DC ExtraTime Funny File: Love in The Midst of Madness

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Ordinarily, we at DCBLOG tend to be a place of escapism, much like the reality shows that you enjoy and we cover here. But this feeling of wanting to take a break for this has been more needed for those of you to take your minds of what has been a chaotic month of March which fortunately ends tomorrow. Of course, this has been dominated by one word and classification: the coronavirus and COVID-19. This story is just a small exception in add a lighthearted way to the madness going on.

There is no doubt that all of us have now taken our health very seriously in the past few weeks since the startling announcement of the coronavirus becoming a pandemic, placing everything from what the President does to organizers of events planned for this middle part of 2020 in a microscope. It has turned your local grocer into scenes straight out of Black Friday mall madness as those across the country have binge-shopped before being told to stay in, as we all are right now with seemingly no end in sight. Yesterday, the lockdown order was just extended for the next month, while the stock market is on the verge of a deeper recession that that of 2008, as unemployment claims are jumping and businesses are trying to survive.

All of us being in quarantine has seen the term "social distancing" become a buzzword this month -- even this blogger did his best to do that when I walked to the bank near my house earlier today for my first outdoor activities in almost three weeks. But, it has also seen at-home activities become an everyday part of this new life we're in as we're all trapped with family, friends, loved ones and the kids. That also includes more of us using the internet to do whatever we want, and where TikTok has seen everyone from those who we follow around the MTV world here to even my niece doing dances... as well as another staple of late night in this universe: live Instagram sessions where tea is usually spilled after an episode airs.

Being in love while also being at home is something couples are used to in living together, eating together and sleeping together... but this also means that as lockdown orders are in place in cities across America it also means that dates can't take place at a fancy restaurant, among other things that are commonplace on a weekend or after work. And that has seen those who are married or who are together romantically look to other things to keep themselves cuddled up during "cuffing season."

Pic: DWECK on YouTube

Back before Ex On The Beach's winter season in early December, we spotlighted an alum of MTV's fellow romantic reality series, Kathryn Palmer of Are You The One Season 5, as she had to deal with having her Facebook account get suspended and had to travel back in time to the '50s to get help. That sketch is part of DWECK, a YouTube comedy channel that aims to take a different approach to mixing humor with the current events of the moment, compared to its late night counterparts.

As production of late night talk shows such as Stephen Colbert's Late Show has been scaled back to mixing reruns with fresh at-home content with its hosts, the outlets for original comedy in this tough time have been limited. But the DWECK channel, led by its lead actor Victor Dweck, has been able to find a way to strike the right mix to wanting to make us laugh when there's not much out there as everything has been on hold... its latest sketch does exactly that.

Here, Kathryn and Victor are enjoying a date in the comforts of their own apartment instead of being out and about. And they find that it is a bit different than what they are used to with them wearing masks and using hand sanitizers. Below, find out how they handle all this in a video that a YouTube user wrote in the comments below, "This sketch jumps all over the place. You never know what is going to be the next punch line. Just as ridiculous as hoarding toilet paper or buying 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer. Thank you for keeping up with the content in these troublesome times, it is nice to see something funny when you are in lockdown!"

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC ExtraTime: Real World/The Challenge Meets The Rookie

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

On last summer's third installment of Ex On The Beach, for us MTV fans most of our attention was on a slew of alumni from The Challenge, Real World and Are You The One (the "Trifecta" as we call it here), as well as the #Melena showmance from Big Brother and the queen of Making The Band, Aubrey O'Day. But much of the focus in that Malibu mansion was on someone else.

The cast of The Rookie. (Credit: ABC)

Multi-talented entertainer Cameron Armstrong, who first made waves on the 2017 music competition series Boy Band, found himself juggling exes Alexis and Ariana, and his complicated relationships with the both of them was a talking point in last year's summer of love. When he was the first one eliminated on the show that eventually produced the group In Real Life (who have since disbanded as its members are now pursuing solo careers), Cameron turned his attention to acting. And on the same network that aired his debut on national television, he played a small role of a nurse at a local hospital on the ABC police drama The Rookie, which centers around 45-year-old John Nolan (played by Nathan Fillion) in his first year serving in a cop in the Los Angeles Police Department, a far cry from being a former contractor in Pennsylvania.

In its second season and accompanying the very first timeslot occupied by Grey's Anatomy (10PM on Sunday nights on ABC), The Rookie has had some notable guest stars, including Shark Tank master Mark Cuban, Ali Larter, members of the L.A. Rams, Seth Green and Jeremy Davies. And earlier this month, Wild N' Out & Guy Code alum and Ariana Grande's ex Pete Davidson played the role of Nathan's half-brother who he met after the death of their dad, just after the release of his first comedy special for Netflix and the movie Big Time Adolescence on Hulu.

Someone else who's familiar to at least some in the MTV community has also made an appearance on Season 2 of The Rookie, and for this one you have to go all the way back a decade to find someone who almost pulled out one of the most impossible feats you can ever possibly do on The Challenge, as we await the new season of Total Madness to take shape in five days from now.

Inside MTV Reality: Welcome to The Challenge - Total Madness

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Hey folks, we welcome you and thanks so much for joining us... without making any mention of all that's gone on, we know these first three months of 2020 have been a tough and extraordinary time in so many ways. However, something that makes the hobby and pleasure of watching television so enjoyable for you, me & all of us is that, for any length or period of time, you have reason to escape the worries of the world outside your window for something that pleases you. This has never been more prevalent than in these uncertain times we are in at this moment as we're all are spending time being stuck at home with our families, friends and loved ones right now, and an aspect of our society that best fits this feeling of escapism is reality television.
   The past several months in MTV's portion of a genre it's pioneered has seen the Sunshine State of Florida take center stage with Seasons 3 of both Floribama Shore and Siesta Key sharing top billing. The former brought us a broken bromance, a familiar friend joining the crew, and lots of fun in the sun; the ladder saw the showmance of Juliette Porter & Bachelor Robby Hayes and plenty of red-hot drama. And Ex On The Beach on this side of the Atlantic gave us a franchise first: British lovebirds Georgia Steel & Callum Izzard becoming the first ever couple to get engaged; while Celeb Ex has been delighting U.K. fans with Challenger & Rebel Wilson's new BFF, Georgia Harrison, and VH1 diva Tiffany "New York" Pollard among the seasiders.
   And while some of you are enjoying the Thursday night company of a newly-released Mike The Situation and his Jersey Shore friends as well as some newbies over in the Lou and soon & again over in Staten Island, for many of us 2020 in MTV Reality will begin for real on Wednesday, April 1st. It's not just the start of a month that we hope will bring health & happiness to all of us -- along with it being 4/20 month on top of that, but for that a new season of what's called the fifth major pro sport will commence exactly one week from tonight.

There, The Challenge will kick off its 35th season as the first of its kind reality competition series will again take over the attention of its fans with what should be a compelling and captivating season of action and drama that will glue you in the minute it begins. And with most everything in the athletic world at home here in America and overseas in an unprecedented standstill because of the panic that's going on - including yesterday's postponement of this summer's Tokyo Olympics among other things, for the first time ever this show will take on the daunting and tall task of being the only game in town in this country when his trademark air horn to start off the first competition of the new campaign is given by its now 25-season host, former BMX rider T.J. Lavin.
   Last year, The Challenge finally put to rest a much maligned trilogy and got a fresh new start as it welcomed entrants from around the wide world of reality television from both the U.S. and across the globe. War of the Worlds I and II helped to reinvigorate this franchise as two veterans added to their trophy case with their third titles, and a Turkish rookie & two second-year competitors with English accents joined them atop the victory podium as they relished in $2 million in prize money. We also had a franchise power couple getting engaged on the elimination floor among other things in the past year, enough for the NBA's reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, to take notice of his favorite guilty pleasure as he awaits the resumption of action on the hardwood.
   This time, it's Total Madness: a season described as "The Most Dangerous Challenge Ever," and with good measure as this season will unleash mental warfare like never before. For the fifth time in the last four years, this Challenge will be every one for themselves as each man & woman will compete solo, rather than with a partner or a team. Among this class are seven past champions, seven fresh rookies, and many other candidates worthy of that first crown... including a daddy who, this spring, will be a star on not just this show, but also on MTV's most tabloid-worthy series as he awaits baby #2. This is also the first Challenge season to take place under the new ViacomCBS, and CBS reality alumni will be well-represented here, two decades after the debuts of two of its biggest shows.
   They've all gathered in a fitting host city of Prague in the Czech Republic, where the last time this Eastern European capital played host ten years ago, Cutthroat was the venue for the most memorable Challenge moment ever: this series' winningest player getting manhandled by the show's resident beast on his back. On the radar for those two men and the rest of the competitors: some of the most-insane challenges ever devised, plus the pitfalls and twists that will serve as the roadblocks en route to $1 million at season's conclusion.

Total Madness will be more than just the main attraction for many of us MTV fans -- it's also one of a handful of things fresh & competitive that will be on TV this spring. And we at DCBLOG will be your tour guide to the madness from when it premieres to start April off, right on through to the final come summertime. And ahead in this season preview, we'll have a look at what awaits us behind the former Iron Curtain, give our look & guesses at the format, and of course we'll meet the challengers. This is the first half of our first look: our traditional introduction to the rookies of this Challenge will follow later on, as they look to emulate what Turbo did and win first time out.

​   So, come on inside, welcome and get comfortable... And if you're new to this, hop aboard too. Our first look at The Challenge: Total Madness awaits after the jump. We're so glad you're here.

Inside MTV Reality: The Masters Speak

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

As we at DCBLOG prepare to embark on what's now our eighth year of covering what is without a doubt the most talked about programming in one whole genre, there is a certain reason why the exceptional coverage of MTV Reality has evolved quite a bit on here. This site began in the summer of 2013, where our first MTV-related posts were on just The Real World and The Challenge. Sure, the ladder is the one constant throughout all of this, and we're looking forward to covering it extensively when we shortly begin covering the new season, Total Madness.
   But the relationship I have had with MTV that stretches back to my childhood and then wall-to-wall in my adulthood goes beyond just watching Challenges and Real World, which brought me into this world into the first place starting with Hawaii over two decades ago. I am one who has an affection for just about any show that airs on the channel during this time, and it's with that in mind that I've been able to expand this site's coverage from covering just those two shows in that first summer of 2013, to now watching and covering the entire spectrum: dating shows, global franchises, tabloid-friendly series, and other things on the side. There's six major series I'm covering now with traditional recaps, the episodes as seen from the social verse, and the hundreds of stories we've told through ExtraTime.
   Since the story of this journey began twenty-seven years ago in a posh apartment in New York City, MTV's focus has shifted from wall-to-wall music videos to helping to showcase a genre it pioneered to provide it with some much-needed original programming, but has wrote the playbook on reality television that others go by to this day. It has given us so many memorable moments, unforgettable people, series that have become cultural landmarks and so much more across the entire spectrum of youth, that everyone in the industry can say thanks to giving MTV more definitions than music TV.

If you happen to work on a reality series, then you have one of the best jobs out there of helping to make the magic happen. Whether it's working behind the cameras shooting and editing this content, or just having a hand in contributing music or time to build the sets, they're just as important to any show as those who are the real stars: the cast members and talent on camera. But nothing is as vital behind the scenes than those in the higher hierarchy who coordinates these shows for the production companies that produce these shows and then presents them on our screens.
   In the summer of 2017, four of the reality TV industry's top power players and masters of this genre gathered in one of America's most vibrant cities to discuss the evolution and history of MTV Reality. The combined experience of the panel gathered on that stage comprise some of the most-successful programming in the genre, just before the start of the channel's resurgence that summer. And with the next chapter about to begin in a couple weeks of a new Challenge, it's worth a trip to take a look at where we've been before we take the next step...

Inside MTV Reality: The Siesta Key WRAP - The Season 3 Winter Finale Pt. 2

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Welcome back... four long months ago, MTV Reality's Florida Season began in November with the third seasons of two shows that call Tom Brady's newest playground home of the Tampa Bay Area sharing this winter stage, just as they did attending last year's Video Music Awards together. First, the crazy kids of Floribama Shore moved their fun and antics to St. Pete Beach outside St. Petersburg, and then over a month later Siesta Key kicked off a summer full of love and drama down the road near Sarasota.

When we last left the group Tuesday in our time here, the group once again took their talents out of the Key and into Music City USA. Brandon invited them as his support system to Nashville as he performed new music in the clubs there, and everyone got to enjoy going ax-throwing, horse riding and twerking on the line-dancing floor. But as it was for their trip to Georgia the drama bug also followed them from Florida: Garrett & Kelsey kissed in the club leading Jared to give them the bird, while Pauly got in trouble to spreading rumors of a rekindled #JALEX romance.

At night's end there, Amanda got rung up by the girls for siding with the king, and that isn't the only thing on the mind of Alex and Juliette, as well as Madisson. After the break, our WRAP of Part 2 of the Siesta Key winter finale -- including not one but TWO bombshells... plus, the girl at the heart of the drama in Hour #1 speaks out on what went down there in Nash-Vegas.

Inside MTV Reality: The Siesta Key WRAP - The Season 3 Winter Finale Pt. 1

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

And so, welcome and thanks for joining us on this St. Patrick's Day... we know it's been an overwhelming week, and it's thrown our timing off the loop because of everything that's going on, and we apologize to those of you who've been waiting for us to begin this week's posts.
   But let's not get anything down around here: something you can count on us to do is to get away from what's been going on in the world, especially when you all need some time to relax & escape. There's no better place than here at DCBLOG going Inside MTV Reality, and in a part of the country where you have many options to chill, unwind & enjoy the sun there in Florida, we're about to dive into our double WRAP of the Season 3 Winter Finale of Siesta Key.

It has been a game-changing summer in the sultry summertime heat of the Sunshine State as the dynamic of the clique of a close-knit group of friends that rolled into our hearts three years ago has suddenly turned upside down. It began with an alum of Bachelor Nation coming to town to win over the town's resident queen, and it took for a thrown phone for the romance of Robby & Juliette to head into that watery grave. That's just the tip of the iceberg of a season that's that seen the protagonist of this East Coast reality soap opera get into two fights, among everything this else on this third trip to this suburb outside Sarasota, FL.

The week before last saw not one, but two episodes to provide those not interested in Super Tuesday something else to watch: Alex & the crew drove up to girlfriend Alyssa's parents house in Georgia for the 4th of July, but somehow the drama bug also came along with them when he got into it with Chloe over her allegiance to Juliette... and he would then crash the ex's grand opening of her new fashion boutique, even giving a love slap to Robby. This gave Chloe reason to call for an emergency campfire meeting to bring the group together, but once again #JALEX was the top story.

Now, the dog days of summer is winding towards its conclusion, and once again it's two hours at the Key. And first up, another trip out of town: this time to Nashville as Brandon makes his next step as an artist and where past relationships (including THAT one) also take center stage right in the heart of Music City. Join us after the break for the WRAP of Part 1 of this Mid-Season Finale, as we hope to add some sunny vibes to this cloudy time right now. You deserve this, after all...

DC ExtraTime: From Boy Next Door to AYTO Heartthrob

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

By the time we graduate high school or college, we all get asked of where we would be in five years. For a lot of you, you might've answered being in a good high-paying job, or being married with kids, or having that dream job. And for others, there's the fame of being on reality television, and all that goes along with it.

Credits from left: Seventeen, MTV, @CouturesWorld

In what will soon be seven full years that this site has followed MTV Reality, DCBLOG has featured people just like yourselves who were cast to entertain us each week on the likes of The Challenge, Ex On The Beach, the Shore franchise and the like. And during this time, we have had the chance to follow the entire run of Are You The One?, which we have rolled with since it premiered six years ago as MTV's first entry into the modern-day iteration of the romantic reality dating genre, and has made "Truth Booth" and "Boom Boom Room" part of our MTV vocabulary.

The series has produced many memorable cast members: ultimate perfect match Amber & Ethan Diamond of Season 1, many times Challenger Tori Deal & Season 4 castmate (and rookie Challenger on next month's Total Madness) Asaf Goren, Derrick Henry and Taylor Selfridge of Season 5, and the iconic Season 3 cast that has produced several Challengers stars and the representative of this show and The Challenge in the Teen Mom universe, Cheyenne Floyd. And we can't forget about the one who made a huge splash at last year's World Series for baring it all in Julia Rose of Season 4.

But perhaps, there is one person who can lay claim to the title of being the heartthrob of this franchise -- one who hasn't as of yet followed Tori, Devin Walker and others to suit up to compete on The Challenge, yet has made a solid impact on social media for fulfilling a remarkable transition from a young boy next door to being part of an Are You The One? cast, to now being more than just a man, but a social media darling by making an incredible transformation completely different than when we saw him on MTV. It is certainly the case for a man from Boston named Andrew Couture.

DCBLOG Look Ahead: No Ordinary Week in March...

A Word From The Editor
BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

We at DCBLOG hope that you are having a good Thursday - or if that's not the case, we hope that you are safe, sound and alright. Without making any one single mention of anything that has gone on in the past few days, it's safe to say that this has been such an eventful week. However, there are times that the overwhelming amount of news going on in this world stresses you out so much that it will give you reason to want to escape a bit from all the worries and negativity that's gone on lately.

It's with great hope, awareness and sensitivity that we here proceed as usual, and as we always do, with the business that is on our table with all of the great content planned for this weekend, for this month and the springtime coming up. And we hope you will find some something good to take the stress out with us going Inside MTV Reality on here, and everything else on both this site and on the DC YouTube channel as well. And we have such a busy time ahead of us ourselves here, too.

DC ExtraTime: The Backstory - Amo

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

    Estimated Reading Time: 24 MINS.

2019 marked a major milestone in the growing acceptance of the LGBT community on mainstream television. For the first time, a romantic reality dating series had an entire cast consist solely of sexually-fluid contestants when Season 8 of MTV's Are You The One? gave the gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and queer-plus community a chance to find love. Bachelor Nation welcomed a rarity to their franchise when 2019 Bachelor contestant Demi Burnett found love with a same-sex individual, Kristian Haggerty, on Bachelor in Paradise. And two LGBT-friendly series continued along in RuPaul's Drag Race and the second generation of Queer Eye, featuring Karamo Brown - himself an proud alum of The Real World and The Challenge and who competed on last fall's Dancing with the Stars. And it's in this backdrop that we spotlight another alum of both series here.

Two times each year in the spring and the fall, the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints gather in Salt Lake City for their semi-annual General Conferences, and is often seen by outsiders as America's most controversial religion for its conservative outlook. It's in the home of the overarching body of the Mormon religion where the person we are spotlighting is one who was once a member of the LDS Church, but made the courageous journey across from when he spent his experience filming an MTV show hundreds of miles away to announce his breakaway from the cult.
   That eye-opening moment seen on The Real World -- coming about by a controversial action by members of his organization and captured by cameras of a show which has documented generations of the MTV audience going through life changing moments such as that -- is only part of the mesmerizing journey of a person who has experienced a lot during his life. He was well liked when he was a Challenge rookie where he gained everyone's support, and it came after another harrowing experience that came about after he was medically evacuated from South America, and one channeling an alarming trend in the showbiz industry that had the verdict of its most high-profile case handed down this week.
   We first got to look at the individual once known as Christopher Ammon-Hall and now known just as Amo on Season 31 of Real World - Go Big or Go Home in Las Vegas back in 2016, and then on The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30 a year later. But a lot has happened for him in between those two MTV shows and after he left that Challenge in an ambulance... including the new frontier that Amo is now embarking on: transitioning into a female, something that if you're a reality TV fan is something that is familiar. It's only part of this fascinating backstory.

DC ExtraTime Flashback: Outkast's Road Rules Invasion

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

In many of our ExtraTime posts over the years, we've featured the times where MTV Reality and music have collided -- most recently when a former teen pop star who once hung out with a New Orleans Queen of The Challenge finally won a Grammy this winter. A few years ago, we told two stories of how two musical groups from different genres used guest cameos to boost their profiles before eventually taking over the charts.

In 2004, Florida punk-pop band Yellowcard played in the background of old-school challengers smashing hotel rooms on The Inferno and contributed music to that season's opening titles before the biggest year of their career. Five years later, the cast of Real World Cancun helped coordinate Spring Break appearances in Mexico by emerging dance music duo LMFAO before "Get Crazy" became synonymous with Jersey Shore and "Party Rock Anthem" took over 2011's playlists.

This latest tale of a music act appearing on an MTV Reality series doesn't involve an emerging artist getting their big break towards getting global recognition, but is a story that was lost in time and took until a return of two of its members to The Challenge a few years ago for us to dust off this story. As this flashback is being posted, it has been a decade & a half since one of the most-notable albums of the 21st century, which was released by one of the co-subjects of this post.

Here - and unlike Yellowcard, LMFAO and a then-unknown Lady Gaga who had Lauren and Whiten work on her stage outfit on a 2008 episode of The Hills, the artists featured here were more well known at the time than their later counterparts in the pop, rock and dance genres. This was before they released two albums in one that propelled them into the mainstream and brought the South to the forefront of hip-hop. And the cast who share top-billing on the marquee would ultimately produce four Challenge champions, including the only Challenger ever to win four straight titles.

When you have a renowned cast of a past and pioneering MTV Reality series get to perform in front of a group that was ready to become the biggest stars in the world, then you have the story of when OutKast Invaded Road Rules.

Inside MTV Reality: Cheyenne's Teen Mom OG Journey

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

As we're now in March, it's springtime and the shows that began in the fall on the network side of things get more juicier at the ladder half of their seasons. And during what's been a most eventful first few months of 2020, reality TV is offering us some much need escapism: Season 40 of Survivor: Winners at War, Big Brother Canada north of the border, and the juicy drama down in Siesta Key which tonight wraps up the winter portion of season 3. And after we cover that on here this weekend, our focus will shift straight to The Challenge: Total Madness which begins in three weeks from now, and that will come as good news to a competitor on that season, which brings us to this...

In the midst of Women's History Month, next Tuesday Teen Mom OG returns as the franchise enters its second decade in its various forms, dating back to when the two generations of women the show has featured the past ten years were first introduced on predecessor series 16 and Pregnant in summer 2009. The first group of moms -- Amber Portwood, Catelynn Lowell & Maci Bookout -- will welcome back the MTV cameras once again as they navigate parenthood and life as adults in their mid-20's, ten years after their debut when they were at the rightful age of sweet 16 and as teenagers. Also joining them is Teen Mom 3's MacKenzie McKee, who joined this sorority last season, and where this spring we'll be seeing her deal with family tragedy as her grandmother Angie Doughit passed away over the holidays after a valiant and courageous battle with brain cancer.

But there is one reason why many of those who identify themselves as part of Challenge Nation -- and viewers of the shows they're connected to -- have joined the Teen Mom audience: It's for that Cheyenne Floyd is part of the OG cast now, having joined as one of the two replacements for Farrah Abraham along with politician's daughter Bristol Palin (who MacKenzie replaced after she left last year). Cheyenne started on Are You The One? in 2015 as part of its legendary Season 3 class, went onto The Challenge the next year and met the man who now shares custody of their baby girl Ryder. And many times Challenger and Real World alum Cory Wharton has become just as part of her world despite not being together, as now he will now be a dad to two baby girls as his Ex On The Beach girlfriend Taylor Selfridge awaits her first kid in the midst of a busy spring for Cory.

With our almost total focus on The Challenge and other matters revolving around that show and related series, other than being featured occasionally in our episode coverage we've not covered Teen Mom since our introductory post prior to Cheyenne's October 2018 debut... it's OK since the franchise already receives extensive press coverage anyway. But if we got the chance to cover it more often (and with our deep respect to the other castmates who are special in their own way), then it's on just one condition that we only cover Cheyenne's universe. And after the jump, we'll have a look back at some of her journey (and Cory & Taylor's too), before it begins St. Patrick's Day next week.

Inside MTV Reality: The Siesta Key WRAP - Openings, Crashes & Meetings

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Welcome back... our winter's escape from the madness & imperfectness of our world in the sultry, summertime drama of Siesta Key is wrapping up for now at least... perhaps there's more to come later this year if the social proof has its way -- including the biggest bombshell of all to rock the biggest pop stars in this small town of 6,500. But for now, our third Summer in the Key (and our Florida season on here) is in its late afternoon glow as we now bring you part 2 of a special Double Shot.

When we were last in Central Florida earlier tonight, Alex and most of the group made their way up to Southern Georgia to celebrate the 4th of July at the parents' retreat of his girlfriend Alyssa. And while the Floribama Shore crew's activities became a wild festival in itself, their Siesta neighbors' wish to have the drama stay back home backfired when the king bringing up Chloe's allegiance to Juliette saw them have a big blowup. And Ish returned to town to ask Madisson if she can move in with him in LA... but it ended with them breaking up after her family expressed some skepticism.

As we return to town, Juliette's job at neighborhood boutique Blend is about to throw its grand opening bash... but will the shadow of her old and new exes rain over her parade? And will a snap, emergency meeting of the original group around the campfire try to resolve things and bring the group back together out before summer wraps up? The answers to those questions are ahead.

Inside MTV Reality: The Siesta Key WRAP - A 4th of July Party Up North

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

And so, we welcome you to the first Sunday of March, and it's been quite a week in our world... but if you are one of the many who need a respite from it, we at DCBLOG are here for you. This week in MTV Reality, the countdown began in earnest for Season 35 of The Challenge: Total Madness, and we'll kick off our coverage of that the week after next as we ramp up towards April 1st. But for both this & next week, our focus is on the summer fast approaching its sunset down in Siesta Key.

Lately in Central Florida - save for all the exes drama, the spotlight has been on Jared: he celebrated his birthday in Episode 7, and as the only one in the clique who has been married at one time, last week his ex-wife Jessica flew into town for a visit. Meanwhile, Chloe & Alex reopened a beloved neighborhood bar, and then proceeded to get into what went down with him & Juliette, which forced him to own up to Alyssa, all while Brandon got into it with Amanda and ex JJ at that reopening gala.

This week, something we here like to call a Double Shot: back-to-back episodes, which offered a much-needed viewing alternative from Super Tuesday politics. First up, the King & his crew are headed up to Georgia to celebrate the 4th of July but will the drama bug follow them up the road? And Madisson's producer boyfriend returns to town with a big question to ask her. See you after the jump for the first half of this doubleheader...

DC ExtraTime: A War of the Worlds Girls' Only Weekend

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

This first week of March in MTV Reality has seen excitement spill over in several parts of this vast community of ours. For the first time since the season 2 birthday brawl, on Super Tuesday Siesta Key played host to a Double Shot of back-to-back episodes (which we'll cover tomorrow & for the first time as our sole, main focus). Last night saw Mike The Situation was finally released from prison on Jersey Shore much to everyone's relief, along with the premiere of the newest rookie series to land the prized slot of being launched out of MTV's biggest shows in The Busch Family Brewed.
   Wednesday, however, was the big day as far of a lot of us was concerned - especially if you visit this site regularly. There, the month-long countdown to April Fool's Day began in full swing when the title, format and all-star cast, and the accompanying first look, was revealed for for Season 35 of the industry's original reality competition series: The Challenge: Total Madness. We'll be saving our first look at it for later this month when we'll offer our thoughts and insight in our traditional preview and introduction to this season's class of newbies. But to get you in the mood for what goes down in a few weeks' time, here's something a bit more fun to begin our ramp-up to day 1 of 4/20 Month.

At this time last year, War of the Worlds was helping The Challenge get over the long, dragged-out trilogy of Dirty 30, Vendettas and Final Reckoning with a season to remember. New blood from all around the wide world of reality television joined some of our favorite vets and new gen players for the first of two seasons of global warfare. We were introduced to more of the Brits who have made a big impact on our shores, while former houseguests of Big Brother translated their summer game to a whole new stage. And in the end, the toughest final ever contested in the Namibian desert saw Turabi "Turbo" Camkiran of the global Survivor franchise emerge $750,000 victorious as a popular winner.
   Since Invasion a few years ago, The Challenge has also seen some new worthy female Challengers emerge on the scene: Ashley M., Da'Vonne, Kam, Kailah, Kayleigh, Melissa, Ninja, Sylvia and Tori... the first one of this list has won two Challenge titles, in fact. Three of these people will get another crack at the cash this spring & summer, along with the first girl eliminated last season in Big T., British fitness star Jenny and some new rookie girls we'll be getting to know more about as we start this journey. We may even see one of them help sell a house on national TV later this year, also.

Our focus for this post is on three of those who competed with them on last year's two War of the Worlds seasons: an Australian who will come to Total Madness as a defending champion, an alum of Britain's Love Island who's also on another U.K. original, and a girl from the South who's made this Challenge offseason more manageable for us thanks to joining her friend by the Shore. And they're joined by a pair of Big Brother twins and a slew of guest stars here, including one of the most hilarious actresses today who, thanks to some inside connections, became part of her Girl Gang.

DC SocialPulse: Ex On The Beach Peak of Love - 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

Welcome back... if you love reality TV and romance, this winter has been a treat. You've likely had some rosé in being glued to Peter Weber's drama on The Bachelor including last night's pre-reunion, while two MTV alumni in TRL alum Vanessa Minillo & her 98 Degrees husband Nick Lachey (of Newlyweds fame) have made Netflix viewers go crazy over Love Is Blind. And as the weather gets warmer this month, we are now headed for the conclusion of the fourth season of Ex On The Beach in America, and a special winter version of the summer series at the Peak of Love.

Previously in Queenstown, New Zealand, the end of season activities began with the one sign that the end is near: the sight of a lie detector. We got to see who was telling the truth which awaited all of the singles and the remaining exes and it no doubt caused everyone to be on edge. There were surprise outcomes that may bring to an end a budding relationship with Staten Islander's own Challenge star and a Real World ex, as well as getting down to the nitty gritty of other connections. But as far as one couple is concerned, they are not worried about it at all: they have eyes on bigger things to come.

Being rooted in The Challenge on here, and last year there were three instances where winners of a final got to enjoy love's biggest moment: Tony and Jordan got down on one knee & popped out a ring to propose to their girlfriends (in the ladder's case, to AYTO alum Tori), and CT getting married. That offers the context for our last week at the Peak, where the lovebirds of the Chalet will finally have their moment. But before that, there's other business to take care of in which couples will leave with their Ex, Next or go alone, and the Truth Ceremony results may play a role in some of their choices.

After the jump, the final SocialPulse of the 2019-20 winter cycle as we bring you the last week at the Peak of Love on Ex On The Beach. Thanks for joining us...

Inside MTV Reality: The Siesta Key WRAP - A Vet & His Ex Walk Into The King's Bar...

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Welcome to the month of March, which means we're now into the springtime as meteorology sees it, and that means for many of you the mayhem of Spring Break is right around the corner. A place that will be a hub for most of the next month's extracurricular activities is the state of Florida, and a town outside Sarasota is also the venue for the intoxicating drama that is MTV's Siesta Key, as Season 3 rolls along.

Previously the summer of parties in the Key continued on, and this time it was Jared who was feted -- coming ironically at where he made his dramatic entrance: Alex's family mansion where they got into a brawl last year. It was Jared's birthday as they celebrated him and he also had his party interrupted by a call from a skeleton from his past... but it was also where Juliette came to the house uninvited and proceeded to push her ex into the pool. And there was also a pregnancy scare when Madisson thought she was knocked up by her ex-producer boyfriend Ish, but it turned out to be negative.

At that same party there, we also found that Jared is the only member of the entire Siesta Key family who knows what it's like to have a wedding ring... and now his ex is about to come to town the same week that two friends who were reunited for business sake turn their attention to reopening a new bar. Dive in with us for our WRAP of Episode 8 before a special Double Shot comes our way tonight... fittingly enough on 3/3 and offering a perfect viewing alternative on this Super Tuesday.