DC ExtraTime: The Kwasi Beast Gets Singled Out

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Since it debuted in January 2014 as one of a handful of shows to gain the coveted launchpad of airing after the baby mama drama of Teen Mom, Are You The One? has become MTV's most successful foray into romantic reality television. Through seven regular seasons and one spinoff, the show has brought MTV's unique formula for success into this love-filled genre, producing its share of big moments, great personalities and memorable couples.
   But it is hardly the only foray MTV has made into this genre: some might remember MTV's first partnership in 2006 with then-upstart reality TV production group 495 Productions and executive producer Sally-Ann Salsano. A few years before they started the monster that is Jersey Shore, they co-produced several seasons of A Shot at Love, where the figure of interest on two seasons of that show was internet icon Tila Tequila.

The first serious play MTV made in romantic television came in the mid 1990's when our latest batch of MTV stars had to resort to Barney & Friends for their TV entertainment. During a time where afternoons were as much a priority in original programming as what airs at night, MTV churned out a classic staple of at-home after-school activities for Generations X and Y. Singled Out was the daily quest for a guy or girl to score a date with someone with the person of the opposite gender who was not chosen from a group of three would-be suitors as was the case with the show that started this whole genre in The Dating Game.
   The process of thinning out the field of 100 contestants - a 50/50 split between men and women - begins with the Picker being brought in blindfolded in front of his or her potential daters in the Dating Pool behind a wall. With the help of a board that ranged from physical attributes to love preferences to what they like to do in spare time, contestants who didn't fit the ideal preferences were told to take a hike. Then came Keep 'Em or Dump 'Em: the Picker getting to ask questions from tried & true ones to stunts to see if they would want to keep the dater or dump them. Lastly, the final three contestants made it to Final Cut: several steps and questions separating the bachelor from meeting the one they would score a date with, and it's there that the Picker meets the winner face on.
   Singled Out launched the careers of all three of its hosts: Chris Hardwick was the main host of the original series when it aired from 1995-98, and went on to become host of The Walking Dead aftershow, The Wall on NBC and first-name podcast status... and who narrowly escaped being shot down by the #MeToo movement. Jenny McCarthy was the show's original co-host in policing the dating pool in the first half of the show's run, and when she went on to become the star of her own MTV sitcom and other gigs that have come since for her, her replacement also became a big name. Carmen Electra took over as she would also become a household name, and much like what we'll be seeing with CT, her wedding with rockstar Dave Navarro was documented for an MTV miniseries.

As part of MTV's foray into digital programming which sees The Real World move to Facebook next year and Jersey Shore now having its own YouTube channels - among other things, last week MTV rebooted for YouTube a new version of Singled Out. The star who impressed everyone on the first installment of The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars last winter, Justina Valentine, steps into Chris' old hosting gig to help guide the Picker through the process of finding their one. Her fellow Wild 'N Out castmate, Conceited, joins her to be the daddy around the dating pool in fulfilling the co-host role that Jenny and Carmen did so awesomely.
   And to offer a fitting transition from what we've seen on the channel itself to this new world of digital goodies, Kwasi from Are You The One? Season 7 was chosen to be the very first contestant in the second coming of Singled Out. We saw Kwasi find himself in drama with Cam, in love with a few of the girls in the house, and find himself a match with former West Virginia pageant queen Lauren. But when she found love with the ex who visited her in the week the exes came to Hawaii, by the time the dust settled on the group sharing in their $1 million moment a few weeks ago, Kwasi looked to, who else, MTV to get another chance at love.
   For the YouTube revival of this 90's hit, there's only one person instead of two in every episode which lasts less than 15 minutes. And while the dating pool is still 50 contestants, they are split 25/25: twenty-five of them are single people in real life - known as the IRL's, while the other twenty-five are represented by dating profiles - aka URL's. And like the original show they will be whittled down from 50 all the way down to #1, and unlike what viewers saw in the past, the question on the mind of the Picker will be of whether it's legit love or a catfish who's crashed the party.
   Below, find out if Kwasi lands a date with a single girl or get burned by a catfish... new episodes appear each Monday on MTV's YouTube channel.

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

Pictures Courtesy: Instagram @Urge2Pose, @JustinaValentine and @ConceitedNYC

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? Season 7 - The Reunion (MEGA)

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

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Instagram @TerrenceJ

Hey there, hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend... we did too. The cycle of MTV Reality programming that began in the summer is now history, and with new seasons of Floribama Shore and Ex On The Beach on our way to begin the winter slate this coming week, along with this coming week's Final Reckoning reunion there is one more piece of business to take of here as we now bring you the final installment of the 'Pulse of Are You The One? Season 7.
   This year's saga of looking for true love in light beams and the Boom Boom Room began with our newest class of twenty-two girls & guys tackling a new twist: out went getaway challenges and in came the Fate Button which determined would-be matches. And despite some naysaying from traditionalists, three times did the group net a Truth Booth match, and two of those three came in the season's homestretch... which proved to be the difference in the house offsetting a disappointing first nine weeks at Matchup to ultimately take home the full $1 million purse in again staving off any money-losing blackouts.
   Our group of those unlucky in love -- Andrew, Asia, Brett, Cali, Cam, Daniel, Jasmine, Kayla, Kenya, Kwasi, Lauren, Lewis, Maria, Moe, Morgan, Nutsa, Samantha, Shamoy, Tevin, Tomas and Zak -- have joined up with host Terrence J. one more time to hash out their four-month long quest for love in Hawaii. From the couples who kept us on our toes to things we did not get to see during Season 7, and the important question of who is still together after all of this... we will get to find out right here. That includes a familiar face returning to dish out the season's biggest bombshell.

After the jump, it's our 2018 finale of the SocialPulse of Are You The One?... glad you're with us as we get to sip some tea one more time here at DCBLOG.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Final Reckoning - The $1 Million Grand Finale (MEGA)

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

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from all of us here at DCBLOG, and we have reached the climax of the summer/fall cycle of 2018 in MTV Reality. Five months ago in the summer heat, we began with the first half of Season 2 of Floribama Shore, and a month later came this year's season of Are You The One?. During this ride, we have thought of the former as the appetizer in it leading off our weekly wave of posts when the weather was warmer outside, and the ladder as the dessert and the last show to be covered each week as well as being the co-feature of the past half-year.
   In between those two, the season's main course has been the final leg of a year-plus long trilogy that brought old faces and new from throughout the show's history and from around the reality world to South Africa. The theme of Season 32 of The Challenge continued in the premise of what we've seen on regular seasons of this show since that hate and high stakes drama sells: Dirty 30 began it in South America, Vendettas continued it in Spain with plenty of new blood, and then came Final Reckoning. And this season has had it all, even it can take extending the season a bit to bring on the drama.
   Last week, it was the semifinals: the last regular challenge of the season before the final challenge, and the final elimination that would set the field of those who would go for the $1 million. And for the first time, it was trivia that would be contested for a second time in a regular season... and it saw Joss & Sylvia claim that automatic ticket to the final. It came down to that last trip to Armageddon which saw a man who knew this feeling well of carrying momentum from there to the winners' circle, Bananas, finally lose a last elimination when Paulie & Natalie took down him & Tony, though it's what happened with behind-the-scenes revelations afterwards that had everyone talking.
   This week is the finale, and Team SOSS and the Big Brother duo are joined in this final by two teams with a former titlist in both of them: defending champ Cara Maria joined by Marie as she looks to go back-to-back, and Ashley M. - Invasion winnter and her dysfunctional partner Hunter. The finalists were thrown for a loop just before this began when TJ Lavin revealed to them that this would be a timed final, and whoever is the top finisher among the two teammates would have a familiar overtone: either share the $1 million or steal it all leaving their partner without any money. And these four teams will compete in one more grueling examination to determine who is #1, and don't be surprised by the end of this that you will be completely shocked by how it ends.

We'll have all the action, reaction and interaction of the final saga of the 17-month long journey that ends in South Africa, as well as its aftermath. And afterwards on ExtraTime, we'll have a visit from a man who was one of those WildBoyz getting to meet another member of Team MTV: this time, it's that comedian guy.
   Settle in as we offer you this MEGA 'Pulse of the $1 Million Grand Finale of The Challenge: Final Reckoning coming up after the jump. We're so glad you're with us tonight.

DC SocialPulse Extra: Before The Challenge Final Reckoning Finale

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

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Hello there, and we hope you've been enjoying this Thanksgiving holiday weekend as we bring you into this week's look Inside MTV Reality with DCBLOG. It's been no ordinary week to say the least, headlined by the last act of a year-and-a-half long trilogy... and we'll have the finale of The Challenge Final Reckoning covered here tonight. Prepare yourself for the drama that's to come during a very special MEGA diary of the finale.
   Until that is posted here then, along with the leftovers from your big dinner last night - indulge yourself in this mini lead-up to Challenge Tuesday - which also marks the conclusion of the summer & fall portion of the 2018 MTV Reality calendar. And we'll also take a look back at two of the most notable cast members in the history of The Real World... that's all ahead.

The Look Ahead: Yet Another Challenge Invasion? And Real World Returns

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

As we're now into late November right now and we're on the edge of the holidays beginning tomorrow, it's no doubt been an eventful 2018 for those in the MTV beat: the return of Jersey Shore, the middle & last legs of the current trilogy of The Challenge, Cory & Cheyenne coming over to Teen Mom, and much more. And the coming year and last few weeks of this year should be something else: last night, The Challenge Final Reckoning had its always intense final challenge with $1 million going to the winners - and with a Bananas-like twist to go along with it. This year's Are You The One? cast also came away with seven figures with a furious late charge down the stretch to snatch it at the end. Floribama Shore will answer the question of what happens next with the group and them fighting Kortni's man Logan next week, as will who will take over for Max Joseph as Nev Schulman's cohort on Catfish. And in exactly one month from now, we'll soon think about more love with a new batch of originals and exes for Season 2 of the American version of Ex On The Beach.

As for what 2019 has in store for us, there are several things: the Lohan Beach Club with Lindsay Lohan, The Hills rebooting with New Beginnings with old and new faces, and other new shows and seasons too many to mention or too early to call - both on the MTV channel itself and on new digital platforms as part of the newly-launched MTV Studios unit. But for the biggest interest of this site, there are two new seasons of the two shows that we have followed our entire five year run here. For one, it will be the first since Invasion of last year to not be connected to the trilogy we've been experiencing in the past three seasons, and it will have plenty of new faces to come. For the other, it returns to an old formula and to a new platform as it reintroduces the kind of television that glued everyone to a new genre and changed how we are entertained.

After the jump, we'll take a peek into the crystal ball to look ahead to Season 33 of The Challenge and the return of The Real World. Gather around for some tea, friends…

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Final Reckoning - The Semifinal

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

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

As you wrap up your Sunday full of football, wrestling and getting a headstart on the Thanksgiving preparations and your holiday shopping, it's hard to think that we are now heading towards the conclusion of Season 32 of The Challenge... and soon enough, the ultimate Final Reckoning will be at hand as the final dash for $1 million goes down in South Africa. First things first comes the last daily challenge before the final, and one more elimination to determine the final four. This is why we refer to this week as the Semifinal of this season.
   This business end of this season began last week when the doors of the Redemption House were locked up as the residents of that villa battled one more time to regain their spot in the game. In an elimination doubleheader, a season-long feud saw Bananas & Tony get the best of Shane & Nelson, while Killa Kam added to her glorious elimination record. However, she & Kayleigh couldn't keep the momentum going after that win in a grueling endurance challenge in the South African countryside and they were eliminated as the last place team, while Joss & Sylvia took the win.
   They, #Banony, Paulie & Natalie, Ashley & Hunter and Cara Maria & Marie will this week find themselves on the edge, as the final challenge looms and one more set of a daily challenge and an elimination will take place... in the same week of all things. Alliances will dissolve into the desert as a SECOND trivia challenge will test everyone's brains and nerves ahead of the final exam. For a budding romance who we saw get sealed with a tattoo earlier this fall, the flirtation for a champ and an upstate becomes something a bit more. And to add to what's been a wild season to say the least, a big twist in regards to the final is revealed... and if your memories are fresh about that hot August night, you'll know what we mean.

After the jump, it's the Pulse of the penultimate week of The Challenge Final Reckoning, followed by a trip to the Strategy Room for our evaluation of the final four and our predictions of who we feel will win. And thanks for staying up with us this weekend...

DC ExtraTime: Jersey Meets Siesta

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

In the past few weeks, MTV has revealed big plans for the coming year: the show that started a new era for the channel, The Real World, will be returning to its roots and coming to the broad digital platform that is Facebook. Ex On The Beach will return for Season 2 of the U.S. adaptation with familiar faces from MTV and reality TV colliding with their exes. And the iconic rite of March, Spring Break, will return next year as part of MTV's renaissance, all made possible by a touch of old and new dominating the channel... now cable's fastest growing network.

Jersey Shore Family Vacation has been breezing along with what we consider to be Season 8 of the most-watched franchise in MTV history, officially the second season of their return engagement. As this blogger got to celebrate his birthday this week, as a gift for myself I bought the DVD of the first Vacation down to Miami, which marked the first time I've watched & live tweeted that show in real-time since I didn't catch much of their original run, but a move made possible by Kyle from Geordie Shore going onto Vendettas as well as the premiere of Floribama Shore.
   During the summer & fall on Jersey, we've seen Pauly, Vinny and MTV's favorite dysfunctional family take an eventful trip out to Las Vegas, the ultimate throwback trip to Seaside Heights, and Angelina becoming more of a permanent part of the cast than it was the first time out. The big wedding of Mike The Situation & sweetheart Lauren is ahead, along with Deena holding her baby shower for her new kiddo with Snooki, J-Woww, Angelina and Sammi Sweetheart -- the first time all five Jersey original ladies have been in the same room at the same time.
   A developing story that has been evolving during the OG's return to MTV over the past year has surrounded Sammi's ex: Ronnie and him adjusting to life as a dad, as a boyfriend having to deal with a turbulent relationship with his baby mama Jen, and whatever lingering feelings he has for the ex. Those who have watched him during this have no doubt seen the worst of that new relationship take place which has seen him again be put into the public spotlight. And just recently, Ronnie got to party it up with two members of one of MTV's breakout new hits of the past year & a half.

IG @WishBocaEvents

If recent posts on the show's Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages are an indication, then very soon MTV fans will again have a slice of summer in the wintertime when Siesta Key is slated to return for Season 2. The Laguna Beach and Hills-inspired docu-soap documenting a tight-knit clique of college friends who call the Sarasota, Florida community home debuted in summer 2017 and introduced the YouTube generation to the kind of show that made Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavallari famous.
   The man who's called the king of the castle is Alex, who found himself with more romantic partners than the average AYTO guy when he started season 1 dating Madisson, but after having flings with Kelsey and friend of the group Amanda ultimately found himself in love with another of the exes, Juliette. A close friend of Alex's in his cousin Pauly, who found himself in hot water for body-shaming Chloe and who's also pursuing music just at is for friend Brandon.
   Last month, a nightclub in Boca Raton just north of Miami brought two of these worlds together in the name of breast cancer awareness, and the two worlds that represent a couple of MTV's most-watched shows during its resurgence in the past year or so got to hang out. That photo of them is below, and to sort of whet your appetite for Siesta Season 2 check out our ExtraTime post from this summer when Alex threw one of his trademark lavish parties at his mansion, featuring not only his cast but also a live camel and a snake... yes, an Egyptian fiesta.

View this post on Instagram

Great event last night @wishbocaevents

A post shared by Alex Kompo (@alex_kompo) on Oct 27, 2018 at 10:25am PDT

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? Season 7 - The Finale

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

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Well, we are in that time of year everyone who loves being in love loves: cuffing season where the fall and winter weather means we're all cuddled up with our loved ones as the holidays approach in less than a week from now. It's with this in mind that we at DCBLOG bring you the main focus of this week's MTV Reality posts: the season finale of Season 7 of the show that brought all things love to this channel: Are You The One? and this year's Season of Fate.
   Just as it was for last year's Season 6 cast, the group who call themselves Saucy Season 7 have had the time of their lives in the house, but when it comes to the game situation at hand it's not the case. For there, our cast has been stuck at the dreaded four beam for most of the season - something that's plagued other casts in the past... and with not much left it's no surprise that they went into panic mode to try and figure out who their matches are. And it even took for a meeting in the kitchen and everyone tearing up in sharing their stories of failed love to figure out that one try is left.
   For one of this season's couples, Brett finds himself in the hot seat when he takes a second look at his feelings for Nutsa, and after being voted in they'll find out via the Truth Booth if the science has them as a Perfect Match. And for another budding couple, one of them could hold the key to the cast either winning or losing, and for going with strategy or with their heart. And of course, there's the always spine-tingling tenth & last Matchup, where if history has told us it always brings out the best and sometimes worst in these lovers... the house will look to overcome a relatively smaller margin than their Season 6 predecessors to ascend into Eleventh Heaven.

Ahead, all the action, reaction and interaction of the always compelling season finale as we bring you the Pulse of Are You The One? Season 7, along with the after hours fallout. And thanks for staying patient with us in having you wait well after it's aired for us to bring you this special backtracked diary... but you'll be rewarded. See you after the jump.

DC SocialPulse Extra: Prelude to the Are You The One? S7 Finale

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

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Well hey there folks, we're at the weekend, and that means DCBLOG has our view of the MTV Reality week coming up. Ahead, the last challenge before the final on The Challenge Final Reckoning as the field for the $1 million final is set, and we'll take a look into the crystal ball at the next season of that show.
   But most of our focus this weekend is on the finale and reunion of Are You The One? Season 7 as this year's crop of romantics look to win $1 million while facing a big task ahead of them. We'll have the Pulse of those coming up here soon,. but until then indulge yourself in the in-between interactions for the cast during a rare week off for Halloween and the lead-up to the finale. Also, find out about the prank from a member of our Saucy Season 7 cast that left everyone shook... all that is ahead.

DC ExtraTime: A Team MTV Halloween - 2018 Edition

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Over a week ago, those who are still with us in not being away on what might be called an early winter vacation got to celebrate the year's spookiest night. Halloween once again gave reason for Team MTV to dress up in the most outrageous costumes and party down both on the big night of October 31st and the weekend proceeding it. This includes the many of those on The Challenge and beyond who have become parents in dressing up their kids to go trick or treating around the neighborhoods that they call home.
   From budding families looking to the year's biggest movies to a pair of BFF's who met on Ex On The Beach who took a cue from Cardi B. for their costume, and just about anything outfit you can think of, Halloween 2018 was no exception as once again those from The Challenge/Real World franchise, Are You The One?, the Shore franchise, Siesta Key and, of course, Teen Mom got to dress up. Below, in no particular order, 25 random selections of the MTV family taking advantage of the year's craziest holiday to dust off or buy a new outfit to party and get candy, starting with the one who recently got engaged.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Final Reckoning - "It's Always Sunny in South Africa"

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

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Hey there, it's an extended holiday weekend in honor of our troops, and here in November the year in MTV Reality is fast approaching its conclusion as two of the shows we cover wall to wall that began in the heat of the summer will soon wrap up this close to the holidays. In the case of The Challenge Final Reckoning, the day of decision is now approaching, but before that goes down there's some business to take of in South Africa in thinning out the field before the marathon for the cash commences.
   Regardless of what you might say about the current crop of female Challengers, they have been holding their own these days, and last week saw Sylvia up her elimination mark to 5-1 when she & Joss knocked off Bananas & Tony in a game of torture and puzzles. Meanwhile, trivia made its return to The Challenge as once again the players' brains were tested, and as what we'll be the case for the week's main focus, Paulie and Natalie offered proof that momentum is everyone's friend in them winning their second straight daily challenge.
   As for Shane & Nelson, they finished last in that Purge challenge and this week they and the rest of the residents of the Redemption House will have one last shot to win their way back into the game and to go for $1 million, through both one more serving of the Double Cross and a doubleheader of elimination battles - and a final reckoning may come to a season-long feud between two teams. Then comes the next-to-last regular challenge before the final, where once again it serves as a Purge: whoever finishes last will see their run end two weeks short.

After the jump, the Pulse of The Challenge Final Reckoning, along with an avid college football fan getting his hair shaved off. We're glad to have you here with us.

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? Season 7 - "This is Nuts-a" (BACKTRACKED)

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

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

We're into the month of November, and as the leaves are falling and the temperatures are getting cold, things are now heading towards a big climax on this year's season of Are You The One? as Season 7 is winding down towards the ultimate pressure-cooker: the last truth booth, date and matchup ceremony. Over the past few years, it has produced some of the most compelling moments we've ever seen on an MTV Reality show... but before that comes the season's penultimate episode.
   It's safe to say that our group of suitors unlucky in love have had an unlucky season of sorts, and it has been a trying season for them. But previously, the group who has not had much luck in letting fate determine their game finally got some good news: Kenya & Tevin went into the Truth Booth and will spend the last couple weeks of this season in the Honeymoon Suites as the house's second perfect match. Power couples tried desparately to get over their crushes and make new connections, while
Kwasi & Jasmine's attraction was put into jeopardy by way of his nemesis Cam.

   For what awaits them in their ninth, and ultimately tenth, try to follow what all but one cast have done of running the table, the house will undoubtedly try to see if they can get over the four-beam hump that has plagued past AYTO casts and see if they can figure out who their matches are before time runs out... and if may even take having to shed a tear for them to come together. And for one of the couples who have been a hot topic all summer & fall long, second guesses about feelings for one another may give them a last gasp chance at pulling off what would be an improbable win

After the jump, the Pulse of the penultimate week of Season 7 of Are You The One?. Welcome in...

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Final Reckoning - "Scandal"

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

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Hey there, welcome to the weekend and after Halloween at midweek - to the month of November... boy, does time fly? Well, things are getting towards the end on The Challenge Final Reckoning as with the number of teams in both the main and redemption houses are now only a handful down in South Africa with the final challenge still to come.

   With only a few teams left in the game itself, often tensions will boil over with money at stake, and last week was no exception. A night of debauchery ensued not with the girls as is often the case, but with the guys. And just as it was on Floribama Shore, it was small things that turned big: leftover pasta led Cory to go all in on Tony, and it cost him and Devin their spot in the game, but not before the feud between Big D and Bananas raged on with a low blow by the champ.
   Sometimes momentum is everyone's friend in The Challenge house as well as on AYTO, and after that win in elimination Paulie & Natalie gained power team status in the always fun game of trivia... and this week, they hold the power vote to see who goes into an elimination that can best be described as pure torture. Meanwhile, rumors and gossip spurs on one team when they find themselves as the house target, while the latest Purge challenge will help determine who is able to handle the stretch run that awaits.

Ahead, the Pulse of Week 17 of The Challenge Final Reckoning, along with Team MTV celebrating Halloween and the one reason why Cory is still on our TV's... we're glad you're with us.