DC ExtraTime In-Depth: When LMFAO Met The Real World

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

It's a new week in the MTV Trifecta, and after taking last week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, Real World Bad Blood returns Wednesday as things start to unravel in the Seattle house. But first, we present another edition of DC ExtraTime In-Depth, the dedicated long-form posts of our original look at the people, moments and stories of The Challenge/Real World franchise and Are You The One?. On the big day last Thursday, we brought you the inspiring and moving story of the special bond of six-time Challenge champion Johnny Bananas and his biggest fan, cancer survivor Kasey Harvey. And today, we offer our second long-form post in a week... this time, something fun that predated what would happen in pop culture just a few years later.

There was a time only recently when the buzz of the music world was a duo of Pacific Palisades, CA - west of Los Angeles. They made the Melbourne Shuffle the world's hottest dance move, and for a moment you couldn't get away from the sight of a guy with an Afro walking and dancing on the sun-baked avenues of Venice Beach with just his underwear on. Just as it was for Lady Gaga when she was given her big break being featured on The Hills before becoming a worldwide household name, our subjects were given big opportunities that put the term "Party Rock" into the mainstream musical limelight, including a stop on the show that started it all in reality TV.

On this edition of ExtraTime In-Depth, we look back to when two guys named RedFoo and SkyBlu rolled onto Cancun for Spring Break 2009 seven years ago and hung out with eight strangers, before they became - for a time - the biggest stars in music. This is what happened When LMFAO Met The Real World.

DC Sports Extra: Uncle Verne

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

This Thanksgiving weekend is Rivalry Week in college football as most of the major conferences hold their last week of regular season play prior to the conference championship games, and it also means some of the sport's most-revered rivalries will take shape. Michigan vs. Ohio State will take precedent as the country's #2 and #3 teams play in what will be a charged atmosphere. The classic matchup between Notre Dame and USC will also take place, and in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Iron Bowl will be renewed as the #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide take on arch rivals Auburn.
   Along with next week's SEC Championship Game, it will mark the next-to-last college football assignment for one of the most-beloved sportscasters in American television, Verne Lundquist. During our coverage of The Challenge: Rivals III earlier this summer, we looked at his legendary career when he announced that he would be stepping down from calling SEC football at the end of this college football season, as well as being the recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2016 Sports Emmy Awards in New York City. Enjoy this excerpt from this summer.

DC ExtraTime In-Depth: Bananas & Kasey - A #DiemStrong Bond

NOTE: Because of the sensitive nature of one of the subjects featured in this post, comments have been turned off to discourage any negative comments directed to them on this site, but you can tweet your always thoughts to me on Twitter @DC408Dxtr. Enjoy this special story.

A DCBLOG Thanksgiving Special

BY DC CUEVA                       

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from all of us at DCBLOG, myself and my family. We hope you all are enjoying these four days off to enjoy time with family and friends, and kick back to have food, watch football, take part in the mall madness and endure hours of travel on this kickoff weekend of the holiday season.
   This week, we are taking advantage of this holiday break in the MTV Trifecta and the current season of The Real World in Seattle to bring you long-form stories from our extensive coverage of the Real World/Challenge franchise, and Are You The One?. And tonight, we begin with a special, expanded version of a unique and inspiring story from my strongest passion.

At DCBLOG, the Trifecta is our pride and joy...we bring you insightful and outstanding coverage of the three shows that galvanize viewers with its drama, its unexpected twists & turns, and its amazing people. And while we bring you all the social reaction to every episode of the three shows, and recap them too, our focus and specialty is original storytelling. We put our lens on the stories of this ecosystem brought to us by the more than 300+ alumni and current cast members of those shows and the erstwhile Road Rules. Behind these people and the moments they bring us are stories, large & small, from around the spectrum. And often, it's these kinds of stories that stand out in our coverage and present these people in a unique light outside of the TV screen.

   Most of our MTV Trifecta posts feature ExtraTime, which gives us the chance to tell these stories to you, so you can understand these people better and this world around us through the prism of the Trifecta. At the end of our Pulse diaries and Wrap recaps, or in their own dedicated posts such as this one, ExtraTime has been able to tell these great stories, both big & small, and provides more context to these people than just what MTV shows us each week. We've been able to present a slew of stories spanning both the serious and the silly, the inspiring and the unique. There is no ecosystem in reality TV that offers great drama on the screen, and fascinating stories and people off of it.

For this, our first long-form story of this cycle, this involves the person who is, along with host TJ Lavin, the face of The Challenge and whose popularity, notoriety and stature have increased over the years to where he is synonymous with this show. Starting on his original Real World season, he has had an incredible run over the past ten years spanning fourteen shows, and the latest chapter of what he did this past summer embodies the love/hate persona he has with fans, viewers and everyone within the community of this ecosystem. But as you will find out, it is not totally representative of who he is as a person overall...not everything about him is of a negative stigma.
   It is the story of a unique individual who lives and breathes the world's most popular sport but then was sidelined by a rare disease. Her story of survival invokes the story of a woman who epitomized the spirit of never giving up in the face of adversity, and how like a person who battled ovarian cancer, overcame her own battle against a childhood form of cancer, all while who she was inspired by would ultimately succumb to cancer. And along the way, she has established a special friendship with a man, who despite having a somewhat questionable image to many, has a softer side to him after the humbling experience of losing one of his best friends to cancer two years ago this month.

We've brought you this story here before, but having just marked the second anniversary of both the passing of Challenge legend Diem Brown and the disease diagnosis of the co-subject of this post at the same time, this week we're revisiting it in a longer form in light of what happened to him the last time we saw him on our screens. This story would've been lost in the shuffle if not for what happened at the end of Rivals III this past summer, but a story like this is so unique and special that we feel it deserves to be told on its own here, especially with us being able to present this during this time of family bonding and time of inspiration on this Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
   On this first installment of DC ExtraTime In-Depth, we proudly present a story of perseverance and true inspiration, and the unique relationship of a six-time Challenge champion and someone who overcame the odds. This is the story of Johnny Bananas & Kasey Harvey: A Diem Strong Bond.

DC WRAP: Real World Bad Blood - "Petered Out"

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

We have arrived at the weekend of this short work week for all of us, which means one thing: the four-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend is here. And we have this DC WRAP post to cover Episode 7 of Real World Bad Blood to share with you here before we celebrate with our families.
   Last week saw the Peter and Jennifer romance hit full bloom in the aftermath of their kiss, plus we saw the budding relationship of Theo and Tyara hit a snag. There was also Peter also finding himself in the heart of some drama with Anna and Katrina, and even an appearance from a grasshopper.
   Ahead, we'll look at those three stories in our wrap, plus results of our polls. And what has become the latest phenomenon to hit the internet? ExtraTime will bring you one member of the Trifecta's entry into the trend of people sitting still for 30 seconds of glory in social world. That's all ahead.

DC SocialPulse: Real World Bad Blood - "Petered Out"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse 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 / @DC408DxNow

It's the weekend, and that means we have our look at the MTV Trifecta to share with you on DCBLOG. It's hard to think we're now halfway through Season 32 of Real World, and the Bad Blood group have made a strong impact on the house in Seattle as the various relationships among the fourteen people who call the Pacific Northwest home are heating up in the autumn cool.
   Last week, we learned more about the once-great friendship of Jordan & Orlana and the ladder revealing that she had considered taking her own life after losing her best friend. The feud between Katrina and Anna was amped up further when Peter began to get close with Anna and then went into bed with her. Jennifer went on a date with ex Robbie with intentions to settle things with him while in town, and then she and Peter share a rather scandalous kiss.
   And that hook-up sees big repercussions this week for both Jenn and Peter, with a potential break-up 3,000 miles away, tears and a rebound guy looming. The Million Dollar Maze Runner winner also finds himself in the crossfire of more drama with the sisters. And the budding relationship between two of the originals may find itself on the outs as one of them proves to be their own worst enemy and threatens to bring that all down in flames.
   Coming up, all the action, reaction and interaction from the week that was in the Real World and in the MTV Trifecta, plus remembrances of the late Diem Brown and much more... and someone very familiar might make an appearance in the lead-up tweets, too. And if you love music, you'll want to stick around afterwards for ExtraTime as we have a double dose of music to share with you on this AMA's Sunday as we'll have two hilarious videos from members of the Trifecta.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but they are kept uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then do not proceed with reading this post. But need not worry...DCBLOG will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

One romance goes out, another comes in. A friendship/relationship is on the rocks. More drama, and funny music... Join us next for this week's 'Pulse of Real World Bad Blood.

DC ExtraTime: Early November 2016

Originally Posted in DC ExtraTime sections of DCBLOG's MTV Trifecta coverage
on November 6, 9, 12 and 16, re-posted here for the interest of readers.

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

As you prep for tonight's new episode of Real World Bad Blood, DCBLOG presents the ExtraTime portions from the past two weeks of our posts offering a look at the people and stories of the MTV Trifecta. Because those posts were so compelling and fascinating, for those of you who don't want to scroll all the way down to those stories - located always at the end of our 'Pulse diaries and the episode WRAP's, we're reposting them just for you. Enjoy these pieces of DC ExtraTime.

DC WRAP: Real World Bad Blood - "Stacked Odds"

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

As we begin a new week around here, welcome back to DCBLOG as we bring you our Wrap of last week's episode of Real World Bad Blood, ahead of an all-new episode airing tonight. Things are starting to heat up in the house with plenty more drama ahead of us.

   Last week, we got to see exes Robbie and Jennifer tend to what happened to their relationship, as did former best friends Jordan and Orlana where the ladder revealed a dark secret. We also saw ladies man Peter become the guy in between of the ongoing feud between Katrina and Anna, and even Will got in on the act in trying to attract girls as well.

   We'll have our Things to Know recap of the week's key moments, plus some added perspective on what happened with Jordan and Lana and how it's seen from a broader perspective. And along with the poll results, ExtraTime will join along with an AYTO original as she meets with Hollywood's best and catches up with familiar faces. That's all coming up.

DC SocialPulse: Real World Bad Blood - "Stacked Odds"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse 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 / @DC408DxNow

Well, after a most eventful week in this imperfect world we all live in, we've at last arrived at the weekend. And welcome on in to our look at Week 5 of Real World Bad Blood from the vantage point of DCBLOG on this, DCBDAY Weekend for this very blogger and writer - yours truly, DC Cueva. There's been a lot going the past several days, but if you - like many others - like to have some relief from what's been flooding your timelines and causing you plenty of fatigue, then you've come to the right place as we will look in at Episode 6 from Seattle.

   Last week was the first full week in the Pacific Northwest at double the original house occupancy as Mike and Peter made up and then pursued Jordan and Anna, respectively. Anna and sister Katrina then get into more words thanks in part to the man who's instigated plenty of activity in his MTV career. And most of the focus was on the male cousins and the building tension that came from the fallout of the marijuana discovery that cost one's football aspirations.
   This week, the focus turns from the ongoing tension between Theo and Kassius to other matters in the house. The feud that's been brewing between sisters Katrina and Anna is upped even more when Peter begins to get close with, and then gets into bed, with one of them. We finally get into the story of what befell the once-great friendship of Jordan and Orlana, and a dark secret that has been kept by one of them until now. And for the pair of exes who don't have to worry about having to throw away either's food, Jenn has eyes on closure with her ex, Robbie.

Coming up, we have how the cast saw this week's drama in the Seattle house through the social media world. Note this is a scaled down edition of the Pulse as in the lead-up and aftermath posts, there are no tweets related to the election, and we've decided that it would be best to just focus on the show itself for those of you who prefer it this way after how long the campaign was and the aftermath of Tuesday's events. And afterwards, ExtraTime will take you back in time as we catch up with a Challenge and Road Rules veteran from back in the day, and the feat they pulled off that might be the ultimate underdog tale in the history of the MTV Trifecta.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but they are kept uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then do not proceed with reading this post. But need not worry...DCBLOG will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

A sister feud intensifies, exes seek closure, a secret and catching up with a Challenge queen... Stay with us as DCBLOG brings you the week that was in the Real World Bad Blood house, next.

DC WRAP: Real World Bad Blood - "Fourteen's a Crowd"

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

Well, if you're seeking a haven of sorts from the events of the past day or so, then you've come to the right place as we welcome you back to DCBLOG and our look at Week 5 of Real World Bad Blood. While there's been drama in the campaign's last days and now with Election Day done & dusted, there has been some drama over in Seattle as the originals and Bad Blood are now united.

   Last week, the principal focus was on Theo and Kassius and their stare down of who did what in the case of pot-gate. We also had Mike and Peter patch things up and then proceed to romances with two of the girls in the house. And the saga between sisters Katrina and Anna continued as the guy who's caused a lot of drama the past 11 months causes more drama with the Stacks.

   Coming up as we now stand hours from a new episode: the Things to Know wrap of Episode 5 plus the results of our Twitter polls. And to give you something a bit more refreshing on this day after the Election, in ExtraTime we'll share with you some of the best of the Halloween costumes by the people of the Trifecta. Join us here next.

DC SocialPulse: Real World Bad Blood - "Fourteen's a Crowd"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse 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 / @DC408DxNow

It's the first weekend of November, and as the city of Chicago basks in Cubs fever and a divided country awaits its fate in two days' time, welcome on in to the weekend tradition that is DCBLOG's ongoing coverage of the MTV Trifecta. In Seattle, the Real World has now entered the juicy part of this Bad Blood season with the house now holding 14 people under its one roof.

   The past two weeks have seen the now customary twist unfold in the original seven's Bad Blood moving to the Pacific Northwest, and last week after an RV ride up from Portland, that group arrived in the Seattle house to the surprise, and one's expectations, of the originals. As expected, tensions and sparks flew upon the realization of this twist, and it also sparked a new romance and rekindled another. And the divide between Tyara and the house continued as her being left by the house got her riled up once again.

   This week, the first full week of this more fuller house sees more sparks fly, this time with two frenemies pursuing romances with two of the girls. The saga that is the feuding sisters turn their attention towards the guy who's been causing as much drama in the house as it was in his first time in the Trifecta last year. And while the guys and girls enjoy nights out on their own, the focus is on the two estranged cousins, whose falling out being caused by a bottle of pot that cost one his football career sees them have to deal with this right then and there.
   Ahead, along with all of the action, reaction and interaction of Episode 5, this extended Pulse will also cover a busy week with Halloween and Game 7 of the World Series. And then on ExtraTime, what happens when traveling the world is not just a pleasure, but your passion? We'll catch up with a RW alum as he ventures around the world to countries and lifestyles a lot of us might not get the chance to experience for ourselves. Clue here: it's not that guy who you think it is.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but they are kept uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then do not proceed with reading this post. But need not worry...DCBLOG will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

Cousins deal with past grudges, sisters battle the house instigator, and sparks fly... and much more too. Join DCBLOG for the 'Pulse of Week 4 of Real World Bad Blood, coming up.

DC ExtraTime: Week of October 29, 2016

Originally Posted in DC ExtraTime sections of DCBLOG's MTV Trifecta coverage

on October 29 and November 2, re-posted here for the interest of readers.

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

If you're a loyal DCBLOG reader, then generally punctuate our posts covering the MTV Trifecta of the Real World/Challenge franchise and Are You The One? with side posts covering the people and the stories of these shows. Because this week's posts are so compelling and fascinating, we're re-posting these bits here for the sake of those who don't want to scroll all the way down to these stories. Enjoy these pieces of DC ExtraTime.

DC WRAP: Real World Bad Blood "Sleep Mess in Seattle"

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

As we enter the month of November and with an epic sports event to take place tonight, fall is indeed in the air and we have another edition of the WRAP to look back on Episode 4, as well as Episode 3, of Real World Bad Blood as the original seven have now been joined by the exes, estranged family members and rivals in Seattle.
   Arriving the previous week in Portland and finding out about the twist upon their arrival, last week the Bad Blood of Anna, Jennifer, Kassius, Kim, Orlana, Peter and Will moved into the house after an adventurous RV trip and of course, surprised the group. We also saw the first week romance between Jordan and Mike get rekindled, as well as another one spark between Peter and Jennifer in the RV... and the gulf between Tyara and the house continue.
   Coming up, we'll have the full recap of the past two weeks in the house (the Episode 3 review was tabled over to this week because of my Las Vegas trip), plus the results of my Twitter polls. Afterwards on ExtraTime, we'll meet some of the famous friends of one of the Real World's most unique roommates, and we'll catch up with a season from ten years back. That's all ahead.