■ @DC408Dxtr @ TW / IG / YT
Ahead, Things to Know returns with an expanded edition to cover the key moments of the past three weeks (all backed up by TBC's during this time), plus we'll look at Hunter's breakout season as he makes his plea for Breakout Performer of the Season. After the particulars, ExtraTime will focus on the man who ruled the Gulag on his breakout Challenge who's now taking on his biggest challenge yet, and of which big name superstar got to meet #SS6's resident heartthrob. All that is ahead.
THINGS TO KNOW Expanded Edition
TOP MOMENTS: PAST THREE WEEKS
TOP MOMENTS: PAST THREE WEEKS
►Dirty 30: Episodes 11-13
● TONY 2 KIDS TIME: Since our last WRAP in Week 10, the amount of players have decreased and the competition has picked up. While Week 11's shining star was Veronica, that week's elimination also saw Tony being put into the spotlight. Up until Episode 12, he had been 1-2 in eliminations -- his lone win came vs. Bruno on Invasion in front of just TJ and the cameras, and his last defeat came on this Dirty 30 season when Ammo beat him. Of course, he would win his way back in the first Redemption battle in taking down Darrell and changing the complexity of this game.
Here, Jordan decides to put Tony into the Week 12 elimination given the validity that Tony is at the bottom of the veteran alliance, and wanted Tony to give it a shot having not made the game at this point. Taking on Dario, he falls behind him when the two go down the scaffolding, but on the return trip up to the top, he runs up the floors quicker to beat him by a floor to take his first true elimination win: one where he got to compete in front of the competition. When he returned to the house, he and Hunter shared a talk and formed an alliance in the wake of what happened in item #2...
● NELSON KICKED OUT: Given his history of what we've seen from him on his three previous shows, it was inevitable that Nelson would find himself getting sent home for getting into a fight, fitting for someone who appeared on a game show hosted by Jerry Springer. If what happened with him and Cory last season and then back in his AYTO house was something, in Episode 11 it went down. After their night out at the club, it's clear that Nelson had a more than too much to drink, and as Allan Aguirre wrote on his wrap, he was "SLAMMERED (way beyond drunk)."
He begins to talk negatively on the veterans, and then after getting a talk from Hunter, Derrick begins to poke at him in trying to figure out why he is angry. It's obvious that Nelson is definitely more than hung over and he wants to get in Derrick's face so much that he pushes him and smacks him in the face. Production takes him to a hotel, and eventually he is given the heave-ho... putting into question the role alcohol plays in any Challenge house. Yes, Nelson can be a great competitor but once again, his off-field behavior can be testy at times.
● DIRTY PLAY: Last week here, we discussed Veronica's comeback season and being able to emerge from a slumber she's been in during this season to win both last week's elimination and the ensuing mission. There's no need for us to bring that back up here, but Episode 13 and what happened there proves that there is still something left in the tank for this 3-time champion. Faced with the opportunity to flip the script, her green team decides to put CT and Cara Maria into the Redemption House much to their disliking, and then are faced with a daunting task of who to put into the Presidio. The group finds themselves split in their discussions, and the disunity then shows when TJ lets them vote those players in... so much so, that the first round of voting ends in a tie thanks to burn votes that they take to save players.
This leads them to getting pressured to put someone in for the second round of votes, or else face being put into elimination themselves (remember what happened on Free Agents?). When votes for Hunter and Leroy are tied at 2-2, Tony casts the deciding vote for Leroy, and he gets heated after he goes up. But that's not all: before they head to the dungeon, team Jailah talks to Jordan about what may happen if Jenna pulls the XX and if she does get it she'll pick Camila as the guys will likely have their support as well as Tori. And when the girls do get their turn, Tori pulls an X on the reasoning the other two girls will throw her in. Camila also pulls an X, and Jenna pulls the XX by default and does exactly that...
● HUNTER'S LOW & HIGH: In the same episode that would see Nelson get booted, Hunter had his moment of heartbreak when, during a call back home, his girlfriend decided to break things off with him, and he was left in tears. Then after the bombshell was dropped, he was left in a state of shock after losing his sole ally, and after he gets into words with Kailah at the club. Amidst all of those, Hunter knew he had to keep his focus on the game, and when he gets thrown in at the Double Cross by Derrick, he has his work cut out in facing a beast in Leroy, which goes down to the final heat and the upstart winning… More on him in a moment in Endgame.
►AYTO 6: Episodes 2, 3 & 4
♥ THE GAME SO FAR... - It wasn't until Episode 2 that the cast (and new host Terrence J.) went through their first Matchup, and the house got off to a good start by notching three beams at that first shot at meeting the lights. For their next challenge, the guys channel their own Robin Hood in aiming bow and arrow at who they think is their match, and after finding out who wanted to become a Real Housewife and a Playboy Bunny, Shad & Uche, Joe & Alexis and Anthony & Geles go on their date. The house picks Tony & Geles for the Truth Booth, but then come away empty... and it gets worse for them afterwards: they lose two lights at their second Matchup. Then, a fun third challenge: trying to balance an egg for as long as it takes, and after many a fall, Geles & Ethan, Nurys & Malcolm and Audrey & Michael go meet gators on their date... and the house then regains a light at Matchup #3.
♥ COUPLES & TRIANGLES: Something we always keep an eye out for in the early half of every AYTO season is of which couples might have a chance to prosper during the season: no different with this Season 6 bunch. The aforementioned Anthony & Geles bonded during the premiere and continue to do so right to this past week even after not being a match... obviously, non-match couples staying together have always been a pain in the tush for past houses and that just adds to that list. Another couple is Keyana & Michael, and the moment that had people wondering was that second matchup when at first Key told Terrence that she was hurt by Mike, but decides to stick by his side.
A third couple that has rapidly become the next big couple is Clinton & Uche, who have been together since a truth or dare kiss and survived Jada giving the one with the dreads a lapdance at the pirate party. If things pan out the way the game is going so far and the kind of big support they're getting from social media, perhaps they may get a shot at the next Truth Booth the next time they get paired up for a challenge... which is also the same thing for Kareem & Alivia after they also got close in Week 3 after Mike's attempt to break them up after the 2nd matchup and their fishing date last week. And there's Alexis & Keith, which has become a triangle thanks to Zoe joining in.
A third couple that has rapidly become the next big couple is Clinton & Uche, who have been together since a truth or dare kiss and survived Jada giving the one with the dreads a lapdance at the pirate party. If things pan out the way the game is going so far and the kind of big support they're getting from social media, perhaps they may get a shot at the next Truth Booth the next time they get paired up for a challenge... which is also the same thing for Kareem & Alivia after they also got close in Week 3 after Mike's attempt to break them up after the 2nd matchup and their fishing date last week. And there's Alexis & Keith, which has become a triangle thanks to Zoe joining in.
♥ MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE: No doubt, the key figure so far has been Malcolm, and from the beginning he has been the center of attention thanks to hooking up with Diandra and Nurys. After what happened early on, Malcolm confesses to feeling bad... and at that pirate party in spotting Didi wearing a sexy outfit to the proceedings, the Dominican decides to plant a kiss on him much to her chagrin. After being able to hang onto their egg in the limbo line long enough to be in the 3rd getaway date, Nurys almost utters the "L" word on their gator-themed jungle cruise, and it's no surprise that that they get tagged to face the lasers with the hope that they are that one light beam... but it doesn't turn out to be in the end. But that's not the end to their story...
▪ ▪ ▪
ENDGAME
HUNTER'S BREAKOUT CHALLENGE
Going into this season, while he had a reasonable and respectful rookie showing on Invasion, some still questioned Hunter about his demeanor and his drive. Well, while we did see some of that occur in his fight with Kailah in the club before Nelson tuned into a monster, this season we have seen Hunter thrive and become a really good competitor. He has also been able to persevere as well: having to go through a breakup with his girlfriend many thousands of miles away, and then losing his best friend later on, and this would've been the end of his ride... not to mention, he's had to battle both of his alliance members in elimination and one of them in the second Redemption. But being able to overcome those obstacles is what makes great competitors.
When faced with the looming prospect of being an underdog to a great player who got jobbed at elimination but has the strengths and game of being the next great one, Hunter no doubt saved his best for this elimination. He was up against Leroy, and this setup favored the two-time finalist who has come back from two straight setbacks to get to a point where he can become the next great star in a physical battle where they can go onto another level when they go head on in a small space. This was the same type of elimination that propelled Zach to his Challenge win and Jordan to eventually become a force.
When faced with the looming prospect of being an underdog to a great player who got jobbed at elimination but has the strengths and game of being the next great one, Hunter no doubt saved his best for this elimination. He was up against Leroy, and this setup favored the two-time finalist who has come back from two straight setbacks to get to a point where he can become the next great star in a physical battle where they can go onto another level when they go head on in a small space. This was the same type of elimination that propelled Zach to his Challenge win and Jordan to eventually become a force.
In taking him down 2-1, Hunter beat out Leroy and if you thought that he didn't earn the kind of respect he deserves, he did so in earning those stripes... but it may come at a price. We may or may not get to see him make that deep run all the way into the final depending upon the diagnosis of the possible broken hand he had getting lodged into Leroy's knee, and it may end his run prematurely. But after what we saw here Hunter has no doubt earned the respect of so many on this season and should be one to eye on going forward. Perhaps, he might follow in the footsteps of two of his fellow members of Team Ohana and make a final.
Briefly, some particulars from this past week...
►DIRTY 30: AFTER 13 ROUNDS...
As this game resets itself once again, here are the players who are still left in the game...
GIRLS
- BRITNI
- CAMILA
- JENNA
- KAILAH
- TORI
- VERONICA
GUYS
- BANANAS
- DERRICK
- HUNTER
- JORDAN
- TONY
REDEMPTION HOUSE
- CT
- LEROY
- DARIO
- CARA MARIA
- ANEESA
- JEMMYE
The field for those left in the main house have two previous female champions and three past guys champions, and each of the ladies have been to an elimination round, while just Bananas and Jordan have made it to Week 14 with no Presidio trip just yet. Past indications should be that they should get their chance to earn their way into the final soon, but the last time Bananas skated into the final freely was him finishing 2nd on Rivals II. CT looks favored for now to win his way back when the Redemptioners get their chance, while Cara should have the edge for the ladies.
►AYTO: AFTER FOUR EPISODES
Third matchup, and the group regaining one of their two lost lights, but get behind in the count for the first time this season.
MATCHUP 3 (Guys' Pick)
♥ Malcolm & Geles
♥ Michael & Audrey
♥ Joe & Zoe (2nd - MC1)
♥ Kareem & Alivia (3rd - MC's 1 & 2)
♥ Tyler & Nicole (2nd - MC 1)
♥ Shad & Keyana
♥ Ethan & Alexis
♥ Clinton & Uche (3rd - MC's 1 & 2)
♥ Anthony & Jada
♥ Keith & Diandra
♥ Dimitri & Nurys
TWO BEAMS ▲1
For most probable matches at this stage, AYTO Math pegs Nicole & Tyler and Joe & Zoe at 50% + chances to be those two beams, while Clinton & Uche, Alivia & Kareem and Keyana & Michael are at 20%+. Geles & Ethan are the best chance among the getaway winners to head to the Suites at 14%, but here's a fact that'll be worth noting as we head to Wednesday: no AYTO cast has ever gone into the season's second half without notching a match in the Truth Booth... Watch for power couples we discussed above to definitely get voted in if they finish in the top three at their fifth challenge. And should in case that goes down, if the truth booth trade-in offer that was in play last season somehow makes it onto this season, the house might consider adding cash to their pot considering how weak last week's challenge winners are to those we think are matches.
►POLLS @DC408Dxtr
It's not that often that you can find someone in The Challenge community who is well and universally liked, has little or no beefs with anyone, and can be a great competitor and a friendly person everyone likes to being around. We have someone like that on the Dirty 30 cast in Leroy, especially after what happened with him that fateful night, as well as Ammo after all that he's been through. With both laying claim to Las Vegas as where their MTV journeys began when they were part of the second and third Vegas seasons of Real World, this is where also find our latest subject of A Challenge Life.
The Challenge's modern era as many see it now dates its beginning to Fresh Meat II back to spring 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia. There in one of the two seasons since that a man named Bananas had taken a Challenge off, the latest draft class would take their first baby steps towards greatness: two future Challenge champions in Laurel and Cara Maria, another staple in Theresa, and someone who would win that season and celebrated it with a memorable cameo on Real World Back to Vegas as simply "Local Girl," Carley. They were paired with the likes of Evelyn, Paula, Darrell, Landon and Sarah, and where the drama centered around the rivalry of Wes and Kenny -- and the overarching question of that season was of "Who side are you on?"
And then, there's Brandon Nelson, who came to Canada's westernmost province straight from Arkansas who, as MTV's original bio wrote of him, "hates losing and wears his emotions on his sleeve. Whether it's anger, sadness or laughter, you never have to wonder what Brandon is feeling. He loves meeting new people and insists that he's very open-minded with people who are different than him."
Had the cards fell where they may have, Brandon's initial MTV show would've come a year earlier, on Season 22 of The Real World in Cancun. He was one of those chosen as a finalist along with CJ, Jasmine, Emilee and the rest of the cast, and also went through that last hurdle of the final casting interview. But in the end, Brandon wasn't casted on that set of eight strangers but was placed on the list of those being ready to replace a castmate should things happen. And had the person who left the house much earlier - Joey after he was fired from his job after the midway point, perhaps Brandon would've replaced him in Suite ME and gotten the chance to walk the sandy beaches of Mexico.
However, he would get his second chance when he was approached again - this time for Fresh Meat II, and his partner was Katelynn, who, while a trendsetter on her Real World season opening viewers' yes to the life of being trans, would then become one of the show's least-reliable players ever. One night before they were set to go into an elimination, he decided to take a shot, and had a beer. The next day, TJ Lavin dropped a bombshell right as they were getting set to go into battle, and it was Brandon's choice to get drunk before his time in the Exile that proved to be costly, and they were disqualified on the spot before the horn had even sounded.
Knowing he was robbed of his chance to prove himself, Brandon came to the next Challenge season, Cutthroat, with a chance to do exactly that. But given that he was a relative newcomer, he also found himself at the bottom of the totem pole of a Red Team that also included then couple Brad & Tori, stalwarts Paula and Tyler, and someone who was so big a fan favorite on her Spring Break Challenge that she was invited to join the big show in Camila. Not surprisingly, she and Brandon were tossed into the first elimination - which was called the Gulag, and both responded in winning... and that would be the beginning to his breakout Challenge season.
The week after - just after falling short in the second daily mission, Brandon was again thrown into elimination, and after beating Cancun's Derek in week 1 he then beat Brooklyn'er J.D. to notch his second straight win. Team Red won the next two missions to avoid putting one of their own into the Gulag (and didn't take part in that infamous slap happy one in Week 4), but when they were up for the cut once again Brandon had to prove himself, just after getting into a fight with drama starter Ty... and in that Gulag where it appeared Ty had given up Brandon came away victorious. Finally the next week, he met his match in Derrick and he would succumb to Bulldog in Week 6.
We would then see him in three more Challenges: Rivals where he was paired with Ty and made it to Week 4 losing to Kenny & Wes in the Arena; then Battle of the Seasons II where he was part of a hastily assembled Fresh Meat team with Camila, Cara Maria and Eric that never really gelled much and Brandon was on the way out early on. And most recently, he was on Free Agents where thanks to the individual nature of the season he finally had a moment to shine in leading his team to a Week 4 mission win, only to succumb the next week when he couldn't keep up with champion Zach.
Outside of this game, it was after his first Challenge that Brandon moved to Las Vegas, and he's been able to establish a presence in America's adult Disneyland in many roles, from a club promoter to a DJ to a bartender. He also has become a pioneer in the field of podcasting and webcasting on the MTV world, as he did a podcast and webcast called "Real Talk with Brandon" where he got to talk with some of his fellow MTV mates. A person who called in to ask questions to the cast was my friend Andrew Kirk, and when Andrew started his podcasts back in 2011 he helped to return the favor by making Brandon the first of the over 80 people from the Trifecta that he has had on his shows.
He never made the boast that he was the biggest player in the game or the loudest, but there is no doubt that Brandon brought it when he was on the field. Now as he awaits that next call to duty, he begins a journey so many of his contemporaries have had and now it's his turn to take on what is the biggest Challenge of his life: last Tuesday, Brandon sent out a tweet at the crack of dawn, about 7AM Pacific Time that read, "Big day today. Stay tuned." Some eight hours later, he posted two pictures on his Instagram at @BrandonDNelson revealing the big news in his life with the simple caption: "Say hello to Aidan Maximus Nelson." Our congrats go out to our newest parent in Team MTV.
And after seeing that, it's time for us to get ourselves into fall shape and wrap up our look at Week 13 of this cycle of the Trifecta. Before we go, a couple reminders...
● After what went down on last week's AYTO, AfterBuzz TV was joined in studio by one of the two girls pursuing Malcolm, Nurys, and the one with her eye on Clinton & Uche, Jada, as they discussed Episode 4 and everything thing else from the season's first month. Check out that podcast here, plus guest spots from other AYTO alums and castmates plus The Challenge and more on ABTV.
● And check out Rob Has A Podcast and its MTV coverage with Brian Cohen (@CohenBrian_), Ali Lasher (@LashTweets) and Adam Buongiovanni (@AdamBongo) as the former and her discussed this week's Challenge episode, and her and the ladder talking episode 4 of AYTO.
Now, we're aware that some of you may or may not get to watch this week's MTV shows depending upon what happens with parent company Viacom and Charter & its Spectrum service, including the former Time Warner systems in New York, Los Angeles and other major cities. But need not worry... in case that happens, you can always catch up through over the top ways ($2.00 on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play) and DCBLOG will be waiting for you with the 'Pulse of both shows this weekend.
This past week also saw the revealing of The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars debuting on Tuesday, November 21st - Thanksgiving week, and of course DCBLOG will devote time, effort and resources to covering that for you here when this Dirty 30 season finally ends. And make sure to socially share our links so this site's high-caliber content can reach as large an audience as possible... and thanks to TJ for sharing my story on his Road to Recovery after the crash that took place seven years ago.
That is how we look at it Inside the MTV Trifecta... thank you for checking us out. Join me tomorrow over on DCNOW for live tweets of the Trifecta on @DC408DxNow and #DCChallenge, and see you back here on Friday when we get to do this all over again. Until then, have a good week ahead.
- I AM DC
STRATEGY ROOM & POLLS
Briefly, some particulars from this past week...
►DIRTY 30: AFTER 13 ROUNDS...
As this game resets itself once again, here are the players who are still left in the game...
GIRLS
- BRITNI
- CAMILA
- JENNA
- KAILAH
- TORI
- VERONICA
- BANANAS
- DERRICK
- HUNTER
- JORDAN
- TONY
REDEMPTION HOUSE
- CT
- LEROY
- DARIO
- CARA MARIA
- ANEESA
- JEMMYE
The field for those left in the main house have two previous female champions and three past guys champions, and each of the ladies have been to an elimination round, while just Bananas and Jordan have made it to Week 14 with no Presidio trip just yet. Past indications should be that they should get their chance to earn their way into the final soon, but the last time Bananas skated into the final freely was him finishing 2nd on Rivals II. CT looks favored for now to win his way back when the Redemptioners get their chance, while Cara should have the edge for the ladies.
►AYTO: AFTER FOUR EPISODES
Third matchup, and the group regaining one of their two lost lights, but get behind in the count for the first time this season.
MATCHUP 3 (Guys' Pick)
♥ Malcolm & Geles
♥ Michael & Audrey
♥ Joe & Zoe (2nd - MC1)
♥ Kareem & Alivia (3rd - MC's 1 & 2)
♥ Tyler & Nicole (2nd - MC 1)
♥ Shad & Keyana
♥ Ethan & Alexis
♥ Clinton & Uche (3rd - MC's 1 & 2)
♥ Anthony & Jada
♥ Keith & Diandra
♥ Dimitri & Nurys
TWO BEAMS ▲1
For most probable matches at this stage, AYTO Math pegs Nicole & Tyler and Joe & Zoe at 50% + chances to be those two beams, while Clinton & Uche, Alivia & Kareem and Keyana & Michael are at 20%+. Geles & Ethan are the best chance among the getaway winners to head to the Suites at 14%, but here's a fact that'll be worth noting as we head to Wednesday: no AYTO cast has ever gone into the season's second half without notching a match in the Truth Booth... Watch for power couples we discussed above to definitely get voted in if they finish in the top three at their fifth challenge. And should in case that goes down, if the truth booth trade-in offer that was in play last season somehow makes it onto this season, the house might consider adding cash to their pot considering how weak last week's challenge winners are to those we think are matches.
►POLLS @DC408Dxtr
After tonight's events, what do you
think is next for Team Jailah?
think is next for Team Jailah?
● Jenna winning it all 16%
● Kailah winning it all 5%
● Either/both making final 28%
● Won't make it to final 51%
● Either/both making final 28%
● Won't make it to final 51%
OUT OF 43 VOTES
After what we saw on #AYTO6 tonight,
whose side are you on in Nipple Gate?
whose side are you on in Nipple Gate?
● Malcolm should be pissed. 60%
● Nurys was just playing! 19%
● Malcolm's gotta chill! 21%
OUT OF 86 VOTES
● Malcolm's gotta chill! 21%
OUT OF 86 VOTES
▪ ▪ ▪
#DCExtraTime
A CHALLENGE LIFE: BRANDON NELSON
It's not that often that you can find someone in The Challenge community who is well and universally liked, has little or no beefs with anyone, and can be a great competitor and a friendly person everyone likes to being around. We have someone like that on the Dirty 30 cast in Leroy, especially after what happened with him that fateful night, as well as Ammo after all that he's been through. With both laying claim to Las Vegas as where their MTV journeys began when they were part of the second and third Vegas seasons of Real World, this is where also find our latest subject of A Challenge Life.
The Challenge's modern era as many see it now dates its beginning to Fresh Meat II back to spring 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia. There in one of the two seasons since that a man named Bananas had taken a Challenge off, the latest draft class would take their first baby steps towards greatness: two future Challenge champions in Laurel and Cara Maria, another staple in Theresa, and someone who would win that season and celebrated it with a memorable cameo on Real World Back to Vegas as simply "Local Girl," Carley. They were paired with the likes of Evelyn, Paula, Darrell, Landon and Sarah, and where the drama centered around the rivalry of Wes and Kenny -- and the overarching question of that season was of "Who side are you on?"
Had the cards fell where they may have, Brandon's initial MTV show would've come a year earlier, on Season 22 of The Real World in Cancun. He was one of those chosen as a finalist along with CJ, Jasmine, Emilee and the rest of the cast, and also went through that last hurdle of the final casting interview. But in the end, Brandon wasn't casted on that set of eight strangers but was placed on the list of those being ready to replace a castmate should things happen. And had the person who left the house much earlier - Joey after he was fired from his job after the midway point, perhaps Brandon would've replaced him in Suite ME and gotten the chance to walk the sandy beaches of Mexico.
However, he would get his second chance when he was approached again - this time for Fresh Meat II, and his partner was Katelynn, who, while a trendsetter on her Real World season opening viewers' yes to the life of being trans, would then become one of the show's least-reliable players ever. One night before they were set to go into an elimination, he decided to take a shot, and had a beer. The next day, TJ Lavin dropped a bombshell right as they were getting set to go into battle, and it was Brandon's choice to get drunk before his time in the Exile that proved to be costly, and they were disqualified on the spot before the horn had even sounded.
Knowing he was robbed of his chance to prove himself, Brandon came to the next Challenge season, Cutthroat, with a chance to do exactly that. But given that he was a relative newcomer, he also found himself at the bottom of the totem pole of a Red Team that also included then couple Brad & Tori, stalwarts Paula and Tyler, and someone who was so big a fan favorite on her Spring Break Challenge that she was invited to join the big show in Camila. Not surprisingly, she and Brandon were tossed into the first elimination - which was called the Gulag, and both responded in winning... and that would be the beginning to his breakout Challenge season.
The week after - just after falling short in the second daily mission, Brandon was again thrown into elimination, and after beating Cancun's Derek in week 1 he then beat Brooklyn'er J.D. to notch his second straight win. Team Red won the next two missions to avoid putting one of their own into the Gulag (and didn't take part in that infamous slap happy one in Week 4), but when they were up for the cut once again Brandon had to prove himself, just after getting into a fight with drama starter Ty... and in that Gulag where it appeared Ty had given up Brandon came away victorious. Finally the next week, he met his match in Derrick and he would succumb to Bulldog in Week 6.
We would then see him in three more Challenges: Rivals where he was paired with Ty and made it to Week 4 losing to Kenny & Wes in the Arena; then Battle of the Seasons II where he was part of a hastily assembled Fresh Meat team with Camila, Cara Maria and Eric that never really gelled much and Brandon was on the way out early on. And most recently, he was on Free Agents where thanks to the individual nature of the season he finally had a moment to shine in leading his team to a Week 4 mission win, only to succumb the next week when he couldn't keep up with champion Zach.
Outside of this game, it was after his first Challenge that Brandon moved to Las Vegas, and he's been able to establish a presence in America's adult Disneyland in many roles, from a club promoter to a DJ to a bartender. He also has become a pioneer in the field of podcasting and webcasting on the MTV world, as he did a podcast and webcast called "Real Talk with Brandon" where he got to talk with some of his fellow MTV mates. A person who called in to ask questions to the cast was my friend Andrew Kirk, and when Andrew started his podcasts back in 2011 he helped to return the favor by making Brandon the first of the over 80 people from the Trifecta that he has had on his shows.
He never made the boast that he was the biggest player in the game or the loudest, but there is no doubt that Brandon brought it when he was on the field. Now as he awaits that next call to duty, he begins a journey so many of his contemporaries have had and now it's his turn to take on what is the biggest Challenge of his life: last Tuesday, Brandon sent out a tweet at the crack of dawn, about 7AM Pacific Time that read, "Big day today. Stay tuned." Some eight hours later, he posted two pictures on his Instagram at @BrandonDNelson revealing the big news in his life with the simple caption: "Say hello to Aidan Maximus Nelson." Our congrats go out to our newest parent in Team MTV.
And lastly on our AYTO Pulse on Saturday, one Are You The One? alum pledged their support for the man who took back a UFC title that was effectively handed to him by the former holder's troubles with the law and then drugs after a failed drug test following his most recent fight. Now a member of Season 6 has one-upped Anthony of Season 2 and him meeting UFC champ Daniel Cormier by gaining the backing of a big name superstar. Coincidentally, the person of our focus here shares the same place of birth as the place of residency man who fought DC that night, Jon Jones.
If you grew up in the early '90s, you might remember Neil Patrick Harris playing the title role of Doogie Howser, M.D., a child prodigy who was able to complete everything a person would take years to accomplish to become a doctor before most of us would enter high school. His character completed high school, college and medical school in eight years to become America's youngest licensed doctor at age 14. And the series documented his challenges of balancing the fascinating world of medicine with the problems people his age go through... and every episode of Doogie ended with him typing an entry into his computer diary his observations of what went through that week.
Neil got his start as a child actor who was discovered in Albuquerque, NM, then cast in a 1988 film with Whoopi Goldberg and netted him a Golden Globe nod before Doogie came calling. TV guest roles followed the show's four-season run along with the first of many mature film roles, which would see him star in the Harold & Kumar franchise, and lend his voice talents to The Smurfs and other animated movies. And on Broadway, the experience he learned early on enabled Neil to embrace roles both dramatically and musically: from the successful play Rent and starring alongside Debbie Gibson and Vanessa Hudgens to hosting its biggest event, the Tony Awards, four times.
To another generation of fans, NPH is best known for playing Barney Stinson on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother, which followed main character Ted Mosby (played by Josh Radnor) and his Manhattan friends (including Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segal) and documented the events that led them meet their mom. The show gained a cult following, numerous awards, and became infamous for its series finale in 2014 with a controversial twist ending that left everyone shaking their heads. And on the most-watched entertainment broadcast each year, two times Neil has taken the stage at the Oscars: first in 2010 in delivering the opening number, and five years later being the show's host.
And along with other roles -- the current one being playing main antagonist Count Olaf on Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Harris is one of the most prominent celebrities to take pride in themselves in being openly gay. Eleven years ago next month, he officially came out of the closet after having been in a three-year relationship with partner David Burtka. They would then become parents to baby twins Gideon and Harper in 2010, then a year later the men announced their engagement just before the landmark Supreme Court ruling making same-sex marriage national law. They tied the knot three years later in Italy with Elton John performing at their reception.
So far in New Orleans, Michael has been in an up and down relationship with Keyana and also attempted to break off Kareem & Alivia, which suggests through teasers on Instagram may find themselves in rough waters come Wednesday. And after he and his friend got to hang out with Fergie at Bravo's Watch What Happens Live after the premiere (just as rumors of the Dutchess' marriage with Josh Duhamel has been going "Boom Boom Pow" recently), Mike now he has the backing of Mr. NPH when he got to take part in a promotional event for Cigna when Neil went back to when he started his career in doing a commercial for them in being a doctor once again. Below is them meeting at that event where both took part in a workout put on by the company.
Neil got his start as a child actor who was discovered in Albuquerque, NM, then cast in a 1988 film with Whoopi Goldberg and netted him a Golden Globe nod before Doogie came calling. TV guest roles followed the show's four-season run along with the first of many mature film roles, which would see him star in the Harold & Kumar franchise, and lend his voice talents to The Smurfs and other animated movies. And on Broadway, the experience he learned early on enabled Neil to embrace roles both dramatically and musically: from the successful play Rent and starring alongside Debbie Gibson and Vanessa Hudgens to hosting its biggest event, the Tony Awards, four times.
To another generation of fans, NPH is best known for playing Barney Stinson on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother, which followed main character Ted Mosby (played by Josh Radnor) and his Manhattan friends (including Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segal) and documented the events that led them meet their mom. The show gained a cult following, numerous awards, and became infamous for its series finale in 2014 with a controversial twist ending that left everyone shaking their heads. And on the most-watched entertainment broadcast each year, two times Neil has taken the stage at the Oscars: first in 2010 in delivering the opening number, and five years later being the show's host.
And along with other roles -- the current one being playing main antagonist Count Olaf on Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Harris is one of the most prominent celebrities to take pride in themselves in being openly gay. Eleven years ago next month, he officially came out of the closet after having been in a three-year relationship with partner David Burtka. They would then become parents to baby twins Gideon and Harper in 2010, then a year later the men announced their engagement just before the landmark Supreme Court ruling making same-sex marriage national law. They tied the knot three years later in Italy with Elton John performing at their reception.
So far in New Orleans, Michael has been in an up and down relationship with Keyana and also attempted to break off Kareem & Alivia, which suggests through teasers on Instagram may find themselves in rough waters come Wednesday. And after he and his friend got to hang out with Fergie at Bravo's Watch What Happens Live after the premiere (just as rumors of the Dutchess' marriage with Josh Duhamel has been going "Boom Boom Pow" recently), Mike now he has the backing of Mr. NPH when he got to take part in a promotional event for Cigna when Neil went back to when he started his career in doing a commercial for them in being a doctor once again. Below is them meeting at that event where both took part in a workout put on by the company.
Post workout this morning pic.twitter.com/tB0SixykQc— Michael Dean (@michaeldean2_0) October 13, 2017
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And after seeing that, it's time for us to get ourselves into fall shape and wrap up our look at Week 13 of this cycle of the Trifecta. Before we go, a couple reminders...
● After what went down on last week's AYTO, AfterBuzz TV was joined in studio by one of the two girls pursuing Malcolm, Nurys, and the one with her eye on Clinton & Uche, Jada, as they discussed Episode 4 and everything thing else from the season's first month. Check out that podcast here, plus guest spots from other AYTO alums and castmates plus The Challenge and more on ABTV.
● And check out Rob Has A Podcast and its MTV coverage with Brian Cohen (@CohenBrian_), Ali Lasher (@LashTweets) and Adam Buongiovanni (@AdamBongo) as the former and her discussed this week's Challenge episode, and her and the ladder talking episode 4 of AYTO.
Now, we're aware that some of you may or may not get to watch this week's MTV shows depending upon what happens with parent company Viacom and Charter & its Spectrum service, including the former Time Warner systems in New York, Los Angeles and other major cities. But need not worry... in case that happens, you can always catch up through over the top ways ($2.00 on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play) and DCBLOG will be waiting for you with the 'Pulse of both shows this weekend.
This past week also saw the revealing of The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars debuting on Tuesday, November 21st - Thanksgiving week, and of course DCBLOG will devote time, effort and resources to covering that for you here when this Dirty 30 season finally ends. And make sure to socially share our links so this site's high-caliber content can reach as large an audience as possible... and thanks to TJ for sharing my story on his Road to Recovery after the crash that took place seven years ago.
- I AM DC
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