they were involved in aside from the hookups they had with a few in the house. They definitely earned their way into the final and deserve all the respect they're receiving, from competitors to fans, to even Mr. Beautiful, Kenny. And thanks to Johnny not being entirely fit for this season, Team Rookies have a better shot of finishing ahead of Johnny & Frank and if they can dig deep, they can challenge CT & Wes too. Don't be surprised if they shock the world in the final.

Now for the ladies, starting with the two teams who've already punched their ticket to the final...

- PAULA/EMILY: When you pair someone with CrossFit experience who's already become a big name in 3 Challenges with a true veteran who's been able to handle the endurance aspect of these shows, you get a super team on this season. And from the opening horn, it would be a sure thing that Paula & Emily would eventually win Rivals II. And the last duel competition week, the one before last week, was the one that cemented Paula & Emily as the overwhelming favorites for the ladies. They've gotta be one of the most dominating teams that we've seen on The Challenge with six mission wins of the ten, including the first four. And they're the only ladies pair to make it into the final without going into the jungle, though they came very close in that last deliberation after not winning True Colors and getting that automatic ticket to the final. From watching them this season, they have communicated very well in competition and they have handled the politics well too, not being involved in much drama. With the combination that they have, it will be hard to think that they won't win the final, and with the final always having endurance and stamina on the offering, it will look to be a done deal and don't be surprised if they win this comfortably and finish ahead of one or more of the three guys' teams. The question that will enter this is who will be the team that will challenge them and eventually push these two harder to get this one done. For now, they are the team to beat, it's gonna be a battle for 2nd.

- COOKE/CARA MARIA: Coming into this season, most people, including me, didn't have Cooke & Naomi as those who could possibly contend to be in the final 3 (i.e. Naomi on Exes). But when Naomi made the wise decision to fly home to her ailing dad and Cara Maria coming in to replace her, the game has dramatically changed and Cooke's odds have gone up, and have made them contenders in the snap of a finger. Her experience of being a soccer player her whole life & being able to handle the rigors of playing a full match of 90 minutes (plus stoppage time & w/o halftime) and running 6 miles' worth on the pitch will play a key role in this final. And while Team Portland has grabbed new fans with their stellar rookie showing, Cooke has also had a very good debut too, performing well in most of the missions. For Cara Maria, this is her sixth straight Challenge, and Rivals II will be her 3rd trip to the final in four seasons, and the first without her Rival-turned-BFF Laurel. The redhead has been through this experience before, cashing in both Cutthroat & Rivals and that will obviously help them this time around. Before True Colors, I had them at 50-50 in their chances to go either to the final or to the jungle. But now that they won last week in stellar fashion, as well as notching two jungle wins just as Marlon & Jordan, they have a legitimate shot of upsetting Paula & Emily. But in the end, they will be the ones will eventually push Paulmily to victory. They should be able to finish 2nd and pocket $35K.

- DIEM/ANEESA: At the start of this season, Diem & Aneesa were my second choice to win this season. After all, they have the most combined experience of not just the final ladies foursome, but all the female teams at 16 combined Challenges. Yes, they did win a mission - back in week 7 & gave Diem a reason to do a victory dance, but as we saw in the last episode, this team can be a bit stubborn when it comes to drama in the house. Back in week 3, Aneesa got in a fight with Trishelle (featuring what my buddy Andrew Kirk @CSUAKirk called "the people's elbow") that eventually saw the Vegas vet pack her bags and partner Sarah was screwed over yet again. In the last episode, we saw a whole different side to Diem after getting into words with some of the ladies after getting voted in. And of course, there's that distraction known as CT. Competition wise, they have done well, not only the win in Blind Leading the Blind, but also competing every week to get to that top position, coming close on a few occasions. But there has also been some questionable things too, such as voting for certain guys' teams in voting, breaking a couple alliances in the process. Nonetheless, they are in the last elimination and if there is a sentimental favorite in all this, it's the one who has overcome ovarian cancer not once, but twice and would be very deserving of the final if they progress out of tonight's jungle.

- CAMILA/JEMMYE: Team Subtitles were one of my two wild card picks to possibly sneak into this final, and Camila & Jemmye have proven worthy to be that team going goes in to that last three. Like Cooke & Cara Maria, Subtitles have won both a jungle - knocked off Jasmine & Theresa in week 6 - and won a mission - they won Swingers in week 8 and avoided the next-to-last girls jungle. Like the three other teams, they've performed reasonably well throughout this season, and they killed it in their mission win, spotting a flaw in Emily & Paula. And they also got involved in drama too: Camila in episode 8 with her going after Johnny in yet another Challenge meltdown, and Jemmye in a rather lighthearted manner in EP4, trying to avoid the wrath of Knight's ketchup bottle. Like Johnny/Frank on the men's side, this team is a mixture of one who's done many challenges & won a final in the process in the Brazilian, and another on her 2nd go after debuting in Turkey, with Jem more than building upon her experience that debut on BOTS. After what happened in the last episode with Johnny voting in his Exes winning partner and then getting into words with Diem, don't be surprised if they prove everyone wrong and win tonight's jungle, go back to the house and go to the final with some momentum, maybe not go all the way but perhaps challenge Cooke/Cara for the $35K.

Now, my predictions. For the field that's already set, it's a carbon copy of the Rivals 1 guys' final three: one team has Johnny Bananas, another team has Wes, and a third team comprised entirely of Rookies. In this season's instance, it's one pair with multiple challenges under both of their resumes (CT/Wes), another pair of veteran & rookie who were put together by just a twitter beef (Johnny/Frank), and a pair of rookies on their first Challenge but have made a name for themselves (Jordan/Marlon). Experience will still make a difference and I predict that CT & Wes will get this finally done. But after watching Rampage and Johnny not being fit for this, along with Jordan & Marlon winning their 2nd jungle easily, I believe that Team Rookies should cap off this fantastic campaign by beating Johnny & Frank to claim the 35K. And this will likely force you to watch RWPDX during this RWSFO lead up.

- GUYS  > 1st: CT & Wes  > 2nd: Jordan & Marlon  > 3rd: Johnny & Frank

And for the ladies, depending upon who wins the last jungle, it's gonna be a matter of who could join them and whether Paulmily's run to the jackpot will get a little more uphill. If Diem & Aneesa win, it's gonna be much the same scenario as the guys: veteran teams, big names, and a rookie, and it'll be a little bit more evenly matched. If Camila & Jemmye win their 2nd jungle, things will be different: one full veteran team, and two veteran/rookie mixed pairs, and we pretty much know which team will likely win, and don't be surprised if Paulmily run away with this. One team has been in the jungle before and won, the other is in their first and they have the experience. As for the final, while I still believe that the vets will win, I predict that Cooke's endurance and Cara Maria's experience will enable them to do well and push Paula & Emily to win. If it's Diem/Aneesa, they should be able to contend with the super team. If it's Subtitles, then expect a good battle for 2nd with Cooke/CM. So, my prediction is...

- GIRLS  > 1st: Paula & Emily  > 2nd: Cooke & Cara Maria  > 3rd: Diem & Aneesa  > Cut: Camila & Jemmye

So, after all that, nothing much more to say than, get that popcorn ready. Should be a barn burner. And also happy that I get to relive this again on DVD coming soon.

   With the finals now here, DC Blog & Twitter @dc408dxtr, will follow the quest for the cash from Thailand. Tonight, I'll live tweet the episode - both as the cast sees it out East and as I see it on the West Coast, plus I'll be in the chat room for chats with the cast. Later, I'll be writing a wrap up of key moments from this season as the cast saw it on twitter, and highlight those one-liners.

   If any of my followers go to next week's live reunion, expect me to give them the scoop from Times Square here, just as I did for RWPDX with Kevin & Kaitlyn. And when the reunion wraps, I'm begin building towards Real World Back to San Francisco taking place right here in my Bay Area backyard. Elsewhere, check out my Instagram for pics from my travels & other things: Instagram.com/dc408dxtr with more to come at www.youtube.com/user/dc408dxtr and www.flickr.com/photos/dccueva.

If you haven't had the chance, check out my previous DC BLOG articles relating to Rivals II:

- More on my HS friends' music as heard in last EP: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/08/rivals-ii-what-big-news.html

- Memories of all of the Rivals II cast: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/08/rivals-ii-memories-memories-memories.html

- SocialPulse of Episode 1 (adult language): http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/rivals-ii-countdown-real-world-nola.html

- Who Are These Newbies?: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/rivals-ii-who-are-these-newbies.html

- 11:11, Inspired by Trey: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/dc-blog-1111.html

- NOLA Inspires: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/rivals-ii-countdown-real-world-nola.html

- PDX Reunion Revealed: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/real-world-portland-as-they-saw-it.html

For now, thanks for reading, have fun, and enjoy Rivals II.

And to all the teams, good luck. I have your support, always.

- DC

RIVALS II - Elizabethany

By DC Cueva

Well, we've made it here. Ten weeks ago when the heat was on, we started MTV's The Challenge: Rivals II with an all-star cast of 32 great people all paired up with their arch enemies, most of whom I've been lucky enough to interact with on social media. And now, with summer in the books, school in session and autumn in the air, we've just about reached the starting gate of the final mission. And of course, the final in every Challenge always produces great drama with endurance, stamina, patience and stirring all kinds of emotions, all determining who will come out on top. But before we think about that, just as we did before this season began, I wanted to share a back story relating to those on Rivals II, and people who have a connection with, or were inspired by, watching them on either The Real World or a Challenge. And this story relates to one of those 10 now getting set to go after that $125,000 winners check, as well as her fellow castmate who was one of the victims of Team Rookies en route to the final.

With seeing Emily absolutely dominate this Challenge with Paula on the ladies side, and watching Ty and the stunning loss he & Leroy had to Marlon & Jordan in the season's best competition moment, it brings back memories of watching them and the rest of the Real World D.C. cast from a few years ago. In their season, Emily, Ty, Erika, Andrew, Ashley, Mike, Callie and Josh came to the District amidst the optimism spawned by year one of the Obama administration. And just as the Brooklyn cast did a year before them, the cast all pursued their career interests, reminiscent of earlier RW's. There in DuPont Circle, Emily & Ty had a roller coaster of a relationship in the house (which eventually brought them to Exes), Erika often cried & wanted to go home, and Andrew - famous for wearing a panda hat - brought girls home regularly, much to Ashley's chagrin. Outside the house, Mike took a stand in standing up for the LGBT community, Callie did photography work, and Josh pursued music & performed in a band. And as you would expect, a couple roommates - Andrew & Mike - got to go to the White House and saw the new president in person.

   One person who followed the every move of the RW DC cast from behind the scenes during the filming of that season in the summer & fall of 2009 was a young lady from right there in Washington, D.C. named Elizabethany, or Beth Proger to be exact. After graduating from the University of West Virginia, EB (a shortened hybrid name of Elizabeth and Bethany) went back to her hometown to intern at pop station Hot 99.5. And during down time from working at the radio station - home of national radio host Kane, she took advantage of following the cast, using her website www.elizabethany.com and her YouTube channel to chronicle her adventures. Starting before filming began when the house was being put together not far from the White House, and continuing throughout the filming process, people curious about what was going on with the reality pioneer in the nation's capital went to her site & watched her videos for the latest gossip & sightings.

   If you think that following the Real World cast while they are filming in your hometown is one thing (like what's taking place right now up the way in San Francisco), then for the best examples of it, check out EB's. If they had an award honoring best work following a Real World cast while not being an actual member of the camera crews that follow the cast 24/7, Elizabethany would win in a landslide. I remember checking out her site and social media sites while the season was still filming and then during the season (including checking twitter long before I had on twitter), and while many locals weren't happy about having an MTV show in their backyard, she covered it very well.

When Real World D.C. began airing in winter 2010, EB started doing show podcasts with fellow local blogger Chris Wiggins, and throughout the season they interviewed every member of the cast about all the moments that aired & didn't air on the show. Much in the same way that the Spreecasts and other podcasts cover the RW/Challenge franchise do today, the cast dished out all the gossip with EB & Chris, and I was a loyal listener to every one of their podcasts during the season. MTV was so impressed by her work that, when she was actually kicked of taping of the cast's reunion in New York at the end of the season, the channel realized their mistake and made up with EB by having her host a couple online chats during the season. She even tried out to be part of the MTV family herself in a Twitter DJ contest later that year. Even the cast themselves gave a shout out to her when they did a freestyle in the kitchen one night, as seen later on an episode and for Real World Dailies.

   This success, as well as some earlier news work at WVU & other outlets, helped propel Elizabethany to becoming a radio DJ, having done work for the same station she DJ'ed in, then going to Candy 95 in Texas and then near to home at Hot 100.5 in Virginia Beach, VA. There in the Hampton Roads area, another chapter in her Real World book took place where she became good friends with a local girl from there who tried out for Real World season 26 and eventually made it to San Diego, Sam. They became very good friends ever since, including going to the same auditions to RW St. Thomas that saw Richmond, VA's LaToya eventually get casted and before Sam went to Turkey to eventually win that year's Challenge. And Elizabethany has continued to do podcast interviews with roommates from later Real World seasons for her website, as well as helping uncover behind the scenes gossip and new cast members when the fan forums reveal who they are just as they are filming.

   And just this week, Elizabethany announced that she is returning home to where this run all started: she will take over the night shift next month at the same station where she interned in that summer, Hot 99.5 in Washington, D.C. And it all stemmed, in part, from following the Real World cast in her hometown. And if it weren't for Emily, Ty and the RW DC cast, I would not have heard of you. So, congrats, EB. Much deserved.

With the finals now here, DC Blog & Twitter @dc408dxtr, will follow the quest for the cash from Thailand. 

In the next few days, I'll be previewing the final and give my evaluations of the seven remaining teams as they go into the final and the last jungle, and of course I'll be giving my predictions on who's gonna win. Then, I'll live tweet the upcoming episode - both as the cast sees it and as I see it, plus I'll be in the chat room for chats with the cast. Later, I'll be writing a wrap up of key moments from this season as the cast saw it on twitter, and highlight those one-liners.

   If any of my followers go to the live reunion, expect me to give them the scoop from Times Square here. And as soon as the reunion wraps, I'm begin the buildup to the upcoming Real World taking place right here in my Bay Area backyard. Elsewhere, check out my Instagram for pics from my travels & other things: Instagram.com/dc408dxtr with more to come at www.youtube.com/user/dc408dxtr and www.flickr.com/photos/dccueva.

If you haven't had the chance, check out my previous DC BLOG articles relating to Rivals II:

- More on my HS friends' music as heard in last EP: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/08/rivals-ii-what-big-news.html

- Memories of all of the Rivals II cast: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/08/rivals-ii-memories-memories-memories.html

- SocialPulse of Episode 1 (adult language): http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/rivals-ii-countdown-real-world-nola.html

- Who Are These Newbies?: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/rivals-ii-who-are-these-newbies.html

- 11:11, Inspired by Trey: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/dc-blog-1111.html

- NOLA Inspires: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/rivals-ii-countdown-real-world-nola.html

- PDX Reunion Revealed: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/real-world-portland-as-they-saw-it.html

Until then, thanks for reading, have fun, and enjoy Rivals II. And happy back to football, too.

- DC

RIVALS II - One Week to Finals

By DC Cueva

So, we're getting down to the nitty gritty in Thailand on Rivals II. And this is where typically the best stuff and most exciting moments of any season of The Challenge takes place. And of course, the tension inside the jungle house will be increasing, just as the number of people in the house have dwindled from 32 at the start to now just 14, with 12 taking their talents into the final start line, and the question of who that dozen will be set to go when TJ Lavin's final opening horn of the season will be answered tomorrow night.

   We now know who will be going at it for the cash on the men's side after Knight & Preston met their inevitable demise in the last jungle to a group of rookies who have definitely earned their way into the final. Plus, there was another fight in the house, this involving two of The Challenge's biggest names all ahead of a Rivals rematch from two years ago. And all that's left now before that punishing test known as a final challenge is the last regular mission and the last pre-final jungle, where one of the four remaining ladies teams will be eliminated and not be one of those three going for $350,000.

Back in my previous Rivals II post, I had for my favorite mission the very first one, the long jump. It was succeeded in the last episode, combining elements of the game that's closest to my heart, the physicality that defined my signature moment of this season, the cardio & stamina that will be prevalent very soon in the final, and a few things from where TJ's action sports world. Rampage saw competitors have 3 minutes to score as many baskets as they can while trying to run up a ramp wearing football gear and a crossover field where colliding into competitors is always prevalent. For those who watched the first Rivals two years ago, this was the same exact game that determined the men's final three in the last pre-final jungle, where in a rematch of the famous Cutthroat gulag, Johnny & Tyler beat CT & Adam, and eventually carried that momentum into the winners circle.

   In this mission, the strengths and weaknesses of the last eight teams were both shown & exposed. CT & Wes did very well and got the maximum total of 20 balls, while Cooke continued her very good showing as a rookie. On the other side, we saw both Camila & Jemmye and Aneesa/Diem struggle to get up to the platform, while Knight also struggled in the last minute. But the biggest surprise? The last time this very event was contested on the Challenge stage on Rivals I, Johnny got his revenge on CT. What he did in 2011 now just seems like a distant memory. After seeing him struggle and leading Paula to call him "Papa," it looked in all the world that Johnny looked out of shape and very exhausted at the end of that mission that he threw up right afterwards.

   While the vets would eventually dominate and his team would ultimately finish last, the one with the most impressive performance of anyone this week was also the one who came into these last two Challenges as the most unlikely newcomer. When we found that Preston was part of Team NOLA last season in Turkey, many of us thought why he was chosen over Eric and Ryan as the 2nd guy to join Knight, Jemmye & McKenzie for their debut Challenge. Well, after underperforming on BOTS and playing 2nd fiddle to his more well-known partner from Wisconsin in Asia, in this challenge Preston really performed well and was able to have the cardio endurance that was JB's undoing. And the guy who sometimes gets mistaken for Rajon Rondo also received a complement from Knight as well.

   For the ladies, this week was the one that cemented Paula & Emily as the overwhelming favorites to win this season. With a sixth mission win out of the nine, it will be hard to think that they won't win the final, and this is one of the most dominating teams we've seen on The Challenge. And the men, as my dad would say "now they're cooking", as CT & Wes became the first guys team to win 3 missions and may become slight favorites to win this challenge depending upon what happens tomorrow. But after the fight that they had with Johnny on several things, and the animosity that's been built between Wes & Johnny, this has certainly brought the red head and the Bostonian closer. Not to mention, CT has the continuing storyline of him & Diem that we saw in this episode too, where she made out with him & then passed out.

In the jungle, we saw the same game that saw the heartbreaking early exit by Zach & Trey when Thor had the emotions get the best of him and then, through Trey's camera when he knocked that glass when he wasn't supposed to, had that victory slip away from him. So for this second contesting of Breaking On Through, both Marlon/Jordan and Knight/Preston had to be extra cautious in not reliving the ordeal of that shocking result that took out one of the contenders early. Team Portland were the overwhelming favorites and also had the inspiration of being the team that was voted in to face Team NOLA. And Jordan came with something very cleaver: when they broke the glass going down into the 2nd floor, they decided to be efficient & speedy when it came to cutting that chain. But Knight & Preston cutting that chain slowly but surely proved to be their downfall, while Marlon & Jordan would work well together to win this jungle handily, earn their ticket to the final and assuring themselves of, at worst, a $15,000 paycheck flying home.

   For Knight and Preston, another Challenge, another elimination exit, but not before a jungle win and just missing out on the finals. For Knight, he did just about everything I had on the bucket list I had for him: improve on his competitive performance from Turkey, get in a fight or two (with Marlon), and make us laugh (those one-liners). While you might not like how he plays in these shows, he does bring comic relief & a sense of humor to both the house and his interviews. And for Preston, he really came into his own in that mission and proved why he deserved to be that 2nd guy representing NOLA on these two Challenges. Don't be surprised if either or both get called back. Only question: will Preston handle living in the same house as Knight once again?

If you were, like I did, one of those who got to know and watch Jordan & Marlon during Real World Portland this spring and then had them as one of those who could contend to be in the top 3 going into the final, consider yourself amongst the luckiest people on earth now. In a deeply stacked field full of some of the big names & fellow newcomers, Team Rookies have definitely made a name for themselves with what has to be the best rookie performance ever on the Challenge, far exceeding San Diego's easy road last year. Like what we saw with Leroy & Mike on Rivals I, these two first-timers flew to this Challenge (along with Jessica & Anastasia) with their RW having not aired yet and everyone else in the blue of what they have in store competitively. The combination of the All-Big XII experience Marlon had on the gridiron in Lubbock and Jordan being versatile in a number of sports despite having only one full hand has made their rookie campaign all the more impressive. Something the bromance didn't do in Costa Rica was that the Portlanders went into elimination not once, but twice. And not only did they win both, they also took out a contender - Leroy & Ty - in stunning fashion in their very first jungle. And they were also brave enough to handle the politics very well, even sacrificing an alliance they had with Theresa just to keep themselves in the game. They definitely earned their way into the final and deserve all the respect they're receiving.

For the girls, they will have the final say in who the final six overall pairs will be going into the final when the last jungle determines who the three finalists for the girls will be tomorrow. What's certain is that there's no way the guys will vote for Paula & Emily into the jungle should they not win the last mission, and they should be able to either place 1st or 2nd in that. And the streak that started in Prague of players who won the last pre-final elimination and then won the final challenge should come to an end. What's uncertain is who will join them in the final, which should be a bit of a toss-up of three scenario.

   Should Diem & Aneesa step up after not doing well last week, setting aside the distraction of CT and be among those two teams joining them in the final, then Paula & Emily's run to the winners circle will be a little bit harder since both of them have the experience. But I believe that while they might not win should they go to the final, they'll be able to push the favorites harder to get the job done.

   If Diem & Aneesa aren't in the final and Cooke/Cara Maria & Camila/Jemmye join Paula/Emily, those two teams will just play for $35,000 & $15,000 - it's practically game over and it's gonna be a cakewalk for Paula/Emily. Both those two teams don't have the combination of endurance & CrossFit experience both Paula/Emily have and the super team should easily run away with the cash.

For the guys, it's much more competitive than what could possibly happen in the girls draw. And it's déjà vu all over again: we'll have just about the same scenario that we saw back in Argentina: two teams with veterans in both - with a couple key players from the first Rivals, and a third team of rookies making their debut & earning their finals ticket the hard way in hanging with the vets. We have Johnny on one team with Frank; Wes in another with CT, and team rookies Jordan & Marlon. But going into what's certain to be another epic final and clearly the most competitive of the two fields, what happens in this last mission will determine where these teams will be ranked going to next week. 

- Seeing the flaw on full display of Johnny being exhausted & throwing up at the end of Rampage, and also not being entirely fit for this season as he has been in previous challenges, will play a factor in the homestretch. Should he & Frank not do well in this last mission, and finish behind both CT/Wes & Jordan/Marlon, they'll be where the rookies are, underdogs going into the final. So, they must be able to step up in order to have a shot these next two weeks in Johnny's drive for five & a three-peat and Frank's quest for back-to-back challenge wins.

- For CT & Wes, they became the first guys pair to win three missions this season, and after getting some help in that 1st win, they earned two straight mission wins. While it might be impossible for the last jungle winners to win the final this time around, this is a game of momentum and it's all starting to come together for both of them. If they're able to do well in this last mission and then in the final, and both overcome the haunting memories of them struggling & losing the last time they competed in a final (which was featured in flashbacks during that fight with Johnny), then my prediction for CT & Wes to win this season will be realized.

- For Team Portland, as it was for Leroy & Mike two years ago, Marlon & Jordan have nothing to lose, especially knowing they have cashed $15,000. They weren't involved in the veterans' drama (or much drama aside from the Theresa vote & hookups), and they as expected beat Team NOLA to get to the final. Depending upon what happens this week, they will have an outside shot of shocking the veterans in the final, and if they can put up a good performance this week, they'll have a better shot of finishing ahead of one of the veterans & turn $15K into $35K.

So, my predictions for this week are:

> GIRLS - Win: Paula & Emily / Place: Cooke & Cara Maria / Show or Cut: tie - Camila & Jemmye or Diem & Aneesa

> GUYS (order for their mission) - 1st: CT & Wes / 2nd: Marlon & Jordan / 3rd: Johnny & Frank

> JUNGLE: Pick 'em between Camila & Jemmye and Diem & Aneesa

So, lets wait it all out and grab that popcorn, should be a good one tomorrow. And lastly, wanna send much love & respect to the band Northern Son, and fellow Milpitas Trojans OJ & Kyle, whose music was featured on last week's episode. OJ sent me a message on FB to thank me for the shoutout...Juice, you're welcome bud.

My social media platforms, DC Blog & Twitter @dc408dxtr, will follow the quest for the cash from Thailand to its conclusion: from my As DC Sees It live tweets to taking part in cast chats, plus these blogs. I'll write a wrap up of the two halves of this season as well as the season finale in the coming days, which will cover the cast's one-liners & tweets and my analysis. Should any of my followers go to the live reunion, expect me to give them the scoop from Times Square right here. And I'm just starting to begin the buildup to the upcoming Real World taking place right here in my Bay Area backyard. Elsewhere, check out my Instagram for pics from my travels & other things: Instagram.com/dc408dxtr with more to come at www.youtube.com/user/dc408dxtr and www.flickr.com/photos/dccueva.

If you haven't had the chance, check out my previous DC BLOG articles relating to Rivals II:

- More on my HS friends' music as heard in last EP: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/08/rivals-ii-what-big-news.html

- Memories of all of the Rivals II cast: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/08/rivals-ii-memories-memories-memories.html

- SocialPulse of Episode 1 (adult language): http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/rivals-ii-countdown-real-world-nola.html

- Who Are These Newbies?: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/rivals-ii-who-are-these-newbies.html

- 11:11, Inspired by Trey: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/dc-blog-1111.html

- NOLA Inspires: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/rivals-ii-countdown-real-world-nola.html

- PDX Reunion Revealed: http://dc408dxtr.blogspot.com/2013/07/real-world-portland-as-they-saw-it.html

Until then, thanks for reading, have fun, and enjoy Rivals II. And happy back to football, too.

- DC

RIVALS II - What's Coming Up...

By DC Cueva

Okay, some brief thoughts on the Real World & Challenge front. We're just a last mission & last ladies jungle away from the final challenge on Rivals II. And as this season winds down on TV, the filming continues for the upcoming Real World season taking place in San Francisco. As stated in my previous post, I'm liking this season so much better than Battle of the Seasons, as I say that was just my reintroduction to these shows. And of course, the Real World will still be my favorite of the two shows and the one where I'm most comfortable in, regardless of the buzz being overtaken by its spinoff and other MTV shows.

As soon as Rivals II wraps up, during this 3-month or so break between the end of this Challenge and the earliest possible starting date for RW Back to San Francisco this winter (I'll be alright with it, will be following sports anyway), I'll be following the progress of them filming the season, although I will keep calm in not overblowing things compared with other RW fans. But the key difference between the last two seasons that I became engaged with and this one here is, because it's taking place in the Bay Area, I'll be following it much earlier that normal, where I would generally join a little bit before taping ends. I'm always excited for every RW season, but when you have a season that takes place in a city that you know very well more than others - and it's just a drive up the 101 from where I am situated here in Silicon Valley, it takes on an even deeper meaning too.

   And just as I did for Portland, once the roommates fly home later this fall & return to social media after the freeze on their accounts are lifted, I'll have the opportunity to establish a rapport with the seven strangers by tweeting with them & learning more about who they are so when the trailer debuts sometime this winter, I'll be ready for it more than others. And of course, I'll be doing my part to help promote & support the show, communicate with the cast when it airs and drive people to the webcasts of those who I follow on twitter, as well as any interviews & articles covering the cast.

   As for that cast, while I'm not naming names (and won't be until just before filming ends, and when I tweeted my now following alert, I kept them in the dark), six of them have been revealed in the fan forums. There's the first person - a fella from Dallas, another guy from Michigan and a 3rd fella from the Bronx whose last name is Gotti. And for the ladies, after we saw Joi last season and team rookies being excited about someone who posed for Playboy, there's gonna be three models - one from Houston, another from Kansas City and a 3rd transplanted in from Buckwild country--West Virginia. All that's left is the 7th roommate to complete that puzzle, can't wait to talk to all of them later on.

As for The Challenge, rumors are that, just shortly after Rivals II concludes on TV, a lucky group of 30 or so people will be flying to the next Challenge, seems already they're doing this just after it airs. And because their twitter accounts will be frozen during this time, it also means some of my favorites won't be tweeting "happy birthday" to me on my 30th birthday in November. But there's been a drumbeat among many fans that this 25th edition of the show should be a Duel III or a large team affair. While I've really been enjoying watching my first two live Challenges in a while, plus the first Rivals that I watched before this, there's many passionate tweeters who aren't really into Challenges with 2- or 4-person teams as has been the case since they went to Costa Rica for what many call the best Challenge season ever.

   While I'm still new to this, I didn't really follow the two previous Duels that took place (or any pre-BOTS challenge), and for many, it's the most ideal Challenge format. The premise is simple: everyone for themselves, no permanent teams, different politicking than in a pair/team Challenge, and everyone competes individually to be that one guy or girl winner who is on top at the end. The first Duel saw the CT/Wes rivalry beginning where the KC'ean beat the Bostonian on his way to his only Challenge win.

   And fans can't rule out the possibility of another large-team season as well, another preferred option for those fans. There's the Gauntlet, where it's 2 teams of veterans & rookies and they vote their own players into elimination except for a player on those teams who won immunity. The last time there was a Gauntlet, the final was marred by Eric/Big EZ quitting & turning an apparent Veterans win into an upset for the Rookies, and leading to his inspiring weight loss story.

   There's Ruins, essentially a Gauntlet but the teams are comprised of a team of Champions who have won previous Challenges, and Challengers of both vets & rookies who haven't won a Challenge. And the selection process for an elimination takes place before a mission where teams pick 6 players for possible elimination, and then afterwards players from each side compete in elimination. The Champions won the first Ruins comfortably back in 2009.

   And there's Cutthroat, a fresh format with 3 teams set by 3 team members picked either as the top 3 or finish in the bottom 3 in a race at the beginning, and that trio drafts members on the spot. All three teams compete, with the winning team gaining immunity and leading the two losing teams to pick the players facing each other in the gulag elimination. First time out in 2010, this was responsible for an epic Challenge moment where CT took out Johnny in 17 seconds.

For myself, I've always believed that the true fan of these shows are those who watch every episode to one or both of these shows (even if they might not like it much), that are welcoming & respectful to every member of the alumni & current class regardless of whether they like them or not, and are able to handle the format that every Challenge season has & what the vibe of a particular Real World season will be about. I'm able to handle what the next Challenge will be, regardless of whether its that Duel III that everybody is clamoring for or another format BMP has up their sleeve that we don't know. And of course, I am very comfortable with the legacy series since, because I'm someone who has an eye for great storytelling and also likes to have some fun too, this is my preferred reality TV show.

   Most importantly, when you take away the drama, the setting and everything else, in the end, these shows are simply about the people. In these 14 months since I joined twitter last fall, I've been fortunate enough to have a great virtual relationship with this great family of Real World, Challenge & Road Rules alumni, it feels like they're that group of friends you'd wish you had in high school but it feels like you know them as well as your actual friends. And of that team, over 100 have either replied back to me, retweeted or favored one of my tweets, have liked a pic on my Instagram, and/or have answered a question in a SpreeCast chat. And there's a good handful that follow me in social media, which in most cases I didn't expect but really appreciate. And they know that I'm that great fan who is appreciative of everyone, doesn't talk negatively towards anyone, and is someone who everyone likes to talk to. So, regardless of who is on this upcoming Challenge cast, as well as for RW SFO, I'll be watching these shows for everyone.

So, that's this my look on what's coming up in the world of The Real World & The Challenge. Coming in the next few days, I'll be giving my predictions of what's coming up in Wednesday's episode of Rivals II. It'll be the last regular mission and the last women's jungle, which will determine which of the four remaining ladies pairs of Paula/Emily, Aneesa/Diem, Camila/Jemmye & Cooke/Cara Maria who will join CT/Wes, Johnny/Frank & Jordan/Marlon in the quest for the $350,000 jackpot. See ya then.

- DC