DC ExtraTime: Chase in Paradise

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

If you ever hop by my house and join with my parents on the couch on a Monday or Tuesday night from January to September, it's for the one purpose that gets my parents interested in reality TV the same way I do: watching people fall in love. But unlike this fan who keeps his obsession with Are You The One and Ex On The Beach to a guilty pleasure level without them ever knowing about it, my mom & dad are completely obsessed with Bachelor Nation... and it seems I have also fallen into that spell for a few times this year in eavesdropping on my parents to watch some of the drama.

The engaged BIP 6 couples w/ Chris Harrison (ABC)

Two weeks ago, the 2019 finale of the year in roses & romance went down when Bachelor in Paradise concluded with its 3-hour finale, wrapping up a year that began with Colton Underwood jumping the fence on The Bachelor and continuing with Hannah Brown endure her final two suitors cheating on her on The Bachelorette. But those who give the fandom two nights of magic of begin the work week, they always seem to save the juicy drama for the last act of each annual cycle when the weather is at its hottest and when the focus shifts from the Villa in the Southern California hills and beyond to the Hotel by the sands down south of the border.
   In the wake of Jed Wyatt being caught in a back home relationship and Hannah turning to Tyler Cameron, Season 6 of BIP began in early August with those rejected by her, Colton and other leading men & ladies for another shot at love and roses. There were rumors about goings on with some of the suitors when they went to country music's own Coachella, Stagecoach after the main event in Palm Springs before they went to Mexico. There was L.A. recruiter Dean Unglert leaving paradise in mid-August, only to shockingly return two weeks later to ask model Caelynn Miller-Keyes to take the first flight out of town with him... and there was the one & only John Paul Jones and him with Tayshia Adams.
   Of course, no battle for love would be complete without any sort of physical activity: bad blood still boiling from batting to score Becca Kaufin saw Jordan Kimball and NY actor Christian Estrada get together next to a pinata and then proceeded to get into fisticuffs in the Mexican night, and both had their hotel keys swiped away from them. Blake Horstmann encountered a tangled web with him, Caelynn, Tayshia and Kentucky dental assistant Kristina Schulman and led him to also quit. And yes, Hannah B. came by to the villa for a brief visit before going onto Dancing with the Stars.

In the end, three couples made it all the way to the engagement phase by the beach: San Diego tech entrepreneur Dylan Barbour & Alabama model Hannah Godwin, and Chicago entrepreneur Chris Bukowski & L.A. medical sales representative Katie Morton joined Chris Harrison to cap off the summer with engagement rings adorning their fingers... so did another couple that helped to highlight this breakthrough year for the LGBT community.
   For only the second time on BIP, a non Bachelor/Bachelorette alum made their way to paradise when L.A. video production assistant Kristian Haggerty joined the villa in week 3 in Mexico in having had a relationship with Dallas interior designer Demi Burnett. Their relationship marked the first time a same-sex relationship had been seen on the original U.S. version of The Bachelor franchise during the same summer that Are You The One? embraced the LGBT crowd, and Demi & Kristian joined the other two couples in getting engaged to wrap up 2019 in Bachelor Nation. And on the reunion, Bachelorette 15 suitor Peter Weber was named the next leading Bachelor star for 2020.

DC ExtraTime: Siesta Key Invades Ridiculousness

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Twitter @ChloeTrautman

If you've been browsing through those story feeds on Instagram and SnapChat, you know where your MTV Reality favorites are doing in between episodes and seasons airing. But if you are part of the increasing section of this community who wishes that they'd be in Florida right now or will be traveling there soon, then there should reason for you to be excited.

A while back, we focused on castmates from two of MTV's boldest new additions to the lineup in the past few years coming together to attend the 2019 Video Music Awards. All but one of the Southern hotties of Floribama Shore and four of the cast from Siesta Key got to experience the big show in Newark, New Jersey. And during this month of September, they've made an additional trip back up to the Big Apple for promo and promotional material related to Season 3 of their shows to come our way in the fall & winter... and both shows know they got a lot of live up to after the first two seasons of their shows, both born out of the spirit paved by Jersey Shore and The Hills.

Over the weekend, a staple of the end of our week, Ridiculousness with lifelong MTV'er Rob Dyrdek, welcomed the one girl of the Key who loves to spy on goings-on with her clique, Chloe, as she joined Chanel West Coast and Steelo Brim on the couch where, instead of gossip, she got to dissect all that viral video on MTV's own America's Funniest Videos. She captioned on Instagram below, "Yooo this shit is ridiculous! Thanks so much for having me, I had too much fun!❤️🤪"  Two of her castmates chimed in with simple reactions, with Juliette saying simply, "AHHH👏🏼👏🏼😍🔥" and Madisson adding, "OMG OMG OMGGGGG!"

View this post on Instagram

Yooo this shit is ridiculous! Catch me on the new episode of @ridiculousness tonight on @mtv at 8/7c. Thanks so much for having me, I had too much fun!❤️🤪

A post shared by Chloe Trautman (@chloetrautman) on Sep 29, 2019 at 2:24pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

@chloetrautman KILLED it on @ridiculousness lastnight! did you tune in? #SiestaKey

A post shared by SIESTA KEY - REALITY SHOW (@allaboutsiestakey) on Sep 30, 2019 at 9:31am PDT

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC ExtraTime: Flex On My Ex with Mr. Chocolate

A Follow-Up to: A 6-Hour Date

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Look over the list of the hundreds of those who've been on MTV Reality shows over the years and have covered in the 1000+ posts we've devoted to this genre, and chances are a majority of them have appeared in two or more projects with our favorite channel. In most instances now, those who've appeared for the first time on a Real World or Are You The One season will likely pop up on The Challenge... and that has since extended to Ex On The Beach and now pretty much any reality TV show who can join the fifth major pro sport.

One of those who is on that list is Derrick Henry, who at this time three years ago was readying to head out to the Dominican Republic for AYTO Season 5. Since then, we've seen him on two seasons of The Challenge, the first season of EOTB USA, and earlier this year on the American adaptation of European format Game of Clones... and that's just MTV matters. In April, he was on a non-MTV dating series, 6-Hour Match for YouTube channel Daily Stream... and the two videos that comprised his appearance on that series ranks as the channel's two most-watched videos at 4 million total views.

While he might not be the best Challenger on Dirty 30 and Final Reckoning, there's no doubt that romantic reality television loves Mr. Chocolate and he loves the genre back. All this comes despite him being on the only losing AYTO cast, a girl he let get away being part of a current Challenge power couple, and another ex who will have her relationship with a good friend of his examined on Dr. Phil this week. And this weekend, Derrick added yet another show to his illustrious resume of finding love on our screens.


Last year, MTV Studios launched not only to premiere the most recent season of The Real World and the immensely popular docu-series featuring Tana Mongeau, but also short-form digital-only projects seen just on MTV's YouTube channel. There, we've seen Kwasi and Daniel from last year's Are You The One? season on the digital revival of 90's original hit Singled Out, and then Kareem from AYTO Season 6 become a decoy for a couple to figure out who they're kissing on Lip Locked. And this fall, MTV YouTube adds another love-filled new series where, once again, exes are front & center.

Have you ever thought to yourself that you would wish you would find out what the one you are dating is really like before you begin to make your move on them? Well, MTV is getting to answer this question to ordinary people (and the subject who is more well known that others) who are looking for love, but also adding a twist to it also. Instead of having fellow family members or close friends to chime in on the one who's they want to date, they're bringing exes along for the ride.

It is called, appropriately enough, Flex On My Ex, hosted by comedian and Bay Area native Jasmin "Jazzy" Brown, who starred last night on BET's original movie Always A Bridesmaid alongside Yvette Nicole Brown. Flex On My Ex offers hopeful singles a chance to get to know more about three potential suitors, all as their exes are sitting directly behind them on the panel table. The series' YouTube synopsis adds, "As the three suitors try to woo a new boo, their former flames can call them out on their BS, reveal the truth about their relationship, and more. Much more."

As evidenced by the stories he posts on his social channels, Derrick is no doubt the life of the party wherever he goes, and this time he's ready to give it another shot at finding his "+1 for life." The three ladies looking to win his heart are 26-year-old Myeshia (with her ex Nino), 25-year-old Katie (with her ex Steven), and 26-year-old Brandee (with her ex Hensley).

Who does Mr. Chocolate choose? Find out below... and if you enjoy it, check out Flex On My Ex on MTV's YouTube each Saturday at Noon ET and 9AM PT.

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC SocialPulse: Ex On The Beach Season 3 - "Thruple Trouble"

*** 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

Welcome on back, and as the television season as those in broadcast network land see it, things are now fairly calm when it comes to romantic reality television goes, with Bachelor Nation now taking  a breather after this year's trilogy and just ahead of next month's big return of Temptation Island. But for those in need of some love in reality TV, you have some company now until then with MTV's Ex On The Beach, as we now bring you the Pulse of it here now.

Last week in Malibu, those in the house who moved in when this all began in July were put on pins and needles as their exes turned the table on them for the mid-season Cut ceremony that would send one of the originals home. But while most of the attention has been on Cameron and his treatment of Ariana and Alexis, he can thank those lucky stars that he wasn't the one who got sent home. Instead, it was her getting flowers from her man back home that gave the exes reason to send one-half of the Kaplan twins home when they voted off Allie.

Summer is fast approaching its end in Ex land, and this week sees turning points for two couples: two originals who went on the last Crush date are finding themselves at a crossroads for their relationship and another pair who went outside the house earlier this summer may also head that way with one of them pursuing a relationship with a new ex. The summer's last Crush Date will be handed out, but that doesn't mean that one of the couples this week will be given a free pass. And we're headed back to the beginning... the beginning of this century, that is... for a Y2K house party.

After the jump, join in for the Pulse of Episode 11 of Ex On The Beach 3, plus a castmate heads to the Emmy Awards, more reaction from this week's Challenge and a look ahead to what will be THE hot topic item for MTV Reality fans in the next seven days. Welcome, lovebirds...

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge War of the Worlds 2 - "In Paulie We Trust"

*** 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

After the madness of the last week of the 2018-19 broadcast TV season, reality fans got a similar dose as the '19-20 calendar began: a most eventful ending to season 21 of Big Brother, the start of year 20 of Survivor, a new season of The Voice, the first cut being made on Dancing with the Stars and season 2 of The Masked Singer. And as you all continue to recover from the controversy of the BB21 finale - and as those from that cast are joining the rest of the reality family in Las Vegas this weekend, we here at DCBLOG bring you back to our humble abode for the week that was Inside MTV Reality, as we take the Pulse of this week on The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2.

Last week in Thailand was anything but your typical week: there was turmoil in an American side that, though they managed to win the first three challenges, finally had their "0" let go by the Brits in a running of the relics. The ensuing nominations brought to light the twisted history of Cara Maria and Laurel - rivals to begin with and even more so now, after their blowup in night court. But we were not prepared for what happened at the proving ground when the one who won nine eliminations to start her career, and who lost her most recent one as a competitor in Thailand. Her duel with Ninja Natalie had just about everything: a close battle, a premature over-the-top celebration and a shocking conclusion that capped off an incredible 72 hours for the American Ninja Warrior fandom.

Undoubtedly, everyone was shook by that shock result... and along with Wes getting sent home by Bear the previous week and everything that went down last season it proved anything can happen. And this week, the attention turns to the latest in the line of Challenge villains and the one who has emerged as the new big dog of the next wave of competitors, as after what's happened in his first two appearances we can only wonder what Mr. Paulie will do next. Swimming will once again take center stage as the players look to prove themselves in the sea for the second time this fall... and there will be many who will struggle. And if you love the sight of gamblers going crazy at the craps table and who also figure out math as well... wait until you see who faces who in elimination.

Understandably, this Challenge season shares a night with two of the aforementioned reality titans above... and we know that a lot of you in the reality fandom had a choice on Wednesday of whether to watch this week's episode or watch CBS for that Survivor/Big Brother doubleheader and this week's Challenge will obviously get lost in the buzz of the biggest night in reality TV. But if you're just caught up on it, join us here after the jump as we bring you all the action, reaction and interaction from Week 5 of War of the Worlds 2. And thanks for spending part of your Saturday night with us as we bring you the MTV Reality SocialPulse on DCBLOG...

DC ExtraTime: A Challenge "Pro" Comes to American Horror Story

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Two years ago, two trilogies of The Challenge that ran parallel to each other began: the long, dragged-out one of the regular series worth $2.5 million, and the shorter, more lighter version whose true winners were the charities its competitors competed for. The ladder was Champs vs. Stars/Pros and saw champions & so-called champs take on formidable opposition from the sports and entertainment worlds for charity. And in a team of pro athletes that included CM Punk, Candace Wiggins, two NFL defensemen and eventual breakout star Louise Hazel, Team USA was well represented on the first season of that trilogy, Champs vs. Pros... and a few weeks ago we focused on Olympic snowboarder Lindsay Jacobellis and Tokyo 2020 hopeful, surfer Tia Blanco.

But the one Olympic athlete with the biggest profile that spring 2017 was none other than Gus Kenworthy. As a freestyle skier who was part of only the third American medal sweep at a Winter Olympics in claiming silver in the men's slopestyle in Russia, Gus became a star figure back home in the U.S.  But it was after the afterglow of Sochi 2014 faded that he became the first action sports athlete to come out, and the latest in a long line of Olympians who, in addition to flying their national flag, also boasted the pride flag... symbol of the gay and lesbian community. And he was the subject of an In-Depth post that looked back on his time on Champs vs. Pros which appeared before he competed in the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, where he made it to the gold medal final but didn't make it to the podium.

Last week, while the attention of Challenge fans were fixated on an eventful night on War of the Worlds 2 including that most memorable elimination, the newest season of a cable staple premiered its newest season, one that will see Gus bring his talents to a whole new world and audience in time for Halloween, part of the continuing rise of LGBT representation on mainstream TV.

DC ExtraTime: The Kaplans Go Flipping with the Kardashians and Go Ketchup Crazy

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Last week on Ex On The Beach, something revealing took place when the house found out some valuable tea involving one of the singles. There, one-half of The Kaplan Twins was caught having a boyfriend back home - and spies on the forums & Reddit found out about this particular fact before we saw it last week, all thanks to an Instagram photo that of Allie Kaplan and her man being on a trip to nearby Catalina Island off the Southern California coast before she moved up to Malibu.

It was when the exes found about this news that, during the annual week where they had power in sending home whichever single they wanted for the week's Cut Ceremony, they chose Allie to go to her room and pack. That result also had Twitter fuming in the fans wanting to have Cameron Armstrong get sent home for his actions against exes Alexis and Ariana, though the difference in him staying and Allie going was just one vote.

That unfavorable outcome in the Cut twist will have Allie's twin sister Lexi spend the rest of her time by the beach alone until season's end. But not everything in the land of the Kaplans was all bad this past week, as they got to sit front row at New York Fashion Week, and making a cameo on the latest spinoff show of reality TV's royal family... and it also links to both the ongoing public fascination with the Kardashians and a story brewing in the past week of the feud between pop star brothers whose ex appears on that latest spinoff.

DC SocialPulse: Ex On The Beach Season 3 - "Roses Are Red, Exes Make You Blue"

*** 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 all get to wrap up what's been an amazing TV week on this Emmys Sunday, welcome back here to the Blog as we continue to pinch ourselves after bringing you how those of you reacted to last week's madness that was Week 4 of The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2... so much so that we needed a bit more time to rest after we brought you the Pulse of that back on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the drama has continued to intensify over in Malibu as we press on with Ex On The Beach 3.

Last week, there were hearts on offer for the latest crush date, which saw one of those we featured yesterday in our ExtraTime story on Hearts of Reality, Mark, being brought on a getaway date with Aubrey and her ex Coffey, which saw them share some moments in bed... yes, a threesome for you. There was more drama surrounding Cameron as the house began to join viewers at home in turning on him... and we had Halloween arrive early when the circus came to town.

If you've been watching the first two seasons of EOTB, it's always tense when the message in a bottle comes up like those dollars in those '90s magic Coke cans. This week, the tables are turned when Cut week arrives as, this time, it's the Singles who are feeling the heat as the Exes have power in who they want to send home. This comes at a most opportune time for them when they find out some big tea from back home... and the man who dated a Kardashian's ex will finally see the spotlight turn to him as the endless summer rolls along.

All the action, reaction and interaction of Episode 10 of Ex On The Beach 3 is ahead, but after the jump: more of the buzz surrounding last week's game-changing Challenge. Thanks for joining us...

DC ExtraTime: Hearts of Reality

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Instagram @ElenaDavies

Reality television can be described as many things to so many people: entertainment, an escape from the realities of the world and our lives, a guilty pleasure, and so on. The shows we all watch stirs all kinds of emotions: thrilling, jaw-dropping, thoughtful, inspiring and other things... it's most especially true with so many shows from all networks giving us plenty to talk about at the end of the time of year it takes center stage of the summer on the broadcast networks. And those who are part of this community that expands into hundreds of shows and thousands of personalities entertain us on a weekly basis with some of the most exciting programming on TV.

But sometimes - and taking the examples led by two of MTV Reality's most beloved figures in the late Diem Brown and Pedro Zamora, there is power in when reality stars can use their star power, or some variation of it, to help advance a cause and make a difference in people's lives. Few things are as powerful as when some of the most incredible personalities in reality television getting the chance to meet those who don't have to be the most die-hard fans of these shows, but just them being touched by their appeal, which can beat out even the most jaw-dropping moments of any show in terms of their personal and lasting impact.

Earlier here this week, we showcased social influencer and a voice of disabled people in this country, Damion Gross, meeting Dondre Randolph of The Real World Atlanta during what's been an amazing summer for him. And also this summer came the 11th annual edition of what's become a summer's reality tradition: stars of the genre getting together in the most-visited tourism destination in America for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, on a yearly basis, to bring smiles to some of the most inspirational people they have ever met. It's a weekend-long event called Hearts of Reality... an event so big in this community that those who are exes, enemies and friends can all come together for such a worthy cause. And the place where it all happens came about by one's experience of never getting a chance to fulfill one's lifelong dream.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge War of the Worlds 2 - Feuds, Divides, Flirtation & Controversy

*** 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

It's officially the last weekend of summer 2019, and this week has been nirvana for reality TV fans: inspirational autistic singer Kodi Lee winning this year's America's Got Talent, "Real-Life Ninja" Drew Drechsel becoming just the second man to conquer the summit of American Ninja Warrior, a new season of Dancing with the Stars with MTV alum turned Queer Eye star Karamo Brown, and engagements aplenty on Bachelor in Paradise. And as we count down to the debut of season 39 of Survivor and the finale of Big Brother 21 in a few days, there's been plenty going down in the world of MTV Reality while you were likely busy watching those shows... and if you've been watching them this week, things have been really good, as we at DCBLOG are about to bring you it now.

Three weeks into The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2, and there has been plenty going down in Asia. And last week, a season that began with Team USA going off to a strong start began to get juicy: the first big test for the Americans saw a hamster wheel expose their communication after the start of what would become some big internal strife in the camp. The Brits took advantage of the slow pace of the USA's heat and it appeared that they won... only for video to find that Theo unbolted the lock on their wheel... and they lost on that violation. But no one expected what would happen at elimination: Josh deciding to play his hands right and reel in the first big power move of this fall when he opted to send in not weak company to face Bear, but Wes instead.... and the reality vet who made his debut years ago on Shipwrecked came away victorious.

That loss by the man who made it back to the final last year after three years off and who had won his first nine eliminations early in his career set about more turmoil for the Americans and for the Brits, as this week the divide on both teams will be brought more to light in our fourth challenge of this season, "Relic Runner." The outcome of what goes on there will also bring up the long-running feud of two members of the Fresh Meat II class who started in this world to begin this decade. There's also the flirtation of last year's British romance (including one who's made some headlines in the past week for not-too-pleasing circumstances) and whether Mr. Pots & Pans can make a run at them. And if you thought you've seen everything in Challenge elimination battles... well, you really haven't seen anything yet - see what happens when poles and pegs get together in the night's lights.

After the jump, all the action, reaction and interaction of Week 4 of War of the Worlds 2 on this installment of The Challenge SocialPulse. And thanks for joining us here on this Saturday night... we're so glad you're with us again.

DCBLOG Look Ahead: Summer Solstice Weekend

A Word from the Editor...

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

We hope you're enjoying this last official week of summer just before the autumnal equinox that sees us officially welcome fall, or autumn, next week, as well as palindromes being all over our calendars. And we are headed towards the end of the summer season in the world of American television, with the official start of fall TV coming our way next week as well... and if you have been following the reality part of the slate, then these past three nights have been very entertaining, with the genre's biggest night of the Survivor premiere and Big Brother finale just ahead.
   For us here at DCBLOG, we have been very busy this summer in offering plenty of content covering The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2, Ex On The Beach and the recently-wrapped Are You The One? Season 8 and The Real World Atlanta. Things will remain this way as we are now well into the fall... and in brief posts like this we'd like to give you a little heads-up on what we're working on now and what's ahead of us here.

Last night saw episode 4 of what has been an eventful sequel to the fifth major pro sport embracing the international flavor that, for this blogger, is up my alley as an Olympic superfan. Those of you who are accustomed to extensive coverage of this show in the blogosphere usually would have an episode post on that up now... but that's not how we operate things around here.
   If you're new to our site, what makes DCBLOG different is that while we have the ability to do recaps of episodes like other sites do, we think of ourselves more as a supplement to those... and we place greater focus on the secondary show that takes place at the same time as it airs on TV: the social media interaction among cast, alumni and fans like yourselves watching the drama. SocialPulse has given us this platform to bring you the action, reaction and interaction of the episodes - a weekly tradition of ours throughout our now 1000+ post journey through MTV Reality for six years now.
   While we know that a lot of you are still talking about this week's episode after watching it last night, we know that an increasing number of you haven't caught up yet simply because you're a cord-cutter and haven't caught up yet... and with respect to those of you, we won't spoil even a single bit for you there. And that's the reason why we delay posting our Pulse diaries to until a few days after it airs, and to provide those non-cable/satellite viewers all the time to catch up on them, and then join us here for the Pulse to bring them up to date on what they missed while they were away.
   We hope those of you who do know what happened last night before we cover them on here will understand... but that's what makes us distinctive in giving us all the time to compose, compile and curate the most unique, insightful and finest content possible here, and has made us the gold standard among all sites that cover this program and this world. We'll be sure to save a seat for you at the table to rejoin us here when we'll have the Pulse of last night's Challenge episode here this weekend.

Now, something we also place an equal amount of time & effort in is the ExtraTime features unit, and here's a small taste of what's coming up...

● Tonight sees Ex On The Beach air and it's Cut week for those in the house to get scared of as one of the houseguests will be sent home at night's end tonight. But if you stuck around after the most recent episode of Keeping Up with The Kardashians last weekend, you might've seen someone familiar from this summer's villa help out Scott Disick with decorating his house. We'll have a look at when the Kaplan Twins joined him to bring their magic to his daughter's room... but remember they have to be wholesome as Allie & Lexi's paintings are usually not so family friendly.

● This busy reality TV week has seen the finales of American Ninja Warrior and America's Got Talent take center stage, as has the 2019 Bachelor Nation trilogy in Season 6 of Bachelor in Paradise. Someone who we saw make the jump to MTV on Ex On The Beach and last season's War of the Worlds returned to getting roses and romance in front of Chris Harrison, and we'll highlight Chase McNary's return to that show coming up on the weekend. It's also the preferred reality franchise for my parents who are currently on vacation out of the country.

● And following in our post yesterday featuring social influencer Damion Gross, we'll also be heading down to Orlando to join the man behind last week's boss move on War of the Worlds, Josh Martinez, and his Big Brother season 19 roommates in Ex On The Beach couple Mark & Elena as they and the rest of the reality TV family help to bring smiles to amazing and inspiring people who are suffering from critical illnesses. As it was for our post on Damion and his Real World Atlanta friend Dondre, you'll want to have the tissue box handy.

And that is what we have in store coming up here this weekend... but as is always the case with blog sites like this that function in a news-like setting here, schedules can change as warranted by any stories breaking now until then. And beyond this weekend's lineup, we're also working on other posts that will be up over the fall... so it's best to follow me on Twitter @DC408Dxtr for the latest updates and, as always, I'm live with whatever thoughts you may have or any info of interest in the DM's.
   Also this weekend, the biggest names in music are taking center stage at the last major music event of the summer, the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. Alicia Keys, the Backstreet Boys, Camila Cabello, Chance the Rapper, French Montana, Green Day, Halsey, Marshmello, Miley Cyrus, Steve Aoki and Monsta X are among those taking the main stage at T-Mobile Arena, while Billie Eilish, Lauv, Juice Wrld and CNCO headline the daytime festival stage. I'll be offering live tweets of the live CW webcast on DCNOW @DC408DxNow, where I live tweet MTV shows there too.

So, that's a look ahead at what's to come this weekend... enjoy tonight's tripleheader of Ex On The Beach, Jersey Shore and How Far is Tattoo Far, and we'll see you here then as we look forward to having you join us as we go Inside MTV Reality here at DCBLOG this weekend. Happy 9/19/19...

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC ExtraTime: Someone You Should Know - Damion Gross

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Twitter @DamionG_

It is an imperfect world that we are living in now, and it seems that you can't get away from the many headlines that have divided our world in the past few years. It is the presence of the ladder and the often negative stories that dominate our timelines and, perhaps, gives everyone reason to sound off in a not always pleasing manner. It's also the same thing when it comes to the world of MTV Reality, where the feeds and forums are also filled with plenty of drama and charged feelings. Unfortunately, they overshadow the kinds of stories that are inspirational that don't often get the recognition they deserve, and it's with that in mind that some of the stories DCBLOG has told in the 1000+ posts we've posted here are so good, positive & inspiring, all featuring the people of this family.

On Thanksgiving three years ago, we told the story of the friendship of Challenger Johnny Bananas and #1 fan & cancer survivor Kasey Harvey, offering a different & emotional layer to one of the most-talked-about stories in recent reality history in what happened at the end of his sixth & most recent finals win just months a few months earlier. Similar stories that have likely shed a tear in your eye have also been offered here that add a human element to these people: a much-maligned Atlanta girl helping save the life of a homeless man in her hometown, a member of the current Ex On The Beach cast giving his first soccer trophy to a terminally-ill superhero in the last months of his battle against cancer, and many others.

This latest story now adds to that list of those that can be described as bigger than TV, and one whose roots can be traced to the city that hosted this summer's return of The Real World when it aired for the first time on a non-MTV platform when it streamed exclusively on Facebook. One of the subjects was on that Real World season when the show returned to its roots of featuring seven strangers who were also socially conscious. The other person in this story lives in North Georgia... and it's the backstory of the ladder that is so remarkable that it attracted plenty of attention for those in need for some comfort food in the tense times we are in now. And it was just last month that they crossed paths, and reminded us that there are things in our world that make us smile and give us hope... meet the extraordinary young man named Damion Gross.

DC ExtraTime: Survivor in Buckeye Country

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

This summer, MTV's Are You The One? made plenty of history along the way for its eighth season, coming five years after it began as one of the many new shows to come along on the channel and who benefited from the launchpad of debuting out of its biggest shows. For Season 8, the casting of this season's set of romantic singles were made up entirely of sexually-fluid singles from the LGBTQ+ community... the first reality dating show on U.S. television to explore this new world where the hashtag "Love Wins" takes on greater meaning. And after its season finale this past week, it serves as the basis to this story that offers the bridge to the next chapter in 2019 in reality TV.

Two years ago this month, this website stumbled upon a fan who met the cast of The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30 when it launched its first $1 million season and found that he had gathered his friends in the backyard of his house for several seasons of a home-made reality series. The result was one of our most-viewed posts and a recurring subject of this ExtraTime series: The Caucus Challenge franchise hosted, edited and sometimes competed in by Andres Rodriguez - himself also one who takes pride in being out & proud himself, and who has done three additional seasons of that show, and two seasons of a spin-off series, since that original post in September 2017.

Facebook.com/SurvivorTimeChange

As it turns out, Caucus is one of many of a slew of series that are made for YouTube that are inspired by reality television and beamed into desktops, mobile devices and connected TV's for enjoyment by the viewing public that's just as good as you'd find on the broadcast and cable networks. Ordinary people with a decent internet connection and budget are able to their own version of the shows they love, and so many of the most talked-about people of the moment in pop culture are internet stars who take this world seriously, who have millions of subscribers and followers, and who have snazzy budgets to offer YouTube videos of the network television-level of quality.

The most common of reality show imitations involves the series that might not have been the first reality competition show as that title belongs to The Challenge. But it was the show that made a genre that had previously been the domain of U.S. cable TV and broadcast networks outside America, and whose arrival to the States nineteen years ago this summer changed the game for both reality TV and the television industry of the biggest exporters and importers of entertainment in the universe. And one of those who competed on there got a chance at love on a revolutionary season of the MTV reality dating show that brought love and money together, and had a prime role in this AYTO season in being one half of arguably one of this franchise's biggest romances.

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? Come One, Come All - 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

It was back on May 30th that MTV added another chapter to it and Viacom's long & storied legacy of championing the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer community when it revealed the cast of Season 8 of Are You The One?. There, a group of sixteen singles identified as sexually fluid began their journey during Pride Week (and on the 4th anniversary of the SCOTUS' important same-sex marriage decision) as the cast of the first-ever season of a reality dating show on U.S. television that catered specifically to, and starring, the LGBT community in a season that's affectionately called, Come One, Come All.

This season has had it all when it comes to the drama, love and heartbreak we've come to expect from the AYTO brand, but Season 8 also stood out in many ways from its predecessors. Similar to what we have seen on many Real World seasons past, Come One, Come All also got to showcase gays, lesbians, trans, bi and queer people as they also got to share their stories of how they've struggled to come to grips with who they really are, as they finally got to prove to the world that, at the end of the day, "Love Wins." And last week, the biggest couple in the house endured heartache when Justin & Max found out that they were not a perfect match, all as the rest of the house got good news in figuring out more perfect matches without the help of a Truth Booth.

After the renowned original first cast took only nine tries to ascend into legend status, this week marks the seventh straight season that AYTO has come down to the tenth & last week for the house to go for the money... and only one of them did not achieve that goal. After receiving an unfavorable outcome in their ninth matchup despite doubling their season-high beam output of six, the house has no more strategy cards left to play... and now the game is in the hands of the Stragglers - six of them in all - who must follow their hearts, find their matches and hope luck will be on their side.

After the jump, it's all or nothing as we welcome you to the 2019 finale of Are You The One, as we bring you the SocialPulse of the season finale from Hawaii.

DC ExtraTime: The Kedo Guido Takes Las Vegas

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Ten years ago this summer, MTV was faced with its first summer without the show that guided them through their first period of 21st century renewal in Total Request Live, which signed off one last time from its Times Square studio in late 2008. But there was a week in early December of 2009 that would shape the channel's next decade, one whose roots were planted that summer by Amber Portwood, Catelynn Lowell and Maci Bookout when they appeared on 16 & Pregnant, and whose progress through the early stages of parenthood were documented on spinoff series Teen Mom.

   A few days before they and original girl Farrah Abraham extended those 15 minutes of fame with a show that has now lasted ten years, another group would help set the path that would help to reinvent MTV during an age where YouTube, Netflix and social media would compete with the attention of the short attention spanned millennial audience. Jersey Shore debuted on December 3, 2009 and from the start the show made a big impact... first for negative reasons before the show even debuted in placing the state of New Jersey and the Italian American population in a bad light. It was further amplified when a then-uncensored clip of a man punching a female castmate at the bar gave it unwelcome publicity during those first weeks in the midst of the holidays.

   But eventually, things would come around thanks to any kind of publicity... and fans and viewers alike would ultimately embrace Snooki, Mike The Situation, J-Woww and the rest of the group during the show's original six-season run, numerous spinoffs and the whole group getting together for the Family Vacation revival last year. Everything from famous one-liners and catch phrases to the romance of Ronnie & Sammi and the group's unique dynamic would become cultural hallmarks, as did the time share house and Danny's Shore Store on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk that became the epicenter of attention of the public every summer by the Atlantic. Their success inspired many Shore spinoff series in Britain, Europe, Latin America and here at home with Floribama Shore.

While #SamRon, Snooki & J-Woww, and the Sitch's abs were the focus of those first two seasons, someone who flew under the radar early on was Vinny Guadagnino, who takes pride in being a proud mama's boy being raised on Staten Island from a traditional Italian-American family. His mom, Paola, was born in the town of Sicily on their family farm, and immigrated to America at age 13. When he gave birth to her, he almost died upon delivery and had to spend a few weeks in hospital before it became safe for him to come home to eventually becoming a middle child with two sisters.
   Vinny has always been that one who the girls always love to bring home to mom, but having a near 4.0 GPA college, who loves to write stories and has a political science major & an internship for a NY State assemblyman under his belt, he also has the smarts that would also be welcome to parents. And had the show not been a success, you would've likely seen him in the hallways of law school... his LSAT test took place hours before his national TV debut.

   As we've seen both in those first two seasons and then in this reboot, Vinny sure has a long history with Angelina... and there was that time long ago when he was spotted in bed with Snooki. We all know that he is the master of the fist-pump, and he also got to invite celebs to his house for his own talk show in the company of his family. And of course, there's the famous bromance with DJ Pauly D. that's brought them to so many places together the past decade, including their latest chapter on A Double Shot at Love with Pauly and Vinny, undoubtedly the most hilarious and lighthearted of all the romantic reality shows that have been on TV this year.

   Both those who know & have followed Vinny all this time know about his family's famous Sunday dinners, for which it became a weekly tradition for his adopted second family. Last year, who can forget Paola & uncle Nino flying all the way down to Miami with their food for a big dinner with the group towards the end of that first Vacation, followed by another one on Thanksgiving. Both mama Guadagnino and her son even had their own cooking show on The Cooking Channel.

   But also in the nutrition department, Vinny has become the most prominent celebrity to endorse the keto diet: a plan that embraces low-carb, moderate protein and high fat. His own keto diet Instagram @KetoGuido has over 700,000 followers, and has seen him shave off 50 lbs., earning Kourtney Kardashian and Halle Barry's approval. And it was just this summer that he dropped his own keto cookbook in bookstores to bring his newest passion into the home kitchens of families everywhere.