Wednesday, November 16, 2016

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.



 THINGS TO KNOW 
Just a few items in our Things to Know wrap here, as one of the key subjects from Episode 6 which would've been featured here, will instead be discussed on its own in-depth after the poll results.

ROBBIE & JENN: Something that we had to watch here when the stories about the cast was revealed was what would happen with Robbie and Jennifer. It takes until their second full week of them being here to finally get on top of this, and in between his DJ gigs he decides to go out and have dinner with her. The exes finally have the floor at a local restaurant to discuss what went wrong, where Robbie was young and too busy to be in a relationship; whereas for Jenn she's moved on to a new boyfriend she met months before this twist. This date actually turns out to be more productive than what would typically be the case for exes going out to eat, albeit with matching necklaces and Jen being curious of why he broke up with her unexpectedly. Neither have plans to rekindle things and do resort this relationship to just being a civil one rather than a romantic one, and Jen calls her guy back home to reassure him it'll be alright. Well, it doesn't turn out that way... More on that in a moment.

WILL'S A PLAYER: As the house goes out on a night on the town, there's one person who isn't taking in the Seattle nightlife -- at least, not now. When he got the call to show up at ex Anika's place, supposedly Will was in a rush to pack everything, and apparently he forgot his ID card back in Philly. We believe his family will eventually airmail that to him, but until then he'll have to fend for himself home alone when everyone else is clubbing. On EP6, Will decides to do what anyone does when the parents aren't in town: you call up a local and invite them to your house. Will does exactly that and calls up two local girls and they show up at almost the same time the rest of the group comes home from their night out. When his girls arrive, Will tells them to return there the next day.  At least for now, he's not ready.

 PETER & THE GIRLS: When we met Peter, he was that guy who was a bartender on Long Island who after grabbing a cool $500,000 on MTV became best friend of Mike's which then evaporated. Here in Seattle, after taking care of things with Magic Mike he's emerged out of his shell a bit in now being the ladies man of the house in now bringing an element of Mike's original season and a familiar sight in the Real World into the house. On the trip up north he became close to Anna and now they've become close again, this time in the house and in front of her sister Katrina. And it's this issue of guys that's now become the one in between this relationship between the two sisters.
   In a way, Anna & Peter is the couple who loves taking selfies and just can't get their eyes off one another even in front of  Katrina, and it's the sis who's watching the couple have these PDA's which is driving her nuts. Katrina feels hurt that Anna is spending more time with him than fixing this fractured relationship, and after a talk with her following that awkward lunch date with them Anna decides to end things and not sleep with him. After accepting, it doesn't take long for Peter to rebound as, while inebriated, he goes to Jennifer to tell her that he's had eyes on her since they met on that RV trip. When Anna hears him say that she was his second choice, she then confronts the two by giving them their blessing while they're in the confessional. She tries to spread the situation due to having a guy back home, but then Jen is locking lips with Peter... In front of her boyfriend and all of us on TV.


 PULSE POLLS 

Jordan believes that her fight w/ Lana was worth their friendship. Do you agree with her?
YES, it was worth it      14%
NO, it wasn't worth it   86% 
Out of 14 Votes at @DC408Dxtr

Do you think Katrina has a right to feel neglected by Anna after what we saw w/ her & Peter?
YES, she has a right      21%
 NO, she doesn't            79% 
Out of 24 Votes at @DC408Dxtr

After what we saw there, do you believe Anna will break things off with Peter for Katrina?
YES, probably              79% 
NO, maybe not            21%
Out of 19 Votes at @DC408Dxtr

Do you think Jennifer should've broken things off w/ her boyfriend before going to Seattle?
 YES, she should have   76% 
 NO, probably not         24%
Out of 17 Votes at @DC408Dxtr

Well, what do you think? Did Jordan and Mike hook up underneath the covers?
 YEAH! They definitely did   80% 
 NO WAY! They didn't           20%
Out of 20 Votes at @DC408Dxtr

And since it began its new format 2 years ago, which #RealWorld twist do you like the most?
Ex-Plosion (Season 29)        19%
Skeletons (Season 30)         22%
Go Big or Go Home (S 31)    13%

Bad Blood (Season 32, RN)  46% 
Out of 32 Votes at @DC408Dxtr


•     •     •

 DC FORUM: PERSPECTIVE 
JORDAN & ORLANA, and SUICIDE

Once again, at times during this cycle DC FORUM will appear here to provide perspective, analysis and thoughts from me and others on what we see during this Real World season, plus the next seasons of The Challenge and Are You The One? from inside the Strategy Room when we arrive in the new year (I guarantee, there will be a 2017). This week, the first installment of DC FORUM: Perspective offers a look at a fourth story which would've been part of our recap above but given what happened in one of the instances, we had to explain this further here with some added context.
   In the time we've covered the Trifecta on this site, we've discussed how unique The Real World is in this ecosystem we cover wall-to-wall here. Of course, this is the only show in the triple that's pure documentary-based: no challenges, no money at stake, and where the people and their stories take much more precedent. This is the most history-rich of the three shows in having been on for what next year will be 25 years since that gritty first season in New York. Thus, there's a large library of memories and stories with the hundreds who've given up a few months of their lives to shack up in the house and become relatable to all of us. And even with the format change-up that arrived in time to cover our first full RW season in Ex-Plosion, they've never forgotten about being able to put into focus those kinds of real-life issues when the opportunity presents itself at certain times each season.
   Those who got to watch some of an MTV Classic marathon recently were able to understand and see how profound an impact Pedro Zamora had on the first generation of RW viewers when his courageous battle with AIDS captured the world's attention. Even during last season's madness in Vegas, we saw a man revolt against his own religious cult about events that infuriated those in the community he now resides in, and felt the pain of one brave girl discuss the day she lost both of her parents. And just about every issue and real-life situation too many to mention that's come up since 1992 has been documented in one way or another by this show, and remains the single element that separates this TV icon from all others in this voyeuristic genre of reality TV.

The latest instance is real life and Real World colliding came this past week when we got to know about what happened to the once close friendship of Jordan and Orlana. Given how the focus since the twist reveal has been on Theo & Kassius, sisters Katrina & Anna and the budding relationships in the house, it took until this week for us to understand where the two girls from the Midwest came from, and how their friendship evaporated rapidly for apparently no apparent reason. The story goes that Jordan and Lana were BFF's going all the way to when they were young and they were inseparable. That was, until an infamous video went viral, a double date and issues with race drove them apart.
   It's when Lana goes out with two of the ladies she moved into the house with, Anna and Jennifer, that for the first time she shares with them, and with us, about the time after her 5-year friendship with Jordan had soured that she went through a period of depression and confided with Jordan when she decided that enough was enough and that she was going to commit suicide. For Jordie, who's describes herself has not be as emotional as other young women are, she wasn't as strongly supportive to her friend as she was back then when Lana needed the biggest help she needed when it mattered the most and to get out of that deep emotional hole she was in.
   When the two go out to lunch the day after getting down at the club, Jordan finds out for the first time that she hurt Lana over having a lack of being able to understand and share one's feelings of empathy. For here, it took for just this one hop to the restaurant at midday, as well as the presence of cameras for a show that'll eventually bring this drama to more than just their friends and family for them to mend this friendship that seemed broken before this twist was revealed to the original seven. This format of the Bad Blood twist, just as it was with Ex-Plosion and Skeletons before it, no doubt forces each of the seven originals and their counterparts who's living here to have moments like this to fix things up or end this experience with unresolved business. Seeing them enjoy this time dancing and them resolving things the day later is emblematic of what this season is all about.

Suicide is a very serious subject that affects millennials and young people everywhere. Everyday, there are people who are in so deep a depression that they constantly think about that one day coming sooner rather than later of them deciding that it's not in their interest to be living for long. Whether it's anxiety disorder, being bipolar, dealing with substance abuse, having a eating disorder, not being able to overcome the sorrow of losing a loved one or dealing with enormous stress -- it is as dark an issue as you can possibly get. From bullying relating to one's LGBT preference to soldiers having to deal with post traumatic stress disorder, there's a good chance that you know someone who has had thoughts of taking their life.
   For those who do decide to follow through on their pledge, the pain of families having to deal suddenly with one of their own committing suicide is so profound that it may be too great for them to overcome. The emotions of heartache and emptiness that they have can express this better than having to describe those feelings in words. But for those who think wisely, think twice and decide to give this game of life another chance, they can be lucky that they are alive after everything they've been through. There must've been someone who recognized any of the warning signs of suicidal behavior and gotten them the necessary help to bringing them to a mental health specialist or taking them to a rehab facility and get them the immediate help necessary to save one's life.
   For Lana, it must've been the most stressful time of her life to deal with losing a best friend over some petty stuff on social media. But instead of taking her own life, she thought wisely in not only giving life another chance, but now having a good chance to eradicate what happened a few years ago and rekindle the friendship she had with Jordan... they've taken the first steps to doing exactly that.

She's not alone: On Real World Portland, another Jordan -- 3-time Challenger, Exes 2 champ and now on Tyler Perry's If Loving You is Wrong -- revealed that he had went through a period of depression after being bullied for having the half-hand that he was born with and had left a suicide note before thinking twice. Across the MTV way, Tyler Baltierra from Teen Mom OG dealt with potentially taking his own life after the release from jail of his estranged dad Butch -- but things are now better in his family. And just this week, a good social friend of mine and a past FORUM subject, Eric "River Zain" Cebellos, checked into a rehab center in dealing with his own battles with depression and anxiety, among others, after the death a few years back of his brother. We send our thoughts to Eric as he begins that tough process.
   Another recent Real World alum has also dealt before with suicidal thoughts and his own personal demons that led to him totally changing his overall outlook on life which ultimately saved him... we'll share you the story of Brandon Kane from RW St. Thomas later during our Trifecta coverage.  And remember, if you know of someone who's considering taking their own life, please do whatever you can to get them help as urgently as you can and one phone call may make a big difference.



#DCExtraTime
BRITTANY's SOCAL TAKEOVER

Lastly, we end on a positive note with a ray of sunshine amidst the gloominess of the past week and of the serious nature of the Forum post above. As filming of Season 5 of Are You The One? just wrapped up and rumors of their own challenge circulating around the grapevine, a member of the much revered Season 1 cast recently spent the past month in Southern California and has gotten to mingle with some of Hollywood's best as well as familiar friends.
   Brittany from AYTO Season 1 has immersed herself in the entertainment world since we last heard from her on Exes 2. And over the past month, she exchanged the cool and relatively calm nature of New England for the sunny, fast-paced and more vibrant vibe of L.A., and we'd like to share with you some of her adventures, courtesy of her Instagram and Twitter @Brittany_Baldi.

First, anyone who's in the know of the showbiz world head to the numerous avenues of information on entertainment: various sites, twitter hubs and mobile apps such as Entertainment Weekly, TMZ, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard Magazine, the tabloids and the like - among others. And of course, there's those those entertainment newsmagazine shows on TV that air each weeknight - generally before network primetime. This includes the show EXTRA, which has been on-air for over 20 years and currently calls Universal Studios Hollywood home base. Brittany watched a live taping of segments for that show, and met up with Extra's two current hosts: that Saved By The Bell heartthrob Mario Lopez (left), and co-host Clarissa Thompson.

   As we post this on Wednesday, November 16th, last night was the season premiere of the sixth & final season of MTV's mega-hit Teen Wolf as well as new show Sweet/Vicious. On Monday, Brittany and her season 1 castmate Simone represented Team AYTO at a Southland Dave & Buster's for a premiere viewing party where they and the casts of both dramas watched the premieres a day before the rest of us. On the picture to the right, Brittany and 'Monie got to hang out with TW stars Tyler Posey, Dylan SprayberryKhylin Rhambo and Cody Christian, among those who attended which also included Shelley Hennig, Charlie Carver, Holland Roden and S/V stars Taylor Dearden and Eliza Bennett, among others. Their AYTO colleague, Ryan, is co-host of AfterBuzz TV's Teen Wolf after-show, which you can check out at AfterBuzzTV.com.
   Speaking of the Wolf, a post like this would not be complete in not including anything related to Teen Wolf without mentioning about the guy who now refers to himself as the "Wolf Pack." We're not talking about the group from Real World Skeletons or what we saw on the Bad Blood premiere but rather Giovanni from the last Are You The One? season over the summer, and someone who's also a big Teen Wolf fan as well. There in that picture to the left, he's right there with Brittany in the pool there in L.A. - it's much better being in a pool in 70 degree weather in November than being in the cooler atmosphere and often dreary conditions of the Northeast at this time of year. Since AYTO, Gio not only has released a line of hoodies with his Wolf Pack name on it, he's also dropped some additional music on his SoundCloud, which you can check out here.
   On the same night as the Bad Blood arriving at the Real World house in Seattle and the Cubs winning the World Series in Cleveland, reality TV honored its best at the Reality TV Awards at the Avalon in Hollywood. Brittany and Simone were joined by the aforementioned Challenger Jordan as they represented Team MTV, along with the Godfather Mark Long who co-hosted the online red carpet show, and the trio presented an award at the big show. Big Brother win Best Guilty Pleasure Show, while BMP production Born This Way won Best New Show. Lighthearted Entertainment - the team behind AYTO - were also honored with their always revealing show Dating Naked being singled out for Most Unique Concept, while The Amazing Race added Best Overall Show to its many Emmys.
   And last but not least... well, you very much can't include a post on Brittany without making a mention about her ex in the mansion in Kauai and then in Costa Rica. Towards the end of her month-long stay in SoCal, Adam flew into town and they did a few hikes up the way in the Hollywood Hills, including stops at the Griffith Observatory and of course having money shots of the famed Hollywood sign. Oh, how far these two have come since moments such as having an argument on one of their getaway dates in Hawaii and all else that took place in that great first AYTO season. Adam himself also got to hang out with fellow castmate Wes and, from a SnapChat post yesterday, his perfect match Shanley. Of course, I've had the great opportunity of following the Season 1 cast's entire run from the very beginning (they filmed that season at this time 3 years ago), and we'll be covering Season 5 for you here when that kicks off, plus the rumored spin-off taking place also in 2017.


▪   ▪   ▪   ▪   ▪


And that will wrap things up for our look at Episode 6 of Real World Bad Blood. As you prepare for what happens tonight in Seattle, there's a couple webcasts of interest to those in the Trifecta that we'd like to share with you here:
●  Last week, Bring Me Your Torch - the podcast hosted by Elaine and Jesse, welcomed RW Bad Blood's Katrina to their show. They discussed her time in Seattle, her relationship with sister Anna and everything that went on up until last week's episode. Check out that show here, as well as weekly podcasts reviewing Real World and all else reality and scripted TV.

●  And as you await a new Challenge, the co-hosts of the Brain Candy Podcast - Susie & Sarah - have an additional MTV-related podcast just for those who help them provide additional funding for their free podcasts at thebraincandypodcast.com. Through crowd-funding site Patreon, the duo is offering additional content including interviews with their fellow MTV friends including Laurel, Cohutta, Cara Maria, Tori and their cast cold-calls. And as a special sneak preview, check out their chat with Challenge veteran Katie Doyle which you can listen here at Patreon.com.

Be sure to follow my DCNOW live Twitter handle for live tweets of Real World Bad Blood at 10PM ET/7PM PT at @DC408DxNow and #DCRealWorld. This coming weekend is the 2016 American Music Awards as the industry hosts the year's last big music event and many of the biggest names in music will be performing down in L.A., and we'll have that covered for you on DCNOW Sunday.
   Be sure to bookmark DCBLOG for not only our Episode 7 posts coming up this weekend, but also a long-form post in the coming days on the amazing story of Johnny Bananas and his bond with cancer survivor Kasey Harvey, among a pack of several compelling long-form posts coming up on here. And make sure to follow my YouTube channel, Instagram @DC408Dxtr, Flickr and Snapchat @DC408Dxtr1.

And as we wrap things up, if we haven't spoken thanks to those of you who left me Happy Birthday wishes over the weekend...they're always appreciated. As I say, you all are fantastic, and thanks for being part of my team.
   That's how we look at it for the week that was in the MTV Trifecta. Thanks for joining me, and talk to you later tonight.


- I AM DC

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